So, this week was so good. I don't think the difference could have been any more apparent between last week and the week before. Though Koyama and I were only in Tokuyama for 2 days last week (one of them was weekly planning so half of that day was shot) it was a sweet week for Tokuyama investigators.
First off, let me start by profusely apologizing 「過度に謝る」(kadoni ayamaru) *I just learned that word in Japanese this week so I'm excited whenever I get to use it* to everyone who has sent me a
letter and I haven't responded, I am in the process now of answering everybody (I hope). In the process of doing such, I realized that many of you move around a bit (namely everyone in College) and I don't have the addresses for several people. If you would like to be in this mass exodus of Letters from the Desk of Elder Everett, please send me your address!
The other thing I learned this week is that my English is suffering. (case in point: it just took me three tries to spell suffering correctly (if it even is)) I'm beginning to enter this weird phase of being so/so in both languages; I've yet to decide whether this is a good thing or not. My other realization this week is that I am eating a lot of food that I previously would not have eaten on a regular basis. Let's look at the past couple of days at what I ate: Yogurt with granola and dried fruits for breakfast (before the mission I would do everything possible to avoid yogurt) ; yesterday we had a straight up fish, head, bones, tail, everything, on rice with miso soup. I felt so japanese-y yesterday. Other common foods eaten as of late: eggplant, onions, green onions, cabbage (a ton of it), mayonnaise, carrots, rice (I swear I'm starting to get rice cheeks), octopus, and Barley tea (it still kind of tastes like burnt popcorn, but it's growing on me) Oh, and lots of noodles. It's hard to think of anything that would be farther from what I was regularly eating before the mission (college = fast food, cheap so wendy's, taco bell, and
little caesar's pizza). I think it's quite a bit more healthy though, at least.... I hope.
So, Koyama is the district leader right (at least for 2 more days, after that is transfer announcements and who knows what'll happen then), so we get to do exchanges with everybody in the district, as well as
with the Zone leaders, and half of those were this week. Monday was a Zone P-day (preparation day where missionaries have a sort of break from work, mainly to do shopping and to see the city attractions) and Tuesday was off to Yanai. It was pretty fun, working with theirinvestigators (one of them is deaf so we got to use my Japanese Sign Language book!) and seeing their teaching/contacting methods. I definitely learned that there are many things that I need to improve on as far as just talking to people and leading them in the Gospel. For me right now it's just nerves, so once I finally get over that, it should be awesome.
Wednesday for Eikaiwa (we were in Yamaguchi before that to meet with the Zone Leaders) we had Food day. Which I think should be every day, but that would be a little rough. 「全ては日本語を書くことの誘惑を感じます。。。。」 I made Banana M&M pancakes for the class (which were delicious if I do say so myself) and we had various other delicious Japanese goodies from the students. I 愛 Japanese food. I endorse anko, sweet bean paste, sounds a little odd, but so good. And we even got one of our
potential investigators to come that day! Good food, good conversations, good atmosphere, good day.
Thursday was jam-packed. Weekly planning for half of the day (it really does take that long) and then lessons and Young Men's for the other half. All of the lessons recently have been a little sad for Koyama, everybody is getting ready to say goodbye to him (everyone is convinced he's leaving) and he's been treating most every lesson as if it's the last. Which is a good thing, I guess; the lessons have
definitely improved recently.
Friday we got a call from a family early that morning inviting us to go pick pears「なし」(Nashi) with them and their friend (our 14 year old investigator that takes dance). Of course! So we spent most of that day in Yamaguchi picking pears, talking with the family and with Hiro-kun and got a great relationship built with them. I would love to send some pictures of the event but the computer at the
train station has no usb ports or SD readers, so it's a little difficult. Oh man, Hiro-kun is beginning to feel like Yoshiaki-kun all over again. Once we meet with his parents then we'll really be able to see how far he can go! Oh man, he was answering the questions in Young Mens better than the deacons were!
Saturday there was an English speech contest in Hiroshima that Hiro-kun and Yuuka (The young woman in his class from our ward) put on and a dance demonstration for them while they deliberated the results. I got a sweet video (the sound track was a pumped up version of the Flintstones theme song) and I so want to send it! Someday..... Their demonstration on lasted so long, and they were still deliberating, so the MC was like, well, now let’s have a short English class, and Elder Everett will be teaching it. (Koyama and I were the only missionaries there) I was like, "Oh man, what in the world am I going to do with 30 people to entertain them for 20 minutes?" I started with some lame question and it was a little rough, and then I went to my Scouting roots and was like, “Hey, let's sing a song.” So I got them all to stand up and taught them all "Head, shoulders, knees, and toes" actions and all. Oh man that's a great song to teach to a bunch of adults! Way fun. All of the speeches were amazing. That, and
Hiro-kun met Elder Nagafuchi who was in last month's Liahona. He converted at 14 and is now the Zone Leader in Hiroshima. I really hope that Hiro-kun will remember the things learned this week and the
awesome relationships he has in the Church.
Sunday we had 2 people come to Church! And then another investigator came after church, and we had 2 less active families come to Sacrament meeting! That's about 7 more people than we've ever had! We had a way good lesson with one of our investigators and everyone built strong relationships with all of the ward members. Our next goal is to get everyone to watch General Conference. In Japan General Conference is a week later and is shown via DVD. Luckily, our building was chosen as one of the viewing spots so we don't have to travel far on that day. It'll be a little rough for me at least watching
Conference in Japanese (We'll see how much I can understand....) but I'm way excited for it!
Before the mission, well, really before college, I didn't really appreciate exactly what General Conference meant. I took for granted the opportunity to hear and learn from living prophets and apostles and really esteemed it as a thing for naught. For me it was just a time to not be at church and to do churchy things not in a white shirt and tie. But it really is an amazing opportunity to hear and learn about how to overcome today's challenges and tribulations and to improve ourselves. The messages that are conveyed are for us, and are prepared specifically for the challenges that will be coming in the next 6 months. My advice today is for everyone to prepare now for Conference, and if you're not a member, to ask someone you know how you can see it, because if you listen, and if you really take note to what they are saying, nothing else will empower you more strongly than the testimony and teachings of the men called of God to prophecy for the world. Listen and see for yourself!
Go do cool things everyone! がんばってください！
エベレット長老
Elder Everett
Monday, September 26, 2011
19 Sep 2011
Ok, so this one is a day late, My bad.... Yesterday for P-day we had a big zone p-day where everyone came together and played Ultimate Frisbee (My disc *Thanks, mom*) and basically hung out for a day. We played various sorts of games and other activities and had this sweet lunch at an all-you-can-eat Soup bar. Have I told you how good bread is here in Japan? I know you always hear about French breads and whatever, but oh man, if all I had to eat was Japanese bread, I would be just fine with that.
Also, Koyama had to burn some CDs for the Zone leaders so I'm typing this e-mail from an Internet Cafe in Japan. Cafe is kind of a loose term, you're in this little cubicle with just everything any computer gaming geek could want: nice headphones, free drink bar, a curry store, food, comics, a bajillion games installed on the computers -- it's kind of intimidating. There's also the fact that as a missionary I can't use any of that, well, maybe the curry shop, but oh man, this place is intense. The chairs are super comfortable though!
So this week, it was a bit rough. It started out pretty strong, a meal appointment with 2 families and an investigator and a companion exchange with Hofu, but after that, it just sort of plummeted until Saturday. So Tuesday's exchange (Koyama is the District leader so he goes on an exchange with everyone in the district at least once a transfer) was way fun as far as working with other missionaries goes, but all of the people we wanted to visit weren't there, and the day was kind of shot; that was the same pattern with Wednesday and Thursday, too. That night though we had a nice lesson with this one woman who makes Kimonos! It was my first time meeting with her, even though she's a pretty regular investigator, so she spent a full hour explaining to us all of her Kimonos and while it was pretty cool to see, it was an awfully long time to hear about Kimonos. They were very pretty, though.
Wednesday was pretty fun at Eikaiwa, we talked about what your dream job is, and what you wanted to be when you grew up. It was a little difficult for me to explain in Japanese after explaining in English, but I think they all got it after a little while. I also found some good methods for teaching and involving the whole class I think. (But any suggestions anybody may have for teaching is greatly appreciated)
Thursday is our planning day for the next week (which takes like 3 hours) and Koyama was sick that day so it took even longer than usual. We had a lesson at 6:30 that evening and essentially planned and then went to that. We learned there though, after waiting for a while, that she can't come on the 3rd Thursday of every month, so that lesson was shot, too. But it's all good because we had a good lesson with the members that were going to help us out with the lesson. We taught them about faith and that if we have any questions about whether a commandment is true or not, that all we have to do is test God, test that commandment, and we will learn of its truthfulness. We read Alma 32:26-28 which is the parable about the Seed and Faith. The only way to know whether a seed is good or not is to plant it and see if it grows. All gospel principles, all things in general follow that same pattern. If you want to find out whether something is true or not, whether it is right or not, whether it is for you or not, you have to put it to the test and see if it will grow. You will see whether or not it will Swell inside you, Enlarge you understanding, Enlighten you mind, or persuade you to Do good, and if it does, than you will know that it is a good seed, a good principle, a good teaching. So whatever you may have a problem with, whether it be Gospel related or not, put it to the test, and you will learn for yourself whether it is good or not.
Friday, I call the slaughter day; oh man, it was a bloodbath. For the first time everyone we visited was home, but by the end of the day we moved 4 people to the former investigator list (when they stop taking lessons whether because they reject the message or because they can't meet any more) and lost 2 other potential investigators. We fell 3 short of our goal for new investigators that day, and our goal was 1. The 13 year old kid from a couple of weeks ago fell through, his mother gave us back both hers and her son's Book of Mormon and the pamphlets we had given them, saying "My husband says that all religious people are bad, so we can't meet with you any more" or something to that effect. 2 of the other people we met that day said that they were busy until November or so, and another one straight up slammed the door in our face as soon as he saw us. And we had such a good relationship before, too. That day, it just felt like a disaster. But at the very last bit, after we lost so many people, we found this one guy who, when he opened the door was all smiles and super nice. Though he was busy and couldn't really talk, he invited us to come back again sometime when he was a little less busy and to come and teach him. Honestly, it was an answer to our prayers (that day we had been fasting too, in order to meet with all our investigators and to be able to come back and teach them) and though we haven't met up with him again yet, soon we will, and we both are hoping for something good!
Saturday was a huge relief. We went to the dance school where we have an investigator (the one that's run by one of our members) and had a great lesson, and a really fun time there interacting with all of the other students and their parents. It was a little long, but we made so many good relationships in that time that it proved to be the most effective time of our whole week. We had a lesson with the member’s 12 year old son (now there's a way good relationship there) and one of the student's mother after the class. We even managed to miss the typhoon that blew through while we were there! After that we went to visit another potential investigator at her job (she works at an Indian curry restaurant which has the best Nan bread ever, and the curry was so good, if a little pricy). She's the Ping pong player who was #1 for High Schoolers in Women's single. It's looking like we should be able to start teaching her pretty soon!
Sunday was good, too. The lessons were so good. We taught Hiroki (the dance student) during the second hour and we learned that Faith is not a perfect knowledge, it isn't knowing everything, it is believing, and hoping, and doing the things which we hear and learn. Faith is action and hope. You have to do before you can believe. When asked whether or not he wanted to be baptized he responded, 「ぜひ」zehi, by all means. Hoorah! Just before that Koyama gave a talk in Sacrament meeting and shared our experience from Friday, it brought him to tears on the stand and there was really nothing I could do to help, though his powerful testimony visibly moved most everyone in the congregation. He doesn't like to share much, but when he opens his heart, it's powerful!
This is a great companionship, and it's sad to think that it could end next week (we have transfer calls come on the 28th) and Koyama’s convinced that he's transferring. We'll just see how it goes. The members started calling us the Mountain Elders (Yama in Koyama means mountain, and everyone forgets my name and calls me Everest). We're all good here, and I can't wait for this coming week, it's going to be crazy busy (we're not actually in Tokuyama until midway through Wednesday) and it's packed from there. I hope everyone back at the states is doing wonderfully. I know it's just about fall time there and the trees should start to be really pretty about now. So I hope you all enjoy everything that you see, and take time to enjoy the little things in life. Good luck in all you do and do cool things!
Oh, and everyone that has written me letters, I should send some soon, I've written a couple but I want to send them off en masse so as to not bust my budget, I'm sorry it's taken so long (oh my word, it's been 5 months to the day). Good luck!
All the best wishes and Love
エベレット長老
Elder Benjamin Charles Everett
Japan Fukuoka Mission
9-16 Hirao-josuimachi,
Chuo-ku,
Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka
810-0029
Chuo-ku,
Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka
810-0029
Monday, September 12, 2011
12 Sep 2011
So it's noon on a Monday here in Tokuyama, I'm sitting at a computer in a little library corner above the local train station and Koyama is totally passed out on his Backpack in a corner. There's this funky little video being played off to my right (it's played every day advertising Shunan city and all its activities) from which I don't think I'll ever get the song out of my head. And life is good!
So I told you we were having a Bowling Activity right? Well that was sweet; the bowling alley gave us a little print out afterward of all our scores, what pins we left, and the general statistics. Oh man, I wish all bowling alleys did that; that was awesome. We had a really nice conversation with the Morinaga 「森永」 (the #1 women's single Ping Pong High Schooler in Japan) and should be able to start teaching her soon! Her father is a less active member, and his Home Teacher works with us all the time, so we've already got a great connection to the ward and It should just take a little push before she really starts to take off in the Gospel. She's already interested in what the heck it is we do as Missionaries, and teaching English is always a plus in Japan. Here's for hoping.
That night we headed over to Yanai to get ready for a mini-zone conference. I've decided that exchanges and getting ready for Zone conferences are glorified sleep-overs for missionaries, and there is nothing wrong with that! Conversations though, now focus on people you're working with, and just crazy stories that always abound in Missionary work (one companionship may have met the #2 Most Wanted in Japan, and taught him lesson 1). It's really cool though, to hear other’s successes, and just knowing that for everybody, the happiest time (at least for these two years) is whenever somebody commits to Baptism, or actually is baptized. As cool and funny as all the other stories may be, in the end, they all pale in comparison to seeing the change and miraculous spirit shown by converts in their testimony after being baptized. “Joyous” is about the only word I can think to describe it.
Wednesday was a little rough during the day. We had our plan to visit all our investigators, but everyone was gone. It ended up being a grin and bare it day until that night when we had a nice Mogi 「模擬」 lesson (practice lesson) and Eikaiwa. This week was acronym week which is always fun. At the start nobody has any idea what I'm talking about, but by the end everyone is way involved and making acronyms all on their own, about just about everything. Apparently I am an Energetic Vigorous Elegant Romantic Enthusiastic Titanic Toilet. Maybe they need a little more work on that one.
Thursday we had the Zone leaders come over for a glorified sleep-over (companion exchange). We had a good plan all set up to visit everyone, but again nobody was home. 残念！ We did find some nice potential investigators though, including one whose kids go to a Catholic school here. (which by the way, is next door to our apartment. To get to our apartment you take the turn at the Catholic church, or if you're coming from the other direction, you turn just after the "World Liquors" store) Working with the ZLs (Zone Leaders) was great, though. Habuer 長老 really helped me understand that all missionaries are really just people. We all work hard, are called to a special calling, but everyone has their history, and everyone works hard for their own reasons. That, and it doesn't matter who you are, you have some form of geeky background that's always fun to share. I didn't get to go to Dance this week (the other companionship for the exchange went) but our other lessons were just as....entertaining.
Friday was pretty good, we have this thing around here called the English room, where we go and just talk in English to a bunch of Japanese people that want to learn English. I met this one guy from California (totally looks Japanese) and ended up teaching him all of lesson one just in a casual conversation. His questions were like, straight out of Preach My Gospel (the missionary's guide book) and his whole family is religious, of all denominations. You just don't find that in Japan (granted he is American, but whatever).
Saturday was rough, I was a little sick (dehydration.....which means it's my own dumb fault) and ended up missing an event we wanted to go to at the local High School. Oh well... We did end up buying a pocket 'Othello' board though, that's been great fun!
Sunday was very awesome. We had our normal Church schedule in the morning, and then just went all over the City with one of the members visiting less-active members and introducing ourselves to them. All of them had some hobby or work that either Koyama or myself had in common with them. Hopefully through those connections we can help them come back to the church and feel, at least one more time, the happiness and joy that comes from it. And all it takes is at least one friend in the Church and it's that much easier to come back. Before this mission, I openly admit it, I was quite shy when it came to one-on-one interactions with those I did not know. I would actually do whatever I could to avoid them at all costs. Now that that is essentially all I do, I don't think I'll ever have as much a problem when I get back.
That night we had a super delicious dinner: Steak (from the members), and mashed potatoes and boiled carrots and grape juice. It was our American meal night (probably the only one) and that night after planning we played GO on our new Othello board. GO is a great game, and I highly recommend it to all. It's way traditional Japanese, and I love it. I played with Koyama, and through some stroke of luck won by 10 spots! The whole time he was like "What is this, I'm Japanese, I can't lose at GO". My board game winning infamy lives! That whole night was so 懐かしい natsukashii (nostalgic). It felt like a normal Sunday back home and I couldn’t help but smile all night.
Now it's P-Day and I have taken some of your time. Just remember the times you have with your family, and do all you can to preserve those moments. It's absolutely awesome to hear that Richard Mackelprang and Matthew Watkins have made it back from their missions and are doing splendidly, and that Devin Romney is just about on his way to start his mission. There are few things greater than to grow up with good friends, and after several years, see that they are still your friends in the gospel and are living life to the best of their ability. Be that strong link for a friend, for an acquaintance, for that person you saw in the street that you just said 'Hello' to. You are an example to somebody, you may not know who, but somebody is always watching, so live your life to never let them down, and I'll do my best to do just that on this end of the Globe. Good luck.
Much love and well wishing,
エベレット長老
Elder Everett
So I told you we were having a Bowling Activity right? Well that was sweet; the bowling alley gave us a little print out afterward of all our scores, what pins we left, and the general statistics. Oh man, I wish all bowling alleys did that; that was awesome. We had a really nice conversation with the Morinaga 「森永」 (the #1 women's single Ping Pong High Schooler in Japan) and should be able to start teaching her soon! Her father is a less active member, and his Home Teacher works with us all the time, so we've already got a great connection to the ward and It should just take a little push before she really starts to take off in the Gospel. She's already interested in what the heck it is we do as Missionaries, and teaching English is always a plus in Japan. Here's for hoping.
That night we headed over to Yanai to get ready for a mini-zone conference. I've decided that exchanges and getting ready for Zone conferences are glorified sleep-overs for missionaries, and there is nothing wrong with that! Conversations though, now focus on people you're working with, and just crazy stories that always abound in Missionary work (one companionship may have met the #2 Most Wanted in Japan, and taught him lesson 1). It's really cool though, to hear other’s successes, and just knowing that for everybody, the happiest time (at least for these two years) is whenever somebody commits to Baptism, or actually is baptized. As cool and funny as all the other stories may be, in the end, they all pale in comparison to seeing the change and miraculous spirit shown by converts in their testimony after being baptized. “Joyous” is about the only word I can think to describe it.
Wednesday was a little rough during the day. We had our plan to visit all our investigators, but everyone was gone. It ended up being a grin and bare it day until that night when we had a nice Mogi 「模擬」 lesson (practice lesson) and Eikaiwa. This week was acronym week which is always fun. At the start nobody has any idea what I'm talking about, but by the end everyone is way involved and making acronyms all on their own, about just about everything. Apparently I am an Energetic Vigorous Elegant Romantic Enthusiastic Titanic Toilet. Maybe they need a little more work on that one.
Thursday we had the Zone leaders come over for a glorified sleep-over (companion exchange). We had a good plan all set up to visit everyone, but again nobody was home. 残念！ We did find some nice potential investigators though, including one whose kids go to a Catholic school here. (which by the way, is next door to our apartment. To get to our apartment you take the turn at the Catholic church, or if you're coming from the other direction, you turn just after the "World Liquors" store) Working with the ZLs (Zone Leaders) was great, though. Habuer 長老 really helped me understand that all missionaries are really just people. We all work hard, are called to a special calling, but everyone has their history, and everyone works hard for their own reasons. That, and it doesn't matter who you are, you have some form of geeky background that's always fun to share. I didn't get to go to Dance this week (the other companionship for the exchange went) but our other lessons were just as....entertaining.
Friday was pretty good, we have this thing around here called the English room, where we go and just talk in English to a bunch of Japanese people that want to learn English. I met this one guy from California (totally looks Japanese) and ended up teaching him all of lesson one just in a casual conversation. His questions were like, straight out of Preach My Gospel (the missionary's guide book) and his whole family is religious, of all denominations. You just don't find that in Japan (granted he is American, but whatever).
Saturday was rough, I was a little sick (dehydration.....which means it's my own dumb fault) and ended up missing an event we wanted to go to at the local High School. Oh well... We did end up buying a pocket 'Othello' board though, that's been great fun!
Sunday was very awesome. We had our normal Church schedule in the morning, and then just went all over the City with one of the members visiting less-active members and introducing ourselves to them. All of them had some hobby or work that either Koyama or myself had in common with them. Hopefully through those connections we can help them come back to the church and feel, at least one more time, the happiness and joy that comes from it. And all it takes is at least one friend in the Church and it's that much easier to come back. Before this mission, I openly admit it, I was quite shy when it came to one-on-one interactions with those I did not know. I would actually do whatever I could to avoid them at all costs. Now that that is essentially all I do, I don't think I'll ever have as much a problem when I get back.
That night we had a super delicious dinner: Steak (from the members), and mashed potatoes and boiled carrots and grape juice. It was our American meal night (probably the only one) and that night after planning we played GO on our new Othello board. GO is a great game, and I highly recommend it to all. It's way traditional Japanese, and I love it. I played with Koyama, and through some stroke of luck won by 10 spots! The whole time he was like "What is this, I'm Japanese, I can't lose at GO". My board game winning infamy lives! That whole night was so 懐かしい natsukashii (nostalgic). It felt like a normal Sunday back home and I couldn’t help but smile all night.
Now it's P-Day and I have taken some of your time. Just remember the times you have with your family, and do all you can to preserve those moments. It's absolutely awesome to hear that Richard Mackelprang and Matthew Watkins have made it back from their missions and are doing splendidly, and that Devin Romney is just about on his way to start his mission. There are few things greater than to grow up with good friends, and after several years, see that they are still your friends in the gospel and are living life to the best of their ability. Be that strong link for a friend, for an acquaintance, for that person you saw in the street that you just said 'Hello' to. You are an example to somebody, you may not know who, but somebody is always watching, so live your life to never let them down, and I'll do my best to do just that on this end of the Globe. Good luck.
Much love and well wishing,
エベレット長老
Elder Everett
Monday, September 5, 2011
5 Sep 2011
Holy time vortex! What in the world happened this week?! It seems like it went by so fast, but at the same time, looking at the last post, all of that seems like so long ago. Things progress so fast here, everything is changing, moving, continuing all the time. I swear something about the mission field makes life go by faster, and slower, at the same time.
So this is technically my 3rd week here, but if feels like I've been in Tokuyama for quite a while now; I've got most of the routes down, and now pretty much all the people in the ward. (practice lessons certainly help with that) so let's start at the beginning of last week.
So Monday afternoon we left to go to Yanai (another area in our district) to get ready for a doctor Zone conference in Hiroshima on Tuesday. There we met everyone from both the Hiroshima Zone, and Tokuyama zone. We were taught how to be healthy both physically and mentally, and how even though the spiritual side has become 1st, to not let physical drop below 3rd on our priority list. Which, I have to admit, does happen very quickly. (I think I gained like 5 kilos since I arrived at Tokuyama!)
Dr. Gibson, a psychiatrist, talked to us about mental health, and how to combat depression and other such things that apparently are prevalent in missionary work. (Who knew?) So his message to us was when talking about life, don't say "I want to do this BUT...." whatever you want to complain about. Instead he taught us to "Kick 'but'" and replace it with 'and' "I want to do this AND it will be hard" At that point you accept that it will be difficult, and move on, and do it. You completely stop worrying about how you'll do it, and just do it. Conquer your Inner critic, worry wart, judge, and hedonist, and life becomes that much simpler. Also don't worry about the 'should'ves' but instead don't "should" on yourself.
After the zone conference (with super delicious food from the members) we got back on the train for our 3 hour trip back to Tokuyama (others had a 5 hour trip). Hoo boy, it definitely helps to have a Japanese Companion that understands the train system! Also, I've decided that Japan has the best public service announcement posters, anywhere from animals on leashes getting stuck on the wrong side of an elevator door, to someone with a backpack half the size of the train blocking other people's movement, Japan has some pretty great graphics for the general public!
Wednesday and Thursday were nothing super special, we just did our normal Dendo (missionary work) and went on our way. We did have Eikaiwa though, which is always a good time (Did I tell you about the 75 year old man who writes a short essay in English every week, just because?) Every Wednesday I'm amazed at how the Japanese are about the genki-est (most energetic) people ever. We've got 60/70 year olds jumping up and down trying to figure out the word for the picture being drawn (pictionary) and being comically over-dramatic when they both win and lose. So good.
Friday was a power house day - we had 4 lessons all over the city (and one in another city) and reestablished a baptismal date for one person while having 3 others learn more about their relationship to God and the plan He has for them. He really does have a plan for everyone and all we have to do is accept it and work hard. Learning His plan for us is of supreme importance and we do this through study and prayer. Small and simple things like regular church attendance, reading the Scriptures, praying, interactions with others, all of these change who we are, where we're headed, and the help we either receive, or lose. Don't be a loser, go out and win! (or 'get' as the case may be)
Saturday we had about my favorite form of Dendo yet. Dance Dendo! So, one of our members owns a Dance studio and teaches Ball Room dance. [Both her daughter (14) and son (12) are nationally ranked for Junior ballroom dancers and their dance hall is filled with various trophies and awards they have won] and we were invited over to participate in one of the classes. Ballroom is a little weird without a partner (such is missionary rules) but it was great fun nonetheless! Afterwards we had a really nice lesson with one of their students who came to Church yesterday! One day after his first lesson he was up at the pulpit bearing his testimony (which he had written down before) in front of a group of people he had never met before. He was followed by the member who teaches him dance, and the spirit was so strong in that meeting. Way to go, Hiro-kun!
That night (since it was a fast Sunday) one of the members made us Dinner. Apparently he's been doing so for the missoinaries for the past 10 years or so, and OH MY GOODNESS what a feast. So it was 3 of us, but there was enough food for a family of 6/7. We had Yakisoba (enough for 2 and then he gave me seconds!), Karaage, a fresh salad, and Mugi-cha (barley tea) for the main course, and home-made ice cream, grapes, and pineapple slices for dessert! The fruit alone would have been enough for a whole meal, much less a portion of dessert after the fact! I fell asleep early that day, I was surprised I could even move at all afterward!
The members here are so nice, and their faith is strong. Now to just work with them in bringing their friends to a knowledge of the restored gospel and growing the ward. (So there are actually more families in the ward, I think 3 or 4)
Today we have a bowling appointment with a friend of a member (I love this plan!) and then a meal with them afterward. This P-Day might be tied for #1 P-day so far (it's hard to beat Kumamoto Castle).
I love you all, and wish you all good luck in your various activities and events. (I heard BYU, NC State, and Boise State all won their first football games of the season ... SWEET!) Just remember that as the world moves, turns, and progresses, you need to do all you can to not get left behind, or stop. You should always be progressing, always improving, and never stop learning. This is your life, so go live it, don't let anyone/anything stop you from Becoming.
Love and Peace
エベレット 長老
Elder Everett
So this is technically my 3rd week here, but if feels like I've been in Tokuyama for quite a while now; I've got most of the routes down, and now pretty much all the people in the ward. (practice lessons certainly help with that) so let's start at the beginning of last week.
So Monday afternoon we left to go to Yanai (another area in our district) to get ready for a doctor Zone conference in Hiroshima on Tuesday. There we met everyone from both the Hiroshima Zone, and Tokuyama zone. We were taught how to be healthy both physically and mentally, and how even though the spiritual side has become 1st, to not let physical drop below 3rd on our priority list. Which, I have to admit, does happen very quickly. (I think I gained like 5 kilos since I arrived at Tokuyama!)
Dr. Gibson, a psychiatrist, talked to us about mental health, and how to combat depression and other such things that apparently are prevalent in missionary work. (Who knew?) So his message to us was when talking about life, don't say "I want to do this BUT...." whatever you want to complain about. Instead he taught us to "Kick 'but'" and replace it with 'and' "I want to do this AND it will be hard" At that point you accept that it will be difficult, and move on, and do it. You completely stop worrying about how you'll do it, and just do it. Conquer your Inner critic, worry wart, judge, and hedonist, and life becomes that much simpler. Also don't worry about the 'should'ves' but instead don't "should" on yourself.
After the zone conference (with super delicious food from the members) we got back on the train for our 3 hour trip back to Tokuyama (others had a 5 hour trip). Hoo boy, it definitely helps to have a Japanese Companion that understands the train system! Also, I've decided that Japan has the best public service announcement posters, anywhere from animals on leashes getting stuck on the wrong side of an elevator door, to someone with a backpack half the size of the train blocking other people's movement, Japan has some pretty great graphics for the general public!
Wednesday and Thursday were nothing super special, we just did our normal Dendo (missionary work) and went on our way. We did have Eikaiwa though, which is always a good time (Did I tell you about the 75 year old man who writes a short essay in English every week, just because?) Every Wednesday I'm amazed at how the Japanese are about the genki-est (most energetic) people ever. We've got 60/70 year olds jumping up and down trying to figure out the word for the picture being drawn (pictionary) and being comically over-dramatic when they both win and lose. So good.
Friday was a power house day - we had 4 lessons all over the city (and one in another city) and reestablished a baptismal date for one person while having 3 others learn more about their relationship to God and the plan He has for them. He really does have a plan for everyone and all we have to do is accept it and work hard. Learning His plan for us is of supreme importance and we do this through study and prayer. Small and simple things like regular church attendance, reading the Scriptures, praying, interactions with others, all of these change who we are, where we're headed, and the help we either receive, or lose. Don't be a loser, go out and win! (or 'get' as the case may be)
Saturday we had about my favorite form of Dendo yet. Dance Dendo! So, one of our members owns a Dance studio and teaches Ball Room dance. [Both her daughter (14) and son (12) are nationally ranked for Junior ballroom dancers and their dance hall is filled with various trophies and awards they have won] and we were invited over to participate in one of the classes. Ballroom is a little weird without a partner (such is missionary rules) but it was great fun nonetheless! Afterwards we had a really nice lesson with one of their students who came to Church yesterday! One day after his first lesson he was up at the pulpit bearing his testimony (which he had written down before) in front of a group of people he had never met before. He was followed by the member who teaches him dance, and the spirit was so strong in that meeting. Way to go, Hiro-kun!
That night (since it was a fast Sunday) one of the members made us Dinner. Apparently he's been doing so for the missoinaries for the past 10 years or so, and OH MY GOODNESS what a feast. So it was 3 of us, but there was enough food for a family of 6/7. We had Yakisoba (enough for 2 and then he gave me seconds!), Karaage, a fresh salad, and Mugi-cha (barley tea) for the main course, and home-made ice cream, grapes, and pineapple slices for dessert! The fruit alone would have been enough for a whole meal, much less a portion of dessert after the fact! I fell asleep early that day, I was surprised I could even move at all afterward!
The members here are so nice, and their faith is strong. Now to just work with them in bringing their friends to a knowledge of the restored gospel and growing the ward. (So there are actually more families in the ward, I think 3 or 4)
Today we have a bowling appointment with a friend of a member (I love this plan!) and then a meal with them afterward. This P-Day might be tied for #1 P-day so far (it's hard to beat Kumamoto Castle).
I love you all, and wish you all good luck in your various activities and events. (I heard BYU, NC State, and Boise State all won their first football games of the season ... SWEET!) Just remember that as the world moves, turns, and progresses, you need to do all you can to not get left behind, or stop. You should always be progressing, always improving, and never stop learning. This is your life, so go live it, don't let anyone/anything stop you from Becoming.
Love and Peace
エベレット 長老
Elder Everett
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