21 Feb 2012

Sorry I didn't get to send out an E-mail last week, but if you go to the temple, you don't have a P-day!

Big big event in Fukuoka on Saturday but before that, I've got a whole other week to catch you up on!

So, now we're back in the full swing of things this transfer!  Not that Okada長老 and I really took a break, but it seems that now everyone else is all caught up in their area and doing good. 

We had a way sweet lesson with one of our Investigators who is half-Japanese and prefers English.  It's always a little rough for Okada長老 but we always get him caught back up (I think).  She recently started going to a Gym 3 times a week, which will do wonders for her mental and physical health, but has made it that much more difficult to meet up.  We always have a rock solid lesson with her (it helps that she's already Christian) and these past 2 weeks or so we've seen a huge change in her!  It's the best thing in the world to finally see someone change and to see the work of the Lord illuminate and strengthen every aspect of their lives! 

Then we had a member randomly call us up and ask if he could come and do a joint lesson with one of our investigators!  We've been trying to find more people to come and teach a lesson with us, but mostly to no avail, so you can imagine our surprise when we get a call asking to come with us!  Great things are happening here in Yasufuruichi.  We may just be a small part in Northern Hiroshima (not to mention the surrounding towns as well) but you can feel the hand of the Lord pushing the work forward.  (Interesting fact I learned this week: In Japanese Economics they talk about the "Hand of God" pushing economic trends... in English it's just the "invisible hand")

Remember how a couple weeks ago I said that most of our work gets done on the weekends, well, something changed and now most all of our lessons are either on Monday or Tuesday!  It somehow made the switch and I'm still not sure how it happened.  As long as there's good work to do, I'm happy! 

Saturday (the 11th, one week before the big Fukuoka event) we had a Talent fair with the branch!  We learned a bit of Chinese from one of our investigators (我的名字是Everett)　＜－－Looks like Japanese, huh?  Sign language from our Young Women (speaking of Sign language, Okada長老 and I joined a Sign Language circle every Tuesday that one of our Less Active members puts on!  I have to say, I am a big fan of Japanese Sign Language, and I seem to be picking it up pretty fast!), and then a little bit of Calligraphy from our Relief Society president!  In another room we had the Husband of one of our members teach Guitar!  I'd say that the talent fair was a great success with 3 investigators coming and 2 less active members!

Sunday was an Okonomiyaki party (the Japanese pancakes that are filled with cabbage and octopus and other delicious things) with two types of Okonomiyaki.  So Hiroshima is famous in Japan for their Okonomiyaki (I swear I pass at least 20 stores of it every day, and I can think of 20 others outside of that) and they are main rivals with Osaka and their Okonomiyaki.  So we ate both.  I don't want to say it while I'm still here in Hiroshima but, I like the Osaka way better!

Speaking of delicious food … We've been meeting up with one of our Eikaiwa students at least once a week or so because he wants to give us food.  We get a call from him at least once a day asking to translate something for him, or if his translation is correct or not.  He says his hobby is "treating nice guys like you."  I don't know where he gets his money but I swear he's spent well over $1000 in the past couple of months feeding missionaries.  Everywhere we go he tells us to order 2,3, maybe 4 entrees!  I'm thankful for the love he's showing but, I just wish he would actually listen to us beyond our English....

Alright, so the big event in Fukuoka on Saturday, February 18.  We had a mission-wide meeting at the Honbu (mission home) (everyone except for Okinawa, they watched on video) and the main speaker was Elder Dallin H. Oaks from the Quorum of the 12!  He spoke to us on topics ranging from How to develop a desire, to How an eagle keeps it balance, to The power of the Atonement and irs effect in every aspect of our lives.  We learned of faith, desire, hope, repentance, and felt the weight of his words (and the weight of his hands on my shoulder as he told me "It's good to see an Elder from Raleigh here in Japan").  We also got to hear from Elder Hallstrom and his wife, President Margetts and his wife, (we only saw the Ringwoods this time) and an Elder Tashiro who informed us in the middle of his talk that he testified so much that he ran out of water in his mouth!  That's been one of my goals this week, to testify until my lips can say no more.

Right after the meeting Okada長老　and I, with the Sisters and the Missionaries in Takasu and Hamada (our whole district) went to the Temple with our members.  It just so happened that the meeting was on the same day as our stake temple trip and it was a great experience to go through the temple with all of our members!  A morning with Elder Oaks, the afternoon in the Temple with all of the members, and an evening with missionaries from all over the mission, it was a great day in Fukuoka.  Also a pretty day with 3 inches of snow blanketing everything in sight and snowflakes as big as my thumb dancing down the side of the Temple! 

"It is important to do the right thing, but the second most important thing, and only slightly behind, is doing the right thing at the right time."  There are many people who go about doing good works and seeing no progress.  Remember, the Lord will accomplish what must be done in "His own way, His own time, and according to His own will."  We are lucky to be a part of it and see it come to pass!

Remember, it is a testimony to you when God allows the power of the adversary to be strong around you, because he knows that you have the power to overcome that challenge and progress towards salvation! 

Remember the Joy of the Gospel and share it with everyone you meet, it's really the most unselfish thing you can do.  Share the joy, and watch it blossom in those around you!

Have a great week and I'll try not to miss out on a week again, I'll see what I can do to keep it from happening again!  Love you all and wish you the best (especially those getting ready to serve or who are now out serving, cherish every moment because it will go by mush faster than you can possibly imagine.  Today marks 10 months since I entered the MTC … Don't miss a minute!)

Elder Everett

エベレット長老