It's June already?? 3 Jun 2012

So, secret of the week, this is the last week of the transfer!?  What a crazy awesome 6 weeks it’s been!  It’s really scary to think that somehow it is already over this transfer; this has by far been the fastest transfer ever.  I remember when I was with Elder Clements at the end of my first transfer and he told me "Wow it feels like I haven't even been with you at all" which I thought was strange because my first transfer seemed to take forever, but I think I understand him now, this really has just flown by!  Let’s pick up with what happened this week!

Monday we had a district P-Day and had the Nobeoka Elders come up here and went to this place called Round 1 (imagine Adventure landing, a bowling alley, a gym, a karaoke bar, casino, skate rink, and other like activities all rolled up into one building) which ended up being slightly more expensive than we previously thought.  We made the mistake of going to the bowling and the Sports section, which you have to pay for separately so that ended up being all my money..... BUT it was an awesome time! (probably a once every couple of months type of activity though......)  It’s always fun going bowling in Japan, because they always have some sort of crazy thing going on, such as their crazy 'moonlight' bowling that they put on once an hour and see who can bowl the first strike with all the lights off and intense techno music going on in the background.  Somehow as soon as the game started it fell on my turn and within 10 seconds of them saying start I destroyed the pins at the end of the lane for a strike!  They gave me a lei and I got to wear this sweet Bowling Pin outfit for pictures. :D.  

Tuesday we had another Junkai with Nobeoka (we seem to always have a lot at the end of the transfer).  I went around with Elder Eckman, he's on his 2nd transfer, and we ended up visiting our Bishop's family for family home evening.  Elder Gandy and I had set up that appointment, purely because we were trying to meet with members, but somehow it turned into us teaching their family home evening (which I didn't know we were doing until he called on us to teach after dinner).  I ended up teaching the lesson based on Alma 32:28 and the parable of the seed. It’s a good thing that we've been developing that lesson recently with all our visits to less active members recently, because it's always a little bit difficult to come up with a lesson on the spot as you teach (even if that is how I always taught before the mission.... sorry guys) For dessert we had chips and little cups of jell-o (which I think is a dangerous thing to bring out for kids, and more especially missionaries....no matter how much you jiggle it, it always keeps its shape, and believe you me, we jiggled it quite a bit.....)

Going along with our pattern that's developed over the past couple of weeks, the rest of the week was filled with visits to less active members.  We met with one member for his first gospel visit in over 3 years, and continue to meet with some of our recent converts to strengthen them, and to give Elder Gandy a chance to practice his Japanese in a non-hostile environment, or at least as close as we can get. We've been meeting this one family at a beach near us and it's just been a ton of beautiful scenery as we've been talking about the gospel.  I think I've really enjoyed teaching outdoors and in parks!

Eikaiwa has also been doing really well.  We've had new students come recently and it's been really cool to see all our 'regulars' reach out the hand of fellowship for each new eikaiwa student.  Now if only we could get that same effort and atmosphere in our ward, that would be awesome.  There are sometimes I think that our Eikaiwa students are better at fellow-shipping then our members.  I really like our group that we have at eikaiwa!  They may have brought out the inner geek in me, but I think it's been a great way to create relationships with all of them.  I actually overheard one of them talking to one of the new students, explaining to them who the teachers were, and he described me as a Japanese, born and raised in America.  Man, I would make one very southern Japanese man :D

Sunday we had at least 6 less active members make it out to church!  We also had this family that's visiting from Utah come to church, too.  The mom is from Oita, and apparently comes to visit every couple of years, and she brought two of her kids, 15 and 13, both of whom don't speak Japanese, so I got to translate for them!  I don't know why I enjoy translating so much, but it’s always a way good time!  Well, the week is coming to a close faster than we really have time to do anything, but I'll leave you off for today.   I have to get ready because we're having lunch with Naoya today!

Peace out from the far east,
エベレット長老
Elder Everett

Tell me the stories of Oita - 28 May 2012

Happy late May!  This has been one crazy week, oh man, I'm not even sure where to start!

Let’s start on with Monday.  So this past Monday we made our way on the 4 hour bus ride over to Kumamota for Zone Conference.  We actually went on that Monday for a Zone P-day.  We played a bunch of sports together in the stake center over there.  Helped me realize how bad I still am at ping pong..... it's still coming I hope....

That night we stayed at the Shimizu apartment (It still feels weird to go back to that apartment :D)  We ended up having 14 elders stay in that apartment that night!  I remember that apartment being a little tight sometimes with 4 people living in it, but man, 14 was an adventure.  Elder Clements and I actually ended up sleeping on the balcony.  It was a good thing in didn't rain because we were in no way sheltered.  Strangely enough though, I think that was about the best night of sleep I've had on the mission.... Oh how I miss sleeping outside!

Then at the actual conference that Tuesday we had a great time!  It's always really awesome to come to Zone Conference because you get to see all the other Elders around the area and you get to actually interact with them.  Out here in Oita, we see other elders only 2 or 3 times a transfer, so it really does become a special event when we do.  It has helped me really appreciate the relationships we make with members and investigators more.  The challenge that we received at Zone Conference, I want to extend to all of you.  No matter what meeting you go to, no matter what you do each day, find one thing to learn.  Whether it’s one small thing to change or apply from the meeting, from the day, from whatever it is you are doing, we should always be seeking ways to improve and grow.  It's never too late to learn more and improve! 

It was really cool at the conference, because Elder Clements, my trainer, was there, and we ended up getting a 3 "generation" picture of the event :D.  Not to mention all of the other friends that I got to meet up at the conference! 

When we got back to Oita, we just had a bunch of other things to do.  At lot of our time has been working with our less active and recent converts here, which ends up taking quite a bit of time.  Wednesday we met with our Ward Mission Leader, who took us out for lunch, and then met with this other member around that area.  She's one of the more interesting members I've worked with.  She says she reads the book of Mormon every day, prays every day, but for some reason just doesn't come to church.  I don't think she ever told her husband that she got baptized, and that may be a big detriment in her journey back to church. How great it is to have the freedom to exercise your religion, to show your faith.  For any that are afraid to express themselves, take courage, the Lord is with you, and rejoices in your happiness.  You are His child and He loves you. 

Alright, this is a bit short, time has run up.... but know that I love you all and wish you all the best!

Have a good week!

Elder Everett

Greetings from the light of a Solar Eclipse! 21 May 2012

It's MAY 21!  I've been hearing about this day for a couple weeks now from the Students at Eikaiwa.  They've been telling me that there's a solar eclipse coming right over where we're at today.... I didn't realize how rare this was.  I asked the teacher at seminary today if he was getting ready to see it.  He told me he was, because the next time it will be visible from here is in 62 years!  This is a once-in-a-62-year event!  And of course the sky is completely covered in clouds.  But hopefully we'll see at least a little bit of it!

Ok, so this has been a super week!  We started out with a junkai (companion exchange) over in Nobeoka!  So they live in a different prefecture from us, and their prefecture is famous for a food called Chicken Nanban, and apparently Nobeoka is the best city for Chicken Nanban in the prefecture, and we went to this place called Ogura's, which is the best restaurant in Nobeoka for Chicken Nanban!  I had some good food that day!  Other food adventures: Wednesday was the half way mark for the transfer and we had a fried food lunch (man, frying food without a dedicated pot is hard, messy, and smelly....) then Friday we had a special lunch at a steak restaurant (:D) that also had all-you-can-eat curry and rice, bread, soup, salad, and drinks!  I had a 650 g. tower of hamburger steak that about killed me.... with the other food involved, I ate well over 2 lbs of food that lunch.  

But Junkais aren't all about the food (though it may be a large part) we also have a great time seeing members from all around and talking to people everywhere.  I don't know what it is about those times, but everyone talks about the Junkai miracles, and they happen all the time!  People that normally can't meet magically happen to be home, people tend to listen more, members come to help, and it's just a special time!  Then there's the time back in the apartment where we get to hang out, talk, and have the big missionary sleepover!  It's especially good here in Oita, because we don't get to see any other missionaries except for on Junkais.... and once a transfer on Zone Conference (which is this coming Tuesday actually!)  Elder Gandy taught us this card game called "Idiot" which might just be more addicting than Farkle, and possibly just as good has Hearts, the other games that seem to take all the time during a scout camp out (or, you know, big missionary sleepovers).

I don't know what it was about this week, but most everybody that we went to visit either fell through, weren't home, or were too busy to talk to us this week.  But something amazing did happen.  Lately we haven't been able to set specific times for meetings, but this week we decided that we wanted to focus on setting times and somehow, though we haven't been able to make any appointments this transfer, a refocus got us 12 new appointments for the coming weeks.  It is so much easier to plan a day when you have things already scheduled out!

The other super thing about this week.... YAKUSHIJI GOT BAPTIZED!  Yesterday we had the baptismal service before church.  It was a really nice meeting, a lot of the members made it out, some less active members too!  Elder Gandy got to perform the baptism (his first one!) and we both participated in the confirmation!  It was a great day.  She's been working hard for this, and at 58, she's becoming a great example to other investigators that feel like they can't convert because of age.  When it comes to salvation, age is no factor.  No matter how old you are, what you've done, how far you've strayed, or how worthy or unworthy you may feel, the Lord is waiting for you with open arms; we just have to make the steps.  Whether those steps are toward baptism, or toward taking the sacrament again and renewing those baptismal covenants, there is no separation too long, sin too big, or person too insignificant for the love of the Savior.

That Sunday we also had 3 less-active members make it out to church too!  2 of them we had called and invited, and one came entirely of his own free will!  Then that night we called on one of our members and made some visits to some other les- active members.  Both people that we got to meet last night were special occurrences.  One hadn't had any contact with the church in over 3 years, and the other in 4 years!  I don't know what it was about yesterday, but people were home, we had a member with us, and everything worked out in the perfect timing of the Lord!  It was the first time that that member had worked with the missionaries in 2 years and what an experience it turned out to be!  It is amazing what can happen with the missionaries and the members work together in a spirit of unity, calling on the power of heaven directing them to those who are waiting!  This is the work of the Lord, and we are lucky to be a part of it!  It's like I tell Elder Gandy all the time "How great is our calling!"  

Today we make the 4 hour bus ride to Kumamoto for zone conference, but it's all good (I'll try to not fall into temptation and watch the bus video again..... even if it is good Japanese practice.)

Love from Japan,

Elder Everett

Elder Benjamin C Everett

Japan Fukuoka Mission

9-16 Hirao-josuimachi

Chuo-ku

Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka

810-0029

JAPAN

14 May 2012

It's MOTHERS DAY!  Ok, So, I just had a phone call with the Parents, so I don't have that much time with the e-mail today....

Ok, let's start with a quick rundown.

Monday: Well, we didn't have p-day so we had a full day of Dendo!  Sadly most of the day was spent making our ways to people’s houses only to have most people not home, but it was still good, we got a lot of good conversations done.  We did get to end the day with a trip to Sukiya!  It's a fast food restaurant in Japan that focuses on Gyudon, or beef strips on rice, and it's so delicious.  We also topped it with a raw egg, which ended up not being the best choice for Elder Gandy because he spent all of the next day either in the bathroom or passed out on his Futon.  

Tuesday: Well, pretty much just like I said before, it was spent all inside trying to get Elder Gandy back up and healthy.  So he super wasn't up to doing a lot of study or anything like that, so it kind of became a day to learn and play board games and card games together, watch church movies, and take much needed naps.  It's been a long time since I've had a rest day.....  I think it was good for both of us.  Then that night we had a Baptism for Teruki who just turned 8!  We ended up having a good 30 people come out and had a really fun time!  

Wednesday:  So, we still weren't sure how Elder Gandy was going to be that day so we planned on taking it a little easier.  We ended up visiting two less active members, which ended up taking a much longer time than I had thought, and it really did ended up taking all of the day, but it was good, because even if it takes a couple hours out of our day, if it gives them an opportunity to come closer to Christ and feel of the Savior’s love, I am more than willing to take that time, and give them a little more hope for the rest of the week.

Thursday: We went to go visit Yakushiji up on the top of the mountain.  That's a good 1:30 bike ride, but with Elder Gandy not feeling 100% it ended up being about 2 hours!  I thought he was about to die, but he's a trooper, and we ended up having a way good lesson with Yakushiji!  That day we decided that we were going to really focus on bringing the spirit into the lesson, so all our plans and work was for the spirit to be there.  We talked for a good hour and even sang hymns together.  She's preparing for her baptism on the 20th and she's just getting stronger and stronger as time goes on.  Something wonderful that we've found is that every day, as we've picked a specific goal or focus for the day, we've been able to accomplish the task.  Every day essentially, bar none, the goal for the lessons, the prayers before, and all of the work has paid off and we have seen a great deal of success as we have gone throughout this week!  Goal setting and prayer, it’s a good combination!

Friday: We made it out to the East of Oita, another hour bike ride away (We've got a good pair of thunder-thighs coming along).  We ended up not having a whole lot of time to plan on Thursday so we set aside a time in the middle of Friday to finish planning.  We ended up planning by the bank of a river and it would have been a perfect serene scene, except for the trains that roared past every couple of minutes or so.... it was really pretty though!  That day too we ended up not meeting most of the people we intended to, but it was a good day nonetheless!  

Saturday: We had a hiking trip that morning and headed up to a Plateau.  Most all of the pictures today are from that trip.  We had a big picnic after the hike and it was really cool to see all this Japanese food everywhere!  I have to say I am a big fan of Japanese food, and I may have eaten a little bit much.....  I felt like I was going to burst.  Also, I've been living at Sea level for so long, that now when we went up to the Plateau, a good 900m or so up (3000 ft?)  the sun was scorching.  I ended up getting a wicked burn on my neck (which isn't too comfortable with collars and neckties every day.....)  and on the forehead.  It was a great activity though!  Then that night we had a lesson with a previous investigator and it was awesome!  We decided that we wanted to focus on what he needs, what he wants, and how this gospel will help him, and I believe that with the emphasized focus on him, that the lesson went very well.  In fact, by the end of the lesson he said, "I've met many missionaries before, but I have to say that this is the first time I've met missionaries like you, I think it would be really good if I do get baptized, that I would get baptized by you.".... People don't say that, and it was a testimony to me that as we pray and set a goal for what we want to achieve, we can find the success we desire!

Well, time is running out and we've got to get back and get ready to go to Nobeoka today.  We have companionship exchanges (Elder Gandy's first one!) and we've got a good 2 hour train ride ahead of us today!  It'll be great fun though!

Until next week,

Elder Everettエベレット長老

6 Apr 2012 - April Showers in Japan bring seasonal allergies

IT'S MAY!  Oh wow, how does time keep going so fast?   I can answer now, the question, "what were you doing one year ago" and honestly know exactly what I was doing....  I'm pretty sure this mission thing is just one big time capsule that sticks in the mind.  And I see no problem with that (If only it'll stop going so fast).

Ok, so where do I start with this week!?  Essentially I'll just call it a week of miracles and all around good stuff.  So Monday we had what's called an 'Undoukai' or a sports meet (usually for elementary and middle schools) as a ward.  We split up into the Red and White teams and had a series of competitions to decide the winner, anywhere from Relay races, obstacle courses, hula hoops, finding gob stoppers in a bowl of flour, and everywhere in between.  I'll just say that WHITE TEAM RULES!  Red Team's got nothing on us.  Granted, it really did come down to the very last event, a race around the church, and the anchor for both teams ended up being Me and my Companion (for the other team).  I think it suffices to say that WHITE TEAM WON.... I'm sorry Elder Gandy and the other Red team members, but I will not lose  :D

Tuesday was super good.  We had our normal District meeting in the morning, Elder Gandy's first, which was way good.  We learned all about what it takes for us to have an easiness and a desire to learn, and how to give that desire to our investigators.  Granted, it's still a work in progress, but it’s coming.  But after that we still had a whole day left over.  We had a couple of potential investigators we wanted to visit that didn't live too far away, so we decided to just walk the way over there and try to talk to as many people as we could along the way. 

We ended up walking along one on of the strip malls around our area and trying to talk to people around there.  After a good hour or so of trying to find anyone that would listen we finally found this one couple to talk to.  We talked about their job, their plans for Golden week, and we managed to talk about temples, and the Book of Mormon.  The sad thing is, he was moving to Tokyo the next day.  BUT, we gave him the number for the mission home in Tokyo and the Church's website.  I don't know if that will go anywhere but he's in my prayers now, at least for the next week, that he will meet the missionaries sometime soon.  

Then later that day we were making our way to one of our members that we felt that we should meet and were talking to anybody on the streets we could meet.  But by that time we weren't by the main shopping area so there really was nobody on the streets.  But we did see this one man walking down the street.  I encouraged Elder Gandy to go and greet him (Bless his heart, he tried to get a good Japanese greeting, but it just didn't come out).  Somehow the man actually stopped and talked to us.  We ended up talking to him for a little bit, explained what we're doing in Japan and he was like "I really like when I see young people working hard for a good cause, here, let me by you a drink"  

So this man that we had met 4 minutes before took us to a nearby restaurant (ironically called Joyfull) and bought us 2 cups of Hot Cocoa.  We ended up sitting in that restaurant for the next several minutes and talked to him some more.  He saw that Elder Gandy was struggling a little bit with the language and encouraged him to practice teaching in Japanese on him.  He held patiently while Elder Gandy got across the first half of the first lesson in what Japanese he could, then offered advice and encouragement. He talked to us a little bit more after that, then left 2000 円 on the table (about $20) and just left.  We ended up with 2 meals and 2 drinks and an experience that won't be easily forgotten.  

Thursday we ended up making it up to APU (where Naoya is) for half of the day.  We met with Naoya and had dinner with him.  I'm a sucker for good food, and a cafeteria full of delicious Japanese food was just too good, I ended up paying so much for dinner.... I just couldn't say no to Potato salad, fried chicken curry, Japanese soup and a fish fillet.  Too good!  Naoya is also doing way good.  We walked around campus with him for a little bit and I'm pretty sure he knows at least half of all the students on campus.  I suppose it helps being an RA but, yeah, Naoya knows everybody!  We'll see if we can keep meeting with him on Thursdays, and hopefully one of these days we'll get him to church (it's hard living a hour and a half away......)

That Friday we also made our way to the Temple with our ward.  This was very cool because we joined with the Shimizu ward in the Stake, which was way cool because, if you'll remember, that was my first Area!  So I ended up going to the temple with members from 2 areas I've been in!  It was really cool to meet up with members that I haven't seen in 9 months, and even better, some of them actually remembered me!  It was really a special experience to be surrounded by people I know at the temple, and it's always a great experience to be in the Temple.  We ended up doing 2 sessions at the temple (which  meant we had to leave at 5 AM in order to accomplish) and even had time to visit the mission president and the other missionaries in the Mission Home.  We actually got to meet with Elder Clements, my trainer, whose working as an AP right now.  So if Elder Gandy is my son, and I am elder Clements’ son, then it follows that Elder Gandy is Elder Clements Grandson.  It was a good meeting with 3 'generations' of missionaries :D.

Ok, so it's been a while since I've really talked about food here (granted I did do so a little bit at the beginning of this post) but we had some good meals this transfer.  So, we were getting tired of having stir fry every night so we looked for some other options.  What the search ended up being was a chicken pot pie with a pancake crust!  I love finding random cans of food left by previous missionaries that we can use to make delicious meals!   I felt so healthy while making the pot-pie.  The fry pan was all vegetables for the longest time!  Definitely not the normal Elder Everett meal!

OH! Big news for our investigators:  This past Sunday we got to meet with our investigator that is getting baptized on the 27, and she told us that she has to be at work on that day, and she can't get out of it.  So after talking to her for a while and having good lessons on the temple and the real meaning of baptism, we rescheduled for the 20th!  So now we have 2 more weeks until a baptism!  Granted we're having one this Tuesday as well, but that's Teruko, and he just turned 8 :)

Well, that's what I have from this side of the world! 

Have a good week!

Elder Everett
エベレット長老

final April update from Japan 30 Apr 2012

Ok, so, I don't even know where to start with this week!

So, Monday and Tuesday were pretty good.  Tuesday we made the trip back to the investigator’s house up at the top of a mountain in the neighboring city, oh my goodness that was a 45 minute climb to get to the top of the mountain!  I felt like my legs were just about to fall off, but it was all good, because we got to talk to her again and really get her settled in for her May 27th baptism.  The main problem she's been having is that she works at a boxed lunch store, and Sundays from 10 to 1 are essentially, must work hours.  But through a lot of prayer, work, and some divine intervention she managed to get every Sunday off until her baptism on the 27th!  She's been trying to get baptized ever since last February, and it's finally getting to the point where she can seal the deal!

So the big news! 

Wednesday we get our Transfer calls and, well, it was quite a morning.  Elder Takahashi got transferred out of Oita, and is going to be serving a bit further south in this place called Miyakonojo in a three person companionship (which makes the second person in a row that has gone to a three person companionship) and I was not told who my new companion was going to be, because, well at that time it hadn't been decided.  (You see, they don't confirm where new missionaries go until Wednesday night, and I had just been called as a Trainer!)

So Wednesday, after a long day of wondering who in the world I'm going to be with I finally learned that my next companion for the next 6 weeks, at least, is Elder Gandy (pronounced Gyandy, which in Japanese sounds very much like candy), from West Valley Utah.  He is a brand new missionary, fresh out of the MTC (so fresh that he was actually in the MTC choir at the Saturday Afternoon session of General conference.... I know; I found him!) and full of what we call here, "Dendo Fire" or, a desire to work.  I really don't know what it is, but in the past 5 days we've really seen at least a miracle a day!  New investigators that magically speaks English so that Elder Gandy can bear his testimony to them, self-referrals that come to church asking if they can join, running into a member randomly on the street and getting invited to dinner the next day, getting in contact with a less active member for the first time in over a year, or the investigator who finally got her job to give her a break to come to church; we really have just seen a ton of miracles every day.  

So in the special language that is missionary lingo, people tend to call trainers Fathers, and new missionaries beans, or the more affectionate sons.  And I always thought it was a little strange, but really, I think I've come to understand why; because I feel a love for Elder Gandy that I can really only equate to what I imagine a father must feel.  It's his first time out in the world on his own, in a brand new country, speaking a strange language, and trying to be the missionary that these people need.  It's a scary time, I know, and all of the sudden I'm in charge of helping him become, not only a better missionary, but a self-sufficient, successful man.  Maybe it's a little overdramatic, but it. is. true.  

So one of the first things you have to do with a new missionary is go to get them a bicycle.  So we get this nice 21 speed mountain bike and get going.  And what happens, not even 20 minutes later?  We go down this one road where the side walk turns into dirt, and make one wrong move, and totally face plant and flip the bike........I managed to get off with some pretty grody scrapes, but it was all good (I always keep a first aid kit in my pack for such occasions) but we've just been telling everyone that Elder Gandy beats me up at home.

Saturday we finally got to meet up with Naoya again!  He's doing way good!  So he's been super busy because they have a big festival at his college at the start of June, and being on the RA group, he's been called to have a big part in planning, and preparation.  We ended up meeting to eat dinner together at this place called Naruto Udon (it's a delicious udon store that you can choose between 300g, 600g, and 900g of noodles.... all for the same price (that's like a pound and a half of noodles!))  He's keeping busy, and he seems to be really excited to meet with us again.  We gave him a triple combination in English, with a letter from my parents and he was very excited to receive them!  It looks like we may be able to start meeting with him on most Thursdays, and we'll see if we can keep that going!  

This transfer looks like it's going to be amazing!  It's been a jam-packed week so far, and I can hardly imagine how we're going to keep this up for 6 weeks!  But oh man, how awesome will it be if we can!  

Remember who you are, remember that you are all a son or daughter of God.  We are all in His family, and we all have a divine inheritance that is waiting for us, and we are the only ones that can stop us from receiving it.  Because all we have to do is keep the commandments and endure to the end, and if we do, we will receive Eternal life, which gift truly is the greatest of all the gifts of God.  

Have a good week!

Lots of Love

Elder Everett

benjamin.everett@mylds.net

Elder Benjamin C. Everett

Japan Fukuoka Mission

9-16 Hirao-josuimachi

Chuo-ku

Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka

810-0029

JAPAN

IT'S BEEN A YEAR!! 22 Apr 2012

What a minute, somebody explain this to me, how in the world has a year passed already??  Not only that, but that was last week!  No time!

So this past week started off with a companion exchange (junkai) over in Nobeoka.  Nobeoka is the closest area to us at a 2 hour train ride straight south, on the super express train (not the bullet, just super express).  Wow, I never realized how country Japan could be.  Nobeoka was super pretty, fields and farms stretching out everywhere you can see, but, there's just no people there..... It also doesn't help that they live an hour by foot from the Train Station and Church!  

The junkai was good things though.  We had P-day together as well on Monday, and then worked together on Tuesday.  Things I learned from p-day.... I'm not as bad at ping pong as I thought I was, Yahtzee comes to those only who have never played the game before, Farkle is a terribly addicting game, and writing the numbers 1-100 can be a dangerous affair.  We also got to meet some members around Nobeoka which was an awesome experience.  I don't think I've ever seen members with more fire for missionary work!  Desire is a very important thing.

That Tuesday we planned on splitting up between two of the cities (towns) that are in the area because they have a second set of bikes in the second city.  The problem is we forgot to bring the bike key for the second bike ...... whoops!  It turned out good, though; we met a lot of good people and ended up meeting a member randomly as they drove past us on the road.  Probably one of the sadder less-active member visits I've had happened that Tuesday.  The member used to be the branch president and his wife was in the relief society presidency.  But it seems that something may have happened and they have both quit coming to church.  I'm not sure if they overworked and burnt themselves out or what, but the biggest problem that we found, and really, if they change it most all could be resolved, is that they both stopped reading The Book of Mormon.  

Yes they are very busy, and sometimes it will be hard to read the book when we're tired, worn out, dragged out, ready to pass out; but we will always have time to read the Book of Mormon.  It really doesn't matter if you read 5 minutes a day or 5 hours a day, the power of the Book will only come to you when you open it up and let it come; only we can keep ourselves from the blessings of the book from God.

From this past transfer I came to this conclusion:  If you are suffering and you have a way to relieve yourself from stress, pain, and frustration in a fully acceptable way and don't take it, then you become the worst enemy to yourself.  It becomes such that we keep the frustration constantly over us, so that when we complain, we will feel justified because we have been suffering (even if it has been brought on by our own stubbornness and pride).  

To describe it a little easier - imagine you're going up a hill on a bike.  The hill is not super steep, but it is very long.   You start out on your bike and feel like you have the strength to push through and make it to the top.  As time goes on you realize that this hill is longer than you thought, no matter how long you go the hill simply never seems to end.  But we told ourselves that we have the strength to make it to the top of the hill on that bike, and stepping down is not an option, for then it would mean that we would lose that that hill.  So we put the bike into a lower gear, and we push on some more.  Our legs begin to feel heavy, with each stroke of the pedal feeling heavier than the last, but that's just pain, we're strong, we can make to the top.....  So now at this point, our legs hurt, the hill is still there, we've slowed down because it takes so much effort to push forward, and we're slowly becoming more and more discouraged from pain, frustration, and the thought of losing to this hill.  As we try to feel our pride the pain fills us.  Strangers pass us by going down the hill and we ignore their greetings with an angry turn of the head thinking, they don't know the pain I'm going though, they have it easy, my way is hard, and I am suffering, why should I acknowledge them on their way down, they should congratulate me on my effort to push through the pain.  When we reach this point, we are becoming our own worst enemy.   The hill is not your enemy, the kind strangers on the way down are not looking down at you, and you are not showing strength by continuing in the pain, strife, and frustration from the decision you made to not get off the bike.  We will always have the option to step down from the bike and walk the rest of the way up the hill.  Our journey will be faster, easier, and a generally more pleasurable experience.  How is it that we could not see this easier path before?  To put it in one word: Pride.  

I encourage each of us to think, what are our own personal hills?  In what things are we ignoring the easier path because it is not the way that we decided on.  Yes the prospect of walking sounds like it will take longer than the grandeur of a sleek mountain bike; but the steady, methodical application of consistent work will always make it to the top, and often times, in a much easier and pleasurable way.  What things must we take in a steady, consistent way?  Daily prayer and scripture study and weekly church attendance.   There will be other duties that come up with each individual hill, but the three essentials will never change.  Read your scriptures, say your prayers, make it to the top!

This past Sunday we had Ward Conference.  We had members from all over the Stake make the 4 hour car ride out to Oita for a very good conference.  I somehow got roped into translating for two of our foreigner members here.  There's something special that happens when you're called to help translate for a special event.  Something happens to your language skills, suddenly you begin to understand words that you previously wouldn't have, and find ways to put them into your own language that you had previously hadn't thought of.  Now to see if I can get that received language skill to continue on throughout the other aspects of living in Japan.

So this Wednesday is the end of the Transfer, and the calls are coming!  One of the Elders in another area may have "seen" the transfer calls after visiting the temple on Saturday, and called us to say "Man, Everett is going to have an interesting transfer next time."...... GAH, if that's all you're going to say, DON'T SAY ANYTHING!  Man, now I'm going be thinking about what that means for the next 3 days!?  But it's good, I know that this is the Lord's work and He will place me in the position that He knows I must be in.

Have a great week and enjoy the beautiful scenes of April!  This weekend is Golden Week in Japan, so I'll have it good over here.  :D

Until next week,
Elder Ben Everett