Monday, March 25, 2019
Week 84 - 03/24/19 - Group Email
Transfer emails came today. I'm gonna be staying in Hodogaya and will get a new comp. His name's Elder Koslow, he's half Japanese and fluent in both languages so I'll be asking lots of Japanese questions haha. Looking forward to this next transfer!
I've said it in past emails but lately we have been working hard with less active members. This past week we met one guy named Nakamura who hadn't talked to someone from the church for nearly 40 years who he was super friendly and promised us that he would come to church! I honestly didn't think he would show up because people tell us they will do things all the time and don't but he actually did! Unfortunately he didn't come until 12 which is when church ends lol BUT he was able to meet a bunch of members and we did a lesson with him. It was cool to see how much he remembered about the church despite not coming in so long. He shared his concerns about returning to activity so we are going to do our best to help him overcome those! We met another less active as well a few days later name Nakajima who hadn't talked to anyone from the church for almost 50 years! He was so nice and said he wants us to invite him to church events. We're gonna try and work with him so that he wants to not just come to events but church as well.
Another miracle was that we were able to meet with the American college student who we found last week named Griffin! We thought he blew us off but when we went again he said he had just stepped out around the time we visited last time. We had a great lesson on the restoration and committed him to read the BoM. It's honestly such a blessing to be able to talk about things like prophets, Jesus Christ, the atonement, etc. which people who actually know what they are! He seems pretty set on his catholic roots though so hopefully the Book of Mormon can change his heart.
We met an Olympian the other day! His name is Hawegawa Daigo and he competed at Rio in the triple jump for track and field. He was a stud. Too bad he wasn't interested in the gospel though... :(
I've said it in past emails but lately we have been working hard with less active members. This past week we met one guy named Nakamura who hadn't talked to someone from the church for nearly 40 years who he was super friendly and promised us that he would come to church! I honestly didn't think he would show up because people tell us they will do things all the time and don't but he actually did! Unfortunately he didn't come until 12 which is when church ends lol BUT he was able to meet a bunch of members and we did a lesson with him. It was cool to see how much he remembered about the church despite not coming in so long. He shared his concerns about returning to activity so we are going to do our best to help him overcome those! We met another less active as well a few days later name Nakajima who hadn't talked to anyone from the church for almost 50 years! He was so nice and said he wants us to invite him to church events. We're gonna try and work with him so that he wants to not just come to events but church as well.
Another miracle was that we were able to meet with the American college student who we found last week named Griffin! We thought he blew us off but when we went again he said he had just stepped out around the time we visited last time. We had a great lesson on the restoration and committed him to read the BoM. It's honestly such a blessing to be able to talk about things like prophets, Jesus Christ, the atonement, etc. which people who actually know what they are! He seems pretty set on his catholic roots though so hopefully the Book of Mormon can change his heart.
We met an Olympian the other day! His name is Hawegawa Daigo and he competed at Rio in the triple jump for track and field. He was a stud. Too bad he wasn't interested in the gospel though... :(
We also tried some pineapple dendo (missionary work) this week! Basically you compare a pineapple to the gospel, fun times.
After english class on Wednesday a member of the bishopric came and told us the bisohp wanted to meet with us. We went up to his office and he praised us for working so much with less actives! Sometimes it feels like the members don't notice our efforts or think that we do a ton so it was definitely nice getting that recognition and feeling like the ward trusts us and wants to work with us!
Have a good week everyone!
ディーン長老
After english class on Wednesday a member of the bishopric came and told us the bisohp wanted to meet with us. We went up to his office and he praised us for working so much with less actives! Sometimes it feels like the members don't notice our efforts or think that we do a ton so it was definitely nice getting that recognition and feeling like the ward trusts us and wants to work with us!
Have a good week everyone!
ディーン長老
Monday, March 18, 2019
Week 83 - 03/17/19 - Group Email
Hello everyone!
- Last pday we went to the Yokohama zoo and watching the monkeys was honestly the most entertainment I have had on my mission. It was great.
- We were able to teach a few first lessons this past week and had a college student attent church that we've been working with. It was a special YSA sacrament meeting and he seemed to like it! Sadly he lives in a different area but that's just the way it goes sometimes so we're gonna pass him off to the Fujisawa Elders.
- Last pday we went to the Yokohama zoo and watching the monkeys was honestly the most entertainment I have had on my mission. It was great.
- We were able to teach a few first lessons this past week and had a college student attent church that we've been working with. It was a special YSA sacrament meeting and he seemed to like it! Sadly he lives in a different area but that's just the way it goes sometimes so we're gonna pass him off to the Fujisawa Elders.
- I took a spill on my bike the other day... I was hittin those little ramps that lead up onto the sidewalk for fun and didn't notice that the next one was raised off the ground so I totally slid out. Scratched my hands up pretty good but the work moves on haha.
I went on splits in my old area again with Elder Usui and we found a 金人(golden person)！I called out to him at the crosswalk and we had a super good conversation. Then the next day the other Elders met with him again and it turned out super good. I'm expecting big things with him!
- Also during splits we ate at my favorite restaurant in the whole mission! They make Okonomiyaki which is like pancake, egg, cabbage, noodles, sauce, meat, squid, and some other good stuff.
- One day we were visiting a LA member and my comp saw an American walking into his aparment so of course we went and knocked that building. We ended up finding him (along with lots of other foreigners). Turns out he's 21, Catholic, and searching for purpose in life and wants to strengthen is his relationship with God! Another 金人！ I think that is the first time I've heard someone say something like that since I've been out. We told him we'd bring an English BoM and he was pumped! We went the next day but of course he didn't answer the door... We're gonna go back this week though and are hoping for the best.
Well, we are winding up the transfer this week with transfer emails next pday. Time is flying!
Love you all!
ディーン長老
I went on splits in my old area again with Elder Usui and we found a 金人(golden person)！I called out to him at the crosswalk and we had a super good conversation. Then the next day the other Elders met with him again and it turned out super good. I'm expecting big things with him!
- Also during splits we ate at my favorite restaurant in the whole mission! They make Okonomiyaki which is like pancake, egg, cabbage, noodles, sauce, meat, squid, and some other good stuff.
- One day we were visiting a LA member and my comp saw an American walking into his aparment so of course we went and knocked that building. We ended up finding him (along with lots of other foreigners). Turns out he's 21, Catholic, and searching for purpose in life and wants to strengthen is his relationship with God! Another 金人！ I think that is the first time I've heard someone say something like that since I've been out. We told him we'd bring an English BoM and he was pumped! We went the next day but of course he didn't answer the door... We're gonna go back this week though and are hoping for the best.
Well, we are winding up the transfer this week with transfer emails next pday. Time is flying!
Love you all!
ディーン長老
Sunday, March 10, 2019
Week 82 - 03/10/19 - Group Email
It's been a pretty good week here in Hodogaya!
in the span of 3 days I talked to someone from the following countries: India, Philippines, Peru, Nepal, USA (Georgia and Michigan), South Africa, China, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Korea! It was an unusually large amount of foreigners for the week but it's cool to be in a mission with so much diversity.
So there's some new videso that the church put out called the Safety Zone that missionaries are required to watch and they are easily the most entertainment I have had in a long while. We've almost watched them all and I have that feeling you get when you're about to finish the final season on Netflix. It's a sad feeling... ☹️
I had the opportunity to go back to one of my previous areas on splits which was lots of fun! That place definitely feels most like home here in Japan. On our way to District council some dude rode up next to us on his bike and explained that he had learned from the missionaries about 4 years ago and wants us to teach him more! It was way out of the blue and he seemed pretty genuine. Sadly it's not my area but it was still a cool experience!
Something crazy happened this week, we got a referral!! If you can believe it this was the first referral that I have received and contacted on my mission. A missionary who is serving in the Philippines told us to contact his nonmember sister who lives in our area. We went and had a really great lesson! She's filipina and doesn't speak any Japanese or much English which was tough but we had a Filipino member who really helped out. Sadly at the end of the lesson she said she is currently learning from another church and would like to finish those lessons before she continues with us. We're hoping she finishes soon so we can teach her!
Today we are hitting up a zoo and I'm pumped!
Love,
I had the opportunity to go back to one of my previous areas on splits which was lots of fun! That place definitely feels most like home here in Japan. On our way to District council some dude rode up next to us on his bike and explained that he had learned from the missionaries about 4 years ago and wants us to teach him more! It was way out of the blue and he seemed pretty genuine. Sadly it's not my area but it was still a cool experience!
Something crazy happened this week, we got a referral!! If you can believe it this was the first referral that I have received and contacted on my mission. A missionary who is serving in the Philippines told us to contact his nonmember sister who lives in our area. We went and had a really great lesson! She's filipina and doesn't speak any Japanese or much English which was tough but we had a Filipino member who really helped out. Sadly at the end of the lesson she said she is currently learning from another church and would like to finish those lessons before she continues with us. We're hoping she finishes soon so we can teach her!
Today we are hitting up a zoo and I'm pumped!
Love,
Elder Dean
Monday, March 4, 2019
Week 81 - 03/02/19 - Group Email
Hello!
This week wasn't all that eventful. We had interviews with President which were great. It's always nice receiving counsel from him and learning how I can improve myself as a missionary.
Last P-day we went to a place called Kamakura! It was Japan's capital back in the day so there is some cool touristy stuff over there. I also got to see the ocean after about 7 months so that was nice :)
We have been visiting tons of Less Active members these past few weeks and one guy that we visited the other day told us he stopped coming to church 40 years ago when he was a highschool student because a member got angry when he said he ate on fast Sunday. It's really too bad that he let that get to him and didn't choose to accept the fact that members are imperfect people. But it's also important that we as members don't say things that are judge mental or demeaning because you never know how strong someone's testimony is and maybe all they need to stop going is for someone to make an offensive comment like that. It's interesting to think that because of that one comment this guys life took a completely different course than it could have. He seemed quite bitter but was also nice so we might try to work with him.
Pics:
This week wasn't all that eventful. We had interviews with President which were great. It's always nice receiving counsel from him and learning how I can improve myself as a missionary.
Last P-day we went to a place called Kamakura! It was Japan's capital back in the day so there is some cool touristy stuff over there. I also got to see the ocean after about 7 months so that was nice :)
We have been visiting tons of Less Active members these past few weeks and one guy that we visited the other day told us he stopped coming to church 40 years ago when he was a highschool student because a member got angry when he said he ate on fast Sunday. It's really too bad that he let that get to him and didn't choose to accept the fact that members are imperfect people. But it's also important that we as members don't say things that are judge mental or demeaning because you never know how strong someone's testimony is and maybe all they need to stop going is for someone to make an offensive comment like that. It's interesting to think that because of that one comment this guys life took a completely different course than it could have. He seemed quite bitter but was also nice so we might try to work with him.
Pics:
- Kamakura
- Some skater bro we called up from our area book. We wanted to teach him but literally his only desire in life is to skateboard. No family, no kids, no college, just skateboarding. I asked him what he thought of the church when he learned about it a few years back and he said when he saw the picture of the crucifixion all he thought about was how much he wanted to grind the top of the cross....
愛してまーす！
ディーン長老
ディーン長老
I love you all!
Elder Dean
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From movie night the other week. Zone blitz in our area. hiked Mount Oyama. IT's pretty cool t here is a huge Buddhis...
