This past couple of days have been CRAZY! On Friday and Saturday, we
had an open house (which was out on by the ward and the senior
missionaries here) where everyone could come and get a tour of the
chapel here. We had big pictures that told about Christ's life and
mission, a room about Joseph Smith and a room talking about families.
It was open to everyone from 11:00 to 8:00 so not even the Japanese
could give the excuse that they had no time! On Friday we had a zone
meeting in Shizuoka where we talked about how to better help our
investigators experience the Atonement for themselves and how we can
better help people open up their hearts when we stop them on the
street. We also got some training on how to put all the records from
the area book into the IPad planner app. (By the way, from now on, no
more paper records for me, just IPads). Because of the zone meeting,
we only got to the open house at 4:00. No one was there and nothing
was happening so Elder Silva gets the idea that we should go outside
and get someone to come. We go out and walk around the church at
around five and our goal is to find someone to come to watch the movie
"Meet the Mormons" with us. So, after about thirty minutes, we have a
high schooler come! Endo San! He said he would stay for five minutes
but stayed for two hours. He wouldn't give us any contact information
so we had to settle with having him promise he would come back the
next day.
Saturday came and he didn't come and neither did anyone else. So, we
try for a repeat and go talk to people on the streets. After some
failure, we said a prayer to find someone to invite. I could really
feel the Spirit during it, but, even after that no one close by even
gave us the time to go past the fact that we are missionaries. So a
little bit tired and dejected, we go back to the church and continue
to transfer records into the IPad from the area book. Our mission
president drops in because he is giving a talk that night at the open
house for us and then our investigator Mizuguchi San comes in. He had
the tour the other day when we were in Shizuoka so we just chill with
him for a little bit, eating refreshments and Elder Silva showing
magic. We randomly decide to follow-up with him about reading the
Book of Mormon and one thing leads to another and we get talking about
his smoking problem and how he wants to quit. Elder Silva pulls out
Mizuguchi San's cigarette carton and writes on it for him in big words
"BOOK OF MORMON AND PRAYER!" (in kanji). Whenever he looks for a
cigarette he'll want to read and pray now! We had no plan to do a
lesson but no lesson plan helped us just see what we could to help and
it was all about loving him to death so it was really cool!
Mizuguchi stayed then a couple hours for President Ishii's talk on the
family but left right when we all had a potluck. So, after a cool
thing with him, we go about eating and then we talk and become friends
with the Bishop's co-worker whom the Bishop had brought. He was kind
of shy but I think we helped him fit in because he really liked to try
practicing his English with us. After talking with him for 15 or 20
minutes, we get a text from Shige San, a guy we met on the street two
months ago who ALWAYS works, saying he could come. So, he comes
towards the end and we show him the rooms with Jesus Christ and Joseph
Smith as we teach principles from the first lesson. At the end, he
opened up a bit and asked us about what we believed in with Spirits.
BAM! Of course we believe in us having spirits and in the Holy Spirit
too! He had some knowledge about Christianity because she wife is
Catholic from the Philipines. We explain a little bit and I ask him
what he feels now. He caught me off guard and said in the Jesus
Christ room he felt good but in the Joseph Smith room he felt a bad
feeling. YOU CANT HAVE A BAD FEELING IN THE JOESPH SMITH ROOM! I
think this so I blame Satan and then retell the First Vision account
again except I use Joseph Smith's personal story with the part of him
feeling the devil overtake him before God and Chirst appeared. 'Shige
San, you have found the truth but Satan doesn't want you to have it
just like he didn't want Joseph Smith to pray.' We asked again how he
felt and he was feeling good again! 'That's the Spirit Shige San!'
It was so legit! He is still busy but he told us flat out he has a
lot of interest in this! So many miracles! All at our church on the
corner of Higashimakado!
It has made me think though. Did God answer our prayer on Saturday?
You might say no because we didn't find anyone off of the street to
come inside. But really, He answered it but in a much different but
better way. Instead of blessing us with a new person, we gave us old
ones who we could help even more. If we found a new person to come to
the open house, we wouldn't have been able to help Mizuguchi and Shige
San. At the moment when we didn't find anyone, it felt like a
failure. But only after the trial of the faith did God bless us. So
I think we are prone to get frustrated when God doesn't give us what
we want, even though we ask in faith and with the Spirit after
studying it out in our minds first. But really, he is giving us
something better. Sometimes if you ask for a certain blessing you
might be given a trial. But that trial will make you grow and you
will be even more blessed because of it than you would have if you got
the blessing you were asking for. We don't see the whole picture but
God does and he will give us what is best for us, all we have to do is
be willing to receive what He has worked so hard to give us. I hope
you all have a great week and can have the Spirit with you always!
Elder Hall signing out for the week!
Love you all!
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Here Am I...Hungry, Tired and Feeling a Lack of Energy as Usual...
Some random thoughts I had during the week include:
Why does this guy want to be baptized when he doesn't want to come to church?
What is worse, being drenched in dirty rain water or being drenched in salty sweat?
Why spend ten minutes telling me the excuses for how you can't met for five minutes when you could say no thanks?
Does America still exist?
Anyways, I have been going a little crazy this last week as we had no missionary meetings or anything. It has been good and we have been able to get a lot of work done but it has been a week and of half of only seeing my companion and no one else. Now I know why being on the border of the mission is exile! It overall has been a good week though. We had our crazy, English stuttering investigator come to church, but only for first two hours which means everything but sacrament meeting. This Monday we had a lesson with him and he told us he wanted to be baptized next year but we said he could this year. He asked us to teach him the commandments (he is a former investigator from about five years ago who we visited last month who has a lot of knowledge about the church) so we taught him that he needs to pray, read the scriptures and come to church every week. Mizuguchi San was like, "The first two I got but the third one?" Then me and Elder Silva chant "Dekiru!" You can do it! "Dekimasu!" You can politely do it! He still didn't know if he could but said he might. So he did! He came first during priesthood and we sat with him but then for Sunday School, we teach an English Gospel Principle class so he had to go to the other class taught by the senior couple. We hand him over to them, have our lesson and then go to find him but he disappeared! He came though so that was good and we can work from that.
Today's thought (and email subject line) come from an experience I had yesterday. We just had met a Vietnamese guy at the train station after we had church and it was about 4 o'clock so we were tired and hungry and needing a little lunch break. We had scheduled to visit a former investigator a good ten minutes or so away from where we were. I felt we should go but my stomach and weak spirit decided to go home. Right after I told Elder Silva the change of plans, it didn't feel right. So, I did what every sensible natural man would do, turn the way to go to the apartment. We immediately stopped to talk to a guy, nothing happened and then I continued to go. It kept bugging me though so, I took the turn leading away from the apartment and went and visited the former investigator. No one was home but before that we met a cool older man who was walking his dog. He had gone to a Christian school when he was young so I asked him what he liked about it. He said he loved Christ's love for everyone. We shared Mosiah 2:17, gave him a Book of Mormon, and invited him to our church open house this weekend. We also have a lesson with him Wednesday. I shudder to think what would happen if I had let my stomach get the best of me.
The Lord calls upon us many times throughout our lives. The 2015 EFY CD I received from my family is entitled "Here Am I", quoting Samuel 3:4. Many of us remember the story of Samuel the boy prophet as he instantly answered the Lord when he called him in the middle of the night but we forget the preparation it took for him to get to that level. He had served most of his young life in the temple and was always willing to keep the covenants he had made with the Lord. The Lord didn't just randomly come to him. That night might have been the first time the voice of the Lord came unto him but it wasn't the first time the Lord called upon him to serve Him through the Spirit and the words of His former prophets.
I think our relationship with God is like Wi-Fi. If we are in a hotspot (a.k.a. A spiritual standing where you can feel the Spirit) then you will be ready to receive the call and answer. If your Wi-Fi is weak, you can't receive the call, serve the Lord and be there for Him. Many times even as a missionary, I let the little things get in the way with receiving the call from God to serve His children. I wish I could be in more a position to always answer the Lord "Here Am I" and not to let the little things, like other priorities, friends, distractions, hunger, fatigue or disobedience get in the way. So find out today how you can get the hotspot of the Spirit always in your life and how you can keep those obstacles from clogging up your Spiritual Wi-Fi. Then accept the call to serve your fellow brothers and sisters! And use your real Wi-Fi to keep sending me emails!
I love you all and here is for living up the last bit of summer! See you next week!
Random college student we met while waiting for a train
Been there, climbed that! All for a former investigator without an address...
Eating Ramen... Japanese Style
Why does this guy want to be baptized when he doesn't want to come to church?
What is worse, being drenched in dirty rain water or being drenched in salty sweat?
Why spend ten minutes telling me the excuses for how you can't met for five minutes when you could say no thanks?
Does America still exist?
Anyways, I have been going a little crazy this last week as we had no missionary meetings or anything. It has been good and we have been able to get a lot of work done but it has been a week and of half of only seeing my companion and no one else. Now I know why being on the border of the mission is exile! It overall has been a good week though. We had our crazy, English stuttering investigator come to church, but only for first two hours which means everything but sacrament meeting. This Monday we had a lesson with him and he told us he wanted to be baptized next year but we said he could this year. He asked us to teach him the commandments (he is a former investigator from about five years ago who we visited last month who has a lot of knowledge about the church) so we taught him that he needs to pray, read the scriptures and come to church every week. Mizuguchi San was like, "The first two I got but the third one?" Then me and Elder Silva chant "Dekiru!" You can do it! "Dekimasu!" You can politely do it! He still didn't know if he could but said he might. So he did! He came first during priesthood and we sat with him but then for Sunday School, we teach an English Gospel Principle class so he had to go to the other class taught by the senior couple. We hand him over to them, have our lesson and then go to find him but he disappeared! He came though so that was good and we can work from that.
Today's thought (and email subject line) come from an experience I had yesterday. We just had met a Vietnamese guy at the train station after we had church and it was about 4 o'clock so we were tired and hungry and needing a little lunch break. We had scheduled to visit a former investigator a good ten minutes or so away from where we were. I felt we should go but my stomach and weak spirit decided to go home. Right after I told Elder Silva the change of plans, it didn't feel right. So, I did what every sensible natural man would do, turn the way to go to the apartment. We immediately stopped to talk to a guy, nothing happened and then I continued to go. It kept bugging me though so, I took the turn leading away from the apartment and went and visited the former investigator. No one was home but before that we met a cool older man who was walking his dog. He had gone to a Christian school when he was young so I asked him what he liked about it. He said he loved Christ's love for everyone. We shared Mosiah 2:17, gave him a Book of Mormon, and invited him to our church open house this weekend. We also have a lesson with him Wednesday. I shudder to think what would happen if I had let my stomach get the best of me.
The Lord calls upon us many times throughout our lives. The 2015 EFY CD I received from my family is entitled "Here Am I", quoting Samuel 3:4. Many of us remember the story of Samuel the boy prophet as he instantly answered the Lord when he called him in the middle of the night but we forget the preparation it took for him to get to that level. He had served most of his young life in the temple and was always willing to keep the covenants he had made with the Lord. The Lord didn't just randomly come to him. That night might have been the first time the voice of the Lord came unto him but it wasn't the first time the Lord called upon him to serve Him through the Spirit and the words of His former prophets.
I think our relationship with God is like Wi-Fi. If we are in a hotspot (a.k.a. A spiritual standing where you can feel the Spirit) then you will be ready to receive the call and answer. If your Wi-Fi is weak, you can't receive the call, serve the Lord and be there for Him. Many times even as a missionary, I let the little things get in the way with receiving the call from God to serve His children. I wish I could be in more a position to always answer the Lord "Here Am I" and not to let the little things, like other priorities, friends, distractions, hunger, fatigue or disobedience get in the way. So find out today how you can get the hotspot of the Spirit always in your life and how you can keep those obstacles from clogging up your Spiritual Wi-Fi. Then accept the call to serve your fellow brothers and sisters! And use your real Wi-Fi to keep sending me emails!
I love you all and here is for living up the last bit of summer! See you next week!
Eating Ramen... Japanese Style
Sunday, August 9, 2015
My Top 20 Birthdays and The Family
On Saturday I became an adult in Japan by turning twenty. We ate out
at Subway and a really good curry place but other than that I would
have to say it was my 20th favorite birthday of my life so far. We
have a plan to visit all the former investigators that we have an
address for before I am transferred (don't worry, transfer calls came
and we are staying here together for another six weeks) so we had
three in a city called Gotemba that was thirty minutes away by train.
Along the way though, we planned to stop at a couple of different
stations to visit a couple less actives who probably haven't been
visited in ten years. So, we ate lunch after transfer calls and then
drove to the station, packed up our bikes, and went on the train.
First we went a station too far so we had to wait another thirty
minutes for another train to take us back. Then we go for a half hour
walk to have the less active to find nothing and then walk back.
Another less active we visited after another long walk was there but
wanted nothing to do with us. We go to the bigger city of Gotemba,
get hard-core rejected by another less active, and then visit an
investigator. Our investigator whenever we called for another
appointment had said he only wanted to meet with us if I came alone
but I told him we can't. So, in order to hear the reason, we made the
trip. He gives us a reason but it is over my head so I ask him to
clarify but then he gets a little frustrated and shuts the door as he
said to come back alone. So some hard core rejections, a
heart-breaking confrontations with a now former investigator, a couple
lost trains. It might be my fault though since I think most people
that move far away from the missionaries do it for a reason.
I did get a good birthday present from my bishop though! He called
Saturday morning to give me a talk in sacrament meeting the next day!
The topic was family traditions which is weird because the English
Class we teach had the topic of family and then Priesthood was on
family and so the Gospel Principle Lesson we taught. So I learned
some good vocab I hadn't before. It got me thinking a bit though. As
a missionary elders have different opinions on their families back
home. Some try to shut them out so they can focus on dendo. Others
are too over-occupied about them and aren't on the task at hand. Some
simply forget about them because they become so busy with
investigators and other things. It was a good reminder for me of the
importance of families. Not saying I would necessarily forget them
but they were all kind of out on the back burner.
Prepping for the talk and giving it reminded me how essential families
are. Not just in birthing and giving them food in the early years but
in the impact they have in general. I used the analogy of missionary
Dads in my talk. When missionaries are out trainer, their new
missionary is their son. So I am Elder Silva Dad. If I sleep in,
don't cook ever, and never dendo, it will be a lot harder for him to
learn how to be a good missionary. If I am a good example, then he
will be able to more easily become a good missionary himself. So it
is with parents. I also think showing the. Love is important too. I
tried to show in my talk that even though the Japanese are the most
busiest people on Earth, they still have the time to show their family
love and support. He told them about how my Dad would wake up early
to go to work at five and come home at 7, having hiked most of the
day. When he got back, he'd be tired and only wanting to rest. I on
the other hand wanted to exercise and play some basketball so I'd beg
for him to go out and play. Only now as a trainer who wants to do
nothing but email on Pday while my bean wants to party so I see how
some days he wouldn't want to. But, nevertheless, he would take 20 or
30 minutes to come outside and shoot some hoops. Now looking back, I
can see how much that strengthened our relationship and how that was
an act of love for sacrifices our time.
So I'm grateful for the good example my parents and other relatives
have left with me. I probably wouldn't be over here in Japan if it
wasn't for those forced scripture readings at night as a family, those
groggy prayers before seminary or those Family Home Evenings during
Monday Night Football. No families are perfect and everyone has made
mistakes but I am sure blessed and grateful to have a good family.
Even if you haven't had the best family you can all change that for
your family by being that good parent, spouse, or sibling. I don't
think as many people would be in trouble in life or leave the church
if we all tried to be the best family member. I testify that the
family is where everything starts and that God places us in families
to bless his children. Harold B. Lee once taught, The most important
of the Lord's work you will ever do will be within the walls of your
own homes. I think the best thing we can do to help this ever
spinning-out-of-control world is to help build the strongest family
you can. Here is hoping I can do the best to strenghten the families
of the Numazu Ward and our investigators by preaching them the gospel.
Everyone have a great week and tell your families you love them!
Love you Mom and Dad and the bunch!
at Subway and a really good curry place but other than that I would
have to say it was my 20th favorite birthday of my life so far. We
have a plan to visit all the former investigators that we have an
address for before I am transferred (don't worry, transfer calls came
and we are staying here together for another six weeks) so we had
three in a city called Gotemba that was thirty minutes away by train.
Along the way though, we planned to stop at a couple of different
stations to visit a couple less actives who probably haven't been
visited in ten years. So, we ate lunch after transfer calls and then
drove to the station, packed up our bikes, and went on the train.
First we went a station too far so we had to wait another thirty
minutes for another train to take us back. Then we go for a half hour
walk to have the less active to find nothing and then walk back.
Another less active we visited after another long walk was there but
wanted nothing to do with us. We go to the bigger city of Gotemba,
get hard-core rejected by another less active, and then visit an
investigator. Our investigator whenever we called for another
appointment had said he only wanted to meet with us if I came alone
but I told him we can't. So, in order to hear the reason, we made the
trip. He gives us a reason but it is over my head so I ask him to
clarify but then he gets a little frustrated and shuts the door as he
said to come back alone. So some hard core rejections, a
heart-breaking confrontations with a now former investigator, a couple
lost trains. It might be my fault though since I think most people
that move far away from the missionaries do it for a reason.
I did get a good birthday present from my bishop though! He called
Saturday morning to give me a talk in sacrament meeting the next day!
The topic was family traditions which is weird because the English
Class we teach had the topic of family and then Priesthood was on
family and so the Gospel Principle Lesson we taught. So I learned
some good vocab I hadn't before. It got me thinking a bit though. As
a missionary elders have different opinions on their families back
home. Some try to shut them out so they can focus on dendo. Others
are too over-occupied about them and aren't on the task at hand. Some
simply forget about them because they become so busy with
investigators and other things. It was a good reminder for me of the
importance of families. Not saying I would necessarily forget them
but they were all kind of out on the back burner.
Prepping for the talk and giving it reminded me how essential families
are. Not just in birthing and giving them food in the early years but
in the impact they have in general. I used the analogy of missionary
Dads in my talk. When missionaries are out trainer, their new
missionary is their son. So I am Elder Silva Dad. If I sleep in,
don't cook ever, and never dendo, it will be a lot harder for him to
learn how to be a good missionary. If I am a good example, then he
will be able to more easily become a good missionary himself. So it
is with parents. I also think showing the. Love is important too. I
tried to show in my talk that even though the Japanese are the most
busiest people on Earth, they still have the time to show their family
love and support. He told them about how my Dad would wake up early
to go to work at five and come home at 7, having hiked most of the
day. When he got back, he'd be tired and only wanting to rest. I on
the other hand wanted to exercise and play some basketball so I'd beg
for him to go out and play. Only now as a trainer who wants to do
nothing but email on Pday while my bean wants to party so I see how
some days he wouldn't want to. But, nevertheless, he would take 20 or
30 minutes to come outside and shoot some hoops. Now looking back, I
can see how much that strengthened our relationship and how that was
an act of love for sacrifices our time.
So I'm grateful for the good example my parents and other relatives
have left with me. I probably wouldn't be over here in Japan if it
wasn't for those forced scripture readings at night as a family, those
groggy prayers before seminary or those Family Home Evenings during
Monday Night Football. No families are perfect and everyone has made
mistakes but I am sure blessed and grateful to have a good family.
Even if you haven't had the best family you can all change that for
your family by being that good parent, spouse, or sibling. I don't
think as many people would be in trouble in life or leave the church
if we all tried to be the best family member. I testify that the
family is where everything starts and that God places us in families
to bless his children. Harold B. Lee once taught, The most important
of the Lord's work you will ever do will be within the walls of your
own homes. I think the best thing we can do to help this ever
spinning-out-of-control world is to help build the strongest family
you can. Here is hoping I can do the best to strenghten the families
of the Numazu Ward and our investigators by preaching them the gospel.
Everyone have a great week and tell your families you love them!
Love you Mom and Dad and the bunch!
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