This week has been CRAZY! It has definitely been one of the most
busy
weeks of my mission! Elder Baldwin and I have been really works
hard
lately, and are now beginning to see the miracles that are coming
from
it. I have learned a lot about the importance of persistence and
diligence when things get difficult. Oftentimes, when things get
difficult, that is just life showing us that we are getting
closer to
something great. That is definitely how it has been here!
This week Elder Baldwin and I have been focusing on visiting
people
(i.e Members, Less Actives, Investigators, and anyone that will
talk
with us) and that has led us into some pretty awesome
adventures. One
of the examples of this was on Wednesday when we decided to go
and
visit the Kitazawa family (Less Actives). The live on the far
boundaries of our area, which meant that we couldn't ride our
bikes.
So, we took a train for about a half an hour, then walked the
rest.
BUT, the Kitazawa family lives AT THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN! It was
about
a 5 or so kilometer walk (about 3 miles for all you Americans.
;)) up
the mountain one way to their home. Baldwin and I set off from
the
train station with an enthusiasm that can only come from the
unknown.
Neither of us knew the way, and the only thing we had to guide
us was
our trusty phone from the 90's (Seriously, the thing sucks. But
it's
map app was the only thing we had, seeing as our iPads didn't
have
wifi in the mountains...) and the spirit. OK, I HAVE A QUESTION
FOR
ALL OF YOU MORE "WISE" PEOPLE OUT THERE. HOW ON EARTH
DID YOU EVER
FIND PLACES WITHOUT GOOGLE MAPS?! That must have sucked! Hahaha
those
were the types of things Baldwin and I talked about as we hiked
up the
mountain. But, of course, our trusty phone ended up leading us
astray.
We walked up to a fork in the road and consulted our phone on
which
way we needed to go. The two roads were pretty split, as the one
on
the left was a drastic left, and the same on the right. We knew
that
this was a pretty important choice for us, but we couldn't find
ourselves on the map. So, together, we decided to take the left
road.
We later realized that the left road was a mistake. We continued
hiking, and we went further and further up the mountain. At this
time,
the light was starting to fade, and we realized that we should
have
made it to her house by then. We started doing the one thing
that we
knew how to do. Knocking on doors. Haha, we figured out the
quickest
way to get Japanese people to talk to you and help you is to
tell them
that you are lost! We are seriously considering that as a
housing
strategy now... Haha, but we met a lot of really nice people,
and they
all told us the same thing. We were basically on the wrong
mountain
top. Haha, that was definitely a, "Well, shoot."
Moment. With the
guidance of the Japanese people, we set off in the opposite
direction.
Now, it was starting to get dark. We were pretty nervous, and we
were
walking quickly. We knew that if we didn't find them soon, we
would
have to abandon the search and start the long journey home so
that we
wouldn't be late. But as we came around a turn, we decided to
knock on
the door of a smaller, slightly sketchy looking home in hopes of
them
telling us that we were close. We were met at the door by an
older
Japanese man with a kind face, who asked us what we were doing.
We
told him we were lost, and asked him for directions. He then
told us
to wait as he proceeded to run back into his house. He grabbed a
paper
and pen and ushered us into his home because it was cold
outside.
There, in his home, we saw that he had gotten up from eating
dinner
with his wife to help us find out where to go. Also, as we were
walking into his home, the man said something in what sounded
like
Spanish. I looked at Baldwin and we were both pretty confused.
We
asked him, and he told us that he spoke fluent Spanish AND
PORTUGUESE!
Lately, we have been trying to learn Portuguese in order to
teach a
new recent convert family who moved to Nagano. We
immediately saw the
opportunity, and one day hope to capitalize on it. The mans and
his
wife introduced themselves as the Sakamoto's, and they were
incredibly
nice. They gave us a bag full of apples, and a bag full of
kiwis,
along with a map to where we needed to go! They were also
interested
in why we were in Japan, and there may be some interest in the
gospel!
We are planning on visiting them sometime this week. Something I
learned from my mother (By the way, it is her birthday today!
She is
turning 27! ;) Hahaha, everyone make sure to wish her the
happiest
birthday ever! I couldn't have asked for a better mother to
raise me!
Thanks for everything mom! Love you so much!) is the importance
of
giving people loaves of bread with home made jam! So, that is
what we
are going to give to the Sakamoto's this week! Luckily, we were
given
jam, and we are probably going to buy the bread, but hey, it's
the
thought that counts! Haha we ended up not finding the Kitazawa
family
and walking home in the dark, but I considered it a success. We
totaled around 7 or 8 miles by the end of the day... Nothing
beats
hiking in the mountains of Nagano! :)
This Saturday rained ALL day! And of course, this was the day
where we
decided to walk to all of our appointments. We walked all over
Nagano,
holding our umbrellas that we stole from the church, trying to
talk to
people. We confirmed a new investigator, as well as met with a
less
active. The kindness and generosity of the people here has never
stopped hitting me in the heart. Even if someone has nothing to
give,
they will always go out of their way to help you, feed you, make
you
more comfortable, just out of pure generosity. It is a quality
that I
admire a lot here. It makes me want to be that kind of a person.
Also,
we basically taught a lesson to a guy in a 7-11! I started
talking to
him and one thing led to another and we gave him a Book of
Mormon with
our number! We tried to set up a return appointment but he said
he was
busy! I hope he calls us!
Yesterday we met with the Uehara's right after church. They are
a part
member family where the wife is a member but the father isn't.
As far
as our records say, the father hasn't ever really been
interested in
hearing about the gospel, but lately he has had a change of
heart.
They have a three year old son who attends church every week
with the
mother. He told his father that he wanted to go to church with
him
too, and so for the past couple of weeks they have all been
coming. We
jumped on the opportunity and got to know him. We taught him
yesterday, and almost committed him to be baptized. He is still
working on the faith, but we have hope! He really enjoyed the
idea of
eternal families, and it was amazing to have his wife sit in on
the
lessons. She would share her testimony and it was definitely a
spiritual environment. I am grateful that we can be together
forever
with those that we love.
On Friday I got schooled by some college kids in basketball! It
was
way fun! We have been trying to focus on the rising generation
for
investigators, so Baldwin and I found the nearest college, and
then
made some friends that play sports. Now, every Friday we get
together
and play sports! We have taken two of them on as investigators,
and I
am stoked to see where it goes! It is fun because we really have
become good friends with them, and it reminded me a lot of my
friends
back home! :)
Anyways, that's about it for this week! It has been busy, but we
have
seen so many miracles! And today we are going to see the Snow
Monkeys!
Apparently they are way famous, and they just chill in some
natural
hot springs! I am so stoked! :)
Anyways, love you all! Sorry if you didn't get any emails last
week!
It totally wasn't my fault! Haha
Luke/パシー長老
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