08/23/2015 | Wow.... Fast..... 早いね…

08/23/2015

So... This transfer has gone by really, really fast... We're already on our last full week together... woah that went really fast. I have no idea what's going to happen this transfer literally anything could
happen... どうしようどうしよう…

Well we had a pretty good week. We got to have a wonderful Zone conference from President Nakatsuka, in which he pointed out quite a few interesting things. We focused this time around on 3 things. Love, Becoming a consecrated missionary, and Teaching the Japanese people. What if I told you, that Japanese comes all the way from Adam. Would you believe me? No? Well here I'll give you an example. Here is a Kanji character. 造. This character means "to create". Well here is the
interesting part. Kanji is made up of Radicals, which are basically just other kanji. So this one is made up of 土、口、and 辶. Well 土 means dirt, or dust. 口 means mouth, or (an older definition) person. and 辶 means walk. Well dust, walking, person, "to create" hmm...... interesting. How about this one. 禁. This one means "Forbidden" well here are the parts. 木、木、示。木-Tree, 示-(old definition) God. 2 Trees, and God, "Forbidden" Just let that stew around in your minds for a minute, and tell me Japan isn't actually a Christian country.

Anyway there are a lot of other things I could talk about having to do with this. There's lots of evidences of things like that, and I can tell you about them all at another time. I'd actually like to share with you something from my studies this week. So I told you I had started studying the Book of Mormon in Japanese. Well I made if to 2 Nephi Chapter 4. Now if you know your 2 Nephi you'll know that this is the Psalm of Nephi spot. This is where he talks about how awful he is, and how good God is, and all that. Well it's also where we find this scripture in verse 28 "Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul." Well in the Japanese version it replaces the word "soul" with "霊" which means spirit. This is because there isn't a good translation of the word "soul" in Japanese. But it got me thinking. Make your Spirit stop falling asleep or "drooping into sin" or in other words wake it up. If your spirit is asleep, then the "natural man" (Mosiah 3:19) will take over, and them sin occurs. Well on the opposite, I'd your spirit isn't asleep, then the spirit is 10 times stronger than the natural man, so it will win. Therefore "WAKE UP YOUR SPIRIT" Now you might ask, how do you do that? Well in order to invite "The Spirit" or "The Holy Ghost" which gift you were given at baptism, there's several things we can do. Several General Authorities have mentioned this umpteenth hundred times, but try Singing a favorite hymn,
or quoting a favorite scripture, or anything else that you have found that invites the spirit. That is how you wake up your own personal spirit, and that is how you "Put off the natural man" that is in you.


This is the truth. 
There is so much good stuff in The Book of Mormon, Logically it has to be true. But logic aside, I do have a testimony of it's truthfulness. It is the Word of God. You can all know for yourselves as well. Read, Ponder, and Ask. Or in the words of the Primary Hymn, "Search, Ponder, and Pray" Just try it out this week. Even if you already have. I promise you'll have a good experience (that's a missionary promise. That means it's Gods promise. That means it'll be kept 😉)


Well I think that's my piece this week. Love you all.
愛しているよ
Elder Eliot

08/16/2015 | Weddings, Birthdays, Emergency Transfers

Yes they can be silly!

08/16/2015

Well, this was not a normal week. This week was full of adventures.

First thing I'd like to mention, is back when I was a bean. I don't know of you remember the emails back from that time, but I'm pretty sure I talked about just how nice Japanese people are. Well I've found that to not be true. This last Wednesday, we were on splits with the Zone Leaders, so I got to go on my first split where I was effectively Senior. I got to go with Elder Kashiwa who is currently on his 4th Transfer, so that was fun. But while we were on splits, we visited a less active member, and he seemed all smiles, and then Kashiwa 長老 asked him "元気ですか" Which translates essentially to "How are you" and he flipped. If I were to give a rough translation, this is what he said. "Are you kidding me? With the way the weather has been lately, why on earth would you ask me how I'm doing? What are you even thinking. Obviously you don't have a brain. Go home right now (帰ってくれ) I'm fed up with you (ぼくはやだ～)" (now just imagine him almost yelling, and probably swearing had it been in English, and you know what it was like) He was quite rude, and kind of set our mood for that day. The rest of that day was kinda まま… but meh. I guess those days happen. 

But we did have a very fun time on Saturday. An old member of Shinkotoni, who is currently living in Tokyo, got married, and wanted to come back so that all her old friends from this area could celebrate her reception party with her. She also wanted to try to use it as an opportunity to introduce everyone to the church, so she decided to have the reception at the church, and we set it all up nice and fancy so that when people came in, we could give them a tour of the church, and explain what we believe and stuff like that. Then we sang "I am a Child of God" for part of it, and mingled with everyone the rest of the time. It turned out to be really good, and she had a really good message to show everyone about families. Here's a link to the video if you'd like to check it out. Families Can Be Together Forever. In watching it, and seeing what a cute couple they were, it was reaffirmed to me that I do want to live with my family forever. #Loveyouall<3

It was a very fun experiences, and we got to make a few new friends.

And then finally, Yesterday (Sunday) Was my dear beloved companion, Elder Birch's Birthday. He turned 20 which means now in Japan he is officially an Adult! Now he can buy Sake, and Cigarettes, and Beer... PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!! Now he's rolling his eyes at me though, so we probably won't be doing that anytime soon... Meh oh well. #keepthecommandments #missionaryhashtags

So for that, we went to our favorite members house, and had wonderful dinner. They were a ton of fun to play with, and we had a blast. But now he isn't a teenager anymore. He's gotten all mature and stuff... Meh I can live with it.

Anyway... It was a good week. Hope everyone else is doing well, and had a good week. 

Remember to Love everyone. It's a commandment. Do it.

See you all next week.

愛しているよ

エリちゃんより

Oh whoops forgot about the transfer. So there was a missionary, that had a rather bad bike accident, and has to go home to get surgery, so Sister Wallwork, from our district is transferring in to her old area. And then Sister Mori is coming up from Hakodate to be with Sister Barr, which makes Sister Barr Senpai now. 

A prayer

Nice hike

Want to sleep on this? The Floor! Kelson does!

We have a message for you! 

Before the baptism

Good-bye to mission parents

P-day activity

Church activity

Elder Birch, Kelson's new companion

More fun

Not sure, if they were driving, I'd get it!

Hmmm. Rice

Lot's of smiles, and peace!

08/09/2015 | Hmm... Another Week

08/09/2015

This week was pretty.... normal again. I know everyone is probably sick and tired of hearing it, but there really just isn't anything HUGE happening. We had a really fun activity with 2 zones (groups of missionaries) at Atsubetsu on Monday. Everyone came and just brought random props from their
apartments, and we separated into groups and had to make a skit, and a rap. It was quite entertaining. The rest of the days we just did 伝道.  Didn't have exploding success, but we did meet some people we'll get to meet again this week, so maybe I'll get something to talk about more next week.

I will say though, sometimes listening to the small promptings of the spirit is good. Yesterday, we got back from Dinner with some members, and my head was splitting. My head hasn't hurt that much since the week before we pit on Peter Pan. It was bad, but we got back and I took medicine, but once again, normally it doesn't kick in till about an hour later, so to keep it from hurting, I laid down on my bed with a pillow on my face, and it still hurt. Alot. And I had the thought to try using a rice bag that you heat up and use for back pain. But I didn't want to get up, so I ignored it, but I thought about it again, and then my beloved companion mentioned it as well. So I fought the pain, and got up and heated it up, and used it. My headache was gone within 4 min. 癒しだった。Sometimes, we get those small promptings. If I had continued to have a headache, I'm sure life would've gone on normally, but Heavenly Father, loves me, and doesn't want me to feel pain. So he helped me, but it was still my choice. Look at that I just through 3 principles into one thought. God really does love us and want to help us, but we have to give him our heart. And then he will lead us where we should go.

To this I testify
愛しているよ
have a wonderful week.
Elder Eliot

07/26/2015 | Transfers (again)

07/26/2015 

Huh. Funny I think that was the name of my last email...

Sorry I'm a little later at sending this today. We had a fun district
activity today, so... Yeah. どうぞ赦してください。So I know, you are all very
anxious to hear about transfers, and where I went, but I can't tell
you that yet :)

Ok I'm just kidding I'll tell you. After a fun transfer with Elder
Fujisaka, he had transferred. He headed out to Shiroishi with an old
companion of his, and district member of mine Elder Call. Neither of
them have been there before, and they have been having fun it seems...

Anyway, the rest of my district, and then some other familiar names
real quick. Elder Morgan, one of my Favorite AP's, has gone home :(
but a new AP has taken his place. His name is Elder Horne!!! He is
Elder Stevens's (who is my douki (came at the same time) Trainer. He's
pretty cool. Let's see who else... Elder Stevens, and Elder Hishii
(the two in the Honbu) both stayed, and elder Stevens, became the new
recorder as well as financial secretary. Elder Birch transferred, but
I won't say where. Sister Barr stayed in Shinkotoni, so we'll be
together for another transfer, and sister Naganuma went to Atsubetsu
to open the area for Sisters. Sister Barrs new companion is sister
Wallwork, who I knew from the MTC. She is from Australia, so I've got
a little bit of Elder Rostedt back in my life. Speaking of Elder
Rostedt, he went back to Higashi!!! That's his bean area (the first
area he had been too) isn't that great!! Elder Roylance. Let's talk
about him. He went out to Otofuke, with my old Beloved companion,
Elder Thompson!!! Those two are going to have sooooo much fun
together. Hmm who else... How about Elder Francis. He's still in
Asahikawa as a Zone Leader, and he goes home this transfer :'( How
bout my ZL's. Last Transfer, was Elder Fa'alafua, and Elder Cragun.
Elder Cragun had to go home, but Elder Fa'alafua is still my zone
leader. My other zone leader, is Elder Day! But get this... They
aren't companions!! What the crap. Yeah it'll be weird. 後は…誰かな… I
think that about sums it up. if you have questions about anybody else,
feel free to ask :) Oh wait me? you want to know about me? Ok I'll
tell you. So, I stayed in Shinkotoni. Not leaving yet. And my new
companion will be..................(this is the drum
roll)....................................…………....................ELDER
BIRCH!!!!!! Yay!!!! Yup my old district member all the way from
Hawaii. He is one transfer above me, and is DL. So I am with the DL
again. This is were it gets crazy, because from now on, there are a
lot of missionaries coming in, so I am most likely to go Senior pretty
soon.... wow that scary, I could even go trainer... Anyway nightmares
aside, thats this new transfer. I'm way excited. Elder Birch is a hard
worker. We've already taught the message of the restoration twice,
completely at random, and the best part is, we've only done finding
twice!

 The rest of this week was pretty good. We got to do some people
watching on Monday, because we didn't really have anything else to do
(this was still with Elder Fujisaka) and while doing so, in a store,
we met these two girls, that spoke perfect english. They had both done
exchange programs, one in Seattle Washington, and one in Australia.
They were quite friendly, and very good at english. The one spoke more
than the other, but that was because the other, was looking shocked as
though she were thinking "Oh my gosh, these cute gaijin are actually
talking to us!!" kind of a thing. We tend to get that alot. Lol! Then
on Wednesday we went to the Temple!!! I'm so sorry though, all the
pictures are in my camera, and Sister Naganuma camera, and I can't get
them out yet, but I will get them out ASAP!! It was beautiful. The
detail is just so exquisite, and perfect, it was quite a sight. I
can't wait to get to attend a temple again. it's already been so long.
Everybody that has the ability. Go to a temple this week, and think of
me. Maybe I'll feel something, I dont know. Then on Thursday, we had
transfer day. Keep in mind that up until now I was still with Elder
Fujisaka. Now I'm with Elder Birch. Friday, we were working at Honbu.
Elder Birch is currently the only missionary in the mission right now
with a liscence, so he needed to take Elder Horne, and Elder Stevens
to the Driving place. So I got to hang out with the other AP elder
Tokuzawa, and get to say hi to all of the families coming to pic up
their missionaries. It was a good day. Me and Elder Tokuzawa had a
couple good talks. He is a way good Leader, and an amazing missionary.
On Saturday, we were once again helping Honbu. So because Atsubetsu
Sisters are opening, we had to get a new apartment for them. So we
went and helped set it up. Me and Elder Hishii hung out at the
apartment, setting stuff up while Elder Birch, and Elder Stevens took
stuff from the old Teine Apt. to being to this one. So that was fun.
Then Sunday was church. Today, Elder Birch set up a fun District
activity for us. We all worked together and made some yummy cookies,
and played with the dough, and really just had a ton of fun making
them, and then we played Jinroh. And now here we are back to today.
Wow boy I talk alot. I'm really thirsty now.

Well hope everyone is 元気!
Have a good safe week, and pray for us to stop sweating so much. It's
soooooo HOT here. and humid too...
Somebody eat a Pringle this week please. Don't ask questions, just do it.
愛しているよ
エリオット長老より

08/02/2015 | Just a Quick One

08/02/2015

Great baptism

No difference at all!?

Just a quick one this week.

I want to tell you about how something is really awesome. And it was not this English.

So the guy that was baptized last month, Matsunogo Yuuki, is going on a mission for the church. How awesome is that! He is a little tight on money, so he's planning to head out in about 2 years, but he's planning, and preparing. He went with us twice this week to do missionary stuff. On Tuesday, we did a role play lesson with him, and he bore a very powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon. After which, and Friday, we went housing with him. In both aspects, he was a little nervous, and you could tell, but he was willing to do so, and that is a way good trait. He is so much fun.

Other than that, the rest of this week was normal. Nothing insanely different to report on. My body is doing good, and I'm healthy. Everyone keep a prayer out for my mom please. She has broken her foot, and is going to take some time to recover. Thanks much.

Quick spiritual thought. This week, I started reading the Book of Mormon again, but this time I am reading it in my mission language. It's pretty difficult, because it's not only a different language, but
a different alphabet. But I am getting more out of it, because I have to go slow, and look words up every once in a while. But I'm not even through 1 Nephi, and already I can feel the truthfulness of it. Just because I can't understand everything, but it's still very good. If you can I challenge you to read the scriptures in a language other than your native tongue. If not just read them anyway.

愛しているよ
Elder Eliot

07/19/2015 | Transfers Again

07/19/2015

Well. It's been a few weeks I guess. I'm sorry about missing last week. I feel really bad about it. So this week, was kind of just normal. We just did dendo (missionary work) like normal, and had a pretty good week. We were able to meet with a fair amount of investigators, it was good. One really fun thing I got to do this week was go on splits with the Zone Leaders, and I got to go with Elder Fa'alafua. He's from Orem Ut. Yeah I know not what you were expecting. He is Samoan, the only missionary in the mission talled than me, and he's AWESOME. We were able to meet with one of his investigators, and set up a baptismal date with him, so that was fun. He is a really kind guy. I tend to call him a Teddy bear, just because he's big and friendly, and huggable, he's just a friendly giant. So we got to talk a lot together. Other than that, we have been focusing lately on trying to get more people coming to English classes. We teach 2 of them, and not a ton of people are coming, so we've been out with handouts quite a bit this week.

Other than that I only have one other thing I want to say. Now just because I am a missionary, I felt like I should touch on this, but it has to do with the Supreme Court decision made a few weeks ago. I've been thinking about how to word this, and my opinions on it, and then just out of the blue last week, my friend down in Sendai (Japan) commented on it as well. I read what she said about it, and thought it would be perfect. I'm not sure how to word it better than this, so I'm going to just literally pull what she said, and use that. 

"I'm not sure in what way, but I heard that the gay marriage laws just

changed in America? I'd been reading Elder Perry's talk on eternal
families at the time, and it made me wonder how to explain our
beliefs. It used to be difficult to put into words, save to say that I
trusted God and the church, so I couldn't vote for it. But I think I'm
starting to understand it now. Question: Is there happiness in gay
marriage? Yes. Of course there is, or it wouldn't be an issue to vote
on. Yet as members of Christ's church, we are not simply seeking
happiness in this life. We are working for eternity, and while we
cannot see what will bring happiness in eternal life, God does. I know
via the Bible, the living prophets, and personally through the Holy
Spirit that God has stated marriage between a man and a woman will
bring happiness in the long term. So when I say I cannot vote for same
gender marriage, it is not because I want to prevent people from being
happy. In actuality, I'm standing for what I trust will be happiness
in the eternities. Now, I know I have friends who are greatly affected
by this legislation. I hope you know I love you dearly. As far as
being friends goes, this is a non-issue to me. When I say I stand for
a traditional family, it is because I have faith that that is the way
for happiness in eternity, which I desperately want for everyone."

Know that I feel this way as well. While I do of course want to remain friends with all of my friends, I as well cannot support the decision that was made. I do not want to offend anybody. That is not my intention at all, but I do know that the family has been ordained of God, and he said 1 man, and 1 women, so that's what I trust. 

I love you all, and just as something of a wrapper upper, this is something that my mom sent to me today, that I really like, so I am going to steal that as well. 

"2 Nephi 9:39 “Remember to be carnally minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal.”  Spiritually-Minded Is Life Eternal spells “smile”.  So, remember to “smile” (be spiritually minded)"

To put it into my words, "HEY SMILE!!!!! It makes your day 5,002,974,790 times better!! That's a proven fact" 

Remember to stay happy this week, and yeah something I didn't touch on at all was the subject... So transfer week is this week. We learn about what's happening tomorrow. All I know right now is that I am not an Assistant, and I am not going into Honbu (mission office)! Other then that I don't know anything, but I do have something amusing to tell you.  Literally just one minute ago, 60 seconds, this random guy just walked into Honbu asking if this was a church. He saw the name Jesus Christ on the front of the building, and he walked in and asked us if we believed in God. Then he proceeds to tell us that he is wanting to eat Somen (Japanese noodles) but that he doesn't have Tsuyu (the sauce that you use to eat Somen) and saw that we had a box that originally had Tsuyu in it, so it said Tsuyu on the box. Well currently in the box are a bunch of Liahonas (church magazine) getting ready to go out. We were just using the box. So I told him this, and he thought it was quite funny. Then he told us that he is currently looking for a job, and that he has an interview on Friday, and to please pray for him to get a job. And then he left. Hilarious. Heck I'll pray for him. If you want to add him into your prayers as well, his name was Yamamoto. I don't know. He was probably crazy, and drunk, but heck. He needs help too. Obviously this church is true. It's so true that people just come into the Honbu searching for noodle sauce...

Anyway on that note I will say good bye till next week. Remember who you are, and what you stand for, and don't do anything I wouldn't do.

愛しているよ 

エリちゃん

Kelson

07/05/2015 | Nice day for a baptism

07/05/2015

What a week... Between having a baptism, and other things that happened, we didn't have time for anything this week. But the baptism was really good. We call him Ma Chan. He is a college student studying Oil painting, and he has a really strong testimony. We had President Nakatsuka 会長 姉妹 come to the baptism, and he gave a great talk. It was one of the most powerful things I have ever  witnessed. Sorry I want to say more, but I honestly can't think of what to say. (I'm also very distracted because there are a million missionaries here with cake)

I will leave you with this.

2 Nephi 31:5-13
5 And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!

6 And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water?

7 Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.

8 Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove.

9 And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them.

10 And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?

11 And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son.

12 And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.

13 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism--yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.

Have a wonderful week :)
愛しているよ
Elder Eliot

PS thanks for all the birthday wishes