08/28/2016 | Im back to "looking north" :)

Well I guess it's time to let you know what the happenings have been. I apologize the short email last week. I had things going on that required my time. Sorry :)

Soooo I have been transferred. I thought for sure I had been saved from the winter of Hokkaido, when I was in Muroran. I was so right. I am now in an area called Kitami (literally North, Look) which, I have been in several times before. I was here last year. Back when I was in Abashiri, I was in a district with Kitami. That means, I've been here for DTM's, and Splits, and other small reasons, but it's been nice.

I've gotten to meet a lot of cool people, that I've already met, and get to be friends with them. It's been really fun. My current companion is Elder Vanisi, who was in the MTC with Elder Bailey. He's pretty cool. He is from Provo, UT, and is a Half. His father is Tongan, so he has Polynesian in him, but is way short. Lol. He was a band geek back in High school, and played the Clarinet, as well as the Oboe. He enjoyed it enough to spend over 10000¥ on a Clarinet last Monday, and has been playing it around the apartment. He is really fun.

For the first time in my mission, I am in an apartment with 4 elders. Our roommates, are Elder Tate (who was in the MTC with me, and came out one transfer later) and Elder Murdock, who is also from the MTC with Elder Bailey and Elder Vanisi. It's been fun getting to know them better.

Kitami is a nice area. It is a little more city-ish, but still nothing like Sapporo. More city than Muroran, and Abashiri, but less than Otaru, and Sapporo. If you can picture that... Anyway. So we currently have 4 investigators we are focusing on. I haven't met 2 of them yet, so I haven't gotten to know them to well yet, but the first one is Kudou San. She is an older lady that is honestly trying to find her path in life, and is a legitimate Investigating Investigator. She is very kind, and supposedly feeds us every time we go over.

Next is Yanagida San. She is the mother of our current Ward Mission Leader. He is a convert of 4 years, and just got back from his mission a little while ago. Now his parents are investigating, and his mother is our investigator. Supposedly the parents relationship isn't the best, so we are teaching them separately. The other Elder's teach the Dad.

3rd is Kazama San. She is a young mother that lives near the church, and had seen the missionaries multiple times, and was curious. She has read the Book of Mormon a little bit, and prayed, and apparently has received an answer. I still don't know what that answer is, because we haven't had a chance to meet with her for a good long time. We have an appointment with her this week however, and will hopefully make a baptismal date.

Last is a family named the Nohara's. There is Nohara San who is the mother, she is Japanese, and then their dad is German. He works all over the world as a consultant for something... So he isn't at home, but then they have 2 daughters named Julia, and Emily. Julia is in Jr. High, and speaks English very very well, and Emily is 9 years old, and is better than she lets on. They are a family I met last year when I was here, and they have been prepared for a while. They are extremely kind, and have genuine interest in Jesus Christ. So much so to the point the the 2 times I've met them, we weren't planning on teaching them anything, but they just started asking us all about Jesus Christ, and so we teach them. They have a lot of potential, and are probably some of my favorite people on this Island.

Well I think that about sums up my time. I'm really excited to work here. I get to come see the fruit of the seeds that I helped place here, and I even get to return to Abashiri. I'm going back this week for splits, so I'll get to see that fruit as well. A little sad to leave Muroran, but I am way excited to work up here. I love everyone so much, and yeah. I will sign of now I guess.

See you next week
愛しているよ
Elder Eliot

02/21/2016 | Transferred to Kitami

New Sapporo Japan LDS Temple

I'll tell you very quick about some of the things that happened this week. I got transferred, so I am no longer with Elder Bailey, and I'm no longer in Muroran. I am now in Jeff's bean area, of Kitami. It is the area that I was in a district with in Abashiri, so I've already met a lot of the people here, and I'm really close to Abashiri, and will even probably get to go on splits there this transfer. It'll be a lot of fun. I am still training, I am follow up training an elder that came here at the same time as Elder Bailey. His name is Elder Vanisi, and he is from Provo. He is pretty cool, and I've enjoyed working with him so far. Elder Bailey is now with Elder Santos, who was in the MTC for a little while with me, and is a dang great missionary. He's in good hands. We have a few investigators out here, that have quite a bit of potential, so It's going to be a blast.

I found a cool thing in my studies this week that I thought I would share with you. I am reaching the end of Alma in the Book of Mormon, and have been reading about the Stripling Warriors. One thing that intrigued me, is that there is a part that talks about how they didn't fear death. When I read about that, I thought about whether or not, I'd be willing to go and fight. They were 18-20 years old at the time, and it made me think about how I'm the same age. As I thought about it, I realized, heck yeah. I'd totally be willing to fight. I would grab a sword, and go and fight for my family, freedom, church, and country. Which then made me think, if I would be willing to do that, how come I'm not willing to do the simpler things that God asks me to do? Why am I too lazy. "Oh my son, do not be slothful because of the easiness of the way" As a missionary, I am going to work hard. And in Life, and with various callings as well. I'm not being asked to fight an army, so if I'm willing to do that, I can be willing to do simpler things. 

I hope you have a wonderful week.

愛しているよ

Elder Eliot

02/14/2016 | And... Another Transfer Week!

Well. I apologize upfront for the short email, but we don't have time today. Sorry. It happens when your a missionary.

We've been continuing to work hard, and still haven't seen a lot of outward success, still have the Zero teaching pool, but I've come to realize, that It doesn't matter. God isnt letting us fail. He didnt
call me to come to Muroran, see success, and then fail. That isn't what he does. Everything we do, everyday, is his will. The outcome of what we are doing is exactly as he wants it to be. I don't quite know what the fruits of this work are going to be, but I know that they will be good. I pray that someday I might be able to see them, but for now, I'm comforted knowing that I have done enough. I've taken great comfort in one particular scripture lately (because I was teaching a lesson about developing talents)

Matthew 25:21
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

I feel like I have been putting forth the effort. As long as I do so, he won't let me fail. I know this is his work. He is at the center of it, in whatever he does. Just because I'm not seeing outward signs of
success doesn't mean there isn't success. I am at peace with what I do. We will continue to try hard, but for now, I put my trust in the one guy that knows everything. Not the worse guy to put your trust in ;)

This week is transfers, so I will let you know next week what happens. I hope to stay in Muroran for just one more. Finish up with Elder Bailey and then head on. I know that this is the truth. This gospel is peace. Anyone can have it. Try it and see :)

Everyone have a wonderful week.
愛しているよ
Elder Eliot

02/07/2016 | The Last Dry Week!

Hello everyone of the world/the people that read this. How was your week. I hear it's cold in Utah. Hope you're all bundling up, and not getting colds or anything. That's ダメ (no good).

So I'll relieve all your worries about my back very quick. I actually just sent my mom an email about this, and it took a while to type, and I don't really feel like typing it again, so I'm just going to cheat,
and copy paste. Don't tell anyone XD So, it's slightly frustrating, because it has been hurting me to the point the it is difficult to move, but I went to the hospital, on Wed, they took and X-Ray, and proceeded to tell me I have 肩こり, which translates to "stiff shoulders"

Apparently what is happening, is that my body is stressed, naturally doesn't have good posture, and it's cold, which also causes my posture to be worse, and all of the muscles just decide to get as tight as they can. There are generally 3 area's in which you feel this pain, and that is in the shoulder, up closer to the collar bone, and right smack dab in the center of the shoulder blades. Essentially my 背筋, or the muscles that are right next to my spine, are just extremely tight, whenever I put pressure on them, I.E. when I stand, or sit, or ever have weight on my back. Go figure. They gave me a bunch of medicine, which has been helping a little, told me I should go to an Onsen (the public bathes they have in Japan) and also recommended me to go get a massage (which is offered at lot's of onsens). However, Onsens are not allowed for missionaries. Even with doctors orders, it's not life threatening, so I just get to deal with some pain. Knowing that it isn't life threatening though, I can kind of fight through it a little better, and we weren't cooped up in the apartment all week. We were able to get out and do some stuff, and we'll probably get to do some more this week!

So yup that about sums it up. I've actually been kind of humbled about it this week. I was at first very frustrated with the results, and almost was wanting it to be worse, just because it was hurting me so
much. But as I sat (laid) down to think about it, I realized just how stupid I was being. I don't want it to be worse, in fact being that it hurts as bad as it does, I am grateful that it is just 肩こり (stiff shoulders) and not something more serious. I am so glad that God blessed me so that I wouldn't be dealing with something that could have damaged me not just longer, but almost permanently. I actually remember on thing that Elder Bailey said when he gave me a blessing "I bless you that your
mission will not be hindered." Or something similar to that. I've realized just how much I have been blessed through this ordeal. I have a nice warm comfy apartment to help me stay away from the pain, a loving companion who has taken care of me, good doctors, that were very kind to help me, great Ward members to support me, and a Loving Heavenly Father who blessed me with it all. Suffice it to say, my broken back, broke me. I definitely  have noticed God's hand in my life a lot more. It really is there all over the place. You just have to look for it. You too can see it.

So this week, with the small amount of dendo time, and pain in my back, we still didn't get to find anyone new. However yesterday during Sacrament meeting, as I was taking the sacrament, I felt this warm feeling all through my body, that took away all the pain in my back, and realized, this was the last week. The famine is over. This week we will find someone. We are going to find some wonderful people this week, and I'm super excited for it. I continue to pray for it everyday, and with everyone else praying for it as well, and the fact that God loves his children, and wants me to find them, we are going to find at the very least 1 new person this week. And I have great faith that it will be more than that. I'm going to take this bushel off of my candle, I'm going to put it on a hill, and I'm going to put
up a big old piece of glass, and turn this candle into a beacon.

I hope everyone had a good week, and is going to have another great one. I'm praying for you all, and hope you can see God's hand in your lives. I love you, and will talk to you all next week!!
愛しているよ!!!!!
Elder Eliot

Picture: I think I forgot to send this last week. This is Ritsuki's baptism.

01/31/2016 | Baptisms, and Broken Backs :)

I swear the subject lines just keep getting better and better don't they?

I am sitting down to write this after what seems like it has been a really long week, for the most part though it was actually short. We spent Monday and Tuesday, finding like normal, and just like last week weren't able to find anyone. Not even a potential investigator was added to our pool. There are just times like that as a missionary though. Sometimes you feel like you are giving your all, and you are working really hard, being extra obedient, and nothing comes. It can be frustrating, but it just reminds me that God is testing us. Does it really matter to us? Or are we only trying super hard because nothing's coming.

Well we kept going, on Wednesday I got to go on splits with my Zone Leader, Elder Heslop. Brought him down here, and we went and hung out. Of course we did dendo. We talked a lot about dendo. We tend to do that though. We get into a lot of good conversations. One thing we talked a lot about was our English Class. We worked together back when I was in Abashiri, he was in my district for a few transfers. Back in Kitami, and Abashiri, the English Classes went pretty well. And his English Class up in Eniwa is also doing super amazing. Our English class had kind of died, before I came here, and currently there are 2 students, and sometimes some members come. 

In talking with him, I decided we needed to kick it up a notch. So I have a request for as many people as can take 1 minute out of their lives for me. I want to make the class more inviting, make it a little less boring, so that when new people do come, they want to come again. As part of that I want to use my IPad to make us look all technologically advanced, and not the monkeys with sticks that missionaries used to be (not meant to be offensive, just a stupid joke). 

So I am now asking each one of you, to take 1 minute out of your life, and send me a video of you giving a Self Introduction. I want to know:

Your name

Where you are from

1. What 3 of your hobbies are and tell me why you like one of those hobbies
2. Tell me what your favorite food is
3. What your job is
4. If you are in school
5. What you want to do
6. Tell me about your job
7. If you are in school, tell me what grade you are in, what you are studying, what your favorite class is, and things like that. 
8. And then say something awesome. Anything's ok. 

If you could get those sent to me before Thursday that would be awesome, Thanks.

Aaaaanyway. So on Thursday we didn't get to do a whole lot, we did service at an old folks home (we dry the hair of old people after they get out of the bath. Actually not nearly as gross as you'd think) and then we did some planning, and went to a members house that night. On Friday we started putting some stuff together for English class to kind of spice it up, and then English class. It went over fairly well, but we are still just in the beginnings of it. On Saturday we had Ritsuki kun's baptism. It went over flawlessly, and he was way happy to finally be able to be baptized. His family even came to watch it, so it was a very good day for him. We rested the rest of the day, and I'll tell you why a little later. On Sunday, we came to church, and had Ritsuki kun's confirmation, and then I had a talk in Sacrament meeting. I spoke largely about Light, and the same things I talked about in last week’s email, and told everyone to shine. It went over ok, and I think it was good. 

Another really cool thing we got to watch yesterday was a presentation on the area plan for the Asia North Area. It is interesting that this year, the First Presidency has instructed the Area Seventy presidencies to one shorten the area plan, and make it more of a foundation to build off of, and 2 to tell all of the members in that area. That way each area can become more united it all that they do. It was interesting to watch the video, and see just how much people are catching on to it. It is the most simple thing in the world, but it could help this area so much. They basically came out with a theme "In order to live together with Heavenly Father again, We...

• Love
• Elevate
• Simplify
• Strive
• Strengthen
• Invite

And Find Joy in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then with this theme, they have shown people how to make goals, and how to work to do these things, in order to reach the center of it all, which is returning to live with Heavenly Father. It was a really good presentation, and I hope everyone remembers it.

So yeah after that was all done, we once again returned to the apartment to rest. I guess I can tell you why. First of all don't freak out too much, I am still alive, and I'm not dead. As of Wednesday, my back had been giving me some pain. I noticed it, and it wasn't that bad, and sometimes as a missionary you just get that. But it continued to get worse, and finally I was complaining about it on Friday, and someone suggested I call Honda 姉妹 who is kind of like the medical missionary. Basically right now, if I have weight on my spine, if I am standing or sitting, it starts to hurt. So if I'm not laying down I'm in a lot of pain. We still aren't sure 100% as to why, but for now I have been resting, taking medicine to help with the pain, and I will be going to check things out on Wednesday at a hospital. I don't think it is super serious, but we will find out. If I don't find out anything from the Hospital on Wednesday, then President Nakatsuka 会長 will be taking me to see a Chiropractor in a week or two when we go to Sapporo. I am doing ok, but I could use your prayers on my behalf. I feel like I could go out and dendo and just deal through the pain, but I am being told to rest, so that is what I am doing. It does mean though that I don't get to go and find people, so I am praying for a miracle right now. I will let you know a little more next week on the details of things, but for now I am down and out for the count. But I might still sneak a few hours of dendo in this week ;)

Aaaaaand yeah that about fills you in, and brings you up to date with me. If you want a cool scripture, one that I have found comforting through this time is Ether 12:27. It is an interesting one to ponder about. The other thing that I have learned through these past weeks is that it is important to have faith even through the tough, and the dark times. Job went through a lot worse that I am right now, and kept the faith. Maybe God's just testing me like he did Job. I won't lose!!!! This gospel is the most true thing out of anything on the earth, and I know it. It doesn't matter what happens to me, I will not lose the faith!!!!
ファイト‼️‼️‼️
Have a wonderful week
愛しているよ
Elder Eliot

01/24/2016 | Light, and Dark

Hey how's everyone doing. I feel like that's one of the things that I say a lot. So how was everyone's week? I know mine was strange. I had a very strange week. So basically right now we don't really have a ton of strong investigators besides Ritsuki kun who is getting baptized this Saturday!!!! Yay!!! But because of that it means we have to do a lot of finding. All of the other investigators we've had, are just to busy to meet, dropped off the face of the earth, or just won't progress, so we are out looking for more. Elder Bailey is great. He is full of fire, and wants to talk to literally everyone. Not just so that he can tell the message of the gospel, but also so that he can practice his Japanese so he can get better at telling the message of the gospel. However the only bad thing about this is we are now at the point again where we are literally pinging door after door after door, and not finding anyone. We are talking to everyone, but no one wants to listen to us. It was one of those weeks where you are literally out everyday, and no one says yes. That happens sometimes as a missionary, and it can be a little discouraging sometimes, but the nice thing to remember is that we are trying. As long as we are trying, we won't lose. If people don't listen than I guess that's just too bad for them, but it does make one a little saddened to have the truth, to be full and ready to burst to tell people about it, and then be told that "I have no relation to that" It was a little more of a Dark week in that regard. I'm doing ok, don't be worried or anything like that. Everyone has those days, and everyone has those weeks sometime. The bright side of things is that Ritsuki is getting baptized. He is going through a lot right now actually that I can't mention, and to see that he is pushing forward, and trying to make this covenant with God, and really knows this is right, is honestly a testimony strengthener for me. Though he could use your prayers for some of the trials he is going through right now.

Now I want to take a moment and talk about light. We had interviews with President Nakatsuka 会長 this last week, and one of the main things we talked about together was light. Light is a pretty incredible thing when you think about it. Specifically we talked about the light that is in each of us. We each have the light of Christ, but there is something more. (I have also been studying this a little more myself, not all of this was discussed during our interview) Imagine someone you know that is just always happy, always kind, essentially the most Christ-like person you know. They just have this light about them do they not. Almost like an aura. You can see it in there eyes, and around about them. They are just good people. On the opposite side if you think of someone who is usually not all that happy, and isn't very kind (let's face it those people are out there) there isn't so much of a light that you see. It's like the difference between the Sun, and a glow in the dark sticker. Ever since I came out here, I have had a lot of people tell me that they can just see a light coming from me, and of course, I didn't think that was true. I'm not that kind of person, but something I've realized is that missionaries in and of themselves have a special light. A 伝道 (missionary) Light. Almost like a beacon, or a lighthouse to tell people to come home. So I've decided that rather than running away from that light, and telling myself I don't have it, I'm going to try to discover how to harness it and use it in 伝道. I want to be able to try to send it out, and show people the way home. I think that it will make finding more effective in general, and make me a better person as well. If anyone wants to try to do this with me you can. I basically read the talk that President Monson gave at the last general conference about light, and have been following his advice. He uses 2 specific scriptures that I've built on. Check out some of these scriptures and just see what you think.

Matthew 5:14-16 with emphasis on 16
1 Timothy 4:12
D&C 50:23-24
D&C 88: 40

Just read those, and maybe write down your thoughts somewhere. You can tell me what you think about them if you want. I'm still studying about light and things, and would love some of your help.

I think that's about all I can think of to write out this week. It just happened to be one of those busy things with nothing to write about XD  I guess that happens sometimes.

Well I hope everyone has a wonderful last week of January. Fill it up with fun, and remember after the storm comes the calm (I think it comes before too, but meh)

 愛しているよ
エリオット長老より

01/17/2016 | Earthquakes, and Transfers, and other happenings

Well Everybody. I apologize for lack of an email last week. We had a special "party" with the Muroran Ward (church), for the new year, and then had to go up to Eniwa for a zone meeting and we just didn't have time to do email :(  It was fun though. For the New years SHINNENKAI we did a Mochitsuki (you pound rice with a giant wooden hammer until it becomes this chewy substance called Mochi) and then ate it with delicious stuff. It was great. We then had a great Zone Training Meeting on Tuesday learning all about teaching with the spirit, and working together, and the like. It was fun.

I'm sure lots of you heard about the earthquake that occurred as well. If you hadn't, now you are. We had an earthquake on Wednesday the 13th at 12:30ish. The epicenter was off the coast of a city called Urakawa, it was rated at 6.7. We were just finishing lunch, when my phone beeped to tell me about a natural disaster warning. I was thinking it might be about the blizzard that we were supposed to have, so I opened my phone to check the mail, and suddenly it started shaking. It was quiet at first, and then it got pretty violent. Our heater turned itself off, and everything on my desk fell. We were hanging out in the door of our entry hall, when it stopped, and I look down at my phone to see it tell me "Get ready for an Earthquake" It made us laugh. There wasn't a lot of damage, and injuries were minimal, but it was a little scary. The church building did receive a small crack in the floor, but aside from that we are all AOK.

I guess I do need tell you about the transfer that we had. So against all odds, I went trainer again. That's right. My new companion is a bean (new missionary). His name is Elder Bailey, and he is from Las Vegas (sort of) His family is military so really he's from all over the place. Elder Pace went ahead and moved on to an area called Suehiro. If you look it up on a map it might be hard to find, because it is part of the city called Asahikawa. His new companion is a good friend who's name is Elder Johnson. He is way awesome, and they seem like they are having a great time. 

The very sad thing about this transfer, is that my 1st companion, Elder Rostedt finally finished his mission, and he is now down hanging out in the sunny summer in Australia. I can't believe just how fast he went home. He was a lot younger (mission wise) when he trained me, and now he's already heading home, it makes me realize just how little time I have. I am still hanging out in Muroran though for what looks like another 2 transfers. It makes me very excited, and I am so happy to do so. This is a very special area, and I'm so excited to get to work here for a little longer, and try to help it just a little more. And then the last surprise is that I am now the District Leader here. I get to help teach all the missionaries in the Muroran Area, and the Tomakomai area now. It is a new responsibility and I'm enjoying it. I'm doing my best to work hard and help each one of them. I have gotten to the point that I am the oldest in my district. I'm at Transfer 11 (transfers happen about every month and a half), Sister Naganuma (who served with me before in Shinkotoni) at transfer 9, Sister Yoshimura is on transfer 8, Elder Dupuis at transfer 8, and then Elder Martinson (Elder Paces MTC companion) at transfer 3, and then Elder Bailey at Transfer 1. 

Dang time has gone fast. I feel like I say that often, but it's so true.

Well I guess that's about it for most of the happenings. Our baptismal dates for the 9th didn't work out, but we did rearrange them so that both we and the sisters will be having another baptism on the 30th of January. Being the District Leader also means that I will be performing Baptismal Interviews as well. The Elders in Tomakomai also found a KinJin (golden investigator) that is going to be baptized next month, so we'll get to go see that.

I think that's about it for an update. I hope you all are doing wonderful, and I once again apologize for the lack of a letter.  I'll try not to let it happen again, but if it does know that I do love you all.

I know that this Gospel is true, and I know that our Savior is at the head of it as well. He is here for you and me at anytime. Try asking him about it. I'm sure he'll let you know.
愛しているよ 
エリオット長老より
Kelson