Well, I thought that maybe towards the last few weeks of my mission that my life might calm down and I would just finish my mission normal but that is about exactly the opposite of what's going to happen...I shouldn't be too surprised but I had a pretty busy week.
I don't think lately I have talked too much about food but this Friday I went to a member's house and it wasn't what they gave me but how much. The other two missionaries couldn't come so we had to eat theirs and ours. Basically it wasn't a 3 course meal but a 3 meal course...haha but it was really good. It was chicken kastu (It's like deep fried breaded chicken) but this thing was huge. I'm saying like a foot long. I'm not sure but it was huge. We also had okonomiyaki which is Just like a pancake except with vegetables and octopus in it. I learned how to make it so we can have it when we get home. I actually love octopus. It doesn't really have a taste it's just a mind over matter thing and it's pretty good.
My mom asked me what I am going to eat before I go home but I am going to give an answer that every one probably expects. SUSHI!! I'm pretty sure Japanese sushi is better than American sushi but it's cheap and good so I will have that. I will also eat gyoza because it's my favorite meal. It's actually Chinese food but hamamatsu is famous for good gyoza. Its just meat and vegetables wrapped in a really small flour shell and then fried. It's way good.
Well I went to this place called Numazu which is on the opposite side of this zone (2 1/2 hours by train). But we went there and it's just pouring down rain. And they had an appointment an hour away by bike up hill. I thought just my luck. I wasn't too happy about the situation because I didn't have too much rain gear and I didn't have a change of clothes. But as I was biking up the hill basically through a river because the rain was coming down so hard I started thinking. You only have a few more times doing this...in a month you will be home and probably not be riding bikes to go help someone. Then I started thinking about the person we were going to go help. I actually met her a year and half before when I was in Fuji so it wasn't hard for me to think about her. She is in an old person's home because she can't walk and or remember things too well. We met another member than and in the middle of this...hospital we sang hymns to her...I am not that good at singing but there was such a peaceful feeling that could be felt in that hospital. She tried to sing I am a Child of God with us and even though she had a hard time remembering the words and she has a tongue disorder, she somewhat sounded like an angel (maybe becuase I was singing right next to her). But all of the sudden that painful journey became well worth it. We helped a Daughter of our Heavenly Father who desperately needed it and the Joy that you receive from that is priceless!! My wet clothes seemed much less important. The puddles that most people call shoes I was wearing didn't matter any more because of the Spirit that was felt. And as we were walking out a patient asked us why we were there. We said we have come from this place to help a friend who happens to be a member of our church. The lady (who is slightly crazy) said that is really cool, I want friends like you. Then she ran away. Through simple acts of service we can show others the light of Christ and by thinking of others we will forget about our problems.
I also learned another lesson this week. It has to deal with a new investigator and the member who gave her as a referral. It's a really long story but in the end the member who gave us the referral and the referral won't come to church because of a problem that happened over a year ago. And the member that offended the other member doesn't even know he did anything wrong. It is sad to see that people stop coming to church because members in the church make mistakes. The church is perfect but the members aren't. We can't let others ruin our relationship with God. After I have seen this happen and cause people to go less active, I have learned that we need to forgive and forget.
I feel preachy saying that but people's lives are changed for the worst because they won't forgive people. Is it easy...No, but it needs to be done.
And on that note I will say goodbye until next week.
Have a good one and be safe
See you Soon!!
Love
Elder Nelson
The drama in a missionary's life (February 19, 2012)
The investigator that got ran over by a car is doing a little better...we were able to meet with him and so that was good but he can't move very much. He moved his legs which is good but he broke his wrist in a bunch of places. He also got this huge gash on his forehead and he hurt his neck which is the thing I think everyone is most worried about. He was happy to talk to us but he has a long rode to recovery. It's sad, but it was an accident. The lady ran a red light but I don't think she meant to. But she was un injured. He could probably sue her for a lot of money but she is a young mother and so he says I have a family and I wouldn't want to be sued. She didn't mean to hurt me so I will forgive her. I thought that was really cool. He said that even if he took her money it wouldn't solve his heath issues. Money can't solve anything, I still have my family so I'll be fine. Truer words could not have been spoken. Yes we need money to survive but I think he did a really hard think but it is way good. And by the way his car got destroyed. It looked pretty bad. They were both going about 45 when they hit.
Well, we had an interesting experience this week. I had more than one but this one is really cool but sad but exciting. So on Wednesday morning at 10 30 we had an appointment with a member. I actually was on companion exchanges but we get to his house and he is just like let's go visit my friend. So of course we are like sounds good. But he wouldn't really tell us too much about the friend just we were going to go talk to her briefly. We leave and ride our bikes about 20 minutes with this member and get to a barber shop and there is a lady there waiting for us with like chairs set up looking like we were going to teach a lesson. Me and the missionary I was with are both pretty experienced (Old) missionaries, but I don't think either of us have had a surprise lesson. We sit down and the member introduces us and says these are the missionaries and they can heal you. and then looks at us and was like give her a blessing. Me and the missionary look at each other and like wait a minute she knows nothing. So we start talking to her about the people we teach and problems they have to overcome. Then we talk about baptism for a little bit followed by the apostasy and the restoration of the church, and how the authority has been restored on the earth again so we can use Jesus Christ's Authority to give you a blessing. Then the member is like we really don't have time so can you give her a blessing. So we did, and after we finished she just cried for like 3 minutes and no one spoke. Then we stood up and talked to her more. Then we asked her to be baptised, but the member didn't let her answer he just said, no for her, which I think she would have said yes which kind of made me angry because we weren't really asking him. But that's ok, everyone makes mistakes. Then we tried to schedule a next appointment, and the member answers for her and says no. So that wasn't nice but I was like alright she is your referral. But I gave the lady our number. and she took it, but she is still crying while all this is happening. Then she is like why am I crying!??! And we talked about the Holy Ghost for like 5 minutes and then at the end of that she was still crying and she is like...Why am I crying!!!??!!! and she's like I have a feeling running up and down my body and it is just so warm. Then we talk and when we left she was still feeling the same way. Then on Sunday she called us and talked with my companion for 30 minutes. She has researched many other churches and there isn't anything like this chruch. She said she is worried about her family being against her but she wants to meet again!! So we are actually going to talk to her later today. So that's exciting. It was pretty interesting expereince but this is the edited version, I'll probably tell you the longer version when I get home but it was pretty cool.
That was the Experience of a mission...
Well, we had an interesting experience this week. I had more than one but this one is really cool but sad but exciting. So on Wednesday morning at 10 30 we had an appointment with a member. I actually was on companion exchanges but we get to his house and he is just like let's go visit my friend. So of course we are like sounds good. But he wouldn't really tell us too much about the friend just we were going to go talk to her briefly. We leave and ride our bikes about 20 minutes with this member and get to a barber shop and there is a lady there waiting for us with like chairs set up looking like we were going to teach a lesson. Me and the missionary I was with are both pretty experienced (Old) missionaries, but I don't think either of us have had a surprise lesson. We sit down and the member introduces us and says these are the missionaries and they can heal you. and then looks at us and was like give her a blessing. Me and the missionary look at each other and like wait a minute she knows nothing. So we start talking to her about the people we teach and problems they have to overcome. Then we talk about baptism for a little bit followed by the apostasy and the restoration of the church, and how the authority has been restored on the earth again so we can use Jesus Christ's Authority to give you a blessing. Then the member is like we really don't have time so can you give her a blessing. So we did, and after we finished she just cried for like 3 minutes and no one spoke. Then we stood up and talked to her more. Then we asked her to be baptised, but the member didn't let her answer he just said, no for her, which I think she would have said yes which kind of made me angry because we weren't really asking him. But that's ok, everyone makes mistakes. Then we tried to schedule a next appointment, and the member answers for her and says no. So that wasn't nice but I was like alright she is your referral. But I gave the lady our number. and she took it, but she is still crying while all this is happening. Then she is like why am I crying!??! And we talked about the Holy Ghost for like 5 minutes and then at the end of that she was still crying and she is like...Why am I crying!!!??!!! and she's like I have a feeling running up and down my body and it is just so warm. Then we talk and when we left she was still feeling the same way. Then on Sunday she called us and talked with my companion for 30 minutes. She has researched many other churches and there isn't anything like this chruch. She said she is worried about her family being against her but she wants to meet again!! So we are actually going to talk to her later today. So that's exciting. It was pretty interesting expereince but this is the edited version, I'll probably tell you the longer version when I get home but it was pretty cool.
That was the Experience of a mission...
Sightseeing (February 12, 2012)
Well, We went to a near by lake today and took pictures and we also went to the Hamamatsu castle. It was really pretty. It was pretty small for a castle but it was a nice view of the city.
It will be way good. I found some cool things today.
Well, we had some interesting things happen in the mission this week.
1. One of the missionaries in Hamamatsu got lost so President Baird told me to wait in the apartment and have the other 2 go out and look for him. It took them a little over an hour but found him. He just got a little turned around. But I was alone for a while. It was very interesting. I didn't know what to do. I cleaned up a little and exercised. It was pretty interesting. Kind of lonely because I didn't have any one to talk to.
2. Mom im not sure if this is what you are talking about but I don't think I get to go to the temple in Tokyo but I want to. But anyway, President Baird has asked me to go to Tokyo to accompany a missionary in my zone who needs an interview for college, so on the 3rd of March I get to go up to Tokyo. I don't know if that explains how excited I am but I am pretty excited. I get to ride the bullet train up there and don't have to pay...but I'm way excited.
3. Well, tomorrow is zone conference and so we have to give some training. That's exciting.
4. This isn't interesting but our best investigator got in a car accident and got 10 stitches in his head. And hurt his arm and leg really bad. It is really sad but we are giving him and his family a lot of support. But really tragic.
5. We met a lot of less actives this week, I guess that's not out of the ordinary but one comes out and the first thing she says is welcome and the second thing she says is I have been thinking a lot about repentence. Then we asked her if there were any reasons why she is not going to church and she said, I don't like crowds of people but I should go. Well, she came to church yesterday.
6. Another Less active we met had never seen the Book of Mormon before and then said he was pretty busy with work...too bad the wife came in and said he was out of work. Basically what I'm saying is we get to go meet them again
It was a pretty interesting week. As the days count down there is just more and more I want to do and i just keep getting buisier and buisier
Take care
Love
Elder Nelson
It will be way good. I found some cool things today.
Well, we had some interesting things happen in the mission this week.
1. One of the missionaries in Hamamatsu got lost so President Baird told me to wait in the apartment and have the other 2 go out and look for him. It took them a little over an hour but found him. He just got a little turned around. But I was alone for a while. It was very interesting. I didn't know what to do. I cleaned up a little and exercised. It was pretty interesting. Kind of lonely because I didn't have any one to talk to.
2. Mom im not sure if this is what you are talking about but I don't think I get to go to the temple in Tokyo but I want to. But anyway, President Baird has asked me to go to Tokyo to accompany a missionary in my zone who needs an interview for college, so on the 3rd of March I get to go up to Tokyo. I don't know if that explains how excited I am but I am pretty excited. I get to ride the bullet train up there and don't have to pay...but I'm way excited.
3. Well, tomorrow is zone conference and so we have to give some training. That's exciting.
4. This isn't interesting but our best investigator got in a car accident and got 10 stitches in his head. And hurt his arm and leg really bad. It is really sad but we are giving him and his family a lot of support. But really tragic.
5. We met a lot of less actives this week, I guess that's not out of the ordinary but one comes out and the first thing she says is welcome and the second thing she says is I have been thinking a lot about repentence. Then we asked her if there were any reasons why she is not going to church and she said, I don't like crowds of people but I should go. Well, she came to church yesterday.
6. Another Less active we met had never seen the Book of Mormon before and then said he was pretty busy with work...too bad the wife came in and said he was out of work. Basically what I'm saying is we get to go meet them again
It was a pretty interesting week. As the days count down there is just more and more I want to do and i just keep getting buisier and buisier
Take care
Love
Elder Nelson
New Companion...(last) (February 5, 2012)
Good afternoon
Well I got a new companion!! He is pretty cool but not the Japanese companion I had in mind. I mean let's be honest, when we think of a Japanese person we think of a skinny person who is a little shorter and has like all the latest techinology...right? Well my companion is about as tall as me but is way bigger than me. I mean he is a pro swimmer. He actually tried out for the Olympics but only got 4th or something so he wasn't able to go. (Ya he's only the fourth fastest in Japan, not that fast) On top of that he was a teacher at a school before his mission. So that's my companion, but he is from Fukushima. If you don't know where that is, well I wouldn't be too surprised but a little. That is the place where the nuclear reactor blew up. Ya pretty dangereous. His family was all ok but of course living in that area is kind of dangerous. And on top of all of that he is a convert of about two years who after the earthquake left his family to serve the Lord (ya he's been out like 7 months) So he makes a pretty good missionary. No but it's really fun working with him. Between the two of us we can get about anyone to talk to us...well that's not exactly true but we do a pretty good job.
Well yesterday we had a pretty good experience. About two weeks ago we went to this less active's (Family of 4) house. None of the members knew him but me and my companion have felt a number of times to go over to his house. We went over and met the wife and the son (Nonmembers) and scheduled an appointment for yesterday. Yesterday when we went over, it was awesome. The whole family was there ready to have a lesson. We actually ran it like a family home evening so we brought a game and a snack to eat. As we talked to them about prayer and the Holy Ghost they excepted everything like we were teaching at a member's house to a member. Then we finsh the lesson and started talking to them. After a while we left and as we walked out and my companion looks at me and was like are you sure they aren't active members. That's how amazing this family is. The dad hasn't been to church in 20 years and the kids are 17 and 16. You can feel that they love each other and want to learn and meet with us. It was incredible. I wish you could have been there.
We also had a Sri Lankin come to church this week. I'm not exactly sure where that place is but he is way cool. The only problem is he can't speak Japanese, just English. He struggles because he can't understand but he was able to make a lot of friends and he went over to a member's house with us and the ysa so it was really good. He says that he feels something different than at other churches.
I also bore my testimony because the bishop like called on me. I mean I made eye contact with him and he gave me "the nod" It was pretty good but it is sad because I don't have that many more opportunities to do this. Like I'm finally getting good at it, come on!! Haha.
Have a great week.
Love Elder Nelson
Well I got a new companion!! He is pretty cool but not the Japanese companion I had in mind. I mean let's be honest, when we think of a Japanese person we think of a skinny person who is a little shorter and has like all the latest techinology...right? Well my companion is about as tall as me but is way bigger than me. I mean he is a pro swimmer. He actually tried out for the Olympics but only got 4th or something so he wasn't able to go. (Ya he's only the fourth fastest in Japan, not that fast) On top of that he was a teacher at a school before his mission. So that's my companion, but he is from Fukushima. If you don't know where that is, well I wouldn't be too surprised but a little. That is the place where the nuclear reactor blew up. Ya pretty dangereous. His family was all ok but of course living in that area is kind of dangerous. And on top of all of that he is a convert of about two years who after the earthquake left his family to serve the Lord (ya he's been out like 7 months) So he makes a pretty good missionary. No but it's really fun working with him. Between the two of us we can get about anyone to talk to us...well that's not exactly true but we do a pretty good job.
Well yesterday we had a pretty good experience. About two weeks ago we went to this less active's (Family of 4) house. None of the members knew him but me and my companion have felt a number of times to go over to his house. We went over and met the wife and the son (Nonmembers) and scheduled an appointment for yesterday. Yesterday when we went over, it was awesome. The whole family was there ready to have a lesson. We actually ran it like a family home evening so we brought a game and a snack to eat. As we talked to them about prayer and the Holy Ghost they excepted everything like we were teaching at a member's house to a member. Then we finsh the lesson and started talking to them. After a while we left and as we walked out and my companion looks at me and was like are you sure they aren't active members. That's how amazing this family is. The dad hasn't been to church in 20 years and the kids are 17 and 16. You can feel that they love each other and want to learn and meet with us. It was incredible. I wish you could have been there.
We also had a Sri Lankin come to church this week. I'm not exactly sure where that place is but he is way cool. The only problem is he can't speak Japanese, just English. He struggles because he can't understand but he was able to make a lot of friends and he went over to a member's house with us and the ysa so it was really good. He says that he feels something different than at other churches.
I also bore my testimony because the bishop like called on me. I mean I made eye contact with him and he gave me "the nod" It was pretty good but it is sad because I don't have that many more opportunities to do this. Like I'm finally getting good at it, come on!! Haha.
Have a great week.
Love Elder Nelson
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