June 5, 2016

First weeks of transfer are always the most crazy and most stressful so this week was a blast. Haha! For real, even though it was hard I enjoyed it a lot. 

To start off, Tuesday was transfers so my companion Elder Walker took a train to his new area and I took a train to Nagoya and then went to the mission home with all the other new trainers so I could be trained on how to train a new missionary. Well after that they told me my trainee would not be arriving on Wednesday with everyone else because he had some visa problems. So they assigned me to serve in a near bye area until my new companion arrives. So I was assigned to stay in Kariya city with another companionship who's trainee also was able to come. 

Wednesday and Thursday I stayed in Kariya and served there and it was really fun. There were three of us there so that was interesting. It was my first time in a trio so it was for sure an experience. Haha! We were able to get a lot of work done and visit with several people. We also played some baseball with some young kids which was a big highlight of the week. They thought that the missionaries were so cool, it was lots of fun. 

Friday I went back to the mission home cause my trainee had finally arrived. I got there we met and then me and him took the nice long train back to Fujieda. 

My new companions name is Elder Hilamatu. He is from São Paulo Brazil but he lived in Japan when he was younger so he speaks not only Portuguese but pretty good Japanese too. He doesn't really speak English though, but that's okay cause we just speak all Portuguese so my Portuguese is really improving. Might forget english soon! Haha!  He is a really cool guy. He did karate and Kung fu before his mission so I'm gonna ask him to teach me some stuff so I can fight the next person who tries to steal my bike. Hahaha! I love Elder Hilamatu, he is an awesome guy and we are doing awesome together. 

To finish off the week we had a ward activity on Saturday. We had a music night and it was a lot of fun and we got a less active to come so that made my week. Also lots of members invited their friends so we got to meet them too. Hopefully something can come from that, some people seemed pretty promising. 

On a slightly spiritual note, Sunday I taught the foreigners Sunday school class that the missionaries always teach and the topic was about the conversion story of Alma the younger.

We focused a lot on what the true meaning of conversion is and we all decided that true conversion is a true change of heart. Alma the younger begged for forgiveness, received a remission of his sins, and then he went and became a different person. He truly changed his heart. Through the Atonement we can receive forgiveness of our sins and change ourselves, our lives, and our hearts. Aren't we so lucky to have a loving Heavenly Father who would give us His Son so that we could have this wonderful blessing. 

I love you all and hope you all have a wonderful week! 

Giant Cat Thingy

Elder Hilamatu

Throwback to the MTC

May 29, 2016

Hello!! So transfer 6 is officially over! Crazy! Time flies like crazy as a missionary. I can't believe it. 

So last Monday we had a district activity and went and saw a super cool shrine that is built into the side of a mountain. It was really pretty and a really good hike too. We had lots and lots of fun! 

This week I was also able to get a new bike!! Yay!! I ended up getting a really really good bike for really cheap because I had insurance on my bike when it was stolen. So since Thursday I've been riding around on a nice brand new bike. It's beautiful! 

Saturday was our biggest and craziest day of the week!! We had transfer calls Saturday morning. Well guess what... I'm training a new missionary!!! Crazy! I'm also going to be a district leader. What!?! I was so shocked when I got the call. So from now on will be a lot more responsibility but I'm very excited. I'm quite a bit nervous to be training a new missionary but at the same time super excited. I feel like I was just being trained yesterday so this is a really weird feeling. Also I am now the same transfer my trainer was when he trained me. Crazy! So this transfer is going to be a big adventure!! 

Saturday we also had a baptism! Her name is Maricris and she is just so awesome. It's been so awesome teaching her and getting to become close with her family. They are all such great people. The baptismal service was awesome and she bore her testimony at the end and it was so powerful and just amazing. I'm so grateful for the people I get to meet as a missionary. I would never give up these experiences for anything in the world. Bringing souls to Christ just brings us so much happiness, it's amazing! 

Sunday Maricris was able to be confirmed in church so that too was a big moment for us as missionaries. Our mission president also attended our branch on Sunday so that was a treat to see him and be able to spend some time with him. 

This week was an awesome week! Many things happened and we were able to get a lot of work done. I am so grateful for everyday that I get to go out and proclaim this wonderful gospel of joy and happiness. Isn't this gospel such a joyous thing? I know I have found so much joy and happiness through this gospel. I truly have felt more strongly now then ever the true joy of this gospel. We should always be able to find happiness in this gospel because that is what our Heavenly Father wants for us. He wants us to be happy. I love this gospel and my Heavenly Father. 

Hope everyone has a great week! Love you all! 

Maricris

President Ishii

Sushi

Mountain Temple

Mountain Temple

May 22, 2016

So we have a district activity today, we are going to hike a mountain!!! Yay! So that means I don't have any time to email! I'll send pics next week though! 

As for this week, we found a new investigator this week. His name is Kazuo and he is 17 and super cool. We prayed all week to find one new investigator and well we found a really really awesome one. 

Also here is the best story of the week....MY BIKE GOT STOLEN! About 3 weeks ago my seat got stolen and I just replaced that which took a while and was a pain and now my whole bike just got stolen. We went and taught seminary on Saturday night and then when I came out of the members apartment my bike wasn't there. We then took the nice  hour and a half walk home. Hahaha!  I am currently borrowing a members like 80 year old bike. Haha! Hopefully the police find my bike though. In Japan the police actually take finding stolen bikes seriously so maybe they will find it. So yeah that's that! 

This week one of our investigators is getting baptized so we are super excited and you can count on there being pics next week! 

Love you all and have a great week!!! And remember God loves you!!

The Beach

Finding Investigators

Missionary work in the jungle