I am not in Naha right now. We flew up for Mission Leader Council. So, I'm spending P day with the Okinawa zone leaders in Fukuoka. I'm way stoked. It's going to be pretty fun.

Forgive me for today's email. I don't have a lot of time.

This last week, we had a exchange with the Yonabaru Elders. That is a tough area. The Elders there are working so hard. There is just not a lot of people home during the day. Also, with all the hills and heat it's really easy to get tired. However, those Elders are working super hard and they know what they are doing. I worked with Elder Miyanishi. I was so impressed. He had planned his day so well. We never had a second of time. We were going the entire day. He packed the day in so well, and he had his travel time down. I was really impressed. He's also a really good teacher.

Also this week, F came to church. I was really nervous because he's a really shy guy and he really doesn't like being in front of people. He really liked it though. He was taking notes during Sacrament meeting and he also had the chance to talk to the bishop about his situation with work and his physical problems. He has a mild back injury. The bishop was really good to him and we were able to figure out a game plan for F san and he seems pretty hopeful. We'll have another chance to meet him later this week as well. Things are just looking good with him.

Along with all that, we're still working as hard as we can. It is so hot. There is no way to not smell bad. I always have deodorant and all these other things to keep the sweat down, but it's not possible. I just feel bad knocking on people's doors looking like I just ran a marathon. It makes people wonder why we are out here though. AND we get lots of free drinks. Sometimes they are tea, but it's always nice to have people watching out for us. Okinawan people are either really really nice.....or SUPER rude....Or sometimes just crazy. It makes dendo fun though.

Anyway, I'm really sorry about this letter. I really don't have lots of time. I just hope you all know I'm super grateful for your support and I love you all! I'm doing the best I can. The church is true!

Elder Low

July 16, 2013 - Waiting For Transfer Calls

Today, our transfer calls are supposed to come. I have the phone sitting next to me right now and I'm FREAKING out!! This is my third transfer in Nago so it is very very likely that I leave. However, President said he wanted me to train this transfer and I don't know if he trusts me enough to whitewash an area. That's a LOT of work! I'll do whatever he asks.....but it's terrifying waiting. If we're still in the church when the call comes, we'll let you know.

First order of business, I found some things that I could use. First, a family photo album would be nice. I realize that I only have the ones from email. maybe some pictures of all of us in disneyland or things like that. Something to think about.

 

Also......I hate to do this to you, but it's so hot out here and we sweat.....a lot. I was thinking, maybe I need some machine washable pants. What do you think? Let me know.

 

I hope Clint is having a good time. I had a dream that He and Grandma surprise attacked me here in Nago. I hope he's having lots of fun.

 

Also, I got Jake's engagement photos. Looking Slick. Kinda weird thinking that it's really happening and that I won't be there:( but looks like they are super happy. So that's awesome!

 

Ok, enough of all that. Here's what's been going on this week:

 

First, I have Jon's card. I've taken good care of it. I'll send it soon.

 

Today, I'm a little late because Elder Jolly and I went out to eat Sushi with a ward member. Yes, you'll get some photos of it (and I got a haircut as soon as I returned to Nago. Elder Jolly and I both needed it bad). It was super good. Elder jolly kinda struggled with the Natto sushi. I liked it though. Mom would be so proud. I actually eat it for breakfast every morning. Somebody told me it's really good for your skin so I decided to get used to eating it. It's kinda grown on me.....which scares me because you can't really eat it in the states. I won't know what to eat for breakfast when I get home!!!

 

Eating Sushi. Click any photo to enlarge

 

Note the squid embryo sushi...

 

 

 

This week, our numbers were a little.....low. We had splits in Ishikawa this week. It was so fun, but that killed a whole day of Dendo. Also, we had a training meeting about working with the wards in Okinawa on thursday. It was a good training, but it also killed our numbers.

 

The day in Ishikawa, I worked with Sugimoto Choro. He's a BOSS. He can't speak english, but it was so fun. He's only on his second transfer, but he's an amazing missionary. We just barely heard that he is transferring to Hiroshima.....We still don't know where we're going.

 

With Elder Sugimoto

 

 

Sorry, this email is kinda crazy. I'm freaking out right now because I WANT TO KNOW WHERE I'M GOING!

 

Ok! Despite the fact that we had low numbers, the ratio was pretty good. We found 3 new investigators this week. One of them was a woman who said she used to have a religion. Mahikari is that name of the religion. I know Jon is super familiar with it.

 

Also, we continued with Y-san. She's doing a great job of keeping her commitments. She is amazing. She's been reading and praying every day. She said that she feels closer to baptism. She says she's considering it now. We're giving her a date this week. We would have given her one earlier, but we had the whole ward problem. We're really excited to work with her towards baptism.....that is if I don't transfer (still don't know).

 

We had Sister H take us out to lunch earlier this week. At lunch, she corrected me for using a scripture that Jesus gave to his apostles. She said that it wasn't for us. It was for his apostles. Haha, I thought it was kinda strange. (It was in 3 Nephi 13:28-30)

 

Anyway, that's been our week. Yes, I'm drinking lots of water. I carry about three water bottles to last me from 12:00 till 5:00 and then three more to last from 5:00 to 9:00. It's so hot and I always feel disgusting because we're always sweating.

 

I emailed first today so you might get transfer info in about an hour. If not, I'm really sorry. It should come in the next hour.

 

I love you all.

Elder Randy Kazuhiro Low

 

This just in: Transfer news:

I am..........................

 

Not transferring. BUT!! I am.............

 

TRAINING! I'm getting an american bean this thursday. I'm kinda nervous, but it will be a great experience. The President just called and said that he really needed me to stay in transfer because we are getting 13 elders and 16 sisters. CRAZY! Anyway, gotta run. I love you all.

July 8, 2013 - Hot in Nago!

So, I didn't have time to respond to a lot last week. Sorry about that. We had Zone P-day. First of all, it is hot. I know you were saying that you checked Nago and that it is 83 degrees or something. Yeah, that's crap. I don't know where you looked up that weather but that sounds like it would be beautiful right now. At about midnight, our little thermometer in our room gets below 95. It's hot and humid and I think I do laundry every day. We have to take showers up to three times a day. It's almost always above 95 if not 100 degrees. I've never been so hot in my entire life. I never thought that having the water heater off is still too hot to shower in. It is HOT!

 

So, our P-day was a blast, but we had some problems. The P-day was all the Okinawan missionaries. The Ginowan zone and the Naha zone. It was lots of fun.....but one elder broke his wrist right before the p-day. He got hit by a car and broke his wrist. It was pretty bad. He sat in the heat while the Williams couple drove around Okinawa looking for him. Poor Elder Grimmer has to have surgery tomorrow for his wrist.

 

The Ginowan zone....and the food. The poor Williams couple did so much for us AND had to deal with Elder Grimmer's arm. They are the best. P.S. they are from Fruit Heights. They keep telling me that when I get home they want to take me to Wingers.

 

 

A self timer photo on the beach of Okinawa. Everyone got crazy sunburned.....except the Nihonjin......and Elder Low. Just looking really dark. :)

 

Me and Elder Hammond (ZL) on the beach.

 He's pretty much the best!

 

 

Then, this week, four missionary bikes were stolen. Don't worry, mine wasn't one of them because I lock my bike. Unfortunately, two of the bikes WERE locked. Those two bikes were the two Okinawan sisters bikes. And another one of the bikes was Elder Grimmer's.......yeah, he had a really rough week this week. The fourth bike was my district leader's...........he just didn't lock it. Haha.

 

So, bad news this week. I think we've lost one of our investigators. He stopped coming to church and he told us to cancel his baptismal date. He doesn't want to think about life after death or baptism he "just want to keep praying and meeting on Wednesdays". Then, on Wednesday, he left a message on our phone ten minutes before our appointment and told us that he's tired and isn't coming. When I called him back to try to schedule another day, he told me "I'll just see you next Wednesday, k?" Needless to say, I'm pretty disappointed. He was getting so excited and I KNOW he's felt the Spirit.

 

On the Up-side, we have another who is going SOOO well. She still hasn't come to church because of her sick mother but she is keeping all her commitments and always getting excited to meet. She says "It always brightens my day". Although she's moving very slow (because she still can't come to church) she's moving. And if it keeps up, she'll get baptized for sure. The sad thing is I'll probably transfer before that happens. Do you realize that I've spent this WHOLE time in Nago?

 

I'm on transfer three which is usually the killer. By the way, next week is transfer calls so my p-day will be on Tuesday. So, we'll see what happens. Maybe I'll be an eternal Nago missionary. A lot of missionaries on Okinawa have been here FOREVER. My zone leader spent five transfers in Futenma and now is the ZL and has been for the last 3 transfers. He only has six more months on his mission. He's had 3 areas total. Two of them have been on Okinawa. I might be on this island for longer than I expected.

 

We have another investigator who will be baptized this month. When this month? I'm not sure yet. However, if he gets more excited, he might die. Haha, he tells EVERYONE. He's a delivery man and we saw him talking to this man by the bus stop......he was talking about his baptism and how excited he is. Hahaha, he makes me smile. I'm really excited for him.

 

Anyway, that's this week. Next week, I have a day in Ishikawa, a day in Okinawa, and not a lot of free time to Dendo.....which is weird. Usually we just ride our bikes around for hours in the heat. I'm really excited for it and can't wait to tell you all about it.

 

Me and Elder Monson.

 

 

Until next week. I love you all

Elder Low