Well, this week was just really, really busy. Like I said, we had a training meeting for all the missionaries in the zone. Actually, we had two of them. We had a really wonderful training on Tuesday with everyone on Okinawa, and then Elder Gordon and I flew down to Miyako (see it here) to do the training with them there. It was really stressful. However, everything went really well. The missionaries seemed to all love the training. I was pretty relieved. Also this week, we had a companion exchange with the Miyako Elders.....That was Elder Redd and his new bean. It was absolutely fantastic. Elder Redd is probably the strongest missionary in the zone. He knows what he is doing and he knows how to train his companion. I was really impressed. I haven't had such a good exchange in a really long time!

After training in Okinawa

The only bad part was that it was SO rainy. On Friday, Elder Redd and I had planned to work all day together. When we headed out on our bikes, the rain and wind got way crazy. By the time we were out in the city (not really a city....there isn't much out in Miyako) there was flash floods. It was so crazy! As we rode our bikes, our feet were being completely submerged by water.....our rain gear didn't really help at that point. It got so windy that we started tipping over on our bikes. I had to call the other Elders and tell them it wasn't safe to come out to Dendo. Elder Redd and I headed back and then we had an all day study/practice session. It was so fun. We went through a lot of PMG and did a lot of Practice lessons. It was actually a really good use of time.

Rain

In Miyako

Miyako is struggling. There are about 3 active members on that island.  Elder Redd was reading the Prophecy by President Eyring about Japan. The missionaries down on Miyako are getting discouraged. However, we were still able to find some new investigators and teach some awesome lessons. People were pretty surprised that we were working so hard even though it was raining.

So, I'm pretty tired this week. It's a good tired, but I think after we are done emailing here, we are going to take a big nap. We have to do reporting, as well......Haha, I can't wait to sleep.

We came home and went to church and it was great. This week, the ward called the missionaries to start translating sacrament meeting for all the english speakers. It looks like we are going to start next week. We'll get to sit up on the stand with a little microphone that is hooked up to headsets in the congregation.....So cool!

Anyway, I'm just really excited to work in my own area this week. We are planning on working with the members really hardcore so that we can get them involved in this awesome work. We'll let you know how that goes.

Thank you for all your emails of encouragement. I love you all.

Elder Low

I had quite a week. Let me just jump in.

We had an appointment with our baptismal date investigator this last Thursday. I feel like he is becoming more and more happy. BUT we had a happening...

We went to his house to teach him the end of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The whole enduring to the end and obedience part. It was going really well. We had a member there and everything. His apartment is kinda a mess, but that's not really a problem. The problem was this. Suddenly in the middle of the lesson, his eyes widened and he turned around as if he heard someone in the room. We stopped teaching. He looked back at us looking really confused.

We started asking if something was wrong and if he was ok......he just kinda sat there and shivered as if he was freezing. Then he started shaking. Not violently, but enough. Like he was cold. We asked again, "What's wrong?" and nothing. His eyes were still wide as if he was freaking out about something and he didn't say anything. Then it got freaky.

His wide eyes slowly rolled to the back of his head. He twisted his head to the side and tightened every single muscle in his body and let out a pained scream. It was really long and freaky. Then he fell out of his chair and started swinging at the air in front of him. Our member ran and grabbed him while Elder Dursteller and I called the cops. He started foaming at the mouth and continued to shake. Now, he was shaking pretty violently. Then he stopped completely as if he was dead. No breathing. Nothing. Our member started checking pulse and stuff and then he let out a huge gasp of air and said "I don't want to die".

Long story short, the ambulance came and he was just sitting there and was really freaked out. They took him to the hospital for a day and then he came home. We went and talked to him and he said that he doesn't remember any of it. He said he heard something weird and then all of the sudden, he was in the hospital. He will know what the cause was on Thursday.....we are pretty freaked out. It was probably the scariest moment of my mission.....and I've had pretty freaky moments.

Speaking of which, We just had 2 pretty big earthquakes. One was in the middle of the night. We all woke up and everything was shaking like crazy. I hear it was a 6.5. It was pretty scary.

Also, big news! I get to go to Miyako on Wednesday! I'm super excited and I'll finally get to meet the missionaries there!

Other than that, Elder Dursteller and I are working SO hard. We found 4 new investigators this week. Things are going better than they ever have on my mission. We are just moving so quickly and we don't have any problems in the ward or in the area.

Quick fun story: there is a professional chef in our ward and he wanted to welcome me to the ward.....with something called wasabi baptism. It's just a sushi roll with TONS of wasabi. Everyone in Naha does it....IT hurt SO bad. It was awful.

Anyway, I'm sorry about photos. I don't have a place to get wi-fi here so I might need to send them through the computer. We'll see.

Love You,

Elder Low

I have had a really busy week this week. I flew up to Fukuoka and had a great time with all the zone leaders in the mission. It was kinda weird. I had just been in Fukuoka two days earlier....It's crazy. My mission just spent a couple thousand dollars on me so that I could come up to Fukuoka. I feel really blessed. Also, because we have the islands Miyako and Ishigaki in our  zone, we had to have a special Skype training meeting with the two islands. In other words, Elder Dursteller and I have spent the last week training the zone about what we learned from Fukuoka.

The zone is really great. Lots of cool people.... My companion Elder Dursteller is WAY out of my league. His Japanese is perfect. His teaching is amazing. He's a spiritual giant. I feel so bad. I'm trying to keep up. He's just a really really good missionary. I'm learning so much from him.

This week, we made another Baptismal date with our investigator. He's kinda crazy....to say it simply, he randomly cancels appointments and then shows up to them anyway. It's gotten to the point that we just show up when he cancels and he still comes. BUT he is really interested in the Book of Mormon and wants revelation from God.

Other than that, this next month is Zone conference and the mission is going to have a 7 to 8 hour zone conference. President Gustafsen is having all the missionaries prepare to demonstrate how to do all aspects of the work. I'm so so excited. It's going to be really fun.

Other than that, I'm still working hard and we're still seeing great success. The Ward is great and HUGE. I can't wait to see more miracles. We have already been so blessed.

Elder Low

Well, I'm back on the island. I transferred down to the city of Naha in Okinawa and I'm the zone leader with Elder Dursteller from Provo. We have a huge Investigator pool in comparison to Isahaya.  It's also really nice to have a companion that knows Japanese. Don't get me wrong, I love my companions........It's a nice change though.

The other day, we set a baptismal date for an investigator here in Naha. He really really needs our help. He set a Baptismal date kinda cuz he's lost all hope. He's a big focus of ours.

Also, my roommate in Naha....is Elder Brackenbury again. The guy from the MTC that was really......fun. He's kinda weird, but I'm excited to be with him again. He's super nice and he likes me lots. :)

Today, we are flying back to Fukuoka for a conference with the mission leaders and President. We just kinda report how our zones are doing and all that stuff......it's kinda scary though. I don't really know the zone. I'm only been here for like 4 days. I'm basically leaving that all up to Elder Dursteller. The zone is quite an interesting zone. We have two islands off of Okinawa. Miyako and Ishigaki. Sounds like we will get to go to Miyako for a little some day.

So, Elder Dursteller is pretty much a boss. He's a couple years older than me. He's 22. He is way cool though and FREAKING fluent and Japanese. He can read and speak perfectly. It makes me feel kinda stupid, but I'm learning so much from him.

Anyway, that's all I have. I'm sorry about pictures. I will get back to those soon. I've been super busy.

Love you,
Elder Low