Elder Chantry and I have been fighting to find new investigators...We have about 30 friends who love us....but won't listen to the message at ALL. We go visit them often and try to get them to try it out for a little bit, but most of the just say they are Buddhist so they can't.....It's kinda a lame excuse.

We had the opportunity to eat mexican food last night with some members. It was excellent.

BUT we had ZTM and I got to talk to Elder Wirthlin. He's doing great. I love talking to him and he gave me some really good ideas. He's doing amazing things right now.

 

The Zone

 

Ice cream chaser to a sushi lunch.

That's gross.

 

 

I really don't know what else to tell you. Elder Chantry and I have been doing this door to door business all week and it's been difficult. Lots of rejections. I'm really grateful that Elder Chantry is such a boss though. He's really positive and I love that about him.

 

OH! My Eikaiwa class wants to know the Kanji for Kazuhiro.....I never learned it. Haha, my bad. My Eikaiwa class loves me. It kinda worries me because they keep saying that they won't come if I leave.......and I'm bound to leave sometime.....but I love them all.

 

I'm carrying two asthma inhalers all the time. It's been worse than it has been for most of my life....BUT, I'm doing really well with it. No big attacks. Just lots of wheezing after riding my bike. Isahaya has lots of hills and the cold wind is a little rough. I have to take little breaks sometimes. BUT I have a sweet new scarf from mom. (Thanks mom. I love it!)

 

Yeah, that's me. Had a tough week, but I'm not getting down on that. We'll keep working hard and you better believe we are going to see success.

Love,

Elder Low

At the branch Christmas Party

(Click on any photo to enlarge.)

 

Gift Exchange at District Meeting

 

So, I'm glad to hear you all had a wonderful Christmas. The highlight of my week was Saturday. We had a service project at an orphanage.

We had a big discussion with the branch and President Gustafsen about this service Project. As you know, you are not supposed to do service in places like day cares or schools......so the Orphanage was .....sketchy. Long story short, President allowed us to go and it was the best experience ever.

Before we even got to the front desk, all the children came out and grabbed us and pulled us over to the mochi bowls and handed us hammers. They all were so excited. I had a blast.

 

 

In this video I sent of the game I was playing with the little girl.....

Yeah, after her, I ended up playing with all the little kids. They all wanted to play against me. I'm so glad I learned that game. I learned it with  the Ka family in Nago. It was so cute. Then we played Soccer with all the children.....and they were SOOO good. Elder Coelho from Brazil was so shocked at their talent.

 

 

 

 

After that, we went to Sushi

Sushi comes via conveyor. You pay by the plate.

And then had the baptism. It was a nightmare. We had to fill up that whole font with buckets and empty it with buckets.

 

 

 

The font is also really shallow so when I baptized K, I had to push him down quite a bit because he didn't fit. HAha, it was nuts. He's really happy though.

Also, Elder Chantry and I have  been working to get the Branch back into missionary work and they love us. Which scares me because this week is transfer calls and I just love this area and this district so much., I don't want to go somewhere else. Maybe that's a sign that it's time for me to leave, but......I don't know.  I feel really worn out from this last transfer because I worked my butt off, and now I might have to leave. It's all a mystery now. We'll see what happens.

I'll let you know how the transfers go. I'm super pumped. I loved the photos and videos from Christmas. (Sam is wearing my sweater ;)) I'll keep working hard and I'll talk to you all next week.

Love,
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.