Another busy week this week. The month of August was a difficult one. I'm really excited to start up a new month.

Interesting thing happened this week. Do you remember me writing home about a C san? He had a Baptismal date a while ago, but we had to drop him because he's a Baptist and doesn't "need" to go to the Mormon church. He was dropped back in March or April. This last week, he came back. He called me and asked if we could meet. He's kinda a awkward guy, so the conversation was very quick.

"Hello?"

"This is C. Can you meet at the Church?"

".....Oh. Hi.....right now?"

"Yes"

"....Yeah, I think so"

"Ok"

 

Then there was a click and it was over. Haha, he showed up and we were lucky to have a member there with short such notice. He came and sat down and started talking about how great the Baptist church is and that we should go see it. I asked him why he wanted to meet and he said that he had a question about the Bible. He opened it up and it was marked up like crazy. Then he told me that recently, he can't feel God when he reads the Bible. I asked him if he had been reading the Book of Mormon. He said that he hadn't because it's not the word of God. So, we gave him the challenge to read the Book of Mormon to see if it was the Word of God. Then we testified that it was and promised him that he would feel God if he read it.

 

Long story short, the Book of Mormon won. He's meeting us again. That was exciting.

 

Also, we took F san to church yesterday. However, he couldn't come to our ward so Elder Gordon and I did six hours of church Yesterday. It was LONG. I was way tired, but It was WAY good to have F at church. He's progressing again. 

 

We also had an activity teaching "District meeting" to all the young men in the ward. It was really great. We taught companionship unity. It was so fun. We did "Duffy san Mogi lessons" In other words, I took my little stuffed Duffy to the church and he was our investigator. It was fun and the young men got excited. I thought it was a blast.

 

Last night, we also had a dinner with a ward family. The Yoza family. Brother Yoza was the brother who fought in the war of Okinawa when he was 16 years old. Also, his daughter lives in Machida! He is the most interesting person. I could talk to him forever. He's REALLY intense too. He is SO Japanese. 

 

Dinner at the Yoza's

The Food

 

 

In all, it was a pretty good week.

 

Elder Miyanishi is ready for his steak.

At Han's Steakhouse

With Elder Kemp overlooking Naha

 

 

 

Love you all,

Elder Low

Naha skies. You never know when it will rain.

So, another tough one this week. Mostly busy, but it was good. We had interviews on Wednesday with President which was great. I spent the entire day at the church translating for the Japanese Elders and Sisters. It was a pretty long day.  I was the last person to be interviewed and Kaicho was pretty worn out, so I didn't have lots of time to talk to him. It was a quick talk about the Zone and what we were going to to do.

AP's and the Naha Elders

Also, I had the chance to go out to Itoman to do splits. It was a really good exchange. I was really impressed with the Elders there. I worked with Elder Silver. He's a really hard worker. Elder Silver has a lot of confidence and he knows the vision. I had a lot of fun working with him.

With Elder Silver on the beach at Itoman

In other news, we saw Brother K yesterday. He's really struggling. He has a hernia and can hardly move. His diabetes is also getting pretty bad. He didn't come to church. He seemed pretty upset about that. He really really wants to go to church because he gets depressed when he's not there. We're working on getting him there.

F san is doing well. He also didn't come to church this week, but we were able to meet with him and talk about some more commandments and he is willing to follow them. He's pretty solid. I think he's still a little bit nervous for Baptism, but we still have a little bit of time with him.

Surprisingly, I find that the more I learn Japanese, the harder it gets to talk to people. I actually know that they are denying me. Haha, it's forcing me to be a lot more bold, but I think it's a good thing. I'm learning to be "politely bold". Haha, I had a couple bad experiences before. I'm getting better though.

Dinner at a member's house

So, we had a the worst garbage experience ever. Because of weather, the garbage person wasn't able to come for a really long time, so we've kept our garbage bags out on the balcony. They rescheduled a day, but we had Elders staying in our apartment that day and totally forgot about it. We remembered when we heard the song (In Japan, icecream truck songs are played on garbage trucks) and we freaked out. We ran out to the balcony and grabbed all the garbage to take it down. As we were running down the stairs, Elder Miyanishi broke one of the bags and a REALLY old onion and it's juices started to poor out. Elder Miyanishi started freaking out! "うんこよりもくさい!!!!"　I'm sure everyone in the apartment heard it. In the end, we missed the truck and had a HUGE garbage clean up. Because the garbage broke at the top of the stairs, the juices dripped ALL the way down and the entire apartment complex from floor 5 to 1 smelled worse than......Haha, well, Elder Miyanishi said it best. We had to clean the ENTIRE apartment complex. It only took about an hour, but it was crazy. Everyone in the apartment was really kind and had a sense of humor so we didn't get into trouble, but it was nuts.

Anyway, that was my week. It's going well. Still loving the work and the people here. I love you all.

Elder Low

So, I had a busy week this week. Not a lot happened. I'm still in Naha.....and I am happy that way. I was really worried to leave. This has been my longest area, but I really really love it here. BUT because of transfers this week, I got to do the big Airport day on Thursday. All day long waiting for new missionaries in the Airport. I didn't take pictures this time because it was really boring. We just....sat. At one point we tried to weekly plan, but that didn't work super well. It was a long boring day. We're really excited about the new missionaries in our zone though. They are all way cool! We also have a new bean sister missionary. We'll see how that goes.

This last week, we met with F san twice. He is progressing like an animal. He said that he knows God is guiding his life and he LOVES to pray. Before, he was telling us that God doesn't exist. So, that is huge progress. Here's the problem. He has lots anxiety problems and he came to church a couple weeks ago.....and he knew one of the members that gave a talk that week. He said that he didn't really get along with the member because the live across the street from each other and are always fighting......so now, he doesn't want to come to church because K kyoudai is there. So, there's something we need to work on....

Typhoon season is getting pretty crazy. We had another day inside. President called me and told me to assign the zone to teach three hour long lessons to their companion and then report back to him that night. I'm sure Jake and Jon can testify that teaching lessons to your companion is SO awful. Nobody likes it. But the whole zone did it so that was good. :) I didn't want to have to tell president that nobody in the zone did it because they don't like to practice with their companion.

Some other sad news. There is a convert in this ward....she baptized maybe a week before I got here. Her name is A. Everyone just calls her Popo. She left for Virginia to do a nanny job. She's been really struggling with the church. I also found out that her Baptism was WAY too rushed. There wasn't even a member of the ward at the Baptism. Not even bishopric. So, now we can't really help her. We gave her addresses to churches around where she lives. I really hope she goes.

Anyway, that's pretty much it for the week. From what I hear, there is a huge Typhoon coming this next week so we probably won't get to work a ton on Wednesday and Thursday. It's supposed to be worse than the last one. We'll have to get all emergency stuff ready and stuff like that.....Ugh. I would much rather Dendo.

Anyway, Love you all and I'll talk to you next week!

Elder Low

Sunset in Naha

So, first things first, I have to ask you for a favor. Our mission has asked every missionary to complete the "my family" pamphlet by September. We're starting to use them for family history. I'm sure you've seen it, but in order to fill it out, I need Kanji for all the names on Mom's side of the family and I also am going to need pictures of the grandparents. I need to get that packet filled out ASAP. If you could do that it would be really appreciated.

Anyway, I had a crazy week with almost no time for normal dendo. We were in Fukuoka last Sunday through Wednesday. It was the funnest time. Probably too much fun for missionaries.

Zone Leaders at the Fukuoka Temple

On P-day, after we emailed, we went back to the Honbu and asked what we could do for President and he gave us four tickets to the zoo across the street. He told us to have a good time and then at six go find some investigators for Fukuoka. So, we spent the day at the zoo and having fun around Fukuoka.

At the Zoo

It was SO much fun. Elder Chung is one of the Elders in Okinawa and I don't know if you remember him, but he's pretty much my best friend in the mission. I've really been able to work with him a lot and he's one of the funnest people I know.

On bikes in Fukuoka

A hot day in Fukuoka. Two of the bikes broke....so we had to walk back to the honbu.

That night, I had the chance to work with Elder Fender in Fukuoka and we had a really successful day. We found 3 new investigators that were all really solid. It was wonderful. The next day, we had an awesome training from President and the AP's and then we went home to Naha to prepare for two trainings for the Zone. It's been a lot of training here. It has gone really well though.

We weren't able to really teach any of our investigators this week. It was really slow, but we had a little bit of time to go finding and we found quite a few cool people. We found a cute old couple in a tiny apartment. The Husband was watching Sumo and told us to leave and that he didn't need our message, but the wife said she would love to hear the message. We were able to teach her a little and make a new appointment. She said that her husband was going to yell at her afterwards, but that it was ok. Haha, it was way funny because right after that, we said a prayer and we could hear them bickering. He was saying that they had their religion and she was saying that she wants to hear what we have to say and that we had such pure hearts and all this sweet stuff. Haha, I hope the next lesson goes ok.

Our Eikaiwa students

So, as you know, today is our transfer calls. I don't know what's going on yet, but I hope I stay. I really love this area and the people here. Of course I'll do whatever the Lord has in store for me. I just have come to really love these people.

Anyway, that was my week. It was a busy one. Maybe next week I'll be somewhere new. We'll see. I love you all and I'll talk to you all next week.

Love,

Elder Low

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

The Typhoon was totally fine! I spent all day on the sixth floor of our apartment. The entire mission was down for a day. It wasn't that bad though. Just crazy wind and rain. There were a lot of trees that came down and the streets were pretty messy. In the end, we were all just kinda upset that we couldn't go and work. 

Elder Glover on Tuesday while we waited out the storm. We lost our minds holed up in the apartment all day. 

This week, we had to fly down to Ishigaki for a baptismal interview. It was crazy. We were only there from 7 pm on Saturday night and then we flew back at 7 the next morning. The interview went well, but I was tired after sleeping in Ishigaki. I was sweaty and I didn't really have anything to sleep on. I don't love sleeping in other Elder's apartments. However, the Ishi couple were down on Ishigaki. I don't know if you know Elder Ishi, but he was  and area seventy and he is AWESOME. His wife is too. They drove us around and were the sweetest couple. Sister Ishi doesn't speak any english so every once in a while Elder Ishi would start to talk in english and she would start freaking out. Then he would have to explain what he was talking about. It was really cute. They are awesome.

Also, we were able to meet with F San and talk about his situation. It sounds like he really has a tough situation. We made a deal with the ward to figure out how to get him a job. We're working on that now.

The work here is hotter than ever. It is now impossible to go outside without coming home completely nasty. It's pretty terrible. We shower three or four times a  day and we buy so much laundry soap. People have started to comment on us sweating at there door. They always give us drinks.....but usually tea which is hard to turn down. People are way nice about it but I always feel disgusting.

This is where I live and work. It's hot. 

Even at night. 

Other than that, we really haven't had a lot go on this week. Just a lot of hard work.

I'll send some pictures, but I love you all so so much. I hope you all have a great week.

We got stopped by the flower helmet guy. He asked if we were friends. I said yes and then he asked if we could take a photo. Haha, priceless. He's really cut down on flowers though.

Love,

Elder Low

I've  had a really busy week. It was a little rough.

On Tuesday morning, I woke up and had no voice at all. Nothing but air coming out of my throat. It was awful because my body wasn't really hurting or weak. I had plenty of energy to work, but because I couldn't talk to anyone, Sister Gustafson had me grounded. I had to stay in the apartment all day long. The voice was still way bad on Wednesday so I had to have a member take me to the hospital. We went in and the doctor gave me all these meds.....but failed to tell me what was wrong. I guess he knew what he was doing though because the meds fixed me right up.

On Thursday, we had to go to the airport to pick up all the Elders from the two islands. They came up for Zone Conference. It was really really busy with them because we had 10 Elders in our little apartment and then in Oroku they had about 10 Elders. It was really rough....especially cooking. I made SO much Curry. It was really good though. Also, Zone Conference went really well.

Zone Conference (Click any photo to enlarge.)

After Zone Conference, we had a meeting with the entire Stake Presidency, Ginowan Zone Leaders, the AP's and Kaicho. It was such an intense meeting. I can tell that Kaicho was a pretty serious business man before the mission. At one point, he had everyone in the room on the phone. He really gets down to business. He also wants us to double our Eikaiwa in Naha. That's a pretty big task that we are about to jump on. It's going to be exciting.

After the meeting, Kaicho asked me for our Zone actuals for the month of June. I was so excited to report them. We had more New Investigators and more Baptismal dates than any other zone in the mission. He was so impressed. I was so Ureshii. This zone is doing so well.

Also, Elder Gordon and I found 7 new investigators this week. One of them came to church. Her name is Suzuka.....but she goes by Suzy.She's 20 years old and she's a friend of one of the members here in Naha. She came to sports night and said she's always had interest in the church. It was pretty fun having her at church. There are LOTS of young men, but not lots of young women so the young men were all excited. Haha.

Dinner at a member's house

The only tough thing about this week is we made about three appointments for tomorrow.....and we are not allowed to dendo tomorrow. Apparently, there is a huge Typhoon coming in. Kaicho called and said that the winds will be strong enough to knock a bus over. We were given assignments to prepare today for tomorrow and to not even open up our doors tomorrow. I'm a little concerned. I think everything will be ok though. It will just be a little disappointing to stay inside all day. I already did it twice this week. Maybe we'll play shogi or something.

Anyway, the work is going really well. I'm loving the work.....I really want to go out and work, but it looks like we might be stuck here a little bit. Don't worry about me though. Everything is going well.

I love you all,

Elder Low