Sleep-talking (in Japanese!)

October 25, 2009
Hey family!　Thanks for all the messages! They were great! Ill answer the questions first. Ya your scriptures will be fine. Thanks a lot. He will really like them. I have never checked how long it takes. Sorry? The only things I would need would be like toothpaste, socks, boring stuff like that. I am bad at ironing pants so maybe a little drawing of how to do it like the pros. The only thing I spend money on is really bike repairs. Today I bought new tires, and brakes and stuff. So I guess money for that? I am sorry I really have no use for a lot of things.

My schedule is:

5.30>wake up and study Japanese (read the Bom in Japanese etc)

6:30>exercise

7:00>shower and eat

7:30>read the Bible and Book of Mormon

8:00>personal study

9:00>Companionship Study

10:00>Japanese Study

10:45> Leave apartment During this time it just depends I guess. I usually just go streeting. Streeting is walking or riding around trying to stop everyone so we can talk with them. If I am not streeting I may be visiting less actives, teaching lessons to investigators, having meals with members, etc. We also astarted up an FHE for the youth and anyone who wants to come. It has been a good success. During this time I also eat Lunch and dinner. Yes you heard me I eat three meals now. My companion likes his meals a lot and I just make the best out of it. I am not gaining weight though.

9:00pm> Back in apartment and plan for the next day

9:30> call investigators and Potential Investigators

10:00> write in journal, iron shirt for tommorrow, and get ready for bed

10:30>Lights out and in bed(futoon)(This is not the American futon--it is a mat on the floor!)

O and dad to answer your question about the signs; the Japanese people all do the peace sign in photos so I guess it is just natural for us. I think it is funny because every Japanese person knows the peace sign. from 1 year old to 100 years old, they all know it. The language is going well. I really love speaking it. I am starting to think more in Japanese. I speak in Japanese from 10:30 am to 9:00 at night sometimes. Of course I talk to my comp in english and some other people but there arent really any breaks. It is person after person. It is weird not to talk to someone every 3 minutes or so. It is usually very fast paced and fun! I didnt know if I told you guys but during my first transfer in Japan I would teach lessons in Japanese in my sleep. I would sit up in the middle of the night and start talking in Japanese. It has been quite a while since I have done that but I though you might get a kick out of it. This week has been great! A lot of new investigators and busy with the usuall stuff. Anthony didnt come to church this week or last week so he cant get baptized on the 1st. We havent been able to meet with him since then either. I is kinda a bummer but I am looking on the bright side. He is reading the Book Of Mormon everyday and praying. He also found a job so he will know his schedule and we will be able to meet. The Lord really works in mysterious ways. Not everyone will be baptized perfectly on schedule. Baptism, really is in the Lords hands and the individuals free agency is very powerful. I had another experience this week that made me realize how powerful free agency is. Me and elder Cobur were on an exchange. He is from Driggs and he just got in Japan a couple of weeks ago. Because both of us are pretty new it was pretty hard to understand everything people were saying. He had to look to me for help because I was the more experience missionary. It was a fun day. At about 8:00 we were streeting and we met yokouchi. He is 20 and is staying with his friends family in Osaka for a while. He wanted to be taught right then so we walked to the church together. We taught about Jesus Christ and the apostasy and then got to the restoration. To teach this we watched the Restoration DVD in Japanese. It has perfect Japanese, not like mine and the people understand it really well. The spirit was there very strongly and during and after the film. He said he felt something different during the film. A good and peaceful feeling. We explained that that was the spirit. He understood well but when we aked when he could meet next he said he couldnt. He wouldnt even give us his cell phone number. There is an Elder Holland quote in the PMG that goes something like this, "when your investigators dont keep commitments you should be devastated! There is peoples salvation at risk" I was devasted. In times like these I do feel down because one of Gods children may still be lost. It is sad to see people recieve that powerful witness and then walk out on it. These experiences help us to grow. It makes me even more determined to study harder and be worthy for the HOly spirit. The mission is great and these people are awesome. Everyday I feel the Holy Ghost and try to heed its promptings. I love it hear and I love you all. O and dad, I dont care what they say, you look good in purple! Thanks again for all the messages! Till next week! Sayonara