Sweet Reminders

November 9, 2009 Hey everyone! Sounds like everyone is doing great! Happy birthday Mom! Hope is was fun. I am glad the kitchen thing went well. Sounds like everyone really worked well together. It is the same way with missionary work. Me and my companion do everything together. The other day I was a little riled up because of some comments an investigator made during a lesson. I let it get the best of me. After, as me and my comp were walking, I didn’t have the spirit so we stopped and said a quick prayer. The spirit came back and we could go try to find people to teach. Another example is right now. Today has been a little wild. It was exactly like one of our car projects gone bad dad. A long story short, I know what I want for Christmas this year. LOL. My bike acted up and I started switching things and nothing seemed to work out, even the people at the store weren’t helpful, and I spent more than I wanted to. I am fine though, sometimes life is like this. This is definitely just spilt milk. I always remember that saying, “Don’t cry over spilt milk.” Because of the troubles with my bike I was thinking about it too much. The Lord really comforted me and I know it will be all right. I know it kind of sounds silly but I use that thing everyday. So for Christmas I really don’t need much. Just some extra money in my personal fund. I’ll answer the questions now. I read mostly in English. I only understand bits and pieces in Japanese, if that. I have one investigator committed to baptism. His name is Moriya. He is about 45 and has a family. His family lives in Kobe and two of his daughters are baptized. He is a pretty nice and funny guy. He is really fun to talk to. I usually eat at a members house at least once a week. Sometimes they try to make American food because they think we don’t like Japanese food. They are so nice and thoughtful of us. Other times we eat Japanese stuff. I really haven’t had anything way gross or anything. The only time that I almost threw up was when I had to eat a chicken bone. I didn’t want to be rude and spit it out so I just chewed it the best I could and swallowed. I don’t know anything about Christmas yet. I don’t know if I wasn’t paying attention or what but ya, Ill get back to you on that one. The Japanese love Christmas. Everyone celebrates it! It is really funny because they have know Idea who Christ is. I think it is cool because it is an in for a conversation starter. The dictionary is sweet. I really like it. I learn a lot of vocab from it. O and don’t forget to invite Travis Hall to the wedding. I think he would love to come. I have a pretty experience that I had this week if I can get through it without too much trouble. I’m sorry, it will make you cry. An investigator didn’t show up for an appointment at the church but he lives across the street from the church so we decided to try to find him. After a couple of kekkos an old man answered the door. He let us right in and gave us drinks and food. His name is Bansho. He is 60 years old and has Parkinson’s. The apartment was very clean and very familiar for some reason. After a minute or two I realized that it smelled just like Nana and Papas houses. You all know that smell. It is pretty distinct and I love it. After a couple minutes of chatting Bansho grabbed a picture book and showed us his life before he got Parkinson’s. He still looked very kind and a really happy person like he is today. He was a really good golfer and he loves golf. He can’t play anymore but he still loves it. This is what really tore me up. In the pictures he looked just like Papa. always smiling and he even swung the golf club like him. As I looked at Bansho more the more and more he looked like papa. Of course he is Japanese but for some reason it was like I was talking with Papa again. I started to cry pretty bad because the spirit was really strong and it was like Papa was alive again. I know this sounds kinda crazy and I don’t know why it happened, but the Lord knows why. I will never forget this experience because it might be the closest I feel papa until after I die. This really has made me think how important this message is. It really does go beyond the grave. The restoration isn’t just a good way to live life, and it isn’t just the best church on the earth. It is restored truth through a prophet of God. This is a message of eternal truths and eternal life. I know that what we do in this life is very important and going on a mission for two years is the least I can do. Things are looking great in Japan! The people here are very hard workers and I love them. I love you all and I am excited to hear from you again next week! Saranara