5
January 2015
Dear
Mum and Dad,
Thanks
for your letters this week. Sounds like you had a good New
Years.
I hope grandma is ok. And dad I got your second email. The
first
one I couldn't see because it takes me to a blocked site.
This
week went really well particularly yesterday. had a really good
fast
Sunday. I specifically fasted that I would be able to find a
family
and more priesthood holders for the ward I'm working in. After
church
we met a family from the Philippines that used to be really
good
friends with some missionaries here. They invited us to eat adobo
together
sometime soon. And then after we met them we met a young man
who's a
dance instructor, we set up a time to go each lunch with him
and his
girlfriend sometime soon this week. I really felt that was an
answer
to my fast. I hope I get the chance to teach these people.
I also
got to go on splits this week with my district leader. It was a
really
good experience, we went and visited the bishop to talk about
goals
for the new year. It was nice to go on splits I got to learn a
lot,
really felt like a day led by the spirit.
New
Years was an interesting time to proselyte. We talked to a lot of
people
about prayer, because most likely it'll be their one time this
year
that they'll say a prayer. It's interesting how many people go
and
pray and don't expect anything to happen. But it was a good time
to
testify to people that prayer works and that they have a hope of it
working
otherwise they wouldn't go. I did meet one man who was a
little
interesting. We pulled up to a cross walk on our bikes to wait
to
cross the street and the guy next to me with his family looks at me
and
says "are you Mormons" I smile and say "yes". I can then
just
quickly
summarize by saying he doesn't like churches. He told me he
was
"inter his last name here" kyo, kyo meaning religion or church.
It's a
very common belief in Japan to believe in yourself over God.
It's
almost like they think if you believe in God you can't believe in
yourself.
But we smiled and thanked him for his time and watched him
walk
with his family into the temple to go say their New Years
prayers.
I don't know why, but I thought it weird that the man who I
could
tell was professing he didn't believe in God was about to go ask
for His
help.
I just
want to finish by saying, I know prayer works. I know God
listens
to his children, even when we only have a particle of faith.
I'm
thankful for all your prayers and support.
Love,
