21 january 2013::

Ok so first things first. I am going to talk a little about Japan and your questions. I know that you want to bring people gifts and stuff and i was wondering, are you bringing 2 suitcases and a carryone bag? If you are doing that, you should have plenty of room to bring some stuff. As for Jenny, i think a really cool picture of Jesus Christ would be cool. She doesnt have any in her home and i am sure that would mean alot to her. As for Elder Chen, your bet is as good as mine is. I havent been in AZ for 2 years and i cant think of stuff he would want. Maybe something that had to deal with rattlesnakes or something. I have no idea. I bet he will love it though. I was also wondering if you could bring some other small things from AZ. I want to give some members that i have gotten really close too some things from AZ.

 

Yamate is actually very far from the Airport. About 3 hours. Its on the opposite side of the mission. But your hotel is in the middle of the mission and about 45 minutes from Yamate. Dont worry about getting to your hotel. I have a webpage that pulls out all the train schedules and everything. It is www.hyperdia.com. you will leave from Narita Airport Terminal # and arrive in Shinjuku. I am more worried about when you get to shinjuku. Shinjuku is one of the largest train stations in Japan and it is very easy to get lost in that train station. But everybody speaks english so they will help. Especially the workers. About money, i dont know how much money to bring. I do know that Japan is a very expensive country. My quess would be $8,000. I would ask Sister Budge or President Budge about that though. Like i said before, i have lived year for 2 years so i am accustomed to all the prices and everything. YOu guys wont be. So everything will be expensive for you even though it looks cheap to me. Also, i would ask Sister Budge or President Budge on where to exchange money at. I have no clue. My quess is at the airport but if you did that and you dont spend all the money then it seems like a waste. I would ask them. Sorry i cant help you too much on that part. I do speak on Sunday. I not only speak but me and my comp have a special number that we will be singing. So you will be lucky to hear it. I think that they want Dad to give a 2-3 min testimony or talk too. haha. I am fine with giving my farewell talk on the 17th. Whenever is ok. I dont really care. I sent you some ideas on things we oculd do while you are here and 2 weeks ago i sent an eamil with a pre-plan thing.What are your thoughts on that? I really need to hear what you guys think about stuff. Just let me know. I am so excited to introduce you to my new home and all the expirences that i have had in the past 2 years. You will be very suprised. Oh, one last thing. Is your iPhone going to work here in Japan? If it does, i cna email you guys when you get here. Just let me knwo. It should becasue it can use internet and stuff like that.

 

My week was very suprising actually. I am being richly blessed by teh Lord right now. A couple of weeks ago i told you that i had 3 major things i wanted to focus on this transfer. That was getting a baptism, getting my converts back to Church, and helping my companion. Well I have come to the conclusion that the Lord wants me to help my companion. I feel that i probably wont see a baptism in my current area because if that was the case, i couldnt focus on my companions needs which are huge. The Lord is watching out for me though. THis weekend 2 of my previous investigators, Anthony- the guy from Africa, and Hosokawa- the first guy i talked to on the street a couple of weeks ago, both got baptized.

 

 Anthony got baptized on the US Navy base and we were able to go to that. It was AWESOME. Really funny story though. THe base doenst have a LDS church but they do have a non denominational church there. That church let us use there baptismal font to baptize him. It was funny baptizing somebody into our church in a different church. But it was a great service to watch. Afterwards we enjoied Taco Bell. first time in 2 years. IT was amazing and the best ordering expierence in mylife.

 

Hosokawa's baptism was difentaly the most interesting baptismal service i have ever been too. We read some scriptures from the Bible and then he would play some church songs on his guitar and then more scriptures from the Bible. IT was like a church service for a non-LDS chruch. I thought it was interesting but i am sure God was happy becasue His son was following Christ example and using the talents that He had blessed him with. It was cool and different.  What is even greater is that Hosokawa asked me to baptize him. So i got to baptize him. So i got to see 2 baptisms on my last transfer. I dont think that is the end either. I got a call on SUnday and a guy that i stopped and talked to aobut hte gospel over 1 year ago is getting baptized this upcoming sunday and he wants me to be in attendance. So we will go to that. ALso, Hiro called on SUnday and he wants to be baptized before i go home becasue he wants me to baptize him. He is in the Hospital and is very sick. He cant leave unless he is well. Please pray for him that he will be better. He really wants to meet you and dad and take you to some places. YOu remember Hiro right?

 

 I believe that the Lord really wants me to focus on Elder Allred. He really needs help and if we had investigators, i wouldnt be able to give all my attention to him. This is a bit different kinda work than the rest of my mission has been but i really think it will hlep so many. I really need your prayers. We are making great progress and he is getting better but we still have a long ways. I honestly can tell that the Lord is accpeting my service and work whether it be with investigators or helping my compaion get a stronger testimony. If he didnt, i odnt think i would be seeing all these baptisms. It is hard work though. I feel like i am wasting time when i am working with Elder Allred becasue i am not streeting or housing, but the Lord knows that Elder ALlred really needs the help and the Lord is ok with me taking time to help Elder ALlred. I think that is why things are going slow. To help ELder Allred. We were streeting the other day and a guy told us that we were different than everybody else on teh street. Not because we are white but becasue our faces were shiniing. He could tell that our coutenance was different than other people. That is another reason why i believe that the Lord is accepting my service right now. I am being really blessed. I am so grateful for it. I love my mission so much. I never thought it would turn out this way. I have been so successful not just in seeing baptisms and helping others coming to Christ but being filled with the Spirit and filling the joi that comes from service. The past 2 years have truly been the happiest 2 years of mylife. I am so grateful that i decided to come and stay on my mission. I really feel mylife has been blessed from it forever.

 

 I love you mom and dad so much. I am so excited to see the both of you. You better be ready for the best adn most wild expirence of your life. Japan is really different than america in many ways. When you come, i want you to meet all my companions. Mom has kept in touch with some of them and they want to meet. SO i want to go out to eat with them. I hope you dont mind. Well, i dont know what else to say. I am happy, healthy and doing great. Oh, today we went to the biggest sitting Buddha in asia i think. That was pretty cool. I am planning on taking you there. SO be ready. I love you guys. I am excited to hear from ya next week.