Hello there!
Man, it feels so weird that transfer two is almost done. I've almost graduated from being a bean! Thanks so much for the birthday package! It was awesome!
Monday, Nov 18: you know mostly what happened*, but a quick note. I still have my poster that says "Learning Japanese. Please help." It kinda failed streeting wise, but it's fun when people read it casually. While we were riding the bus this day, someone commented on it, and we were able to tell them why we were here. Fun stuff.
*Elder Brown and Elder Minegishi traveled by train to Hakodate today to meet up with other missionaries in their district for activities and a couple days of splits. Pictures from the train ride
Tuesday, Nov 19: did a splits with our district leader, Ono 長老 today. He's a pretty cool guy. He and his companion are a little more bold in sharing the gospel than Minegishi 長老 and I, just in conversation and invitation. Different styles. Also, he seems like a pretty active guy. Though, he was pretty sick today, so we had to slow down a bit for him. Also, went to a Japanese burger place. I'll send a pic of what I got. The fries have cheese and tomato beef sauce, I think.
Wednesday, Nov 20: did splits with Kartchner 長老 today. It was pretty fun, since I was transfer 2 and he was transfer 3. He seemed to have a pretty good grip on the language, though. We found two new investigators, so newbie power!
Thursday, Nov 21: woke up early to get back and dendo. Weekly planning as usual. Not much else to report.
Friday, Nov 22: normal dendo stuff. Had kids eikaiwa and TOIEC. There were more kids than last week, so I think that helped with the "Five Little Christmas Trees." Good stuff.
Saturday, Nov 23: this was a day. Weather warmed up like ten degrees, so we were able to use our bikes, but I made the big mistake of bringing my big jacket on the long bike ride we took. Got hot and sweaty by the time we got there. Also, my brake started to break as well. Biked all the way back .... At least we got the brake fixed when we got back. Had an appointment at Mr. Donut with a guy, but he never showed up. That night, I called Ebetsu to ask about my tennis shoes. (He left his tennis shoes in Ebetsu when he transferred to Muroran). Elder Clinger said he found them and would bring them. I asked how Ebetsu was going, and he talked about Sister Yamamoto, a lady we met in Ebetsu, but we transferred before we could teach her. He said she and her son were taking the lessons! That pretty much made my whole day.
Sunday, Nov 24: birthday! Technically, monday was by american standards, and I was born in america, so when i was born, it was the 25th in japan. Anyhoo, went to church. In DCS, we tried to brainstorm ways to work better with the ward. Kinda hard when we have nobody to teach. Normal dendo the rest of the day. We met one nice lady while housing and told her about the Book of Mormon. She was shocked after the introduction when we gave it to her as a present. She said she'd read it, so hopefully she'll join the church someday. That night, Minegishi 長老 made me an EPIC birthday dinner! I'll send a pic of it. The hamburger had some awesome cheese filling! Opening the package, finally, was so much fun! I got plenty of snacks to keep me going a while. Minegishi 長老 seemed impressed by the ramen bowl thing.
Monday, Nov 25: had some good dendo today. Trying to focus more on the people as I talk. A couple more words are popping out as people speak, but still pretty difficult to get much.
Tuesday, Nov 26: had a couple good conversations while dendoing in the morning. Did what your card suggested and got some McDonalds, but sadly, the credit card did not work. It was only 750 yen anyway. Also, we found somebody later in the day while streeting. Made a Mr. Donut appointment. Third time's the charm.
Almost through Mosiah for reading through the Book of Mormon in Japanese. Thought it was interesting the difference between the Lord delivering the people of Limhi and the people of Alma.
The people of Limhi rejected the words of Abinadi and the people of Alma accepted them, yet they both fell into the hands of the Lamanites.
The people of Alma, rather than murmur about their undeserved trials, accepted them and faithfully waited on the promises of the Lord.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord
The Lord responded by miraculously making the Lamanites fall asleep so that the people of Alma could escape unharmed.
The people of Limhi, on the other hand, tried not once, not twice, but three times to rid themselves of the Lamanites, suffering much loss. Finally, after being humbled by their losses and afflictions, the Lord provided a way through Gideon and Ammon for the people of Limhi to escape.
The Lord will always help us in our trials and eventually provide a way to overcome them. We just have to understand the Lord's will is what is most important. If we disobey God, or kick against the pricks, like the people of Limhi, it will only cause more sorrow.
See you again in a few days!
愛しています！
Elder Brown
Side note:
23 And now the Lord said unto Alma: Haste thee and get thou and this people out of this land, for the Lamanites have awakened and do pursue thee; therefore get thee out of this land, and I will stop the Lamanites in this valley that they come no further in pursuit of this people.
When I read this, I was so interested as to how the Lord stopped the Lamanites. Was it just contention amongst themselves, or fire from heaven?
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