Tuesday, January 14: had DCM, but the only other pair in our district, the Hakodate sisters, were busy, so we crashed another district's DCM. That district was missing their sisters as well, so it was just two district leaders and their companions. Got our transfer calls, that I'm staying right put and Minegishi 長老 is going to my bean area, Ebetsu. Did some sports dendo later and met a guy we played with earlier. Hopefully he'll come with his friends to Sports night. Slipped on the ice for the 4th time this winter. Did studies at the library. Some more students were attracted by my sign. White-guy-power! For our last dinner, Minegishi 長老 and I had Pizza Hut (way different here than america), and hamburgers.
Wednesday, January 15: Minegishi 長老 headed off to Ebetsu and I called another Elder until my new companion arrived so that I wasn't technically alone. My new companion is Kaga 長老. He isn't quite as good at English as Minegishi 長老, and apparently he has the hardest Japanese in the entire mission. Upside: when I learn to understand him, I can understand almost everyone. Did some DKK weekly planning for two hours. Had some bento for dinner, which was delicious.
Thursday, January 16: did more weekly planning for another 3 hours. After all that talking, I was dog tired and for the first time in my mission took a 10-15 minute nap. Minegishi 長老 would request one from time to time, but I would usually just study during that time. Had eikaiwa, which was great.
Friday, January 17: went and housed in the morning. Got an appointment with a nice man for Sunday afternoon. Did some streeting in the afternoon. Met a less active on the way. President McClure had a big Zoom Meeting to initiate a mission wide 40 Day Fast for more success in the mission. One of the beans was a brave soul and asked if we were fasting from food or something else. President McClure explained it was a fast from negative behaviors or worldly things, or even things that are good, just not best, and replacing them with things that are best.
The mission president also posted the following message & invitation on the Mission Facebook page:
Dear Friends and Family of the Japan Sapporo Mission,We humbly ask for your help and invite you to join us for a “40 Day Fast”.What is a “40 Day Fast”? It is an extra-effort-attempt to pray mightily for heaven’s help in this great work we are engaged in. To demonstrate our desire for help, we try to better ourselves—for example to replace a natural man habit with something higher and holier. The only day we will actually fast is on the regular Fast Sunday, 2-2-2020.As we begin a new year and a new transfer (which is about a 40-day period), we hope your participation can help magnify our efforts to find those who are seeking for truth. Alma’s prayer is our prayer, too, “Please pour out thy Spirit on all the face of this land, to prepare the minds and hearts of these people to receive thy word which should be taught among them.” (Alma 16:16)
Thank you for your love and support! We know that any effort will be a blessing to you and us--A win-win for all!Ai Shitemasu!President & Sister McClureConner also shared with us this story, explaining the concept behind a 40 day fast: Download 40 Day Fast.ENG-JAP_(1)
Saturday, January 18: We were going to do some sports dendo, but Kaga 長老 didn't have his clothes shipped here yet. More dendo stuff.
Choro Kaga was transferred from an area far north in the mission. When they do transfers like that, the missionaries only take with them enough things to get by for a few days, while the rest of their luggage along with their bike is shipped to the new area.
Sunday, January 19: surprisingly, the ward didn't have Kaga 長老 bear a testimony at church. We talked with lots of members. I took this as a great opportunity to take notes on a couple names of people I didn't know. I think I have the last names of most of the ward by now. Visited the guy we met a few days ago, but his wife answered the door and said he was taking a nap. We left them a pamphlet we planned to introduce and she said we could come back another time. Visited Kamada-san, one of our investigators, and introduced Kaga 長老. Transfers are a nice excuse to meet with people again so that we can do introductions.
Not much to report besides that. I'll send a picture or two to the shared file. Quick note: apparently a long-lasting joke Kaga 長老 has in the mission is always having a straight face in pictures.
Hope you all have a great week!
愛しています！
Elder Brown
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