I'm not training yet, which is sad for me but probably best for the new missionaries XD
I have had a native Japanese companion every transfer since I have been in the field; I feel very blessed. Recently we have been speaking mostly in Japanese which has been good for my language development. I'm definitely learning a lot from him and I hope to continue this pace. I have a 501 Verbs book I got from the MTC that I am going through and asking about how to use them. It's really, REALLY, helping.
Right now we are trying to figure out how best to dendo this island that is our area. It takes hours to get to either end and even to the closer groups of inhabitants takes about an hour. It's hard because we are on bikes so it takes time to get places. And not many people are walking on the streets in between cities so it's not like we can stop people on the way. It's hard to travel long distances without wasting so much time. So yeah, that's a struggle. But on the bike rides I see so much natural Japan beauty! It's amazing how much is out here on Sumoto! :D
So after all of our glorious Preparation a Day stuff we went out to visit a less-active family with a member, but they were not home. But the member brought us pizza which was nice! After that we headed to a progressing investigator who lives close by. He has been progressing, but is really struggling on a few things. There is only so much one can do as a missionary, let alone a human being. Each person has their own agency to choose what they will. It's just sad because you know how much happiness they can have if they take that next step. We taught the Atonement of Christ. Our next lesson with him will be a member lesson which will be SWEET!!!
Tuesday said, "HELLO", with big, blue skies and warm air to boot! After study and lunch we headed out to see a new investigator, but he wasn't home. One of his friends, who is also a new investigator, answered the door though. We talked with her about how she is doing and she said she is free to be contacted anytime so that's good! After that we visited a progressing investigator. We gave her a talk from President Monson that she has been wanting for a few weeks but we just kept forgetting XD She is a great person, I'm excited to see her progress. After that we visited a new investigator. He owns a watch shop so sometimes customers will come in and disturb the lesson, but he really likes us so he enjoys our visits. He always has lots of questions about our church and us as missionaries. But he also brought up repentance which was a turn I was not expecting. We explained how repentance is something we can, and should, so every day. It's a change of heart towards God. Trying our best to become better. We all need to repent because we are all imperfect. After that we had Eikaiwa and ended our day.
I love it when I'm studying Japanese and my iPad gives me example sentences like: "I want to play a game where a nobel, female, knight with the nickname of 'light-speed' freely manipulates gravity." The weird things I will be able to say when I get home XD
On Wednesday we set out to visit a potential investigator who we were very excited to see. It took about 30 minutes to get out there, but when we got there he wasn't home. However, one of his friends answered the door so we were able to talk to her. She is also a potential investigator and she asked us to call her to set up an appointment so that was a pleasant surprise! After that we tried to visit a couple of other potential investigators but none of them were home either. So we went to the day cares enter to get mauled by five and six year olds XD It was fun, I am still alive. Children's Japanese and adult Japanese is definitely different. And some of those kids have a future in the voice-acting business because the way they were talking made me feel like I was living in an anime XD The kids took Yamamoto Chōrō's Eikaiwa flyers and we're giving them to everyone and hiding them all around the rooms. So yeah, kid dendo is effective ;) After the day care center we had dinner then game night at the church. But no one showed up. About 30 minutes into it we went next-door to get takoyaki XD It was very good! After game night we came home and ended our day.
Thursday was our weekly planning session which took up a big chunk of our day. Afterwards we had a member lesson for one of our progressing investigators. We wanted to teach the Plan of Salvation. I tried to teach the pre-earth life section, but it proved to be difficult, especially since the investigator was having trouble understanding. He seems really set on believing that there is nothing before this life and nothing after. Yeah, he was having a hard time understanding. But is was good for building the relationship between the member and our investigator. And he committed to be baptized on the 22nd of May which is awesome! So yeah, after that we ended our day.
We started Friday by getting our committed investigator a white shirt and tie because he doesn't have one. When we went to his house we tried to finish teaching the Plan of Salvation. It was still a little rough though. After the lesson we gave him the white shirt and tie and he really didn't want to accept it. We had to leave the house before he could give it back to us XD After that we tried to visit a few potential investigators but none of them were home. Then we did some tracting, but no one was interested. Then we visited another investigator. We talked with her about our church. She wanted to send . So the friend request from Pippi Yamada is her. She speaks English really well so you should be able to communicate with her. Then we helpers her with her English class. After that we headed home to end our day.
Saturday was the bomb yo! The ENTIRE day was service so we were in street clothes the whole time which felt way strange XD We started by helping set up vendors for a two-day festival Sumoto was having. After set up, Yamamoto Chōrō and another young man got dressed up in character costumes to walk around the festival! The other young man was a yellow bird, and Yamamoto Chōrō was Sumoto Castle! XD I carried a big banner as we walked through the streets and alleyways. So many people were taking pictures with them, it was so great. And we even got on television a couple of times XD The thing was, it was kind of warm that day and we were having direct sunlight so they got pretty hot in those costumes. Like, way hot. By the time they took off their costumes they were both just absolutely DRENCHED in sweat. It was so nasty!!! We got them some Pocari Sweat and tried to get them cooled off. Then, right after that, we biked over to a part-member family to help them harvest onions. Apparently this island is very well known for its agricultural items like onions, fish, and beef. Yep, that's right, Kobe beef comes from his island! Anyway, we helped the family for about five hours. Yamamoto Chōrō was pretty worn out by the time we were done. The family then treated us to McDonalds. They are a nice family. It was way good! After that we sped back to the apartment to change into church clothes for branch presidency meeting. After the meeting we went home, planned, and then Yamamoto Chōrō sacked out at around 8:40. He really needed that rest.
Sunday morning we fasted for those affected by the earthquake in the Fukuoka mission. Our investigator with a baptismal dat didn't come to church so that's something that needs to change. But another one of our investigators came to church to that was great! After church we visited an investigator at their home to see how they were doing since we hadn't been able to see them for a couple of weeks. They were doing well, bust with work and all. Ok, side note time. Flippn', the bane of missionaries in Japan is that SO MANY PEOPLE work on Sunday. It's not even ok! Anyways, after that we had lunch then headed to the investigator who attended church. She liked it and she had a good time with the members. After that we went to see an investigating family. They are absolutely full of energy, the kids, the mother, everyone. Everyone except the husband, who was chilling in front of the television. We were there for a bit talking about our families and the church. She said that they will try to come to Eikaiwa this week so that's awesome! After that we tried to visit another investigating family, but they were all resting so they told us to come back another time. After that we went to the church to fill out our baptismal record form stuff. Then we tried to visit a less-active member, but he want home. Then we tried to visit an investigator who lives close by, but they weren't home either. So after that we ended our day.
Today we are planning on shopping after emailing. We cleaned the apartment a bit this morning after study (which was awesome because I beat my futon which is always good). Then, if the weather is good enough, we will go to Sumoto Castle. Other than that not much else for Preparation Day stuff. Later on tonight we are going to visit a new investigator and try to teach him about Jesus Christ and invite him to church. Then we will try to contact the same less-active member as Sunday night. Then try to visit the same investigator who lives close by. So yeah, it will be a good day :)
I want to share a scripture with you guys. It's from Mosiah 2. This is the beginning of King Benjamin's address to his people. He accounts the fairness, equity, and righteousness of his reign. He exhorts the people to serve one another. He says many more things, but I want to focus on serving others. If your efforts, work, and goals aren't helping someone else or making someone else's life better than you are wasting time. In all that we do let us strive to serve our fellow man who are our brothers and sisters. As we do so we will bring about much more good in this world than we could imagine.
Fight the good fight and never give up!
あいきてるよ!
Elder Peacock
Sent from my iPad
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