Japan Tokyo South Mission: Halfway

Time as a missionary is impossible to explain, "the days are long and the months fly bye" is the best I can do. I am a year out (halfway) this coming Thursday, insane. Transfer calls came. I'm staying in Yamate :) Elder Gailey is leaving which is kinda sad.. My new companion, Elder Johnson, is coming from a close by area. He is famous
in the mission for being a good cook. I ate his food one time, soo bomb. So that's good!

Everything that transpired this week all started with a split I went on with my zone leader, Elder Carlini. He goes home this week, which is sad cause we became homies on the split. We had a ton of stuff to get done but it all fell into place. He spent some time with the Suzuki's when he was here in Yamate, a family I have talked about
before. He called the mom to see her one more time, no answer. We had lunch with one of Carlini's other friends, during dinner she called. Figured out we couldn't meet so she asked where we were. She happened to be way close on a work break. She came over just in time to see us. Then I set up an appointment with her and her family, which was yesterday (more about that later). Then we had to go find some papers he lost, ran into a guy named Adachi that we have been talking to ever since. We shared the Christmas video, talked forever then he finally just decided to walk the opposite way he was going to keep talking to us, way chill guy. Then to finish it off Nakamura (our investigator who has been meeting with us twice a week learning English and gospel stuff) went with us to an American members home. We weren't sure how it would go... But it went sooo well. They fed us really a ton and talked to him a lot. His English isn't fluent but they were really good about speaking simply and slowly. Both parties were thoroughly entertained with each other. He ate a TON. He seems to struggle with money and was stoked to have a huge meal. I was stuffed but he ate more than Carlini and I combined. Then at the end we watched the Christmas video and everyone talked about it and testified. Dang it was powerful. Nakamura has started praying and reading the Book of Mormon every day and is making great progress.

We had a Christmas party on Saturday and a lot of our English class students come to sing silent night. It was really good and all the members love our investigator Nakamura. He sings super loud, like really loud haha. The whole ward was cracking up while we sang. There was a lot of non members that came so it was great to make some friends. We also were doing church tours and a Vietnamese kid approached me and told me he wants to learn about church, hopefully meeting with him soon!

So last thing, Suzuki family. All the missionaries went over last night to their insanely nice apartment. They are a big family and invited some extended family members. We ate all sorts of good stuff, played games and had a great time. We really bonded with them. Then at the end we shared a Christmas video and said how thankful we are for eternal families. What a great and rare opportunity here to spend time with a whole nonmember family, especially the Suzuki's. We were all pretty dang happy last night.

We are stoked about Nakamura and the Suzuki's and it's hard to stress or help you understand how sick it is we get to work with them.

Sorry not a ton this week, but things are going well, life's good :)
Love you guys

1. Landmark Tower selfie