Japan Tokyo South Mission: Craziest Story

Guess this didn't send right last Monday. Here is the update of last week.

Never thought I would have a day like I did last Wednesday on my mission and especially not in Japan. Elder Johnson had to go to the mission home, so Boody, Hawkins and I hit up the city area during the day trying to talk to people. The day started off just as one of those days with a line of bizarre experiences. First person we talk to is a nice guy but when we ask about his job he says, "scouting." "For what?" "Girls for Adult Films" ... Uhh. We had a good talk with him but at the end Boody says to the guy what we always say to someone who is working, so it just slipped out (in Japanese), "good luck with your job" or "keep working hard with your job." Hahaha couldn't stop laughing. Then after Boody and I went to the bathroom and as we waited for Hawkins, we had a hilarious convo with a guy who had been waiting for all three of us. We apologized and said that Hawkins always takes forever in the bathroom because he is British. As our new made middle aged friend finally got a chance to head in the bathroom we handed him a church flyer and told him to read it, he said ok & shut the door as he was doing so Lol. After that we went outside and saw some normal looking white guy doing crack head things, stepping out in busy 4 lane traffic with his hand up as if he was stopping the cars, spinning circles, changing directions & walking in an S formation. Another man walking around with a super bulky full face mask, helmet, Boody commented on the safety the man must get by walking around with his helmet on. Those are just the highlights.... Then things got real.

We go to our weekly English class to set up. Boody and I were running a killer beginners class. Then in comes the infamous Baba. Now you've gotta hear some backstory. Baba is in he's 60's and is a recent convert in another ward in the stake. The same ward Sister Suzuki (new sister hear in Yamate) served in. When she came here we realized he is in love with her as he was calling us trying to find her and coming to church trying to see her. The English class a week before he came and there was a good amount of drama trying to get him to leave. He got some words in with her that he loves her, wants to marry her, etc. We told him not to come back. He must have realized we are in his way and he needs to come back prepared. I guess there is some other history, but when we saw him show up again we knew it was trouble. Boody and I froze and since he saw us in the room we were in he determined where she was. We said "no Baba, come here" he yelled in English "SHUTUP!" He then entered the room, slammed the door. I later learned that he then got in her face with some marriage papers commanding her to sign them right then. Keep in mind there are a lot of people that come to these English classes and see all this go down. Her companion poked her head out and called for help. We were a little shocked and didn't know what to do. One of the students, Riyou, that was in the room came out and also called for help. Elder Johnson comes out of his room and goes in the one where Baba is while all the English students were exiting out of it. Riyou then came by us and called the cops claiming there was a knife. We didn't take him seriously because he is younger and its Japan. At this point it was just Johnson and Baba in the room. I was still unaware of what was going on but he had a knife pulled on Johnson for some time just standing there staring at each other. Baba said' "I will use this but I don't want to." He put it away and he came out as if he was leaving. Though once he saw Sister Suzuki again all was lost. He kinda corned her but didn't get too close. Johnson was there ready to step in. We were still unaware, trying to continue our English class, and watching from a distance. I got a feeling I should check it out. I go stand next to Johnson and I don't know what happened but all of a sudden my heart was straight pumpin! Then Johnson tells me, "careful, he's got a knife." Then I start hearing some of the filth he is spitting at Suzuki as she is sobbing. "Marry me, now, if you don't I'll kill your family and myself. I will commit suicide if you don't." I couldn't make out the rest, but you get it. During this I've just got my eyes on his hands and body looking for a knife, which I hadn't seen yet. She continues to tell him no and at this point one of the girl students is standing by her side speaking up for her. Strongest person in the building that night. I was shocked. She was going off and he got real frustrated and close. Right before that Suzuki's companion, Watkins tells me to take the bag in his left hand. Then clarifies the knife is in it. So as he got real close to Suzuki things seem to go in slow mo as Johnson steps in, I reach for the bag while Baba simultaneously does the same to pull it on Johnson. I rip it out of his hands. Game over, he new it too. We used some way strong Japanese telling him to leave, he starts for the exit. The girls go back in the room and close the door. As we go outside with him, perfect timing, a cop is coming in with a 4 foot baton ready to go. He stops him, searches Baba's person and within 3 minutes we've got about 20 cops in the church. No exaggeration, things like this don't happen in Japan so they freak. They later told us this will probably be the craziest thing this year in Yokohama. Elder Johnson and my bodies and hands were shaking uncontrollably with adrenaline. We then went to the police station to file reports and testimony for about 6 hours until 2 am. We are going back again tonight to give more testimony because they are trying to give him the maximum sentence so that she doesn't have to deal with him on her mission... So I was hoping last week we could get a break from the crazies but it just got worse with that.

Speaking of crazies, I will send picture of the notes he draws between every lesson, we might stop teaching him.

Other than that, ever since I did decent on cutting my own hair I've been cutting other missionaries. I have cut all 3 elders' hair in my apartment now. It's actually way fun haha. Good practice for a useful skill. We also had family home evening with an American family in the ward the Sorensons. Though since we brought Japanese people to it everyone needed translation. The other Elders bailed last minute and I had to translate for both parties. I shocked myself with how well I did. Once Bro Sorenson gave his lesson, reading pamphlets and watching videos in English? Game over. Pro translators even struggle with that! I was kinda frustrated but it was a funny experience.

Craziness this week, hopefully that is the climax of what I see out here!

Love you guys

1. Sickest church in Yamate ft. new tie