Japan Tokyo South Mission: Blowing Chunks & Crackin Screens

Everything from throw up to broken iPhones make for an interesting time this last week!

I'll start with Kurenuma. He is still doing ok but things aren't looking as hopeful as they did before. I had been thinking he must have some issues with being baptized that he wasn't telling us and he finally opened up a bit about it. On Friday he came to dinner with us to the Fukuda's. It was amazing! They went all out on us, probably
spent so much money. Pizza, curry, tonkatsu (deep friend pork chop) and finished it off with cake and a ton of ice cream! :) Bro. Fukuda has been a mission president and temple president for the Tokyo temple. He is just the happiest genkiest old man ever. The next day Kurenuma came to the church and we had a member around his age with the same job there named Daisuke. Daisuke helped us out a TON in the lesson. I learned a lot about focusing on the person not the lesson. We figured out Kurenuma has an awesome testimony of the BoM and Christ but doesn't feel like he personally needs baptism. The reason being is because he doesn't feel like God has told him that he should, which is fine... But he is expecting that answer from God to come by being blessed with more money and better health. He also is mostly meeting with us because he wants to make friends. Those aren't bad desires but he is missing the whole point of the gospel. Soo much more than money, friends & better health. It's feeling joy no matter what you have or what situation you are in. It may be hard for him to be baptized as soon as we hoped but we'll see! He needs to more fully understand God and His plan for Kurenuma.

Last night may have helped him. There was a monster conference with Elder Bednar in Kichijoji and we rode with Bro. Suzuki, Fukuda and some other members. Elder Bradford was in the back with Kurenuma who was feeling sick. Bradford said he is going home if he gets barfed on haha. Kurenuma ended up blowing chunks but luckily we got him a bag beforehand. The conference was straight fire! The whole area presidency (Yamashita, Whiting, Chea), mission presidents from here and Tokyo mission and my old mission president, WADA. Made my
day to see him, love and missed him and Sister Wada so much. Got a pic too. Elder Bednar spoke specifically to anyone who isn't a member, I wish I could quote it but it was so turnt. Kurenuma was locked in and taking notes. Before we went home Kurenuma chugged a Fanta and of course on the way home puked his guts out again. I don't know what it is but watching people barf is the funniest thing, I was biting my lip so hard.

As for the broken iPhone, we went out to a neighboring station Oizumi and met some awesome people the other day. We were able to exchange info with three of them, one of which was Hirano. He was in his young 20's waiting for his friends to come so they could go drinking. We gave him a church flyer and started teaching him. He had the flyer in one hand and a brand new iPhone 7 in the other (which he said cost him $1,000). As he tried to open the flyer he bobbled then dropped the phone facedown.. The moment of silence... He picks it up and says it's ok! Then realizes the screen is completely shattered. We both felt terrible but he wasn't even phased! He didn't even care, he kinda got mad at us because we were so worried about it haha. He said he wants to learn more and we're talking on FB!

We also got Bradford a new bike in Kichijoji. While we were there we stopped by at a hip-hop clothing shop and there was this way cool Japanese guy that used to live in LA and he had basically become Mexican. Kamimura was way cool, tried to rip us off on some clothes and then accepted a lesson. Hopefully he keeps meeting with
missionaries. After that we were walking down the road and some guy just blew by us bent over with his arms extended behind him running around like he was Naruto and we just busted up laughing lol. I'm just constantly laughing and having a good time with Bradford over here.

He's way funny, has no fear and just acts like himself while trying to respect the culture. He is soo much like me, feels like he's my little bro. He got up to introduce himself at church and share his testimony yesterday. First thing he says is, "Hello! Are you genki?!" Haha ward laughed pretty hard. He later boldly said, "if you need help, I was
called to serve the Lord as well as this ward." It was way intense. Elder Millard was also supposed to talk yesterday but the ward forgot about it. After his talk Bradford just turned to the bishopric and said, "now Elder Millard?" They said next (meaning next time) but Bradford thought they meant next speaker and just starts waving to Millard loudly telling him to get up while the bishopric was trying to stop him. Dang I realize a lot of these stories aren't half as interesting if you aren't there but watching Bradford act so American up on the pulpit was hilarious.

When Elder Bednar spoke specifically to the nonmembers yesterday he taught a bit about God's plan for them and asked them to learn more from the missionaries. He said, "You can recognize the missionaries because they are happy. They smile because they are happy." He told a story about a girl that was really struggling in life and noticed a co-worker who was always smiling. This girl couldn't think of a single reason why she could smile. She asked the coworker why she is always smiling and the coworker shared her knowledge of God and His plan for her. She was later baptized and is now always smiling. I thought about what Bednar said, "smile because they are happy." It's so true, I don't feel like I am ever forcing a smile because just like the co-worker, I have all the reasons to smile. I'm a child of God, He loves me, I know my purpose and I know who I am. So can anyone.

Love you guys

1. The Wadas <3