2 More Weeks!

Dang time is short... lots of mixed feelings. I'm going to do some shopping today, P-day time has to be used very carefully now haha. This last week was great! Kurenuma took some huge steps. I've seen some amazing growth with him. I really think he'll be baptized on the 10th! For the first time we visited his apartment.  He was a lot more open and relaxed while talking there. He told us he is a little scared to be baptized because of how serious of a commitment it is. We talked about the sacrament and our opportunity to make things right again even after baptism. We really focused on the gift of the Holy Ghost and the guidance and help it will give. We showed him a card with the blessings of baptism (I'll send it). He said he really just wants to follow Christ's example and become a cleaner person. I really felt the Spirit when he said that. He said an awesome prayer as well and afterwords, for the first time, he said he felt the Spirit! Next day we had a lesson with him and Bro Suzuki, day after that he came to church, then last night we went to an event in Kichijoji. He showed up an hour late because of work... but it was still a great experience for him. There was an older lady named Michiko there who is getting baptized this Saturday. Talk about a golden investigator, she's amazing. I introduce her to Kurenuma and got them talking. She realized he is preparing to be baptized soon and must have known he needed some encouragement and help. Next thing I know she is just holding and shaking his hands over my lap saying, "We can do this together! Come to my baptism! You are so awesome, you can do it! First I will do it this week, then you do it the next! I had a baptismal date, then realized that baptism will bring me closer to God and Christ so I decided to do it sooner!" Man what an example for Kurenuma. This lady just makes everyone around her happy and smile. On the way home Kurenuma said that he doesn't feel worried and feels prepared for baptism. (first time hearing that as well~~ had to have been Michiko's influence) It's crazy how much we can strengthen those around us with love and positivity.

Speaking of Michiko, we felt like we should go the opposite way coming out of the apartment earlier in the week and eventually we were led to a small apartment complex. There wasn't many people there but one man, Takuma, opened the door to us and was excited to see us. Turns out he used to meet with missionaries years ago and Elder Millard had called him just a few days before. We gave him a pamphlet, he read it and the other Elders are in touch with him! The odds of us running into that dude are way low and we just picked the right apartment by chance? I don't think so. Then downstairs from Takuma an older lady, Michiko, cracked the door but kept it latched. She said, "sorry let me unlock it, didn't know if I could trust you but I can tell by looking at you you're good people." She turns out to be one of the nicest lady's I have ever met. You can't deny that Japanese people are some of the nicest in the world. We taught her a lesson and she knows a ton about Christianity! She kept going off about how she believes that someone made us. It was awesome to introduce more about the being to her. She agreed to meet again but wouldn't let me get her number to give to the sisters. She noticed the disappointment and said that we could set a time. She ended up coming to the church the next day and I got to sit in on some of the amazing lesson the sisters had with her. Both of them met in that small apartment. That's the third investigator we have found for them this transfer. The other two are looking way solid, one of which, Hiro, is getting baptized with Kurenuma on the 10th! 

Now looking back on it, we saw some amazing things happen this week. I don't know if you remember hearing about Yuta but we lost contact with him. He doesn't check his Facebook enough. I really regretted forgetting to give him a Book of Mormon last time we met and it was looking like we would never see him again. Elder Molen and I had to go to Tokorozawa for a district meeting, while walking up the stairs to the station I saw Yuta! He was going to Tokorozawa too so we talked to him the whole way and got him a Book of Mormon. He has been better about answering us on FB after that. I can't explain how much of a "coincidence" that is.

Thanksgiving was honestly the lamest one I have ever had... haha. We didn't do anything, just felt like a normal day. EXCEPT members had us over for awesome meals Wednesday and Thursday night. I'll send pics! Love you guys and can't wait to see y'all! 

1. Dinner w/ Uemura's!

2. Dinner w/ Aoki's! 

3. Today at the temple

4. Murph & I

5. Just a normal night on conference call

6. So we go to a bomb Ramen place here but it's closed. The owner sees us and opens it back up for us!! We couldn't believe it, he's so nice. He doesn't need the money, there is always a line of like 20 people outside. He just wanted to be nice :)

7. I'm gonna miss the food here

8. Millard is something else lol

9. Oh Japan...

10. Blessings of baptism

11. I've missed snow

Good pictures, lame email

This is going to be really short! Motoki came to visit today, so I am with him right now. He is doing awesome. He has been trying his hardest to share the gospel with his family and friends. We talked about his mom and how school has been. His mom is still planning on getting baptized and his sister really wants to go to church too. It's looking like eventually his whole family will accept the gospel. So amazing :) He is going to Australia to work on a farm until he has enough money to go on a mission. Such an amazing kid. He's actually got a job at Costco until he leaves! haha such a boss.

I'm going to miss Elder Bradford, he went off to a nice area with a beast companion it will be good for him. He is and will become a boss missionary! My new companion is pretty cool. He is just relaxed but takes the work really seriously. He is super quiet so far. I will have to rub off on him a bit this transfer lol. He's going to help me finish off strong though. Actually the day he transferred in we found three new people! Hopefully we can get in contact with them again.

The night before Elder Bradford left we worked hard and met some awesome people. On our way home we sparked a convo with a guy named Yuta. I was talking about who God is and asked what he thought. He said that's a being he would like to meet. We talked about Christ and how he prepared a way for us to do so. Literally the next day (so rare) he met with Elder Murphy and I. We had an awesome first lesson. I'm really hoping he decides to continue to meet with us. 

Other than that we have had a ton of meetings. On Saturday we had 6 hours of meeting in Kichijoji. We went there on Friday, Saturday & Sunday. We have to go back again this Tuesday. We go by bike every time and I'm kinda sick of it lol

Love you guys

1. MOTOKI, I gave him one of my tags and a tie

2. I  will never forget this kid #eternalbrothers

3. Happy Holidays from Bradford and I 

4. You can't really see but we bought matching ties

5. I think I forgot this one last week

6. Takagi made me a painting! He makes it all with spray paint

7. He actually gave us a ton of his paintings, they are so awesome

8. Last pic with the district

9. A drink that's famous amongst missionaries here, Perk

10. The new companion! Murphy

11. Bradford transferring in style lol

Lame Weekly: Feel free to skip this one

Here we go, last transfer! I'm sad to say that my son Elder Bradford won't be killing me. He is transferring and I'm staying here in Hibarigaoka. I'm will miss Bradford, we've had some good times! My new companion will be a pretty young missionary Elder Murphy. I know nothing about him haha. Elder Millard is staying in the apartment and his new companion will be Elder Molen! Molen and I were companions in Yamate and he is one of my favorite companions. We get to be zone leaders together, I'm pretty excited. I'm really thankful I get to stay here with one of the best wards in the mission. 

It's kinda sad, this transfer we found some really cool people and they have just slowly disappeared. This last week I was on splits with Elder Millard we met this guy around our age named Takuma. He was down to just go check out the church with us right then. We gave him a "tour" (showed him the chapel and sat down and talked). We sang "I am a child of God" and he joined in with us. We taught a super simple and short lesson about God and what we do as missionaries. Honestly it was a pretty perfect lesson. He was way down to meet again when he left, we exchanged info. Then a couple days ago sent us a text saying he won't meet with us again. I don't really get it... The only person that has really stuck around is Kurenuma.

Kurenuma really seems to be progressing. He actually bailed on our lesson this last Saturday though because he had a headache. It was pretty disappointing because we were already there waiting for him with a member. An hour later we were walking and saw him on his bike riding to the church. He figured out Bradford is transferring and hustled to the church to see him, not knowing that transfers aren't until Thursday. So we ended up going back to the church to have a lesson. We recently realized he has been waiting for something glorious from God telling him that he should be baptized, like a vision or dream. We thought it got cleared up last week but I guess it didn't quite stick. We talked a lot about how the Spirit works, how God communicates with us and the importance of knowing if the Book of Mormon is true or not. As Bradford shared his simple testimony of the BoM, Kurenuma said he feels like it is true. He said he feels like God is trying to tell him it's true. We read some scriptures about baptism and he said he wants to go for it! So he is on date for the 10th of next month. We are going to have to really work with him and help him feel more prepared. Pretty excited for him though! 

This last Sunday they had the primary (kids) program and I really felt spirit. Kids are honestly so special, I'm excited to spend time with the little ones in the family: Kennedy, Pearl, Ashton, & London. Love you four! I'm excited to see you in a month :)

Love you guys <3

1. Last district meeting

2.

3. MLC

4. The AP's sent this out to the whole mission... lol

5. God's plan for us, the Plan of Salvation

6. Throwback to TimTam Slams last week

Attitude

This week seemed really long! Not in a bad way though, lots of great experiences. Not really sure how to organize it so this will be all over the place. First off, Motoki, homie I met in Yamate that got baptized and decided to serve a mission? Well his mom is on schedule to get baptized next month!!! I don't feel like I deserve to have seen some of the miracles I have, especially meeting Motoki and seeing his progression. Our ward mission leader, Bro. Aono, is a recent return missionary and shared his testimony this last Sunday. He followed through with a challenge to share the Book of Mormon with a friend that I totally forgot we gave him haha. He said that was the first chance he has had to proselyte as a member and he was able to help his friend out. He said the joy he felt from that was way stronger than the joy he's gotten from all the things he "missed" out on while he was on a mission (movies, video games, music, etc.). It was a great reminder to me as I approach my last month out here. What we do as missionaries wouldn't really be considered "fun" but it's honestly some of the happiest times. Why so? Because it's the Lord's work and therefore the most important work. So it would only make sense that He gifts us with the greatest joy when are doing the most important things. 

In our mission we aren't allowed to proselyte girls in most situations but this week I had two random situations where I needed too. The sisters are pretty thankful for me right now because they both became new investigators haha. One of them, Hiro, is way legit! She now has a baptismal date for this coming December! I don't really get to participate in the teaching experience but glad I got to be a part of her story.

Honestly the whole ward is ready to drop whatever they are doing to help us. It's amazing. Specifically, Bro Aono helped us a ton this week. We had a lesson with Kurenuma and we kinda just asked him to teach the lesson because it's so hard for us to really connect with him. It's hard to explain but Aono taught a PERFECT lesson, it was soo money. Kurenuma will get baptized one of these days, just need to help him recognize the answers God has given him. He has already recognized a lot of them but was expecting God to appear to him in a dream or something and tell him what's up. He is doing well. After the lesson we did Tim Tam slams and I haven't laughed that hard in quite a while. I don't think Kurenuma enjoyed it too much... haha but you take these cookies, bite a corner out of it on both ends and use it as a straw to drink milk or hot chocolate. The inside of the cookie gets super soggy, it is just so good. I'll send a vid haha.

I had the chance this last week to go on splits to Tokorozawa, my very first area when I got to Japan ("bean area"). I learned so much about how important attitude is while I was there. I really hated when I was there almost 2 years ago but I loved being back. There is an awesome park there with awesome people. We met a guy that was really prepared to learn more about Christ and had a great time. We actually woke up early to play softball with the ward and rode in the freezing cold for a long ways to get there, just to find out no one was there :/ we went all the way back and rode around trying to figure out where they were playing. We never found it and it ended up becoming a 2 hour ordeal. Anyone that knows me, especially my family knows I typically would be yelling at everyone, blaming others and would let it ruin my day. For some reason I was happy and laughing the whole time. I spent the time thinking that It was a great opportunity to watch the sun rise, get some exercise and talk with the elders I was with. Not sure if I had that attitude just because I like being a missionary or that I have changed. I hope a bit of both but ~~ attitude determines everything! I had a bad experience when I first came to Tokorozawa and had no one to blame except for myself! 

Also! I just remembered today is Election Day as well as all the hate and judgement that always gets thrown around every election. Please just show some respect for other opinions and do your part and vote. I love you guys ️ 

1. Shinden Swaggin

2. Temple Trumpin ;)

3. Tim Tam Slammin (we would gulp loud and couldn't stop laughing, that's Bro Aono)

The Rest: Lambo Peepin