Konnichiwa
Wow this week was sort of crazy.
So we had a lot of lessons. All of which were beyond bizarre. I'm learning that
missionary work is just like that sometimes.
So on Monday night we met with R-----, our Jehovah's Witness
investigator. She likes to research scriptures in this new
world translation bible to prove us wrong, but it's kind of pointless
because we don't use that translation. We have tried to expand on this
by telling her....the bible is true and we love it and we read from
it, but because it can be interpreted so many different ways we need
continuing revelation through more scripture and modern prophets. She
hasn't started reading the BOM quite yet, but I know she's peaked at
it, and to get her to discuss and take the literature at all is really
big.
On Tuesday we went with the Senzokuike sisters to introduce them to
this man from Nepal we met on the train that speaks Japanese better
than English...so that was good...he's so prepared. We also taught
M-----. She's a Phillipina lady and she's left her home for 2 yrs to
work here in Tokyo. That seems to be the case with a lot of the
phillipinas. They work so hard and sacrifice so much for their family.
She is a catholic but she babysits for the church on ward temple
nights and she is interested in the discussions. We taught the
restoration and she was just so humble and ready to learn. So many of
our investigators seriously just talk the entire time and then we have
to sneak in a message. Brumley shimai said that you get sent to this
area to learn how to listen...that's definitely been a lesson I've had
to learn but it's also been really refreshing lately to teach people
who do listen.
So a few weeks ago Hall shimai and I met this Japanese lady who bought
us free coke and sushi and so we were planning to hand her off to this
Senzokuike sisters but she wanted to go to lunch. Well after our
lesson with C------- we went and met this lady. Her name is M---- -San
and as soon as we get there she goes off in Japanese...something about
30 minutes and then something about a "health chair" ...yeah I wasn't
really sure but then she led us to this room with all these old
Japanese people sitting in chairs and she made us sit down. So we sat
down and they are these warm chairs and then she zapped us with this
thing...and I started to get really sleepy. It was weird. They were these
Asian medicine chairs. We then are taken to a Chinese restaurant where
we meet her friend who I'm pretty sure is drunk as a skunk already.
Anyways they buy beer for them and then get us unlimited melon
soda and yakisoba. It was really good but bizarre. Then M----- gets up
and we are left talking to this drunk Obachan (old lady) and after
20 min we realize that M----- is gone. All the sudden she
returns with this big white English guy that looks a bit like a mad
scientist. Apparently they see each other in the bread shop at 4
everyday because then the bread is only 21¥ at that time. I don't know
how they communicated though seeing as he speaks no Japanese. His name
is N----- and he's from England and he starts asking all these super
kinjin questions. So we made an appointment with him for Friday. I
don't know if the two Oba chans will go anywhere but The Lord
sometimes works by random means to get you in contact with prepared
people.
On Thursday we taught R----- and then we had our usual lesson with K----.
We talked casually a lot at first and it turns out she's a phi
mu....I'm telling you, being Greek has been so cool even over here in
japan...and so we talked about that a bit and then we started talking
about the godhead and she seriously....changed into another person. It
was frightening. She was saying all this stuff like "so what
doctrines from the bible do you actually embrace?" She acted like we
picked and chose what we believed in. I was just In a state of shock
at first...I'd just never seen her that way. And we were just
praying for the spirit and she starts asking all these mystery of the
kingdom questions...she even brought up polygamy...just a
nightmare. So I've done a lot of studying on the godhead and the bible
completely supports our belief....but something I've realized
about religion is that if this wasn't the truth....I don't think id
align myself with a religion.... there's truth and non truth in
everything. I guess that's why I'm just so grateful for this restored
truth. We do have all the answers. And as much as I need faith in
this religion...I also need logic and it's logical to me. Having these
brilliant investigators has been great for me to reaffirm what I
believe in and why. It's only strengthened my beliefs.
On Friday we visited C-----'s inlaws...then we had an appointment
with sister Mason, one of our ward members. We went to lunch with her
and she is so down to earth and just really great. I really like her.
She's so funny. And just very real. We then went with her to N----'s
lesson. He is so prepared. The lesson was bad st first but then he
recognized the truth. It turned into an amazing lesson, and
his wife even came in at the end.
On Saturday we taught sister P----- who is working on going to the
temple. She's had trouble with inactivity but she's been doing great
and she wants us to go through with her for her endowment in
March..what I love about that is....that's what this work is
about...getting people to the temple. You can baptize thousands....and
they can all go inactive and it never leads to anything...and baptism,
while important, is only the gateway....but temple covenants are
lasting and forever. I want to help people go to the temple.
On Sunday we had church and afterwards we went to Phillipino Family
home Evening in the Shibuya area. It had to be another one of the most
bizarre events on my mission. So we go from the church to Yoyogiuehara
which is a good couple of train stations away. We bring C----- and
her husband N----, and then the elders bring 2 investigators and an
excommunicated member taking the lessons again. I had no idea he was
excommunicated.....not idea at all...and he comes up to me and
says..." You're breaking the number one missionary rule...." Elder lee
started laughing and stuff and I'm like "what." Cuz right, I want to
know if I'm breaking a rule. And then Elder Lee is like "Joe don't say
it." And then Joe says "you're breaking the most fundamental
missionary rule. Sisters aren't supposed to be hot." And it took me
forever to figure out what he was talking about because I don't get
compliments from guys as a missionary so I'm like...what do you mean?
I'm just an idiot... Asian people tell me I'm pretty a lot but I
don't think I've gotten a compliment from a guy in a while...it
threw me off...and embarrassed me....And it's not that funny or
weird....I'm just ridiculous and awkward and think anything is funny..
Anyways. So yeah that was my week. Hope this week is as random. I
don't think I'm getting transferred but you never know.
Love, MC