Have a great week!!

March 12, 2017

Dear Family and Friends,
This week has been an adventure!
The major highlights of this week were meeting with Torikiri, and
going on splits with Tomioka choro!

Torikiri has been progressing so fast! We changed his baptismal date
to March 26, because then he will be able to be completely ready, and
keeping all of the commandments by then. We have been calling him
every night, and meeting with him a few times a week. He went to Tokyo
this last Saturday for the day to work on a Panasonic super computer!
He is an electricianal engineer! He learned some information from the
computer though. Apparently there is a 98% chance that an earthquake
10 times the size of the one that hit japan Sendai, a few years ago
will hit tokyo in the next 3 years. And it will erupt Mt. Fuji, and
literally break up the entire mainland of japan. It will send massive
tsunamis to many places across the world. The earthquake will
completely destroy the city of tokyo and everyone in in it in 20
seconds. So that is crazy, and scary, but it is a sign of the times!!

Torikiri has a problem with the word of wisdom, but he has been
stopping, and trying to stop from before us meeting him, and since
meeting us, and hearing a little about the word of wisdom, he went
from 50, (originally) 25(cut in half from trying to stop himself.) To
4 (when I explained the WOD a little bit on the phone), to yesterday
1, and the day before 0. But then yesterday we actually taught him the
Word of Wisdom, had him write down all of the reasons why he wants to
not give in to his addiction, and testified and promised many
blessings, and he readily agreed to obey the Word of Wisdom. His faith
is seriously such a miracle in my life. He said a beautiful prayer
asking God to help him be able to stop smoking, and saying "please
bless me so that I can pray everyday." And then he asked God to bless
Elder Blackley and I a lot too, which was very touching. I feel so
blessed to know him.

This week on splits with Tomioka choro I had a lot of fun working in a
different area! I have only worked in another area one time before
this last one, and I have been here for 7 1/2 months, so It was
refreshing to have some different scenery. The area that I went to is
called Shinoro. It is kind of in the residential part of Sapporo, and
so there is a lot less opportunity for streeting, and all that the
missionaries have ever done there is house. I really am not the
biggest fan of housing, just because in japan we don't even get to
talk to all of the people that are home. Over half of them that are
home, just answer through this little speaker box, and reject you
without even you seeing them or them seeing you. Whereas on the
street, we can stop people, and at least have a real conversation with
them. (As long as they don't just completely ignore us, which
sometimes happens.) haha it is nice because finding in Japan is super
chill. People are really nice when they don't have interest, and the
worst that you get is someone saying (Iranai!!!) Which means "don't
need". Other than that they just hold up their hand and keep walking,
or just pretend that you don't exist, and the likes. Haha last week I
stopped this 18 year old high school guy, with his girlfriend, and
when I said "Excuse me" she literally jumped and screamed, scared out
of her mind behind her 5'8 140 lb. boyfriend, who tried to play the
tough guy role so hard! Haha we talked with them, and she just stared
at me from behind his shoulder like I was some sort of very
interesting monster. Haha funniest experience ever. The best thing was
that she was the same height as her BF, and so her hiding behind him
was just so funny.

But in shinoro, we were able to talk about the area, and discover this
really great big shopping center place, where the center area is
outside, and you can stop all of the people coming and going from the
shopping center! It was really great! We found a few really good
people that day. It was really fun to be on splits with a zone leader,
because he could stop anyone too, and didn't have any lack of
confidence at all. Also it was really fun to be with a Japanese elder
for the day. I love speaking Japanese 24/7.

I want you all to know that I know that this church is true. I know
that the Gospel is the key to happiness. God knows his children, and
he really does love us. I am so grateful to be a missionary, and to be
on the front lines of Christ's army, doing his work.
I love you all and am so very appreciative of your love and support!!

コノバー長老
Elder Conover