Hello Again!
Okay so I am going to try to make up for the last couple weeks, so
this first email will be last weeks email.
Monday 10/16
Monday night we had a "mini" volleyball activity with some older
ladies and a member, and the missionaries. It was really fun. Haha but
I got way to into it. Everyone told me to take it easy and not go as
hard in one of the games, and so I did, and we ended up being down
6-0. (Play to 11.) so then we started working hard and it got to be
6-6, then it went back and forth, and to me, I couldn't help but get
super into it! Haha so then I kind of became the laughing stock, and
the missionaries couldn't understand why I cared so much. Anyway, we
actually ended up losing after several deuces. (I kept my composure
pretty good with that though. Don't worry. ;))
Tuesday 10/17
Zone Conference. (See other email.)
This was our first conference, and it went pretty good! I have decided
that Zone conferences are kind of like running a musical. Five nights
where you preform, and 5 different kinds of energy. So it was like
opening night; just in the morning. Adrenaline, a bit nervous, and
slightly underprepared, first time really doing it.
That night we had a sign language class that some of our members, and
investigators go to. It is really cool to learn some Japanese sign
language.
Wednesday 10/18
Today we got fed by a member at this curry and naan restaurant. It was
so amazing. I love those places here in Japan so much.
Today we also were able to have kind of part of our pday in a way, and
we went to round 1 with Kasey (Mission president's 18 year old
daughter), her 2 friends Lev and Daniel, and the sister missionaries
as well. Round 1 is kind of like a big play place. They have bowling
as like half of the building and then the other half of the building
is all kinds of full size sports, mini sports, arcade sports, roller
blading, batting cages, mini golf, ping pong, pool, massage chairs,
mechanical bull, etc. it was really fun, and we were able to teach lev
and Daniel about church and they committed to come on Sunday! (They
were planning on coming, but then accidentally slept in Sunday morning
and didn't come.:/)
Thursday 10/19
Today we had zone conference in Kotoni, the other zone in Sapporo.
Just like second night, we fixed the little kinks, things went more
smooth, we still had adrenaline and were still on our toes, and it was
a really good zone conference.
Tonight we had english class, which I still hadn't been to here, but a
new family came, and I was able to exchange Facebook with him, and
have been able to start teaching him and his family a little bit
through Facebook! This family is super awesome! The Yoneta family! I
really think that they are prepared to receive the gospel, and I am
really excited to see them progress.
Friday 10/20
This was a really cool day. I have been able to recently reconnect
with shuichi, who was a Japanese foreign exchange student in my house
for a week, and then came back a year later and went on a vacation
with my family as well. Now that we can use Facebook, I decided that I
should reach out to him and so I did, and he was very surprised to
know that I was in Japan, and was even more surprised that I could
write to him in Japanese.
He still couldn't really speak too much English, which surprised me
because he is so smart! He is going to Osaka university which is
probably the 3rd best university in Japan. We ended up being able to
do a video call on line today. It was so cool. We were able to also
have him invite his friend to participate, and after talking about the
time that we had with him in Utah, and with my family, and asking him
if he remembered the temple, and Jospeh Smith and church, and prayer,
(he remembered all of it.) Then we taught them the message of the
restoration, and about Joseph Smith's experience. It was really
wonderful. They listened to every word, and to bring the spirit before
we shared Jospeh Smith's words, we played the song Jospeh Smith's
first Prayer (In english) and then recited Joseph Smith's words. At
the end I gave them an example of prayer, and then they both gave
prayers right then. It was so awesome! I love it when people pray for
the first time! We committed them really strongly to pray that night
before they sleep, speak out loud and ask if what we had shared with
them was true, and if Joseph Smith's experience was real. Such a
tender mercy, I really feel like one of the reasons why I may have
come to Japan is for him. We are hoping to get them in touch with the
missionaries there soon as well.
We realized that we have to do a splits tomorrow otherwise we would
not be able to do them all, and so I came to Kotoni tonight, and get
to go on splits with Elder Graham tomorrow! I love splits, and I
really love working and being with Elder Graham!
Saturday 10/21
Splits with Elder Graham. We were able to teach the first vision a lot
this morning, and find a lot of new investigators. It was really
awesome. I love just going out and sharing the gospel with people. It
was so fun to be with Elder Graham. We were also able to play tennis
with some random kids that were playing at a court for a little bit,
which was super fun!
I was able to talk with one of my favorite missionaries, Elder Saito
about really meeting his potential, and really doing what is necessary
to not just be in the called category, but to make it into the chosen
as well. "Many are called, but few are chosen." We have to choose to
follow God and to be obedient, and to really be converted and
consecrated or we won't, even if we are called, be able to be chosen.
We talked about living a spiritual lifestyle, and about how the
missionary schedule really helps us live a lifestyle that will give us
the best sensitivity to the Spirit.
Then we had a little English class, and a sports activity, which a lot
of people came to, and it was a little bit crazy, but really fun, and
hopefully good for the investigators there.
Sunday 10/22
Today we had church, and it was a really awesome meeting. I really
love the members here. Daniel and Lev didn't come to church, and
neither did our other newer investigator that said that she would
come, so that was unfortunate. It was kind of a normal Sunday day, we
were able to do some normal teaching and finding and felt the Spirit
of missionary work. We also are working really hard to work with the
members.
Monday 10/23
Today we woke up and after doing a little bit of preparing for the
week we started the drive to Kushiro a little before 1pm. It was
really fun driving with President and sister McClure. We planned a
fireside that is this Sunday, and talked about a lot of different
things, and they shared some really wonderful experiences with us. We
got to Kushiro at 4:30 pm, and drive through some pretty good snow as
we passed through the mountains, so that was awesome!
We got there, and got to participate in their Zone activity their as
president started interviews. I was able to play ping pong with a lot
of elders who I haven't played with for a long time, or with who I've
always wanted to play. We slept in Kushiro apartment tonight with 17
missionaries. Lol. So every inch of room in he whole apartment besides
the bathroom was used for sleeping. It is my first time coming to this
region of Hokkaido! I have been everywhere else, but I have never been
to the eastern side, it was a cool feeling! Kind of feels like
Northern California, the redwoods area, kind of feeling, but I still
don't really know either place too well.
That is what has happened this week! It has been crazy, wonderful,
slightly stressful and very much a growing and learning experience. I
love missionary work. I love this gospel.
Love,
コノバー長老
Elder Conover
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