So, I forgot to mention last week, but I began teaching an investigator on Friday of last week, and picked up another investigator on Tuesday. We do all the teaching in Japanese, which has been so much more difficult than I ever thought it would be, but it still ends up working out. My companion and I committed our first investigator, Anao San, to baptism, and now we're working on teaching Watanabe San. Teaching is so different for me in Japanese. It can be really aggrivating for me, because I know that I can teach to whole lesson and everything if I could only talk in English, but I can't, so I have to work around that. The whole language barrier has actually been a really thought provoking and learning experience. I believe that I got called to the mission i did for a number of reasons. One of them would be that I probably needed some humbling. Learning to speak in Japanese has really taught me that I know almost nothing, and that it won't be me who converts the investigator, it's the Spirit. It's pushed me to try to back off from what I want to and teach, and instead let the Holy Ghost testify and work the miracles. It's amazing how well the Spirit teachs, and it's been so humbling for me to have to learn how bring that influence into a lesson.
Besides the language and stuff, the devotionals here are straight fire. We Have them every Sunday and Tuesday. On Sunday, Sheri Dew came and spoke to all of us. The Spirit that was present was so strong, and it has pushed me to become an even better missionary, and an even better person. On Tuesday, we had the privilege to hear from President Nelson from the Quorum of the Twelve. In preperation for his coming, the choir (of which I am a part) prepare "Be Still, My Soul". The Spirit that that song brings is amazing, and was so moving for me to sing. The choir is one of my favorite parts of Sunday and Tuesday devotionals.
My district is a really fun group of people. There are 12 of us, 10 Elders and 2 Sisters. We're all going to Japan, some going to Kobe while others are going to Fukuoka. Only my companion and I are going to Tokyo South, so obviously we are the master's of our district. We all have such a fun time with each other. Sometimes we get too distracted having fun, and that detracts from our learning, but most of the time we stay focused on preparing to serve the Lord.
I think that's all I can think of for this week, I hope you all have an amazing time this next week, especially those of you who summers are coming to an end!
Love,
Elder Nelson
PS I discovered I'm secretly a cry baby, there have been several times this week where the Spirit has moved me to tears, like when my Sensei drops Spiritual atom bombs on the class
PPS I ran into Elder Means several times this week, for those of you who know him. So. s/o to him
PPPS To the eternal surprise and astonishment off all who were present, I ate a salad wrap thing. Actual vegetables.I know, what has the MTC done to this child
PPPPS Joseph thought of the Week: Bigfoot is actually a big, hairy, misunderstood clown
So, here are the people in ma district. Left to right: Sister Walker, Sister Olsen, Elder Burnham, Elder Dahl, Elder Sherman, Elder Clarkson, Elder Chadwick, Elder Olsen, Elder Maxwell, Elder Tshriki, and Elder Olsen
Elder Nelson's Mom here: A friend of mine works at the MTC and saw Elders Nelson and BUrnham this morning. She was kind enough to text a couple of pictures to me. Bless her! Saving them here for all to enjoy (and so I don't lose them!).
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