Pokemon invade Japan

Hello everyone! This was a great week, and a lot of crazy things went down!

Like the title says, Japan has become completely taken over by Pokemon Go. There are literally people everywhere we go playing it. We were at the train station the very first day that that game hit the streets. A bus drops off about 100 people, and about 80 of them are just going hard playing Pokemon. There are just crowds of people playing this game. But, that's ok! It's gets people out and about and in a position to talk to us!

We had Zone Conference this week, which means President Warnick came over to visit us. It was really good. We talked a lot about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, especially about applying it in our lives daily. It was really cool because think that's something that we could all improve on, one way or another. I know I can. I'm by no means perfect, but I'm so grateful for someone who was. This Gospel is the best! Look for ways you can best apply it in your lives, and I know that Heavenly Father will bless you for it!

I love you all! Have a wonderful week!

Elder Nelson

PS We talked with a guy playing Pokemon Go right before we went into our apartment for the night. The next day, we went on a jog, and we run into him again. He was wearing the same clothes, and had been out all night playing Pokemon. He was on like a 9 hour streak, at least. He goes hard.

We had a meal with a less active member and this is the picture we took.

Transferred!

Hello everyone! I hope that your week was great, because I had a great one! I've moved in to my new area, Hachioji, and now I'm with my new companion, Elder Spackman. It's been wonderful so far, and I've enjoyed every second!

Run down of he man who is Elder Spackman: He is a whole 195cm tall, which is pretty tall, I just don't know the conversion into feet. He is from Idaho, and he just works hard. We've been talks to so many people everywhere we go. He has such a strong testimony of the gospel. Apartment life with him is fun, there is never a dull moment!

We're working with a kid named Shintaro right now, he's 19 years old, and he is a straight up genius. We teach him things, or read the scriptures with him, and he just eats it all up. His understanding is
so stron, and he just loves and accepts the gospel. He's way cool, and I'm glad that I get to be working with right now.

We had an awesome miracle this week, on my very first day in Hachioji. We were walking down the road from the train station and started talking to three teenagers. One if them was from Peru, one from Vietnam, and one from Japan. We were talking, and we eventually invited them to take a tour of the church. They were way on board, so we walked to the church, and showed them around. A lot of stuff went down, b we eventually taught them all a lesson about the Book of Mormon, and they committed to be baptized when they felt that the Book of Mormon was true. The Spirit was in our lesson, really helping Elder Spackman and I teach, and helping the others understanding. I know God
was helping us, and I know that our Father loves all of His children. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, so we can all return to His side. I love this work, and it is my hope and prayer that everyone can turn to
Christ, and return to our Father above.

I love you all! Have a fantastic week! Thank you all so much for the emails and all the support that you give me! Love you!

Elder Nelson

The three!

The comp!

Transfers! And Enoshima!

Hello everyone! I hoped us are all having a wonder 7/11 day! Japan has more 7/11s in one street corner than I ever saw in Utah, so that's fun! But! We don't have Slurpees, so go out and drink some of that sweetness for me!

We got transfer calls this week, I'm going to be transferring to Hachioji as zone leader of the Machida West zone. My companion will be Elder Spackman. I'm really excited!

We went to Enoshima today, which is a really cool island. Look it up, it's really cool! But, because of that, I have like zero times! Sorry!

I know this Church is true and the Savior lives! I love you all! Probably more pictures next week!

Elder Nelson

This is called Doctor Fish. Fish eat all the dead skin off your feet.

I've made a decision. It's hot.

Hello everyone! How are you? This week was a really good week there were a lot of really experiences this week. Right now, I'm waiting in line for Elder Clark to get a haircut, so I have a bit more time to write. Maybe I'll actually do a good letter, but I'll just be honest with myself, I'm really bad at this letter writing thing. Sorry!

It got really hot this week! Like, you walk out the front door and it's a wall of hot stuff. It's way fun!

We got to meet President Warnick this week! He came and visited the whole stake in Fujisawa, so there were about 45 missionaries here having a conference with the new President. President Warnick is a great guy, he seems way nice, and I'm so excited to be working with him! He's from Utah, and was a Japanese professor at BYU for a long time, from what I've heard. I took a picture with him, but I still haven't gotten that picture from whoever took it, so for now, we'll just have to imagine Elder Nelson took a picture. 😁

There are big bugs and spiders everywhere. I think it's because of the humidity, but the bugs here are huge. I've made some new friends the past couple days.

We had Fast Sunday this week, which means fast and testimony meeting. I love sacrament meeting in Japan, but I really love fast and testimony meeting here because many of the members here are converts, and everyone has such powerful testimonies. I had the privilege to bear my testimony this week, and I felt the power of what I said in my own heart. I have no idea what anyone else felt, but I felt what I said, and that's enough. The beauty of a testimony is that is grows as you share it. I know people, and have been a person, that really wished they had a strong testimony. Something I've learned is the only way to grow it is to study, pray, and then share what you have. Just bearing witness of something you hope for, like you hope God is your Father, or that Jesus is the Christ, or that Joseph Smith was a prophet, is good enough. The Spirit will take that and magnify it, in the hearts of the people around you, but more importantly, in your own heart. Just give it a try, and watch how much your testimony grows. I can promise that it will!

I love you all! I hope you have a wonderful week!

Elder Nelson

Also, Happy Fourth of July!!

Elder Konno doesn't like cutting onions

Someone said I couldn't fit a whole piece of cake in my mouth at once with just chopsticks. They were wrong.

Email. Yup. Email.

Hello everyone! I don't have a ton of time is week to write, but I'll try and get down some stuff that happened!

This week was really good! We had interviews with President Wada, because he ends his service as a mission president tomorrow, and he wanted to have one last interview with everyone in the mission. It was really great, we had a great talk, and then we ate pie afterwards that Elder Clark made. It was a good experience, but really sad that I won't see President Wada for a long time. However, I am excited for the new President, President Warnick, to come in this week!

We had seminary this morning, and we were talking about faith. In Alma (32:21), it says that faith is hoping for that which is not seen, which is true. However, the Japanese gives a really cool insight into for me. The literal translate is "in unseen truth, waiting and desiring." A big part of faith is that sometimes we just have to desire, and then wait. We won't have everything given to us all at once, so we need be patient and wait on the Lord. I know that He gives liberally to all those who ask, so please just ask! He wants to give to you!

Love you! Have a fun week on summer break!
Elder Nelson

PS I had a guy tell me he was a demon, and he tried to send me to Thailand on a mission. So get was fun.

Sister Wada, a silly bumpkin, and President Wada

A friend we met while proselyting, a sneaky dolphin, and Elder Gonzalez (on splits)

I've decided, I want to buy hammer pants

The hardest part of missionary life. Thinking of email titles

Good day, everyone! Happy Father's Day!! Shout out to all the amazing dads out there, but especially to my dad, for being such a great example to me! Love you Dad!

This has been a great week, full of some really cool experiences. Elder Clark has been awesome and we've just had a great time going at it!

There was a really cool broadcast shown in Japan that had Elder Bednar. It was really great, and we had a lot of miracles around it. We were able to meet a potential investigator on a train, and swapped
some contact info. We got in contact, and then we were able to help him attend the broadcast in another area of the mission. He is now their investigator, and he is doing really great! Great miracles!

His week we are continuing to teach our friend, Tomo. He is doing way good, he just loves the gospel and everything it can do for him. We had a great lesson with him this week about the Restoration. I love Joseph Smith's experience for a lot of reasons, but one of the best reasons is it gives such a clear view of who Heavenly Father is. He is a Father who loves each and every one of of His children, and He gave us this Gospel to help and guide us through this life. I know He lives, and that He loves you all.

I love you all! Have a great week!

Elder Nelson

Zone Meeting

Elder Clark made cherry pie

I bought a samurai sword today, so now I move at lightning speed, too fast for the camera

I'm Trying to be Like Jesus

Hello everyone! I hope you are having a great week, and that you are loving the weather wherever you are! It's been raining here all day, so that's been pretty fun. Rainy season is starting over here, so that has been really fun so far! I love the rain!

This week had dinner with some members named Taguchi. They were way great, and we were able to share a message about humility. We talked about the General Conference talk, "Be Thou Humble" and from Ether 12:27. We had a really good conversation about humility and the blessings that it brings into our lives. I would highly encourage all to read that talk and that scripture,money are some of my favorites!

We had a conference with President Wada this week, and we had such a spiritually uplifting experience. I learned a lot, and am so glad that I was able to go. The most spiritually powerful moment was when President just decided, part way through what he was talking about, to
sing "I'm trying to be like Jesus". We sung and the Spirit just filled the room so strongly. I know that that is our goal, to return to God by becoming like our Elder Brother, and relying on His atonement.

I love you all! I hope that you all have a wonderful week and can be the instrument in God's hand to help lift someone this week. Love you!

Elder Nelson

Left to right: Elder Johnson, Brother Taguchi, Elder Konno, Sister Taguchi, Elder Clark, a wild mongoose

I forgot I took a video from the balcony!