Michael's Good Experience: Our duo's up to three!

Dear Family,

Well this week was a good week, not as much to report as the last one but it was a good week. So right now one of the biggest things to tell you all is that: I'm transferring. Seems like I'm going on a lot of 3 month stints. But on the flip side, I'll be companions with Elder Poffenberger!! And Elder Okada (Japanese elder) and Elder Leftwich (leaves next week) so it will be a party with 3 companions for a bit!!! Crazy right? I'll be going to a place called Odawara. It's way down south, the farthest south in the mission, and it's a pretty small branch but it should be lots of fun. So that's the big news of the weekend.

Other than that we had a good and busy week. So first I went to Kamiooka this week for splits. Also a quick side note. Right now we are outside Landmark Tower right now standing in a huge group of people waiting for potentially the Barcelona soccer team to come out of the building, and we've been just casually saying things in Japanese to a couple in front of us, and the boyfriend went and got his girlfriend some candy and gave some to us even though we've barely said much more than hi to him so far. It was way random but funny. Anyways so Kamiooka was lots of fun, I got to be companions with Elder Hilton, one of the potential roommates for college, and the one who wants me to go out for ultimate frisbee at BYU with him. It was lots of fun because we're both about the same level of Japanese and were able to have a real good time teaching and talking and stuff. So it was good. While I was there though, Nakamura San was able to go to a dinner with Elder Spackman and the Barton family and it went super well. He's a little bit poor so he ate tons of food and the Barton's spoke English with him and he loved every second of it. He really was able to see what kind of people church members are and he really wants to be like them. So that went really well.

Other than that, this week we practiced again for the Christmas party at eikaiwa and taught Nakamura his first real lesson, and played basketball again on Saturday. This time I was slaying the 3's! And basically that means I made 2. So that was cool. Also Saturday was the Christmas party, so Nakamura came and he loves to sing hymns so he went hard, and I mean hard, when the eikaiwa students sang silent night together for the ward. It made everyone laugh and they loved him. I also got to translate for the Sorensen's and Sister Sorensen did super well in fellowshipping Nakamura even though his English isn't perfect. I can't even express the joy that comes when the ward is doing everything they can to welcome an investigator. It was amazing. The American members are great in this ward at it. Oh, and then Sunday we had an appointment as a district to go eat dinner with an investigator family, the Suzuki family. So all 6 of us went to their house and they held a little party with a lot of their family members too. It was really, really good, I think I told you about them before but an MTC teacher stayed with them at one point for a homestay and that's how they know about the church. But after all of the eating and talking and stuff the missionaries all gave a spiritual message, we shared one of the Christmas videos, the one about if we didn't have a savior, and shared our testimonies, told them of the blessings they can receive, and asked them to meet with us again, and learn more. So it went really well, we don't have a next appointment but it will be coming soon. We really don't want to let them slip through the cracks. So that was last night pretty much!

It sounds like the weather has been pretty insane back home, the rain and what not, I miss the Seattle weather and stuff a lot, it's not so much different from here but it feels a lot different. I'm glad everyone is going to be having a nice Christmas together! Gonna be kind of a bummer next year when everyone is on the off year with the in-laws but I guess I'll see you anyways. So I can call any time on the 24-26 in Japan. I don't know when my new companions want to but if you would like I could definitely call in the morning on any day, I was thinking I would call on the 26th here at a time that works well for everyone there, that way you get the call on Christmas. Sound good? If not just let me know and I'll call you at the best time for there, the church is 30 seconds from my new apartment. I hope everyone has been having missionary experiences lately! Christmas time is a great time to turn in to the family but also a better time to turn out to all those who don't know. So as part of a little Christmas challenge I thought of something to have everyone do. So this week try and think of someone who you can have watch that new Christmas video "why we need a savior" whether you share it with them on Facebook or send a link in a text, or even just tell them where to find it. But ask them to watch it and sometime after (before the end of the week) share your testimony about it with them! I know it's not super natural all the time, but we can for sure touch the lives of at least 8 people as a family! (That's one each) so let's go for it this Christmas ok? Whenever you do it, send me an email about it, and then see if you can do another!

I love you guys! I can't wait to talk to you, I'm doing the best I can everyday to be a better person, to come closer to my savior, and bring Japan to him. Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Gailey

P.s. Mom and dad, I finally cashed in my Christmas present from last year (the katana) unfortunately I forgot to take a picture before it got all wrapped up, but I'll be sending it home the next chance I get! I was actually able to get 2 as well, one long and one short so hopefully you can all see it soon! Love ya!

Brother Isarai with Elder Gailey