Michael's Good Experience: Hiro is my hero! (And he hugged Sister Law...)

Dear Family,

Well hellllloooooo everybody at home! How's it going? You all full of energy and what not? Hopefully! I'm not really sure how but this week I have had just enough energy to get through the day. And I experienced a new problem I've never had on my mission, my back side hurts! Now that probably sounds really weird, but usually as a missionary here your feet hurt right? This week we spent almost all our time teaching lessons, which is pretty intense, and as a result had to sit in some uncomfortable church chairs for quite a long time! But I think of any problems to have that's a pretty good one.

So this week the people that we met with were Kato, Brother Umeda, Brother Takeuchi, Hiro, and a new investigator named Yoshida San. So to sum up for Kato, we have been teaching him just about every day or every other day this last 2 weeks, which sounds good, but he really isn't progressing at all. He's still at the same spot he's been in for a long while. So we're trying to figure out whether or not he really has any interest, if he does then we will buckle down for the long haul, and if he doesn't then we will have to drop him, because there are others who are interested that we could be teaching/finding instead. So that's what this week will be, the final decisions on that.

Umeda Kyoudai is insanely good at ping pong and isn't the least bit humble about it. He mercilessly destroyed me and Elder Poffenberger in 4 separate games by at least 17 points... I only got one point on him by my own power, the rest were by his mistakes. It was intense, but he's doing good, he's got about the same level of pride in his church things too, but he recognizes that one and is trying to get better, so I'm glad we get to meet with him every week. Also Brother Takeuchi has the faith and heart of a lion, but his knowledge of the gospel is a bit lacking, he knows it's all true he just doesn't quite know what it all is. So we're having him practice teaching each principle to us until we can get it honed in to good solid knowledge. But he is blossoming as a church member and just got the priesthood! So next week he'll be passing the sacrament! I'm way excited for him! Now second to last is we finally have a normal buddy! His name is Yoshida! He's just a regular college student, doing regular college student things, but he loves religion! So he came and we met with him and taught him the first lesson and he prayed! Woo! We'll know more on Wednesday so next week's letter!

Now for the last one, our miracle man Hiro. I found him 2 ish weeks ago and we've met about 4 or 5 times. The crazy thing is that last week we met him and he already read 266 pages of the Book of Mormon! The even crazier part is that he started from the back which is the guide to the scriptures, so he read 266 pages of dictionary! And liked it! Then we taught him more about it and he read to ether! He's already in flipping Ether! That's a first for my mission for sure. Granted he scans all the pages for words he likes them reads that verse and the surrounding ones and that's all but he knows generally all that happens. And after all that when you might have questions about I dunno, killing Laban or something, his only questions was how the barges of the brother of Jared work because of the holes. So we drew a picture and it was done! Then he said "while I've been reading I felt like I should probably stop drinking alcohol and tobacco and tea..." So we taught him about it in gospel principles yesterday and he accepted that too! The only misconception to fix is about how he thinks if he enters the church he can't date or marry people. So we need to fix that one but he's going well, next step is baptismal date! Woo! He's great and he really likes us, he even in one lesson said he really liked a scripture in 3 Nephi about baptism and started crying because through that and Jesus Christ he can let all the bad feelings go. So he's excited. Other than that in our only free time we did some Kubari and family home evening, and it was super cold! But good. It's been quite a nice week.

Other fun things, Elder Poffenberger and I are having a blast being companions, we've been having some good talks and been really chilling. If he gets into BYU, I want to be his roommate. We'll know soon. Other fun things, tomorrow is presidents interviews, and Saturday is transfer calls. I think the odds that I stay are pretty big, Elder Poffenberger is on the edge, so is Elder Okada. But Elder Okada really really wants a Japanese companion, so I'm going to let president know. He really doesn't like foreigners, and especially gets frustrated hearing English ever, because he doesn't understand, and doesn't really try to understand too hard. I can see how that would be annoying. However we are working as hard as we can to only speak Japanese in the apartment and stuff like that. But it's going well. So next Monday you'll hear if I'm staying or leaving and what the next transfer is going to hold.

As far as things at home, I hope everyone is enjoying their time, I forgot a while ago to wish Garrett a happy birthday, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Also I'm glad to hear Iron hide (the truck) is doing well. Also thanks for doing all you can for Ginger. It sounds like she's starting to suffer quite a bit. She's not going to live forever, and I'd rather her not suffer. Keep me posted on her. If you have to put her to sleep soon at least take some good pictures of her for me please. We'll have to see if bro butler comes, that would be pretty cool! I liked the butlers. If he still works at Amazon, odds are he'll be somewhere around here, that's actually where Brother Takeuchi works. As far as college goes, I'm thinking I'll probably head home around August 5th or 12th. I'm not sure but one of them, that would give me some family time and time to go to the doctors and dentist and what not as well as prep for college. Poffenberger and the rest of our return group is leaving around then too. So that's what I'm thinking. Also for classes if you could I would love to take a class that has to do with either working on cars one of the first classes in those series, or designing cars, or something like that. Maybe some business ones too. Something about stocks would be helpful. So if that helps let me know!

Anyways, I love you all! Don't forget to pray! I say that all the time but I've been learning it slowly. When I got the email about release dates instinctively I prayed for help to know and for most decisions now there is at least a short prayer about it. It was really cool to notice that change this week. And it's led to lots better decisions than earlier in my mission. So don't forget! No decision is too small, but first study it then decide then ask. Then you'll know! Love ya!

Love,

Elder Gailey

P.S. Also my suits are fine, this new one is just Japanese style and really nice and was at a price I couldn't refuse and the member that told us about it really really wanted us to go. So I did and I'm happy with it! I'll send some pictures!

Brother Takeuchi, Elder Gailey, Elder Poffenberger, Elder Okada