Michael's Good Experience: The Odawara family! And band!

Dear Family,

Hello everybody how are you all doing? This last week was a party! We got some finding time done this week though! Any ways the big news is that I'm staying in Odawara! But the catch is that it is going down to just me and Elder Okada. Poffenberger is headed up to Yokohama to an area called Kamiooka, I went on splits there a couple of times, but I'm staying here! So that is cool, and it's Elder Okada's last transfer so I'll be here the one after that too! President Wada also said that Odawara will be mine to lead eventually so that's potentially in the cards... So yeah! Great week this week for sure we had lots of good things, presidents interviews, splits, church, the sisters had a baptism and I did my first confirmation, and just an hour ago we met with hero and he now has a baptismal date!! Crazy right?! Good week.

So first about Hiro, all last week we couldn't get ahold of him but today he called and wanted to meet and came to the church with us where we did a lesson. We finally got to teach a legit lesson, probably mostly because he wasn't drunk this time. He said he hasn't messed up yet on the word of wisdom! So he's going well, and during the lesson we asked him if he would be baptized on the 19th of February and he agreed and is excited to go for it. So I'm super excited for that. Now on to the confirmation. I found out last week Tuesday, but Sister Sukekawa chose me to do her confirmation so I studied all week and asked president about it in interviews and on Sunday I confirmed her a member of the church in Japanese. It was way intense because it was my first and it was in Japanese but once I finished the necessary words of receive the Holy Ghost and stuff things to say and words just came so I think that means I gave the correct blessing. So awesome experience right there! Oh also, yesterday with Kato San we had a lesson with him and our recent convert, Takeuchi Kyoudai. The reason we had this lesson is because just like we have been thinking, Takeuchi also is thinking that Kato has no interest. So Takeuchi just like we have been practicing, went into the lesson and taught better than most missionaries I know. It was incredible to see who he was before and who he is now. He's a way strong member. But he experienced the frustration we have been having with Kato. By the end he was literally on his knees asking Kato why he won't focus or listen or be baptized because it would help him so much. But nothing changed so we are dropping him, it's just not his time yet.

This week we did splits with zone leaders and I got to get to know Elder Masaki a cool guy from Hawaii a little better. On the split we gave out 3 book of Mormons! Cool stuff. No new investigators but it was way good! Other than that, other big things were at zone meeting I translated, I don't know if anyone remembers but I wanted to be a mission translator by my birthday and hey, I made it! A little late but I did it! Also we took a lot of way tight pictures this week, and I had a lot of way random strange dreams this week, but it was great! I hope dads job stays good and he doesn't get overworked like last time! It sounds like he may have some more say in what becomes of it too though, maybe get some free season tickets to the Seahawks in there ;) probably can't but worth a shot right? Also sounds like the gun is doing well! We'll see who wins when I get home! Also thanks for looking mom! Maybe I'll just have to go have Bob Torrey teach me! I'd love to learn to paint cars too. So thanks for your effort mom! We'll find out if Poffenberger is into BYU or not soon. Anyways, have a great week everyone! Love you!

Remember you can do anything you set your mind to if you do it the right way, with prayer and fasting! Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Gailey

Elder Poffenberger, Hiro Kyoudai (Not the investigator), Elder Gailey