Michael's Good Experience: プルコギ！ Blugogi (the meat we ate!)

Dear Family,

Well this week has been a good one. Elder Okada and I have been getting along really well. There were some times before when we struggled, but it was mainly when we had to start going tracting and stuff a lot, and the reason was that because we hadn't done it a lot we weren't used to how each other does it yet. So once we got used to each other it all leveled out and is going really well. We're doing our best. I'm pretty sad he has to return at the end, I wouldn't mind going another transfer with him, but a new companion will be cool too. Speaking of that our transfer call day is Saturday so it's already here! Crazy how fast transfers are going now. I only have 4 left... Takeuchi Kyoudai who has become probably my best friend in the branch, was telling me after I taught him a lesson on the plan of salvation that I only have 5 months left. I only have 5 months left. It seems so short. I'm excited to see everyone but starting to understand what everyone has been saying about it going quick at the end. Who knew?

Well this week has been good. We've been out dendoing a lot, but as far as new investigators, this week was rather unsuccessful. We were able to do a lot of Kubari Kai's this week. So some of the cool things I saw while we were doing that was that at one point when I was getting really cold during a Kubari Kai I was wondering whether I should take a quick break and grab some hot chocolate, but I didn't want to stop talking to people. So I said a quick prayer and kept going, and then not even 3 minutes later a guy with some interest stopped to talk with me, I shared as much as he could and then he had to go but before going he said, let me get you something so he bought me and Elder Okada hot chocolate! Haha! He was cool, then he introduced me to his super drunk buddies but it was a fun time!

So yeah basically all our free time this week was spent in finding. Still no luck but soon we'll find some. I guess there was an Indian man that I met during a Kubari as well that said he would come to church and gave me his card! He didn't come but it was another small miracle. The biggest 3 things this week were splits, Takeuchi Kyoudai's mom's baptism, and zone meeting. I went on splits with Elder Masaki (my Hawaiian zone leader) and it was way cool, we found probably 7 PI's and got a new investigator, all for Fujisawa area but it was lots of fun! Most of them were pretty young so that was a bonus as well. Then Elder Okada and I on Saturday started to fill up the font for Takeuchi Shimai and well I swear Satan goes his hardest when the font is filling up, it has problems every single time regardless of what church it's at. Lol we had it going for about 20 minutes and the water mysteriously turned off, so we started heating some pans, then went to check and still no water. Then when we turned around heaven won the battle because a ward member of the building we were at showed up and fixed it for us! Bam! And at the baptism we were able to have everything go off without a hitch. I actually got called to speak there as well, so I gave a 10 minute talk in probably the best Japanese I've used up to this point on my mission and played the piano for the baptism. It was a really cool time, the spirit was nice and strong. And at zone meeting I got called in to randomly translate and play piano, so good thing I can do those things now! We haven't had a lot of success this week but overall it was really good I think. Elder Okada and I are enjoying life still.

As a matter of fact, on the day of the baptism on the way to the church we passed by a professional soccer stadium the "Shonan Bellmare" and boy was it a nice sound and feeling. It made me miss the good old sounders games with dad a lot! Also dad asked how Japanese is, it's getting better slowly, I'm pretty good now, but reading and writing are both slow but reading is better than writing. Darn kanji make life way difficult but help at the same time! As for new experiences... Speaking at a baptism was pretty crazy! Okada makes mackerel for us all the time, and I eat way Japanese stuff all the time cuz he likes it and I can't cook his Japanese food lol but it's great, it's all delicious! I'm excited to show all of you the delicious foods! OH also we were going to go to a way expensive yakiniku restaurant this transfer but instead at Costco bought nice meat, and boy was it delicious! I dunno! If I forgot anything just ask me some questions afterwards! Oh by the way, Elder Poffenberger isn't in, but I'll know probably tomorrow whether Elder Turley (he was my first companion in Hachioji) is able to tomorrow, if he can't I'll probably just have to go solo. I'll let you know this week! And I just sent my katanas home, it cost 60 dollars and I sent them by plane! In total they were exactly 190 dollars. Woo! I kept them cheap comparatively! Anyways I've been really enjoying life and recently re discovered the fun that I can have while studying the gospel, specifically Joseph smith. It's been lots of fun studying about him. There really was so much preparation put into him and the restoration. It was clearly guided by Heavenly Father in every way. I know that the church is true and I hope everyone has an awesome week. Remember who you are! Love you!

Love,

Elder Gailey

Elder Gailey's Zone