Dear Family,
Hello everybody!! This is
the first email from the area literally named "up big hill" and boy
oh boy it's true. One of our investigators lives at the top of the hill that we
live on and well it's so steep and large that you can't lean forward far enough
to keep your bike going up it so we can't even ride up. But even though it's
only been 4 or five days it's been lots of fun. My new companion is Elder Hall,
and he's from everywhere, he's never really lived in the same place for more
than a year, they just moved a lot. He's been to some places like American
fork, Payson, Grand Junction, and all over. He's pretty cool, likes games a lot
so we do a lot of talking about games and movies. But he's a hard worker and
it's going to be lots of fun follow up training him.
So my companion and the
elder that was here before me worked really hard this last couple weeks and
stacked the area with lots of new investigators. So once I came in I assumed
the responsibility of starting to teach them and invite them to be baptized as
soon as I can, and this week we invited 2 people. And both accepted. Ones name
is Aoyama San and bought a Book of Mormon more thinking it was a good novel
than anything, back in the days where they had to sell them. So we met him and
talked about the benefits of baptism and he was really excited to be able to
receive it. Then on Sunday our buddy Kazehiro San was willing to come to
church, so he came to the church the first time and went to sit in the
congregation before we even saw him so he's doing real good. Then that night we
taught him a lesson and we drew lots of pictures and drew on his desires to be
happy and feel peace to invite him to be baptized, and he blew our minds by
saying that there are some people that might tempt him to do evil but he wants
with all his heart to be able to say no and follow God. And he loved church so
he's going to be coming every week now. Woo! It was a party!
Then today we stopped down
in a place called Kamakura and saw a giant Buddha statue so I'll send those
pictures, and I also bought some real ninja stars! How cool is that!? Awesome!
Also back in Odawara, last week I got a chance to do some pottery with Kato Kyoudai.
He really was upset that we hadn't been able to do it with him yet so we made
some time and we made some pottery in the pottery corner of his house. It was
pretty difficult to leave Odawara. The members, specifically the recent converts
were really sad to see me go. Takeuchi cried like 3 days before I was even
leaving. And Kato Kyoudai just kept saying, I wish we could do this... And I
wish we could do that... It was pretty sad. But on a rainy Thursday we headed
out. I'm way tired and busy already this transfer so I think it's going to be
good. Elder Hall is pretty excited for everything to come so I am as well! It's
been really good.
I'm glad y'all are working
hard and I look forward to hearing all about everyone's adventures. Being a
district leader again is fun but busy so I'm looking forward to each week. The
district is stacked and full of great missionaries so this transfer we'll be
seeing some good things I’m sure! Keep looking out for crazy miracles! And
random stories about Pharisee's. I met another this week but in Japanese, he
came in to the church and searched for us. Eventually finding and interrogating
us, but for lack of a better term, we won the battle. Through the spirit and
testimony we were not confounded and the man was not able to cross us in our
words. The lord really does stand at our back and hold us up. He gives us just
what we need, when we need it, and he does it with love. Love you guys! Go get
em!
Elder Gailey
Leaving Odawara
Big Buddah
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