Second September in Japan

Week 50 September 5, 2016 - MY SECOND SEPTEMBER IN JAPAN

Tuesday:  Honestly it was just a pretty normal day of dendo. Not much happened, but we got out there and did our best.

Wednesday:  We tried to find some less actives but we ended up ha I got to do something else. (??) We didn't have enough time to go all the way to their houses so we just tried to street around and find some people. After dinner we had to practice singing for the next morning because we were celebrating the dedication of missionary work in Japan. There was a meeting at 6:30 A.M. So that was interesting. But after the practice we had Ekaiwa which went really well cause a few more people came this week.

Thursday:  We ate some ramen at a restaurant for lunch.  It was pretty good. Then we walked around downtown and tried to talk to people. We found a few people who would talk and listen but nobody super interested. Then we had to go meet a guy who lives out of our area but he was found at the blitz. He really wants to go to English class but he's not too interested in the gospel. So we hope that by going to English class, the missionaries in Kawasaki can spark some interest in the church.

Friday:  We had district meeting which was fun. Our district is really good friends and it's a lot of fun so yeah. Then we streeted back to the apartment trying to talk to people. I bought some drain cleaner for our sink. Then after dinner we were going to go help a member do some cleaning at the church but we had to go with the sisters to visit a referral.  So we had the other elders go do the cleaning. The referral sadly wasn't home, but we will visit him again and keep trying. Then we housed at night a little and it was pretty good. One guy listened to our message but sort of just acted like a vegetable. He just sat there and wouldn't say anything so that was a bit strange.

Saturday:  We had sports! It was a lot of fun and the sisters from Kanagawa came so there was a good amount of people there. Then we went back and we showered then went to Yokohama to meet Ken. We had lunch with him and we figured out about his job. He didn't have a very good
job and he wants to quit, so he said he was gonna quit and then we can meet more, so that's good. He understands prophets a little more now so that's good. Then after that we went back to do some needed studying and other stuff that I can't really remember.

Sunday:  Church was great as usual. Everyone had an uplifting time so that's awesome. After church and stuff we went and had lunch. Elder Rodriguez went on exchanges for a bit in the evening and were able to go visit an investigator Y-- who Elder Harrison and I taught last week. He has already read half of the Book of Mormon, so that is way awesome! We are hoping that he really feels God's love and progresses.

Today:  We had lunch at an all-you-can-eat Mexican food place, so that was good. Now we are about to get haircuts so yeah! We have splits tonight and we are having a great time!

Well, I love you all and I'll talk to you next week! Elder Molen.

Tokyo, Japan - Hello People of the World!

August 29, 2016
Hello people of the world!

So tragically I have no time again this week cause of crazy things but I'll do my best to inform you.

Tuesday:  We tried to visit a few people who were on our potential investigator list, but sadly they were all gone. We were in a tripanionship and had some good dendo walking around. It's kinda fun
when you are with three people 'cause you have so many random things to talk about.

Wednesday:  So we had another lesson with K-- K----a!  We taught him the first lesson for like the third time and he's getting more of it.  He has a problem with remembering things so we are trying to work past that and possibly to use object lessons with him so he can remember more of it.  It went well and we are going to try and continue meeting him. After that we passed out flyers for a little bit which was obviously a blast 'cause what's better then flyers.  In the evening, we had Ekaiwa which was good. We had 4 new students there so that was great and I think they all had a good time, so we just want them to come back.

Thursday:  We had monthly and weekly planning.  So we are looking forward to going ham in September and find all those prepared people. We did that for a while and then we went and picked up Elder Rodriguez from the station. He is super happy and funny so it should be a fun apartment. We then went out and streeted around trying to talk to some people and it was a pretty normal night.

Friday:  We had the first district meeting of the transfer! Not really much changed in the district but we have been finding new people to teach as of late so we are all hopeful for the future.

Saturday:  Today was great!  We had an activity called negashi soumen at the church. They have thin noodles and water slide down a cut in half piece of bamboo and you snatch it up, dip it in sauce and then eat it.  It's way good and we invited a lot of people.  Lots of non-members came so it went super good.  In the evening we had a freaking awesome lesson with a man named Y--. He is super prepared.  He has had a lot of difficult experiences in his life but has been searching for the real church. He accepted everything we said and he said he would read the entire Book of Mormon. We can't wait to see what happens with him.

Sunday:  We had church which went awesome. After that we went and tried to visit 3 people and we were able to say hello to one of them, but sadly we could not have a lesson with any of them. It also started raining and my umbrella broke in half -- sadly -- so we just got soaked and it was kinda fun.

Today:  We went to Costco! We have food! Now we will go visit an investigator. I love you all and keep doing your best!

Elder Molen

Sapporo Temple Dedication

 

Week 48: August 23, 2016

This week was pretty good. There was the Sapporo temple dedication which was really awesome. It was super spiritual and amazing to see.  The Japanese people up there are going to be really blessed. We also got transfer calls and everything is staying the exact same so that's pretty easy.

We had a typhoon yesterday (Typhoon Mindulle) and had to stay inside all day long so that was kinda boring but that's ok. But, ya, I don't have a lot of time to write anything so sorry that I'm lazy at writing.

I love  you all and I hope you have a great week!

Video he sent a few months ago: 

Week 47 August 15, 2016

This week was pretty good and filled with lessons so that's great!

Wednesday:  We had a few lessons set up this day. Our first investigator Y------a flaked on us so that sucked, but then we went to Sukiya because Elder Harrison needed to eat a "king size." It was still hard. Not as bad as last time though. Then we came back and had a lesson with a guy named K--.  He is really super nice but he has trouble remembering the things we teach so we will just really get it into his head hopefully. Then we had dinner really quick and came back to set up for Ekaiwa which went well, but there was not very many people 'cause it was a holiday or something.

Thursday:  We had district meeting, which was pretty normal but after we had a quick split with the zone elders.  Elder Gailey and I were able to teach a guy that we were super bold with and it was fun. In the night we had to do weekly planning.

Friday:  We had zone conference.  President and Sister Warnick came and talked about how to use the culture to our advantage and really connect with the Japanese people. It was a really good conference and there were a lot of missionaries who bore their final testimony before they go home, so that was interesting. In the evening we were able to go talk to people about family history 'cause a festival was happening where the Japanese believe their ancestors spirits come back.

So we tried to do that and we were able to meet part of a family we had shared a message with before so that was good. They also made me try helping lift the mini shrine thing they were carrying for the festival.   (don't worry I wasn't worshipping the thing) That was interesting.

Saturday:  We had a lesson with A--c before basketball about the Word of Wisdom and the Ten Commandments and it went really well.  He thought it was all good and just thought it was interesting we didn't drink tea or coffee. We had a fun time at basketball and then were able to meet another investigator, T---i. We ate lunch with him and asked how he felt about learning more. Sadly, he said he doesn't want to right now but we will keep trying.  In the evening we had food at a member's house and we almost died because of how much food was in us.

Sunday:  We were at the church until like 4:15 doing stuff and it was a crazy but good day. Also K---n came to church, so that was good.

Today:  We went and saw the Lamborghini and Maserati dealerships which was way awesome! We went to the Nissan Museum and I sat in a GTR, so that was fun. Now we are here.

There have been so many good things happening with the people we are working with and you can really feel the love the lord has for all of them. He loves us and unconditionally and we can always do our best to be like Jesus Christ but if we mess up its ok cause we just keep going.

Love you all, Elder Molen

Thinks are Picking Up in Tokyo, Japan - Yokohama Blitz

Week 46 - August 9, 2016

This coming week we got lots of plans but as for last week....

Tuesday: I am honestly not sure if anything eventful happened this day. We studied. That was good. I'm getting really lazy at writing.

Wednesday:  We had breakfast with an investigator named A---. He is still talking about political and gov. stuff so we keep telling him that's not what we are here to talk about.  He wants to continue
learning though so that's good. After studies and stuff we went to visit a former investigator but we got denied sadly, but we did get to walk along in the heat and rain, so that was fun. Then we bought stuff for the sweets party we were having after Ekaiwa.  At Ekaiwa not very many people showed up sadly, but the sisters were able to get a new investigator out of the party and we all had a good time so that was nice.

Thursday:  Basically we studied and then had to go to Hachioji for a Facebook usage training for elder Harrison. After that we came back and had another meeting with A--c. He kept talking about government and USA stuff, so we let him know again what our purpose is, and now I think we are ready to move forward.

Friday:  We had district meeting which went really well. We talked about follow up and how important it is to missionary work. After that we contacted a bunch of people and fixed up Elder Harrison's Facebook so that he can be ready to use it. After dinner we did weekly planning and we are ready to start seeing some awesome miracles from these goals.

Saturday:  We had basketball as usual which was a bunch of fun, but as usual it's insanely hot right now. Then we set up some lesson appointments and things like that. After that, we went to the church to meet our investigator, Y------a.  He showed up way late and stuff but we had an ok lesson on the rest of the plan of salvation. The next lesson we are hoping to set a baptismal date with him again.

Sunday:  Church was really great. We had some good testimonies for fast Sunday and an Ekaiwa student came to church with the sisters. We talked to a lot of members and I think the relationship with the ward is getting a lot better. Elder Harrison is really good about going around and trying to do everything he can which I think is awesome. In the Evening we went housing and all that jazz. Elder Harrison is getting braver as well, so that's a plus.

Monday:  We had a stake blitz in Yokohama!! We went ham and we found quite a few new people to teach.  Everyone passed out a ton of stuff and shared the Joseph Smith story like crazy. I went with Elder Ishikawa for half and then Elder Ikeda for the second half which was a lot of fun. We talked to some interesting people.

Today:  We had temple p-day! It has been crazy hot but the temple was awesome! Go to the temple everyone. Well that's all.