weekly email

Another week in Tsu: 

Imai FHE

There’s a family here who recently made a huge comeback in returning to church, and they are all fired up for helping us. We meet with them often, and they take us around to visit members, investigators, and focus people. They’ve fellowshipped the newest baptismal candidate beautifully, and are taking a lot of proactive thought into planning for the candidate's wellbeing. It’s so great!

Eye doctor 

Maybe the guy I went to in Utah was old school, or maybe the technology in Japan has just skyrocketed, but whatever the case the clinic I went to to get my eyes checked beyond anything I’ve experienced. It was a sensation. Like, the waiting room was the hardest part because there were so many people crowding inside, wanting a minute with the doctor, that we needed to sit down for almost an hour in plush, stuffed armchairs for our own turn. How terrible. 

When I was finally ushered inside, the doctor sat me down at one small eye machine for twenty seconds, and then another. In the first, I looked at a small hot air balloon going in and out of focus for a bit. At the second, a small blinking green light grabbed my attention, and then I was slightly startled when a puff of air was blown into my eye. It was like somebody had blown a bit of frosty breath into my face, Puff. 

I was almost relieved when I sat down in the third chair and across from me was a traditional screen that I could tell was for the classic ABC test. I wasn’t sure I was getting my money's worth from the first couple tests. Doctor had me read the letters once with, and once without my glasses. Except, I wasn’t reading letters (not even in Japanese), but pointing up, down, left, or right where the C was open. The C just got smaller which each answer. What is this magic! 

And then I was told my results. That was it. It was over in less than five minutes. 

Mission Conference 

Brother Brian K. Ashton and his wife visited our mission last Thursday as part of their tour of Japan. What's funny is that the introductory speaker gave an eloquent speech on how we would cover Teaching, using the Spirit, and asking Inspired Questions today (as part of retaining investigators), and then Sister Ashton got up and announced that she felt a much different direction was needed. 

We had a wonderful conference on faith, finding, and the commandments of the Lord in relation to our efforts that day. See D&C 82:10. 

Matsusaka Saturday 

My faith in Member missionary work has redoubled recently due to a couple experiences from the last week. 

We were asked to accompany a couple members in visiting a coworker who recently had a baby girl. The coworker warmly welcomed us all in, we had a nice time chatting and admiring the baby, and before we left the members looked to me expecting that I give an invitation of some sort to hear the missionary lessons. Well, it wasn’t the most beautiful invitation I’ve given, but because of the nice environment and the friendly encouragement we had backing us up, the lady warmly accepted and we are welcome to come back next week. 

The members, happy with our success, took us over to visit someone who recently hasn’t been coming to church. That someone wasn’t there, but we knock on his neighbor's door and were received into another small family's home for a bit. Complete strangers. Again, this probably would never happen if we weren’t out with friendly members. We all sat down in the small living room, and my companion and I taught the Restoration lesson on the spot. It was great! A very spiritual experience. 

And so we continue to see great improvement in the general well-being of Tsu.

愛しています！

カードん長老より

Elder Cardon

Maegawa is the one closest to me. To her right are Sister and Brother Imai



Hey, happy birthday Claire!! 

Just to inform you, I celebrated out here by buying a new coat! At the secondhand shop, I found a wool jacket for about $15. And, a new wool tie for 3. It was quite the bargain! I absolutely love it.