Nagoya Higashi, Kariya | Week 6 T.7 :: This Transfer Has Taught Me Heaps

hi there♡

its that awkward time of the year again when daytime is dry and hot, but night time is freezing and i dont know how to dress in order to accomodate the weather. On the bright side I'm not sweaty anymore!

Wow. I can't believe it's already the end of the transfer...again. Also, THIS WEEK ON THE 14TH IS MY 1 YEAR MARK OF BEING A MISSIONARY FOR THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS!♡☆°⊙◇♧¤

I definitely didn't cry while face timing my mom, what? no. ok a little. My comp asked me what I wanted to do today, I said "all I want is to find the elect, have perfect Japanese...and eat good food but not get fat." I got 6 more months to so let's gooooo

Stay tuned for what happened with transfer calls...you won't believe it.

Btw, I didn't forget to do last week's email, I just got carried away creating a huge essay of all the stuff I did, and then never finished it. But I decided to keep it more simple this week because I can't be bothered with writing another fat email today. Your welcome :)

Simply what happened last week:

-The husband of the woman who attended the baptism of Cecilia when I was transfer 3 got baptized last week! His name is Ryan and he's hilarious, love that guy. His wife was baptized shortly after I transferred, and shes so strong. Great family. Now they are planning to go to the temple and be together forever!

- I San is doing great, he still has a bunch of questions but he loves coming to church and has attended 2 baptisms now. He told us he is thinking about preparing himself to be baptized as well sooooo were excited for him! Also Hayano kyoudai and them are buddies now :,)

- We taught a ton of street/door step lessons last week, 7 were in just one day. Crazy stuff.

- a sweet ward member named Yamada shimai made us delicious food.

- Our Brazilian Mart friend keeps giving us free food, she gave us a giant brigadeiro cake last time ahhhah.

- a ward member that's a professional rugby player from Tonga wearing a gucci tie walked up to my comp and I, handed us each 10000¥ (about $100 American dollars), then walked away. I checked the White hand book, we all goods :)

- Our after baptism lessons with Hayano Kyoudai have been great, he told us that he had some doubts before baptism, but after being baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost really confirmend for him many things and hes as happy as he could be. He feels so clean and loves learning about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This week:

- I San is doing so good. He came to church again for the 3rd time. He told us he wants his "soul to be purified". He's opened up to us quite a bit, he's had some hard things in his life. We taught him repentance and the gift of the holy ghost and he said he wants to make changes in his life so I'm beyond happy for him and this next transfer!

- Our referral friends M, J and K are doing good. J and K came to church, but M isn't allowed to anymore :/ but she listens to our lessons still, and I think she likes it still.

- We accomplished the transfer mission wide goal of finding 8 new people to teach! It was hard, thankfully 3 of them were referrals, but we did it! It stretched both Hemi Shimai and my faith, but so good. Heavenly Father answered our prayers and we now have stronger testimonies. :)

- I had clean checks again, we passed. Was not fun, but I love a clean apartment. My parents would be proud of how well I cleaned and organized.

- We gave a Book of Mormon to our friend from Mongolia, shes super すてき.

- We are now helping 2 families in the ward prepare for the temple, both of the husbands are professional rugby players from Tonga! ... We may or may not go with the bishop to one of their games hehe.

- Hayano Kyoudai is still doing great, he has many questions, things that I havent even thought about. Hes always excited to learn more, and loves finding answers but also learning how to have faith when he cant find an exact answers.

So many miracles happend these past 2 weeks, I'm constantly standing all amazed at the love Jesus offers me! I learned a lot about sacrifice this week in order to meet our mission wide goal of 8 new friends to teach. Meals were skipped, legs were sore from biking far out, and other small changes to accomodate our goal taught me that when you put in the faith through work/action, the Lord provides.

Ok now for transfer news, i'm NOT leaving, im staying in Kariya. AND my compaion will be JOLLEY SHIMAI!! Thats right, she was my mtc companion. I'm so pumped to see how much shes grown, and I've grown and reminisce all the good ole mtc days. Lets get it transfer 8!

This transfer has taught me heaps (as my Kiwi comp would say). My first time being senior companion, coming back to an old area, seeing 2 more baptisms, Legit beeing a witness for the 2 baptisms, General Conference, Typhoon Hagibis, pushed outside my Japanese language comfort zone, Elder Choi Conference, 8 new friends to start teaching, meeting and teaching I san, trying to figure out how to stay balanced and handle my natural man tendencies and more. It was uncomfortable at times, a bit stressful but all worth the gorwth and experiences I got in return. Now onto transfer 8, with the person it all started with back in the mtc days :,)

love you all, hope you have a wonderful week <3