Teaching and Working with the Wonderful Members in Kofu

Elan here. On reading Emily's email today, I couldn't help but think how much support she and her companion receive from the wonderful members of the Kofu Ward. What dedicated Saints! We also received photos today. Below you'll see the locally grown grapes for which Kofu is famous. To the right is the view of Mount Fuji as seem from Sister McMahan's apartment:

14 Sept 2009

It is getting chilling down. I am wearing a cardigan today for the first time!

I can't remember if I talked about this last time... but... We had an appointment with Osada Shimai. She lives in the foothills of the mountains, about 40 minutes away by bike. We searched for about 4 hours by bike and couldn't find it. The sister called us on the phone occasionally and eventually got in our car but for some reason never came to us and we played hide and seek it seemed like. We figured we road about 15 miles that day.

After district meeting on Thursday the elders put brakes on my companion's bike (they had found some slightly used ones in their apartment) and fixed our vacuum. We were going to have a lesson with Takano and Sano san but they canceled so we housed. We ran into a lady who spoke perfect English. She had returned to live in this particular apartment 3 times. She proof read propaganda for some people out of India who sold stones that could be dyed any color and sold at a cheap price. She seemed lonely. She had lived in the United States and heard about the Mormons but didn't have interest in our message. We had a lesson with Mei and rode a train about 15 minutes to get to her place. We walked and housed a few minutes before we met her at the station. During that time we met Iwamoto san, a 20ish year old who was studying to be an elementary school teacher. We set a return appointment. After we met Mei we walked to a large mall about 20 minutes away and had a lesson at the food court. We taught about keeping the Sabbath Day holy. She has yet to talk to her parents. I forgot- on the train to her place I sat next to a woman in her 20s who had met the sister missionaries before. She had gone to eikaiwa once or twice in the past, but she didn't have interest in meeting again to hear the lessons. We also met, before we got on the train to go to Mei's, a mom and her 11 year old daughter. They had come to Eikaiwa a long time ago but didn't come again because it was too hard. We invited them again.

On Friday we had 3 lessons!
Sakiko- A former investigator who stopped meeting with the sisters when they got pulled out. She was quiet and reserved. She comes only to Relief Society on Sundays. We committed her to come to Sacrament meeting, but she didn't come.

Takano and Sano san- Talked about events leading up to the Restoration then watched the Restoration DVD. Sano san was falling asleep during the movie so Takano kicked her to wake her up. Our joint talked about some deep stuff, like Patriarchal blessing and the tribes of Ephraim and Menassah, but the lesson went well. Takano came to church on Sunday. We saw a missed call when we sat down at church for Sacrament meeting and we out to call it back. It was Takano calling to say she would be late. We made it just in time for Sacrament meeting. Takano had a great experience at church!

Erina- Olive Shimai, a recently returned sister missionary, jointed. It went well. Erina got really emotional during the closing prayer and couldn't say it. She didn't cry, but stumbled on words and got stuck and got some tears in her eyes. So, Green Shimai said it.

Also between those 3 lessons we visited the Yuasas. We talked to the mom. We are trying to get a good relationship with her. We also walked by a lady in the park who said "Mormons..." after we walked by. She is maybe 50 or 60. Her daughter is a member but it married and lives elsewhere. In the past she had had the missionaries over for dinner. She started to walk away when she could tell our conversation might lead to us meeting with her again.

Saturday- Met a 22 or so year old Mongolian lady. Later in the day an old grandpa pushing along his bike asked what country we were from, in Japanese. He was a Buddhist monk, and showed us a bald head by lifting up his hat. He said "I have been to your country 6 times" in English. One of those stays was for 9 months. He was missing most of his teeth in the front. He was very, very kind. We said we were missionaries and he started to end the conversation. I really respected the light he had in his eyes. You could tell he had led a great life.

We had a lesson with Shimizu san on Saturday. The Yamada's came. They are couple ages 31 and 33 or something. They both served a mission and have a 2 year old boy and a 3 month old baby. It was the dad's day off from work, but they came anyways. The dad took 3 of Shimizu''s 4 kids and 2 of his own and watched them in the other room. The baby stayed with SHimizu. It was still a slightly hectic lesson nevertheless because Shimizu's young boy would occsionally bart in. We shared the story of the Restoration. They'd talked about it in Sunday School and she had no idea what it was. Sister Yamada was really, really great. She exchanged numbers with Shimizu san and was a great friend and influence.

Saturday evening we had FHE at the church with some selected members of the ward. Beforehand we met with Rose, a Chinese lady perhaps around 30. We found her record in the former investigators section, but I don't think she knows we know she was a previous investigator. She met with us so we could correct her paper. It was in English (her English is perfect!). It was about water purification. It was one of those science papers where there is the abstract, intro, and whatever the else is. I forgot. Anyways, lots of scientific things with capital letters standing for long words. It really really really stretched our brains. We are going to finish correcting it either before or after eikaiwa.

FHE was great. We shared a lesson about showing love in the family. Rose stayed for FHE. I think she enjoyed it!
Sunday was super- I dunno if I have talked about her yet but there is an 81 year old woman in the ward who rides her bike to church. She was baptized in the last 2 years. She goes swimming every day. She is super great! After church we met with Sakiko. Sister Nushimuro, a return missionary who got home 2 weeks ago, jointed. She was a perfect fit for Sakiko. Sis. Nishimuro left early. After we talked about the Restoration we extended a baptismal commitment, and she said yes but said she needed more time when we got the planner out. She left the room hurriedly.

At 4:10 Yuko Shimazu shimai (the one going to the Perkins') drove us out to the Nishimuro's. They live in the foothills of the mountains, about 30 minutes away by car. The scenery was gorgeous. We passed over a river and we up into a valley. It was all green. We had dinner and shared a message at the Nishimuro's. In attendance were the dad and mom, daughter (recently returned from mission, age 23), daughter (27), daugher (19). Also in attendance were of course Yuko (18), Brother Suzuki (about 35 maybe) and another guy who is actually married but lost his job and is here doing something or other. I dunno. Anywho, my companion and I decided that Brother Suzuki and the 23-year old Nishimuro daughter should get married. The Nishimuro's have another daughter who is the bishop's wife and a son whom I have never met. They might also have another daughter but I don't think so. Their family reminds me of the family in Pride and Prejudice. We shared the samw message we shared at FHE and I got to play the piano after we ate dinner! I played one of those medley arrangement things.

Ok, I have about 10 minutes more to write....

Monday, yesterday- We were supposed to go out and visit Osada Shimai but she called the morning of and canceled. We were also tentatively meeting Mei in the evening but she canceled. So, we had a blank day except for at 3. At 3 we met two of the elders. They found two women housing the other day and wanted us to come back and meet them. The first, a Chinese woman, was not home. The second, a Phillipino, was not home but her friend was. The friend didn't have interest though. Anyways, we did a lot of housing yesterday but it was fun. We also visited a less active but found out via her sister that she married and moved away. This particular sister remembered going to church a long time ago, but didn't know anything about the church. She said she thought this moved away sister might be a member. My back started to hurt from the walking yesterday but I found if I lay on my back and put pressure on that ball in my back it helps and will usually get me through the day with no pain. Yesterday was a bit much standing though.

Anyways, I can't believe how much I wrote today. Whoa.

I love you so much!

Sister McMahan