でも本当だ！光陰矢の如し！Time is flying so fast. Every time somebody asks me how long I've been a missionary and I tell them, "About two years." It never fails to leave me a little bit shocked.
On the topic of the people I've grown to love here in Japan, whom I would go so far as to call family, yesterday in Deacons I told Yusuke that in order to not only keep up my Japanese up after I go back to the states, but to improve it, I'm gonna ask a couple of the best friends I've made on my mission if we can do a skype call for just 20 minutes once every 2 weeks or so, so that I have someone to talk to every day. I also said, "I'll never forget you guys, but this will help!" He just looked so astonished and said、「すごい。もちろん！/sugoi... mochiron!」(Wow... ok!) then his dad said,「そうなら、絶対忘れないでしょう。/sounara, zettai wasurenai deshou.」(If you do that, you really will never forget about us!) Since then, the rest of the day he kinda followed me around! Haha, it was the best. But honestly, that's exactly right, mom. I miss you tons, but I know I'll miss them too. Japan feels like my second home, the members here like family. President and Sister Nakagawa, their kids, Bu, brother and sister kumagai, brother Tsuchida, EVERYBODY ELSE! I don't wanna leave! I swear I'll come back to Japan a lot. Maybe to live... for a little bit at least... ;)
Dad actually sent the letter to me, haha, and it made me feel way good inside :) President Nagano is such a good man.
Yeah, I continue to have the best experiences of my life each and every day in Sanjo! I feel like so much has happened and yet I'm not sure what to tell you this week. I might keep this week's letter a touch shorter because we went on a hike that took a little bit of email time ;)
All of our investigators are doing well. Top dawgs are Okamura san, Takahashi, brother Hoshino, and......... *drum role*.......... Asako.
Okamura: He's doing way well! Was able to meet on Saturday, we had a great lesson about tithing. When we bore our testimonies and then asked, "What do you think?" He replied almost casually, "その通りですね。sono toori desu ne" (I think that's exactly right.) It was wonderful. Talked again about his baptism (which was planned for that day... oops.) and he recommited to meet more because he wants to get baptized as soon as possible. He said, "Whenever you have time, let's do it." Haha, we explained that he needs a little more preperation, but brother kumagai said, "Get him to come over to my house for dinner!" So we've got lots of ward support. He should be baptized by July 1st, I'm confident.
Takashi: A name that's been in our area book record the whole time I've been here, yet has been impossible to meet. He randomly came to church, and then by some miracle we ran into each other again the other day and he's been texting us ever since! He knew elder Ulrich last time he was in Sanjo! SUGOI NE! He's awesome, we're just starting to meet with him. Pray for him please!
Hoshino Kyoudai: Slowly but surely making progress.
Asako Shimai: On sunday the sisters were sick and so we taught her, and it was way way good. She's been talking about getting baptized on the 1st as well for several weeks now (specifically before I leave), and still has the struggles with her mom. I sat down and said, "Asako, I've met with you here in Sanjo longer than any other missionary. And we've become good friends, right? Well, I don't want to talk as a missionary to an investigator. I want to talk as a friend to a friend. Do you even want to get baptized? I'm not even gonna tell you to, I just want to hear your honest feelings, and your honest roadblocks." And she opened up a lot. Suffice it to say, there's a...64% (roughly) chance that she will be baptized before I leave. Please pray for her.
Awww, Hudson is so darn cute! 笑笑 So are the girlies!!!! I've missed them so bad you don't even know! I've had a picture Lylah drew 2 years ago hanging up on my desk my whole mission! I'm so glad life is good for everyone :)
I'm savoring every minute of it right now. I love life. I've never been happier in my life!
I loved that talk that you quoted in your letter! President Nelson has become one of my favorite apostles since I was in the MTC. Haha, I actually have a lot of those now... But his talks always feel so applicable to right now, and a focus on the little things that make the biggest impact. I've learned that two of the most important attributes we can build, perhaps, are hope and patience. Hope that the future is bright and that God is in control. That hope, takes away fear completely! And then patience for that day in which you're hoping for. Most blessings in life take lots of time.
A scripture that I really love is Alma 4:15: "And now it came to pass that Alma, having seen the afflictions of the humble followers of God, and the persecution which were heaped upon them by the remainder of his people, and seeing all their inequality, began to be very sorrowful; nevertheless the spirit of the Lord did not fail him.
Just like President Nelson said! We just have to reach up to get the help, because the spirit of the Lord won't fail us, even in parlous times! I've seen terrible affliction and hardships as a missionary that probably would have scarred me for life as a kid. But while we mourn with those who mourn, and even when we're saddened by the world around us, we'll also find that the Lord is mourning with and supporting us and that he will never fail us. That's where the hope comes from. Hope in a brighter future makes the brighter future a possibility. And then a reality.
I wish that all young missionaries understood that just having hope in Christ will help them get through anything on a mission and lead them to see miracles!
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!! And I miss you lots. :) Take care and stay genki!!
Yours truly,
Elder Stout :D
🇺🇸 • 🇯🇵
スタウト長老 ^o^
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