Date
June 9, 2019
Area
Joyo
Companion
Elder Caiani
This is a weekly email
In case you weren't sure, this is a weekly email. I'm writing this with the intention of updating you an another week here in Japan. It was just a pretty usual week for me, but maybe it seems unusual to you. But, here it is.
So, we had a lesson this week with a new investigator. We set some good expectations and he showed some really good interest. We asked him if we could share the message of the Restoration and he wanted to hear it. All good signs!! But then, out of nowhere, he started giggling while I was testifying about the first vision. I kind of ignored it, but it just got louder and louder. By the time I had Moroni 10:5 open he was actually laughing, so I stopped and asked him what was so funny. He just laughed for another 10 seconds, looked at us, and then started giggling again. It was way awkward, but I literally just death stared him for a solid minute or two until he finally stopped. I tried to ask him again, but when I would ask he would start up again. So, I just finished the lesson early, set up another time to meet, and committed him to pray about what we taught. We have another lesson with him this coming week, so I'm excited for that?
Since I'm a zone leader now, I went to MLC on Wednesday with my zone leader companion, Elder Bayless. It was pretty cool. I was kinda expecting it to be an open discussion the whole time, which of course people could comment whenever, but it was more like trainings for mission leadership. President Smoot talked about this really cool principle of obedience and sacrifice where as we sacrifice more to become more obedient the Lord gives us more power as missionaries. By looking at the Savior himself, he sacrificed his whole will to further the work of the Father, which by so doing gave him power to accomplish the Atonement, a sacrifice no other person could ever make. I've got some things I'm continuing to work on sacrificing and of course they are small things, but small and simple things can bring to pass great miracles.
Speaking of some miracles from this week, we worked way hard to find new investigators. I was talking to everybody and passing out as many Book of Mormons as I could carry. But, we just weren't finding anybody. We were placing Book of Mormons and getting good contacts, but nobody would give us their contact information or set up another appointment. I was getting pretty frustrated with it by Sunday night, and just about hit my limits after getting told to go back to America by some less active punk that the ward council told us to visit.
We still had about 2 hours to find in the night and I was not looking forward to it. I said a prayer while biking to where we were going to find and expressed all my feelings to Heavenly Father. I prayed that through talking to people that night, I would be able to feel joy. I didn't care if we continued to get rejected, but I just wanted to not be angry with our circumstances. That night we were able to place 2 Book of Mormons to 2 different college-age guys. They both gave us their contact information and both said they would like to meet again. We have started to chat online with them and I hope we can continue working with them. I'm thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who provided that miracle.
Here is the scripture of the week: Ether 12:12
12 For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.
This scripture got brought up in MLC and then I shared it with a bunch of members and returning members this week. It's a pretty simple principle but a hard one to put into practice. Faith requires action and it's often that action that you know you should do, but is uncomfortable or inconvenient that renders the miracles. As a missionary, I have been placed in a number of situations and scenarios that really stressed me out or put me way past my comfort zone, but it's those moments that I was able to recognize the Lord's help the most. God will help us in our righteous desires and will convert our weaknesses to strengths. I know this to be true and I invite you to come to know it's truth too. I hope you have a wonderful week!!!
Elder Myers
Pic.1 It was raining like crazy on Friday
Pic.2 The Kojima's with Elder Keys and Elder Caiani. I was at MLC, so we had them go this past week.
Sorry, I will try to get some more pictures for next week.