2017 05 28 Big Long Email

Hello Everyone! Today was an eventful week and it was a blast.

Monday (月 Getsu 曜日yobi):

Just a normal day. Me and Elder Yagame taught a lesson to Hidemichi and it was way cool, we just read through the BOM and talked about it with him. Afterwards we pulled weeds in front of the church in an effort to help.

after lesson with Hidemichi

Tuesday (火 Moku 曜日yobi):

Today we traveled down south to Kagoshima city for a 面接 (mensetsu - interview) with president and sister Egan. It was way cool to be able to talk to them. We got back in time to eat dinner and go to eikaiwa (English conversation class). Eikaiwa was cool because a lot of people came, including one investigator and a LA (Less Active member).

Wednesday (水 Sui 曜日yobi):

We had a lesson in the afternoon with Akami and we didn't get to teach it because he talked, A TON, about a lot of random things and it went on forever. After that lesson, we had another lesson with Miki and it was cool but, it too went a little bit long. Then we taught the plan of salvation to Hasegawa, (we JUST met her on Sunday), and she was way cool but, I don't know how solid she will be as an investigator. Then we had a 食事 (shokuji - meal) at the Aoki's' house for Elder Chadwick's birthday and Madoka was there so we were able to share a little message with her.

Dinner at the Aoki’s

Thursday (木 Moku 曜日yobi):

We spent most of the day on our weekly planning. We also had a short lesson with Miki about prayer and then went back to weekly planning. Eikaiwa (English conversation class) was 普通 (futsu - normal), sadly nothing special.

elder Williams thought my companion looked like the joker

So I became the Batman

Friday (金 Kin 曜日yobi):

巡回 (junkai - patrol / splits) and I was with Elder Yagame. WAY fun day! We taught kid's Eikaiwa (English conversation class) and were able to set 3 RAs (Return Appointments) and that was a cool miracle! We were also able to visit a LA (Less Active) that they had been working with and share a short message.

Saturday (土 do 曜日yobi):

I finally got a haircut cut!!!! It took forever though. Then we played some way fun basketball and went to go visit our RAs (Return Appointments) but they sadly weren't home.

Sunday (日 nichi 曜日yobi):

Today was a pretty normal church day. One cool thing that happened was the LA (Less Active) that came to Eikaiwa (English conversation class) came to church and also the daughter of a LA (Less Active) also came too, it was way cool. I also am now teaching kid's Eikaiwa (English conversation class) before church and it's a blast! After church we tried to visit with the Okada family but they could meet because the mom wasn't feeling well. The rest of the evening was spent 伝道ing (Dendo - tracking). Me and Elder Chadwick had an interesting talk and I would like to request the help of all y'all in finding talks about overcoming complacency.

Now what you've really been waiting for, pictures 1 after lesson with Hidemichi 2 食事 at the Aoki's 3,4,5 why not? Also, elder Williams thought my companion looked like the joker Videos 1 at the 食事 2 hehehehe

Iron man

2017 05 21 The Worst Way To Start An Email....

Hello Everyone! So this week while riding my bike... more on that later. This week was WAY cool and a ton of stuff happened.

Monday (月 Getsu 曜日yobi):

We were late getting out the door today and we had no solid plan for the day, SOOOO we just went out and ended up having some WAY cool 伝道 (Dendo - tracking).

Tuesday (火 Moku 曜日yobi):

Went to Taniyama for district meeting. The meeting topic was ways to have more meaningful prayers. While we were there we made a video for Egan 会長's (Choro - Elder) Birthday. We also got back JUST in time for Eikaiwa (English conversation class).

Taniyama is down south of SatsumaSendai near MinamiSatsuma

Wednesday (水 Sui 曜日yobi):

Today we found an investigator that hadn't been visited for about a year and set up a RA (return appointment) with her! We also went to teach a lesson to Mikiさん (san - “Mr.” / “Mrs”) but, her son was sick so we couldn't meet. We ended up talking to a guy that I had found last transfer and set up a RA (return appointment) with him and we're going to be teaching him soon. Then we taught Madoka in the evening and it was a way great lesson.

Thursday (木 Moku 曜日yobi):

Today we went to a RA (return appointment) but wasn't able to talk and they didn't really seem to have interest. On the way back I realized how bad my brakes were because I crashed and got pretty scraped up. Taught Eikaiwa (English conversation class), sadly not mainly people were there.

It’s really just a scratch

The adventure continues

Friday (金 Kin 曜日yobi):

Friday, we talked to some way cool people and it was a really great day. We also went up to a daigakku (college) and it was a steep up-hill ride. I realized exactly HOW steep it was when my bike's derailleur broke and broke my chain too. Miracle is we still got home on time. You may be asking yourself “How did you get home on time with a broken chain?” Well, we took my chain off and I held onto Elder Chadwick's basket as he peddled us home. It was actually pretty fun, but won't do that again!

Saturday (土 do 曜日yobi):

I had to walk my bike to the bike shop to get it fixed and he got it done a lot faster than we expected. We played basketball with a high school team, it was a ton of fun.

Sunday (日 nichi 曜日yobi):

Today we had a broadcast that Elder Oaks and Elder Gong spoke at and it was way cool. While we were out 伝道-ing (Dendo - tracking) I met the coolest lady. We were able to set up a RA (return appointment) and she told me that I would probably marry a Japanese lady and that was a good thing because half-Japanese kids are absolutely adorable! It was a fun week. I have gotten a little hurt but I am okay and it's healing well

we ran out of food Sunday so, this was what we ate

*NOTE from Dad…

When I saw the above picture I asked Spence if he had made some sort of pancake stew! It looks like there are that carrots in the syrup. He replied that it IS a Pancake, but they had added “Mabu Dofu” to it. And what exactly IS Mabu Dofu? Well, Mapo Doufu or Mapo TOFU is a popular Chinese dish that consists of tofu set in a spicy sauce, with minced meat, usually pork or beef. Yup, that’s gross.

And lastly, Spence said that he had walked out of the room and left his iPad with my companion. When He got back he found the video below. Looking good Elder Chadwick!

2017 05 14 Mother's Day

Konichiwa! Well, this has been a pretty cool week, been able to see some cool miracles and its been way fun.

Monday (月 Getsu 曜日yobi):

Fun P-day but, the bikes were shipped today so, we didn't have a way to get around. So, we got a arranged for a ride from a member. When we got to her home she wasn't there so we talked with her son for a little bit and then the member totally went off on him about some random thing. I honestly felt a bit bad for her son. #awkward

Elder Chadwick being Cinderella

Tuesday (火 Moku 曜日yobi):

Another fun day lots of 伝道 (Dendo - tracking).

Me and Elder Osborne (from my “Bean” area) *note from dad - “Green Bean” = fresh NEW missionary

Wednesday (水 Sui 曜日yobi):

New investigator today!!!! We went through my planner from last transfer and decided to visit some people. So, we picked someone named Miki and went to visit. She wasn't home so we went 伝道Ing (Dendo - tracking) around and came back later and she was there! We talked and shared the “Because of Him” video and she said herself said she felt something. So we made a return appointment and it was way cool.

Thursday (木 Moku 曜日yobi):

Thursday, in Kagoshima for ZTM (Zone Training Meeting) and that was way cool. One complaint, it was hot and humid and we had to climb a hill to get to the church but, it was fun.

Friday (金 Kin 曜日yobi):

Another lesson with Mikiさん (san - Mr. / Mrs.) ! And we met her one year old son and it was raining pretty hard so, not our best lesson but it wasn't super bad. Then we had a surprise 食事 (shokuji - meal) with the Aoki's and their friend Madokaさん (san - Mr. / Mrs.) and it was way cool and she became a new investigator, WHOOOPieeeeee!

The Zone

Saturday (土 do 曜日yobi):

Basketball!! We found a group of 4 kids playing basketball and we joined in and it was way fun.

Sunday (日 nichi 曜日yobi):

Sunday, normal day but after church we were waiting for the Branch president because we were going to visit some LA (Less Active members). So, the 3 grandchildren attacked me AGAIN! After that, we visited some LA (Less Active members) and it was way cool to visit with them. We had a RA (Return Appointment) in the afternoon but we were a bit late so we didn't get to meet with him long but he was cool. It's been a fun week. We are working hard to see Baptisms this transfer, pray for us missionaries!! We need all the help we can get!

Note from Dad
Here's a video of our chat with Spencer on Mother's Day!

2017 05 07 Hey, It's a New Transfer!

Konichiwa! I have survived another transfer, one down and another year and a half ぐらい (gurai - approximately) left. It's been a way fun transfer so far and it's going to be HECK-a fun.

Tuesday (火 Moku 曜日yobi):

YEP, I'm staying but Sendai is going be a 4-man town. So 1 elder leaves and 3 new elders are coming in! FUN!

awesome 名刺 (meishi - business card) I drew

Yagame長老, comps for a day

Wednesday (水 Sui 曜日yobi):

Today was all packing but we had a party at the Aoki's house and it was way good.

Thursday (木 Moku 曜日yobi):

I was in Kagoshima most of the day waiting for Yagame 長老 (Choro - elder) to come. He is part of the other companionship and I almost missed my train because we didn't know where he was. I went down to the platform and he was just chillin’ there, so that was a relief. Then the evening was heck-a stressful! So, I got a call from the branch president saying the other 2 Elder didn't show up. It turned out that they were running a bit late, so they decided to stay at the Zone Leader’s apartment. Then I got a call from a pay phone, for Voorhees asking me to get a hold of the Kure elders because NO ONE was there to pick HIM up! I acted as a middle-man between him and the Kure elders. I hate transfers. :S

I think I'd make a good clock model

me, Elder Chadwick and Hedamichi (a LA we taught)

Friday (金 Kin 曜日yobi):

Elder Williams and My new companion Elder Chadwick came.

I'm Batman

Saturday (土 do 曜日yobi):

Saturday, while 伝道した (Dendo shita - tracking (past tense)) we ran into some JWs and we had a cool talk with them and we had way fun game night. We just went around to different parks and “balled up” (basketball contacting), WAY fun!

Sunday (日 nichi 曜日yobi):

Today was a normal fast Sunday, but afterward I got MUGGED! (by three granddaughters of a member) The mugging resulted in the theft of my mintias (Japanese candy mints). Then we talked to Aoki会長 (Choro - elder) about some of the contacts in our area book and had a freaking fantastic 食事 (shokuji - meal) at their house. We also talked to some way cool people during 伝道 (Dendo - tracking).

we got a freak ton of bananas! Weekly planning got a little.......boring

Update from Dad…

I reported to Spencer that we did a dinner experiment the other night and that we tried eating fondue. When I asked if he’d had any interesting dinner experiences lately he responded that he’s been eating pretty normal and that it's been pretty good quality. So far, probably the weirdest is that Spence has eaten is Okonomiyaki. Which is a kind of Japanese pancake containing a variety of ingredients. The name comes from the word “okonomi”, meaning "how you like" and yaki meaning "grill".

After learning about this new food trial we asked if Spence had started to make his own meals or if he was still having his companion do the cooking. He reported that he IS learning some new cooking skills, but that it’s mostly his companion doing the cooking.