It's All Good!

This week has been so wonderful. Not the least of which was getting to watch General Conference yesterday and the day before in English! I hope you paid special attention to Elder Holland's talk on the Savior and His atonement, what a power house. Oh and Dad, President Uchtdorf's and President Eyring's talks from the Priesthood Session were my favorites. I felt as if they were directed at me.

So this week has been filled with a lot of bugs in my eye, brought on by the recent increase in temperature. Along with the bugs, the local politicians got out and about, broadcasting their positions over loud speakers as they drove around town. Really, it was quite funny. I've never seen or heard anything like it in Utah. I don't mean this in a negative way at all. I love Japan! The loud speakers did kind of remind me of Big Brother (from the book Nineteen Eighty-Four) though. Heh. . . And in some of the Politician Pictures the candidates had a fist along with their face, "determined" or something. I love it! I love these people! I love being in Japan! And when that adversary with his myriad of sinner's tricks tries to fool me into focusing on "burnt-out light bulbs" or think that I'm not good enough to be here, I just say a prayer, look around and remember where I am, and why I'm here.

Miracles. So remember how I wanted to start talking to more people? Well, Tuesday I set a goal. I had just been passing by a lot of people, so I decided to try and stop just two people who would have been difficult to try and talk to. So I did it, and no, they didn't talk to us. But then we found Tony - yes, it was in the night, and might be seen as unconnected, but I think it might be because I started making more of an effort. Tony is from China, here at the local Shimane University working on some doctorate research. He speaks English really well, and just about as much Japanese as I do, so we talked in English. Looks like he remembers some missionaries from about two years before. He was really friendly, and seemed to be interested in what we had to say. He said they had given him a book, but he couldn't find it. So we went last night to give him a new copy of the book of Mormon. . . And it looks like he's moving. . . BUT! The good new is, that it's only about 30 minutes away by bike. And, he seemed interested in coming to church! So who knows!

The next day I upped my goal to six people. Then BOOM. That night we were housing and spoke with Mr. Miura, a former investigator from six years ago. He had taken the discussions, loved the missionaries and ward parties, but upon being challenged to be baptized, stopped meeting with them for some reason. He was really nice, so we're going to try to meet with him some more. We went back to try and visit with him last night but he wasn't home. His wife came out, but didn't roll back the door (sliding doors in Japan by the way, usually). "Who is it?" Elder Kobayashi started to say, "We're Missionaries from the Church. . ." She responded with "Ii desu," which literally means "I'm good," but which can be translated to mean, "I'm not interested, please go away." So. .. we don't really know how this is all going to work out, but it will.

I fought a little bit with despair. Satan would love for me to give in to despair, but I won't. I know that if we do the best we can, the Lord will provide a way. These precious people will be able to come unto the Savior, if they are ready, and if they want to.

Tomorrow, we're taking a four-hour bus ride to Okayama for a Zone Conference on Wednesday. I'm excited, I love the meetings here! And I love President Isa. Every time I meet with him, he prays with such power. He prays in Japanese, so I can't always understand what he's saying, but he's always filled with the spirit and love for me and for this work.

I was having a problem with my debit card. . . hah. . . turns out the only problem was that I was inserting the card in upside down, because that's the way you do it in most machines. A big panic for nothing. . . . Heh, it's all good!

Oh, family, can you snail mail me some info about George Albert Smith? Some stories? Knowing some stories about ancestors is a big deal here. Ooh, and sometime in the future, send some taco seasoning packets?

Till next week, I hope you all have a wonderful time enjoying the spring that has sprung upon us (at least in Izumo anyway).