I'm Still In Kurashiki

Transfers were last week, but I'm still in Kurashiki. Elder Daimler transferred to Yanai in Yamaguchi Prefecture. (They have a military base there, I'm jealous ;)  That transfer went by way too quickly. I had some very good times with Elder Daimler.

My new Companion is Elder Bronner from Kurichiba, Brazil (Parana State). He was in my Zone all throughout my Izumo experience, and was my District leader for my last two transfers there. So, it's not too weird. Elder Bronner is scheduled to finish the Mission in January. His Japanese and Kanji skills are amazing!

Yes, we have three Brazilian investigators, a Brazilian recent convert, and a couple of Brazilian less-active members so I am very happy that Elder Bronner is here. We had a really good lesson with Donna (one of our Brazilian investigators) on Wednesday. She's getting so close! And she called us yesterday to say that she had talked with her husband and told him EVERYTHING! She had to cancel our appointment for this Friday, but I am very optimistic about this!

Well, District Meeting last week was really cool. We held it outside at a Park by the Station. We had a very good discussion about the Book of Mormon, and Elder Packer (District Leader) shared Elder Holland's Talk from Conference (which I still haven't seen in English yet. . .). We each went out with a copy to try and use it in out Contacting. We had some really good conversations, including Tanaka-san (a 19 year old college student who I connected really well with). At the end, he didn't accept the book, but we left on very good terms! It was in Fukuyama City, so I might not see him again, but it helped my confidence a bit.

So, we met with the 64Cafe owner and his staff on Wednesday, and I taught them how to make apple crisp (actually using pear, because it tasted better with my recipe), but it was really fun. It was a first for me too! BAKING in a cafe! We're becoming pretty good friends. Now to extend the invitation!

We had the Ward Talent Show on Saturday. I performed the Ruaumoko Haka with Elder Bronner, and the Okayama Zone Leaders came down and performed it too. It was a cool experience, I'll try to send the video ;) I also played a song I wrote on the Piano a couple of years ago.

I've been working on waking up at 6:00 every day for extra Book of Mormon study, and it's helping a lot. I'm learning so much about the importance of planning and budgeting my time, and I give you my word that I will keep that going.

The church is true! I had a cool thought as I looked through some of the letters dad had sent to me earlier. "Have a wonderful week as you serve the King of Glory". Sometimes I kind of forget that fact. I'm not just here in Japan for some random reason. . . I'm here to serve the Lord, and I can receive his protection and help!

I love you so much,
Elder Peterson

Where Did The Week Go?

Kurashiki is WONDERFUL! Life in the city is great. However, on Wednesday, we went to Fukuyama city (in Hiroshima Prefecture) for District Meeting, then I stayed there for an exchange with Elder Packer from Layton, UT (he went to the same high school as Chris Escalante and knows his family, cool). Fukuyama was even bigger than Kurashiki, the city kept going. . .
Oh, I forgot to mention how fabulous the apartment is in Kurashiki. It's got two floors, a sofa . . . AND a massage chair! Wonderful! I've got so much space here compared to my last apartment!

Our investigators are doing pretty well. We met with our Brazilian investigators on Friday night. Bishop Yamada and his wife (Sis. Yamada happens to be Brazilian and fluent in English, Japanese, and Portuguese!) taught our recent convert while Elder Daimler and I ganbaru'd with Sis. Oliveira's friend and son (the son translated for us, BUT I got to recite the first vision in Portuguese, memorized it in Izumo!)

I get to meet our Chinese investigator tonight. He lives a few hours north, but he's coming into town to have dinner with us, and then attend a family's sports activity. This should be good. We're still trying to figure out if he's a member or not. I guess he remembers being baptized a while ago, and loves the church, reading the Book of Mormon, and keeps the commandments... but they can't find his record. We'll see.

Yesterday was one of the best experiences I have ever had. Stake conference. We took a two hour drive up north to Nimi for Stake Conference. It was at a performance hall. I got to be reunited with former companions (Elder Kajiuchi and Elder Atkin), and former ward members (the YSA from Izumo Branch). I got to see Umetani San and her daughter Haruna briefly, they had to leave quickly after, but wow, Umetani san was BEAMING! The Baptism will be on the 20th of September! I'm so excited for her. I finally have her address, so I can write to them! Kajiuchi choro let me know that Seki San (the protestant friend of our Brazillian member in Izumo) has started taking the lessons! I feel so blessed! He gave me a letter from my friend Lisa, where she talked a bit about the adversary trying to deceive us into thinking we're not working hard enough. The things that are happening in Izumo now made me feel that I really did do my part. It's all about the Lord's timeline, and I feel absolutely blessed!

I didn't understand everything that was said, but I loved being surrounded by so many of these wonderful people! I love Japan, I love the people! I want to get better at Japanese so that I can better communicate with them, and reach the hearts of more of these precious sons and daughters of God!　Life is great. Yes, there are still ups and downs, but we're overcoming the downs as they come.

Zone Conference is on Wednesday, and I'm excited! Every time I go with deep questions I need answered, and so far, they have been answered. This time, we'll see what happens!

Well, I love you all! I'm enjoying my stay here, and I'll try to get you some pictures soon. Ooh, I could use a little bottle of maple flavoring and that maple syrup recipe. I can get peanut butter here through the mission home, so you don't have to send any more of that. Thank you so much, you are so amazing! I really appreciate all your continued love and gifts and tastes of home. We made some bbq chicken sandwiches the other night. SO GOOD!

Praying for you, and loving you,
Elder Peterson