Well, adventures being in the form of lessons and/or meetings with our potential investigators from different countries. . . We met again with Armando from Brazil a couple of times this week (his wife Genesi had to leave back to Brazil a few weeks ago, I think I mentioned the farewell party). It's amazing, even though there is definitely a language barrier, we've built a really good relationship with him. Elder Kajiuchi is studying Portuguese every day, and thanks to Brother Junior and our friend Brother Oda from Matsue (a Japanese man who speaks Portuguese), we should be able to teach him again some time soon. Our meeting with him and Brother Oda a few weeks ago was really good. I think he's going through some pain (from being so far away from his wife among other things) that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can heal.
We had a lesson on Thursday with our Mongolian investigator (Gana-san). We taught her and her daughter about the Plan of Salvation... using a Doraemon teaching aid (Doraemon: a pretty popular cartoon character around these parts).
We've been waking up early a lot recently; my time spent in the Book of Mormon actually hadn't been very high, so I've started a program to wake up early, read the Book of Mormon for half an hour, then exercise and follow the schedule. I need that. I've been noticing different things than what I've learned in times past. Right now I'm in Alma 18, and learning a lot from Ammon's example. Ooh, and Friday on the train to Zone Meeting last week as I read the account of Alma and Amulek, I was able to visualize it vividly in a new way. It was almost like watching a movie in my mind, with the evil Nehor-esque judge persecuting and beating the two missionaries, "What say ye for yourselves!?" Picturing the children and wives of the faithful being martyred in the fire, while Alma and Amulek watched in pain. Zeezrom's heart becoming softened, he tries to plead for them, is cast out. I've read the Book of Mormon maybe 4 times, and I didn't notice this part at all. But now, things are sticking out.
I made what was supposed to be a Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Marble cake this week (for Zone Meeting), but it would probably be better as a plain pb/choc. chip cake. But hey, I didn't follow a recipe and it actually turned out pretty yummy! Made brownies too. It's amazing, you can actually use the Hot Chocolate powder here as a substitution for regular cocoa. The Japanese people don't use nearly as much sugar as Americans do, so the Hot cocoa powder works great for baking! They turned out pretty good. I'll make them for you when I get back.
Oh boy. . . You have no idea how excited I am for the Barbeque Sauce. I have absolutely no idea who that "Sweet Baby Ray" character is, but I can't wait! Barbeque Pizza, here I come!
We're still meeting with Umetani-san frequently, and she comes to Church almost every weeks. She's been 9 times so far!!! She's still progressing, and wants to be baptized! We're still praying and fasting for her husband's permission. I think it might just be an issue of timing.
I'm starting to conquer my fear of talking with people! Lately, I've been stopping a fair number of people as we travel to and from our appointments by bicycle. I'm still a little nervous, but it's just a numbers game. The more people I stop, the more natural it will feel. The trick really is about focusing on them and what they need or are interested in!
Oh Sister Molnar sent me a CD from the Ward's Patriotic Program in July. Getting to hear Jay and Jordan speak was awesome. Oh, and the Sharon 3rd Ward Choir! Music to my ears!
Oh hey, mom, can you send me a recipe for that divine banana cake that you make every once in a while. It's the kind with the pretty decadent frosting. . . Our oven is pretty small here, so I might need the recipe halved or something, but I'm sure I can do the math!
Showing posts with label Gana San. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gana San. Show all posts
Monday, August 24, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Poptarts and BBQ Sauce!
(Not together, of course. Just craving Both!)
Dear Family,
We went and played Volleyball for a while with some Brazillian friends of Matsue's Ward Mission Leader (Brother Oda, he's constantly helping us out; he has a lot of connections in Izumo). I'm terrible at volleyball, but it was fun and a good workout. One of the players even recognized us from having seen us on the streets. It was a good chance to make some friends. Hopefully we'll bump into them again. One of them was named Paul as well, and he lived in the states for quite a few years. It was a nice English interlude ;)
This week was exciting! Once again, we took the bus to Okayama. Elder Atkin seems to be doing really well. He and his companion, Elder Matsuoka are the Okayama Zone leaders, and they have a lot going on right now, very busy, waking up early almost every day.
I learned some important concepts at this conference, one of which is a "40 Day fast" from behaviors that detract from the spirit. Pres. Isa shared a story (originally shared by Elder Holland?) about the Process of Purification. So, Elder Kajiuchi and I started our 40-day fasts after we got back from the conference. Please pray for us. I'm starting to notice a few differences already. We keep having random encounters and experiences that I think are connected to the fast. Investigators who have had trouble meeting with us or coming to church have recently accepted invitations to meet with us (at a party, but still!) and came to church (this week, only one came, but it was great. Gana san, our Mongolian investigator!)
On the flip-side, I had my first real encounter with persecution. I mean, compared to other places, it's probably not that big of a deal, but it made me very thankful to be in Japan, where I don't have to deal with it very much. We were housing yesterday with some members. A woman came around the corner as we were waiting by a door that we had just barely rung. Elder Kajiuchi called over a hello, and "Nice weather, eh?". She came over to us, looking a bit annoyed. "Jehova's Witnesses?" We responded with "No, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints". I tried to follow what the woman said next, but couldn't really understand. She started walking back to where her apartment was. I got a little prompting to tell her about a party we're having on Thursday. Kajiuchi choro gave me a "What on EARTH are you doing" look. . . The woman interrupted me by yelling a swear word and storming into her apartment. She did not look very happy. I mean, I got pretty used to people swearing at me during training, but in Izumo where most people give the very polite "No thank you, Otsukare Sama Desu" treatment, it was a little surprising. Oh well, I got over it. I figure that compared to being held at gun point, stabbed, and/or constantly persecuted as in other areas of the world, I actually have it pretty good.
Friday we biked all the way out to the Hinomisaki Shrine. You should have some pictures, it was the same day Atkin Choro and I went to the Light house. Back then, we couldn't enter the shrine. . . We were supposed to meet an investigator at a festival there. While waiting, we found out that the inner-shrine only opens up one day a year, at a certain time only, and we were there at the right time. So we went in, were given these little, white cloth aprons to put around our necks, were "purified" by one of the [priests?], and then got to walk around. It was pretty cool, and there appeared to be some Mosaic similarities (kind of Tabernacle-esque).
Wow, that bike ride was long and tough, but it was worth it.
So yesterday, we spent some time at the Hamamura household. A less active member and her non-member friend were coming - we helped to prepare a picnic meal to eat while watching the Firework display. I learned how to make Onigiri (balls or triangles of rice). I'm not very good, but it was fun!
Brother Hamamura (our Branch Mission Leader) showed us some pictures from his mission. His scrapbooks had Contact Cards in it too. Darin Palmer (formerly in the 1st ward?) served in his mission (Japan Sendai) around the same time (1985)! He was my scout master back in the day, and I was friends with his son Mitchell! If you see him or happen to get in touch, please say hello. Kazuhiko Hamamura is the mission leader's name. Bro. Palmer might not remember, because they weren't companions, but the did exchange cards.
I want you to know that I'm doing great. Elder Kajiuchi and I have been doing great since we got back from the conference. I think this fast is changing things. Sure, the hard times of missionary work will come and go, but for the time being, we don't seem to really get angry at each other.
Well, tell everyone I love them,
Mata ne
Elder Peterson
ピ－ターソン
Dear Family,
We went and played Volleyball for a while with some Brazillian friends of Matsue's Ward Mission Leader (Brother Oda, he's constantly helping us out; he has a lot of connections in Izumo). I'm terrible at volleyball, but it was fun and a good workout. One of the players even recognized us from having seen us on the streets. It was a good chance to make some friends. Hopefully we'll bump into them again. One of them was named Paul as well, and he lived in the states for quite a few years. It was a nice English interlude ;)
This week was exciting! Once again, we took the bus to Okayama. Elder Atkin seems to be doing really well. He and his companion, Elder Matsuoka are the Okayama Zone leaders, and they have a lot going on right now, very busy, waking up early almost every day.
I learned some important concepts at this conference, one of which is a "40 Day fast" from behaviors that detract from the spirit. Pres. Isa shared a story (originally shared by Elder Holland?) about the Process of Purification. So, Elder Kajiuchi and I started our 40-day fasts after we got back from the conference. Please pray for us. I'm starting to notice a few differences already. We keep having random encounters and experiences that I think are connected to the fast. Investigators who have had trouble meeting with us or coming to church have recently accepted invitations to meet with us (at a party, but still!) and came to church (this week, only one came, but it was great. Gana san, our Mongolian investigator!)
On the flip-side, I had my first real encounter with persecution. I mean, compared to other places, it's probably not that big of a deal, but it made me very thankful to be in Japan, where I don't have to deal with it very much. We were housing yesterday with some members. A woman came around the corner as we were waiting by a door that we had just barely rung. Elder Kajiuchi called over a hello, and "Nice weather, eh?". She came over to us, looking a bit annoyed. "Jehova's Witnesses?" We responded with "No, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints". I tried to follow what the woman said next, but couldn't really understand. She started walking back to where her apartment was. I got a little prompting to tell her about a party we're having on Thursday. Kajiuchi choro gave me a "What on EARTH are you doing" look. . . The woman interrupted me by yelling a swear word and storming into her apartment. She did not look very happy. I mean, I got pretty used to people swearing at me during training, but in Izumo where most people give the very polite "No thank you, Otsukare Sama Desu" treatment, it was a little surprising. Oh well, I got over it. I figure that compared to being held at gun point, stabbed, and/or constantly persecuted as in other areas of the world, I actually have it pretty good.
Friday we biked all the way out to the Hinomisaki Shrine. You should have some pictures, it was the same day Atkin Choro and I went to the Light house. Back then, we couldn't enter the shrine. . . We were supposed to meet an investigator at a festival there. While waiting, we found out that the inner-shrine only opens up one day a year, at a certain time only, and we were there at the right time. So we went in, were given these little, white cloth aprons to put around our necks, were "purified" by one of the [priests?], and then got to walk around. It was pretty cool, and there appeared to be some Mosaic similarities (kind of Tabernacle-esque).
Wow, that bike ride was long and tough, but it was worth it.
So yesterday, we spent some time at the Hamamura household. A less active member and her non-member friend were coming - we helped to prepare a picnic meal to eat while watching the Firework display. I learned how to make Onigiri (balls or triangles of rice). I'm not very good, but it was fun!
Brother Hamamura (our Branch Mission Leader) showed us some pictures from his mission. His scrapbooks had Contact Cards in it too. Darin Palmer (formerly in the 1st ward?) served in his mission (Japan Sendai) around the same time (1985)! He was my scout master back in the day, and I was friends with his son Mitchell! If you see him or happen to get in touch, please say hello. Kazuhiko Hamamura is the mission leader's name. Bro. Palmer might not remember, because they weren't companions, but the did exchange cards.
I want you to know that I'm doing great. Elder Kajiuchi and I have been doing great since we got back from the conference. I think this fast is changing things. Sure, the hard times of missionary work will come and go, but for the time being, we don't seem to really get angry at each other.
Well, tell everyone I love them,
Mata ne
Elder Peterson
ピ－ターソン
Monday, June 15, 2009
New Comp; into 3rd transfer
Wow, my second transfer is officially over! I am no longer a "bean chan" (well, technically I'd say I still am, but according to the mission norm, I guess I'm not.)
Last week we had two lessons on the day before transfers after we received our call from Isa Kaicho. First we met with Gana San and Branch President Yamane at the Church. Gana San is our Potential Investigator from Mongolia. The lesson went really well and she really wants to come to church. She wasn't able to make it yesterday, but we're going to offer the help of some church members to provide rides for her and her children. We've spoken with her husband over the phone a little bit, and I detect absolutely no opposition from him. It appears that they're both from a Christian background. I'm excited to see where this goes.
UMETANI SAN! She came to Church with Haruna Chan! I wasn't sure if she was going to come because she had been trying to gain the courage to talk with her husband about this religious stuff. But, sure enough, she asked him and he easily said it was okay for her to come to church! Now we'll have to see about whether or not he'll give her permission to be baptized, but then again, maybe Mr. Umetani will be willing to start meeting with us as well.
Wednesday, after our second lesson (with Yoshioka san) Yamane Kaicho drove us by the Umetani residence for Atkin Choro to say goodbye. Haruna-chan was so sad. It was heartbreaking; Atkin Choro was a really good big-brother figure for her. Umetani san herself even shed a few tears while they waved as we drove away. It's hard, but they're doing okay now.
Kajiuchi Choro is awesome! He's a very patient, open, enthusiastic companion. He really wants to learn English and has been working hard on it thus far over the year he's been on the mission. Wow, he even PRAYS in English every once in a while. This is so cool!
I still think it's amazing that I have my second Japanese companion already, but that's okay. I want to learn a lot from him, not only missionarily, but with Japanese and cooking too! Sugoi!
Our lesson with Umetani san on Friday morning went really well. We had prepared to teach her about the law of tithing (complete with the giving-of-cookies-and-requesting-10%-back example [thank you peanut butter chocolate chip truffles!]) but, as missionary work usually goes, you make your plan and then something else happens. She wanted to hear some scriptures that could help her find courage. So we talked and shared scriptures. Little by little, I'm understanding more and more... Not quite there yet, but I think it's close! I hope!
We did a bit of Area Book Dendo; we have a LOT of former investigator records, and many without any reason for why the person was dropped. So, we're going to be working with it a lot... Oh, and after Kajiuchi choro tried to call one to no avail, the person called back, and we have an appointment with him this Saturday at the church! AMAZING!
Question: when a recipe calls for one packet of yeast, approximately how many tablespoons is that? It works a bit different here in Japan -- no packets, just big amounts.
Ooh, while waiting for Kajiuchi choro, I warmed up the oven again and made an Apple pie!! Atkin Choro's recipe was a bit Japanese-itized, sweet but not too sweet. But wow, following the recipe from the old Okayama Mission cookbook, it's like American apple pie! And I made it without help! Ooh, then I did peanut butter truffles again. . . ;)
By the way, next time I send home a memory card, you'll be able to see my video tour of the apartment, complete with a showcase of my Apple pie. . . Tee hee. . .
I will email you next week! I'm getting over a bit of a cold, but I'm doing great!
Last week we had two lessons on the day before transfers after we received our call from Isa Kaicho. First we met with Gana San and Branch President Yamane at the Church. Gana San is our Potential Investigator from Mongolia. The lesson went really well and she really wants to come to church. She wasn't able to make it yesterday, but we're going to offer the help of some church members to provide rides for her and her children. We've spoken with her husband over the phone a little bit, and I detect absolutely no opposition from him. It appears that they're both from a Christian background. I'm excited to see where this goes.
UMETANI SAN! She came to Church with Haruna Chan! I wasn't sure if she was going to come because she had been trying to gain the courage to talk with her husband about this religious stuff. But, sure enough, she asked him and he easily said it was okay for her to come to church! Now we'll have to see about whether or not he'll give her permission to be baptized, but then again, maybe Mr. Umetani will be willing to start meeting with us as well.
Wednesday, after our second lesson (with Yoshioka san) Yamane Kaicho drove us by the Umetani residence for Atkin Choro to say goodbye. Haruna-chan was so sad. It was heartbreaking; Atkin Choro was a really good big-brother figure for her. Umetani san herself even shed a few tears while they waved as we drove away. It's hard, but they're doing okay now.
Kajiuchi Choro is awesome! He's a very patient, open, enthusiastic companion. He really wants to learn English and has been working hard on it thus far over the year he's been on the mission. Wow, he even PRAYS in English every once in a while. This is so cool!
I still think it's amazing that I have my second Japanese companion already, but that's okay. I want to learn a lot from him, not only missionarily, but with Japanese and cooking too! Sugoi!
Our lesson with Umetani san on Friday morning went really well. We had prepared to teach her about the law of tithing (complete with the giving-of-cookies-and-requesting-10%-back example [thank you peanut butter chocolate chip truffles!]) but, as missionary work usually goes, you make your plan and then something else happens. She wanted to hear some scriptures that could help her find courage. So we talked and shared scriptures. Little by little, I'm understanding more and more... Not quite there yet, but I think it's close! I hope!
We did a bit of Area Book Dendo; we have a LOT of former investigator records, and many without any reason for why the person was dropped. So, we're going to be working with it a lot... Oh, and after Kajiuchi choro tried to call one to no avail, the person called back, and we have an appointment with him this Saturday at the church! AMAZING!
Question: when a recipe calls for one packet of yeast, approximately how many tablespoons is that? It works a bit different here in Japan -- no packets, just big amounts.
Ooh, while waiting for Kajiuchi choro, I warmed up the oven again and made an Apple pie!! Atkin Choro's recipe was a bit Japanese-itized, sweet but not too sweet. But wow, following the recipe from the old Okayama Mission cookbook, it's like American apple pie! And I made it without help! Ooh, then I did peanut butter truffles again. . . ;)
By the way, next time I send home a memory card, you'll be able to see my video tour of the apartment, complete with a showcase of my Apple pie. . . Tee hee. . .
I will email you next week! I'm getting over a bit of a cold, but I'm doing great!
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