14th week in Japan
11/15/2015
Another Great Week!

Dear Family and Friends,

It has been another great week full of amazing experiences in Japan. I
just want to thank all of you for your emails and support. Thank you
for your prayers and love that you have shown me. It has truly
strengthened me over my time on my mission. I am grateful for the
chance that I have to write to you each week and to tell you about
what is going on here in Japan. This place is truly incredible, and I
continue to learn new things each and everyday. I have really learned
how much a mission can change someone. I have learned so many things
on my mission that I know by the end I will be a completely changed
person.

Last P day after emailing, Weakley choro and I went to a place called
Coco's curry. It was really good, and apparently they have some really
spicy curry there. They have a scale level from 1-10 and in order to
eat the hottest curry you have to eat a more mild one first. The food
was really good, but I didn't dare try anything too spicy haha. I have
really learned to like the food here in Japan. Yeah, we eat a lot of
rice, noodles, tofu, and other stuff, but it is really good. I like
being able to get used to their new food and culture. Like I have
talked about before there are so many unique things about the culture
in Japan. Sadly one of the things about Japanese culture is that
people really keep to themselves. As President Welch puts it, they
have a very big bubble around themselves, and it is hard to get past
it. As missionaries that is one of the things that we have to do is
break that barrier and help them be more open to new ideas. I have
really learned to be able to do that a lot easier over my time here,
and it all starts with just loving the people.

Weakley choro and I experienced a huge miracle on Tuesday last week.
We went streeting and were talking to people around the train station.
As we were walking around an lady that we met on the street about a
month back walked right up to us and asked if we remembered her. At
first I didn't recognize her, but after she started speaking English
to us, I knew exactly who she was. She told us that she wanted to know
who God is, she wants to learn more about Jesus Christ, and that she
wanted to come to church on Sunday. I couldn't believe it! Nobody does
that in Japan, especially because that is just not the culture. It was
truly a tender mercy from our Heavenly Father that we were gifted with
that experience.

Later in the week I went on an exchange with Parkin choro in Tsuyama.
I was there one time during my first transfer, so it was sooo good to
be able to go back and see that place. I really love it there! We had
a fun exchange and did some service in the morning for an older lady.
We also visited an member who was an investigator that I taught the
first time that I went there, but got baptized a little later. It was
really cool to see how she had changed. After that lesson we were
invited to a party with a Pilipino family that are members. We had a
lot of fun talking to them. It is really cool because all of them knew
4 different languages. They speak to each other in their original
language, but if they can't understand each other (because the dialect
is different everywhere in the country,) then they speak in Tagolic.
If they still can't understand each other after that, they speak to
each other in English. It was crazy and a lot of fun visiting with
them. They are the nicest people ever! It was a fun week full of great
experiences.

My ponderizing scripture for this past week was Mark 27:10. I have
learned that with the help of God all things are possible. Last week I
challenged everyone to be a light and an example for others. We were
able to share President Monson's talk for our home teaching this week
with some members also. The gospel really is true! Other people need
the light of the gospel in their lives. I really hope that you were
able to be an example and a light for others in your lives.

Questions:

1. In all honesty I actually haven't seen any kendamas here. That kind of
surprises me, but Weakley choro said that he has seen some here and
there. I bet the Japanese people are pretty good at them though.

2. They do have some games that are pretty unique in Japan. I saw some kids get
out these little top things and battle each other with them. I have
also seen a lot of card games and video games all over the place.

3. Yeah my companion is a pretty good cook, but we make really simple stuff. I guess he
likes to make mabodofu and french toast. Just the simple stuff.

4. Yes we get to meet with President Welch every now and then. We also have
interviews with him on Thursday this week. We also send a weekly email
to him every p day.

Thank you everyone for all your emails of support. I love you all and
pray for you always,

Hirschi 長老