82nd week in Japan
3/6/2017

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been a busy, crazy, and fun week! We have had multiple exchanges with Elders, interviews with President Welch, zone conference, and other fun meetings. I have never been more happy. It is funny how that works. The busier you are in the service of God, the happier you are. 

This week my love for the members has been increased so much. We learned a lot from President Welch at Zone Conference , and one thing that I felt like I want to improve on from the meeting was showing more love to the members. What I have discovered is that through showing more love to members, you feel more love from them as well. I feel that the same principle applies with us and our Father in Heaven. When we show love to God by keeping his commandments, in reverse effect we feel of God's love for us. 

For example, yesterday at church we studied about the word of wisdom. In Japan many people love to drink tea and coffee. During gospel principles one of the recent converts shared with us how stopping drinking coffee affected her life. It wasn't easy for her, but she showed her love to God by not drinking coffee anymore. Through doing so she was blessed with more energy. She felt God's love and the importance of keeping her body physically healthy because it was a gift from God. 

God loves each one of us. Have a great week everyone!

Ponderizing scripture: Mosiah 15:9

Questions:

How was your zone conference and interviews last week?

They were awesome! I learned a lot. My training wasn't that great, but I asked President Welch how I could improve and he gave me a few pointers.

How are your English classes going?  How are your investigators doing?

The English classes are fun. They have changed up a bit. We now share a spiritual message at the end and we teach a little differently. Our investigators are doing fairly well. Shirakawa san got in an accident recently, so it has been hard to meet with him. We have been trying to help him through some difficult times in his life.

What is something you like about Amagasaki?

I like that we are in the middle of everything. It is good to be in an urban area. 

 Do the kids there have any kind of spring break?  Is it starting to warm up yet?  When do the cherry blossoms come out?

They do have spring break at the end of March. It is warming up. The weather has been great the past few days. I think the cherry blossoms come out at the beginning of April.

 Is your bike still doing ok?  How about clothes and things?  Anything you need?

It is great. I have been cleaning it up and trying to take care of it so I can take it home. Clothes are also good. Elder Hanagan, who was my MTC zone leader, gave me a new suit that will fit me better.

Do you learn new things with the language every week?

Yes. I still have a looooong ways to go at the language.