Why is the time always gone.
Here's a story:
The morning of the split, I was filling my bag with dendo (missionary) supplies, and as I put in my kubareru(able to be passed out) Book of Mormon, I noticed that (even though it was in a case) that it had gotten pretty beaten up from being in my bag so long. I pondered for a moment.
'I can't give out this Book of Mormon. It looks pretty trashed.' I reached for a new one and realized I had a problem.
'If I just put a new one in, eventually it'll get beat up as well.' I've got to pass it out today.
I was playing my guitar and singing while Cox Choro (elder) was passing out Eikaiwa (english class) Flyers- when I noticed three high school girls at the other end of the Eki (train station). I felt an impression that one of them was the ones that needed the book.
"Cox Choro, It's been too long since I've passed out a Book of Mormon. They need this book."
So we talked with them. I used one of my favorite analogies:
"Companies, in their constant consideration of the customer, have given us manuals to solve any problems that occur with their product. If you car or phone breaks, you can look up a solution in the manual." Slight Pause. "What if I told you that there was a manual for life?" Pause. "-A manual that could solve all of life's problems. Would you like to read that book?"
... One girl replied "No," her friend agreed. ... "Really?" I asked. Cox Choro tried to back me up, but to no avail.
I asked them what they desired most in life, in hopes that one of them would say something that the Gospel could offer.
I was a little disappointed with the first response. "I want to be a witch!"
The third girl, who up to that point had been sitting quietly responded "I want eternal happiness."
I testified to her that she could get it though the principals taught in this book.
We told them it was free, but they won't take it. I felt like one of them needed it, so I was bold- "Okay, no one will take it. I want you to have it. So I'm just going to put it here." I set in next to the eternal happiness hoshishiteru (the girl who wanted eternal happiness) girl. And then we walked away. We went back a little later, and they had taken the book. Feeling the dendo fire, Cox Choro pulled out his Book of Mormon, which was far more beat up than the one I had taken out of my bag that morning- we gave it to a skater kid after starting a good conversation with him.
'I can't give out this Book of Mormon. It looks pretty trashed.' I reached for a new one and realized I had a problem.
'If I just put a new one in, eventually it'll get beat up as well.' I've got to pass it out today.
I was playing my guitar and singing while Cox Choro (elder) was passing out Eikaiwa (english class) Flyers- when I noticed three high school girls at the other end of the Eki (train station). I felt an impression that one of them was the ones that needed the book.
"Cox Choro, It's been too long since I've passed out a Book of Mormon. They need this book."
So we talked with them. I used one of my favorite analogies:
"Companies, in their constant consideration of the customer, have given us manuals to solve any problems that occur with their product. If you car or phone breaks, you can look up a solution in the manual." Slight Pause. "What if I told you that there was a manual for life?" Pause. "-A manual that could solve all of life's problems. Would you like to read that book?"
... One girl replied "No," her friend agreed. ... "Really?" I asked. Cox Choro tried to back me up, but to no avail.
I asked them what they desired most in life, in hopes that one of them would say something that the Gospel could offer.
I was a little disappointed with the first response. "I want to be a witch!"
The third girl, who up to that point had been sitting quietly responded "I want eternal happiness."
I testified to her that she could get it though the principals taught in this book.
We told them it was free, but they won't take it. I felt like one of them needed it, so I was bold- "Okay, no one will take it. I want you to have it. So I'm just going to put it here." I set in next to the eternal happiness hoshishiteru (the girl who wanted eternal happiness) girl. And then we walked away. We went back a little later, and they had taken the book. Feeling the dendo fire, Cox Choro pulled out his Book of Mormon, which was far more beat up than the one I had taken out of my bag that morning- we gave it to a skater kid after starting a good conversation with him.
Alright, here's some clarification on the story. - now the Japanese words... I'm sorry. The way I made some of my sentences was pretty Japanese, so I had to use Japanese words to make it fit with the grammar. I'll translate. Okay, hopefully that makes since. In Japanese, there are no words like that, which and who.
The girl that wanted eternal happiness.
The way we say it in Japanese is:
The eternal happiness wanting girl.
Like adjectives you the words before describe the girl. It's a pretty simple concept, but it takes some time to get used to. (years.... :( )
I'll expound on the skater kids.
It's not against the rules to skateboard... (really it's not)
Cox Choro and I were looking for someone to give the Book of Mormon to, and we saw a girl, but when we were almost to her, she whipped out her phone and started talking... Awkward.... I saw some guys at the Eki just messing around on skateboards- "Let's give it to them."
"okay.."
So I walked up to their leader. "Hey! I'm from America. Will you teach me how to skateboard?"
He without looking (cause he was texting,) kicked his friends skateboard to me.
Then sat up and started teach me.
It was pretty much the same as a longboard so I shot off, and everyone started freaking out. Next he tried to teach me how to jump, which wasn't as easy. I've just got to practice a bit more.
He asked why I was here, and I told him that I was spreading happiness and teaching people about who God is. I pulled out Cox Choro's book and told him to read it and I'd change his life.
He laughed bowed super low, and took the book. saying "I humbly partake"
Then he shot off on his board.
Hopefully he reads it.
We had to cancel an appoint that I'd make with Redman, cause we had to give a sister's father( who is confined to the hospital) a blessing. The normal thing to do is a situation like this is to just call the investigator up and reschedule- but Redman has no phone.
We called up Kamiyo-kyodai, (the oldest member in the area and friend of RedMan) and asked him if he had an address for him. He said "no," and "even if you have an address it won't do you any good. His house is a gomiyashiki. [lit. Trash Mansion]. He's too embarrassed to come out.)
We searched our area book and found an address and headed out. We climbed the biggest mountain in all of Iwaki (kamoshiranai- probably- again the grammar) and found it jammed in the middle of a Japanese subburb.
It was easy to locate.
We knocked.
Nothing.
We knocked.
Nothing.
I wrote him a note letting him know.
Then we checked the tennis courts. Yappari he was at the tennis courts. (I can't translate it, ask for help)
He invited us to play tennis today, so we're going to play tennis with him today. (that was an ill constructed sentence.)
Had interviews with the President.
I wrote down some of the big questions that I'd had.
(What is the definition of a good missionary? What makes a good leader?)
I got some answers.
My definitions are not perfect yet. I think I'll write a book about them when I finally get them down.
Yokoyama-san hasn't been meeting with us. he's "too busy". which might actually be true. We has a lesson appointment for Wednesday.
The branch is good. I meeting with the Branch President and the Branch Mission Leader tomorrow so we can correlate our dendo visions. They've both got a kind of... 'I'm not to sure what's going on, so anything is good' kind of feel. So hopefully we can get some things worked out. Pray for my Japanese.
I love you all. If you've got any questions let me know.
Elder Tyson Clark Wheelwright
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