We had a much better week here in Koshigaya. I think getting rid of and dropping more people who aren't ready to progress made room for some very sweet blessings from the Lord. It sucks dropping people, and I honestly feel like my mission has consisted of finding people, and then dropping them. I don't like it one bit, but we always seem to end up hitting walls with people. The hardest was Fujieda. He's a super nice college kid my age, and is so polite he keeps some commitments, but has no desire to change. He has a testimony, but is too scared to act so he comes up with excuses not to act. Anyway we dropped him and several others.
We were blessed for our actions on Tuesday last week. We found one young man job-searching who met missionaries before studying in America for a year who agreed to meet with us again. His name is Ryouta. We then found an old man named Saito who wanted to learn more, and then that afternoon we ran into one very special young man. Most teenagers here are wampaku (rebellious--wild) just like all teenagers everywhere, but this kid was very different. His name is Ikeda San and one of the first things we got out of him was that he believed in Christ. He went to a Christian kindergarten and elementary school and would attend church on days he didn't need to because he liked it so much. We asked if we could talk more and teach him and he pointed to McDonald's and said, "How about now?" We were so pumped! We went there and went through a new pamphlet on our iPads that explains all we do as missionaries, and he accepted all of it. There is a section that talks about how missionaries are regular people with weaknesses, which he liked, and he shared some weaknesses from his own life. We were able to teach from the Book of Mormon, give it to him, commit him to reading it, and set a next appointment. Such a special kid. Only sixteen years old.
The next time we met him we went to a nearby park and taught the restoration. We didn't teach very well, but he seemed to understand really well what we were saying. He said he didn't need to pray about it because he didn't think we would lie to him hahaha, but we had him pray right then and there after explaining the purpose and doctrine behind it. He said he felt like he was being moved by something he couldn't see or feel while praying. We then committed him to being baptizing as he came to know the truth and he accepted. We set the next appointment and said goodbye till Tuesday. He needs prayers from all of you.
Thursday we had a lesson with Shouda and actually had Nagano Shimai, the mission mom, attend the lesson with us. Let me tell you THAT was humbling. She came in and within five minutes exposed several issues that we hadn't seen or been aware of with Shouda's desire and testimony. She took over almost the whole lesson and we were just fine to let her. What an incredibly powerful woman. I feel so blessed to have the mission presidency I do. Shouda was pushed very hard by her, but he needs it. He got accepted to go do volunteer work for ten months in Thailand teaching Japanese so he will be leaving the country soon anyway. We aren't afraid of pushing him and he needs it to grow. Too many eternal investigators are kept in the same spot because missionaries are afraid of pushing them a little.
Unfortunately we are back in the hospital today. Banks Choro has had a really bad ingrown hair or something for three days and it is enormous. Disgusting really... I'd send a picture, but I don't want you to have nightmares. We think it is actually staff because there are some other small bumps rising up on his skin. I'm sick of hospitals... and Japanese hospitals a sketchy. The equipment is so outdated and I guess Monday is a day off for hospitals here..so we couldn't find one that would take him. And it wasn't even an emergency! Pray for him! Luckily we still have a great time together and I am so blessed to have him as a companion!
Love you all and hope you have a great week. Please please pray for the district. We meet with people and find new people, but we can't seem to find people ready and willing to be baptized. We need your prayers more than ever. The youth both inside and outside of the church here are really struggling and it is sad to see. But, having a blast! Also! Good news! I saw one of my kohai from the MTC the other day and he said I grew!! That was the third person to tell me that, so it's confirmed--I'm getting bigger....
Elder Viehweg
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