Week 11: Week 2 in the real field

Hey,

So this week was really interesting. I experienced my first typhoon over in Okinawa. It was a super typhoon and really strong. We got called off for proselyting and were told to stay inside, so we literally just did phone “Dendo” (Missionary work). It's much more weirder than it sounds. We go over old files (they're like 6 or 7 years old) and call people on these pages to see if their phone numbers still exist, and we just talk on the phone. I think 98% of the people I called had the excuse that they couldn't talk and/or they didn't have any time since there was a typhoon going on outside. I was like "What??? Isn't the typhoon outside?" But, It's all good. Planting seeds in peoples hearts one step at a time. When we biked to church on Sunday, we even saw this tree that was maybe 2 feet in diameter snapped in half from the typhoon. Elder Uhlig and I were like " Whoa!!!!" I got my bike last week and got my basket, finally, this week. The thing is that it's only been a week, but because of the typhoon, my bike has started to rust. It's a brand new bike as well... This'll be a problem. It's supposed to last me for 2 years!!!

I went on splits this week as well, and it went super well. We saw so many miracles. I was paired up with Elder Howell, and we gave out like 4 Book of Mormons together. On Tuesday, at like 7:30PM, Elder Howell and I were praying at a top of an apartment building that we just climbed, and I got an impression to go down to a park that was in our sight (Maybe like a block away), and talk to these 3 men that were about in there 30's. We followed the prompting and walked down the apartment building's stairs and quickened our step to get to this little canopy. We talked to the 3 men. The two men to our right weren't that interested, but the one man on our left was sitting quietly listening. The man in the middle (on the right) was telling us that he had no interest in religion since he is a Buddhist. We went through our introduction of us and the church. We kind of felt pushed away by the man in the middle so we handed the two others flyers (the one in the middle wouldn't accept it), and we went on our way. We thought the person on the left was the person we were supposed to talk to, but as we walked back to the apartment we were going to Dendo, we saw a high school aged boy who was walking by us. So, I started off a conversation with him as well. We asked him where he was going - he said "home". I asked where he came from - he said "a school club." I asked "What club?" - he said "Track and field. " I then told him how Elder Howell likes running and did so in high school as well. The high schooler was a 100m runner and Elder Howell was a 1600m runner. Then we talked more and more, and he asked why we were here. I explained that we are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He hadn't heard of us, but was interested and so we taught him a lesson on the Church, what we believe; how God is our Loving Heavenly Father; what the Book of Mormon is; how in the book of mormon, this prophet named Nephi was a young man who was able to strengthen his family by following the word of God; how if we follow his teachings, we will be blessed; and how we communicate with our Heavenly Father and can one day, after we die, return to live with him again. It was such a great lesson. I then gave him the Book of Mormon, and said that it was free and that he should read it-- he accepted it. Then we taught him to pray and did so with him-- he liked that. And finally, we also gave him a pamphlet for the Plan of Salvation; how we can gain eternal life and one day, become perfect; even as Jesus Christ and Heavenly father are. We knew that he was the reason we were prompted to go down and talk in the park. I'm so glad I listen to the spirit on my mission because without it, I wouldn't know what to do, what to teach, or how to help people in Japan. The Holy Ghost is the reason I can do any of this. The faith that I have is tested every day, but because of the trial, then comes the faith, as said in Ether 12:6 (my favorite scripture). Faith isn't to have a perfect knowledge of things. Faith is things that are hoped for and not seen. I love that this mission will make me such a good and hard worker as I follow and obey what's been asked of me. If I try my hardest, my hard work will pay off... It's easy as that.

Now the Heartache. On Monday night, Elder Uhlig and I found this man named Taira. He is a really nice dude, accepted our Book of Mormon, and invited us over for a follow up lesson (it was yesterday). We went to meet up with him and as we were about to start our lesson, he stopped us. He went inside of his house, and brought out the Book of Mormon we gave him, and said he wasn't interested anymore. He said it was "pretty much the same as the Bible so why have it?" We tried to explain the importance of the Book of Mormon and how it fixes the missing pieces that aren't mentioned in the Bible. But he wouldn't believe it for himself. And knowing how people have their agency and choice, we took the book and left. It just broke my heart because I KNOW that this book is truth and shows the missing pieces. I know that it would bless his life so much. I know people can gain peace and happiness through it. It's sad to see that those you know will benefit from this message, look at it, and give it back.

Now for an uplifting note …. So I'm 1/2 Japanese and American but apparently I look like a super foreigner to people over here. So, I showed some people a picture of my mom, but they're like: "you sure she's Japanese?" I was like.. "yes!" J Apparently I look like Mario but with my height people were more like "He's more like a Luigi!!" So that'll probably be my costume for a Halloween Get-together we're putting together in our church building. It'll be so Fun!

The EFY medley we sung went really well, and I know that the church members loved it.

Last thing, I love my mom's cookbook. I've used it almost every day and the food is so good! I'm grateful for that!

Miss you all,

Elder Jacob Wilson