You gonna make biscuits?

Well this week was great! And also, Happy Easter! We did lots of fun things this week and had a good time. 

First off, we got to go the Honbu (mission home) FHE on Monday and that was way good! I had never been to a Honbu event before, so that was really fun. 

Then on Tuesday, we went to the mall for some good ol' Easter Egg Hunting. (We were trying to find stuff for decorating and also for hiding Easter Eggs on Saturday for the Easter Party.) While we were there we got to have some Burger King. That was way good. Also we didn't find the stuff for the eggs. (>_<)

On Wednesday, we got to have a lesson and then hang out with our friend Konal who is from Nepal. He is super cool and we always have a lot of fun. We went to the Tsurumai Park (which I was told has Pokemon Statues; it is a lie) and saw the Sakura there. (There will be pictures). Then we went with him to Paprika Banana and taught both of them (Konal and Kobayashi) one of the best words in English they could know.  Dope. (Video included). Then that night we had eikaiwa and it was really fun, there were a ton of people there, and we even had some newer people make it there. So we got to do our favorite, interviews. Yay. 

Then on Thursday, we had Zone Conference. And there was a miscommunication and the entire Yokkaichi Zone showed up and hour late. Yep. So that ended up being a little weird and it was a long day. Then we had a lot of appointments back to back, (luckily one of them didn't show up, because it made time easier). And we were just sitting down for a lesson when some people showed up for eikaiwa. So we did an impromptu eikaiwa and called our good friends in the Honbu to get them to change it from Thursday to Wednesday on the website. So that was super fun. Then we went out with Brother Itou (who we were supposed to have the lesson with) and we got Sushi. It was awesome. 

On Friday, we got to help Kobayashi with painting her banana mobile. It was super fun and surprisingly we didn't paint it yellow. We got the Nonami Elders to come and help us and it was a really good time. There will be pictures. 

Then on Saturday, we had our big party for Easter. It was really fun and we had a pretty good turnout. And we had way more than enough of the food. That was good. And we went with Nozomi (one of the young men) and we dendoed in the morning with him. It was great. He is a machine. It helps that he is literally one of the cutest little deacons on the planet, but a machine none the less. 

Then on Sunday, we found out that the Easter Party was a great success. There were 5 people that came out church because of the Easter party! It was great! And we got to celebrate Easter! So that was great. 

This week was pretty great. I hope that you also had a great week. And that you have a great week. And that you are great. Truly, I am great. You should be too. Great that is. Well that's great. Great. 

Elder Richardson the Great. 

FHE

 We found this at a Gazebo.

 Sakura with Konal.

 Sushi

 Brother Itou, me and Elder Jones

 The Bananamobile

 Easter party

 My Easter egg

 

Dope Video

 

 Playing after eikaiwa

Everyday I wake up...in a city that never sleeps

Well, this week was pretty great. We had a lot of fun and I learned a lot.  I came to the point this week where I have stopped caring. (Let me explain before you think I am saying I turned into a heartless monster). I stopped caring what other people are doing, I don't care what is a normal thing to do as a missionary, and I don't care if I seem strange to other people. I also started caring more this week. I only care about helping people. I only care about what I can do to help them progress eternally and help them return to their Heavenly Father. I just want people to use their agency in the right way so that they will be happy. Other than that, I do not care.

I also got this week what missionaries call "trunky papers." It is where you fill out some information so the Mission Office can get you settled and get your ticket and such to go home. Weird. I feel like I
have been here forever and now it is starting to end. Oh well.

Anyway on Monday, in Gokiso we have a tradition of visiting the Watanabe family for dinner. They are super funny and way fun to be with. They are also from Peru, so it is fun to practice my super
amazing Spanish. I am learning a lot. Other than that, it was just normal P-day stuff. We sat at the church and played some games, ate some food and that's about it.

Then on Tuesday, we had a good day for service. We went over in the morning with the other Elders in our area to a man named Dave's house and helped him move stuff around so that they could redo the wallpaper and also because he is moving to Thailand. He has a lot of really interesting stuff. And his house was pretty tall and spacious for Japan. So it was cool and he was really nice. Then that day we also got to change companions for a little bit. I got to work with Elder Yamazaki and that was fun. He had a few questions about being District Leader and just about other things so I got to train him instead of him training me (which is the normal thing). Well afterward he did give me some training, but we thought that it was funny.

Before telling about Wednesday, I need to go back and tell about something that I neglected to. Last week, we were walking to someone's house that is really close to our apartment. On the way back we
noticed a little shop that said it sells fried bananas and it is called Paprika Banana. There was only one person in there, so we weren't sure if it was really a shop, but we decided to go in and there is only one worker and she is really nice and the bananas (which are not really bananas) are good and they are also cheap. Well, that was last Saturday and since then, we have gone almost every day.

Anyway, on Wednesday, we went to Paprika as per usual. (We had also gone with the other Elders on Tuesday, but that is beside the point). There was this mosaic workshop thing going on, so it was really crowded in the shop. We went in anyway and it was super good. We got to invite everyone to eikaiwa, several of the people to the Easter Party we are having, and we were able to randomly start teaching one of the people there the Plan of Salvation. That was a pretty crazy day. #BananaPower Then we had eikaiwa that night and that was super fun! They don't usually play a game here though, so that was weird.

Then on Thursday, we went back to the Watanabe house and helped them build this thing that you put a TV on. It was like a little shelf thing. That was fun. Then we were randomly called to go teach another area's eikaiwa class that night. That was pretty...fun? Usually I like kids' eikaiwa, but when the kids don't want to be there, it just gets a little hectic.

On Friday, we had DTM and it was really good. We got to talk about aligning our desires with God's and using our desires to hasten the work of Salvation. It was a really good meeting; Elder Yamazaki is awesome. Then that night, we went to the Yuasa family and had a great FHE. They had us play this game that was hilarious (and there are videos) and it was a good time. Then we went and visited Brother Takimoto, and he had invited his friend and so we talked about the Book of Mormon and it was really good.

On Saturday, we got to watch General Conference. That was super awesome! I love being able to listen when the prophet speaks and hear direction that is specifically for this time. There were many talks this time that all worked together to give me a little reprimand, and (as you say in Japanese) they echoed in/to my heart.

On Sunday, we got to watch more conference!!! Literally this was one of the best weekends of my entire mission. Then we got to go and have a great FHE with the bishop and his family. They were so fun! Their two little girls are a little crazy though. I think that Elder Jones is still tired from playing with them. 笑

I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to share the gospel with all the people around me. The power of this calling amazes me every day and will continue to amaze me. I know that I am not perfect, and neither is anyone else, but there is a sure difference between those of us who are trying. I loved this quote from President Monson's talk in the Sunday Morning Session:

              "We live in a time of great trouble and wickedness. What will protect us from the sin and evil so prevalent in the world today? I maintain that a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His gospel will help see us through to safety. If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so. If you will read it prayerfully and with a sincere desire to know the truth, the Holy
Ghost will manifest its truth to you. If it is true--and I solemnly testify that it is--then Joseph Smith was a prophet who saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Because the Book of Mormon is true, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s Church on the earth, and the holy priesthood of God has been restored for the benefit and blessing of His children. If you do not have a firm testimony of these things, do that which is necessary to obtain one. It is essential for you to have your own testimony in these difficult times, for the testimonies of others will carry you only so far.
However, once obtained, a testimony needs to be kept vital and alive through continued obedience to the commandments of God and through daily prayer and scripture study."

I am so grateful for the opportunity that we all have to have such great access to those things that we can gain a firm testimony of the truth of the Lord. I hope that we all take advantage of that great
miracle. I know that if we do, the things around us will start to matter less and less and the things that really matter will shine forth from the darkness of the world. I know that these things are true from my heart. I bear witness as a representative of Christ and as His disciple. In His name, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Richardson

Paprika Banana

More Paprika Banana

And more!

How Japanese medicine describes what it does

DTM (District Training Meeting)

Yuasa FHE game

 

iida FHE

 

Beloved Elder Miranda

Out of the Frying Pan...and into Gokiso?

  So this week was super crazy. We did a lot of stuff. There was quite  a bit of weird stuff that happened too.

         Anyway, on Monday, we had our normal time of ping pong with Ichiro and that was fun. That night, we didn't get to do much, we had to send the records that we got from the previous Sister's area book and send those over to the current Sister Missionaries. That took about an hour and a half. And we didn't even finish it that day.

         Then on Tuesday, we had eikaiwa and that was really fun. We got to focus on reading for this lesson and so we got a lot of movie quotes that are hard to read (i.e. V for Vendetta) and helped them with the pronunciation and things like that. They seemed like they enjoyed it.

         On Wednesday, we had interviews with President Ishii. And also ZTM at the same time. It was great and I learned a lot. It was also fun to see some of the missionaries that I have known before and getting to talk to them. Also I passed the Ninja Challenge. (Where you have to memorize/be able to say phrases from this book that they give you in the MTC that everyone call the Ninja). Well we got home from that meeting and were just sitting down to plan what we should do and we got a call from the APs. And they told us exactly what we needed to do. They told us that I would be transferring the next day and so I need to pack my bags and get ready to go. So that happened.

         Then on Thursday, we spent the day getting ready to go, tried to still make as many of the appointments that we made last Sunday as we could, and then I left. I came to Gokiso, which is a very busy place in the center of Nagoya, and Elder Jones and I started off our companionship for the rest of this transfer.

         On Friday we started off a new partial transfer with some planning. It was really fun...especially since my iPad wouldn't sync and I didn't have any of the records for this area.

         On Saturday we started the day nice and early and had breakfast and a short message with Brother and Sister Kelly. It was really fun. And they got us McDonald's, so that was obviously really good. And they are such an awesome couple. They really want to help the missionaries and have a lot of good ideas. I had a good time, and had a good time speaking English. Then we went to try and visit some people that day and found this fried banana place that is really good (they aren't bananas though, just shaped like bananas; apparently it's a thing in Hokkaido #JapanSapporoMission). Then that night we had ping pong night. Some things just don't change. It was way fun and it was good to meet all of the members.

         Then on Sunday, of course, we had church. There are a lot of people in this ward. And it makes sense because recently the Gokiso Ward ate the Nonami Branch which was right next to it. We made a lot of appointments with people after church, then we went to see some of the Sakura that have started to bloom and stuff like that. Then we went and visited a member that night and talked with him, visited another member and invited him to come back to church and used an awesome lesson about circles that I learned in the MTC #ElderGraydonLivesOn and it was really good. When we were riding on the street, we met some cool people and one guy's name was Richard and he made the joke that I am his son, so that was funny. And we took a picture and were able to exchange numbers with him. He was pretty cool and he is from Nigeria. So that was fun.

         That's just about all that happened this week and hopefully nothing too crazy happens this week. I will keep you posted...next Monday of course.

Elder Richardson

Pictures
1-4Flower Watching
5) Richard

Predetermined Sentiment

        Well this week was pretty great. Living with another set of  missionaries is pretty interesting. We have a lot of fun. Sometimes it  is a good thing that we live on the ground floor and there is no one underneath us. (^^)

         Anyway on Monday, we had to pack. Because I transferred so far  away!!! Really we just had to make sure that the apartment was ready  to have the sisters move in. So we packed up and cleaned.

         Then on Tuesday, it was just a lot of making sure that everything was  ready. We cleaned more, were companions with Elder Kariya for a little  bit, then went and got Elder Greer, and got everything out of the  Sister's apartment. We also had one of our many eikaiwa classes that  night. It was pretty fun.

         On Wednesday, we had our normal run of eikaiwa classes and the  sisters finally came. And we have a beanchan!! I love having new  missionaries! It would have been more fun if we had a  beanchan in our  apartment, but this is good too. It was fun making her teach some of  eikaiwa that night. The look on her face when we asked her to do so  was priceless.

         Then on Thursday, we met with the Sisters and the other Elders and  had a planning meeting. Yay. And that night we got to go to  volleyball!  It was way fun.

         On Friday, we had our weekly planning and went shopping with the  other Elders for food. It was way cheap with four people! Then that  night we went to one of our service activities. We go to this free  cram school and help kids that have tough situations study for school.  I usually get to help them with math and writing in the Roman  alphabet. Sometimes, if I am lucky, I get to help the first graders  with Kanji. One time there was one that I didn't know though, so that  was a little embarrassing. Then we had ping pong night. That was fun.  Except one of the eikaiwa students is mad at me because on Tuesday we  played 20 questions and she had said that she hates it, and the reason  we played it was because someone else requested it and we thought that  since everyone is an adult at eikaiwa we could just play it.  Apparently we were wrong. She is really mad at me for that. It is  actually kind of funny. So she didn't come on Wednesday and then she came for ping pong on Friday, but she was super mad still. So it was funny playing ping pong that night.

         On Saturday, we got to go to the church and meet with all the ward  (pretty much) and Sister Bills came with her brother and sister in  law. It was really fun. She sang for everyone and it was a good time.  Then, that afternoon the Sisters had an appointment, but Sister  Swanberg (the beanchan) hadn't bought a bike yet so the borrowed my bike and we walked to a members house who recently hasn't been able to  come to church recently. Well, she wasn't there. (>_<) Then we went  housing! That was really nice! Because last transfer my companion didn't really want to do anything, so we didn't try to find anyone to  teach really. But this transfer we are going to go a lot. I decided.

         Then on Sunday we had church! And there was also a shokujikai and  that was way fun. Then we had a little time before a FHE that was at  the church. So I got to play Shogi with one of the YSA in the ward that we are working with and it was way fun. I only learned how to  play on Monday and I held him off for quite a while and we finally called it a truce. All of the members were amazed that I know how to play. It was way fun. Then we had the FHE and made takoyaki and then we had made an appointment to close to the end of it and had to leave early. But we went to the Hibino family and talked with them. It was super fun. And the son, Keita, served in Tokyo and knows my good buddy
Nic from High School! That was fun to see pictures of him and stuff.

         Well that is about it for this week. We are working, and it is great.  I enjoy that a lot. Also I learned a lot about pride this week and centering our thoughts in Christ and the salvation of others. I love this gospel and know that it is true. Sometimes life is hard, and sometimes stuff happens that we don't like, but the Lord has a plan for us and will make us fail. He is trying to help all of us to return
to Him and become who we need to become. He loves us, even if we fail.

        Have a fantastic week!

                Elder Richardson
 Pictures
1)Companionship Love
2)Seeing Sister Bills off
3-4)Takoyaki
5)Shogi (check out the speed of that move!)(^^)

Jennifer's the worst! Stop dating her!!!

Well, this week was transfer calls. Yep. However, to all things there is a season, so we will wait to tell you that one. This week was really good, it feels like we didn't really get that much done, but the things that we did get done were good.

        On Monday, as you already know, we had district activity. Yep, that was about it. And I finally got hair gel when we went shopping. So now I don't look like a slob.

        Then on Tuesday, we had our New Eikaiwa class (for the second time) and since the only people we have really been able to tell about it that are interested in English were the people that come to normal eikaiwa, they were the only ones that came. It is quite different than the other class though, so I think they liked it too. And at the end of this one, being a mission school program, we get to share a message at the end and we start and end with a prayer. So that was a little awkward the first time, but it will definitely be better as time goes on.

        Then on Wednesday, we had normal eikaiwa. It was pretty fun and it was funny seeing the same people two days in a row. And especially since we do self introductions every class, that was really funny to ask people's names and such.

        Then on Thursday, we had a koukan. This one was really interesting though. Because Elder Whited went all the way downstairs and Elder Kariya came upstairs. It was way fun though. Elder Kariya is a super missionary and he is super fun to talk to (especially because his English and my Japanese are on similar levels). So that was a way fun koukan. We got our apartment inspected, were taken out to lunch by a lady in the ward who wanted to give us a referral (the guy who owns the shop). Then we went and talked with a member who's Japanese is impossible (even Elder Kariya was struggling) and read and talked about the scriptures with him. It was super fun, because I like reading out loud in Japanese, and also because we got to talk about a topic that I usually don't get much practice on: Perdition and Outer Darkness! We talked about the story of Cain and Abel in the book of Moses. Also, that day was way fun because I was sick, and Elder Kariya was sick (and also has really bad hay fever). So we kept coughing and sneezing and could hardly get a sentence out. (^^)

        Then on Friday, we had DTM, and we did an activity where you draw all the people there. (Pics will be included). I looked like an alien. Or Gollum. Or apparently Rumplestiltskin. Everyone turned out beautiful. Then that night we had Ping Pong. And we took a video of our antics during our warmup before anyone came. So that will be included.

        On Saturday, the other Elders had two appointments at the same time and we were going to do our weekly planning, so we did a split and I got to go with Elder Otsu and meet an awesome friend of the other Elders. She was super funny and we had our amazing Ward Mission Leader, Yuichi Sama, and his wife and child there, so it was a super fun time. Unfortunately the girl is moving to Tokyo, so thats a bummer. The good news is that she really wants to be baptized and has a way strong testimony. It was really cool. And she caught Elder Otsu up on Attack on Titan and I learned what has happened the most recently without seeing the first season. *I know, I'm a sinner*

        Then on Sunday, we had church and then after that, we had organized to do mutual with the youth. It was way fun and so we are going to try and get mutual to be at least a monthly thing. And I made the famous Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe and all the people loved it. It was fun.

        Also on Friday night, we had our transfer calls come. We are both transferring! To downstairs. There are going to be sisters coming in and so we are getting kicked out of the sister apartment and are going to live with the other Elders. But Otsu is transferring (not that big of a shock) so our crew will be split up and Elder Greer, my companion from last transfer, is coming down from Nanao.

        Well thats about all for this week! I hope you have a great time! And Stuff!

Elder Richardson

 

Pictures

1) DTM terror
2-4) Eikaiwa

 

Video: Elder Kariya (right) and Otsu (left) acting out Yugioh for charades

 

Two Rounds of Taco Rice and the Plague

Well, if you cant tell by the title, we had an interesting week. And if you don't know what taco rice is, you may not have any experience with tacos, or rice, or Japan. 

Anyway, on that note let us begin. On Monday, we had quite the day full of playing ping pong whilst emailing, then going to the Taira family for an FHE that night, that was round 1 of taco rice. It was really good, and they are such a fun family. Their little baby had been sick for a little bit, but now he is back from the hospital and he is super genki! What a cute little guy. And they have two really cute little girls too. Such a fun little family. 

 

Then on Tuesday, we started (finally) our new eikaiwa program that focuses on the eiken (or English proficiency) test. So we decided to go and see if we could pass out some flyers beforehand to get some people to come. So we went to the place where all the cool kids hang out...McDonald's. Well, unfortunately that was a real dud. There was hardly anyone in the joint. And when we looked outside, it had started snowing. That may be the reason why there was no one there. That or maybe the fact that we also just learned, that it was just graduation. So the kids were probably there, just not at the normal time. You have failed me yet again McDonald's. 
 

On Wednesday, some of the members wanted to take us out to sushi. I think that I lost. Usually I am ok with most different kinds of sushi, so I like playing what we call "sushi-roulette" where you give each other a number and then you have to take that number when it comes around. (Ex. I give you 8, you take the eighth plate). Also I like taking the things that the members tell me to, because then I try things that I would never try otherwise. So the members were ordering us all sea urchin. And Elder Whited and I were playing the game. Right around the same time as the urchin came, he gave me a number and it turned out to be natto. Now I am not that big of a fan of natto sushi, but I can eat it. However, when it is paired with sea urchin, I almost died. At least there were plenty of other things that could kill the taste that had coated my entire mouth. I was extremely grateful for salmon and shrimp. All in all, it was a good time with Yamaguchi Shimai and Ono Kyodai. 
 

Then on Thursday, we woke up. And saw that it was 9:00. We must have slept through the alarm. Oops. Other than that, it was a good day. We made cookies and were going to give them out to members, but we started doing that kind of late and it ended up being too late to give them out really. So we ended up saving them for DTM the next day. 
 

On Friday, as stated, we had DTM.  It was pretty good. Then we had a pretty normal day.  Then on Saturday, we had an awesome day! We spent a little time in the apartment, but it was worth it! We made taco rice for the guy that we met the week earlier when we were walking around with Brother Matsuoka. We had promised him that we would get him some taco rice at some point, so we just decided it should be soon. We made it and it was super awesome. I will attach pictures because I am pretty proud of our handiwork. When we went over there, there were no lights on, except his headlights, and so we were a little worried that they wouldn't be home. When we went up and knocked, his wife came to the door and she was, a little expectedly, confused as we tried to explain why on earth there were two Americans with Mexican style food on her doorstep. She decided to go get him and he came out and was super surprised. Also, he was very grateful that we noticed that his car, Yusuke from this point, had its headlights on. And he checked to see if Yusuke was ok and if he could run. We ended up giving him the food and a family proclamation pamphlet and he was a little worried that he didn't have anything to give us. So he went in his house and then gave us choco pies. Which are a lot like moon pies. 
 

On Sunday, I woke up and found out that I have the plague. i just didn't feel good at all. I have since then developed a good ol' cough and probably a sinus infection, I think. Anyway, it was not fun. It still isn't. We had a good time at church, and then they had the seminary opening social and I was supposed to bear my testimony about seminary. I don't know if I really was the right person to talk about it because I always had it easy and got to do it during school. But I still know that it is definitely a great thing to do. It was way fun too. Then that night we went and visited the most awesome member ever. Patrick Kyodai! He is from Nigeria and is so converted. He said that he doesn't watch movies anymore because he cant feel the spirit as strongly if he does. So he watches different church videos and seminary visual resources for entertainment. 
 

Today, if you were wondering why I emailed so late, is because of district activity. We went and played basketball. It was pretty fun. And it was really fun to have lots of friends that I have known from various times and places on my mission. 

Well that is it. I hope you have a good week. And such. 

Elder Richardson 

District Activity

Funny Pic

Taco Rice

Picture from an eikaiwa student

With Patrick Kyodai

DTM 1

DTM 2

DTM 3

True Culture

 

Video of Sunday School (we talked about sins)

 

Breaking the Law of Chastity and saying Tabereru is like the same thing.

S othi swee kwa sinterestin. Gw edi dlot so fstuf. Fan di twen tb yreall yfas. T

        Anyway, we did do a lot of stuff and it did go by really fast, but I  don't know if you will find it that interesting. We shall see.

         Well to start off the week, we had Monday. Usual order of events thus  far, but once we get in the middle you might be interested as to how  things turned out. On said Monday, we were both sick. I was feeling  kind of ok (C) but Elder Whited was out of it. So we called and got  permission for him to rest. I ganbarued really hard and studied and  did all sorts of things, but still ended up falling asleep at my desk  as well. I didn't really want to, but you know how tiresome texting  the same 3 people and reading the scriptures can get for extended  periods of time. And so we slept and then we woke up and ate and then  in no time at all, it was bed time. That was fun.

         Then on Tuesday, Elder Whited was feeling well enough to go out and  so we did! And it was just a normal day. But then at night we had a  lesson with a kid who goes by Kevin. Unfortunately, he does not look  like a Kevin. Poor guy. (^^) He has really good English though, and he  almost got "How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could  chuck wood?"! It was really funny. He is really a good kid, but then  he doesn't really want to know if God is really there, he just thinks  that it is cool what we think about God. Interesting.

         Then next was Wednesday, the day that our schedule is always rather  full. We have set service appointment in the morning and then we have  kids eikaiwa and regular eikaiwa for essentially the rest of the day.  Always a good time though.

         After that Wednesday, we had our Friday. We got to go down to  Fukutoku and we had a zone conference. It was awesome. I got to see  lots of new people and a few that I knew. At the end there was a  portion that members were invited to and of all the members that came,  68.75% were from Ichinomiya. This ward is super awesome. (And yes we  counted and did the math). Then we went back to our respective areas  and had weekly planning. So essentially we had a few hours of Friday and then a few hours of Thursday with some train times in between.

         Then the next day was much like unto Tuesday. We went around and it  felt like Saturday, but everyone was still in School so it was a lot  more like Tuesday. At night we were a little busy because our member  asked us if he could change our appointment from 6 to 7 and we had to  negotiate with him and settled on 6:30. Well ping pong night starts at 7:30 and we created it, so we kind of have to b there. So we had the  other Elders set up and they were there at the beginning, we came a  little late and got to clean up. Also it worked because we have  different Schedules. We have a schedule choice where everything starts  half an hour later and end half an hour later. And because almost  everything that we have done in Ichinomiya (and really Japan for that  matter) has ended at nine. So this just gives us some extra time to  stay to the end of a thing and then go home. So that night was a  little rushed anyway.

         Then we finally had Saturday and things were back to normal. And our  Ward Mission Leader called and asked if he could come and dendo with  us. It was awesome. And we have this rule in Japan where elders can  only OYM males and so we don't talk to girls really, but he was like,  "I'm a member, not a missionary; I can do what I want." So he just  OYMed the girls and we OYMed the boys. It was great and we met some  really cool people. We met this old man who is 91 and he was still  just out in his garden tilling away. Crazy. He said that the secret to  life is to talk to people and to make sure to talk about what they  like and what you like. Then you will be happy and stay healthy
longer. And it has worked for him, so probably good advice. Also we  met this man who was just out having a smoke on his porch and he had a  pretty cool car, so we talked about that and, it turns out, Japanese  people don't give their cars nicknames. It was a good way to enter the  conversation and lighten up the mood though. Pretty fun. He said that  he works in Toyota and goes there everyday and comes home every night.   He was really cool. And he had interest in English and a motive to
come! He said that sometime, he wants to go work in Mississippi, why  Mississippi, I don't know, but that is where he wants to go. And he  asked to make sure if that was in America. (^^) Well it came up that I  used to work in a Mexican Restaurant and so Yuichi Kyodai volunteered  that we would make them Mexican style food. (Taco Rice) He said that  it would be ok if we came back and we found out that he has every Saturday and Sunday off. Crazy. After Yuichi had to go home. (So he  lives really far and he said that he couldn't use his car that day;  and when he said "I've gotta run" he literally ran down the street in  a suit and then still stopped to dendo a kid nad give him an eikaiwa  chirashi. Crazy man). Then that night we went and visited Brother  Patrick. He is from Nigeria and sometimes talks really fast and it is  hard to understand, but he is super chill. When we went he was reading
his scriptures and listening to hymns. And we didn't have an  appointment. We just kind of went. #突然 Well, we talked with him about  a lot of things and really got to know him. He is really funny. And he  studies the scriptures way hard. He said that next time we should make  an appointment so he can make us Nigerian food. *Victory Arm Pump* I  don't think that I have ever had goat meat before and he said that we  will have it. Cool.

         Then on Sunday, we had our usual hectic day after church of trying to  set up appointments with all the members and also trying to have  lessons with the ones that we set up last week. Also various members  wanted up to do other things like help them remember people that used  to be missionaries here so they could invite them to the Facebook  group that they newly made for the ward. Also to type in our parents  names so they can join the group as well. (Sorry for all the Japanese  on the page Mom(*^-^*)) and yeah it was a regular Sunday. We got out  of church around 4:30. It ends at 1:00. Good times, good times. Then  we had an appointment with Kevin and he forgotten it, so we ended up  watching the Face to Face event with Elder Holland and President  Eyering. It was good.

         Well thats about all we did this week. All in all, it was good. I  learned a lot this week. I especially learned at Zone Conference that  you don't fail from falling down. You fail from just lying there  afterward. Heavenly Father still loves us when we mess up and He wants  to help us get better. In the words of Elder Porter, "All throughout  the Scriptures, it talks about bringing to pass the joy of man, so it  is nowhere in God's plan to bring ourselves down. There's no room for  it." The Lord wants us to succeed. In Gospel Doctrine, President  Joseph F. Smith wrote, "Jesus had not finished his work when his body  was slain, neither did he finish it after his resurrection from the  dead; although he had accomplished the purpose for which he then came  to the earth, he had not fulfilled all his work. And when will he? Not  until he has redeemed and saved every son and daughter of our father  Adam that have been or ever will be born upon this earth to the end of  time, except the sons of perdition. That is his mission. We will not  finish our work until we have saved ourselves, and then not until we  shall have saved all depending upon us; for we are to become saviors  upon Mount Zion, as well as Christ. We are called to this mission."  What an awesome thing! The Savior surely isn't resting and neither can  we! Not for our own soul's salvation nor for that of others' souls! We  can always work to get better! We have the resources! (The scriptures:  ancient, old, and new). I am so grateful that we can improve all day  everyday! It is so great!

         You know what? Have a great week! You deserve it...probably.

                         Elder Richardson

Fotos!

1) 10:00 Pancakes!(because we felt like it)

2) Me and Brother Imai (from Gifu)

3) us and some of the members from Ichinomiya.
(And special guest star Sister Bills)

4) We took a picture of the Ward yesterday after church!