Elder Travis John Bloomfield in Fukuoka, Japan: 10 November 2013

Oh heeroooo! This week was a fun week. Lets start with the good news first. Sho came to church yesterday! He ganbarued too. His first experience of church and it was about an 11 hour day by the time we got back to Saijo with the trains and such and we had a meal at a members house after church but they conveniently planned it for 2 and a half hours after church so those of us who don't actually live in Hiroshima (Sho and the missionaries) had to just wait at the church the entire time until the Shokuji (dinner). He enjoyed it though. We had a lesson with him about tithing, watched a couple bible videos and Mormon Messages, then went to the Shokuji. He is progressing well and if we can resolve his concern that God is our ONLY God, then I am confident he can be baptized by his date. Because he struggles with God being the only God, he will sometimes judge the character of God, (like when people in the scriptures are punished or tested by God), he thinks that if our God is like that, he wants a different God that is only nice all of the time and such. Ha ha it's pretty difficult to help him to understand everything God does is for our benefit because he loves us, but that is something to work on. He talked about next time he comes to church he wants to see the font so it is good to know he is taking this step in his life seriously.

We met with Gary this week and were able to create a baptismal goal for him (conveniently be set for December 29th - some birthday present that could be ehh?). He told us he is afraid of not reaching the goal again and disappointing us and himself, so we helped explain that when we set goals God can help us work toward it. Please pray that his wife will have a change of heart soon and allow him to come to church. We are planning activities to help her have fun with members but we will need the prayers.

We also met with the Tongas a couple of times this week and are helping the kids to know how to receive answers from Heavenly Father. so that is fun. I love that family they are always so great.

Umm what else happened this week? Oh yes, Azumi sadly has returned to Saga with her family :/ We met with her quite a bit this week for many of the AB lessons but she is nervous about the change with her family and her family not allowing her to go to church because they want her to be in an orchestra so please keep her in your prayers as well. She did go to church yesterday though so that was a relief to hear. So far so good!

We also met a couple from Mongolia this week that we began teaching, they are way cool. our first lesson with them they brought us a huge bag of mekans and bananas. Ha ha The wife is a riot, she will be fun to teach.

Saijo is way cool, I have met so many people from so many places. I have met people from China, Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka, Iran, Mongolia, Australia, Holland, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, America, other Middle Eastern Countries, Seira Leum, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, and other places that I can't even remember right now. Because of the Daigaku (University) this place is foreign heaven! It's way cool. I hope to be in Saijo as long as possible.

Well that's about all I can think of this week. Oh one more thing-

I have been studying how to better help investigators find answers and be guided by the spirit on their own. I learned that the majority of investigators who are dropped because they stop progressing, it is not because they lose interest, but rather because they don't fully understand the hows of prayer and reading the Book of Mormon and the essentials like that. They aren't able to fully receive answers from God. Along with that, the most effective way to teach is to use experiences, or stories, like Jesus did. So I am wondering if you guys can email me cool stories you've had in your life regarding any of the principles in the gospel? I have thought of many but a larger arsenal is always more favored in the battles of life. Experiences regarding perhaps the Word of Wisdom, how you didn't want to do something but used faith and did it anyway and found blessings from it, or obedience from following all of Gods Council, things of those principles and then any others you can think of would be much appreciated. Life is God! God is great! God speed! Pray tell. That's your chicken ;)

Elder Bloomfield