10 November 2013 - Fun Week!!

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

Dad's Kind of Paddle  (Giant Rice Spoon)

Before Azumi left for Home (Saga)

Thought for the Week:

29 October 2013 - Two Typhoons Hit At the Same Time

Olivia Happy Birthday!!!   The present that you got that was in the small bag was from both me and mom :)   No problem!    That's what I'm here for!  Ha Ha   Try the veal!   I'll be here till Thursday!  (The last part is a family joke from the movie Shrek)

Well well, what happened this week?

Yes mother, indeed it was quite the downpour this week.   We actually had two typhoons hit Hiroshima at the same time so it was kinda like a ultra typhoon.   We were told to be safe on Wednesday and most people didn't even leave the apartment but shoot,  I had 3 appointments scheduled so I went out and did the Lords work.  It was pretty dang fun except for my companion was biking at 2 miles per hour because he thought it was the most safe thing to do.  I suppose he had a point but rain is rain, he just hasn't seen it like we did in Korea.  

One of our lessons that day was with Sho san and it was pretty sweet.   Azumi has found a love for jointing with the lessons with us.   She sent me an email after our lesson a couple weeks ago that thanked us for inviting her to the lesson and said how happy she felt now because of the lesson and she didn't even know why.   I testify to you all that if you want to have more happiness in your life, go share your testimony with just one person.   I can gurantee to you that with each person you share your testimony with your happiness will increase with each person. Azumi has found this and even though she still does not fully understand the spirit and the Holy Ghost she knows that just through sharing your thoughts (your testimony) you feel more Happiness that you don't even understand!    Ha ha with Sho san he was struggling to understand how the Holy Ghost works in our life and then
suddenly it clicked and he was like ohhhh so the Holy Ghost is like a girlfriend before you are baptized, you see her occasionally when you want to and when you make the effort, and then after you are baptized the Holy Ghost is like your wife, she is with you almost all of the time as long as you are doing the good things?   Ha ha it was pretty funny.   We were just like um yeah - actually, you nailed that one my friend.   It's amazing the questions and worries some people have sometimes though about things they just don't know before they ask.   One of his worries is that apparently he had the idea when you are baptized you get baptized naked... so that was kinda odd.   Good thing we cleared that up.   That lesson was way solid though and the spirit was way strong and then the next day his lesson was interesting yet again.  His lessons are always up and down.   His next lesson the first thing he asks me was... Sooo how good are you at reading dreams?    I had a dream my aunt and uncle had a baby that was a bug and had 4 legs so I shot it and killed it, and then they were so mad at me and I had to leave my mom and the country and woke up in the middle of the night and cried out.   I never cry out in the middle of the night!   So,  this must mean something.   What does it mean?　So that was a fun explanation.   Had to help him out with the whole dream revelation thing.   

We met with Gary again as well.   It was way cool, he was just like I know God is helping me, and I know your prayers are helping me everyday,  I believe that soon my wife will want to come to church.  I believe.  Coming from someone who didn't even have a faith that God existed 3 months ago... that was pretty cool.  I love the man so much.   

Umm other than that our week was just filled with some rain and contacting in the rain and the cold, which is not as effective as the not rain and not cold, as we have come to find out.  

Oh yesterday we got our feet cleaned by a bunch of little fish that bit all the dead skin and dirtiness off your feet. It was pretty cool and pretty difficult for my ticklish feet but no worries,  I ganbarued (was tough and stayed with it).

Getting feet cleaned and massaged by "Doctor Fish"

Well for my spiritual thought for my folks this week - fun fact: How can you build your testimony about a principle in the gospel??   Bear testimony about it!   Heavenly Father has promised us countless times in the D&C that if we will open our mouths this knowledge can be given to us.   D&C 21:9 -  He will bless all those who labor in his vineyard with a mighty blessing, a blessing that they can believe on his words.  Well missionary work is hard, you may say?    Don't know everything about the gospel?   Well you don't need to.   Heavenly Father also promises countless times in the D&C that he does not require us to learn the power of convincing of men before we do missionary work, but rather we are GIVEN this gift when we do his work.   We have over 80,000 missionaries in the world right now, are we all scholars?   Most definitely not.  We don't know everything about the gospel, but when we do his work he gives us the power to know enough.  I love you all and promise you more happiness and peace when you will help labor in his vineyard and fulfill your covenant you made when you were baptized! and that is to be a witness of Christ. 

Love you all and hope you are all doing well!    Ganbate kudasai!

Elder Bloomy

Sakuda Choro #2 

Hiroshima from far off

Balancing on the guard rail

The Elders on their way to dinner at some members home

Nearly fell to his death after loosing balance

The missionaries from Saijo at the Tanaka Family's Home for dinner

Guess Who?

Another trip to Miyagima to se the deer

Looking over board

Saijo Missionaries and Azumi at Miyagima

Travis, Azumi and Elder ?

Hanging low with the deer

Shop entrance at Miyagima

"The Dragons"

Ferry that takes you to Miyagima

Getting off the Ferry

Tree Climber

Cute little Japanese girl in her Kimono

Jumping for Joy

Miyagima through the hole in Statue

Waiting for the Gods to translate him at an old Japanese Temple/Shrine

Thought for the Week:

22 October 2013 - Packed Week

Konbanchiwaaaa,

How goes it?    This week was packed with weird meetings and things and made me end up feeling like I barely even had time to dendo.   On Monday we had a Ward party in Saijo which the Tonga family came to which was way cool.   I played with the little kids for most of the time and boy are they crazy.   The one who is like 8 years old has hair down to his booty and is quite the beaut of a mane.   The down side to the fun play date was because I am such a kind hearted soul,  I ended up giving two of my sports watches away to the 9 year old and 12 year old so for the rest of the week I kept losing what time it was.   But in the processes the 12 year old committed to pray by himself so it was a pretty good deal if I say so myself.  

I also met with Jay (the other tongan who plays rugby) last week and we set up a thing where we are going to start having a neat lil scripture party once a week for about an hour.   Food, scriptures, and Gods love what more do you need.   We are meeting with him tomorrow again so I'm pretty excited about that.   

There are a couple investigators I suppose I will talk about this week:

So Takamatsu san, as I said last week began a sudden change in his desires for the better.   He has started keeping commitments, expresses his desire to be baptized and now a surety of Gods existence, we however hit another road block, because he has no job, and told us he never wants one again.   He has no money to make the 45 min. train ride trek to church every Sunday so we are not quite sure what to do.   We hope as he continues to progress perhaps he will understand the need for a job. 

Also Dad guess what???    Gary is back!    The man just always makes me oh so happy.   We met with him this week a couple times and guess what???  We taught him a lesson on faith using good ol John Bloomfield's stories.   I bet John Bloomfield never thought as he made those decisions 150 years ago that he would even be able to affect a Chinese man 150 years later.   Heavenly Father works in many many ways and we never know how many people 1 single decision can affect.    Gary told us though that he does want to be baptized but because of his wife he can't.    It was quite sad.    He committed to talk to her about the good feelings and the truthfulness  the gospel brings to him and if that doesn't work just try writing a letter or something.   He has built his faith so much in the past couple months even though he doesn't realize it.    What a neat guy!!

We also met with Reuben and had to explain to him how his first baptism was missing the all important priesthood and he committed to begin meeting with us once a week so he can learn if the Book of Mormon is true.  So that was fun.

Things in the apartment are fun these days.   I feel like I am the mom most of the time.  I am doing all the cooking and most of the cleaning,   My journal writing and gengo benkyo have been suffering from it lately but what can ya do.   These things must be done. haha   Yeah cheese is hard to come by.   Guess what I have been cooking in plentiful these days???  Yep you guessed it.   We have kimpchi about once a week.   I have yet to eat it plain like mom did though.    I add it with chicken and rice and its not too bad.   Most definitely I would not be able to make that same meal again haha   It was a wild spicen time.

Dang Olivia was aggressive in soccer ehh?   Is she still just as stubborn in the household of the Bloomfields?    You sound pretty durn busy.   What else is new ehh?   Not much here. 

Pretty crazy cousin Matt who is serving his mission in Austin is hanging out with our old friends though.   Maybe he can remind some of them to remind some old friends in Austin that they have all forgotten to write me still. just a thought ehh? ;)

Well I hope all is well and all is safe.   I have a challenge for you all.   Pray tonight about one way God has helped you even today, in a way that you didn't expect before.   Gods hand is in our everyday life.  You must first just realize these blessings and be grateful and you will be surprised at how many things he has done for you in this one day alone. 

Take care!

Sakura Kyodai

Fall in Saijo

                                                                        Thought for the week: