5 May 2014 - Happy Kodomo No Hi (Children's Day)

Hey hey hey!   Happy kodomo no hi! (Children's Day) 

So last week was a good time.   This morning has been fun.   We woke up at 4:30am  to bike out to attend seminary this morning, only to find out it is still Golden Week (Japans Spring Break) and there is no seminary.   haha   I got a pretty good laugh out of it.   We also found out the place where we usually email, is closed because of Golden Week, so we had to climb the mountain to the church and us 4 missionaries are sharing this one computer.   haha.   So I also got a pretty good laugh from this one.   One of the other Elders is a lil upset at how our day has gone so far, but needless to say, I don't have much time today. 

This week we met a guy named Watanabe san.   It is cool because lately President has been talking about how much our church is becoming known and lately many many people are meeting missionaries time and time again which was not very common before now.   So we streeted into Watanabe san and found out he received a Book of Mormon about a year ago.   He never met with the missionaries again so we assumed he never really read much of it.   During our lesson later in the week we asked him about it and he said he read the entire Book of Mormon and later in the lesson when we wanted to share with him how he can come to know of its truthfulness he told us, "oh I pretty much have a lot of the same thoughts of the Book of Mormon. I think it's true already.   We were like what!   Hey hey there buddy there ya go!   He was way cool and that was a cool miracle from the week. 

Similar to that we met with a woman named Irisa san.   Similar to Watanabe san, 3 years ago when her husband was near death in the hospital the missionaries randomly called her and taught her about prayer.   Then she said she didn't have contact with them again but through prayer she was able to overcome that challenge and her husband was able to become healthy again despite his sickness in the hospital and has a way strong testimony of prayer and prays everyday for the most part.   Now we come and find her and are able to teach her even more and help her to progress to her loving Heavenly Father.   It just goes to show that no effort goes unwaisted.   Seeds are planted and peoples lives are changed when much of the time we have no idea.   God knows what he is doing, we must trust him. 

Today is transfers and I am kind of bummed.   The zone saw so many cool miracles this transfer and I don't want people to transfer out.   April was a pretty dang cool month for the zone.   Alot of the areas are building up and making way solid growth.   The zone was actually able to find 4x as many investigators last month compared to January.   It just keeps building up each month, it is way cool to see the growth every week. 

Well much love to all.   I should prolly let the other Elder email now but see ya next Monday! on MOTHERS DAY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON FRIDAY ERIN!

Love ya,

Elder Bloomfield

Hangin with the Primary 

                                            Thought for the Week:

27 April 2014 - Satan is So Strong

Hey whats up fam.?

So this week was interesting.   First off we went to Naze for splits from Monday to Wednesday.   In the space of maybe like 40 hours, I had 25 hours worth of boat riding.   I'll send you a picture of what we slept on.  It was basically just a big room with a bunch of futons.   It was pretty fun.   On the way to Naze I slept near an old man who judging by the amount of times he farted, I would say he was having stomach problems.  

When we were in Naze we streeted into a German friend named Albert.   We found out he was going to be riding the same boat as us to go back to Kagoshima and after we got on the boat he happened to be sleeping right next to papa. So we got to talk to him quite a bit and talk with him in the morning as well as we hung out on top of the boat just looking at the water.   He is a doctor here in Japan for a science something meeting and never new the `Mormon community sends out their young all across the world.` he was a way cool guy.   We gave him a Book of Mormon and hope to see him again someday. 

Last week Uda san was pretty golden but this week it seems Satan had other plans.   They said they wanted to find the truth and be baptized on the 25th of May.   Sunday we told them sorry but we will not be back in Kagoshima until Wednesday, they told us well then you are coming over on Wednesday and we want to cook for you!   When we called on Wednesday, Uda san told us from here on please do not visit anymore and don't tell us about Christianity.   We were very confused on how the attitude and their feelings could change so fast.   We were able to set up an appointment to visit them on Saturday and we found out while we were in Naze one of the members visited her and said some things that she should not have.   We know the member had good intentions but because of some of the doctrine the member was trying to preach and a sickness Uda san has caught lately, they came to the conclusion that they must stick with their Buddhism roots, they hate Christianity, and don't want to hear us speak about it again.   It was very unfortunate and we will continue to pray her heart can be softened.

Our other investigator with a baptismal date named Yumata san became difficult as well. He has sincere interest in the truth of our message but also is in a difficult financial situation and was hoping for help from us.   When we explained to him with a member the policies of the church and how we would love to buy food for him and help him in what ways we can, but that we can not just give him money, he became surprisingly very angry and told us he doesn't want our help anymore.   We will try and visit him again and see if we can come to an understanding with him but it seems his pride is keeping him from accepting the help the church has to offer and not just giving him money. 

So, that was pretty wild.   Sometimes we wonder why Satan has to be so strong in missionary work but it is eternal life I suppose.   The atonement was never easy, so the missionary work shouldn't be either.   It's a dang good thing it is fun though deshouuuu!!   I find vast amounts of joy and happiness in the days where we have too much to do we can't even eat dinner and we come home exhausted and spent.   There is no other work in the world where the more you work, the more you give up, the happier you are.   Pretty neato aye? 

The zone is genki (happy) and doing well.   This week the challenge in our 6 week program was to focus on member present lessons and reaching Kaichos (Mission President) standards.   Once again in those areas we saw ridiculous amazing miracles and the zone`s member present lessons this week doubled compared to the previous weeks averages.

Apparently for the rest of the summer the ash from the volcano is going to be wayyyy bad and I thought I understood when I walked out of the apartment and couldn't even see the concrete floor because it was filled with gray ash it was bad, but then this guy told us, "oh yeah today there wasn't much ash, it will get much much worse."     So naturally,  I'm way excited.   It should be a good times wearing protective goggles for a few months.

Next week,

Elder Bloomfield

Good bud, Albert the German

 The water (ocean) on the way to Naze

Another picture of the ocean

Deep in thought observing the scenery.

Room where everyone sleeps on the Ferry

Testing out his skills on the boat.

Thought for the week:

20 April 2014 - Any Thing is Possible

So this week was pretty wild and there is so much to tell so I will see what I can do.

Miracle 1- We were on splits in Miyakonojo and we showed up to an appointment to meet this dude at his apartment only to find his two buddies outside his apartment door. They said they were also waiting for him so we taught them about the gospel for a solid 30 mins. gave them Books of Mormons, and they told us they wanted to meet again next week. They still live with their parents so they wanted to just meet in front of their friends apartment again.  haha   It was pretty funny.   When we left they were both reading the Book of Mormon in their car.

Miracle 2- We meet a girl named Naoko every week and this week we focused on the atonement. She expressed her nervousness about her upcoming trip to Australia and was so happy to know that Christ suffered for everyone, and understands all of our trials whether we are Christian or not, and she can receive help from God and Christ when she goes to Australia.   She came to church Sunday and loved it.

Miracle 3- President set a goal for the mission 3 weeks ago that everyone could be able to give the Gift  of Christ with a baptismal date before Easter.   Last week we had 6 appointments fall through and at the beginning of the week we didn't really have anyone we could set a date with.   I was kinda worried because I knew we need to set the example for the zone, and we were expected to set the example for the zone.  We didn't have much dendo (proselyting)time on Monday, we were on splits Tuesday, we had to do Kaicho`s (Mission President) interviews on Friday, and we still don't have Elder Sasaki`s bike so we have to walk everywhere... which didn't leave us with much time left.   We fasted and prayed that God could prepare the way that we could find a new investigator prepared to progress towards baptism this week.   On Wednesday after we got home from Miyakonojo Jukai, we received a call about a man who said he has `worries` in his life and wanted to meet the missionaries.   He told us he is having financial problems and has no money but has a 3 month old baby and a wife he needs to care for.   He told us he wants to know how to receive help from God in situations where he can't do it himself.   We were able to meet him a few times last week and he expressed his desire to know if this church is true and we set a date for May 25th for him to work towards to be baptized.

Miracle 4-  This next one there is so much to tell.  A few weeks ago a crazy lady kissed Elder Mukaitani and my hand on the street.   Do you remember that?   Well we saw her walking so we decided to help her carry her groceries home.  She invited us in and talked about her grandson who passed away recently and she didn't understand why because he was so young.   We taught her about how she will see him again one day and she was way happy.   We taught her how to pray and (haha) when we prayed at the end it was pretty hilarious.  We taught her everything,   She was way excited, Elder Sasaki said a prayer and then she just didn't move and kept her eyes closed and arms folded (she is 80 years old by the way).   Elder Sasaki was like umm maam, uda san, maam we finished the prayer.   Uda san we finished. and she didn't move.   So then I yelled AMEN! and she looks up, oh! its over?   Okay! haha   It was way funny.   Saturday we met her again and when we prayed, it was just as good as the first one. haha  Sasaki was saying the prayer again and  in the middle of the prayer out of no where Uda san (the wife) just yells AMEN! haha   I think she tried to anticipate this one and missed it a bit, and then after the prayer actually finished, her husband did the same thing as she had done before and didn't move and so the wife punched him and was like hey its over! and he was just like oh oh!   I must have fallen asleep! Sunday we met with them after church and as we were teaching the restoration and we were like `God and Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith, we know of its truth...` and taught about that and then about 4 minutes later Uda san (the way funny wife) looks at the picture of the Restoration that we already explained and was like wow! This is Joseph Smith!?   He is so young! and who is that above him?  Is that some married couple? haha Never mind the beard and long hair they have, not to mention we had JUST explained it was God and Jesus Christ, but apparently they look like a married couple haha.   After she said that her husband punched her and was like are you baka??   That's Christ and God!   They are wayyy funny and so cute.   They really want to know if it is true as well.   They told us they have never heard of something like this before and want to know if it is true and we were able to set a baptismal goal with both of them as well for May 25th.   Oh and also when she prayed at the end she was way excited to pray and then just straight up read the pamphlet hahah `Address Heavenly Father... Express thanks...` I felt bad, I broke a little laugh in the middle of her prayer. haha   Luckily she can't hear anything unless you are basically yelling at them.   They love Elder Sasaki and I a lot and asked us to visit them everyday.   Daily contact will not be a problem,   However each lesson we have with them, the wife smokes at least 4 cigarettes which is quite the problem, which she even expressed concern about for her baptism but it is an obstacle she says she wants to overcome.

Miracle 5 - The zone challenge this week in our `Believing is Seeing Program` was to work on Hope and Humility as well as invite as many people to sacrament as possible.   As a result we were able to see many miracles this week and the number of investigators at sacrament meetings in the zone this week was almost double the average of the last few weeks.   It seems whatever challenge we have for that week the key indicator related for that challenge, always has a lot of success, so obviously that success is possible.  I just want to know how we can be having that success in every key indicator every week, and not just the one we are focusing on for that week.   Everyone is working very hard and want to see success,   We will prayerfully seek and study how we can best be having that success in every area every week.

Miracle 6-  I love the Easter thing (I sent him a Easter package that has scriptures and stories relating to the last week of Christ's life) and being able to read about what Christ did and more about him everyday until his resurrection.   It was way cool and I learned a lot so thanks mom. 

We have a 40 day program I have done before in the mission life.   Basically you look at things that are keeping you from having the spirit with you all day long, you fast for 24 hours to know what things you need to stop in order to have the spirit more with you, then for 40 days you don't do those things.   The result is you will have more success as a missionary, be better able to testify with more conviction, and be better led by the spirit and such.   These 40 day fast things do wonders aye!?

Yesterday was Easter and Christ was resurrected for all of us, our families, our happiness, our successes, our pains... I have become so lost in the work and life is just so good.   There were a lot more miracles this week too but this letter is too long. but once again I was reminded about how anything is possible and this really is the Lords work.   As we stay close to him we actually do HIS work.   I am so blessed everyday and all I can say is old grandmas are the best.

Elder Bloomfield

Elder Dolbin at Presidents Interviews in Fukuoka

Little Friend that came to the Easter Party at the Park.  They decorated Eater Eggs and had a Easter Egg Hunt.

Thought for the Week:

13 April 2014 - Christlike Attributes

Well I don't have much time so here is some of what I sent to Kaicho that you can check out:

The work this week was great. It's always great. It's the Lords work.  As far as investigators go, this week seemed to have been our trial of faith.  We had 6 set up various appointments in which our investigators did not come and did not answer the phone when we called.  We were able to meet with our investigator, Kusatsu San and she opened up a lot to us.  She explained how she thought in order to come to church she had to stop smoking first, and has been praying to stop smoking but felt she couldn't come to church until after she stopped. There was a lot of love in the lesson and she progressed a lot.  She still has a problem where she is taking medicine to overcome a shoulder problem but the side effects is it causes her to sleep all day except for breakfast and dinner.  Hopefully it will finish in the next two weeks.  

As far as less active work goes we had a cool miracle.  We saw a less active member on one of the trolleys so we ran to catch up to the trolley and rode it with him to talk to him.   We set up an appointment and at that appointment committed him to come to General Conference.  Sunday morning came and when the fufu walked out of their apartment to drive to church they found him in front of their apartment.   He apparently had gotten lost and conveniently was placed right in front of their apartment as they were leaving to church and were able to give him a ride.   Coincidence?   Miracle!!  Our plan is to prepare him to be worthy to go to the temple and we will work with him to do that. 

The zone is working hard and genki.   Last week as part of our `Believing is Seeing` program, we focused on faith and obedience, and the challenge was to focus on baptismal invites.   As a result of the many baptismal invites there were so many cool miracles and many new investigators who already know of their goal for baptism in the zone last week!   I think as a result the zone has realized how effective baptismal invites are the companionship's that really focused on them, saw the results and want to do them more. 

Other than that everyone is working hard and seeing miracles.   The zone is currently working up and hopefully all of the new investigators will begin to turn into member presents, sacrament meeting's, and baptismal dates.   We will do all we can to help this to happen.   I love the work and will continue to do all I can for the area. 

Thank you for all you do.

(Now back to the letter to family and friends)

Yeah so this week the zone had around 100 baptismal invites (inviting someone to be baptized) and it was wayyy cool to see all of the miracles that came from it.   This week we also went on junkai (splits) with the Taniyama Edlers.   As we were teaching a woman while housing about eternal families and how we will one day be resurrected she began to cry.   We came to find out that she had cancer a couple of years ago and also that her children had just left her.   We testified of eternal families and Resurrection and she just wiped her tears and showed us pictures of her family and stuff.   She was a real cute woman. hah   She was like, "I can really be resurrected with them? when?  after I read this pamphlet will I be resurrected?   I want to believe, I want to believe!"    So that was a cool miracle from junkai.

Well I'm out of time for now.   I have some things I need to go do. but I will be back later most likely after you go to sleep ;)   So sweet dreams and much love to you all!

Elder Bloomfield

Well I'm back with a bit more time now.   Other things that happened this week... hmmm. Well one day we were fasting but accidentally didn't eat until about 9:30 at night because we were too busy and didn't have time for dinner.   Then another day, when I was trying to make dinner really fast so we could get out the door and go work I was moving to quick and accidentally stubbed my toe and ripped my pinky toe nail off a bit, so that was a bummer.   She used to be such a nice pinky toe nail.

I got to watch a few of the Saturday Session talks and then the Sunday Session talks of General Conference. Elder Holland almost ripped off the pulpit he was so excited. I love that man.  I'm counting my blessings, they don't really have mashed potatoes here in Japan so no worries there for me (Elder Holland told a story in his talk about a sister missionary who got mashed potatoes thrown at her by a "Hater".  Travis figured he is safe (put I think he better watch out for the rice balls - sometimes they are loaded)). 

Ohhhyeahhhhh. I already talked about it a bit in the other letter but this week the zone focused on baptismal invites and saw a lot of way cool miracles this week.   I don't know if I ever told you this but this zone in the past has kind of struggled a bit.   The ZLs and an entire District was actually white washed a few transfers ago, but it seems it is finally building up.   So far this month the zone has found an average of like 3 or 4 new investigators each day and there have just been so many cool stories.   We are focusing a lot on trying to make sure there is a lot of Christlike attributes and love within each companionship, because that is where it all starts, and from the companionship there can be a lot of success from it.   I think this can be compared to everyone whether you are a missionary, married, or not married.   If you are not expressing your best effort to be Christlike especially as a missionary how can we expect success in HIS work.   As a married couple if we are not trying to apply Christlike attributes every single day then we are not giving the married relationship the full potential it could have and if you're not married you still have the Holy Ghost as a companion and even your little groups of friends at school. just ask Lauren Bloomfield, she and the dozen know all about it. Deshooo!!   But I challenge everyone to pick a couple of Christlike attributes each week and just focus on just 2 each week.  Then next week choose a different two.   I promise more success in every part of your life whether it has to do with the gospel or not. In Corinthians we are told if we have not charity, we are nothing... So let that settle a bit. 

Well I hope all is well! 

Love ya!

Elder Bloomfield

Thought for the week:

7 April 2014 - Strawberry Picking

Well this week we had MLC (Mission Leader Conference) on Tuesday.   So we woke up at 5am and took a shinkansen to Fukuoka.  We had our meeting, then took a shinkansen home and got back about 9:00pm.   hah. It was an entertaining MLC though.   This week we also had our Zone Training Meeting.  We had a very good spirit filled ztm.   We are doing a "Becoming more Christlike" program this transfer.   Each week there is two attributes from the 9 attributes in Preach My Gospel, that are to be the focus that week.   The missionaries in the zone will study those attributes in the week as well as with their companion apply that attribute as best they can into their dendo and life everyday.   Along with the 2 attributes there is a different challenge to go with the attributes each week.   For example, one week is focusing on the youth, do as much as you can that week to focus on the youth, another one is focusing on baptismal invites to work hard towards the Easter goal.  Another is focusing on the Atonement, using it as much as possible, on the streets and in lessons, etc..  Challenges like that.   We are excited and it should be fun.   

At ztm we also did trainings on how to approach the young (high school students, college students, and young families) in an effective way.   Right now the church in Japan is way old and it's kind of a problem.   The average age for the Kagoshima Branch is 57 and if there are not more young in the church, basically in like 15 years after everyone dies there won't really be a branch anymore.   The entire mission is focusing on young right now and it's actually a lot more fun than teaching old people in my opinion.   No offence to the crazy old peeps here in Japan. We also did a training on how to teach the Atonement and such but it was a good time. 

Our investigator Kusatsu san had a cool miracle this week.   So lately she has been in and out of the hospital because of various problems she has with her body, and she is currently taking medicine for her shoulder to heal, but one of the effects of the medicine is it makes her sleepy and she basically sleeps from breakfast to about 3 or 4 in the afternoon and then from dinner again until the next morning.   So meeting her to teach is pretty much impossible.   We wanted to fast for her yesterday and she told us she wanted to fast with us.   The cool miracle is she decided to fast her medicine for that 24 hrs too because she has to drink water for her medicine, and she said she didn't feel any of her body pain those 24 hrs and didn't ever get hungry.   The beauty of fasting aye?   It works!!!!!!   So that was way cool for her and hopefully we will begin to be meeting her more often. 

Well I can't really think of much else.   Today we went to a strawberry farm and I ate a lot of strawberries. Apparently there isn't just one kind of strawberry,  who woulda known?  There were like 5 different kinds.   We apparently were not supposed to eat any while we were picking them, but I didn't know that and happened to eat a few while picking them. woops!!   But hey how am I supposed to know which flavor is which and if I like that one if I don't eat one real quick?   I just had to take a quick reminder. 

Kagoshima is good these days. We found some young new investigators Saturday and Sunday that we are excited to meet with this week.   We had a lesson with a guy from Nepal Sunday and we were supposed to meet him at the Central Park and when we went there I was pretty blown away at how much it was like Austin.   The park had tons of hipsters and kids break dancing and skating and such.   It was a way cool park that reminded me of Austin but prolly not the best place to teach a lesson I found out. 

Well I can't think of much else.   Life is good.   The ash is good.   I'm reminded why God gave us eyelashes... The ash in the eye never gets old.   I'm excited for General Conference next week.   I don't know if I will have the privilege of watching it in English or not but maybe if I'm lucky. 

Oh also I got the package from Mom. I'm way excited to read about Christs Life everyday until he died and his Resurrection. Legit!  Arigatooo!!  Way cool. 

Well I hope everyone is genki. 

Love,
Elder Bloomfield

Picking Strawberries

Elder Sasaki and Travis at Strawberry Farm

Travis, Elder Sasaki and guy from Nepal at Central Park

Thought for the week: 

30 March 2014 - The Lost Choro (Elder)

Whats up family,

First off I want to tell you all what I am experiencing right now.   The old grandma on the computer next to me is watching cartoons on youtube and absolutely busting up laughing.  haha   It's so awesome and as a result I am trying to keep my laughs in as much as possible but its pretty difficult.   I've already let a few out on accident.. Old people here are crazy. 

Well this week was good.   I'm glad to finally have a companion.   Not being able to work on my area and grow the work was a little frustrating.   I'm glad he is here now and I just wanna work way hard.   I have had a way good feeling about the work here in Kagoshima lately.   The good feelings kind of started about 3 weeks ago and there is a cool story to that.   So after I was telling Sasaki Choro how excited I am to work this transfer and the feeling and visioning I have for the area, he told me about 3 weeks ago he had a dream that he was dendoing here in Kagoshima as well.   I am just thankful president is so in tune with the spirit and knows where and when to send people to what areas.   I don't know what will happen in the area and when but I know the work is going to begin to pick up even more.   I don't know when or how but all I know is I will continue to abide by the spirit and do the Lords will. and his will for the area will happen. 

I emailed Gary and Azumi last week.   They are doing good.   Azumi is in Ecuador just doing her thing.   Another cool miracle.   Elder Dolbin (now working in Fukuoka) was going to lunch with a member last week and they were planning on going to some restaurant but then last minute decided to go to a different restaurant and guess who he sees the moment he walks in the door. Azumi!   she was just in Fukuoka visiting for a short time.  She was visiting her grandparents before she leaves for Ecuador for a couple of years, and just so happened to be in the same place, same time, in a city of prolly like 500,000 people or more (I'm not really sure how big). Coincidence? I think it is much easier for God to throw nice treats in there for you when you are living righteously ;)   We at least will be able to recognize the promptings from God so we can receive those treats if we are living righteously. deshooo!! 

Another funny thing that happened this week.   So on transfers its my responsibility to make sure everyone in the zone makes it to their area safe and sound,   One of the new missionaries fresh from the MTC had a bit of a mishap.  haha.   He came into Kagoshima by bus, I bought his train ticket for him, showed him his ticket and said, "alright bud, here's your ticket!   You will go to platform 4, it leaves at 2:19, and will arrive in Miyakonojo at 3:32, any questions?" (pointing to all of the information on the ticket as I gave it to him).  He says, "alright sounds good aishitteimasu bye byee!"  At 3:32 (the time he should arrive), I call Miyakonojo to make sure he made it safely.. "umm no he's not here yet, then they said, "the APs just called and said he would not get in till about 5 o clock."  I said, "what??"  hahah  So I called the APs (yes they reside in Fukuoka) and apparently they got a call from the Kagoshima train station and said that they have one of your lost Americans right now.  They said they can put him on the next train and he will arrive at 5 o clock.  How he got lost from the 40 steps we departed to platform 4,  I have no clue but hey at least the guy made it right? 

Well life is good. Mom, yeah the nihongo (Japanese language) is still a little ma ma (so so).  I can speak everything fine.  Sasaki`s English isn't the greatest, so we speak only in nihongo (Japanese), so that is fine.  The Kagoshima people are just a little hard to understand sometimes.   Hiroshimaben is a lil different, but life is good.

I am excited to work this transfer and see many miracles. Hope everyone is doing well. BTW can I see some pics from Mason's birthday?   I sent him a b day card and Kara as well.   Happy early birthday to her and the kid inside of her if he is celebrating as well since he is still kind of part of her.   Weird stuff the baby thing is ehh? 

Well hope all is well!   Love you all!   God wants to put miracles in our life every single day if we will just let him! 

2 Nephi 27:23    For behold, I am God; and I am a God of ^amiracles; and I will show unto the ^bworld that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I ^cwork not among the children of men save it be^daccording to their faith.

Elder Bloomfield

PS. Grandma over here is still laughing haha. Wild thing!!

PPS  I also had some hisashibure cow tongue this week for Kishihara`s birthday. It was way good. It reminded me of the good ol Sendai Days when we use to have it as a family.

Celebrating Kishihara's Birthday eating Hisashibure (Cow Tongue)

New Companion, Elder Sasaki

Thought for the week:

24 March 2014 - The Parable of the Cleaning Check

Well hello.   This week was dandy.  First off I got some great news.  So we have a new music policy here in the Fukuoka Mission.   Anything that is not endorsed by the church, like doesn't have the church`s name on it, is now dame (not permitted).   So like EFY music, Motab, and BYU Mens Chorus and such is okay, but all else, Piano Guys, Enya, etc is all dame haha   Dakara yoroshiku onagaishimasu.   I don't really mind it too much.   I did enjoy the Piano Guys and Enya but I was also tired of missionaries abusing the privilege of music.  haha  I thought the new rules were actually quite funny.  I was excited to see peoples reactions.

Also this week we had cleaning checks and it proved to be a great learning experience for me.   Not because I finally learned how to clean, no I've been doing that since I was old enough to walk, my parents made sure of that.   But I learned fast that "Cleaning Check" was quite different in the other elders minds.   As we began cleaning check, one of the elders sat down and started organizing all of his letters, while the other elder took out his camera and started looking through all is pictures.   As you can imagine I started to get a little frustrated that I was the only one cleaning as usual, but then I remembered a talk by John Bytheway about reversing your buts. I was thinking the cleaning is getting done now, but I'm the only one cleaning!   Then I realized I need to think, 

"Hey I'm the only one cleaning right now, but the cleaning is getting done."  I was thinking in ward as the natural man and not outward like Christ.   So after that I thought out ward for the rest of the time and its amazing how much more happy one can be as they turn outward despite how unfair things may be.  So I've realized I will prolly just only turn outward for the rest of my life because in the end it is much more happy.

I gave talk number like 6 or 7 in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday.  This week I was given a whole 3 days advance for the talk, that's the soonest so far!   I sort of mixed the turning outward and the talk you shared with me from your Youth Conference that Steve Young gave and talked about how we need to focus on obedience and not sacrifice.   With sacrifice we focus on what we are giving up for what we may get in result, but we don't need to worry about that. God has promised that with obedience he will always provide.   We just need to be obedient and whatever situations we may be in, we just see how much we can learn and grow from it and enjoy it.   So yeah now the Kagoshima Branch all know about Steve Young,   It's a good time.

Kusatsu san is progressing greatly.   She is up to I think like Alma 10 or something in the Book of Mormon but she got sick and couldn't come to church.   Still in every lesson so far, the lesson we have planned happens to be perfect and answer what question she has at the beginning of the lesson. Before our lesson I decided I wanted to read the Tree of Life with her and it happened to answer the exact questions she had from her reading in Alma 5. haha   The member who always joints with us, Sasaki Shimai, was getting pretty excited about it when we were talking at church,   She was like "you are a gift from God prepared for her!   You always know exactly what to teach her and it is always such a good lesson!  Go home and read Alma 5 and you will notice the lesson was just perfect!   You are prepared from God!"   The best part was I just smiled and nodded, "oh thank you, yes thank you, thank you, oh you are too kind" and then asked Urakami Choro what she said after because I couldn't understand what the heck she was trying to tell me.  I got something about returning home and being prepared from God and such.   So glad we cleared that one up. 

Kagoshimaben (dialect) is still a process in the learning.

Oh also Stevo about my haircut I got this week, when the lady was blow drying my hair I started laughing way hard and couldn't stop laughing because my hair looked so ridiculous and it reminded me of your stories when you got your haircuts in Japan and had an Afro after.   I felt way bad because the lady was way confused and thought she was doing something wrong, but I couldn't hold back my laughs.   It was just too good haha.

Well that's about all I can think of for this week.   My new companion will be Elder Sasaki.   He is in my same transfer and a hard worker so I am way excited.   I am looking forward to the reinforcements soon.   Two  ZL`s is much more convenient than 1. 

Well I hope everyone is genki.   Lets see some pics from Masons b day aye??   17- holy smokes he's gonna be hitting midlife crisis soon,  watch out.  

Well love you all.   Life is good.   Dendo is great.   Looking forward to that massage in 2 years.

Elder Bloomfield

Kagoshima District

Sakura (Cherry Blossoms)

Thought for the week: