I hope all is well in Utah. Is it still snowing? Cause it's snowing here in Fukuoka!! Enough snow piled up on the cars in the parking lot that we were able to build a little snowman! Yay! It was freezing, but it's interesting how everyone seems a little nicer when something unusual happens with the weather. It was really pretty, everything was white...it was like being home:)I wish I had some exciting news for you, but unfortunately we STILL don't have any investigators. Zero! So...every day consists of streeting...housing...more streeting...etc. To change things up we've started practicing our lessons by teaching them to the members, that's been kind of fun...but it's just not the same as teaching someone who's searching for the gospel.
On the bright side( well, sort of) Our whole district is in the same boat. We're all on a desperate search for new people! So, last district meeting we had a brain storming pow-wow of how to find. We talked about trying different approaches, different types of dendo(missionary work), and always trying new ways. We learned that " a good scientist doesn't do the same experiment twice and expect to see different results."
We tried something called target housing. We made up a flyer where we not only introduced what missionaries are and what we do, but we included a self introduction with pictures of the family and all! We picked a place we wanted to house and put the flyers in, telling them we'd be back in two days from 7-8pm. Well, we went back last night...and got the same results we do when we just do the normal housing...dang! BUT there was one lady who actually read the flyer we made and was really excited when she opened the door. As soon as we introduced ourselves she goes "OOOOOOOOOOhhh! You're the ones that had the flyer!!!" Well, we had a really nice conversation about what we do..but unfortunately with her three young boys, she can't make time to listen to our message. But still, it was fun, but more importantly, it was different. I think we'll try it a couple more times at a couple different places. If at first you don't succeed...right?
We've also decided to focus more on EIKAIWA(English conversation class)..so we're doing alot of advertising! Last week we saw a big miracle during one of these. We were passing out EIKAIWA flyers just like we always do. Anyways, one lady stops and reads the thing and turns back and says, "I'd love to come if I have the time, Yoroshiku onegaishimasu (Remember me.)"
Well, the good stuff doesn't stop there! So a minute later I see her coming back across the street with Sis. Von Bose. They're talking, so I'm thinking what's up? Anyways, she comes over to me and asks "Do you teach about Jesus Christ?" Hello! Yes we do! Apparently there's a customer who is a regular at her husband's restaurant. He's only 25, but found out that he has a disease that will only allow him to live another 5 years. She's been really concerned about him because he got super depressed and wanted him to have some kind of hope or happiness. Well, the talking went from talking about her friend to talking about her. Turns out she believes in God, but hasn't found a church that she believes is God's church. We talked about the restoration and she agreed to read the book of Mormon and to come to church if she could. Unfortunately because it snowed, she couldn't make it, but she read the Joseph Smith Pamphlet we gave her and says 90% of her wants to believe it! She is ready for the gospel. You hear about people who are searching for the gospel...but they don't know it. She found the missionaries. All she needs now is to feel the spirit confirm to her that this is Jesus Christ's true church. So we're hoping to get a lesson with her this weekend. Maybe she'll even be able to make it to church.
Speaking of church, I invited Yoshie-chan(Sister Osterloh's best friend) and her family to come this next Sunday...I hope they can make it.
