Bye bye Koga...

Said goodbye to my home this week... It was the saddest thing in the world I didn't think I would get so close to these people. My last day we just went around visiting all the people I love! It was really spiritual and so fun! I cried in pretty much every goodbye and so did they. When we visited Shinji he gave me a paper that had the kanji for keep you in my heart and he talked about how I'm leaving but I'll never leave his heart. I talked about how he taught me so much and how he was the first person I met in Koga! We had lunch with Usui Kyodai and I gave him a little keychain of a pineapple and told him about my edamame and how that week I was working and praying for him that week. I shared some more things and the spirit was really strong he told me that this week he has had some tough stuff happen and he told me that I am the answer to his prayers. AHHHH I love Usui Kyodai! When saying bye to Mine the hair dresser guy he came and just was like ahhh why are you transfering! We had so much more to do! He made me a kanji calligraphy that means go your own way and he gave me some other stuff but it was chill because he was like we're going to see each other again so it's ok! Also went to go say bye to Kaneta, Horie the neighbor, and the Nakano family! that family is the best! I got to sing silent night for them before I left it was so great! I know I will always have a very special place in my heart for my first area. Koga was filled with trials and hardships but also filled with so much happiness and miracles. I grew more than I even knew I could. This little green bean is growin on up! 

My new area is pretty great! There's definitely more people to talk to then Koga and we aren't 10 kilos away from the eki and church! They are actually within walking distance which is crazy... Anyways my companion is Elder Kuwana from Hokkaido Japan! At first when it met him I was terrified it was going to so rough... I just got really bad vibes from him and felt like everything I said was way stupid. Our first days we didn't really talk to people too much for finding and I just felt like he hated me. But when we were heading home he said like I am so excited to work with you! The other day after a particularly frustrating evening he was like I had so much fun! I talked to him that night and he just told me he loves it but he has a hard time showing emotions. He says he likes me and I'm great it's just him that needs to work on showing that more. I WAS SO RELIEVED! After what I went through my first two transfers I couldn't do this! Our first couple days we didn't talk to many people and if we did it was about English class and pingpong. I asked him why he doesn't like talking to everyone and about church and he said that he believes we should talk to the people were led to and it's awkward to talk about church right off the bat. I told him that it's our purpose to be here and if we state it clearly we will give them the best chance to receive the gospel and the more people we talk to the more chances we have to help people. We want to be known as representatives of Christ not just people who teach English and play pingpong. We talked about it and he said we will work on it. Since it took a long time for my last companion to apply anything I thought it would be a really long time till we would improve but he studied about it in the morning and he was really excited and saw the meaning behind talking to everyone and stating our purpose. We talked to everyone the next day and we saw SOOO much success! It was so great it's cool to see that if we have the spirit we will see so much success! Our relationship got so much better too! It truly helped getting lost in the work and setting out to talk to all of gods children not just those we are led to! I am excited to see what this new area and companion and apartment brings me! It's been a blast so far I can't wait for more miracles and stuff to come! 

Tweets

MERI KURISUMASU!

My companion wants to learn English and I want to learn Japanese so we switch off what language we speak each day!

For our last kodomo eikaiwa (children's English class) they all sang to us and gave us cards they made! #scute

When I met my comp for the first time I acted like I didn't speak Japanese lol!

Met a guy at my stake conference in my old area I think I wrote about him a while back the one that went to north ridge! I happened to transfer where he lives! He walked into eikaiwa and was like ADACHI CHORO I'm so happy to hear you got transferred here! Also a family here is related to a family I love in Koga! #churchistrue #yukisisabeast #smallworld 

My apartment is the sickest thing in the world right now! #youalreadyknowthough #303 

My Mom came and bought us enough food to last the whole transfer! #missionmom #killinit 

I wrote this poems as kind of a Christmas gift to everyone since I don't have too much time to write letters and such! It actually took a long time because I wrote a couple lines every once and a while I started in November... But Merry Christmas from Elder Adachi!

Christmas Presence

It's that time of year again, it seems to come and go so fast

Trying to cherish every moment to make it last

You can feel it in the air everywhere you go

Or maybe it's just the cold and all that snow!

But it's different, life just gets better

Even bundled up under 10 coats to try to hide from the weather

Phones always going off with people to see

Looking everywhere for that perfect thing for under the tree

There's snow on the ground and lights everywhere

Children off of school not giving a care 

Family gets together to laugh and play

And "I don't have time" is something no one can say

It's the one time of year where everything stops

Time we get to spend with those we love a lot

This Christmas I'm away from all of this

Sometimes I get sad thinking of all that I will miss

But then I remember... I am not gone just to be away

I am here helping others so that someday...

Someday they might have this love I feel

Something that no one can take or steal 

Something that can't be bought at a store

Not just things... Something that means much more

I am here blessing others so that my family and friends will be blessed

If I work my hardest I know God will take care of the rest

This Christmas time make sure to look around

To cherish every sight, smell, and sound

Being away I start to realize what I took for granted

Like being in a place where only my eyes were slanted

Or being able to talk to family and friends for more than an hour

Or having just a second to stop and smell the flowers

But what I miss most are the little things

Like seeing the kids open presents and the joy that it brings

Like people wishing me "Merry Christmas!" Everywhere

Now I say it and people just stop and stare

I miss my family that I love the most

Even more than making an Instagram post

Thank you for being there every step of the way

I'm sorry I can only talk for 5 minutes on Pday

But family is always there both near and far

You can always feel them if they are in your heart

If there is one gift I want the most this year

And it won't be so hard to get so don't you fear

It is simple and sweet, not difficult to find at all

You won't have to spend any money or stand in line at the mall

The gift I want is for you to share love to those around

Keep your head up and smile, don't look at the ground

Say "Merry Christmas" where ever you go

And maybe just take a minute to shovel the neighbors snow

Go help those who maybe have a little less

And invite them over for dinner as a guest!

Remember that the gifts aren't as important as the giving 

Things will be forgotten but the feelings will keep living

The presents will be opened but the hearts will not close

Especially if loving others is what you chose

So spend more time and not so much cash

Because well.. It's free and the memories will always last

Enjoy each others presence and not just the gifts

Take a look around and find other hearts to lift

I know if you do this happy is all you will be

And the presence of Christmas will be all around you not just underneath the tree

I challenge you all look around and enjoy the presence of Christmas and really look to make someone's day this year. We have the opportunity to bless so many lives if we just take a minutes to give. Look for those presents you can give and the presence you can give as well I promise if you do that this will be a Christmas you won't forget. Love you all too much hope you all have a Merry Christmas! 

Love, Rice, and SANTA!!!! (Said like buddy the elf) 

Elder Asian Santa

Sakado?

I am 3 years old! Wow this transfer fleeeeeeeeew by! And I am so glad it did! Well... We got transfer calls this morning annnnnnddddd...... IM MOVING!!!!!!!!!!! I'm going to Saitama ken to a place called Sakado! I was told it's the most beautiful place in the mission from what it sounds like it's exactly like Bountiful lots of mountains and snow! I am so stoked! My new companion is JAPANESE! Well this is the last email you'll receive from me in semi normal English because I'm going to be a JAPANESE MAN! I am too excited it's going to be so fun! I am actually really sad though because Koga is my family! I have grown so close to the members here and I have made some eternal friends! Yesterday at church I was talking to my favorite person Usui Kyodai and he said you are something special to me and I hope we can be friends long after your mission. It's definitely sad I didn't know I'd grow so close to the people here but with my message I am sharing goodbye is just see ga later cuz we are all going to be kickin it in the celestial kingdom someday! I know I was meant to come here to meet the people I did and learn the things I did I will always have a special place in my heart for Koga... This bean is now sprouting! 

Here's a little about my last week in Koga! 

The Indonesian man I talked about last week Dede, we met with him and it was a really cool experience! He was taking everything in so well and he was really excited to meet again. During the lesson he told us that in his religion most people don't want to learn anything about other religions but he is very interested in hearing and studying about ours. At the end when we taught him and invited him to pray he said he will try it. I told him if he wants he can even do it in Indonesian. We all bowed our heads and closed our eyes. I waited for a long time hoping he'd say something. I opened my eyes to see if I could encourage him or something I then saw him having his eyes closed and nodding his head and could tell he was praying silently. We stood there and waited for him to finish for a couple minutes. Then he looked up and said ok. The spirit was so strong! I didn't hear or know anything about what he prayed for but you could feel the spirit testify of his words even if they were silent and in another language. His desire to know and talk with Heavenly Father was amazing to see. I asked him how he felt and he said he felt peace. It was such a testimony builder to me that God is preparing people to receive this gospel. I know he came to Japan to work so we would meet at the eki when he had 50 minutes to spare before his bus came, I know he received help learning Japanese so he would understand our message and I know that his catholic friend who taught him church words was not a coincidence. He has been so prepared and I can't wait to see where he goes from here! 

We decided to go caroling one night.. Lemme tell you Japanese people do NOT understand the concept of caroling. We only got to sing to like one house! The rest just thought we were crazy and were like uhhh were busy or were ok. Sigh... It's makes me sad that Christmas is not a big thing in Japan. Even the ward members were like yeah we don't really exchange gifts or anything just for like little kids... It honestly got me pretty down. I miss the Christmas spirit and people saying Merry Christmas everywhere I go. I miss traditions and time with family and all the presence of Christmas... Well and the presents I guess! It really made me feel very grateful for what it's like back home and gave me new determination! By the time I'm done with you JAPAN YOU WILL LOVE CHRISTMAS! Haha

Pereras are doing good brother Perera knows a ton about Christianity so he gave us a list of questions he wants answered but we are trying to get him baptized before he leaves for Nepal for a month on the 21st so we need to teach him stuff! We got in a few arguments about things he really wants us to straight forward answer the questions and also he is under a lot of pressure with his business exporting bicycles and he got sick and is trying to quit smoking and drinking... So he's under a lot of pressure right now. I'm not sure how much I want to share about this but he kind of pulled us aside and talked to my comp about listening and how he needs to take into account how others are feeling. I think it really got to him and it helped hearing it from someone who is receiving the message not just me. He talked for a very long time for my comp about that then He then looked over at me and told me; I like him he takes 100% absorbs it all then he addresses it, he does not try to change the subject or worry about what he has to say. If I get angry he knows that and doesn't brush it aside he might get angry too but I like his character. I don't share this because I want to be like oh look at me I'm so great and stuff but to say that people appreciate authenticity. Before this experience I felt like they liked my comp a lot more than me and I just was kind of there and said stuff. Although I have gotten a little frustrated with him and we've had some strong talks he actually appreciated that. What I learned the most from this is that we must find out who we are teaching. We are not just teaching lessons we are teaching people and EVERYONE is different. People don't appreciate just a happy face and words... People appreciate character and authenticity it is the first step to receiving someone's trust.

In zone meeting the zone leaders talked about enjoying the call. They said that there are hard days and hard times but what will you remember about your mission. The most profound part of your that you will be talking of forever is not those hard times, those rejections, those tired moments, but it will be the people you helped. We will remember the people we helped bring to make that sacred covenant with God and make their lives and family lives and after lives happy. The same thing goes for this life. When we are in heaven we will not remember the hard ships, the sad times, the pain... We will be there with those people who we helped we will reunite again and see the fruits of our labors and know fully what we have done for others! 

We met with inose! Prob haven't met him in like a month or so but we watched the restoration video with him. He didn't have too much time to talk but when the video was over he turned to us and said. I feel a warm good feeling in y heart... What is that? Why do I feel that? It was such a cool moment! We talked about the spirit and how it bears truth and give us good feelings. I he is far from baptism but I know that his seed is slowly growing and hopefully I helped with it :) 

Challenge of the week! 

Have character! Sit down and think to yourself who you are who you really are. Character is what you do when you think no one is watching. Be authentic with everyone and be the real you! Because you are the best you that has and ever will live you are the best at it no one is better! So be you and be real! Love YOU! 

Tweets

How lucky am I to have something so great that makes saying goodbye so hard... 

There's a sister here who is from Australia... She played RUGBY! We deff talk about rugby every single time we see each Other! and we even bigger homies! #alldayidreamaboutrugby #washedup #rugbybringspeopletogether 

Well... My trainer finally put some Facebook time into our schedules so I could clean it up. So hopefully will be using Facebook soon if it gets cleared by some leaders... But I can't comment back or talk to anyone sooooo it's pre rough 

Japanese comp! Ahhh you already know I'm bout to be crazy good at Japanese! 

Saying bye to Koga is going to be the hardest thing ever... #kogaforlife 

Well here I starting a new chapter in my mission I can't wait and am so grateful once again for everyone support it means to the world to me! See you next week in SAKADO! 

Love, Rice, and SAKADO!

Elder Kengo James Adachi! 

Thanks for Giving :)

Hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving I know I did! I thought a lot about how blessed I am to have so many people in my life that mean so much to me. Not just a lot of people that mean a little or a few that mean a lot.. But I have so many that mean the world to me! Never for one second think you don't mean a ton to me because you do! Here's a little about what's went down this week! Sorry my stories never really continue we haven't really been working with people too consistently... But we will starting now! 

We got a call one night from someone named Perera who is from Sri Lanka. He told us his friend gave him his number and he really wanted to find a church for his family to be raised in. He said he saw people like us riding around. He told us that he was catholic but he doesn't have a church around here and he just really wants to find a good place and church to settle down. We met with him and his family and just had the coolest lesson the expectations were amazing and he just was so receptive and real to learning about how to better his family! It was weird teaching in English! I forgot so many words! Hahaha but it was super cool and was able to show him Lisa's I'm a Mormon video! I'm positive this is the answer to all our prayers we finally have someone we can be consistently working with that has very strong interest in getting baptized! We are going to meet with them twice a week and see so much potential! Ahhh I'm so excited! 

We are teaching this man named Horie that lives down the street from us. We met him housing like a month ago he was actually the first house we tried. When we rang the door bell they said sorry we already have a religion. In Japan they have these little talk boxes where they can see and talk to you like Skype. So we were like oh well we just have a short message to share and then she was like I'm sorry thank you though. As we were walking away a man opened the door. He told us to come in and we had a really good conversation. Since then we've been meeting once or twice a week. He doesn't really have any intention on joining our church or trying anything out but he does read what we give him. He doesn't pray because he feels like that's bad to pray to two gods... Which is good I respect that. I told him the last time we met that I was really happy with my life and religious beliefs before I become a member of this church. I asked him how he prays. He told me he reads from a book. I asked if he knows what he is praying for, he told me no. I asked him how he felt, he said pretty good I guess. I told him I used to do the same thing and it felt good but I felt like my hearts desires weren't being expressed. I prayed this way and I felt peace and comfort. Just hearing my words and getting all me feelings out brought me comfort. He still is unsure about it all but I think we got him thinking a little more. I told him if you really want to know the truth and have happiness just think about it this week and see if it's something you wanna try. 

We talked with Naoto Kyodai a less active member. Recently he's been progressing a ton and we have been working with him a lot. This time though he told us he thinks he wants to stop being a member. He wants to be free and he doesn't feel happiness or need gods love. He feels out of place and like he isn't even a member. I was able to talk to him a lot of the same feelings I had. I felt and still feel really out of place wherever I go. Being a convert its not exactly the same. Whenever anyone says we all know the story of.. Or we've been taught this since we were young I hate it because... Well I wasn't. After I told him how I felt starting out and how I feel now he began to start thinking and kept saying ok (In like a nodding ohhhh kinda way) I told him for me it's still not like I'm a member and I still feel weird about things all the time but I know God loves me and that's all that really matters in the end. I told him God knows us perfectly even if we don't think he's there he knows exactly how to help us. No one can tell you how you can feel that or who it feels because we are all different. He also said missionaries always just tell me to pray like it will fix everything. I told him it's because we always don't know how to help you but God does. It's like if your mom died and you needed help and comfort. You would call a friend whose mom also died so they can help you through it. Because they know exactly what you are going through. Jesus Christ knows EXACTLY how you feel he has been there before, he has felt those exact same feelings and knows how to help you. But first you have to call him and ask for his help. It kinda went from a disaster of a lesson to a really great one. I feel really blessed to be convert and to be different and not know everything because it helps so much with helping these people that are going through the same things I have and still am going through. 

We stopped into Mine sans salon and asked him if he'd come to English class with us! He drove us because it was raining a ton! He is so freaking awesome! He had a fun time! He has been like in relations withe missionaries for 30 years! He has so much love and it makes sense cuz he's so awesome. We talked about why he has never come to church he said because there are people who can only get their hair cut on Sunday's and so he has to be open. We talked with him more and I can't wait to meet with him more! 

I gave a training in district meeting about faith. We are doing a worldwide Christmas initiative called He is the Gift. You can go see the video now it's really good! It talks about how we need to discover, embrace, and share the gift. I gave a training on the first one discover the gift. I came up with a really cool thing for faith. F.A.I.T.H. Finding Answers In The Heart. I broke it down like this:

Finding- we are always finding people who will listen to our message and discover the gift. We also trying to find the faith in order to help and find these people. Also while we are finding there are people finding us they just don't know it

Answers- we answer lots of questions as missionaries and also ask lots of inspired questions to get people thinking. Also we can be answers to people's prayers if we have faith that we can find them. If we can always remember when we leave the apartment that we can be that answer and if we are praying to be that answer, God will lead us to those people if we keep that faith. 

In the heart: whenever we talk to people or go help people discover the gift we need to keep the spirit and faith in our hearts. And if we have that in our hearts and our true desire is to help people discover this gift we can help them discover answers in their hearts! 

I know as we go out everyday with that faith we will be able to see so many miracles and help people find answers in their hearts! 

Today we went to Nikko which is where the hear no evil, hear no evil, and speak no evil money's come from it was so much fun and we got to go with one of my favorite members! Usui Kyodai and his father in law nishi Kyodai! It was so beautiful! 

Thanksgiving Challenge! 

Yeah.. Thanksgiving is over I'm aware.. BUT! Every year when I was home I send thankful texts the day after thanksgiving and I would say. I don't need just one day to be thankful for you! And then I would tell them why I'm thankful for them! We don't need just one day or one season to be thankful for each other. Be in the spirit of thanksgiving whenever and wherever you go! I promise you will be happier and you will bless others! So go tell someone you are thankful for them! And always be in the spirit of thanksgiving... Also always have that faith I was talking about!i am beyond thankful for each one of you and all you have done and continue to do for me! 

Tweetsssss

You can tell a lot about a person based on what they thought about the MTC food

I wonder what the neighbors think when we work out in the morning... I'm jumping on blocks, Elder Higbee is doing push ups and jump roping, Elder Myers is lifting rocks and Elder Adachis doing Kung fu! - Elder Killpack 

I made a mission parody for tangled when will my life begin its next level #stuffkjdoesonhisbike 

My bikes name is Carley Rae.... Cuz it's from Canada... #randomkjfacts #thoughtyououttaknow

We had Thanksgiving at the ADACHIS house! They are in our stake and they are like the nicest people in the whole world they feed us every zone meeting and fed us the most amazing thanksgiving lunch! It was a ton of fun! Also the first time I've ever had to turn around so much thinking someone was talking to me but they were talking to the other Adachis! #asianthanksgiving #myfamilyinjapan #nowerenotrelated 

Love you more than a lot of thing! Hope you all have a wonderful week and always live in the spirit of thanksgiving year round and make sure as we go into this Christmas season to think of others and how you make other people's lives a little better everyday. Put a little Christmas in someone's life everyday! Love you so much! 

Love, Stuffing, and PIKACHU! 

Kengo James Adachi... Elder... :)

A Miracle in Koga

An amendment: 
So remember the 80 something year old Kaneta? Probs not but he was
struggling going to pray because he didn't feel worthy and stuff
because he wasn't going to church because he physically can't and the
biggest thing was tithing! He gets money from the government and so he
felt bad not paying because he couldn't. We found out that you
actually don't have to pay tithing on government support so we went
over and told him about it! Holy cow! The spirit was so strong in
there! For 20 years he has been holding the burden and not praying
because he felt not worthy! You could see the light he radiated after
that lesson. It was the coolest thing to watch and be able to tell
him! 20 years! That's my whole life! Could you imagine! He is old and
he said that he's going to die soon but knowing he can die in peace
and talk to God now brings him so much happiness!  I am so happy we
got to deliver that news to him!

Regular email:

Well... I just wrote a huge email and it definitely just erased so
that was sad... So here's a little bit about my week I guess...

We have a 16 year old in our ward named kazuki and he comes and works
out with us in the morning. He is so cool! He is preparing for a
mission and it's so cool to see! After we work out we share with him a
scripture and kinda talk about it. This week we asked him if he prays
and reads everyday. He told us he prays but he doesn't read much cuz
he doesn't have time and such. I told him about what we did in our
youth program called PRO which stands for pray read and obey. I told
him if we do these simple things we can be PRO! I made him the SICKEST
card that says be pro everyday and then I wrote it in Japanese and on
the inside it had some of my favorite scriptures. I told him to use it
as much as he can and start reading because it was hard for me until
my friends shared with me their favorite scriptures then it got
personal and way better for me!

We met a Pakastanian guy last week named Abrar he said he came here
and is working in a junkyard and he lives by the junk yard. We went to
the address he sent us and it was deff not by the junk yard... It was
IN THE JUNKYARD! He has a little cubical that he lives in and he loves
it. He said he isn't happy though because in Pakistan he had family
and no money. But here he has money but no family. He felt like he was
rich here. It really made me realize how blessed I really am and how
much I have been blessed. Also that things are just things and what
really matters are people! I also thought of my friends who are on
missions in 3rd world countries and how they are teaching in the same
type of places. It is so cool this crazy huge army of Helaman I am in
with all my friends it definitely lifts me up!

This week I have been doing a lot better! Me and my companion are
getting along better. Mostly because I was just quiet when he was
annoying and now I just voice my opinions and we just laugh about how
weird he is and I tell him Everytime something bugs me. Usually he
just keeps doing it but it's helped talking about it. It made me
realize more fully how to deal with people. We are seeing a lot of
success and both growing a lot. He still drives me nuts but we are
having a good time!

This week I got thinking about how we have good days and bad days.
I've had some of the best and worst days recently and it kind of just
got frustrating not feeling like it's improving but I'll have a great
day and an awful day... I thought of a roller coaster.. A roller
coaster would be boring it it just went straight up or the same. There
would be no point an nothing exciting about it, The most exciting part
is the up and down and the twists and turns. That is a lot like life.
If everything was good and going ok it wouldn't be exciting and we
wouldn't be able to appreciate the good if we didn't experience the
bad. So enjoy the ups and downs because it's all apart of this crazy
ride we call life. That was random... What I planned to talk about got
deleted so...

Challenge of the week!
Enjoy the ride! Sometimes we get annoyed of old people who drive slow.
They drive slow because well... They are old but also they are
enjoying the ride. Enjoy the slow and fast and up and downs and twists
and turns because that is what life is all about. Don't be so focused
on the last plunge (like splash mountain) that you don't enjoy the
other part of the ride. I don't know what I'm saying but you know just
chill and ENJOY!

Tweets of the Week!

WELCOME TO THE WORLD BABY SIENNA!!!!!!!!!

Someone please tell me or send me a picture of the snow... I FREAKING
MISS IT! #SNOWWAY #snowyou #snowyeah! #imissthesnowandmountains
#imissmatt

Isaac hasn't emailed me... Someone hit him for me and also tell him youdo


Sorry not a way exciting email... Love you all though like a ton! I've
been praying extra hard for everyone this week for some reason! Hope
you all are feeling it!


Love, rice, and Pikachu!


Elder KJ

International Missionary

This week wasn't too exciting but here's some stuff that went down. Also didn't know what to call this one so... Yeah 

Gyudon challenge

We met some college kids last week and they were like yeah I know Mormons! Apparently he is way good friends with the Takakus who are in our ward and with their son who is on a mission! So we were like we should talk about what he's doing and they were way stoked to know! We met them for dinner and just kinda talked it was fun. We then brought out pictures of their friend we had asked the Takakus for! One of them was like dang he's dressed in so much white!  I was like YES! I explained to him about baptism and how it washes away our sins and we become clean so that's why we dress in all white. He's like you can do something like that? I need that then because I've done a ton of bad stuff! What!? Heck yaw! We had a way sick lesson with them and it wasn't weird or forced or anything kinda just like back home talking about what we believe with friends it was way fun! 

Coming home from the eki (train station) we stopped a guy on the street named Kobayashi. We talked about God he said he believed in him and that enough is surprising in Japan but then when we set up a time to meet again for lunch he said would it be ok if I brought some friends? They are interested in being Christian.. WHAT!!!!???? This does NOT happen in Japan! No one talks about religion especially anything other than Buddhism! It was seriously so crazy! We are meeting him Saturday with his friends hopefully! 

Eikaiwa (English Class)

On our way home from church we stopped and talked to every person we saw and we talked to probably 10 people and none of them were Japanese! We talked to Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Iranian, Pakastanian people! It's way cool to be in Japan but being able to teach all different kinds of people! I like that about my area that I have so many different people because there are a lot of factories that people come work at! 

Challenge of the Week! 

This one is kind of more of a suggestion. I don't know why but I think you should go and find a letter that means a lot to you from someone that means a lot to you. Read it and ponder it. Maybe see how that person is and how things are. But anyways go read a letter or text... Cuz that's still a thing in the real world huh... Haha! I know it will give you some sort of motivation this week! 

Tweetin 

*This KING size challenge of rice and meat (gyudon) was talked up like crazy...they told me I wouldn't finish it and it's so hard!  I finished it and was still hungry #ninjaplease #KJsKitchen

Haircut!

 *Got a haircut... After we were told to come kick it at his house whenever we want and talk about missions and church and stuff! #hairmissionkillinit 

*Theres a saying that says "Ashi ga nai" which means they don't have transportation but literally translates to "doesn't have feet!" So one girl in our meeting was like WHAT!? Both of them?! Hahaha 

*On my companion exchange I stopped this guy on a bike and got to talk to him a bit and then asked him to go eat with us... Apparently he's like golden and asks them all the time when they can meet and how excited he is to talk more... That would happen to me... 

*I feel like the rank of missionary you are is determined by your watch tan #gettinthere #themtanlinestho 

*In Japan it's totally acceptable to make fun of people when their fat... So that's chill #getcalledoutonthestreetallthetime #loooooveit... 

*Whenever I meet missionaries I don't know, I always act like I'm from Hawaii or Japan and they always believe me :) #mattwouldbeproud 

*There is a recent convert teaching a Korean Klass so we went to support yeah just call me bugogi boi cuz I'm basically fluent #kokokengo #junnyandmaddiewouldbeproud 

*Just want to say I FREAKING LOVE the kids here and I can't wait to have my own little sushi roll someday! Ahhhhh!!! 

Love you all so much thank you again for all your support I love youuuuu! 

Love, Peace, and Gyudon! 

KJ :) 

I'm 2!!!!!

Hey everyone! I know my maturity does not reflect it but today is my 2nd Birthday! We got transfer calls today.... I'm staying here with my companion and the other elders are too! I'm way happy to stay in Koga because I love the members so dang much! But it's a hard, big area, not many people, we only have one investigator, and it smells like pig farms all the time. With all that though I've seriously fallen in love with Koga! At first I was sad I wasn't in city but I love it here and I could stay here as long Heavenly Father needs me to! I seriously ahhh love it! Anyways this week was GREAT! 

We met a guy on the street named Kenji! He was the coolest old man I've talked to! Like I said we talk to a lot of very wise old men! He said I knew that you were going to stop and talk with me I could feel God telling me! He told us that he always takes the time to talk to everyone that talks to him because he knows everyone that comes into his life was sent to him from God. We talked about Gods love and his plan for us on the street for 45 minutes! I learned a ton from him. He told us a lot of the things we teach! About how what we will bring with us from this life is our spirits nothing else and also how we are all gods children. As you all know by now my comp is very pushy. He tried to give him the Book of Mormon and invite him to church like ten times. Whenever my comp started talking he'd stop him and say " like I said... I know exactly what you are trying to do!" While I was talking to Kenji he kept praying for him to accept some invitation. Although that is very important we need to know the right time to do it and need to have the right intention. Maybe all we were meant to do was have this amazing conversation and other missionaries will take care of him later I don't know but as much as he knew and testified about all of our teaching he wasn't quite ready and that's fine! He taught me a lot about how we are all truly Gods children no matter what we look like or where we are from. He doesn't like the thought of people telling him certain things are the best or better and how all of Gods children should get along. He told us that if God brings us back together it will be great but till then we'll just appreciate the time we had. At the very end he accepted a pamphlet and he gave us his card! He goes back home to Kyoto this week but I know he'll be taken care of and the seed we planted is a beautiful one. I also know that if its in Gods plan we will meet again but till then we'll just have to appreciate the things that we felt and learned that day because that was in Gods plan. 

Housed more of the Nagahama clan on Halloween the day was sooooooo halloweeny! I've never seen more cats and dogs barking and being freaky! The whole day it was super foggy and we kept taking weird turns that went to scary places it was SICK! Also when we were walking away from a Nagahama house there was a man walking in a white shirt and underwear and was super old and walking really weird and walked right into their house and they didn't find it weird at all... It was probably the zombie walking guy from last week... NAGAHAMA CLAN! On the night of Halloween we made a appearance at the community Halloween party it was fun to see someone in Japan celebrated Halloween! Also we housed every house that had any sort of Halloween decoration! It was a cool day!

We helped a recent convert Nakajima shimai cut down trees and bushes around her house. She said she was having a bad day till we came and she was just filled with joy. It was really nice to be able to help her out and she kept saying thank you and how grateful she was. We went a little longer than we should have but the work needed to be done... And of course I had to hear alllll about how good it was but how bad it was that we were there for so long... 

BEST SUNDAY!

So...best  Sunday in Japan so far! It was soooo great! So the other elders in our area had a baptism for a guy named Jiao from China! It was really cool but between church and the baptism I was talking to a member named Usui Kyodai he is my homie! He's dang good at English so I was teaching him and we were just talking and having a good time! At the end of our conversation he's like "You need to serve your whole mission here!!!" I freaking love him! We were talking about america and stuff and he said I wanted to go to BYU Hawaii but now I need to rethink some things. I told him how sick BYU was but how much better my school was UTAH STATE!!!!! YOU BEST BELIEVE IM STILL RECRUITING OUT HERE! No seriously I recruit out here so hard... A lot of members say they want to go to BYU and I say that's cool! But my school Utah State is! #GOAGGIES #InternationalAmbassador #Katiejowouldbeproud 

So the members are amazing in Koga! Jiao asked me to conduct the music at the baptism... But I had never conducted in my whole life... I had no idea what I was doing! This girl that's way sick, Atsumi helped me out the whole time and led from the congregation so I just copied her! She laughed at me and gave me the thumbs up the whole time! Haha so freaking sick! After a bunch of members came up to me and said how much they loved how I was smiling and having a great time! Especially these old ladies who said were you having fun up there? I said of course! They were like seeing you having so much fun made us so happy! I can't tell you how much I freaking love the members! 

After the baptism the Horie family came up to me asked if we were busy at 6... Wahhhh first dinner at a members house! We went over there and it was like a American family Sunday dinner! There was a ton of people and a ton of food and it was just so dang fun! We got to talking and I brought up that I was in One Voice Children's choir and one guy was like I know them! Lexie Walker right!? And I was like haha yes!!! I chilled with her a ton! They all knew about her and were showing the frozen video! Hahahhaahhahaha it was so fun and crazy! Also two of the people there were in Masas mission! Haha so sick! At the end I played Come Thou Fount on my Uke for them and they loved it! I love the members! 

Kengos Kenji Challenge!

Talk to everyone that God brings in your path. I know... I ABSOLUTELY KNOW that God puts people in our path that we are supposed to meet. I've met too many people who are now some of my best friends and met way too many people on my mission that there's no way I couldn't believe it. He places them in our path but we must have the faith to follow promptings to talk to those people. I can't tell you how many times I've been like I should talk to him or her and I don't. But sometimes I do and then something beautiful comes from it. I hope you all take this challenge and follow promptings to talk to those people we are led to and that are in our paths because Idk... Maybe you'll meet your future best friend, boss, girlfriend, someone who needs your help or you need their help, or maybe even your eternal companion. you never know till you talk to them :) good luck! Also I'd love to hear about any success with any of these challenges... I hope people are doing them! Haha 

*Remember how I used to think 8 am was early.... I'd give anything to sleep in till 8 right now!

*This year for Halloween instead of candy I decided to hand out eternal salvation! #telestialorcelestial! #itwastheBOM

*Youd think I'd get skinnier working out every morning for 30 minutes and biking 20 kilos a day... But it's chill #phatforlyfe 

*Missin Matt Meese as of late... He should be going to Argentina Tomorrow :) 

*For my first Member dinner they made karage (Japanese fried chicken) my favorite food... #churchistrue 

*Youd think after doing everything under the sun that has to do with music I would know how to conduct... But yep

*I used to use tables to work out... Now I just use my bike #KengoDojo #SQUATS #noweightsmissionworkoutstruggle...

Love you lots like tator tots! From sonic... Ya naw mean!? 

Love, Rice, and Koga!

Elder Adachi 😘

Nagahama Clan!

Hi!

Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!! I got so many emails and letters this week! I have felt more love and support this week than any other week and I reeeeeeeally needed it this week! You are so freaking amazing. I can feel the support and helps me keep going to strive to be the best I can be! I want to apologize greatly... I have not done the best at responding! We hardly have anytime to do anything on Pday and it's been a little crazy lately. I want to write you all back but I want to make sure I give a good response. Cuz like what's the reason if I respond but don't write what I really want! It's frustrating because I want to talk to all of you! Especially when you write me a letter! Know I appreciate it more than you will ever know! I hold them each near and dear to my heart and I read them at night and during lunch IF I have a second. They help me soooooo much I wish I could convey to you how much they mean to me. Know I'm trying to respond as best I can and I absolutely love reading them and getting them. Although it seems like I'm alone out here a lot I know I have the support of so many! I really don't think you all understand how much you mean to me. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! Anyways long story short I appreciate letters and emails too much like you don't even know! It's like Christmas! and I feel awful not being able to respond. Slowly every pday I'll try to write back! I'd rather write a letter from the heart and what I want to write rather than just a few words just to respond ya know? Buuuut with that said please send me an email if I don't get back to you for a long time. The organization on this thing is a little weird... Anyways love you soooo freaking much! 

In honor of Halloween I've decided to share with you a scary story that I will probably make into a movie someday. We decided to house some cool looking houses on a musky dark afternoon. These houses were the most Japanese houses you've ever seen! They were huge! As we pulled up to the first one I said I feel like there should be stereotypical Japanese music playing. We met this lady she was super nice and old and said her name was Nagahama. She said she had to go but thank you. We went to the next house and to our surprise a Nagahama San answered that door also said thanks and we gave her a flyer. The next house we met none other than Nagahama San! We asked her if every Nagahama ever lived in this little area and she said we are all related (but they don't really know each other cuz Japan) so this huge area is where the Nagahama clan resides! We were riding away when we see a man open a window. He said he was making Udon (noodles) so coooool! Or so he says.... Anyways we just kind of figured his name was Nagahama and he suuuure was! The last Nagahama we housed was a nice lady who had a handicapped son and some new horses. She showed us the horses and it was a good time. My comp had to call some other missionaries and so we turned into a street with trees it was really cool looking. On the ground in the dirt we found some shogi (Japanese chess pieces) abandoned laying there being really freaking. My comp said we have to take them at that moment I realize we were in a horror movie... I went to pick my shogi piece when in the distance along this long road with just huge trees I saw an old man walking like a zombie towards us... I'm guess Nagahama senior. He kept stopping and putting his hands in the air... I was sure he was going to eat us because we took his shogi death pieces. Which I'm convinced they are going to take over our souls. Anyways the scary part about this Nagahama clan is they are literally in every single house! I think we are going to go house the rest of the Nagahama clan on Halloween... It sounds scarier in person you'll have to take my word for it #Nagahamaclan 

I had my first companion exchange this week! It was with our zone leader Elder Higbee from Alamo Nevada! He is like the coolest guy. It was really nice to be with someone else for a day. It was the funnest day of my mission in the field so far! He taught me a lot about missionary work and his way of doing stuff and dealing with stuff. Our whole day was so fun!!! He gave me a lot of advice on how to handle my companion and it was nice just being able to talk to someone about what was on my mind. He told me I was doing sooooooo good and am so dang patient. He gave me a quote from his dad it says "If you can change it and aren't willing to... don't complain. If you can't change it then learn from it." He said you can't change who your companion is but you can learn from it. The hardest thing of a mission is not the schedule, language, rules, or anything like that for me it's companions. I know it's going to be for a reason and help me appreciate others more and to have more patience. Haha but I'm fine "thine adversity and thine afflictions will be but a small moment and if thou endure it well I will exalt thee on high" I don't want to look up the actual scripture but it says something like that. It's just a small moment and I will be exalted on high someday! Everyone we meet in our lives we are supposed to. The reasons are always different and they are always for our benefit. I've learned a lot of great things from my companion he's a great guy. I've also learned a lot about what kind of companion, trainer, friend, person I want to be. It's amazing how much I've learned about myself out here and I'm learning more and more everyday. I am sooooo thankful and blessed! 

We met this guy named Yamamoto San on the train about 3 weeks ago. We talked about how he's a mail man, likes to snowboard, is 43, not married, and loves Indo curry. We had Indo curry with him and it was fun but it seemed like he didn't really have any interest in the church he just kinda wanted something to do or someone to talk to. We invited him to the ward Halloween party and he said if I have time I'll go. We weren't really expecting him to come but the last 30 minutes we got a call from him and ask if it was too late! When he got there the members were AMAZING! They were honestly just like missionaries! They all said hi and talked to him a lot the ones around his age talked to him and became good friends with him! After everyone left we took him on a little church tour with a really cool member. We showed him kind of what we do and what church is like. I shared with him that I was a little nervous coming from america my first time at a Japanese ward in Japan. I told him my first week I was welcomed with open arms and everyone was so nice and wanted to know so much about me. It really made me feel very comfortable there. I told him that's the amazing thing the church is the same everywhere and we are one big family, that's why we call each other brother and sister! The member that was with us Usui Kyodai testified of what I said and said we have moved around a lot but no matter what we always have a ward to go to that makes us feel right at home and able to meet a bunch of wonderful people. My testimony of miracles and the importance of members really grew after that!

The Halloween party was so dang fun! Everyone came together and worked really hard on it. It turned out great! I handed out stickers my mom gave me and everyone loved it especially the kids! Seeing everyone get festive and have a great time with each other was so fun! One thing they did for the food was EVERYTHING WAS MADE FROM PUMPKIN! Cookies, pasta, gyoza, cake, pie! It was so awesome!!! I had the best time!

D&C 6:34 "Therefore, fear not, little flock do good;let earth and hell combine against you, for if he are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail." 

Before I left the MTC I shared this scripture with my district and wrote our district number by it in my scriptures. Now most of the missionaries from my branch are in JAPAN!!!! That is soooooooo crazy for me to think I think about them all the time and think what kind of experiences they are having. I pray for them so much that they will feel my love and support and know that they can do it! It honestly makes me so giddy and makes me even more motivated that they are here with me! I like this because we are like a little flock going out and doing good! Good and bad things will hit us but we have a firm foundation and can do anything! Those thing will not overcome us! 

Challenge of the Week!

One of my favorite things to do when I was home was go through my phone and find one name that needed to hear from me that day. If I prayerfully did it I always could choose the right one. I picked a random name that the spirit guided me to and I would text them just to tell the, how much they mean to me and how grateful I was for them! I promise if you do this you will make someone's day and yours as well! Also you have the ability to communicate with people anytime you want not just once a week! Don't take it for granted! Lol love you and go make someone's day! Sometimes people just need a little reminder :) 

Tweetin 

*The amount of wise 1000 year old Japanese men who give me wise life advice on the daily is ridiculous! #wisemen #life

*I really should have paid attention in Chinese class... We meet Chinese speakers all the time! #zaijin!

*Colored LED lights are legal on cars in Japan... Yep #killinit #tokyodrift 

*Our less active member Naoto Kyodai was like oh I met your friend! He ran into Emily freaking Bryson in Tokyo!  Wahhhhhhh 

* I keep trying to imagine my friends in Japan on missions being able to speak Japanese and it freaks me out... I won't believe it till I hear it! 

*Sitting in McDonald's hearing a very soothing xylophone tune... As I then realize it is non other than a beautiful concert rendition of "Bad Day" #hahahahhaahhaha #macmusicgamestrong 

*Long emails cuz I write my journal on here... Mah bad I'll try to keep it shorter #ihatelongemails 

*Freaking so many emails this weekkkkk I love you all so much! 

Have a wonderful week and go make someone's day! Love you 

Love, Rice, and Pikachu! 

Kengo James Adachi