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

Week 3 in Japan

What's goooooooooood!? How's everyone doing!? I got a few letters this week... Nothing could ever be better! Thank you so much Parks, Schyrvers, Adrianna, Sam chooooow! Love you too much! You know it's real when you get letters in a diff country! I don't have anytime this week to write letters but I'll get on it next week. Know I still love you lots and your letter are probably my number one motivator each week I read them often! I felt everyone's support so much this week thank you sooooo much for the kind words and prayers I feel them I really do! 

Monday night we had a Skype lesson with Shinji Kyodai! He said he liked the conference talks I told him that I liked the best! Haha he's mah brotha! Last week when we met he told us that he thinks in his head that he believes in Jesus Christ but not in his heart. He told us that when he heard Thomas S. Monson testify of Jesus Christ he felt that it was true! He also has been praying before he wants to smoke and throughout the day! I've only known him for a week and I can see so much improvement! The cool thing about the members here is they want to be sure for themselves that they have a testimony and are following all the commandments. It's such a cool thing to see!

Later in the week Shinji called me and asked for my advice. He said I want to quit smoking. I told him that something I do to bring me comfort and support is keeping a small object in my pocket with me when I'm going through hard times. I told him it can be anything but whenever he wants to smoke or he's feeling sad to hold that something. When he holds it to remember why he wants to stop and how many people are cheering for him.  It's really helped me on my mission and when I was an officer whenever I was stressed or sad or wanted to give up id hold something I kept in my officer jacket pocket and it always brought me comfort. Here on my mission I do the same thing with something different and it's honestly saved me several times. When I said that He immediately said Oh! I have something! He said he was going to use a silver coin and he'd hold it every time he wanted to smoke. He called us on Saturday and said he has QUIT SMOKING! He said holding the coin really helped and thanked me so much for my help. Also he said sorry for worrying me so much! Haha he is so great! Sometimes we all just need a reminder of why we are doing something and have it being us strength. 

We were planning on going to the eki (train station) to hand out flyers and find people. On the way we decided that we needed to visit a less active member. We knocked on Kaneda kyodais door who is 85 and we asked him if we could share a message with him. He said I might have a few minutes he seemed soooo tired. We got talking and he told us all about how his mother was a housemaid for the mission home in Japan when they opened the mission. There were about 30 missionaries in all of Japan! She was around them a lot and eventually converted! He had a lot of original pictures of the first missionaries and him going on splits with them! It was seriously one of the coolest things ever! We were going a little over on time because we're only supposed to have lessons for 45 minutes and we were there for an hour and 15 minutes. my companion kept being really snappy with his questions and saying we needed to leave. The spirit immediately left. This 85 year old man who gets no visitors was having an amazing time and feeling the spirit for the first time in a long time. After my comp calmed down a bit the spirit was back and it was so amazing. At the end he was telling me how much he wanted me to come back and visit. Caring for people is the most important thing and I know we were led to help him that night. Maybe not keeping it within the allotted time but really caring and helping him out with what he needs. 

We had dinner with a college student named Yohei. Immediately we became really good friends. He told me the Book of Mormon was hard to read. I told him I KNOW RIGHT!? I told him that I have a hard time understanding it. The thing that helps me is to share with others and talk to others about their favorite scriptures. I loooooove doing this it helps me apply it more to me and really strengthen my relationship with that person and usually they make sense and when they share it they explain it a bit. I shared with him one of my favorite scriptures and told him a bit about it. I then related the example Jesus Christ is to us and ask him if he has anyone he looks up to as an example. He said his older siblings and parents. I told him if as a small child you received a book all about one of those peoples lives would you love it? I told him as a child you probably wouldn't understand all that's written but little by little you would understand more as you grew up. This is a lot like the Book of Mormon. If you focus on things you do know then little by little as you grow and read more you will understand more. Also we get to learn all about the perfect example we have of Jesus Christ. He really enjoyed that and when he was praying said that It was the first time meeting Adachi choro but I am so grateful for how nice and friendly he has been and how we've become great friends. That made me really happy and excited to talk to him more and see him improve and grow. 

We went and talked with a 70 year old man (that looks 50) he works out a ton named Inose San . He owns a pharmacy and is real busy. We met and talked casually for the first time but he was just beaming! He loves missionaries! 30 years ago was the first time he met missionaries and they made him a cake. He said he has never forgotten that day. He has met with tons of missionaries since then, loves the Book of Mormon, has a strong testimony of God and Jesus Christ, and knows just about everything. Here's the thing... He terrified of water! He seriously hates it he doesn't even take baths ever just showers because it's scary to him! He also has a very busy life and his only stress relief is Sundaywhere he goes to a story telling club. So as you can see it can't happen and he told us as soon as we talked about it. I love listening and learning more but 100% I can't be baptized. I then asked this simple question. Do you believe in miracles Inose San? He said yes! I told him that the more we follow Jesus Christ and have faith in God the more miracles we can see. I told him God is so grateful and proud of his desires, improvement, and love. I told him that because of his faith God will bless him with a miracle if he can believe that it can happen. He just looked at me and said wooooow... You could tell a new desire and drive was there. He lit up and I could tell he could feel the spirit. Like I talked about in my farewell those seeds are alive and well! 30 years ago a seed was planted and it has taken years to grow it but it's becoming more beautiful everyday. Many things have watered and given it sunlight over the years and I'm glad to be able to help with that. Even if I'm not the one that sees the baptism I know he will someday and I am grateful for all the people that helped that happen even if they may not know it, they made a difference in this persons life. I'm not here to get baptisms I'm here to help people come closer to Christ and see the blessings from that. 

We talked with a "Nani Nani" San (he doesn't give his name away) (Nani Nani means something something) for 30 minutes on street he said at first he HATED God he said too many bad things happen. I asked him if good things happened who those were from. He told us that they were from him working hard. I told him of course but everything is from God. Even I feel sometimes like God why is this happening? But I know it's to strengthen me. We continued to talk we gave him a pamphlet and a Book of Mormon. He was like what!? Really do I have to return it or pay for it. I told him it's priceless! I then told him we can talk to God. He was like beyond surprised. TALK TO HIM?! You can do something like that? And I said of course and he will answer you. He said well... I have aloooooot of stuff to talk to him about! Hahaha he was cool and I think he will start to come around not now but someday :) 

We were asked by an American why there is evidence of Joseph Smith being in the secret society of the masons. He said he respects everything else and has a great knowledge of it he talked with many missionaries before but thinks that Joseph smith was not a prophet. My companion answered to that... I have received so many blessings from God and we teach about Jesus Christ and how we can better our lives... I had to cut him off and say.. But that's not what he's saying and told him we don't know the answer. As missionaries we aren't expected to know everything just because we don't know something doesn't mean we have to avoid the question and change the conversation.

Anooooother story well quick thing. We met a dude on the street named Ishmael from GHANA! You already know this story is Ghana be great! So i was like where you from man!? He's like Ghana and I'm like MY GUY! got buddies there doing the same thing I'm doing. We talked a ton and he was like I never know why there are so many churches and I be like ahhhhhhh yeaaaaaah soooooon! We talked for a while and he wasn't in our area so we have to refer him to other elders... ;( but he said YOU GUYS MADE MY DAY! He said it several times he's so sick! Can't wait to see what God has in store for my brotha! 

Sorry this email is really long but hopefully you will enjoy something from it. I am doing ok everything is adjusting pretty well and it's been good. I am grateful I don't really have to learn a new language it has benefitted me so much I am BEYOND grateful that my mom taught me Japanese. It's kinda like the army of Helaman. They were taught by there mothers and that was how they were victorious. I know my mother has given me what I need to be victorious and win the war out here. It's been a bit hard to talk to people with the sole intention of sharing a message of the gospel but I'm figuring it out. I know my opportunity to be a ambassador for Utah State has helped me soooo much to be able to do something like this. When I think of Utah state when I recruit it's always to help others be happy and make the best decision ever to go to UTAH STATE! I relate that a lot to my message and how I just want to share it and how much I've been blessed from it and how they can be too! 

The hardest thing has been this whole companion thing. My companion is sooooo different from me and it's hard spending 24/7 with someone who is way different from you. It's not really like the MTC where I could still talk to other people it's basically just me and him all day cept for maybe like 30 minutes at the end of the day when the other elders in our apartment are home. Talked to the mission president and I felt a lot better about it. It all has to do with my attitude and it's getting better already! We are going to witness so many miracles! 

*Even people out here say I'm so Asian #MisoHot

*I asked my companion if there's anything that makes him mad, doesn't like, scared, or frustrated... He thought for a long time and said nope nothing! #imprettysurehesarobot #heslikealego #everythingisawesome...

*whistling is annoying 99% of the time if it's someone else

*you know how the trainee is always supposed to walk away from conversations and say so.... What was he saying? Yep it's deff the opposite #prayforaJapanesecompanion 

*They had a special ¥500 for 5 patty burgers today at lotteria it was freaking sick! #ONEBIGBITE 

*there is nothing better than letters and pictures! If you want to make me happy send me a letter! #alliwantforchristmas! 

Challenge Modeeeeee! 

LISTEN! 

That's it ! Listen to someone! Most of the time in life we only listen to respond. I think we are too afraid of silence of what we need to say that we don't listen. Also when listening listen with your ears as well as your eyes. I read once that like 75%(made up statistic) of communication is verbal. When we truly listen we can truly understand one another and care for one another so LISTEN! Love you ! 

Everyone GANBATTE (do your best, keep goingish) this week because I feel like this week more than any so far I feel more connected to you all! Much love from the Far East! 

Love, rice, and PIKACHU! 

Elder Adachi! 

Week 2 in Japan!

First off big shout out to the AGGIES FOR BEATING BYU!!!!! Payback is so beautiful! Anyways! Second week in Japan and boy am I exhausted! Mission work is so freaking hard! But very worth it! It seems like it's been a year since I last wrote! 

We taught Shinji Kyodai over delicious ramen! He was just baptized and is starting his after baptism lessons. We got him prepared for conference by talking to him a little about it and he was really excited to hear from Thomas S. Monson! I was led by the spirit so many times during this lesson! I told him something I love to do is write down a list of questions that I would like to find answers to at conference. We sat down with him and made a list. He thinks he has faith in Jesus Christ but he really wants to with his heart. I think that is so cool! Too many times we just think things and think that is enough I know that we really need that desire to know in our hearts if something is true. He is such a great example to me. It was cool because it was my first time meeting with him and he really opened up to me and we become way good friends. On the ride home he asked me if it was hard to grow up in America being Japanese. I told him it was really hard but I found strength in knowing I was never alone. I had good friends and I have Jesus Christ that knows exactly how I feel. Shinji deals with some schizophrenia and also has started smoking again. I told him I find comfort in knowing that no matter what our situation no matter what we are going through Jesus Christ not only knows but has felt that same thing. Even if we think no one else knows, He knows. I think that got him thinking. I told him also that whenever he has a desire to smoke that if he prays before he makes a decision that he will be helped. When we were saying bye to him he told me "I will read and I will pray!" He is amazing! I know that if we follow those prompting that we are given that something great will come from it and maybe that's just what that person needs to hear. 

On our way to visit someone we ran into 3 people who had so much interest in the church. Especially this guy named Suzuki San he was really smart and such a hard worker. I asked him what he thought happened when we died. He told me when I get their I will get there but right now the only thing he knows is that we need to work hard everyday and do our best. That was deff what I needed to hear that day! It was really cool. I told my comp that he really needs to start listening instead of sales pitching everything. I could really tell a difference in the way he is starting to talk to people. I think too many times missionaries get to caught up with saying as much as they know or can get out they forget to love the people and listen and cater to their needs. I came out here to help people with their problems and bring them more happiness not to list off all my knowledge of the gospel. 

Yesterday we were at the church for conference and this guy named Ken from the Philippines. Everyone was talking to each other about him and what language he was going to watch it in and all this stuff. I just got to know him a little bit. He then said "are you going to be the one that talks to ME?" I said yeah as everyone else was talking about him. He said I saw Jesus and everyone thinks I'm crazy! Do you think I'm crazy? I told him absolutely not. While everyone was busy trying to help him I got to learn a lot from him. He asked me what I was afraid of... I said well... I'm afraid of.... He stopped me and said you can't say that! Don't be afraid of anything even if I die tomorrow I will be ok because I know what comes after is great and I can be with him again. He's been an investigator for a month! He taught me so much! I am grateful to have been able to talk to him and learn from him. He kept telling the people he was fine with English I could tell he wanted to join us and watch in English. It really taught me that even if we are trying to help we need to stop and take a second to really care for the person and see what they really need.

I have decided to help motivate me more and remember why I came out here to think of someone specific throughout the week each week. Whenever times get rough or I forget my purpose I think of that person and what they would say to me and their testimony. I find so much strength in doing this and really helps me remember my purpose. It has honestly saved me lots of times his week from just giving up. 

Tweets of he Week! 

*When I first got to our apartment I acted like I was Japanese and had the other two elders going for 2 days until I was like "What the heck you doin brotha!" #youshouldhaveseentheirfaces #priceless

*I'm not saying i'm training my trainer.... But I mean I teach him more than he teaches me...

*Was reading Ensign and was like what... That's my friend! #KaitlinArchibald #reppin #LiaHomie

*I never thought I'd say it... but I kinda miss the MTC 

*For the first time I started feeling homesick... Tough stuff when your only coping method is study and work... #onwardeveronward

*Someone on the street asked how much we did our job. My comp said full time... Literally full time... All day everyday.... #Missionaryworkisworkson #illgetadayoffin2 ;)

*Every missionary here is scary... Like all they think about is missionary work... We talk about like where we are from then they are like that reminds me of my favorite scripture! I'd imagine this is what BYU is like... 

#LordisitI?

*All my MTC chorotachi killin it on that choir grind during priesthood!!!! 

*I heard a way funny joke! But it is a Japanese joke so... I guess I'll share it... And explain...

Naze Hawaii de haishasan ga nai? Ha-wa-ii Kara!!!!! Hahahahaha I realize that 99% of you don't get it but I think it's hilarious! 

Haishasan= dentist 

Ha=teeth 

ii = good 

Why are there no dentists in Hawaii? because their teeth are good! 

Challenge for the Week!

Sorry I forgot last week..

I want you all to recognize the spirit and ACT on it! Maybe take one day this week and really just make recognizing the spirit be on your mind the whole day. Sometimes we wonder is that really the spirit.... Maybe not and we second guess it. STOP DOING THAT! Follow the spirit and act upon those prompting I promise something great will come from it! Something you say or do might be exactly what that person needs that day! 

Being a missionary is really hard... I didn't think it would be this hard we are constantly doing stuff and working every minute of everyday. When I close my eyes to sleep at night it feels like not even 5 minutes later the alarm goes off. One thing keeping me going is I LOVE the people so DANG MUCH! Geez I love them! After every lesson or talk or anything I remember why I came here, to help people. The schedule, rules, missionaries, my companion, and area are all very different and it's hard for me to get used to it but I came for the people and that's all that really matters. Kind of like why we were sent to this earth was to be tested, tried, strengthened, and feel joy. This is why I know it's going to be ok because I am growing so much and learning so much about myself, my savior, God, and the people I love. Like climbing a mountain I know at the end of these two years I will look down at a beautiful view and realize that all my hard work was worth it. When I started up the mountain it seemed impossible but little by little with hard work I will be able to make it! The journey maybe far but I know it will be worth it. Especially with so many great people encouraging me on my climb!

I love you all so much! I don't think you realize how much I think and pray for each and every one of you! No matter what mountain you are climbing know it maybe be tough but you can make it! As soon as you reach the top you will see the beautiful view and know it was all worth it. And KJ is there encouraging you every step of the way! Love you! Have a great week! 

Love, Rice, and PIKACHU! 

Adachi choro 

 安達長老

愛しています！

Made it to Japan!

Well I made it and I'm alive! It's a miracle I've been seeing so many miracles this week! On the plane ride to Japan I sat next to a man named Kazunori. I was able to talk to him a lot about what I was going to do in Japan and why I was going. I also got to teach him a ton about what we believe and actually was able to teach him a concepts from every lesson! It was a really spiritual experience and I could tell he was really interested. I left him with a pamphlet and my Facebook name. He gave me his name and also where he lived. He told me he lived in ibaraki. I had no idea where that was. I told him that if I happened to ever be in that area I would come visit him! I told him aside from sharing our message something I came to do in Japan is to help people so if he ever needed anything to let me know. He was super excited about that and I was happy I made a new friend. As I left the homebu I asked my companion where Ibaraki was. He casually said oh that our area. THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!!!! God really does lead us to those who need our help it was a huge testimony builder to me! Because my MTC stay was extended they probably bought my ticket later making it so that I didn't sit by the other missionaries and sitting next to Kazunori. After we set up my Facebook hopefully we will be able to visit him! 

The first week has been so crazy it's just been go go go and no breaks! I thought MTC was tough but now at I'm out here MTC was a piece of cake! It is taking me a while to adjust to life out here but I know that it is good for me and I am learning so much! My area is a biking mission my first night I biked 30 kilos... I haven't ridden a bike in probably 10 years so it as you can imagine was pre tough. After sitting in a desk for 2 months everyday. On our 15 mile bike ride to the church the night I got in to give a sister a blessing I lost my edamame key chain. Kinda messed up that the first day as a bean I lose my bean. It actually bummed me out so much. On Sunday we rode to the church and we were both praying we'd fine it and WE DID! Well one of them but think of the chances! 15 kilos and I found it! When we got to our meeting one of this sisters pulled the other one out of her bag and said they found it the night before! It was a small thing but God knew it was important to me so I'm happy this bean found his beans! Haha

My companion is so great! Elder Stuart Myers. He's really enthusiastic about everything and is really good at praying like I've never met such a good prayer....  He basically looks like Steve Carrell mixed with Jake Gillianhall. Also he's from coralane Idaho which is way north so he sounds like he's from Canada! Lol He is such a great example to me of a obedient and diligent missionary. We live in a house ! So that's pretty chill our ward mission leader lives next door and is always giving us food. And like this area is known for pig farms and nabisco so lots of bacon and yumminess head our way! 

Yesterday I got to meet the ward and it was so fun! They really are just some of the greatest people with such big hearts! They are really helpful towards the missionaries and feel like they are really working hard to strengthen and grow their ward and the kingdom. We had lunch with a less active member this week and when we invited him to church and conference he declined and said in my own time i will come. We respected that and told him we are proud of his improvement and desire to be better. It surprised me a lot but he showed up for church! The members were so kind and he had a great time.

It still doesn't really feel real to me that I'm here. Probably because of the jet lag lol I'm so dang tired... Haha! Love you all and am so thankful for your support! You'll never know how much it means to me!  愛しています！(love you) 

Tweets of the Week!

Im tired I don't want to tweet...

Typhoon warning today... I've never seen so much rain in my life also had to bike in it... You could swim inside my shoe. 

I can't imagine how many tweets would be going out if anyone I knew saw this weather... #tweather #itshouldbeanapp #illmakemillions 

Right now it's mad sunny though I thought I left bipolar weather back in Utah! 

  First day I biked 30 kilos... I've never done 30 of anything #churchmustbetrue 

  Too many rules on these iPads and in general... No more Dropbox pics... We'll figure something out though 

Love, REAL JAPANESE RICE, and Pikachu! 

Love, 

Kengo :) 

Leaving the MTC

Well! Here we are the end of my MTC adventure! Its been really hard but really amazing at the same time and i have learned so much here. The overwhelming support of people that were in the MTC same time as me as well as all those at home really made me feel so loved and not alone. It has been the most amazing thing ever. I have grown so much and learned alot of what my purpose is as a missionary. My first week i heard someone say MTC stands for Make the Change. At that time i thought i knew what it meant. At the end of my stay here i have really understood why they say that. Everyone comes from different walks of life, different backgrounds, friends, family, states, countries, languages... but we are all here to change to make the change to become representatives of Jesus Christ. Those changes could be just about anything and they are different for everyone. Whether it is a language, habit, personality, attitude.. the list goes on and on. At the start of my MTC experience i told everyone that i have changed already quite a bit but now at the end of my stay i can say with confidence i have made that change. For me the change was really realizing why I am out here. I am not here for me and i thought i knew that coming out but i really learned it while here. I am here to help people and bring them Christs light. Through many experiences that i have learned here i have found that thats all we really are doing. They keep us here with so many people from all around the world and alot of people dont take advantage of this learning opportunity. I say hi to everyone person i see here at the MTC and if i get a second i talk to them. Some times i will say hi  to people and they will ignore me or walk faster. It makes me sad that they are not taking advantage of this place we have to learn. I hope their hearts are softens to really know that every person they pass they can help. Everyday on our mission we will be stopping random people on the street and striking a conversation. This is such great practice since we already know that they are Mormon might aswell practice starting a conversation. I think too many people come into the MTC thinking the only thing they are here to do is learn a language or to learn to teach. There are so many more things that we have the opprotunity to learn here its truly amazing. (Mormon 9:22) The MTC has been a really hard thing for me but realizing these things and realizing we are never alone no matter what has helped me. Through serving and helping other people here i have in turn helped myself so much. I am excited to be able to help people everyday on my mission and my whole life. Someone told me that a mission is the only time where you devote every waking minute to helping people and then you wont as much when youre off your mission. I dont like that. I dont like that at all. My whole life has been devoted to helping others before my mission i didnt realize how much good i could do and so i dont think  i did as much as i could have or wanted to. But when i get home i want to prove that person wrong... I want to devote every waking moment of everyday helping others. You can never really love God fully until you serve Gods children. 

A few weeks ago I told you that I am serving 2 missions. One for the people of Japan and one for the other missionaries. I have found out this week that I want to serve 3 missions. I want to serve for the people back home. I want to help those i email and those i write with their faith and help them with anything they need. I hope i will have more time to speak to each one of you when i get out in the field. Please dont hesitate to ask me for help that is what i want to do. I hope that these emails will help others aswell. i love you and thank you so much for your support.

Our teacher this week told us that there is a miracle everyday on your mission you just dont always see it. God really does bless us and whether that miracle is at home, with an investigator, someone you passed on the street, or even in yourself there is a miracle. We will never know how much happen within Gods plan but we can trust that there will always be blessing and miracles if we are faithful. 

I learned here that when you see something often then you start taking it for granted. Id like to apologize to everyone. When i had the opportunity to be with you anytime i wanted to, help you when you needed it, or let you know how much you mean to me whenever i wanted to i didnt always. We take for granted the things that mean the most to us. I know that after 2 years of not seeing alot of you i will make sure to cherish every moment and make sure you know how much you mean to me! Make sure since you have the opprotunity that you let those who mean the most to you know that you love them!

At first i didnt love the idea of staying here for 7 more weeks than i originally was told. But i knew that rather than a trial it was a blessing. I know that I was meant to be here and help people and learn from people. I have been stregnthened so much and know that i am ready to go out with my brothers and sisters to go spread Christs light and love. 

Tweets of the Week

*Every old guy at the temple that talks to us when we say bye to them they say GO GET EM WET! it makes me really uncomfortable and it happens like a ton... #awk #oldpeople 

*I picked up and drank out of a full glass cup.... with CHOPSTICKS!!! #GETONMYLEVEL #youcancallmeMiyagisan #hashihero #drank

*FINALLY achieved my dream of a singing group called 2 1/2 Asian #seepictures #twoandahalf #asianpowa #AdachiTsuruEverettWoodford 

*See you in TOKYO 

Challenge of the Week!

On LDS.org there is a new video entitled " You Never Know" I want you all to go watch it and realize how much good you do. Even a hello or a text message or just something you do that you dont think is a big deal could mean the world to someone. Sometimes the most important things you do everyday are things that dont even make it on your to do list. You never know how much good you can do and how much good you do... do. I know you do because I have been on the receiving end of every single one of your good deeds you are amazing and i am blessed to be able to call you my friends and family. 

Love you all Im officially leaving America! Keep it real over here for me! Much love!!! God be with you till we meet again!

Love, Rice, and Pikachu!

Elder Kengo James Adachi!

BEST BIRTHDAY IN MTC HISTORY!!!!

 First off THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!! Thank you all so much for all the love and support you have showed me throughout my mission and especially on my birthday! I got so many letters, packages, presents, prayers, and love! I honestly couldnt have asked for any better the day was perfect! Big shout out to my family for sending me so many great things! Especially my mom who always hooks it up with the best packages! She got my a watch that Im pretty sure is a Decepticon and is the coolest thing in the world!!! ARIGATOU MAMA!!!! Thank you to the Childs, Schyrvers, Schyrvers, Parks, Alders, Clingers, Tsuru, Everett, Sis Morgan, Elena,Matt Meese, Clark, Chapman, Kasteler, Cowan, Tallent, Maegan, Aubree, Fackrells, Mallory, My District, Distric 68C, and all the emails!!!  You are all the greatest thank you from the bottom of my heart. At first I was expecting my birthday to be not the greatest but it turned out to be just like the other birthdays. Surrounded by amazing friends and getting a lot of love from those not with me! 

Woke up in the morning and opened my box from my mama! She got me a whole bunch of things that were just perfect and then I got the sickest watch in the world! The best was they sent me pictures of the things they had been doing and that was amazing!!! I just loved it!

I walked into the classroom and my district had written all over the board Happy Birthday! One of the shimai had her mom send me chocolate dipped fruit!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! also she gave me DR. PEPPER!!!!! holy cow it was like being reunited with my best friend after like 5 years. They wrote me a card and sang to me! Then people kept coming in and telling me happy birthday and giving me presents!!! it was so nice of everyone I felt so loved and so special I love my district and zone so much! 

The rest of the day was just about perfect! The greatest was we left our classroom a little late for companion study (because a present was waiting outside) as we were walking to the place where we study outside I saw MATT!!!!!! It might have been the greatest present and answer to my prayers. Matt was supposed to leave on Monday or something and I was praying Id see him on Sunday one last time and I couldnt find him. I was depressed because I wouldnt be able to see him for two years or even be able to say bye to him. Apparently his Visa got delayed so hes staying for a little bit longer. I think it got delayed because I prayed so hard to be able to see him. Sorry Matt...Also West Campus missionaries are coming to main campus in a couple weeks... just when me and Matt leave... I think they just knew that if we were together on the same campus wed probably somehow convert the whole world and missionaries wouldnt be a thing anymore so they kept us apart hahaha! Its been a blessing being able to learn here at the MTC with so many great friends like him!

Met Elder Reis from the District so theres that. 

It just keeps getting better! I had the opportunity to make it into the choir this week to speak for Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles. It was broadcast to all the MTCs in the world and I was on camera! It was seriously such a great experience! He spoke on the importance on prayer. He talked about the ways we can receive answers. We can either feel peace, know it is right or wrong choice, or we receive no answer. That is when we need to ACT! Sometimes we dont recieve answers because we are trying to hard to fill an answer. Or we dont receive an answer because God trusts us to make the right decision or wants us to learn and grow. We need to ACT not just passively wait! GO DO SOMETHING!!! We should be praying constantly but we cannot receive answers if we do not search for them! We have to ACT and we will learn and God will direct us where we need to go! Another thing he said really hit me. He said that the time when we dont want to pray, dont feel worthy, or are to busy to pray is the time we need to most. There are many times where I have thought that I shouldnt pray because i dont feel worthy or think what is the use, or maybe i dont think he is listening. He is always listening and we all need to pray even when it is the hardest to that is when we need him most. I got to see a few people for the last time at the devotional and it was great. My birthday seriously was perfect and the best in MTC history I am sure of it!

A cool thing that happened this week was I got a dear elder from someone I didnt know. He said that he had met my mom in Hawaii and then said his nephew was at the MTC. My mom told me about him several weeks ago and I have been looking all over for him but never found him. Literally minutes after i had read the dear elder i was standing in line for lunch and i turned to the elder behind me and was like hi whats your name and where you from, where you going. in the letter it said his nephew was going to Baguio Philippines and that elder told me thats where hes going. I then asked about this Elder Serrao he said YEAH hes in my district! So i went over and met him. he left just yesterday but we were able to talk a little bit. He says THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH for the package you sent him mom! My moms so dang supportive of not only me but everyone on a mission and friend that i make here! Thank you mom! He gave me some Choco Macas so yummy! so I just wanted to let you all know #CHURCHISTRUE! 

This week has been so great and TOMORROW WE GET OUR FLIGHT PLANS!!! I LEAVE IN 10 DAYS!!!! I cant wait but also scared. We practices contacting the other day and it got me so stoked to meet people and share this message that brings me so much joy! I CANT WAIT!!! One more Pday and then its off to JAPAN!!!

Tweets of the Week

*Happy National KJ Day everyone!!!! #NatKjDay

*The amount of people jumping on the on Wednesdays We Wear Pink Bandwagon is nuts! Every wednesday it look like a 3 years olds dress up closet exploded on the MTC!

*So like you know super seniors... welp Super Missionaries are alive and well... we call them teachers here though. #stepasideherecomethenextgeneration

*I made Cheese Fries and a rootbeer float  and it shocked the world (cafeteria) #IwinthisroundMTCfood #bowdown 

*I have this drink called the Kengo Special its green... we dont have any green drinks in the MTC #whatsgood #youbouttolearntoday

* MTC is prison. You have to make friends with the right people to get hooked up. #mntdew #drpepper #chickfilasauce #yeahyouheardme #chickfilasauce 

* Making friends with the lunch workers is extra important if you want the good stuff and the hook ups #libbyandstevengotmyback 

* I took mnt dew and Dr pepper for granted... Its honestly like gold here. #neverknowwhatyouhavetillitsgone #countyourblessings #sodaimthankful

*Kayla swore in her email to me... me and my friend laughed for a really long time... it made our day... we will now go and repent 

Challenge of the Week!

Sometimes we say prayers like they are thing to do on a checklist or something we read off and they become a chore. It is a gift from God to be able to talk to him and express what is deep in our Kokoro (heart) We often forget that it is a sacred gift from God. I want you this week to kneel in prayer in a quiet place free from distractions and pray out loud. Really speak with your heavenly father and let him know your concerns, what you are thankful for, who you are thankful for, and your desires. Really speak to him and take your time. Those of you that have never prayed before or havent for a really long time. I encourage you to try praying. Even if its just to remind yourself of what you are thankful for in your life, what you are concerned with and what your desires are. 

Love you all thank you so much for the love and support especially this week!! Hope you had a great National KJ Day I know I did!!!

Love, Rice and Pikachu!!!!

Ai Shitte Imasu!!!!

Adachi Choro!!

Week 5

Hello and stuff!

Last P-day we had a special devotional just for the Japanese Missionaries. Irie Kyodai a famous LDS singer came and spoke to us! He was so amazing and it was cool to be able to hear a devotional all in Japanese! He talked about his conversion story and it was seriously one of the coolest things ever! He was Buddhist and his parents wouldnt let him recieve lessons when he was young but he became best friends with the missionaries. He eventually was so interested he asked his parents and his dad said if you get baptized I will cuz my heart out! he was devestated but loved his family the missionaries told him family is the most important thing so follow what your parents want you to do. He followed that and his parents took him to the buddhist temple there he talked to the priest. He said something like buddah will forgive you you may be baptized and talked to his family they agreed. His mom came and talked to him and said you may get baptized if you promise me one thing... do not serve a mission. He agreed because he didnt know that non americans could serve missions so this was easy. he found out Japanese people could serve missions... so... 3 years of convincing later he went on a mission. He taught here at the MTC and his brother came to visit. He had the missionaries training teach him and they worked so hard because they knew this was such a big deal. he saw a difference in their diligence. One of the missionaries asked him if hed be baptized. Shocked he said i will continue lessons when i get back to japan. after many things that very missionary that asked him if he would be baptized was able to be his companion for a day when they went to the same mission a year later!!!!! (i hope that made sense i worded  it weird...) How great is that! through God anything is possible through prayer and faith the hearts of anyone can be softened. I loved this and it really helped me realized that these are real people we are going to help. (i kind of forget since we teach people acting like investigators everyday) I am so excited to witness such miracles as this! 

The second group on Nihonjins left this week and we got even closer to them! There were many tears shed and it was so sad. as we walked back to our residence for the last time with them i sang Ue O Muite (sukiyaki). They are all so great! I am really going to miss them! but well meet again someday and that brings me comfort! 

We had a FREAKING FLASH FLOOD FRIDAY (i like allitteration) okee.. it wasnt on friday but still. there was like a giant thing of thunder and it was like a starting gun to a race everyone ran to the door and the whole building was watching it was crazy i dont know if ive ever seen that much rain. I felt like the people from the movie Holes seeing rain for the first time since Madame Zeroni dun messed things up! It was sweet and me and elder Lincoln Perkins just had our arms around eachother watching as the poor missionaries who had their temple time were running down sopping wet. It was a beautiful moment. yes in the MTC we get mad hyped over rain and such :D Luckily i didnt have to read a million tweets about how its raining soooo hard outside :D

One of our teachers told me this this week. She said A Missionary serves 2 missions, one for the investigators and one for other missionaries. That really hit me hard I have been looking for ways to help people here and its been hard because we dont have much time, resources, and well i can only shake sisters hands. But i really have begun to realize that this is another part of my purpose as a missionary. To help others no matter who it is. Sure they doing the same things as me but they are also in the same situation as me. Away from family and friends and wordly things to help with the eternal salvation of our brothers and sisters! So i have been looking for every possible way to serve others. My mom sending me a ton of food deff helped with that! I have been spreading Christmas cheer like crazy! and just being a smiling face that could change someones whole day! 

 

Talked to a REAL LIFE PERSON!!!!!!!!! ahhhh!!! we did Skype with a sister in Japan and got to talk to her! it got me way excited and gave me a chance to see where i am at! it was sucha cool experience!!! IM SO EXCITED FOR THIS TO BE EVERYDAY!

Addison Everrett is in my zone and so i decided to let everyone know that we are brother. We came up with a huge story and we share  stories about our past and childhood and such pretty much everyone believes us so thats fun. 

So I read something from Elder Holland in PMG that said the first thing you should do when an investigator says they havent dont what you committed them to do is be DEVASTATED!!! this is someones eternal salvation!!! *(endish quoteish) this is not justa bout you not being able to get someone to do something this is about THEM!!!! i dont know im sure i have more to say but i kinda just drew a blank... you feel me though ON TO THE TWEETS!!!!.

Tweets of the Week

*Theres a tree here that smells like cream soda... like seriously not even a little bit! its like those freaking tree air fresheners! there are people who refuse to smell it cuz they dont believe!!! #woodyousmellit #shunthenonbelievers #youandtreesohappytogether #itscream...sodaitsgood

*there are too many missionaries here to have anything to do for service so we got an hour to do window sills outside...We then deciede we should clean the benchs, trash cans, drinking fountains, maps, and oh yeah i cleaned a golf cart... #itsdangshinynow 

*Remember senioritis?? yeah well Mtcitis is alive and well #itsathing #2.5moreweeks 

* I often meet people for the first time (hajimemashite) and act like ive known them forever. Then i say man its been a long time i havent seen you since before the veil!!!! usually i get weird looks but sometimes people think im funny #wewaschillininthepreexsistence 

*You cant say "guys" here. you have to say elders and sisters it doesnt seem that hard but i mean guys come on... its me!  #oneofthehardestthingsoftheMTC 

*I saw Kitchen so basically everything ok in the MTC... I would get home sick but everyone i know is either here, coming here or been here.... #hastenthatwork #mormonreunion 

*The lack of drinks here makes me LOL but i mean i mix a few things and have made some incredible drinks Swig hit me with that job when i get back #killinthatmixdrinklife

I CHALLENGE YOU!!!

I challenge you to smile at someone random this week. Actually do it a few times please I have a TESTIMONY thats right a testimony about smiling. It can seriously change both your life and others! A smile doesnt cost you any thing but it could help from costing someones life. Just smile its good for you! :D

OH!!!!! ITS MY BIRTHDAY ON SEPTEMBER 16TH!!!!! 

I mean i dont usually ask for stuff but its NATIONAL KJ DAY!!! So send me a letter and a picture please! also for that day make sure you eat lots of food, sing songs, smile, do as little physical activity as possible, Jam and laugh with friends and above all else hug lots!!!! Happy National KJ Day 

Love you all... hope this email makes it out to everyone sorry my email has been freaking out so... anyways love you GAMBATTE NE!!! 

Love, Gummy Bears, and Charmander 

AI SHITERU YO!!!!! 

Adachi Choro