Ue o muite arukou!

Well this was a long week but I have to say that it's helped my testimony grow! I sure am beyond grateful for all the support I have! I love you guys all so much! 

We got played hard... So a few weeks ago we found a guy who was like hey can I have your number and seemed way interested. He actually lives quite a while away so we took the train to go meet him. When we got there we found that his friend was there too. It was unexpected and I was kinda scared how it would work out cuz it's always hard when they bring a friend the first time. We talked to them for an hour about what we believe. The questions they were asking were amazing! Like I was so excited to answer them because they basically just asked exactly what we were going to teach and they seemed like they had prepared questions for us! It was sick... But they actually did prepare questions for us and planned on making us feel good and explain our who religion in 1 hour... After that one hour they were like ok well now we have something to say. They started telling us everything we believe has to be wrong for such reasons. They said the reason we came here is to try to get you to drop everything and Try out our religion. We kept saying we had to go because of curfew but they kept talking. We ended up being late and I was so mad... Wasted 2 hours of our time and like $20 to get to them and get a drink with them... It made me so frustrated! Especially because it was the same day we got our transfer call to stay... But I did learn a lesson on setting expectations. Sometimes we'd meet with people back in my last area that I'd never met and my comp at the time found earlier and as I started talking with them I could just tell they had no idea what we were doing there or they thought we were just trying to be friends and kick it. It was good to be on the other side and see how it felt... Cept we kinda got played a little harder than that.

I had a thought come to my mind during planning that was like we have to visit Hoshi Kyodai tomorrow and so we did and.... HE CAN WALK! What!? It was the craziest thing to see! He rolled in and the nurse was like do you want to show them? Then she helped him stand up and he WALKED! The doctors said he'd never walk again! He kept crying and saying isn't it amazing!? This isn't my strength, it's the lords strength! He is such an amazing example to me that through Christ we can do anything! It was seriously such a cool moment being able to see that and perfect timing because he moved to a less intensive hospital a couple days later! When we put our trust in the Lord we can do ANYTHING! When the world is against us the lord is right by our side helping us push back! I am so dang proud of him and happy for him! 

We went to Japanese class because one of our potential investigators helps teach it. It's basically just like getting tutored cept this time I didn't get taught by him this lady taught me. I asked her at the start how she was and she's like... This year has been really hard. We then kind of just had a vent sesh and we're just like it's ok! We can do it! I was able to share with her a few things that I've learned through church and how God has helped me but I just kinda said it in not church language just normal conversation. She was way happy we talked and I think we helped each other a ton! She gave me her snoopy folder and she was like I hope this brightens your day! It wasn't a lesson and probably won't be anything but I shared a little light with her and that's what I came here to do! It was an awesome experience!  

We went and visited a kid that moved here and is having a hard time being in a new place. He was way stoked to see and talk to us and he told us he is wanting to go on a mission! It was really cool to be able to talk to him about it. That morning he said he was thinking about what he would do after he graduated and he wasn't sure. He was way stoked we came and talked to him! It's so cool that we get to help now 4 guys prepare for their missions! It's so exciting! Makes me think of when I was thinking about it and starting to get ready! So exciting! 

Well that's about all I have to say this week... Mission time is honestly the weirdest thing in the world... Like this week was sooooo long but last week was way fast. It has a lot to do with how many miracles you get to see a week.... Haha but it's been good. Gods really been softening my heart to a lot of stuff I've been dumb about. This week I really tried to find myself... If that makes sense I would tell you the details but it was a spiritual rebirth this week and I glad I had some awesome people support me... Well today and last week but the feeling carries on throughout the week! But I tried something kinda... Different this week and well I don't think I'll tell you for a few different reasons but it was really good for me and I figured some things out! 

Challenge this week! 

I want you to make your prayers meaningful! I want you to try to pray with the mindset of I am speaking with my father in heaven. A lot of the times we get in the routine of dear Heavenly Father were thankful for this day... NO STOP THAT! Make them more meaningful I have tried it this week and it has really helped. At night I don't list off people anymore I pray for people who I feel need extra blessings and it has become way more meaningful! If praying is feeling like a chore that's probably when you have to step back and figure out why you are praying. Try it! I tried it and it was amazing! 

Tweets next level...

So every year on February 3rd in Japan they have this holiday... HAHAHAHAHA I didn't believe it until I saw it in the store but... You get a demon mask and someone puts it on and walks into the house then to get rid of the evil spirit you throw... Peanuts at it! It was too much fun! #itswasNUTS #evil...BEGONE! #thatonewasforyouTerra! 

I hit my 6 month mark! It's taken forever but has also flown by! #missiontime #1/4th #gettinold #February6th

S/O to Judy because she told me something I REEEEEALLY needed to hear! Love youuuu! #asiansistah #thankyou! 

Happy Single Awareness Day everyone! In Japan Valentine's Day is actually when only girls give guys stuff... Hint hint.... #ilikebowsandhearts <3

Next month on the 14th is White day which is when guys give girls stuff ;) #bestoked 

Get to see all the South mission homies in March! Too stoked! #southhomies #whycantwejoinbackup? #ijustwannadohoodratstuffwithmahfriends

Facebook would be out of business if it weren't for Moms posting pictures of their kids and how beautiful they've become, newlywed wives who are posting about their new etsy shop and sponsored posts they try to make look natural and missionaries... 

There's this Karage (fried chicken) Ramen right by our apartment... It is hands down the most delicious thing in the world! Also the most gangster OG old man makes it so... #keepinginRawMan #yummm #OMORI! #OGpapamein 

You know you've succeeded when you have to lean back after you've eaten to avoid falling over because of how much food is in your tummy! #onakaPANPAN! #potchari #FatBoiLyfe 

Had a dream I talked to this nice lady and she was way interested in the gospel but she was from america... So I got a way sick referral for the homies in Alabama! #eveninmydreamsimgettingworkdone! #baptiseher! 

You know you're in Japan when... You talk to someone who is jogging and he tells you he does it everyday for 3 hours and he's 87 years old and you're not surprised. #stillkickinit #87yearoldslook60 #AsiansdontAge 

S/O to Kira for posting the cutest thing ever! #sorryicantlikeit... #homiesforlife #luffyou! 

I can't tell you how much the support has helped me this week especially! Thank you for writing me letters and emailing me I looooooove you! 

Love, Rice, and AH WALK IT OUT!

Love,

Elder Karage Ramen