So. Hi. I'm back again to write another email. Yeah.
Well firstly. I meet President and Sister Gustafson and had a good little chat with them. Sister Gustafson asked me to thank you for her. She wants to thank you for sending me away for two years to come work here and for preparing me so well. She loves you.
President and Sister Gustafson are so awesome. I was so worried they wouldn't be as awesome as the Margetts's. But they are. I love them so much. They are such wonderful people. President said that he kept getting calls from past mission presidents that would all say the same thing. Watch out for the wanpaku missionaries. The naughty ones that don't do what they should. And then he got here. And he said there weren't any. He was surprised. So he didn't have any new rules or anything to make. He just wants what President Margetts made for rules. So that's cool. We aren't wanpaku. We also talked about how Mom has the same last name as them and stuff before she was married. He said his grandparents came from Sweden. So yeah. We didn't really have much time to talk because I had a plane to catch. Plane number 13. Plane 13 is a funny story I think. Anyways. They are so awesome. And I'm glad I get to be here with them for so long.
So Plane 13. We sat down. I had the isle seat and Elder Munro had the middle and some Japanese young looking woman had the window seat. And from takeoff I could tell that this woman wanted to talk to us. Not for like gospel purposes. Just because we were a couple of gaijin that could speak Japanese. And she kept doing stuff to try to get our attention. Every time I would look in Elder Munro's direction or out the window she would look kind of in my direction but not at me so our eyes could accidentally meet and then start a conversation. But that didn't work. Because I don't speak Japanese very well. And then she was taking pictures out the window at the clouds. And then looking back over them with a smile on her face like she wanted to share these wonderful pictures with the world. But that didn't work. And then she moved to the window one up from the back to take pictures where we couldn't miss the camera. There are only so many pictures you can take of clouds. They are all the same thing. And the whole time I'm telling Elder Munro what I observe her do and how I could tell from the beginning how badly she wanted to talk. So we talked to her. Just to ask about a kanji. And then that opened the way for her. And she showed us the pictures and talked a lot. And seemed surprised that we were only 20. It turns out she was 30. Japanese people all look really young until they are old. Then they look really old. I would have said she looked 23 or 24. Anyways. That was just a funny experience. I can read the women too well. And they all fall in love with me.
So we taught O_____ san this week. It has been a while since we could meet her. And she still hasn't got a response from her Catholic leader. But she said she basically thinks its never coming. So we talked to her more about baptism. And she said she knows she needs to get baptized but she doesn't know if it should be now or later. So this blessed woman is going to get baptized. And the thing about teaching her at her house is that we have to do it at the door and lots of loud cars and stuff always go by and its hard to really get the spirit there. So out of nowhere Elder Munro said we should meet her twice a week every week at the church until she knows when she should get baptized. With members present so they can take care of the Japanese we don't know. And she said How did you know what I was thinking? I had that exact same thought like an hour ago but I didn't want to ask because that would be an obstacle in everyone's day just for her. So we are going to teach her twice a week in the church. The wonderful woman is going to get baptized. I was so happy after that lesson. I love her so much. That blessed 70 year old woman is so close to the spirit. This is too cool. So that was good. I'm excited for her.
So I gave a talk yesterday in Sacrament meeting about baptism. And we saw one of our less active members come just to see me. That blessed woman. She is so wonderful. Anyways. I spoke for like six minutes and I successfully shared a scripture in Japanese. And I told them everything I remember from my baptism and how it was such a special experience for me and how I felt the spirit so strongly. And I could feel the spirit very strongly as I spoke. And I saw Tatsuko shimai crying. So I guess other people could feel it too. It was cool. I like being able to kind of express some feelings in Japanese. I'm getting better. But its still so hard. I don't know if I'll ever be able to speak without thinking about it for like ten minutes before I speak. Anyways. Everyone came up to me after and told me how awesome I was and how they all loved the personal story. Elder Munro said I won the hearts of the Ishigaki branch. And then we went home teaching with Brother Tagawa to visit the Shiraho couple and that was nice. They are wonderful people. So nice. She fed us dinner. It was so good. Noodles with meat and rice that was delish. And then some weird like salad thing with goya. Goya is a vegetable everyone here has. Its really bitter. Its not very good. But I was fine. And then ice cream. It was good. Anyways. The spirit is so strong in their home. And then they complimented me on my talk even more before we left. They do that too much. Japanese people are so nice. They never cease to tell me how good my Japanese is getting. And half the time I have no idea what they're saying. Jk. My understanding is actually better than that. But just barely. Sister Shiraho said she was jealous of me because my ancestors have been Mormons for as long as I know except for Grandpa Gus's fam. Ancestors are a big deal to the old Japanese people. And she wishes she had more Mormon ancestors. And everyone also told me they were jealous that I could remember my baptism so well. I guess people forget things. Anyways. So yesterday was pretty good.
So like next week this transfer ends. And I might get transferred. Probably not though. I've only been here two transfers and Elder Munro has been here for four. Four is pretty much the longest anyone can go. I've only ever heard of someone staying in one place for five transfers one time. And they usually don't transfer both elders out at the same time. That gets way taihen. But its been known to happen every now and again. So maybe there is a chance of me transferring. We'll see. I sure hope not. Ishigaki is too awesome. And I just got a card last week that cuts all my plane flight costs in half. So Its not so expensive anymore. That was another cool story.
Elder Munro and I got to the airport last thursday to go to Naha to meet President Gustafson and we asked if we could use our newly acquired I live on a tiny isolated island so make my planes cheaper cards. And they said yes. And handed us 420 dollars. Actually it was 42.000 yen. that might be like 500 dollars. And then we gave it to the assistants to the Pres Gus and they were like no way. Apparently President Gustafson was supposed to fly to Okinawa the day before but was way wasted and wanted to sleep. And the cost of changing flights that late and everything was somewhere around 40,000 yen. And he felt really bad. But then we were there with the same amount of money to give him. Just goes to show that the Lord is there making everything work out even if at first it seems like you just lost.
Well I think that's my stories for today. Except one time I asked our beloved Zone Leader Iino Choro to marry me in Japanese. That was funny. Good old iino choro. Anyways. I love you. I love Japan. I love President and Sister Gustafson. And I love Ishigaki. And I love Yakiniku. So delicious. Heian soto.
Love ジョシュア・リドル長老
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