Week of Miracles & Surprises

So this last week has been pretty amazing. Sister Lundy and I obtained 4 new investigators. Crazy right!!?? One of them was Tani that I briefly mentioned last week. We haven't able to meet with him yet cause we have to wait till the Elders are also free because he will become the Elders investigator.

The other investigator is Narumi. She is that girl that I met on the train ride coming to Oyama my first week. Remember her? Last week we went out to lunch with her and we did something we call a shokai lesson, meaning we basically went over 4 main things we teach as missionaries and then asked her what sounded interesting to her and just asked her questions and she asked us questions. It was a wonderful lunch/discussion. She asked a lot of good questions and now we are trying to set up another appointment with her. She is a really sweet girl. She is my age and loves to travel. We are going to try and go to a place called Niko next week and see if she will come with us. Niko is a place in the mountains basically that have A LOT of shrines. I am really excited about going and seeing it. Sister Lundy has been there and showed me some pictures and it looks really cool. So hopefully Narumi can be free to go with us and then we will be able to do a lesson with her. She seems ready to hear it.

The 3^rd investigator is a man who was born in Bangladesh but grew up in India and is now working here in Japan. His name is Priti. We had a lesson with him on Sunday and another one on Monday. He is buddhist and this is his first time listening to people who are christian. He won't say if he believes in God but he won't say that he won't either. He wants to find out more information. He said that he will pray and read the Book of Mormon to find out. He is just so amazing. He seems so ready to hear the gospel. A lot of the things he says just takes me back because I can see the spirit working in him. For yesterdays lesson (monday) he also brought his friend who is also from bangladesh to hear and his friend wants a book of Mormon so we are seeing if there is one in Bangladesh. Priti seems to be refering a lot of his friends. It is so wonderful. Priti speaks really good english and that is what the lessons are in, mixed with a little Japanese because we have a Japanese member who comes with us to teach. I must say that I do not mind teaching in English. :) We have really high hopes for Priti and we can't wait to teach him more.

The 4^th investigator is a members friend and she has come to Eikaiwa a couple of times. Last week she got really sick and was in the hospital. Brother Hasagawa asked us if we had time on Thursday to go and visit her at the hospital and we of course made sure we had time for that. We took the train to the hospital and met Brother Hasagawa at the station and we walked together to the hospital. Sachiko was feeling a lot better and we were able to visit her for an hour or so. She loves english and speaks it well and wanted us to speak english to her. She told us that she wanted us to teach her how to pray because she doesn't know how and since she is sick she thinks it is time to know God. So we taught a short lesson about God and that He is to who we pray to and told her more about the character of God. We also gave her a book of Mormon that the Elders, Sister Lundy and myself, and Brother Hasagawa signed and told her that through the book of Mormon she can come to know God. She told us that she can feel/see a power that we have and wants to know how she can get it. We told her by praying and reading the book of Mormon are the first steps to obtain that power and happiness. She also told us that she hopes her daughters will listen to us and be receptive to hearing about christians. Sachiko is amazing! I love her so much and that lesson was just amazing. The spirit was strong and she is so ready to hear the gospel.

So those are our new investigators. We have a lot and it is hard to keep them in track sometimes. We do some finding but right now it is trying to set up appointments so that we can teach these people. Oyama is wonderful. There are many people who are ready here. For Tani and Priti they are the ones who came up to us asking to be taught and we just started the conversation by saying hello to them in passing. The Lord is moving His work forward and He is helping us.

On Saturday we had the Natsumatsuri (summer festival) and it was so much fun. It reminded of home a lot with the ward getting together for parties like the 4^th of July breakfast. The food was delicious. They made yakisoba which is this meat that is a common dish in Japan and it was oh so good. It was fun seeing people and we were able to meet some new people. They also had a talent show and the a lot of people performed. They asked me and Sister Lundy to do something, sister Lundy play the piano and for me to sing. You know how wonderful my voice is so I was sneaky and when we went up there I chose the song “Jesus wants me for a sunbeam” and asked the kids to come up and sing with me. Haha But it is funny I don't think when the Japanese sing that song they jump like americans because I was the only one jumping. It was fun haha :) That family that we met the week before and invited to the Natsumatsuri didn't come but we still drop by every once and awhile and try to chat. Sometimes they are not home or last times it was only the father. We shall see what happens with them.

On Sunday morning before church I got a surprise phone call. An Elder from Chiba area

Mugicha - Buckwheat tea. Love it!!

called and talked to me. After I said who I was after answering the phone he said “wow, I haven't heard your voice for awhile”. I said ok...He asked if I knew who he was and I said that I might but he should tell me anyway because really I had no idea who he was. So he told me. And guess who it was??!!?? Gabe Ribiero. The brazilian exchange student that went to high school with me and was my date to the halloween dance, the one who dressed up as a devil. Ya, he is here in the same mission as I am and I had no idea. I haven't talked to him for a long time. That just blew me away. He has been here for a year and 6 months and is the zone leader in Chiba. This Friday we have a mission wide conference so we will be able to see each other there. What are the odds right? Haha

I am finally getting used to be being a missionary and the ups and downs it entails. Even though it is super hard I love being here. I keep pinching myself because I still can not believe that I am actually in Japan. I am recognizing that my Japanese is slowly improving and I am having more courage to speak and try and more confidence as well. The beginning of last week was really hard. Despite the amazing things that happened I was not feeling so well. I wasn't finding much joy in it and that was frustrating me because I really wanted to. But I kept going to my Father and pleading for His help and He did help me. I felt the burdens lifted and I have felt a new found joy for this work and even though everyday I am bone tired I am given strength to continue through each day and look forward to what the day will bring. This gospel is amazing and it is the only way we can truly be happy. I know that all that we are accomplishing is not because of us. It is the Lord. It is His work and He wants to see it moved forward. And He is giving us strength each day to do that. The Savior lives!! I know it. I am sure I wouldn't still be here if it wasn't for Him and His support that He gives me. It is through Him that I can do anything. And He blesses me so much everyday. That is one thing I love about coming on a mission, is the relationship I am creating with Him. He is my friend!!

I miss you all like crazy. I love you with all my heart and I do look forward to seeing you again but I do love being a missionary. The challenges and all. I am glad that you are all doing well.

In the Sun She Melted, Melted, Melted...

Konichiwa subarashi Kazoku (Hello, wonderful family),

I can't believe it has already been two weeks since I have been in Japan. It is still wierd to think about. Sister Lundy who has been here for 8 months even always says to me, "We are in Japan!!! Can you believe it!!" haha And I don't think I have even sweated so much in my life. It is so HOT!!! We come back to the apartment at the end of they day basically soaking wet because it is just so hot and so humid. But in a wierd way it is not that bad. Riding bikes there is always wind and it is always a cool wind so it feels nice. Plus I always think back to that first real day when I didn't have a bike and I didn't have my backpack because it was with my luggage so I just had my shoulder bag and we were out walking all day long. After experiencing that and thinking I was going to die the heat isn't that bad. haha But it will just continue to get hotter as we move into August and September. This last week it was in the low to mid 90's. Ya, hot!! :

Ok so this last week. Let's see where should I start? Well last week we kind of split p-day into two days, monday and tuesday, because we just had so much to do. On Monday we went to Eikaiwa and then afterward we met with a less active member who took us out to lunch at Denny's (and just so you know the menu is completly different. No breakfast items at all). She is the funniest lady ever. She would tell sister Lundy that she needed to eat more and that I needed to eat less if I wanted to look like a japanese person. haha I know that sounds rude but the Japnese people are like that and the way she said it was just hilarious. Afterward we went over to her house to do a mogi (practice lesson) and during then she told us her conversion story. I of course couldn't understand a word of it. I could only get things here and there. But then Sister Lundy filled me in on the rest  after we left and her story is amazing. I wish I had time to tell you about it but that is just a story that is too long and powerful. I guess it will have to wait till I get home. I don't know why she is less active. I think it is just because she is sick and doesn't make it to church everyweek.

On Tuesday we did some more dendo (mission work) before we continued with our p-day. We went by a neighborhood where a member gave us a referral but they were not home so we did some housing and talked to this one man that sounded like he was interested and wanted us to come back but when we did go back a day or so later he wasn't interested at all. Anyway, on the way to the house we passed this house where I saw a mother with her two children playing in front of their house. We didn't stop but they were in the back of my mind. So when we were returning from the referrals house I was hoping they were still there and they were but I kept riding by but I got this strong impression to go talk to them. It was basically saying "go back, go back, go back." So I asked Sister Lundy if we could turn around and talk to them. So we did and talked to the mom for a little bit and told her how our church families are very important and just talked to her for a little bit. She said she just moved here and didn't really have any friends. Right now she isn't interested in Religion but she is always looking for activities to take her children. We told her about how this saturday at the church there is a summer festival party. She said she would like to come and we also gave her an Eikaiwa flyer. I really hope they come on Saturday and that we will be able to eventually teach them.I like to think that I got that prompting for a reason.

Wednesday I had my first real breakdown. I tried talking on the phone to someone and I couldn't and I just felt so miserable. I was just feeling like I wouldn't ever get the hang of this language and be able to help people. I also felt bad because when we have long conversations with people and I can't understand my brain takes different turns and starts thinking about other things and I always try to refocus but it just keeps happening. I felt like I was being a terrible missionary because of that. But as always the Lord provides comfort to those who seek it. I was flipping through my scriptures and stopped on some highlighted parts and they hit me so hard because I knew that I was being watched over and I just need to have faith that I am where I need to be right now and even though I can't speak that well right now, I can still make a difference to people. The scriptures were Alma 26:36-37.

Thursday is weekly planning which takes 3-4 hours and then on Thursday nights we have music night. so we don't dendo all that much but music night is really fun and some potential investigators come and also members so it is a great way to get to know them. Also this last Thursday I experienced my first earthquake. It was a little one lasted about 2-3 sec. but the ground still shook and afterward I felt like I was on boat and the earth was still moving. It was an interesting experience.

Nothing much happend on Friday. We had a zone conference so I was able to meet some more missionaries and some of us went out to lunch afterwards. Then that night we went with two elders from another area to see some of our potential investigators. They came with us because they speak spanish and our investigators are either from Brazil or Peru. You would not believe how many Latino families are in Japan. These two elders mission area is bascially devoted to the spanish/porteuguise people. That is there mission. Interesting huh? We are hoping that they can really help the families we visit and help them progress.

Saturday we met an eternal investigator. She has been meeting with the missionaries since 1995. Crazy right!! She is such an amazing woman. She knows the book of Mormon is true and she shared a powerful testimony of it. We asked her bluntly why she wasn't a member yet and she didn't really answer just said it is hard changing when everyone in her family is buddhist. But the thing I am learning about Japan is that people always say they are buddhist but if you ask them about it they don't know the teachings or anything. It is more of a family tradition thing. We asked her if she didn't have her family to worry about offending would she be a member and she said she would probably. So sister Lundy and I feel really good about teaching her and we feel that we need to try to get her husband converted and then she can. We met him briefly as well and he seemed like a nice man. Well actually I know he was nice because he gave us fans to have and I spoke to him a little bit about softball. :) We are hoping that his heart will be softened and that we will be able to finally get this woman, Sugiura, into the waters of baptism.

I don't think I talked about Sundays and church here. So the members are the greatest people EVER!!! They are just so kind and they all have the dendo fire. They love the missionaries and are always willing to help us. The members in our ward are about 80 people so it isn't that big. It is still hard to understand what is going on but I still feel the spirit. My first sunday, last week. they had be go up to the pulpit and bare my testimony. Then for Sunday school we went into a gospel principles class that investigators and recent converts go to. None of our investigators come but some of the Elders came and the teacher Sister Adachi is amazing. She taught a very simple lesson about prayer and just went over the basics but it was powerful!! Then yesterday I felt the spirit strong during the whole three hours and received revelation for myself that will help me and sister Lunday and I, since we didn't have any investigators went into the English class. There are 5 american women here who are teaching English so we went into their class and it was a wonderful lesson.

Sister Lundy is such an amazing companion to have. She is very patient and kind to me and has such a love for this gospel and the Japanese. We have a lot of fun together and she has come up with a nickname for me. It is Ariel because I love the water, when I was young wanted to be a mermaid, and I have red hair of course. She is so funny. She also wanted me to name my bike so last week I came up with the name H iHi (heehee). The first Hi means fire and the second means princess. So her name is fire princess because she makes by legs burn. She is helping me to trim down. haha :) I love riding a bike.

Ok, now about last night. Last night we went to a summer festival and they had fireworks. Now Oyama is famous for their firework show and I can see why. They are nothing like I have ever seen before. America has nothing compared to this and I know that the 4th of july fireworks will never be the same. I took a lot of video of these fireworks and some pictures. I am hoping to upload one of the videos and see if that works. We went with two members, Hasagawa and Tomita, and also two women who are potential investigators and we want to teach them so bad. They are Fusako and and Tanaka. Fusakosan is the one who invited us to the festival and then Tanaka brought us there and also brought food. They are the best ever and they would be perfect members. So with those four it was just so much fun. I LOVED IT!!

And I want to quickly mention a small miracle we had today while we were out. We were on our way to visit a family and we were on a street corner waiting for the light when this man came up and asked if we are to preach. We said yes and to do service. He said but you are not nuns. Ane we said no we are not. He said ok I want you to come to my house and preach to me. But is that ok because I am a single man and live by myself. We told him we have Elders who can come and teach him. He was just like ok ok. But I am a very busy man, don't have much time. Well if you have 10 to 15 min. then we can teach you a short lesson. Oh really ok then that is ok. I am free only on Sundays and Mondays. I will give you my number and I will call you but not a lot because that is bad because I am a man. (Short note, he was speaking english that is why I could understand him and he is from pakistand and here for work)

Can you talk about WOW!!! We got his name and number and talked to him for a minute or so and told him we would call him. Sister Lundy and I just stared at each other after he left and I asked, "did that really just happen? I mean really!?" She just nodded her head and we were both screaming inside and so excited. Talk about some who is ready and prepared. We really hope this will turn out well. But we feel so blessed from the Lord and it just made us so happy and excited. We are going to pass his number to the Elders and the first visit we will probably all go together but then it will be up to the Elders.

I love Japan!! I still can't belive that I am here but it is amazing. The people are so wonderful and I can see my Japanese slowly improving slowly day by day. The Lord is with me and I know He is giving me strength and comfort. This gospel is amazing! It brings so much joy into my life and peace. I am falling in love with the book of Mormon more and more each day. I think back on the times that I wasn't in the habit of reading it and it is during those times that my life was the hardest and are my lowest points. The Book of Mormon lifts me up and through it I can feel God's love and know His plan for me. I love being a missonary!!

Welcome to the Land of the Rising Sun

Hello My wonderful family,

So this week I have probably missed you more then I ever had before. Just with calling you and be thrown into the mission work made me really miss you and made me want a hug. But I am fine and I love you!!

I am here!! I am finally in Japan and I still can not believe it. The plane ride was looong!!! 12 hrs is a long time, especially when you can't sleep and you can not watch movies. But it was really funny because we were surrounded my little chinese children and we had disney movies going all around us and I also saw a few watching Hunger Games. It was loooong and we were all super happy to finally land in Japan and get off the plane.

At the airport we met President Budge and the AP's and they drove us back to the honbu (mission home) where we met the two office missionaries Brother and Sister Galbraith and Sister Budge and had dinner (taco soup). After dinner we all went upstairs and crashed. I was so tired, I felt like I was on a boat you know, that floating feeling. So I slept really well. But it could have also been because since I was the only sister to arrive I was given the general authority room which had a king size bed. Ya baby!! I loved it!! :D I did wake up a few times though 1) because of jet lag 2) because here in Japan the sun comes up at 4 in the morning and is super bright. YAY!!! haha

So on Wednesday I met my companion - Sister Lundy - and she is really fun. She has been in Japan since December and this is her first time training. She is from Colorodo. She is really sweet and patient with me and is just a wonderful companion to have as my trainer. Her Japanese is really good and she has such a deep love for the Japanese people. So I am sure you are dying to here where my first area is at well it is in.....Oyama!! Oyama is considered the country side of Tokyo but it not the countryside you would think of. It still has a lot of buildings. There is just Sister Lundy and myself and two elders. Elder Tauchi and Elder Tauchi and yes they are related. They are brothers. One is towards the end of his mission and the other just started his three months ago. How fun is that they are companions. And they are great elders. The younger is sooo funny and just full of energy and happiness. I love working with both of them. But I love Oyama and the Japanese people in general. They are so kind and the members are just amazing. They love the missionaries and are always willing to help them. Anyway back to Wednesday. So after we went through some orientation stuff Sister Lundy and I grabbed my carry on and started walking to the train station where it would take an hour to get from there - Nakano - to Oyama. The train was super crowded when we were in the main city and if you heard any rumors about people having jobs to puch people in the train they would be true. But it was really fun. During the train ride sister Lundy and I started talking to these two women (well mostly sister Lundy since my Japanese is so so). One of them got off but we were able to get her number and gave her ours (little meshi cards which are like business cards) and about that time the train was pretty empty so me, sister Lundy and the other girl whose name is Narumi sat down with Narumi in between us and we just continued talking and she actually spoke a little bit of english. Sister Lundy told her that we are volunteers for our church and she asked what exactly is that we do. I explained to her (in Japanese) that we have a mesage we want to share with everyone about Jesus Christ. I then asked her if she has ever heard about Jesus Christ and she said no so I explained that Christ is Gods beloved son and it is through christ that we can all return to live with God again. I asked if she believed in God and she said sometimes. I then explained that we believe that we (everyone) are God's children and that he really loves us and wants us to be happy. He has given us a plan so that we can receive that happiness and help and that is through Jesus Christ and through Him we can return to God. She then told us that when she was in the Phillippines she read a little bit from the Bible. I then started telling her about the Book of Mormon and how is like the bible in how is talks about Jesus Christ. I also happened to have one in my backpack that I bought at the bookstore for such a purpos and had her look at it while SIster Lundy said it was a book that testifies of christ and about a people in the americas (indians). I gave her that copy to keep and we then told her about Eikaiwa (english classes, which is our service every week) and she said it sounded interesting and she might come. Oh she lives in Oyama. That was my first contact as a missionary in Japan. Not too bad right?!

This week has been long and I have been thrown into the fire, literally. Thursday I didn't have a bike yet so we had to walk everywhere which to give you an idea the church building is 40 min. away and then we were trying to find an investigators home and kept walking in circles. I didn't have sunscreen so I got burned. Right now my face and arms have a nice but the back of my neck and upper shoulders is burned and really red. It is really funny when the Japanese see it because they are not used to it. haha I also have been a feeding ground for bugs. Right now I have 11 bug bites (mostly on my legs) and I have one on my arm just below my wrist and right now it is better but it did swell up doing that thing when I sometimes get bug bits and they swell up to the size of a baseball. O and on Thursday night we were able to borrow one of the Elders bikes  until I get mine and I crashed it. I didn't get hurt much just got a nice colorful bruise on my thigh other than that I am fine. And I don't want you to worry I am alive!! haha

The last couple of days I have been getting pretty frustrated with the language and wondering if I will ever learn it and be able to speak it but the members and my companion are really nice and tell me that my japanese is really good. Some of the memebers have even been surprised when I tell them that I just arrived in Japan last week. They think my japanese is really skilled. Now I just need to start believing it.

I did finally get my own bike yesterday (sunday). Another sister in the mission was selling hers because it was too small for her and she was willing to sell it to me for $100. It is a really nice bike and today was my first time riding it. I was seriously blessed for it. And I love riding a bike. It can be really hard, my legs burning, but it is really fun and after walking on Thursday in the hot sun I will take the bike.

Even with the frustration of the language and my body going through the ringer I am really happy to be here and I feel so blessed. I know the Lord will help me as long as I put my trust in him and do all that I can. I know He lives and is walking beside me, picking me up when I am down. He is there for you too. I know that no matter where I go I always have a friend, a brother, a savior near by.

I love you all and I miss you. I am glad everyone is doing well!!

Until next week,

Mackenzie

Pictures

She Made It!

We got the official word today that Sister Dolan arrived safely in Tokyo. We (the family) were able to talk to  her on Monday while she was at the airport. She sounded great-excited, happy, and ready to work! We got some pictures of her with her new companion and her mission president after they arrived.

Testimony

Hey there! I apologize for getting behind in posting Mackenzie's updated. She is doing very well and has had some wonderful experiences. First, I wanted to share a video she sent us a couple of weeks ago. Last month, our sweet family friend, Barbara, passed away after a battle with cancer. Mackenzie found out the following day and we were all a little worried for her because losing anyone is hard enough, especially if you're not with your family. She made the video to let us know she was okay and to bear her testimony in Japanese. She has been working really hard at getting the language down and it's wonderful to see the fruit of her labors. Enjoy!

Special Visitors

At the beginning of June, our little sister, Megan, graduated from high school. As a special surprise, our Nana and Uncle Nathaniel flew from Florida to visit and attend her graduation. They were given special permission, along with my parents, to visit Mackenzie at the MTC for an hour or so. It could be the last time our Nana could visit (Florida is a long ways away!), and it was a special experience for them. Here are some great pictures from the visit. Mackenzie is just glowing, and spoke some Japanese and bore her testimony. My parents said they were very proud of her. 

 Uncle Nathaniel

 Nana, Mackenzie, Nathaniel

 Mackenzie and Mom

 Dad and Mackenzie

Mackenzie and her cute companion, Sister Stubbs (aka Stubbs Shimai)