From The Land Of The Rising Sun

(Martin visited the famous "Ramen Museum" - which is designed to look like a busy street in Tokyo in the year 1958 , before modernization changed the face of Japan.)

 Exerpts from Elder Mumford's latest e-mail: 

Dear Everyone,

First of all, I appreciate all your help, but you've got to stop praying so much.  We had way too many miracles this week, and maybe you could just keep it down a little bit next time. :)

Essentially, we have been teaching 1 or 2 lessons every day since the day I emailed last.  It's just a non-stop stream of people who are interested in the gospel.  Let's start from the beginning...

Right now, we are working with these people:

1. Tetsuo (new)

2. Urushizako

3. Ishitani

4. Ippei

5. Taku (new)

Tetsuo.  He is our miracle man.  He recieved an Eikaiwa (English class) flyer, and gave us a call, wanted to know 'the things of God'.  Which was amazing by itself because I can count the people I've met that want to have anything to do with God here, on my fingers.

So he wanted to meet the same day.  We hurried back to the building where we teach, and met Tetsuo.  It turns out he lived in Nebraska for 4 years, and some missionaries there helped him out with learning English.  Now he speaks perfectly fluent English.

So we sat down and started talking about God.  We explained that God's church has been restored through Joseph Smith and introduced the Book of Mormon.  Of course, first of all, he needed to know for himself if any of this is true, so we explained how we can get that answer.  Not just hoping and believing, but an actual answer.

And he wanted to know.  He said, 'what do I have to do?'

Essentially, by the end, we left with a goal for him to be baptized on May 2nd, by which point he would try and get an answer.  He also said he would read 100 pages a day.

Since then we have met with him 2 more times, and are meeting again this Friday.  He already knows about lots of the commandments from his time in America and with the Nebraska missionaries.  He is simply the most amazing person we have ever taught.  Right now he doesnt have a job, but goes to many seminars and job interviews every day.  We'll have to see what happens!

(View of Mount Fuji, across Tokyo Bay in Jogashima)

We also had a fun lesson with Urushizako.  Normally, because he is 76, I cant understand a single word of his Old People Japanese.  So we brought a member couple about his age to help translate.  The downside is that each one of the older people, at some point went on kind of random tangents and told stories that didn't really have to do with the subject at hand.  But, it was a good way for him to meet members of the church.  We taught him about the plan of salvation.

When we taught about 'paradise', he really liked the sound of it and wanted to go there.  However, when we taught about the 3 kingdoms, he didnt want to LEAVE paradise.  He said that the judgement sounded too scary, and he just wanted to stay in paradise forever.

He also believes some very interesting things.  He read a book about how the Universe knows what you want, and if you want something bad enough, you will get it.  I think I heard about that book before my mission too.  Anyways, he asks the 'Space God' to tell him where to go and what to do every day.  For example, after coming to church with us, the space god told him to WALK back home instead of taking the train, which took him a good 5-6 hours.  Every day he goes out and buys random things... instruments, kimonos, childrens toys, all because the space god tells him to.  Makes me a little worried, but hey, Im just hoping that he will have a good time and feel good influences from coming to church and hearing about the gospel.  Maybe we can even build upon that, talking about the Spirit, how it can direct us... not exactly in the same way though.

So he's a funny guy.  He just laughs at everything and is just the most energetic little old guy youve ever seen.  

Taku-san is a person we met recently, wants to know if this church is true and is reading/praying to find out.  He's a really nice guy, a high school student.

So that's essentially the people we are working with right now.

(Food is very expensive in Japan.  Here is a single cantaloupe with a price tag of  3980 yen, which is equivalent to approximately $40.00 US dollars.)

As far as transfers go, Im not sure yet.  I have a feeling I'll probably leave Kawasaki, but I dont know.  President Hill sometimes tells you in the interviews if he has already decided, but I havent heard anything, so I'm still not sure.  We will find out this Saturday, and then the following Thursday or Wednesday?  Im not sure, but that week I'll email with the new info If I go.  Elder Kowalk is for sure staying in Kawasaki though.  It's been lots of fun, so I'll miss him if I have to leave.

Oh yeah, the term, 'Bruce'.  This comes from an Elder Tilly, but essentially "when you see an American walking with a Japanese girl, he is a 'Bruce', because to the Japanese they are Batman, but we know who they really are."

Lots of times, in Japan, all you have to do is be American and everyone loves you.  At least thats the opinion of many missionaries here.  It seems to be true, too. :)

Anyways, I'll give you the new information as soon as I can.  Thanks for everything!  I've been having a great time this week, and Im way exited for the Elder Bednar Conference tomorrow.  We get to ask questions for 3 HOURS!  Its going to be intense.

Good luck to everyone wherever you may be, whatever you may be doing, and whatever kind of food you like..

Love,

Elder Mumford,

Tt Oo Kk Yy Oo

Jj Aa Pp Aa Nn