I am so full! Today we baked the pizza, and used all the ingredients in one go. We decided to make an AMERICAN style pizza, with an extra thick crust (stuffed with pepperoni and cheese and sausage), and then the normal toppings (double layered) on top. It was so beautiful. Then Elder Kowalk made 'Chocolate Melting Cake', a rec5-5e he rec5eved fr60 a fr5end.
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Anyways, they had all 3 wards meeting at the same time, which was all around 350 people or so. They had a separate room for English, which was pretty much just missionaries and a couple people from the wards who spoke English very well. As a missionary, conferences are the big events that you look foreward to, and the week essentially ends on Thursday.
When we ate the pizza and kake today, we both felt so sick, because we werent used to such greasy food.
Pretty much everything in Japan is good for you, and when you havent had a slice of greasy pizza in a long time, it hurts when you do. I think that is a good warning to all the missionaries returning home soon. Take it easy on the foodstuffs.
Melon Pan (delicios bread in Japan)
Egg Nogg (Elder Kowalk has a recipie)
Fried Rice
Okonomiyaki
Every kind of Spaghetti you kan think of
(The name "Calpis" doesn't sound very appetizing in English, but in Japan it is a very popular drink. The taste is similar to a watered down yogurt smoothie. The name "Calpis" was formed by taking the "cal" from "calcium" and the "pis" from the word "sarpis" which means "supreme taste"! The Word "sarpis" is also used to describe the "essence of Buddhist teaching." )Most people have heard of Christianity before, but dont have any real image of it. Some people know the titles 'Protestant' and 'Catholic' and ask us which one we are.
And as I mentioned before, by far the most common response we get when religion is mentioned is 'Im buddhist'. It always bugs me a little, because were not here to talk to Christians, were here to talk to Buddhists, thats exactly the point!
However Im finding out good ways of talking to people that helps them understand the deeper message. Even though we are two completely opposite people from different countries, different religions, and different stages of life, we both NEED this gospel. The fact is that it helps everyone, and it may sound arrogant to claim that there is only one way to be truly happy, but it is true! If there really is only one way, then how important it is to find out what it is!
Recently we had someone correct us. We told him that we knew that what we are saying is true. He stopped us and told us that we couldnt know, that we are too young and havent experienced enough, researched enough, thought enough about it to have come to such a decision of truthfulness. I thought about what he said, and he is right.
We cannot know that this is true by ourselves. We can think it is true, we can have a 'good feeling' about it, and it might even make sense to us. But unless we KNOW, and can guarentee, can proove that we KNOW, we have no right to say that we know.
Fortunately, this church is an exception to the rule. We CAN know. If God actually gives you an answer, a witness, if God actually individually proves to you that this is true, you can say that you know. I know. God told me that this church was true a long time ago. I will never in my whole life, no matter what happens, be able to deny that there is a God and that he gave me a real, physical answer that proved to me the truthfulness of it. And thats not all;
Everyone can get this answer. Its not even that hard. Just follow the promise that Moroni gave, and you will get an answer that will prove the truth to you. And this is what we are sharing with people.
Despite all this, there are very few willing to listen or try it. We're still looking! I still have yet to meet someone willing to try it out. Many people are curious about religion, or english, or whatever, but simple arent willing to try and get an answer. Im having high hopes though, some of the people we are teaching may very well try it soon. All they have to do is try. :)
(Marborofu Gyoza- This is what you get when food is scarce and you have to start combining random foods that are in the apartment. (Don't wory, we only had to do it once) We learned that Maborofuba and Gyoza don't really go together.)Also, where we live there are lots of 'Nora nekko's (stray cats). Just everywhere you go there are these cats darting off into the bushes. I think its cool, but not when they get into the garbage. The crows also get into the garbage here, and spill it everywhere sometimes.
Anyway, The time here is just rushing by... this last week and a half I cant even remember it. Each day is just so quick that its just a series of getting ready for bed... and next thing you know you are getting ready for bed again.
Yes, good luck to everyone. Keep working hard, studying hard, and have lots of fun!
-Love, Elder Mumford
T J T t E
o , a . h s p e v
k o p n e e l c e
y a B a r!
P.s. remind me to tell you about 'Bruce' in Japan. :)
As usual, a great letter. As parents you should be very proud of him. Bruce, I remember scambled egg pizza, tuna fish pizza, and spinach pizza in Brazil. How about you?
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