Another Miracle Week!

(Elder Mumford in Tokyo with Kato-san)

(From an e-mail dated 5/14/09)

Dear Everyone,

Well, a lot has happened since we talked on the phone.  It has been another miracle week.

Things are definitely looking up out here, yesterday we had a unique day:

6:30 - wake up, study, eat...

1:00 - lesson with Urushizako-san (the 76 year old one).  He had some pretty wierd ideas about the space god, but we felt it wouldnt hurt to ask the space god whether or not the Book of Mormon is true.  He tried it and said it felt like a good thing (or at least it didnt feel like a bad thing).  We watched the Joseph Smith DVD, and he thought that was good too.  For some reason he bought us watermelon slices (and we're not about to turn down watermelon!).  Very interesting.

(Fresh fruit is VERY expensive in Japan.  Martin took this picture of grapes for sale at a street stand. The cost: 1000 yen or about  $10.00 for one bunch of grapes!)

2:30 - Walk around town looking for more people who are interested.  We decided to go down to the river (the Tamagawa).  On the way there we met Shimizu-san.  He's mid-20's, SGI, and also has lots of interest in religion.  He said that talking to us made him feel really warm for some reason. :)  He wants to meet again, and gave us his number.

3:00 - Walking a little more, we run into Kobi-san.  He was sort of offended that we said hi (in Japan it is kind of rude to greet someone on the street.  Just saying 'hello', people get offended.) But we ended up having a great conversation.  It kind of bothers me sometimes, the whole "avoid interacting with other people at all costs" culture that you see here.  People simply dont talk to someone they dont know, ever.

Anyways, he was on his way to do some voulenteer work, which was cool because we are also voulenteers.  Wa talked a little about religion, and voulenteer things, and he wanted to meet us again sometime.  He said 'I cant describe it, but you make my heart ... happy'. :)

4:00 Stopped at a Konbini (Convenience Store) and bought a Yakiimo (baked sweet potato).  I was just standing outside eating it, and said hello to one of the workers who was stacking boxes.  Turns out he was a less active member from another ward, who had moved here and stopped going to church.  Way interesting, we'll have to come back to that store again and see if we can meet sometime.

6:00 Headed back to the Eikaiwa (english class) building for a lesson with Ishitani-san.  It was great, he learned a lot, and had a lot of questions.  He was reading Isaiah, and was very, very confused.  We explained how even WE dont really understand Isaiah 100%, but you just have to keep trying, and throught the spirit you can get more out of it.

(Martin has made it safely past the "Isaiah" chapters in his reading of the Japanese Book Of Mormon!)

Then in the middle of his lesson, this russian lady walks in and sits down.  We had met her the other day and told her about English Class, but she just showed up randomly a day early, sat down and started asking 'What is this?  What does that on the board mean?'  We had been drawing the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the board.  'Baptism, vat is this?'  And so we explained everything in simple English, and she sounded more curious than interested.  But she also wanted the Book of Mormon in Russian, so we made some quick calls and got one today.

Very interesting day.  Lots of things happening, lots of miracles and suprises.  I hope every day is like this :)  But even if its not, Ill still have fun, and be able to reflect on these times.

(The Tamagawa River,on the outskirts of  Tokyo Japan)

If I could just ask for 2 more names to add to the list of prayer;

1.  Takahashi-family.  They are less active and are struggling.  The love meeting the missionaries, but for many reasons cannot come to church every week.  They are having a difficult time and would appreciate your prayers for them.

2.  Shoichi.  He just got back from California and randomly called us up.  Wants to meet again.  He had heard all the lessons before, but had only read 2 pages of the Book of Mormon before.  Again, prayers would be appreciated.  Thank you so much.

Thanks everyone for the love and support.  Things are looking up in Kawasaki.  Exciting things are about to happen here, I can feel it.

Good luck everybody!

-Love

Elder Martin Mumford

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