Week 93 - July 22, 2013

Hello,

It sounds like everyone's doing good. It's been an eventful week here in the mission. I've been driving a lot and I'm sure by the time I head home it'll take a little while to get used to driving on the right side of the street again. Driving on roads not as narrow as these will be nice though. It's like a video game every time we get in the car.

On Tuesday Elder Olson and I were able to register ourselves as now living in Kichijoji and I was able to pick up my license. That night the new missionaries flight was supposed to arrive at Haneda International around 11:00 pm but it was delayed and ended up arriving around 2:30 am. We left the mission home a little before 12:30 am and waited at the airport for a little under two hours before the missionaries, 4 sisters and 3 elders, came through customs around 3:15 am. We arrived back at the home at 4:30 am and got to sleep around 5:00 am, as the sun was beginning to rise. Then it was up at 6:30 am to begin the day! We had an amazing breakfast made by Sister Wada and President Wada trained through the morning. Sister Wada had a great lunch made and Elder Olson and I trained through the afternoon. We sent the missionaries out onto the streets for a little so they could do some of their first proselyting and give a few copies of the Book of Mormon out. They gave it their all and came back excited and with a stronger desire to be 'more profitable servants in the Lord's vineyard.' We had eikaiwa Wednesday night and the new missionaries all had a great time. The trainers came in Thursdsay morning for breakfast, we announced companions and trained a little, and sent everyone out to their areas around 12:00 pm.

The next day we had mission leadership council with all of the zone leaders and sister training leaders. That was great of course. We had a full agenda, but the main focus of the council was to teach the zone leaders and sister training leaders how to teach the Restoration using the pamphlet. The Spirit was felt strongly.

Our Saturday evening was spent first in Hibarigaoka where we went actually to have our pictures taken for a new flyer the church office will be making advertising family eikaiwa lessons. We hear it's supposed to come out in about a month or so. From there Elder Olson and I went to Machida, Sagamihara (one of my previous areas), and back to Kichijoji, as an elder had hurt his feet and will need to stay in the mission office for a few weeks until he's able to return to proselyting. So we went to pick an elder and his things up to transfer him to Sagamihara, then brought the hurt elder with us back to the mission home. We got back and in bed by 12:00 am that night.

Other than all of these various events and things going on Elder Olson and I have been making as much time as we can to get outside and invite people to learn about the gospel. We've met and made friends with a lot of people and hope to start seeing who of them have the most interest and who we'll be able to begin teaching.

 The work is great and I'm excited for all that the future has in store. Of course we always want to become, as President Monson said, "more profitable servants in the Lord's vineyard," so it's an ongoing process of work and growth. It feels like the time's gone by very quickly, but at the same time it feels like it's been a good while since I've been out on my mission. I've definitely grown and learned a lot. The memories and, best of all, friends I've been able to make here are wonderful. I have a testimony of the gospel and know it's true. I love you and pray for you!! Take care!

Love,

Elder Rindlisbacher

P.S. The address of the new mission home is:

Japan Tokyo South Mission

1-7-7 Higashicho Kichijoji

Musashino-shi Tokyo

180-0002    Japan