Week 34 - May 29, 2012

• Transfers 3-4...

Dear Mom and Family,
How are all of you? I hope great! Have you received the letters/envelopes that I've sent lately? There should've been one for Kauluwehi, one for Mom, and one for Mikela. Kauluwehi, I hope you had a great Senior Bash, Seminary Graduation, Mauna ‘Ala visit, Graduation, and Grad Night. It sounds like it was a pretty eventful week! And good job all of you other kids on finishing another school year! Thanks for a copy of your talk, mom. I really like it. How is the ward doing? Has it grown at all recently? I saw on lds.org that right now it's Elder Kniff and Elder Taylor in the ward, if I remember correctly. Tell them I say hi.. and I hope you're working with them at least a little! It'd be really great if you were able to go out and work with them for a few hours one day, Keawe.

It's been great here in Sagamihara. We've been passing out Eikaiwa flyers at the train stations a lot more lately. We got just over 1600 flyers out last week and had 25 people at Eikaiwa, 21 students (8 new) and 4 members. It's been a lot fun. Our zone (10 companionships) had 14 new students last week, so we made up a little over half of that number. If that's what it takes (1600 flyers for 8 new students)  then I'm more than willing to put the work in, as long as we can introduce the gospel to those 8 people who would have never known about it otherwise. We're hoping to continue building it and working to keep all of the new students coming back each week. I'd like to make a detailed plan for our Eikaiwa, detailing past growth and plans for the future, to present to our bishopric the first week of next transfer. Right now we only have two classes, with no members  running the reception desk, making it difficult to teach to everyone's needs and to schedule shokai (introduction) lessons with all of them. If we can build our Eikaiwa into three to four classes and at least eight members each week, it could be a really effective finding tool. Members can be more involved in missionary work and many people will  be able to have prolonged interaction with missionaries, members, and church activities.

On Saturday we had an 'egg drop' for our outreach activity. Each team (most were just one person, some had two or three) had 10 pairs of chopsticks, one balloon, five big pieces of paper, one meter of twine, 10 small rubber bands, scissors, tape, and an unboiled egg wrapped in a plastic bag. Out of the 10 eggs that we dropped (from the second story of the church,)  three survived. It was a lot of fun! We ended up having two investigators, one Eikaiwa student, and bunch of members in attendance. In the end, each team was awarded points according to how well they did and how little supplies they used, and were able to "buy" treats with their points. I'll attach a few pictures! (probably to your other email, mom.)

Yesterday we spent our time from about 11:00 am to 4:00 pm in the backyard of a lady's apartment taking a deck down. We got a call on Sunday night from a member in a branch in a place called Senzokuike asking if we would be able to give a little service.  It was a lot fun. There was Elder Richmond and I along with a member originally from Tanzania, living in Japan. The deck was probably only about 10ft. x 5ft. with walls, a grill area, and a small roof, but it took us a while. We'll probably be heading back sometime next week to help load all of the wood and everything into a truck.

This morning we were able to get into an 8:45 am endowment session at the Tokyo Temple. It's always great to be in the temple and to meet with all of the other missionaries.  It seems like my MTC district is all doing really good.

I've attached a copy of some notes that were taken at our Elder Clarke conference, if you'd like to look at them. I'm not sure who wrote them (probably one of the couple missionaries) but they were posted on our online mission portal for us to use.

All in all, the work is amazing and continuing to move on! As for this week’s schedule so far, we have Eikaiwa tomorrow, a mogi (practice) lesson with a less-active member on Thursday, district meeting and lunch (because it's the last one of the transfer) on Friday, we might go bowling with a small group of investigators Friday night, transfer calls on Saturday morning, another mogi lesson with another less-active member on Saturday, and our weekly outreach activity Saturday night. It's exciting and I'm having a great time. I love you so so much and am grateful for all of your support and prayers. Take care and have a great week!!

Love,
Elder Rindlisbacher

Snacks and prizes.

Supplies.

Our bishop's son and his friend...this egg did not survive.

Just as everyone began building.

Elder Richmond's and my egg survived.

Tiny and no tape used...but this egg survived too!

Week 33 - May 21, 2012

• Sagamihara

Hello,
How is everybody doing this week? Kauluwehi, is your graduation this Sunday the 27th? I was logged into my lds.org account and saw the calendar for the stake. That's a little bummer that it's on a Sunday morning, but congratulations on graduating. It's almost summer, I bet it's been a little more dry lately? It's definitely warm here. Today it's only about 25 degrees Celsius and a little humid... I think that's about 78ish degrees Fahrenheit.

Anyway, this week was a lot of fun here in Sagamihara. On Tuesday, the day after I talked with you, we had an all mission conference with Elder Clarke of the Seventy. So we took the trains to Shibuya, the center of the world, and the conference was held in the Temple Annex Center, a building just off of the Tokyo Temple. It was a great conference as they always are. I really enjoyed Elder Clarke's "no nonsense, just work hard" kind of attitude. He trained a little about how, if we have the potential to become Gods, how could we ever have an "I can't do that" or "That's just how the people are here, there's nothing we can do." kind of attitude. I liked that a lot. Really, each of us, each of God's children, has the potential to become a God or Goddess. Our Father in Heaven sees us with that potential in all we do. If you believe that, how can you not believe in yourself when it comes to small things in this world? Later in the conference, Elder Clarke also brought all of the former bishops to the front of the chapel (there were about eight of them, comprised of our mission president, one of the translators, and a few of the couple missionaries) and asked them how many times the missionaries in their wards took flowers to their wife and a card to them, thanking them for their hard work. None of them could say that it had happened. Elder Clarke also asked all of the missionaries who had prayed for their bishop by name that morning to raise their hand. Nobody raised their hand. He told us that he had done that in innumerable conferences with thousands of missionaries and the result was always the same. It was a good reminder for me that our bishops are the ones who hold the keys to the missionary work in our wards and areas. After the conference we had a lesson scheduled, but it was raining so that was cancelled. Because we had a little bit of time Elder Richmond and I bought a vase and some flowers and two pairs of socks to take to the bishop and his wife. We have such an amazing, hard-working bishop, and I really am so grateful for him.

At Wednesday night English class we had 19 people in attendance.
That's a change from four the first week of the transfer, and it's
been a blessing being able to schedule shoukai (introduction) lessons. We have a 30-minute introduction lesson with each new English student. If they have interest, we teach them more. If they don't, then they're of course still welcome at Eikaiwa each week. On Saturday we had a ward barbecue at a riverside area called Takadabashi. It was about a 45 minute bike ride, actually just past the area I sent pictures of a little while ago. I'll send more pictures. We were able to get one of our new Eikaiwa students out to that. Through our love and sincere care for these new friends, they will see the blessings that they have been searching for. Other than the new Eikaiwa student, we had four investigators, one less-active member, and a bunch of members friends in attendance at the barbeque as well. We all had a great time.

Yesterday we ate dinner with a young part-member family. It was their only son, Yoshiki's, fourth birthday. The mom is Chinese and a member, her husband is Japanese and not a member. We didn't know much about their family at all before leaving for their home. We only know the mom, not how old her son would be, how many children she has, or who were members, but we grabbed a few of the small wallet-sized 'For the Strength of Youth' foldable cards. They proved to be great for the husband, who knows a decent amount about the church, but will be able to appreciate more the standards that strong church youth have. Members maintain their agency, God will never take that, but through Christ we know what choices will make us happiest. We can of course choose what we may, we just know the choices that lead to the most happiness.

My companion says that 60th west is kind of near the Old Bingham Highway. He says that past his house is a road called U-111, then the mountains after that.

This upcoming week we have a Mini Zone Conference (just my zone) and interviews with president. The week after that is the last week of this transfer, so next week we'll be able to go to the temple again, meaning P-day will be on Tuesday instead of Monday. And we'll get transfer calls at the end of that week too. It seems like I'll be staying here and getting a new companion, but nobody really knows!

As for the scripture stickers, just one compact set would be great.
Thank you so much!

Two scriptures that I read recently that touched my heart:

"Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with
anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things
should be done away." (3 Nephi 11:30)

"And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive. And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works. And may the Lord bless you, and keep your garments spotless, that ye may at last be brought to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the holy prophets who have been ever since the world began, having your garments spotless even as their garments are spotless, in the kingdom of heaven to go no more out." (Alma 7:23-25)

Recently I've been working harder to develop Christlike attributes.
Over the past little while I feel like I've grown a lot in terms of
learning how to overcome frustrations with love. It's definitely hard at times, to hide frustrations or to respond to opposition in a loving manner... but it's always possible. The old adage, "What would Jesus do?" is good here.. When it's essential to be in tune with the spirit, which really, is always, it's important to remember to not be angry.

Quoting a talk I read recently, "Irritations and frustrations will
occur, but frequent anger and contention do not persist where the
gospel of Jesus Christ is practiced."

Anyway, I love you all so much. Take care and have a great week!

Love,
Elder Rindlisbacher

Riverside area called Takadabashi.

Sagamihara Ward BBQ.

Week 32 - May 14, 2012

Sagamihara

Dear Family, I loved talking to all of you earlier today! I'm so glad you're all doing good. Congratulations Keanu on winning your two basketball games. Good luck with your next one! Good job with Basketball, Keawe. Keep on working hard and consistently in the weightroom, it pays off. And focus to get your grades up. If you can keep an upward trend of grades from here, colleges will be interested in you. Congratulations Mikela on becoming a Senior and being able to go to SOAR. And congratulations Kauluwehi, graduating from high school and heading to BYU-Provo. I'm so proud of all of you!!  Kauluwehi, Mikela, and Keawe, good luck with upcoming finals. Work hard! And Keanu, have fun these last few weeks of school. Keep up the good grades! A few pictures are attached from the past two weeks... the titles are numbered, so here's a short description/story of each: 1 (5/712) View of inside the grocery store we've been going to when we don't head to Costco. It's called OK Super! and it's right across the street from the church. It looks pretty normal right? 2 (5/7/12) Another of in the store 3 (5/11/12) We went to the Takatsuka Family home on Friday evening for dinner and a quick "mogi"(practice) lesson(about a 30min. bike ride.) Sister Takatsuka, Izumi left for the MTC today. When she enters the MTC, that'll make eight full-time missionaries out from our ward, with another with his call. In addition to that, there's about 25 other young single adults in the ward, so the number of missionaries out could really be doubled! The day before we went out there my companion popped the tube of his back tire so we bought a new one and replaced it that night. I bought a patch kit to keep with me just in case, and the same tire went flat as we were on the way to their house! So I ended up using my new patch kit the day after I bought it. It's been ok since. Anyway, we made these to give to Izumi shimai to use when teaching the plan of salvation in Sendai(where she'll be heading for her mission.) 4 (5/11/12) Spirit body and physical body to use with the plan of salvation set 5 (5/11/12) Plan of salvation set continued 6 (5/11/12) Continued 7 (5/11/12) Gospel of Christ, drawn by a Japanese Elder in an area next to mine(English is #17) We gave this to Izumi shimai as well. 8 (5/11/12) Restoration drawing that we gave to Izumi shimai. 9 (5/11/12) A little river that we passed on our way to the Takatsuka home. This is the most inaka(rural) I've seen our area so far. 10 (5/11/12) Elder Richmond looking at the river. My bike behind him. We actually have the same bike, different colors though. 11 (5/11/12) Koi(colorful carp) in the river 12 (5/11/12) A view of the same small river as we biked along it 13 (5/11/12) A view from an overpass. Again, the most inaka I've seen since, really, I've been in Japan. Besides this I haven't left the city much. 14 (5/11/12) View from the same overpass 15 (5/11/12) Me on the bridge that you can see in picture #13 16 (5/11/12) View from the bridge 17 (5/11/12) English version of the drawing of the Gospel of Christ(Japanese is #7) I love all of you so much. Thank you for all of your love and support. I so appreciate your wonderful smiles and spirits. I think about you often! You are a such a huge part of my foundation, and motivate me so much to work harder and be better! Please continue to read and pray daily as a family. I love you! Take care. Love, Elder Rindlisbacher

Week 31 – May 7, 2012

• Sagamihara

Dear Mom and Family, 

I hope you've all been great and had a great week. Sagamihara has been great. It's been another productive week. As far as Mother's Day, the number to call is 011-81-80-2149-6144, at 6:00 pm your time. If it would be better to call another time, let me know via email soon! Otherwise I'll be on Skype and with the phone at that time. It'll be 1:00 pm on Monday here.

Tuesday I took Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies to seminary and it seemed like they went well. I made some chocolate ones later, but I think they might have been too sweet for early in the morning, especially with Japanese people. They don't really like sweet things, for the most part. I think I'll put some Congo Bars using Grandma's recipe in tonight for tomorrow morning seminary.

We had our district meeting this past Thursday. We studied a talk given by Elder David A. Bednar called, “The Atonement and Journey of Mortality”.  

http://www.lds.org/liahona/2012/04/the-atonement-and-the-journey-of-mortality?lang=eng&query=*+(name%3a"David+A.+Bednar") 

It's a great talk, I really like it. It's helped me to understand and appreciate Christ's atonement more. I believe that there is an ideal home. I think many people in the world now don't believe that there is. But there is. There is a perfect home. It is possible. Elder Campbell, an elder in my district, spoke of a convert he knows. He said that the turning point in this man's life was the night he went to the bishop's house for dinner. He was investigating the church, and seeing the way that the bishop's family and home was, made him think that he was in a movie setting. He was 'searching for the cameras the entire night.' If the gospel and atonement of Christ are the center and foundation of our lives as families, we can achieve a 'perfect family.' I truly believe that it is true. I think about families a lot now. It seems like all the time. I hope that Pukalani ward is doing great! I'm sure they all are. I am so grateful for the amazing love and support that I was given while growing up there. That is so essential. In this work, it can come to a point where if you can just get an investigator to church, they will know that baptism is what they want, just by the love that they feel. There is a special feeling and love in every church building with every ward. But that love can be developed into another kind of love. Another love that will feel like so much more to those who don't fully understand it yet. 

Saturday at 4:30 pm we had a lesson with Shimizu kyoudai. Elder Watanabe Kan (the first Japanese Mission President) and Yasuda shimai, the great sister we had dinner with last week Sunday, jointed with us. We came to find out that Shimizu kyoudai has more of a problem with the Word of Wisdom than we thought. He has a small problem with tobacco and alcohol. But I believe that if he can exercise faith, find other ways to relieve stress, he will really feel God's love and strength for him. Our main focus with him, as of lately, has been to work with the ward to fellowship him as much as possible. He really needs to know that we all love him. Sagamihara Ward has been great. I love greeting everyone each Sunday as they come to church. Elder Richmond and I have been able to build strong relationships with them and I am so grateful for them. Many of the people I have met and come to know on my mission are some of the best people in the world.

Saturday night for our outreach activity we watched 'The Testaments.' We had a really good turnout of members with three investigators also in attendance. The next day in church on Sunday we had the same three investigators with us. We attended Gospel Principles class with the three of them. It was taught by Yasuda shimai and was focused on the same talk by Elder Bednar that we studied on Thursday at our district meeting. Yasuda shimai shared a powerful and spiritual lesson and was fighting tears almost the entire time. She is always extremely happy and always smiling. Okamoto kyoudai, one of our investigators, commented before the lesson that she was 'always, always happy.' She built off of that asking everyone why she always seems happy. And if there are others that seem the same way. She was baptized just over 10 years ago, and she used her fairly recent conversion story to really hit home with our investigators. We taught two of them together after her lesson.

So it's been a great week. Elder Richmond and I are doing well with just the two of us here now. I 'm grateful for him as my companion. We've been growing a lot together.

Matthew 11:28-30 

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Why is Christ's burden light? Really, his burden is not light at all. The reason his burden is light is because he has so much strength. If we but come unto him, we can partake of that strength, and truly do more than we could ever without it. Our burdens will truly become light. Not because they will necessarily change or be taken away, but because we will receive Christ's strength to either carry them or change them ourselves. For that I am so grateful and so dependent.  

I love you all so much!! Thank you!! Have an amazing week!!

Love,

Elder Rindlisbacher

Week 30 – April 30, 2012

• Sagamihara
  

Shin ai naru kazoku e,
(Dear beloved family)
Thanks for the email, mom! The new area and stake presidency sounds great. President Auna's son was working in the MTC while I was there. He served in Italy. Maybe there's only one stake on the Big Island, but he was in the same stake as Elder Coakley. I think his son's name is Jarom. We had a workshop each Saturday night and we saw him a few times because he was always working at those. Also having two Upcountry priesthood holders in the Stake Presidency sounds great. I'm glad to hear Upcountry is doing so well. There are so many amazing and strong families!

Today we biked out to Costco again to shop, and because I have a family membership card (that I bought with another elder) in order to add Kauluwehi to my card she'd need to have the same address as me. The Costco here doesn't have everything as the one back home, but it has mostly everything.

As far as earthquakes, there's always a few small ones going on. I think the one you wrote about was in Chiba, the prefecture I was in last. It was early in the morning, about 5:25am, so we were still in our futons. It was actually two back to back, lasting about five minutes total. But it wasn't really bad at all here in Sagamihara. My companion and I woke up when it first started, but just went back to sleep.

The area that I sent pictures of is actually probably about 30-40 minutes by bike if we were to just go directly there. It was nice, just at the bottom of the mountains, but still city. The farthest I've biked is probably only just over an hour. There are days that we stay on the bikes all day, we just don't go far. Both of my areas have been pretty small, but my companion and I would like to make some time to visit a family in our ward who lives just about a two-hour bike ride from the apartment. There's an area in the mission in which the church is an hour from the apartment.

As far as an oven in the apartment, we have a small toaster that can also be used as an oven. Last transfer it wasn't really toasting things well so we were able to get a new/used toaster from the mission home. Just before throwing our old toaster/oven out we decided to keep it because of the oven feature. I'm glad we did because I've used it a bunch of times to make a few foods and desserts.

To Keanu: Hello Keanu! My week was great. Many exciting things happened. How was your week? I am doing well, preaching the gospel. Macaroni and Cheese sounds great. I think right now I am the same height as before, but I wonder how tall you are? Do you think you've grown? Do your clothes still fit? Did you go to fun factory for a special occasion? I'm sure it was a lot of fun! Every day we usually preach the gospel for about eight hours. We study for about three hours every morning though. It is a lot of fun! I miss you too, but I think before I come home, maybe you can come visit me here. Wouldn't that be fun? Japan is a fun place. But right now, my plan for when I go home is to spend time with you and the rest of the family. I love you, Keanu! Have a great week, have fun with Basketball, and work hard until school ends!

This last Tuesday we went to the early-morning seminary again. I made lemon bars the night before, using the recipe you sent, so I took those. I think everyone enjoyed them. On Thursday night we had dinner with a new family in the ward, the Kanzakis. Sister Kanzaki served in Hiroshima about 10 years ago. She said she served in Okayama. Brother Kanzaki graduated from Utah Valley State University and they lived in Chicago for three years because of his work, so they speak pretty good English. They have two kids, a five year old son and a three year old daughter. After dinner we taught the parents a mogi (practice) lesson on the gospel of Christ. After, we talked a little about how dendo has changed over the years. With the Tokyo mission being the technology pilot of the world, we have access to so many more technological resources now. We have laptops in each missionary apartment and phones with GPS navigation and infrared technology (to send/receive numbers and information from people on the street.) It's interesting seeing how many aspects of the work has changed. Also with the introduction of PMG, so much has changed with how lessons are taught, etc.

We taught Shimizu kyoudai (the two elders who transferred's former investigator) on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday we reviewed the gospel of Christ and taught him the Word of Wisdom. He was really surprised with the Word of Wisdom. He's a pretty quiet and mostly unemotional person, but when we taught him about coffee and tea, his jaw dropped. He couldn't believe that almost all of the people in church each Sunday are following it. He committed to keeping it this week to see how he feels about it. It looks like the hardest thing for him will be tea, so I think we might go out and buy a few teas that are okay to drink and give them to him as a gift. If he doesn't have any teas that are okay to drink in his home, then it will be extremely hard to keep. The Word of Wisdom really is a commandment given for our physical and spiritual health though, and as long as he can understand and realize the spiritual benefits, he will be okay. Really, people who use tobacco or drink alcohol know that it is not good for their health, but of course they still continue. I think the thing that really enforces the importance of the Word of Wisdom is the long list of spiritual benefits. On Sunday we talked with him about how to increase and strengthen faith, and we reviewed the Word of Wisdom a little.

Saturday night we had our "tower game" outreach activity. It was only my companion and I and Okamoto kyoudai, so we each had our own pack of 100 chopsticks and our own box of rubber bands. Even though there was only three of us, it was still a lot of fun. But we've coordinated with ward leaders more and we hope to see more people come out each Saturday.

Sunday night we had dinner at the Yasuda family's home. Yasuda shimai is from Taiwan and speaks Mandarin Chinsese, Japanese, and English... and maybe more. Yasuda kyoudai is Japanese, a little Turk (not Turkish), and a little French, and speaks Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, English, French, and German. They had many people over, including three of our investigators (Okamoto kyoudai, Shimizu kyoudai, and Atsushi kyoudai) and it was a lot of fun. It was great for our investigators and building kankei (relationships) with a few members.

We didn't teach our PMG class this past Sunday because there was a stake PMG class, but we really want to get our weekly class going. We've got so many young single adults and youth (both the largest in Japan,) that they could really benefit from learning more about the text that the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles have given us to guide and help in missionary work. The week before last we had two YSA's with mission calls, another young man preparing, and another sister in the ward who just wanted to learn more about missionary work. It was fun, so we hope to get it going more and more.

Our zone theme this transfer is to "Rise up and Build our Eikaiwas." Our zone leaders used the example of Nehemiah to illustrate the theme. Nehemiah, a cup bearer to the king, was given the opportunity to "rise up and build" the walls of destroyed Jerusalem, it was made an even more monumental task because he was persecuted and threatened constantly by neighboring people. He was diligent and refused to stop working. He refused to come down from the walls he was building and he finished them in a remarkable 52 days. All knew that it was by the power of God. In our companionship we want to start kubari'ing (handing out flyers in front of the train stations) daily and working and coordinating with members a lot more to get their fire going. I found a talk given by Dieter F Uchtdorf http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/we-are-doing-a-great-work-and-cannot-come-down?lang=eng&query=nehemiah where you an hear more about Nehemiah.
Two weeks from Yesterday is Mother's Day, so I'll be able to call then. I was thinking maybe around 6:00 pm your time on Sunday? That means it would be 1:00pm on Monday here. It can be earlier or later, let me know what you think or if there would be a better time. We're pretty open with our schedule right now. And we can use Skype video call if you think it will work. Otherwise, our phone number is 080-2149-6144. There's probably a prefix that you need so I can send that next week.

Also, here's a link to a cool article if you'd like to read it. It was posted on our online portal for us to read and use with investigators and I thought it was cool. It was published in the NY Times and is about a few elders in Uganda. It's really favorable towards the church, and explains a little about full-time missionary work in a fun way. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/education/edlife/at-age-19-from-utah-to-uganda.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

All in all, the work is good and I'm doing well. Thank you for your prayers, love, and support! Our investigators are progressing and we're seeing small successes each day. I love my mission and I love the gospel! Matsu Jitsu Seito Iesu Kirisuto Kyoukai (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) is founded upon truths restored in these days through Joseph Smith, the prophet of our dispensation. God loves us. He has a plan for us. And Christ lives! He is Risen! Have a great week. I love you!

Love,
Elder Rindlisbacher

Week 29 - April 23, 2012

• Sagamihara

Aloha,
It's the first day of this transfer and I'm still in Sagamihara! Elder Richmond is staying here too, but it's now a two-man area. It's been a little crazy working to be sure that there is a smooth hand-off of everyone the other companionship has been working with. It's a little overwhelming receiving all of their investigators, etc, but we're definitely grateful for the opportunity and responsibility! On Saturday after we received our transfer calls, we jointed with the other elders so that we could get to know one of their investigators. It was a great lesson on the Atonement and Gospel of Christ, and we set a baptismal date for 5/12. He's a really great guy and seems like a really strong investigator. From here we'll work to keep his transition to us teaching him as smooth as possible. The ward’s help and participation will play a big role. Elder Richmond and I will also need to work harder to keep our eikaiwa and outreach activities going. In order to keep both eikaiwa classes (beginner and advanced) we'll need a few more members there each week because we can't teach two classes with just two elders. But we're excited, and ready to work!

Other than that, it's been a pretty short week since I wrote last, because we had P-day and went to the temple on Tuesday. The other three elders and I participated in seminary on Wednesday and Friday morning. It starts at 6:00 am here. Sagamihara ward actually has the largest seminary class in Japan, with about 23 students and a few other members each morning. Most seminaries in Japan are just done in a member’s home with a few students. Elder Richmond and I are planning on going to seminary each Tuesday and Thursday from now on. It's such a great way to build a better relationship with the youth of the ward.

Wednesday night's eikaiwa was fun. We had a lady come with her son and son's friend. Elder Richmond called her while we were doing area book dendo. We'll need to schedule a shoukai (introductory) lesson with her this upcoming Wednesday. We only taught Okamoto kyoudai once this week (Friday) because it was raining the other times we were supposed to meet. He's continuing to progress, slowly but surely. He comes to church every Sunday, but doesn't read or pray daily as of now. I think he'll realize their importance in time.

For Saturday night outreach we had a "teamwork game night." We played three games that involve teamwork, then brought out the takkyu (ping-pong) table because we wanted to play fufu (blowing) ping-pong again. It was a fun night. This upcoming Saturday we're planning a game in which two teams have a few hundred chopsticks and rubber bands and need to build the tallest and strongest tower. I'll report on how that goes next Monday!

So it's the start of another transfer. I love my mission and I love the gospel! I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to help children of God everyday as a full-time missionary. And I'm grateful to be able to learn Japanese along the way!  It's definitely difficult at times, but I enjoy it, and look forward to the day when I can speak comfortably. I'm grateful for a loving and supportive family. I'm so grateful to be sealed to my family. Let us all work together to ensure that there are no empty chairs in the Celestial Kingdom! When you have a little time, read or watch the general conference talks. They will help and bless you. God leads and guides us!  Thank you.  I love you.  Have a great week!

Love,
Elder Rindlisbacher

P.S. A picture of my district this last transfer is attached. From left to right, top: Me, Elder Kerr (my kohai), Elder Richmond (my companion), Elder Igarashi (district leader, used to be in Sagamihara with us, helped me a lot with my Japanese), Elder Barino sticking his head out (from Hanapepe, Kauai), Elder Campbell (zone leader) behind Elder Barino, Elder Nelson (zone leader) sitting on the far right. Bottom: Sister Lundy (my MTC group), Sister Derricott (Kent Derricott's daughter), Elder Piland (used to be in Sagamihara with us, my MTC group) standing.

Week 28 - April 17, 2012

• Sagamihara

Hello from Sagamihara!!

I hope you're all doing great! It's hard to believe it's already April. It feels more like February! Time is flying. We just got back to the apartment. It's the last week of the transfer so we were able to go do an endowment session in the Tokyo Temple. We got to the temple around 9:00 am, so we were in the 10:00 am session. It was great, of course. After the session, we went over to the little distribution center next to the temple and I was able to get a new gappon (Japanese triple combo) because I gave mine to Okamoto kyoudai last week. Then we went out to Akihabara so that my companion could get a new electronic dictionary and camera. It's now about 5:00 pm and we'll leave the apartment to work at 6:00 pm.

Anyway, this week has been great. The sakura trees all got a little more full in the beginning of the week, but now they're pretty much done. They just come and go, only lasting about a week.

On Saturday we held a 'mini sports night' outreach activity. We had fufu ping-pong (blowing ping-pong), paper basketball, and mini bowling. It was a lot of fun. I'll attach a few pictures of it. With blowing ping-pong we basically just put five people on each side of a normal ping-pong table with no net (poles, but no net), put the ball in the middle, and nobody was allowed to lean on or touch the table with their hands. If the ball fell off the table on your team’s side, it was the other team’s point. Like normal ping pong, we went up to 11 points. For paper basketball, each team had two small garbage cans that they had to fill to the top with paper balls. There was a line of tape that the teams couldn't cross. Each team was allowed one person to sit by the garbage cans to throw paper balls back so the teams wouldn't run out from missing too much. With bowling we set 50 small pins up at the end of one of the church hallways and each team had one roll per team member. The winning team was the team with the least pins still up after all team members had rolled.

Our bishop’s son was baptized on Sunday after church. It's so great seeing baptisms, whether they're eight year-old member baptisms or convert baptisms. Seeing a child of God making the commitments and receiving ordinances that are needed in order to enter the Celestial Kingdom is great! After that, we got on our bikes and rode out to the Machida church as quickly as we could because Kent Derricot was speaking. His daughter is in my district, serving in Machida. We weren't planning on going out, but there was an investigator who we found out was there, so we had to get there. We were able to see the last 30 minutes of him speaking.

Yesterday, Monday, I had a companionship exchange with Elder Piland. He's one of the other elders over Sagamihara area. His companion, Elder Igarashi, is our district leader so he's supposed to split with as many missionaries in the district as he can. We went out to an area I've never dendo'd in. It's a really nice area, I'll probably attach a few pictures from there as well. It took us a little over two hours to get there, stopping to talk to everyone along the way. We housed for about an hour and half, then started on our way back. We were planning on finishing up some housing in a huge apartment building near the church, but it took us about four hours to get back, because there were so many great people along the way. Overall we ended up meeting six new people to teach. An amazing number for one day! One 19 year old boy we talked to is already married with a young child, so that would be seven to teach if we can work with them more. So many miracles are seen on companion exchanges! Elder Piland is my doki (MTC group) so we were just two missionaries finishing up our third transfer. We're still pretty young in the mission, and can't speak great Japanese, but I have a testimony of God's guidance in the work! I know that if I do what I am supposed to do, think what I am supposed to think, and work together with my companion, the Lord will place people in our path and miracles will happen. Elder Piland gave an analogy that I like. He said that his father has a really nice knife that is always clean, sharp, and well cared for. He takes it with him whenever he goes camping or anywhere he'll happen to need a knife. He also has a knife that he's had for a while, but it is rusted and dull. He basically just keeps it because he's had it for a while and he likes it, but it gets no use. It's the same with us. The Lord will use the missionary, or member, who is the sharpest and cleanest. He still likes the dull knife, but it doesn't get used nearly as much. And when we're a tool in the Lord's hand, we are blessed!! It's a win-win situation. You are doing what is right and makes you feel better, and the Lord blesses you!

So it's already almost halfway through the last week of this transfer. We'll get transfer calls this Saturday to see if we're going anywhere new and if anyone new is coming here. It's exciting. The work is great. The gospel is the plan for our happiness. Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. And I know that that is true. I have felt his love in my life and I am so thankful for my opportunity to serve him full-time. Thank you for all of your love and support! Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Rindlisbacher