Rain and New Companions

Man this week was awesome! Elder Oshima is awesome. I am so blessed to be working with him. He teaches me so much and he is a wonderful example. He is 178cm tall... I think that I am like 185cm. or something like that, so he is a pretty good height. He was born and raised in Nara Japan and has one younger sister. This is his 9th transfer. He got right to work and I think he probably knows more names people in Nagasaki then I do already. Before we picked him up on Thursday we picked up Elder Malcolm's new companion who's name is Elder Chung. He was born in Hong Kong and moved to Australia when he was like eleven. He is a funny guy and it is good to have someone that I feel like I can help with the language. Since Elder Oshima has zone things to work on with Elder Malcolm, I went with Elder Chung on Saturday to find people on the street (so as to not waste time). The rain was crazy, and when we returned to the apartment Elder Chung poured his shoes out and wrung water out of his socks.... shoot, I'm out of time... it was awesome I love missionary work.   

I know that the Savior lives and that this is His work. I love Him and his work.

With love to all,

Elder Bevan

Transfers and Things

Well today has been kinda hectic. We got transfer calls today and I will be getting a Nehonjin (Japanese) Companion! His name is Oshima. I will be staying in Nagasaki and Harvey Choro is becoming zone leader of Kumamoto Zone. My new companion will be Zone leader with Malcolm Choro... That means that when they go off and do Zone Leader things I will be working with Malcolm Choro's new companion. He happens to be a brand-new missionary from China.... 

It should all be fun. I'm looking forward to the next six weeks. 

The past week has been good too. Having Malcolm Choro as our companion changed a lot. Our focus shifted on certain things and it changed the dynamics of our companionship a lot. I learned a lot about the things that I need to work on, and what I would like to be better at. I think those lessons are probably what I needed for this upcoming change in the district, and getting my new companion. I hope that I will be able to continually learn and apply these kinds of lessons for the rest of my time here. 

I will miss Harvey Choro. He has been a great friend and support to me, and especially in these past few weeks I have realized just how invaluable He is. He will do fantastic in his role as a Zone leader and I am sure that He will bless many more lives as he serves. I hope that I can become the missionary that I need to be to follow his example of loving service, and ultimately the Savior's example. One of my friends wrote me recently and bore testimony of the reality of the Saviors life. Of that, I also would like to bear testimony. I know that the Savior's sacrifice has effect on us, and that it is real. I know that Heavenly  Father hears our prayers, and that this is His Church once again established on the earth. I love Him.

My love to all,

Elder Bevan 

  My tricompanionship:  Bevan Choro, Malcolm Choro, and Harvey Choro

                                   

The District

Zone Conference

Taylor Isaacson's Setting apart

Taylor Isaacson setting apart as a missionary... Lansing, Michigan.

My Second Tripanionship!

Well this week began began with zone conference on Monday, and proceeded form there with oddities. Tuesday was p-day. On Thursday our zone leader got a call from the mission president calling him as the new AP. On Saturday he left and the other zone leader became my second companion. The new AP's name is Elder Coelho and my new companion is named Elder Malcolm. We a lived in the same apartment before now, so it isn't like this is extremely weird but it is definitely different.

On Saturday, after Elder Coelho left, we had the chance to go hiking to the top of a Nagasaki mountain. it was a great experience and we got to be with two new converts and two investigators. On the way back out of the mountain we passed by a Shinto temple. I felt like I was in some sort of Zelda Game or something. It really was perfect. All around us was covered in green and everything was quiet. The entrance was cut through a rise in the ground and the walls were covered in moss and greenery. 

As we passed through, the elders quorum president talked a little bit about the similarities between Shinto religion and Christianity. That was king of interesting too. 

Sunday was crazy too. We came to the church at eight thirty and practiced a musical number that the Nagasaki Missionaries, had ward mission coordination meeting for an hour, then taught priesthood, then stayed with our investigators throughout Sunday school and then went to Sacrament meeting. In sacrament meeting I had the chance to speak. I did not do so great because of the language and because I didn't have a lot of time to prepare, but I did my best and It inspired me to work harder at the language. For the rest of the meeting I tried to repeat in a whisper everything that was said and realized just how hard it was to do. I understand a lot more than I can say, but I'm glad that I can at least understand the little that I do. I really am blessed. 

I guess the final thing I want to write is about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the foundation of all that we have, and all that we, as members, do. Without the Atonement the restoration is not important. Temples, families, and service are useless. Without the atonement of Christ we are are nothing. I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is true and real. I have seen it at work in my life. I am grateful for it.

my love to all

Elder Bevan

Elder Malcolm

Elder Harvey,...Elder Bevan

Atonement

OK, I've got like five minutes left after reading all of your wonderful emails... and by the way there is nothings better from home and friends than letters, thank you... So I would like to bear my testimony on the thing of most importance in this world, this life, and in eternity; that being the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I have often given in to the tendency of seeing that I do things in the right way, and that all that I do is the very best that I can imagine it to be, at the cost of my losing sight of the Atonement of Jesus Christ filling its part in my life. I know that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World and my personal Savior. I have seen the miracle of forgiveness work in my life and it is now, more than ever before, apparent.

I love Him, my love to all,

Write more next week,

 Elder Bevan 

Hard Work

This week I learned a little more about what it means to work hard. From the honbu (the mission home), we received instructions to go finding for three hours of the day, every day for two weeks. 

When we got that instruction we skipped dinner to fill our three hours talking to people for the day. After that we worked hard to fill those hours every day. It has often been difficult to fit it in, and we haven`t been perfect, but we have been really blessed. On this last Saturday we accidentally took the wrong train and ran out of time to do our part, but when we came home we decided to knock doors for the hour that we had. It was dark and raining, and neither of us was in a happy mood, but we did it anyways, knowing that it was the work that we are out here to do. We found our sixth new investigator of the week that night. 

I am very prone to be discouraged when I think things are not going perfectly well, but this week I have realized that it is really only as we rely on the Savior`s mercy to overcome our imperfections, and simply set ourselves to the work that He works through us. To our perfection, and the sustaining of His perfect will. 

I am so glad to be about this work and to be His servent. 

Thanks for all your love and support,

My love to all,

Elder Bevan