Friday, August 26, 2011

8/21/2011

Hola,

Hey family!

Well, another week has passed by quickly over here in good old Takamatsu. It was a pretty eventful week I would have to say. Lately, we`ve decided to leave the city while dendo-ing and trying to reach out to our brothers and sisters in more of the inaka areas. You may ask why? Why go outside the city when you have a big Shotengai you can dendo in? Well, I shall tell you now. I`ve been in Takamatsu for such a long time that mostly everyone in the Shotengai already knows me. Its really interesting because we`d contact a good amount of people in the Shotengai and I could almost guarantee that A. I`ve already talked to them. B. They`ve seen me talking to someone. or C. I`ve talked to their friend, relative, neighbor. Of course I`m exaggerating quite a lot, but I swear this happens a good amount when we`re in the Shotengai. I guess that`s one of the results of really trying our best to talk with everyone about the gospel! Plus, its all good because I`ve really gotten know a lot of the locals in Takamatsu over the last half of a year.

For example:
Man with Puppy: 60 year old male. Has a cute puppy that he takes on walks with his bike. Always stops and talks to you about politics and how young people are becoming uneducated and more rambunctious. Usually has a cigarette in his mouth.
Skatergirl: 25 year old female who love skateboarding and bmx biking. Usually wears a tank top while skating, has a tattoo on her wrist and always yells and waves "Hey boys!" to you when she rides past.
Metal Gear Solid: Angry Caucasian male in his late 40`s. Always riding a bike, wearing dark sunglasses, a hat and an aloha shirt. Guaranteed to say "Get a !"$#%&* life" whenever he rides past you. Whenever you try to stop him, he will always ride past you and throw up the middle finger. During contacts, he rides past you and tells the person you`re contacting to "be careful, they`re dangerous"
Flamboyant Smoker Lady: 60 year old female who wears very interesting clothing. Usually found smoking in front of the Mini-stop in the Shotengai or sitting on a bench. Always texting or watching television on her pink phone.
Punk: 18 year old male who is very fashionable with bright neon colors. Usually found riding his bright orange street bike through the Shotengai at night. Wears a Jaws beanie and owns a bright colored backpack. Rides past you and does tricks on his bike when you try to contact him.
Magician: 24 year old male who performs magic in the Shotengai. Very kind and humble. Also very talented at magic as well.

Well, there are more...but you get the point. I love the people of Takamatsu! Especially all of my friends. My goal before I leave is to stop Metal Gear Solid and share with him the message of the restored gospel! But, now its time to reach out to the elect who don`t spend most of their day in the Shotengai. I actually like switching things up, mainly because we`ve been finding pretty interested/interesting people in the inaka areas. Takamatsu is so amazing because the center is pretty city but the moment you get out...its pretty darn inaka. Housing, as many experienced missionaries know, always yields miracles and interesting experiences as long as you have faith that is. This week we were able to talk to a certain mother who happens to love Mother Teresa. She really enjoys learning about the concept of love and charity and feels that she really wants to learn how to develop those two attributes. And what better way to do that then through Jesus Christ?! It was great because we shared verses about charity and love from the Book of Mormon. She was way excited to receive a Book of Mormon that out of her excitement, she gave both of us surprise hugs...I would have to say it was pretty awkward for us because we didn`t have the courage to tell this excited woman that we weren`t aloud to hug females. Oh well, that will hopefully be the last experience I have of random women hugging me during my mission. haha

Oh yeah, on a more spiritual note. Takanashi is now confirmed a member!!! YEAH, GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST!!! I love that guy.

Anyways, I gotta go now. My P-day is disappearing...so I must go and do. Thanks for the emails family!!! I`m way excited to hear from all of you guys next week! MUCHO LOVE!!! Peace.

LOVE YA,
Elder Saito

Monday, August 8, 2011

8/8/2011

Hey Mama,

Looks like the good old dream vacation came to an end! Now its back to reality instead of chilling on a nude beach or walking down the streets of Barcelona. How`s the semester looking for UVU right now? Are you going to be pretty busy? Hey, so you should teach me how to really speak Japanese once I get home. I got to translate for this weeks zone conference and I realized how inept I really was in Japanese. Well, it didn`t help much that President used 5 billion scriptures but whateves, I still need to learn the language better. I did a decent job though, I kinda of winged some of the scripture parts though. But rest of the translating I felt comfortable. Hopefully they can start using me as a translator for the Hiroshima side of the mission or something, that would be way awesome! But as of now, I have to sharpen my Japanese skills so I can translate better you know? Yeah, you know. Hopefully President will hook me up with a Japanese companion somewhere along the line. But that won`t be for a while cause I`m going to be in Takamatsu forever!

Anyways, I`m glad to hear that things back in Provo are...well normal. Haha does anything change in Utah? Oh my goodness, I can`t believe that its already been a two year anniversary for Selena and Richard. THAT BLOWS MY MIND! I swear it was yesterday that I was wearing my fly black Jordans at the wedding reception and getting pulled over for speeding towards Sam`s house. Bleah, I guess this is just one of the curses of getting old. OH MY GOODNESSx2 can you believe that I hit my year mark this week? Man, unbelievable. But its a good week to have a year anniversary because its Obon! Good old fireworks and everyone being busy. Is Dad already in Japan? I kinda forgot to ask but I need some good ole American toothpaste. But its okay, I found one under the sink so I think it will last me a good month or so. Oh and some white short sleeve dress shirts...but its probably too late. Oh yeah, I was thinking of sending a few things back to America, is that anyway possible? I`ve got clothes that I know I won`t wear...but I can probably care about that half a year from now. Ah...nevermind!

So yeah, lately we have been seeing so many miracles throughout the mission! This last zone conference, President really focused on the Spirit and working more effectively with it. I definitely would have to say that it is effective! Without the Spirit, you literally cannot do the Lord`s work. Everything hangs on the Spirit. Granted, we can convince and persuade people to be baptized, but it states clearly in Doctrine and Covenants 50 that it wouldn`t be the way of the Lord. Without the Lord and the Spirit, the work doesn`t move forward. Period. You`d think that I would`ve learned this a long time ago but you know me, I`m way stubborn, hard headed and impatient. But, turning to the Lord for help in all things is surprisingly a very humbling experience. I mean, it entails a lot of things on your own side such as patience and accepting/unifying with the Lord`s will. Its a way awesome perspective of dendo. I`ve always relied more on my own talents and abilities for the work...but relying more on the Lord has taught me a lot of new things. Plus, you see more miracles that way too!

Speaking of miracles, our yakusokusha, Takanashi is looking way solid for baptism! He is seriously a miracle, I`ve never seen somebody progress so quickly in the gospel. He`s a way humble guy who just wants to become a better person. Its that simple. And what better way to improve than accepting Christ? Yeah, yeah! So his baptismal interview is this Wednesday...please pray for him! Its such a blessing to be working in this part of the vineyard right now. So many miracles, so many! Our other yakusokusha is super solid as well! He wants to be baptized for sure...but his parents seem to be a bit hantai. Man, but I have no worries. That kid`s faith is solid so I have no doubt he`ll be baptized. We`re really prayin for him because he`s going to try to talk to his parents again! Worse comes to worse, us and our branch president will jump on a ferry to Shodoshima and go talk to them. But whatever happens is the Lord`s will!

Okay, I gotta go bounce now. Hopefully you guys had an awesome week! じゃ今週も頑張ってね! MUCHO LOVE!

愛してるよ、
斉藤長老より