4/8/2012

Hello dear family,

Well, another unbelievably quick week has gone by. Its incredible how quickly it all goes by! Granted, most of the week consisted of me going around for trainings and and General Conference but whatever, it`s the life! We first started it off by going to Kobe early Tuesday morning, then moved over to Fukuchiyama and then finished it all off in Nishiwaki. We were able to get back into our area Friday night and start working again. I swear, I feel like a business man just going around in my suit and training people but that`s the blessings of being such an old missionary. ahah No but it was really great, I really enjoyed working with the missionaries in my zone.

Zone Leader Council was a good one as well. With President Zinke`s new training plan I can see a lot of apparent changes in him and his vision. I think he`s really getting a hold of everything and the mission is on the verge of exploding. Missionary work is so interesting to me, its something that I`ve been thinking about lately since I`ve had a lot of opportunities to train younger missionaries. There are so many elements that are included to create a successful missionary. A simple testimony, being able to work with the Spirit, desire, mental stability, social skills, proselyting techniques, etc. Its so important to understand that each missionary has their own strengths and weaknesses within the spectrum of the work and how the responsibility of leader is to help them continue to build on those strengths and recognize their weaknesses so they can work through the Atonement of Christ to improve. A true Christlike leader will help other missionaries turn to Christ when they recognize their shortcomings or weaknesses not try to do it themselves. I`ve come to a realization that I`ve been too caught up with running micro-management for the missionaries in my zone. As in, if there`s a problem within the zone, I jump in and solve it on the spot. Which may not seem that big of a problem at first, but in the long run I`ve realized that it doesn`t help the missionaries. Its the exactly the concept of giving a man a fish vs teaching him how to fish. Of course the latter on is more effective in the long run. Oh, the joys of missionary work. Right when you feel like you know what you`re doing, you realize that you are completely lost. Thank goodness for the Atonement! There is still a lot I need to do for the missionaries in my zone so I need to do everything within my circle of influence while balancing the work here in Toyooka as well.

Anyways, this week was a good eye opener for me. I think General Conference has really helped me to see where I want to go and do with the rest of the time I have left to serve. Honestly, there has been a lot running through my head lately. I felt like I`ve been trying to keep a bunch of McDonalds colored playpin balls within my arms while running. (For anyone who has experienced that can sympathize how I felt.) Anyways, with many things running through my head...I watched conference. Honestly, I couldn`t focus 100% but there was a talk that really stood out to me. I actually can`t remember who gave the talk but he talked about the Prodigal`s son and how "he came to himself." That left a large impression on me. Its not that I`ve completely apostatized or anything...but I do feel like I came to a better realization that I am indeed a son of the all mighty Father in Heaven, and that He loves and cares about me. Everything that I`m going through and trying to balance right now are simple tests that were placed in front of me to help me grow. I need to be able to stand up to these trails that I`m faced with faithfully and boldly. If I keep on using the escape excuse of "Oh, I only have three months left" my mission will be over before I know it. I need to give all now. Right now. Mainly, because I know that this is a chapter in my life that I can`t re-write and I do not want to end my mission with regrets.

There are many things in missionary work, well life in general, that won`t go the way you want it to go. And that`s how its supposed to be. Elder Holland says it best, "salvation is not a cheap experience." If life ain`t hard, you probably ain`t doin` it right! We aren`t here to get caught in the current, take it easy and get thrown around lifelessly. We`re here to fight the current and get where we want.

Anyways, I`m gonna go now. There`s a lot that still needs to be done over here. Thanks for all the emails though! I love you guys lots and hope you`re all having an awesome week!

Mucho Amor,

Elder Saito

4/1/12

Dear Family,

Uh...I don`t think you could`ve made me feel any grosser about myself then by bombarding me with flight itinerary and pictures of my new apartment. Thank you family, thank you. But I guess I can`t really run from reality any longer, my mission is coming to an end and there is nothing I can do about it other than work hard with the time I have left and preparing for the next step in my life. Well, there is a time and a season for everything I suppose.

Dad, thanks for working everything out with the apartments. It looks like a way awesome place! Oh yes, and for my classes...I forgot what I wrote in my packet but I do feel like I didn`t write any Japanese classes in there. BE SURE TO GET ME INTO A JAPANESE CLASS FOR FALL SEMESTER. I guess I do have to take a placement test first but whatever, we`ll figure that out later. I want 16 credits worth of As! My GPA needs it so bad right now since I failed at life my freshman year. Okay? Okay. And yes, I`ll be sure to jump onto Nuskin ASAP once I get home. It`ll probably be one of the first things I do cause I don`t want to end up being a lazy bum after I get back. Oh yeah, and if you can, could you write out the schedule for my fall semester for me? 頼むぜ!

 

Oh my goodness, its April. I realized that it was General Conference week during church when they told us that we would be watching it this Saturday and Sunday. Dude, I almost had a heart attack. I can`t believe that this is going to be my last session of the big GC on my mission! Ah I just want to crawl into the fetal position and cry in some corner. Its all coming at me too quickly...

 

Anyways, that's me whining like usual. But I`m way excited for the rest of my mission though! Our 13 year old sweetheart is being awesome as usual. She`s way excited for her baptism this month but we`re not 100% sure whats going to happen because she`s gonna get surgery this week so we don`t have too many teaching opportunities. But the Lord shall provide, I know it! It just takes effort and a willing heart to see miracles! Please, please, please pray for her okay? Oh yes, and the investigator we had come to church last week? Yeah, she`s the bombdotcom as well! I`ve never seen anyone who`s so purely interested in learning about Jesus Christ and His gospel. I`m telling you, you work hard in the Lord`s vineyard and He will provide you with the elect. Diligent work won`t always yield immediate results, but I`ve come to learn firsthand that the Lord watches our thoughts and actions closely and will reward us respectively according to His own timetable. Oh the work, how wonderful it is! Oh yes, we even had a special AP kokan where Elder Burns came up to Toyooka and we had a teaching experience with her!

 

Okay, crazy story of the week. This is probably taboo that I`m even writing this but it was so intense I figured that I should. Two weeks ago, Elder Day and I were housing this certain area in Toyooka. We were working so hard, running to each house and putting all of our hearts into each contact but it seemed like the people of that area were just too hardened for the Spirit to testify truth. We testified our hearts out about the importance of families and seeing the importance of looking forward and not just about the things that are infront of us, but still no one would listen. Saddened, but not discouraged by the choices of our brothers and sisters in that area, we left to our house to end the day. Two days later, Elder Day and I were housing on the other side of the river when we heard a huge siren go off through out the town. I thought it was another tsunami warning but I listened to the announcement and heard that there was a fire. We looked around the area and saw a huge pillar of smoke rising from the other side of the river. Elder Day and I immediately grabbed our bikes and started heading towards the smoke. (yes, probably a bad idea) Anyways, we got to river and when we looked to the other side, we say a large pillar of smoke and a fire consuming two to three houses. As rode closer we were horrified by the realization that the houses that were on fire were the ones that we had housed two days earlier. We could see the exact door that we knocked on consumed in the fire and after a while the whole house collapsed. In the end, a large portion of the neighborhood we housed burned down but the fire department was able to control it. I don`t really know what to say about this experience...other than I do hope that nobody was injured at all in the incident. Its just...interesting. I just feel like I accidently pulled something off that a missionary in D&C would`ve done.

Anyways, that is all. I must go now. This week is going to be extremely busy since I have to run to Kobe, Fukuchiyama and Nishiwaki all in one week. Hopefully my body keeps up with me! But I`m stoked to learn a bunch at GC! Thanks for everything, you guys are the best!!! Have a great week okay?

Con Mucho Amor,

Don Saito

3/24/2012

Hola familia,

Hey you guys!!!

Richard! You finally made it into the program! Good good, you finally wont be a bum anymore. Now get to work! You can`t get lazy just because you got into the program. That would be like walking through the gate at Disney Land and then taking a nap on the benches near the entrance. Provide for my sister! Oh yes, and Father, I don`t really mind if I`m not paired with one of my missionary buddies for rooming. I would love to, but if things don`t work out I don`t mind. But, I would like to not spend my fall semester at home if at all possible. I mean, I`m already going to be socially inept when I get home so...I don`t think staying at home would do me any good. Plus I`m used to rooming with strangers. I mean, I pretty much room with a new person every transfer so I don`t think I`ll have any problems getting along with other people.

Anyways, how are you beloved family? Its so good to hear from you guys. Can`t believe its already the last week of March though, unbelievable. It dawned on me again this past week that I only got three-ish months left on my mission. I swear, these are becoming more and more frequent as I get older. But as I learned in the Doctrine and Covenants: there is a time and a season for everything. I just want to give all for my last few months as a missionary and help the other missionaries in my zone hold a greater vision of the work. Lately, the sense of urgency in the mission has gone down and we need a good spark to reignite the fire in the missionaries, myself included. This is the salvation of other`s souls we`re talking about. Its definitely not something we should be taking lightly.

Yup, well this week has been awesome! You know our beloved thirteen year old investigator? Yup, got her working towards baptism next month and she is way stoked! Children are amazing I tell ya, no wonder why Jesus loves them so much. She is seriously my hero, its always a good sign when the first person who comes to church is your favorite thirteen year old. That`s right, even before most of the members. She`s even downloaded the Book of Mormon on her iPhone and is reading! Now the only thing we need to be careful about is her parents. They don`t mind that she goes to church but we`ll have to see how they feel about her receiving baptism. Please, please, please join us in prayer so the hearts of her parents will be softened and they`ll accept the fact that their daughter wants to follow Jesus Christ! I have faith that everything will work out and be fine though.

We saw another miracle this week as well. We gave a special training to the zone about working diligently and being proactive as a missionary. It was a very spiritual experience for Elder Day and myself and we could really feel the Spirit testifying as we shared about the blessings of being diligent. The Lord sent each and everyone of us to an area so we can succeed and bring many people unto Christ. I know that the Lord would never give us a task for us to fail. We were able to testify that the only way we can fail as a missionary is when we fail to try. That's why we really wanted everyone to become diligent, proactive missionaries so they can fulfill everything that the Lord expects us to do. But that's not were the miracle was. After the training, Elder Day and I only had a few hours to work in our own area. It was getting dark and started to rain a little bit but we were determined to go out and work hard. We knocked on many doors but nothing seemed to produce the results we were expecting. Never the less, we worked hard until the end of the day and then the miracle occured once we got to the entrance of our house to wrap up the day. I received a phone call right when I was parking my bike from some lady. She was asking if we were still teaching Eikaiwa and I told her that we weren`t. I honestly wasn`t expecting much because I thought she just was another Eigo bandit. (one who only wants to learn English, not the Gospel) But I felt an impression to just invite her to church. So I did, and her response was like "for sure!" Caught me totally off guard! After talking to her for a while, I learned that she had actually met the missionaries two years ago in Kinosaki, a town a few miles away from Toyooka. And guess who one of those missionaries were? Elder Hinton! I know right, crazy! So she actually moved to Sakai after that and attended Eikaiwa over there but never had a chance to learn the gospel so she really wanted to hear what we had to say. It was amazing because she came to church on Sunday and absolutely loved it. She stayed for all three hours and even for the dendo party we had afterwards and when I invited her to listen to the lessons, she jumped right on it by saying "Yes, please tell me more about your church. I want to know more!" I`m telling you, there is no other way to explain this but by saying that God lives and He is watching all of our efforts and desires of our hearts. We worked so hard that week, I swear we knocked on hundreds of doors but couldn`t see the instantaneous results. But now I know that the Lord will always provide for a servant who gives all, even if that all isn`t enough. The Lord understands we`re weak and cannot do anything on our own, but all He asks of us is to give all our heart, might, mind and strength and then He will provide the results that we desire. And He did this week by guiding Sister Miyashita to us.

Life is good. Toyooka has really grown on my and I love this area so much! There is nothing better than miracles, the laughter of children and riding a bike through miles of fields.

Anyways, gotta go now. Hope you guys are all doing awesome! Oh yes, and Mom. If you haven`t sent out the package yet I would like to ask if you can send some Costco dried mangos and crasins. Elder Day and I were pillow talking about what we would eat if we were stranded on an island and we both agreed that dried mangos would be the best thing ever!

Aight, Love ya family!,

Elder Saito

3/18/2012

Hey family,

Its good to hear that you guys are doing great. I`m way jealous that you`re in Mexico Dad! But then again I am in Japan which is much cooler on my scale.

Yup here it comes. Its gonna be spring time soon! やったぜ！There were two, not one, but two whole days where I was able to blue skies and sunshine. I can`t wait to burst out of this suit and hit the streets in my short sleeve T. The seasons be changing I tell ya. Speaking of change, we just barely had transfers this past week. The mission just lost a bunch of great missionaries this past transfer but it was something inevitable. It just blows my mind to see how young the mission is now. I`m now officially the grandpa of the zone so I now have the responsibility to encourage, inspire, uplift and train everyone in my zone. Quite the responsibility eh? I`m way stoked though, there are a bunch of young missionaries on the verge of bursting with potential and I get to help them realize that. Ah, the beauties of being a leader. Its not the title that brings joy, but its being able to see those who you`ve worked with surpassing you and bringing a bunch of people unto Christ. Gotta hit the ground running this transfer though, I can`t start getting lazy because I`ve only got four months left on my mission.

Well, Toyooka is interesting. Its got its own pace that I feel like I`ve started to grow accustom to. But just because its got a slower pace then the city doesn`t mean you can lay back and become complacent though. Out here, you got to work diligently and rely fully on the Lord to get things done. Being passive here or doing things on your own will hinder the work. But I know if you work hard enough, the Lord will provide for you. He for sure has for us, I mean you know you`re being blessed when your strongest investigator is a thirteen year old wayward school girl who comes to church on her own. I`m way excited for this transfer though, I know we are gonna see miracles! I just know it. Especially cause I`m with a great young missionary who wants to go out and get it done. There`s something magical about young missionaries who don`t have too much experience because they really know how to trust in the Lord. When you become an old missionary like me, you get comfortable in your own ways and you start forgetting the basics. So its way great opportunity that I`m able to work with a youngin` cause its becoming great review for me. Hopefully, I can spend my last few transfers as a trainer so I don`t forget all the basics of the work.

Oh yes, as for the package. I don`t really need much. I would appreciate some cheap protein if you can get your hands on that and some of those juice mixes if you can. Oh, and PICTURES PLEASE! You know that missionaires are fueled by letters and pictures from ones they love.

Well, I gotta go to Fukuchiyama in a few more hours so I gotta go. Please continue praying for the welfare of the missionaries and there investigators! Your prays are the things that makes miracles over here!

Aight love you bunch!

Elder Saito

3/11/12

Hey family,

How art thou beloved family? I see your emails are now progressively getting more and more trunky with all this talk about the "afterlife", I guess that is just proof that I`m becoming an older missionary. Well, happy birthday to me! I`ve now become a transfer 14 missionary, a true medal of honor I would say.

Anyways, to answer your question Mother, I would be delighted to go to Hokkaido with you guys after my mission. I`m in no rush to go home so we can stay in Japan for as long as you would like. Plus, I can go out streeting or housing on my own while you guys are in the onsen so no worries. I`ve always wanted to see how dendo is in an area other than the Kansai region or Shikoku so I think it`ll be a good experience for me.

Oh yes, well here it is. The big transfer 14. A truely awkward time for a missionary because he still has a lot of time left on his mission but it seems too short of a time span to himself. But I try not to think about it. There is still a lot need to get done on my mission so I can`t waste time thinking about unnecessary things. So I have another transfer in Toyooka to get the work moving faster! Hopefully this transfer we`ll be able to get to work since things have finally started to settle down over here. But there`s gonna be a lot of training I need to get going in the zone as well since I am now officially the oldest missionary over here. Goodness the mission suddenly got younger with this transfer! Well, I`m going to be training a new, young zone leader named Elder Day this transfer. I`m pretty excited because young guns always have faith and a good sense of urgency for the work.

Well, this week was pretty hectic having to run around places doing trainings, emergency kokans and such. I think we spent a grand total of nine hours of riding on a train this past week, but it was good because I had a lot of time to read the Doctrine and Covenants. I need to finish that thing before my time is up! Anyways, I`m kind of bummed that Elder Hasegawa is already going home. I think we needed at least one more transfer together to really get things going here because we literally didn`t have time to dendo but oh well, no point in moping. He`s gonna be a great member over yonder in Tochigi as Brother Hasegawa.

Its finally starting to look like Spring over here...kind of. It snowed yesterday and a little bit today but I think this will be the last of it. I can`t wait to get into my shortsleeve shirt and work! This suit is making me look like someone in the Yakuza.

Anyways, I gotta go. We need to go meet somebody in prison today! Love you guys bunch!!! Have an awesome week okay family?!

Mucho amor,

Elder Saito

3/4/2012

Hellos,

Why hello family! Its a beautiful day here in Toyooka! Its actually raining right now but that's good news. The snow, it shall melt. Honestly, half of me really misses all of the snow and the other half of me can`t wait to put on my short sleeves and sweat my brains out.

Sounds like all of you guys are genki over yonder. I see Selena and Richard are getting accustomed to the hood of Salt Lake, I believe it shall be good fun to crash in their apartment! Speaking of apartments, Dad! Why do you speak of such evils! Do I really have to think about rooming already?! Oh goodness, I guess this is just the curse of being a 14 transfer missionary...In all honesty, I don`t really care where I live so long as its somewhat near campus. I just called Elder Burns and he`s on board with being my roomie! But unfortunately, he`s just as tekito as I am. So I guess just go for south of campus, four people, shared...I doesn`t really matter to us! ONEGAISHIMASU!

Yes, and for going around Japan after the mission. I guess you need to ask President Zinke for permission first then talk to PBO? I`m not too sure but the office should be sending you information about that soon. So, good luck! Here`s President`s email: rgzinke@ldschurch.org Well anyways, I`m done with this talk.

Well, my beautiful bike, GT Aggressor 4.0 has finally broken down. Actually, this is the second time that its broken down but I don`t think we`ll be able to fix it anytime soon because there are`t any Asashis (Japanese chain bike store) over here in Toyooka. I was riding towards a less active`s house earlier this week and my bike decided to die on me as I was changing gears. The chain somehow made its way under the gears and the tire is now bent and rubbing on the frame. I took it to a local shop and they said that there`s no way they can fix it and even if they could they would have to special order parts that could take weeks. So I pretty much just gave up and resorted to borrowing a member`s bike until I can steal one from a missionary who`ll be going home.

Yup, things like that happen every once in a while. Oh well! I`m way grateful for how generous the members are here. If you don`t have a bike in Toyooka you can`t get anything done! This week was a great one over here. I swear, every week in Toyooka is just a great learning experience for me. Most of the week we were out of Toyooka, training our beloved missionaries in our zone, but we feel like we were able to get a lot of things done. We also had ZLC were President just blasted us with doctrine. It was way awesome, it reminded me a lot of McIntyre`s trainings where you just walk out the room fired up and ready to wield a Book of Mormon. There was a particular part of the training that I really felt like I needed. The concept of humility and how its connected to other Christ-like attributes. I think the reason I was sent to Toyooka was simply to be humbled. Its interesting realizing how much I`ve spent my mission thinking just about myself when I should of been thinking of other`s salvation. Read Moses 4:1-2 and see the difference between Satan and Jesus Christ!

Anyways, I gotta go now. Need to walk and pick up my bike thats on the other side of town. Love ya!

2/19/2012

Hello,

There is Shakira`s hit single, "Hips Don`t Lie" streaming through the speakers of our local gym where we email. Yes, random fact of the day.

Anyways, how are you family? Selena, I can`t believe you finally put on your big girl pants and moved out...40 minutes away from Mom and Dad! I joke, I joke. But that's way awesome you found a good apartment up in Salt Lake, now you can get yourself to work much easier. Now we must offer up our prayers for Richard so he can sneak his way into the U. As for me...well, I`m not too sure of what I want to do for a career yet. But, I still know that its gonna be in the medical field for sure. I`m still considering Physicians Assistant, but maybe I`ll shoot for the stars and go for Oral Surgery. I don`t know, I don`t know, I don`t know. Iz still gots four months to not think about it too much. Maybe I`ll just teach English over here in Japan...not.

Well, looks like it "snowed" in Utah this past week. Ha! I laugh at you! You don`t know what a snow storm is until you come to Toyooka!

I`ll tell you what a real snow storm is:

A snow storm is,

when you wake up in the morning and you have to search for your bike that's buried in the snow.

when you have to thaw your bike with hot water so you can turn your tires and change gears.

when you are shoveling in the parking lot of the church and then five minutes later there`s exactly the same amount of snow laying on the ground.

when you are riding a bike and all you can see is white and the silhouette of your companion riding in front of you.

Those are just a few examples of a real snow storm. But no worries, I`m having a blast! I feel like a kid in a candy store when I go out in that kind of weather. I don`t know why, maybe because I`m still twenty...and young! Eternal youth I tell you.

Well, this week was another great learning experience for me. You`re right Mom, it was a great blessing that I was sent here to Toyooka for my last few transfers. I have realized that there is still so much for me to learn on my mission and I think the Lord understood that very well, that`s why I`m here in Toyooka. Its so interesting to think of all of the possible ways the Lord teaches you lessons. Sometimes its through the Spirit. Other times, its through people around you and the experiences you have. The pains and the disappointments. The joy of the gospel and witnessing of miracles. Whatever the method, its our responsibility to see what the Lord is trying to teach us. I`ve definitely learned a lot in the past three weeks here in Toyooka. I feel like I`ve finally been able to open my eyes a little bit and realize that this work is more than I can ever comprehend. I`m out here to help mend broken families and to lead individuals out of forbidden paths and back on to the straight and narrow through preaching the Gospel of Christ and repentance. Its not for my own self-satisfaction or recognition, but for the salvation of others. So, when trouble does come up, I need to understand people`s circumstances and listen to all of their desires and fears instead of just moving at my own pace. It`s a shame that it took me a year and a half to finally start understanding this, but I`m so grateful that I`m learning. Better late then never you know?

Well, there`s a big work for me to do here in Toyooka but I know that the Lord`s gonna help me as long as I work hard and with the Spirit. Ganbarushikanaizo!

Okay, hopefully you guys are doing greeeeaaaatttttt! Keep up the good work over there on your side of the planet okay? Hope you guys have a great week! I`ll pray for you Richard! (and everyone else of course)

Mucho amor,

Elder Saito