電車伝道!

Suasdei!

That's Khmer(Cambodian) for "hello". Just thought I'd switch things up today :)

This week was full of meetings, train rides, and eating out haha. We've been scrambling for time but it's all good cause we talked to some pretty cool people. We got to meet a guy who wants to be an actor and saw a lot of drunk people. The streets get pretty crazy on weekend nights, so we try not to be out late. Interesting.

We had a new leadership meeting on Friday. It really put some new perspective on what being a leader means. Being a leader doesn't mean we are above others or better them.  To me, they are opportunities to serve others and show love.

Brother Godfrey, a missionary that served in Machida years ago gave us a call and told us he is in town for the week. He baptized a lot of people when he was here and wanted to check on them. We searched our records and found a few people, including one that was close enough to visit by foot. We met Godfrey兄弟 on Sunday and tried to go visit that member, but unfortunately no one was there with that name, so we assumed he moved. We did get to here a lot about his mission experience though. The work has definitely moved forward. I'm so thankful for the missionaries before me. They paved a road for us to drive on it :) 

Anyway, a certain missionary's birthday is next week soooo *cough* よろしく!

-Elder Chab

チャブ長老

#RaiseTheBah

FHE with the 長濱家!

Godfrey兄弟姉妹! 

If You Didn’t Know, Now You Know! Transfer 13!

頼もう!

It's been a pretty crazy week. I went to quite a few district meetings cause my other two companions are the zone leaders. That was a great learning experience. 

One day, we got 焼肉(yakiniku- DIY meat grilling) with a friend of Elder Hemi, Jordan Smiler. He's from New Zealand and he's a professional rugby player; he plays for the Suntory's. Way awesome guy and he is hoping to get sealed in the temple in a couple years. 

Saturday was just crazy. We went to the Atsugi US base with 学さん、an 英会話 student, and his kids. It's been over 6 months since I was there last time. Never thought my first times on a US base wouldn't be in the US haha. Anyway, there was way good food and it was fun to see all the planes while talking to them. Although hearing tons of English didn't sit with me very well. Gonna be tough when I return haha. It was super hot on the way back and we still had to wear something over our white shirt due to dress code (luckily it's gone now), so I was dying. After getting back, we had an easter event with the ward. Us missionaries were in charge of a portion of it; we sung and shared some scriptures. We also sung "I Know My Redeemer Lives" with the ward choir. The event brought quite a few non-members and it overall a success.

We pushed way hard so we could reach our goals this week and we did! We talked to a ton of people, including street performers. As we listened to some street guitarists, we talked to a guy next to us, who appeared pretty scary at first, but we found out that his parents are Christian and he's ped (fluent) in English. Another street performer was telling some comic stories. Way interesting people and it was a ton of fun. 

As for transfers, I am....staying in Machida! But here's the twist: Elder Schow will be my companion and I will become a zone leader! Didn't see that coming! Crazy cause we were companions one year ago; I am way excited to work together again. Gonna be going to a lot of district meetings from now on haha. I'm thankful for more opportunities to serve! Have a good one!

PS. The title of today's post is a song. 

-Elder Chab

チャブ長老

#RaiseTheBah

Jordan Smiler and us! (As if I wasn't short enough)

US base fun with 学 and his family!

Went to 焼肉 to open transfer calls and celebrate Elder Lind's last P-day!

Surprises!

頼もう！

It's been a long, crazy week. But a great one!

We had interviews with President Warnick on Tuesday. I love him! He's the best!

Later on, we tried a new way to 伝道. We had a board and asked people to smile. Then we asked them what makes them smile and how they feel. From there, we shared that through Jesus Christ, we can always smile. We talked to a ton of people and it was a lot of fun!

On Friday morning, we got a call from President Warnick. He called to tell my companion that he will be the next mission recorder and he has to transfer to the mission office on Monday(today). Transfer day isn't until next week so I will be in a trio with the zone leaders until then. So I'll be with Elder Schow and Elder Hemi. Gonna get crazy soon! Anyway, I'll be dropping my companion off at the station in a few hours so gotta blast! (I hope some of you know where that reference is from)

-Elder Chab

チャブ長老

#RaiseTheBah

Zone conference from a few weeks ago!

Good ol' ramen!

Revelation Rush!!

頼もう!

Earlier this week, I went on splits with Hemi長老 and got a taste of the zone leader life; going to district meetings. It was nice to see how other district leaders run their meetings so I got to learn a bit. 

On Wednesday night, we met with レツさん and 山田さん for the first time since we found them about two weeks ago. They are in college and work as test score checkers; they hardly have time to meet. Anyway, we went to a way good ramen place and did some BRT. We shared some of our purpose as missionaries and explained the Restoration a little bit. Then, 山田さん asked us where he could get a Book of Mormon. We took them out of our bags and were like BOOM! Here you go! He seemed pretty excited to read it. Both of them have some real potential, so hopefully we can meet soon!

We watched general conference this weekend! I read the talks on my iPad as I listened and it helped a lot. I didn't take notes but wooow! A revelation rush! (Elder Holland couldn't have said it any better). We are blessed to know that ALL of us are God's children and He loves us. On top of that, we sustained President Russel M. Nelson as the next prophet. I know he is the Lord's chosen prophet and as we follow his counsel, we can receive personal revelation! 

-Elder Chab

チャブ長老

#RaiseTheBah

Last week when we visited the 高橋家！

Raise the Bah!!

頼もう！

Lots of 伝道 this week! We did a lot of housing and streeting and through that, we found quite a bit of people. We'll be contacting them this week, hoping to get some lessons going! 

We had a chance to share a message with some members, the 高橋家. We kinda did some magic trick for the message activity but they outsmarted us with psychology. All in good fun though. I'm so excited to work with such amazing members! 

Zone conference on Saturday, and for the first time in about 6 months, I didn't have to translate. I got to focus a little bit more. We talked about teaching skills, including conversations and a little bit on facing rejections; we watched a TED Talks video on it(please watch it).One thing I learned is that rejections don't matter. What matters is our reaction after the rejection. We can stay engaged in the conversation and perhaps learn why or a little bit more about the person. We don't have to run away from them. This can be applied whether we are a missionary or not! Raise the bah! (Bar in a New Zealand accent)

General conference is this coming weekend for us, so we had fast and testimony meeting. I did learn that the previous Tokyo South mission president, President Wada became a member of the Seventy. I didn't get to know him personally but he did have a huge impact on the mission I came into. Pretty great opportunity to work together in the Lord's vineyard. Much more to come in the near future. #RTB

On Sunday, we had a surprise visit. A guy we've never seen before walks into the church, takes a look at me, and says "CHAB!!" I was quite confused as to why he knew me. After shaking hands and talking with him, I find out that he was a missionary in my home ward, which was a branch back then. He knew my parents before they were married. He's been living in Japan for a while and was excited to hear that I would be serving here. Pretty crazy. From that little experience, I was able to realize once more that God knows us individually and cares about us. He will put people and opportunities in our life so that we can grow and remember Him. He has a divine plan for every one of us. So let's raise the bah and push forward with faith!

-Elder Chab

チャブ長老

#RaiseTheBah

More sakura before they go away!

My unexpected visitor!

Good ol' Curry night with bishop and his family!

Yokohama in Spring!

A glorious day for Yokohama!

It's been getting pretty hot lately!