Monday, March 26, 2018

Of Accidents and Snowstorms, Week 71 in Japan

It's been a pretty good week. Lots of good biking and running to and from appointments. We've been able to meet and make appointments with some solid people so we're excited for things to finally get moving in the area. Coming in we didn't really have anyone we were teaching so it's been an incredible blessing that things have been turning around. 

Post Lesson


Our district leader Elder Giles had an amazing experience this week. Our apartment is placed on a steep hill. While on the way down this hill a taxi cut him off pretty hard. Due to the high speeds he took an action movie style drift, put his bike into a pole, and there was a 2-3 second gap of air time before he ate pavement. Due to his hardcore guardian angels he was in much better condition than his bike. The taxi driver gets out and tells him, "it wasn't my fault, hope your okay." Then scurries into the cab and books it for the sunset. The best part is the story doesn't end there. The next day we go into the bike parking to find that his already folded in half bike looked even worse than the night before and there was a ticket on it. We go to the police station and find that it wasn't because of law breaking but because he was a victim. Apparently there has been a mentally disabled man in the area who has been getting up at 2:00 AM, trashing bicycles, and disappearing into the night. He was last seen lifting Elder Giles's bicycle into the air and pile driving it into the asphalt before running from the scene. Elder Giles is now in Kamiooka police records as one of 4 victims in the past 2 weeks. 



This Saturday was an absolute blast. We went over to the Yamate area where we were meeting with a group of people to play basketball. We met up with our man Alec who is from China. He grew up in a town in northern China where the North Korea, China, and Siberia borders meet. He speaks English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese fluently and is crazy good at trash talk on the basketball court. It's hilarious. But we played some ball, and he took us to this awesome Chinese restaurant afterwards (Have I mentioned how much I love Chinese everything) and had an awesome talk. He's starting a young family, wants the best for his son, and really loves The Book of Mormon. We're going to be doing the same thing on Saturday with him but he requested that we have a sit down lesson at the church on top of everything else so we're super stoked. Also he wants to bring us to his house on the coast and teach us how to make Chinese food. It's only been a few weeks and it's already a great transfer. 

Wednesday got hectic! So it snowed Wednesday morning, then by the time night came around it just changed into rain.  Luckily it was one of our busiest days so we were right in the middle of it all! 

Surprise Snow Storm

We had to go drop off some stuff at a member's house but we took the wrong bus so we ended up in a totally different place and we had about 10 minutes to get there, so one miraculously timed bus and couple sprints later we got there on time! We dropped off some stuff, shared a message, and set up a time to visit their neighbor again, just in time to realize we had a conference call in order to plan a big Stake activity. So we found some shelter in a back alley and joined the call. After the call went a lot later than planned we had just enough time to grab a couple onigiri's for dinner and eat them while we ran to another bus.

If you would have asked me about barely having time for dinner and wearing a suit and tie about a year and a half ago, I'd probably chuckle and say you're out of your mind. But The Lord has perfect timing. I think he's given me just the right amount of challenges for me to grow. I'll admit some days are harder than others, but that's alright, everything always works out in the end. That night was one of the most fun nights of my mission. Despite poor conditions there were a lot of laughs and even more confused Japanese people. 

If you've read this far I would suggest 2 scriptures for you to read after. 

Mosiah 4:27: And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.
Enter Kamiooka District

Alma 32:42: And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Info from the Mom

After about 5 1/2 months in the Takao Ward, Machida Stake, Elder Cuff was transferred to the Kamiooka Ward, Yokahama Stake. 

Ward Boundaries

Meeting House

Elder Cuff's probable travel route

He promises many pictures in the email I am patiently waiting for tonight (his tomorrow & P-day), but I just couldn't wait! I had to do the mom thing and see where he traveled to and learn a bit about it. 



The city is Yokohama and is located on Tokyo Bay. The website of information can be found here.




I learned a bit of the history of the area including the fact that the city has been destroyed twice. Once due to an earthquake in 1923, and next in 1945 by the US bombing raids just prior to the end of WWII. 

1923 Earthquake

Growing Shanty Town following WWII bombing

As part of the Japan-US treaty, allied forces claimed and controlled the port city until 1951. In the years since then it has become a center of trade with a population of just under 4 million people. If we tie that in with what we know of the mission field, this city has literally millions of missionary opportunities! It contains a single stake of only 5 wards and 1 branch. Rough estimating brings us to under 2000 member of the church in that 3.7 million populace. Elder Cuff will have plenty to keep busy with! 



Monday, March 19, 2018

Up Big Hill: Week 70 in Japan


So transfers happened, and like every transfer week there's been tons of crazy happenings. My new companion is this wild man that I've known since the MTC that goes by the name Elder Smith. We are serving together in the land known as 上大岡 (Kamiooka). Translated the kanji means Up Big Hill. I'll be getting introduced to what's known throughout the mission as the Yokohama Thunder Thighs. Yokohama is a beautiful place with no lack of bursting pant seam action.

It's everything you dream of downtown to be in Japan, lots of small roads, sea breeze, and all the small shops lining the said small roads, whose owners are everyone's favorite person. The place has a very energetic and friendly vibe and working with Elder Smith has been an absolute blast. I haven't talked to this many people in such a short time for a while.

エネルギーとあふれるスミス長老
(Elder Smith overflowing with energy.)

This area is in a finding stage so we're going to be seeing some sweet miracles. I love coming into areas like this. Some of the most fun parts of my mission were when we are just spending our days out on the streets or knocking doors. It's also where a lot of the funny mission stories come from so we're excited for some crazy moments in the upcoming weeks.

Our apartment is on top of one of many hills and from our balcony we have an absolute grade A view of Mt. Fuji. The ward is Genki and incredibly funny and I got to enjoy a beautiful talk this past week on being a "light of the world" and how we choose to be happy. And when we choose to be happy other people also find it easier to be happy. It's contagious really.

We had training for leadership on Friday and it was nice to reunite with friends from across the mission and enjoy a few trainings with President Warnick. He's such an incredibly hard worker and just loves all the missionaries. Sometimes missionaries don't know how much he loves all of them and that can be kind of sad. But he loves them all and has been one of many amazing examples in my life of Christ like love.

We're in an apartment with Elder Nagaoka and Elder Giles. Elder Giles is the district leader and is such a humble hard worker. Same with Elder Nagaoka, both of them are very Genki and are a lot of fun to be around. We've got an absolutely amazing Zone that we're working with and we're excited to get things moving in one of the coolest areas in Japan.

愛しています、
Elder Cuff