what it is what it is!! so kushiro is pretty cool! it's almost like i am on a different mission.. ahhaha. the landscape and all that stuff is way different, its really flat. there is not any snow really on the ground but the wind we get is from siberia (aka freeeeezeen cold) so it's fun when we ride bikes. the transition from an american companion to a japanese companion has been quite the journey so far. let's just say it didn't start out so good.. i thought my japanese was pretty good, but it just got opened up into a whole new world!!!!! up until about sunday, things were grim. i was frustrated, lonely, scared, and not very happy. i got rocked. i lost confidence completely. sunday they asked me to give a 5 minute talk. (my first in japan so far) it didn't go so well, i thought it was okay but everyone had blank stares.(felt like the other side of heaven) after that i hit even more of a rock bottom. then i decided that's not the way i wanted things to go, with much reading, and finally a wrestle with mighty prayer i told the lord "i dont know what to do, and i need your help" with no immediate promptings, i went back to my desk and sat for a second, and then went to work. i decided i need the gift of tounges. and if that's what i wanted i needed to exert myself. for the last week i have cracked down on my language study, i now memorize 20 new words a day, read 3 pages of the japanese book of mormon and study the basic japanese grammar book for aboud 30-60 minutes. i'm still struggling but i have felt the difference. the words don't always come to mind when i need them but by the end of this transfer i am determined to be independent and fluent. The last couple days i have really felt me and elder ogura getting closer, we laugh more, have more fun, and recently have been having success. (yesterday we picked up three new investigators) elder ogura is very knowledgable. he has great ability to explain simply gospel principals, i am learning alot. the ward members here are great!! they love the missionaries, and are one of the top wards that give referrals to the missionaries. im really excited for what is yet to come this transfer.
my biggest insight i have got, and time and time again i have seen it recently in my studies. be pacient in our trials and afflictions!! we have not been forgotten or forsaken by the lord. he loves us but we must be tried in all things to be worthy of the glory that awaits us if we endure with faith and an eye single to the glory of god. things don't work according to our time, they work in the lords time. life won't get easier, the trials don't really ever stop, but we can control what we do when the storms come our way.
may we all be humble/pacient enough to oblige with the Lord's will.
with all my love and prayers
Your missionary, elder lawler
This is Dano's last district- the one on the right was his last companion... the bottom picture is of another woman who decided to get baptized right as he was leaving Otaru.
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