march 24th

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.

March 17th

yo family, i don't have much time, transfers are going on, and i'm leaving otaru!! i'm going to kushiro!! and getting a japanese companion!! i'm way excited! real quick he is a recent convert, he investigated churches for 4 years, and decided ours was true. president daniels said he is the best teacher in the whole mission!! i'm really excited! great to hear about dad with the weight loss, and miles looks very cute!! hope you all are having fun!
i love you all and pray for you everyday...
love elder lawler

March 3 & 10

March 3rd letter:

well on my end life is still good! the work is moving forward, our investigator pool is strong right now but there are just a few worries we have with them. one lady is having a baby and is leaving in 2 months, meeting with her is hard, and we want to somewhat fast but not over due it. another kid leaves feb19 and we are trying to get a baptismal date he is super solid and talks about joining the church but time is not on our side.  pretty much all of our investigators have time issues, it's been hard deciding where the line is, it's hard not to be selfish and want to see them get baptized while i am still in the area (transfers are in 2 weeks and i will probably move) but i have to allow them to take their time at their pace.
Overall everything is really good, im really happy, im having fun, and progressing eternally everyday.
hope all is well cant wait to hear about the baby!

March 10th letter:

i am particularly excited for our upcoming mission conference with elder bednar! don't know the date of it, but it should be coming soon. transfers still no word, but when i email next week i will know what is happening.. i hope to  go somewhere in sapporo, maybe even have a  japanese companion, but we will see. may is coming up somewhat soon! i will make sure to  make a list of stuff you can get me for my birthday! but some real quick things that i need/want: the  preitsthood book teachings of joseph smith, in english! with easter coming around all i want really is those peanut butter bunnies!! you know the kind.. also if you  could send emails to everyone informing them on the new rule we have, they cracked down, we can only directly email immidiate family. i can still email  friends through you but, aunts uncles, and grandparents i can't directly email anymore. also i never heard back about the ward spotlight they  did  on  me... did  they  do it? if so will you send me a copy..?
 
well other than that this week's been pretty good, we are finding  new people  to  teach which is good. i am learning a lot from just watching  people, i have tried to think and envision more when i talk to people. I am getting a lot out of my personal study, things have taken off when i started getting really writing down what i think of when i study, feelings, all of that, i have found many many insights, and really feel as though i am directly learning through the spirit.
 
today is going to be  fun, we spent  the night  at  the honbu(mission home) in the elders apartment, played basketball with pres. daniels, lots of fun, we  have a big  zone activity, than after going on splits, with a  japanese elder who is a lot  of  fun. so  im excited!
 
love you so much!! i think of our family all the time, i read the scripture in alma 27:17-18 the joy ammon is filled with after his long mission and meets alma. i look at that scripture and have that as a goal  that when i meet my family after my mission i can have worked like ammon and be filled with that joy.
 
love you all so much, give the kearls my love, especially miles!!

Feb 24th

LETTER TO MOM:

well i guess carrie is getting married tommorow... well make sure you take a big picture of me to the wedding and put me in the welcoming line, and make everyone there write a letter to me!
sounds like you are very busy!! are you having fun? hope so! well life out here in the field is good! can't complain, i feel like the japanese is coming along little by little, last week we taught the most lessons in the zone so that was good, the people we taught were all very good except they all want to take things very slow, meet like once a month, stuff like that so it is a little frusturating. but other than that life is great, i spend all my extra time now studying!! i do a combination of japanese, jesus the christ, preach my gospel, new testament, doctrine and convenants, drawing from the powers of heaven, and writing in my study journal, and daily journal. it never seems like there is enough time to do anything, i cant put down anything anymore! i truly am learning alot, but what amazes me is how intertwined they all are, i will read one thing and the next day see the same thing in another book. It's very exciting. well about to go to the wing bay mall!!
Love always your son/missionary,
Elder Lawler 愛しているよ