Monday, June 27, 2016

Rain and Squid Guts! - So Fun!


The good looking Matsumoto Kids


Matsumoto Kyodai and Shimai


I want to start today with a principle: Keep the spirit with you at all times! 

Let me use a parable to explain why this principle is so important-

 There once were two good looking, charming, witty missionaries working in the Matsue area of the Japan, Kobe mission.  At this time of the year in the Matsue Area of the Japan Kobe mission, it was rainy season!  As these two, charming gentlemen embarked on their adventure during their first rainy season in Japan, they were having a good time. Life was an adventure, and everyday brought new things. They enjoyed their time doing missionary work in rain suits, though sometimes the rain suits just felt like too much work to put on. 

 After teaching a lesson at the church, they had a dinner appointment with the bishop. It was cloudy, but the bishops house was only a 10-15 minute bike ride away. It had been raining on and off all day. But, they thought they would be okay because "the bishops house isn't THAT far away..." So the two charming elders left their rain suits at the church, and departed to the bishops house, excited for a delicious meal that had been prepared for them. 

 About 3 minutes after leaving the church, the rain started to fall. Just a sprinkle at first. But then, out of no where, the heavens opened up, and the rain came down like no other rain has come down before. It felt as if they were standing under the rushing waters of Niagara falls. There was absolutely nothing they could do to stay dry. By the time they reached the Bishops house, they didn't look like such a charming surprise for the bishops wife, in her brand knew, newly build, Japanese home. They were hot (wet) mess. The bishop then went upstairs to his room and found 2 combinations of sweats that these elders could wear to come inside their beautiful home. He then let them change in the front entry way of the home before they would be welcomed to dinner. 

-Ask me later for the second lesson I learned when the bishop talked us in to eating squid and squid guts that the squid had thrown up. Japanese people like it. GROSS! But that's another parable and lesson for another day! (You learn a lot as a missionary) 

What can we learn from this parable? How can we apply this to the gospel? Well, you know us missionaries, we find a way for EVERYTHING to apply to the gospel! So listen. 😏

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we NEED the spirit with us 24/7! Every second of every minute of every hour of every... Well. You get the point! We cannot put our self in a situation where we aren't worthy of having the spirit with us. Even for just 10 or 15 minutes. The rain suit is like the spirit. It protects us from all the rain around, when we use it, then we will stay dry and safe. So USE THE SPIRIT! The spirit will be your greatest companion, if you are worthy of it, and if you let it be. Don't be lazy and think that you'll be okay without it. Because you won't! So be at the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing. Then, can we be worthy of the spirit. If you have time, (everyone has time for the gospel) go watch, listen or read the talk "Always Retaining a Remission of your Sins" by Elder Bednar! You can learn so much from him! That talk stuck out to me on the topic of the spirit this week! Go watch it!!

Well that's it for this week! Thank you all for your letters, emails, pictures, and prayers! I Love you all so much! 

Much love, yet again, from the beautiful Matsue Japan.
Elder Evans 


"Keep Trying. Keep Trusting. Keep Believing. Keep Growing. Heaven is cheering you on Today, Tomorrow, and Forever"
               - Jeffrey R. Holland 

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