Wednesday, January 25, 2017

It's Cold!



Sunday, January 15, 2017

SNOW!


Splits with Kamae Choro from the Okayama ward

Konnichiwa!!

I can't believe another week has already passed. It's been such a week
of small, unexpected miracles. I love being a missionary. I'm having
the time of my life!

MIRACLE NUMBER 1:
I got a call from Bishop Baba earlier this week to let me know that a
American less active member that Deschamps choro, the bishop and I had
been working with was going to church again in a Ward up in Tokyo.
This brother that we were working with was struggling with the church
a little bit, but through transferring his records quickly  when he
moved to Tokyo from Okayama, the Bishop there was able to get in
contact with him and he decided to come back to church. The other
miracle inside this is that the brother moved into the only Ward in
Tokyo with an American bishop. WOOHOO! MIRACLES!!

MIRACLE NUMBER 2: We had splits with the zone leaders up in Yonago and
we made it home without freezing to death. (It was snowing the whole
time we were up there, with blizzard warnings.)

MIRACLE 3: While sitting on a packed bus on the way from Yonago, my
companion started up a conversation with the guy sitting next to him.
(He was sitting in the row in front of me.) They started talking about
the gospel and Wilkinson choro was awesome and doing his best to teach
the man about what we believe! He got stuck a little bit when talking
about the atonement, so I leaned forward in my seat and simply
explained what the atonement is. When I sat back in my seat again as
they continued, the lady that was sitting next to me looked at me and
said "are you Jesus Christ's missionaries?" I laughed about it a sec
and said, "Yes we sure are!"  She explained to me that she heard what
we were talking about when I explained the Atonement to the man in
front of me, and that she thought it was amazing. She said "I have
lots of interest in learning, can you teach me?" I was about blown
away. For the next hour of the bus ride, we talked about the
restoration, Book of Mormon, prayer, and the plan of salvation. She
had so many good questions and just kept asking for more. The coolest
part about this is that she lives in Matsue! (One of my last areas) So
I was able to explain to her where the church was, and exchange
information with her so that she can meet with the missionaries up
there. MIRACLE!!

There are about 10 more miracles that I could talk about from this
week, including going out to the middle of no where on splits with
kamae choro and finding lots of new people to teach, as well as
finding a great new investigator here in Okayama nishi. But I don't
want to bore you all with that, and this email is getting super long
anyways!

Lastly, On Wednesday we had a big conference where president Whiting
from the area presidency came and spoke to all of us. We talked a lot
about the spirit and how we need to learn how to follow it. One thing
that he said that really hit me is that "Heavenly Father cannot steer
a parked car."  We can't just sit and wait for answers to come to us.
We need to be actively searching and taking steps into the dark! The
Lord won't let us take too many steps in the wrong direction without
redirecting our path. But we need to show our faith and act in order
to receive answers.

After the conference, I was able to get interviewed by President
Whiting. It was such a spiritual experience. I could really feel the
love that he has for the savior, and the love he has for missionary
work. It was a great time to receive some one on one council from one
of the lords servants. He helped me to see more of a vision of what
kind of missionary I want to be, and how I can better help the Okayama
nishi Ward.


I love being a missionary, if you can't tell. I love having the
opportunity to teach about our Savior everyday, and learning more
about him. And I love the Okayama nishi Ward. I'm excited for the
miracles to come.

Sorry this is so long today! I love you all more than Wilkinson choro
loves airplanes! Stay warm!

Eruda Ebanzu


The Okayama District

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Another week in Okayama



We got to go down to the ocean on Tuesday with some members to watch
the sunrise for the new year. As I sat up on the Japanese mountains
overlooking the ocean on one side, and Tamano city on the other side,
I was kind of just in shock at the amazing earth that God created.
Sitting up there helped build my testimony stronger of our Heavenly
Father. This world is a beautiful place. While we were watching the
sunrise, The member that we went with kept me nice and busy. He
contacted 4 different people and invited them to hear the lessons. I
was so impressed!!

Yesterday we went with the Bishop to visit sister Yamakawa, the less
active lady who Korth choro and I housed into a couple months ago! It
was one of the most spiritual lessons I have been apart of. It was
also fun to work with Bishop Baba and hear his testimony of the
gospel. We were able to read Alma 32 and really talk about faith. It
was so amazing to see when she finally got it. She lit up, sat back in
her chair, and said "I got it! I got it!". - I love being a
missionary.

In church yesterday, 2 scriptures were shared that really hit me hard.
They were D&C 19:16-19 and John 3:16. We are so blessed!! Every single
person on this earth has access to the atonement. And Christ did it so
willingly because he loves each and every single one of us. As I sat
in that lesson at church, I felt a part of the love that Christ has
for us. I want to share that love with everyone! The Ward members here
in Okayama are starting to get the vision, and I'm loving working with
all of them.

Anyways we are out of time!! I love you all and hope you are all doing well!

Until next week!
Elder Evans





Sunday, January 1, 2017

Okayama Nishi, Round 4



Happy New Years!!

I can't believe 2017 is already here! I've been so grateful for this
past full year of missionary work. It has influenced my life, and my
testimony more than I can comprehend.  In this past year, I have
served in 4 different areas with 8 different companions, all of who
have helped me grow and push myself everyday. I am so grateful for all
of the people I have met this past year, and I'm looking forward to
what is coming this new year!

This past week was transfer week! Both Deschamps choro and lazenby
choro got transferred to the other side of the mission, which means
that I stayed in Okayama nishi for a 4th transfer! I absolutely loved
working with Deschamps choro and lazenby choro. I learned so much from
them, and they became family to me. Working with them was definitely a
highlight of my mission. They will kill it in their new areas! My new
companion is Elder Wilkinson from Sandy, Utah. His dad also served
here in Okayama back before the dinosaurs roamed the earth, so he has
been so excited to see everything here, and so excited to meet
everyone. We are both so lucky to be serving where are dads served.

  It's been fun seeing the changes that have taken place this past
week with the new bishopric! One day as we sat in bishop baba's office
talking about specific people that we should work with, he stopped and
looked at us and thanked us for our service as missionaries and for
deciding to come on a mission. He really helped us to know that we are
loved and that our work doesn't go unnoticed. I love this Ward, I love
Japan, and I love serving the Lord everyday. And I'm grateful for
another round here in the Okayama nishi Ward!!

Have a great week everyone! Stay safe and warm! Thank you for all that you do!!

Elder Evans