Friday, May 26, 2017

Elder Oaks



Its starting to get really hot up here in kyoto. Its looking for a
nice an toasty summer here. This past week was a pretty quick one! We
started off with interviews with President Welch which went really
well. It was the last time that we will all have an interview with him
before he goes home in June, so it was a really spiritual, uplifting
experience with him. Him and his wife have become role models of my
life, and I have been so blessed to work with them these past 2 years.

On Saturday, we headed to Osaka for a special conference with Elder
Dallin H. Oaks. It was really cool to have an apostle come and visit
our mission, as well as do a broadcast to all of Japan. He talked a
lot about finding joy in the gospel. He answered a lot of the
questions that I have had, and it was a great day.

One of our investigators named Hikari has been working really hard
this past week to stop drinking and smoking! We are doing a two week
plan with him to stop, while he is preparing for his baptism in June.
I have been amazed out how dedicated he is, and how much he wants to
change his life around to follow Jesus Christ. He has been such an
example to me, and has showed me what it is like to really want to
follow Jesus Christ. Please keep him in your prayers this week as he
is continuing to stop!

Thanks you all for all you do! I love you and miss you much!

Elder Evans

splits with Elder Queiroz


Ryo!



Happy Mother's Day!

It was a really busy week over here in Japan! We also were able to
have a lot of cool experiences as well! On monday night, we were
riding home at about 8:55. Time was getting short, as in we are
supposed to be home at 9 if we aren't teaching a lesson. As I pulled
into our neighborhood, I was kind of praying to Heavenly Father that
if he sent me someone, I would stop him. As I turned the next corner I
saw a man who was in his 20's. I panicked a bit and slowed down to say
"hello". I let him pass me as I slowed down, and I thought I had
missed him. Since I slowed down, my companion came up along side me
and said "Did you want to talk to him?" I quickly said yes and flipped
around to chase down the guy. As I rode up behind him, I said in
Japanese, "Excuse me!" He turned around, and in perfect English
responded "ah hey bro, I speak English." I was a little thrown off
guard but I started a conversation with him. Soon after my companion
rolled up behind us and jumped in on the conversation. This guy's name
is "Kento" and he is from New Jersey but is full blooded Japanese! We
heard a bit of his story, and about what he believed in. He belongs to
a different Christian denomination, but had heard a bit about the LDS
church and had always seen the missionaries around. We were able to
share the message of the restoration with him and it went really well.
As my companion started reciting Joseph Smith's account of the 1st
vision, I noticed that cars and people came flooding in from no where.
It was really loud and hard to keep a conversation going. I brought
that up to my companion as we road away with smiles on our faces. He
said that when he started saying the first vision, everything was
silent, and he felt confident as he recited it. I thought it was kind
of cool that Satan was trying to make it hard to share that message
with Kento. But Kento understood well, and elder Collett didn't hear
anything and was able to stay focused. It's cool how the gospel works.
Kento was all down to meet again, and asked us to change numbers with
him. It was a great experience that strengthened my testimony.

In other news, Ryo, the kid that walked into our church 3 weeks ago
asking to be baptized, was baptized yesterday! He did great and was
really excited. He bore a great testimony in Chinese, and they had a
Japanese member translate it to everyone. I'm really grateful to have
met Ryo and watch his conversion story right before my eyes. I have
never seen anyone more prepared than him, and it has been a blessing
to know him and to see him change everyday.

Anywho, I hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day! Thank you for
all that you do.

Much love from Kyoto!
Elder Evans



Pictures

Pictures sent on May 7th