First full week in 北六甲 Kitarokko

Dear everyone,

This week was an interesting week. I am starting to get a feel for the

new area. In Kitarokko, there are 4 elders, so we all share an

apartment. That is pretty fun because it's like a camp out every

single night. Also I think Heavenly Father sent me here to Kitarokko

for a reason and that is so that I can develop buff leg muscles! There

are so many hills here and it makes biking that much harder. Up and

down and up and down. It is insane...

I saw someone who goes to the Nishiwaki Eikaiwa while biking in my new
area. Crazy!

Anyways, the work is going pretty slow here, but we are working hard.

We only have 3 investigators. I'll give the rundown on them. One of

them is a 9 year old boy who is the grandson of a less active member.

It is really hard to teach him because, well, he's 9 years old. It's

weird because it is pretty much like trying to teach Sammy, my 10 year

old little brother. He can't get baptized because his mom is hantai

(opposed to them getting baptized). So there really isn't much we can

do because, well, he's 9. So that's him.

Next is a 50 ish year old man who has been taught everything but just

doesn't believe it. He has been to church a few times, but when he

does, he argues with the members about points of doctrine. So with

him, we are trying to help him "hear the music of the gospel" (I loved

that talk by the way). It will be little by little, but we have faith

that he will get baptized soon.

Our next investigator is.... How do I put this..... A project. He is

36 (he told the elders for the longest time that he was 24 until he

first time I met him when he told us his real age). He dropped out of

school in junior high because he was addicted to drugs. He got put in

jail for drug dealing and he has just had a rough, rough life. His

sister recently committed suicide (like a month ago) and that has been

really hard on him. The missionaries have stopped him from committing

suicide a couple times. But he is a really kind hearted person. He

just has problems that only he and the Lord have the ability to fix.

At this point, the missionaries are trying to just be friends with him

(because he has none) and to help him do the little things like

praying and reading the Book of Mormon. He is definitely the most

interesting person that I have ever had to work with, but honestly, I

am excited for the challenge. This gospel can really change anyone,

even a man so lost as him.

So those are our investigators. To say the least, we have a lot of

work to do. These investigators are all so unique and we can only work

with them so much. We are trying hard to find more investigators, at

least people who will listen to a lesson and/or come to church. We

have a lot of work, but we also know that this is all in he Lord's

hands. He knows these people far better than we do, so it is up to us

to rely on him and to trust him completely and to work hard as well. I

have never realized the importance of sincere heartfelt prayer in

life, and missionary work. There is a quote by President Gordon B.

Hinkley in Preach My Gospel that states what I am trying to say.

“Every morning … , missionaries should get on their knees and plead

with the Lord to loosen their tongues and speak through them to the

blessing of those they will be teaching. If they will do this, a new

light will come into their lives. There will be greater enthusiasm for

the work. They will come to know that in a very real sense, they are

servants of the Lord speaking in His behalf. They will find a

different response from those they teach. As they do so by the Spirit,

their investigators will respond under the influence of the same

Spirit.” I am trying hard to have better prayers, praying for the

right thing, and working so that my prayers can be answered. I feel

like that is the thing that can help me the most and it will help this

area improve. God will grant success unto us if we align our will with

His through sincere, real prayer.

All in all, things are great. We are rolling out the use of the Area

Book Planner App for the iPads this week, so that will be another

exciting thing to figure out how to use. Anyways, I hope you all have

a great week. Always be aware of the blessings that God bestows upon

you everyday. They are always there if we look for them. Life is

better if you count your blessings and name them one by one. This

church is true!

Love,

Elder Lamoreaux

ラムロー長老

Sent from my iPad