An Odd Week, May 4
If you ever need reassurance that the Lord has his hand in the work, you can just look at my mission and it should erase all doubts. I’m happy to say that I didn’t transfer - still in Ina. As for my companion… he didn’t transfer either. We are now the second companionship in this Mission President’s history to go three transfers together. I guess we are doing something right… I have to admit, I was pretty worried at first, but the worries have gone and I’m just happy to be able to dig in and work again. This does, however, mean I’ll likely be in Ina this next six weeks and another six after that - making 1/4 of my mission in a branch of six people. Not many missionaries can say that, I don’t think.
Though I guess I should rephrase that… Ina is no longer a branch of six people! The Lord has worked through us and an awesome District President to bring back four people to Church, making our branch a huge ten people large! It was such a good feeling to have ten people (not counting us) at Sacrament Meeting. We even had to fill extra cups in the middle of the Sacrament because we weren’t expecting them! And two more families are on their way to coming back as well. I’m really excited for Ina.
Also, another one of my investigators from Gifu got baptized this weekend! I heard it was quite an amazing service, and his testimony was apparently really strong. The Bishop was impressed. At the end, another of my investigators accepted the missionaries invitation to be baptized, and she is set for next month. The fruit is finally starting to come, even if it isn’t directly to me. The work is moving forward!
We are starting a Missionary Program in the ward here, with various activities to get people fired up about spreading the gospel, and to hopefully help some less-actives come back. Our first activity is Missionary Bingo - I might send a copy home to you next time I shoot off a package. It is basically a 5x5 magnetic bingo paper that we printed missionary activities in each square. As they complete an activity, they can put a magnet on the square. If they get a bingo, they receive a sweet copy of ‘Jesus the Christ’ in their language, and if they work hard and blackout the board, they get that and framed copy of “The Living Christ” or “Family: A Proclamation to the World.” One of the greatest blessings of being a counselor in the presidency is access to a computer (though not connected to the internet) so we can create these things ourselves and present them to the District Presidency to be used throughout the whole Nagano Prefecture. We made one in English too, so I’ll send it home. Maybe you can use it to have some missionary experiences there!
Let’s see… ah, this week we have a District Leadership Training Meeting for the whole prefecture, and we have to go. It is three hours long, two hours away, and is on… Mother’s Day. Lame. But I figured that is ok, cause America’s Mother’s Day is actually more lined up with Monday morning here, so I figure it works out perfectly. Here is the information to call: First, on my Monday morning (your Sunday night) whenever you want, you can call our cell phone. The way to do it is like this:
I will answer it whenever, since it is a cell-phone, so whenever is best for you, go ahead and call. If you need to change it from Sunday night because you are busy, you can call me for a minute or two just to set up a different time. I think that should be good though. Also, you probably won’t, but if you use a calling card make sure it is one that can go through to cell phones. That should do it for calls.
I’m really excited now, we have six investigators (though only one is strong) and I feel growth coming on. Ina might be another area where after I transfer this people are baptized, but I’m feeling better about that. I don’t have to see the baptism to be worth it.
Good to hear Kathryn is safe, healthy, and only slightly nauseous. I wasn’t too worried about it, you said it was a pretty safe operation, but it is nice to know all went well.
Dad, way weird some random guy would remember you from a high school basketball league. I guess that is the small world side of things, eh?
Derek, when you go to France, don’t mack on the girls too much. Actually look at the buildings and the art and such, not just at them, ok?
Jacob, did you hear there is a new Kingdom Hearts game coming out? There is a huge poster right next to my apartment - kind of annoying actually. I wonder when it comes out in America…
Mom and Dad, thanks for the extra money in the account. I am spending everything on trains and materials for the ward. Most of it is being reimbursed by the church, but I have no way to deposit here in Japan, only to withdraw. That means I’ll basically be taking close to $1k through customs at the end of my mission if I stay here for four transfers. Kinda fun, kinda scary.
LeeAnne, doors slammed in your face will only seem to become more and more common. We counted, and we are at about 80% of the doors close the second we say Jesus Christ here. Trust me, the caucasians are rude, the Japanese are probably even ruder. I got spit on while housing this week by a drunk guy whose wife is apparently a Jehovah’s Witness, but he hates anything Christian. He thought it was our fault she became a Christian. I hope that kind of thing never happens to you. Keep up the hard work and don’t let it get you down - the joy is in the number of doors that open, not in the number of doors that are slammed. The more you get slammed on, the more that will open.
Karen, the Elder Sister Lowry, thanks for the letter and the postcard! They made it here safe and sound, and it was great to hear from you. Sounds like aside from being sick, you might be getting a bit of break from your double-duty of schooling here pretty soon. I hope it gives you a chance to relax a bit.
Well, I don’t know what else to say. I’m having fun, a good time, and feel like I’m moving the work well. I didn’t have any money to send letters last week, but I’m back on my feet this week, so I’ll fire a double dose off to the usual (that means you, LeeAnne). Glad everyone is doing well! Hang in there! Talk to you soon (before the next email!).
Love you all!
Greg Burnham
gregburnham@myldsmail.net
1-304 Itakadai
Meito-ku Nagoya-shi Aichi-ken
465-0028 Japan
