Week 37 - New Years Day - 1 January 2017

Dear Family,

Wow! That is a lot of playing! I told Mason about our Trip to Tahoe over the holidays and all that we did. 

No two have a bunk bed and two have futons. I asked Mason about the sleeping arrangments at his apartment as we saw a video (I will post below) with bunk beds. I snagged me a futon cause it's better that way.

I had a good week. I don't really remember what happened. Because it's shogatsu (New Year Holiday) and they don't want us Dendouing, so yesterday was read The Book of Mormon day. I finished it by the way. It's always so sad when I finish The Book of Mormon. I always want there to be more and I feel so sick that the people didn't repent and follow Christ but caused his spirit to withdraw and completely destroyed each other. I'm so thankful for
The Book of Mormon and the influence it has had on my life. It literally can change people and their behavior more than anything else on this earth. It is by far the most correct of any book to ever be on this earth. I have a goal to read it everyday this year. I have never had a perfect year but this year I have a better opportunity than ever. 

Also today is p day and tomorrow is clean the apartment day so that will be fun.

Mission school is  going alright. It's a huge focus for President Nagano and it will reap really good benefits, it is just really hard to get going. We invite people all the time but they don't come because we aren't well known. We've been trying to get members to come and invite friends because that is how it will grow but they are still warming g up to it. We have all the materials prepared and ready, pretty professionally so when people start coming they won't leave.  Mission school is basically a church run school that teaches and shares messages about Christ. There are legit schools around Japan that do this but now the church is registered to do it. But we will teach standardized English test preparation courses for free and then share a message about Christ as well as opening and closing with a prayer.  We will do this so people will be exposed more to the spirit and we will have more people coming unto Christ. It should be a big tool, we just have to get it going.

Kenta is still good. He got a job recently and has been busy but will still meet with us when he has time, but we don't know what his desire is anymore so we will be trying to figure that out as well as showing him that he can be baptized later if his parents won't allow him now.

Takano is done. Sadly. He just doesn't have time and his parents are hantai. But he knows where to find us and has a Book of Mormon so his conversion will be in a few years. I may not have the chance to see it but it will happen that I am sure of. 

The guy with the two daughters. They haven't come yet but we will probably visit them this week. 

Well I am really excited for this next year as it is the only year I will have to give everyday and everything to the
Lord. It will surely be the single best year of my life.

Sorry it's so short but that's about all I have. 

Make goals and keep those goals!

Love you!

Elder Bloomfield

Satou Kyodai

Mt. Fuji in the background.

4 Roommates and Mt. Fuji

More missionary Shenanigans 

(Video mentioned above)

Thought for the Week:

Week 36 - Christmas Day - 25 December 2016

We got to Skype with Mason for 40 mins. for Christmas.  It was nice as we had the whole family.  Everyone was here at the house except for Kyle and Alyssa.  They were in Las Vegas with Alyssa family for Christmas, so they just Skyped in as well and we had all three going at the same time.  Mason seems to be doing well.  He shared a few experiences with us as well as talked in Japanese.  It was fun for Travis and Dad (Steve) to get to talk in Japanese with him as well.  It made our Christmas!!!

Here is my letter to President:

Merry Christmas!!!
This week was really good! We had a lot of people come to our Christmas Party. There were so many less actives and English students and investigators there. They all had a really good time and definitely felt the spirit. We were able to build really good relationships with all of them and will hopefully be able to visit with them some more. 

We also had a lot of people come to church on Sunday as well. We had a lot of people totsuzen show up. Including the guy that wants his daughters to come to mission school and two Vietnamese guys who just moved to Japan three weeks ago. They hardly speak Japanese and zero English but Elder Breeze did a way good job at
translating for them. We gave them each a Vietnamese Book of Mormon. They are moving to Tokyo next week so hopefully we can refer them to the correct people. 

The guy who's daughters are going to come to eikaiwa and mission school also said he will try to stop by church more when he has time. It was a way cool experience to see so many people at church and really feeling the spirit too. Even though we have been dropped a lot lately I know that we can continue to use this spirit of Christ and Christmas to find those that are ready to learn more!


Have a Merry Christmas!!!!

Love,
Elder Bloomfield

                Some gaijins in the ward and the guy that said "gochi so Sam desu" in his prayer.

                                                Tom..... my favorite person at eikaiwa 

                                                      Kazuki and Kenta at eikaiwa.
                         Kazuki leaves for his mission in the Philippines on the 29th of December.

Christmas Party

These guys are from the Philippines.

Thought for the Week:

Week 35 - I Went to Shibuya Today - 19 December 2016

Hey,

Well I will be calling for Christmas at 9 am Japan time. It will be 4 pm Sunday afternoon your time. I am still working on finding out our Skype info but when I do I will let you know. 

Also both packages came and I only opened the bubble wrapped one. 

President letter: 

We saw some pretty cool miracles this week. I really enjoyed our interview and I'm more excited to get mission school going. It will be such a big tool once we really have it going. Last night we had a pretty cool miracle that has to do with mission school. As we were on our way back to the apartment after dendou, this guy came riding his bike up behind us and was like "hey what are you guys doing in Japan?" and asking us stuff like that. After a little bit he said his daughter wants to learn English and asked if we teach anywhere near by. We told him about eikaiwa and mission school and he was really excited. He then asked if we could go to his house and introduce it to his daughter. We agreed and it ended up being two daughters who seem like they want to come and learn. We also told him about church and our Ward Christmas Party and he said he wants to come.  It was kind of a crazy experience but so cool and a miracle we needed. I'm so excited for mission school and the impact it will have on dendou. 

We were also able to meet with our investigator Kenta. We taught him the word of Wisdom and he said it is no problem to follow and gave up coffee on the spot! He is a way good kid and is trying to follow Christ. 

I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be working here in Kawagoe with Elder Breeze.

Today is temple p-day so that will be nice. 

We also got dropped by Takano this week. He says he doesn't want to worry his mom and if he focuses on Christ everything else will drop. It was pretty sad,  worst drop of my mission so far. It's just sad when people are so close to what they need and are looking for and just walk away.  I know eventually he will meet missionaries again. Elder Breeze and I were just preparing him. 

Well I don't have much else to say.  I'll send you an email about Skype later.

Love,

Elder Bloomfield

The "Famous Shibuya Crossing

Missionary Shenanigans - When they turn the water on in the sink, it makes the shower water turn cold.  Poor Elder Breeze is getting a cold shower. 

Thought for the Week:

Week 34 - Another Way Good Week - 11 December 2016

Dear Family and Friends,

We had another way good week this week. Week by week we have been improving which is really cool to see. Elder Breeze and I came into this area with basically nothing and have been able to see a lot of miracles and with the help of the Lord have been able to see the beginnings of a fruitful area. Just like the story about the vineyard,
we have been working really hard and are starting to see those great fruits come from it. We still have a ways to go to hit the mission standards, which I have not yet been able to achieve, but I know that,as we continue to work hard and have faith we will be able to achieve great things. 1 Nephi 3:7  "I will go and do the things the Lord has commanded  17:50. 

We also had a wonderful opportunity to teach Takano. He is the 22 year old that we met two weeks ago and came to church last week. We had a way good lesson and taught him the Plan of Salvation. He had a lot of good questions that transitioned the lesson into the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He really loved the idea of getting the Holy Ghost and having it guide him at all times. We ended up committing him to be baptized when he learns that the church is true. We now just need to set a date and continue helping him build his faith. I love this opportunity to help people realize the truth and come to find the light in Christ.

This week I've really been trying to present our message boldly as the truth and not just as something we believe. Sometimes it is weird but I realized that we don't need to sugarcoat the truth or our message. We don't need to be embarrassed about what we know will bring us happiness. If we give it to people straight they will believe more and realize the truth of our message.

I also gave a short talk in church yesterday and it was nice. 

We had dinner with the ward mission leader yesterday and he's way funny.

That is way cool that Elder Bednar came (He came to San Jose and spoke to the members). Funny story, I've heard all of those stories and analogies out of his mouth before. I guess that's what happens when you get to hear an Apostle twice over the space of 6 months. I really do like his teaching style. When he came to the mission, he did the same thing. He would ask people to share and then clarify and then teach and so on. There has been a push in the mission to teach in this way so that the Holy Ghost can really teach. He is truly a magnificent man.

Ok I did hang up the tree but not everyone's pictures are up. Some pictures would be distracting and Take away from my purpose as a missionary so I didn't put those up. Basically all the ones that have girls from high school in them.

Also one of the investigators we have, he's kinda like an interrogator but is way nice. He is basically fluent in English but wants to teach the missionaries Japanese. So he's going to teach the missionaries once a week. He told me I can't come though because my Japanese is supposedly too good. That's not true. He also thought I had been on my mission for a year and a half and was telling me that he will only teach missionaries that have been out less than a year and a half. Hahahah  He is way funny and a way good guy. Hopefully he realizes that
baptism is important.

Well that's all I got. 
Love you guys! I hope all is going well!

Keep looking for ways to #LightTheWorld!

Love,
Elder Bloomfield

Takano Kouki 高野光樹

Elder from Brazil that was in the MTC with Mason and now lives in the same apartment.

Christmas Tree Mom compiled with pictures and Christmas messages from family and friends for Mason.  It is hanging on his wall at his apartment.

Thought for the Week:

Week 33 - Transfer #5 - 4 December 2016

This was on Mason's Facebook page this week:

Elder Mason wrote: "So thankful for my parents and all they have done for me! Thank you so much mom and dad! You have helped me to grow and taught me soooo much! 今日本当に両親や彼らの影響や彼らの助けるものなどに心から感謝しています！助けて下さってありがとうございます！成長できたように良く助け教えてくださいました！ #LightTheWorld"


Hello,
This week was way better than last week! I felt like we were constantly going somewhere or doing something. We found a couple new investigators this week and one of them came to church. His name is Takano. He is about 21 and going to college right now. He really wants to know the truth and how you can actually know it is true. At church we taught him about prayer and the Holy Ghost and how he can receive answers. He is a way good guy and has a real desire to know the truth.

My MTC teacher Cade Johnson served in this area for a while on his mission so I asked him for a few tips about the area and names and stuff like that. He sent a bunch to Elder Newey (traveling assistant) to give to me. We had splits this week with the traveling assistants so we were able to contact almost all of the names and actually got a new investigator that came to church out of it. We also met with Kajita, the gakusei we met a few weeks ago, and taught the Restoration lesson. He said he didn't know if God existed but kind of wants him to exist. We talked a lot about the Holy Ghost, prayer, and finding answers through the Book of Mormon. I felt the spirit so strong during our lesson with him. We also had a gakusei member doseki for us and he answered questions and shared experiences really well.

We also had the opportunity to teach Kenta twice this week. During one of our lessons we were talking about baptism and invited him and he said he already talked to his parents and they said 絶対駄目. We aren't exactly sure what exactly he said to his parents or what they said to him but we are really trying to find ways to soften their hearts. He said if he gets permission he would like to be baptized.

We also got to work with Faisal this week and he is doing so good. His heart has been changed so much and he seems to really want to do good. He really wants to go to the temple and has even talked about serving
a mission. I am so thankful for the opportunity I have had to help and see him grow.

Elder Breeze is also surprising me daily with his desire to really participate and help people come unto Christ. Sometimes it is funny what he does but I love seeing him trying to improve daily and I am excited to work with him for another transfer.

Well hope all is going well. Continue to #LightTheWorld everyday and serve others. I feel like I say this every week but it's true. I've never been happier until I came to Japan and started serving people. So please continue to be Christlike and think of others.


Love,
Elder Bloomfield

Ps. Will Watanabe will be here after this transfer. I hope I get the chance to train again.

Elder Breeze, Kenta and Mason after a lesson and game of basketball.

Elder Breeze, Faisel, and Mason (serious face)

Smiling

Not quite ready yet.

District Lunch

Thought for the Week:

Week 32 - Way Good Week!!! - 28 November 2016

Dear Family,

This week was way good! I got your package on the day it snowed so I had gloves in the snow! Thank you so much!

This week might have been one of the best weeks I have had yet! We were able to find three new investigators this week! We also had the opportunity to teach Faisal. He was recently baptized in September and then something happened and he stopped coming to church. He is from Saudi Arabia and supposedly gets offended easily, but he had an amazing change of heart and is progressing way well and wants to go to the temple. He also has started going to an International Group in Urawa so that is nice. Way good guy! Loves me. After he met me he bought a California sweatshirt.   Hahahah!

Next is Kenta Igarashi. He is an 18 year old high school senior. And just got accepted to the college he wants to go to. He is way happy and loves the gospel. He wants to get baptized but he is nervous about talking to his parents. He says his mom would maybe be okay but his dad wouldn't be okay with it. So we are trying to help him find a way to talk with them or let them know how he has become happy from it. He said he really wants to share this gospel with his family. He is such a good kid and has a really strong desire to follow Jesus Christ and do what is right.

Last night we had a Christmas Concert in Urawa for missionaries and their investigators/less actives/recent converts. Both Kenta and Faisal came to the Christmas Concert and really enjoyed it. The spirit was so strong and helped me to feel the true meaning of Christmas and love for the Savior Jesus Christ so strong.

We also had the opportunity to meet with one of our new investigators Kajita. He is a way good guy. He is 19 and is really willing to learn about the Gospel.

I'm so happy with this opportunity I have to serve the Lord and the people of Japan during this Christmas Season. Every day I feel happier and happier as I forget myself and try to be the best representative of Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father that I can be. The people of Japan are amazing and I love them and the opportunity to be here serving them so much.

This Christmas Season, try to think of others and what they need instead of what you want. Give the gift that somebody needs rather than waste time thinking about the gifts you want!

Love you all! 

Please go out and serve!

Elder Bloomfield

Tokyo Temple with Elder Breeze

Thanksgiving Feast in the dark

At a Park 

This is the view from the front porch.  The church is in the left hand corner of the picture

Another picture of the church

                                          

1st Snow Day

                                          

Thanksgiving Feast

Thought for the Week:

Week 31 - Temple Day - 22 November 2016

Hey,

Well this week was pretty good. Not much to report other than our less active/recent convert Faisal wants to go to the temple and get the Priesthood. It's pretty exciting. Also he went to church on Sunday. He attended the International group so we couldn't join him but he went on his own and said he enjoyed it a lot!

Next we were able to find two new investigators last week and set up a lesson with both of them this week. One of them blocked our number and bailed on us but it was still a good experience to  find an investigator, get his number (usually Japanese people don't really like exchanging numbers), and set a next appointment at the church.  Then we did it again like ten minutes later with another guy. 

Because the A elders got white washed and new missionaries got transferred in. I can't remember if I told you but we took one of their investigators because we are friends with him. His name is Kenta. He is a really good kid. High school senior. Wants to get baptized and had a date for next weekend but had to postpone because he has a college visit or something that has to do with the college he wants to go to the same day. Also he's been way busy the last two weeks preparing for an important test. But he took it on Sunday so from now on he should have more time to meet. He also told us he prayed before he took his test and that he believes God helped him to do well. He is the nicest kid ever.

Today was temple p-day so that is why I didn't email yesterday. Sorry. The temple was great. I had to wear head phones but during the parts that weren't important I would take them off and listen. I understood a lot of it. We also went to Asakusa and they have a bunch of shops and a huge Buddhist temple with more Gaijin (Foreigners) than I've ever seen in Japan. We actually ran into a few Mormon families on vacation.

Well that's all I have for this week. Also do any of our friends from Japan live in my mission or are they all in Sendai and Tokyo South Mission?

Also congrats on painting the house! Will you send me a picture? I want to know what it looks like.
How is David doing as far as baptism and meeting with missionaries?
Well I think that is all I have for today. Sorry it is short. I wouldn't mind if the stories were emailed to me but even ones I know would be good too. I've forgotten a lot since coming on a mission.

Well love you guys.   I hope all is going well!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Elder Bloomfield

Asakusa Temple

Making Ramen

Thought for the Week:

Week 30 - Fast Week as Usual - 14 November 2016

First off I have a few requests.
1. Motab music. The mission got stricter on music which I actually
think is a good thing, but basically nothing like EFY music. Only LDS
artists and motab. I only want motab though. Don't want to risk it
with other people. I would like a few particular songs all on a cd.
Also the cd's we made at home don't even work hahahah. If I could high
to kolob(or something like that), Danny boy, nearer my god to the, I
need the every hour, and any other power songs, but please only motab.
2. Dental floss. I've been flossing everyday since I entered the Mtc,
but I'm running low.
3. Where in Sendai did I live? Stories from Japan. All and any. Like
the remote control car Travis got run over of mine. Also pictures.
4. Steve this is for you. Who was your mission president? What years
did you serve? Mission stories and pictures? Go read your journal
please! Love you!

Love you guys!

Here is my letter to president:
This week was pretty good. It went by pretty fast as usual. This week,we were able to meet with Faisal, our recent convert who went inactive. He called us Thursday at like 6 and was like Elders I need to meet and we were like okay. So we met with him that night and talked about the Joseph Smith story. We were also able to set up a way
good relationship. He also wanted to meet again Friday. When we met him he told us about how he feels he is being treated unkindly/unfair because he is a refuge. We talked to him and shared the story of Alma and Amulek in the prison when they were treated unfairly. We told him that he needs to keep faith and continue to do what the Lord expects of him and that as he does that things will get better and he will be happier. We also realized that he hadn't been taught the AB lessons yet so we set up another appointment and met him. We talked with him and taught him the restoration and it went really well. He remembered a lot of it and expressed his love for this church and this gospel. It was a way cool experience to be apart of as he testified to us of the truths he knows. He is a really good guy but he has a few problems that I think are due to his culture. However he is fully committed to following Christ and trying to change his life. Right now we want to help him prepare for the priesthood and for the temple.
Elder Breeze and I have had a pretty good week as we have been doing a lot of finding and trying to perfect our teaching skills. I am so thankful for him and the motivation he is to me to work harder and become a better servant of the Lord. I know that as we keep working and applying the things we are learning, we will see miracles.
Especially a White Christmas miracle.


Okay,  so this recent convert guy is pretty crazy. He is Saudi Arabian. Basically because he was baptized if he goes home he can be killed. He also is trying to get refuge status so that he is safe. He has a lot of free time and just watches Saudi news all day which mostly consists of people being tortured to death/killed in random ways and he is always talking about them and watching these videos and it is not good at all. He tried to show Elder Breeze a video but he said he did to want to see it.   Hahaha. He is also kinda short tempered and very bias. So kinda scary but he loves me and Elder Breeze.

Next we have been doing a lot of finding this week but no real success. Also we have no real investigators. They all schedule and then don't show up. So I'm getting a little frustrated especially because Elder Breeze doesn't ever speak to people on the street and zones out all the time. But I love him and we are working on fixing our flaws.

Next major thing we were riding our bikes and I heard some people playing basketball so we rolled over and yes we played for about an hour. And yes I did do them all dirty a few times. Also for being 6'5 Elder Breeze can't make a lay up very well but it was fun playing with him and I still love him.

Next thing,  the Japanese Elder that was here got his visa so he is heading to America Tuesday night. Right now we are a tri companionship.   Hahaha   The other Elder that is going to Urawa and Kawagoe A is also
getting white washed. So just like that Elder Breeze and I are area Senpai after three weeks. Elder Passos, one of the Brazilians from the Mtc, will be in my apartment now with an Elder from Roxbury, Idaho who,is way funny. So I'm kinda excited for them to come.

Next thing Elder Ogata, my trainer, emailed me this week. He is doing good. I'm so thankful for him and all he did and put up with. I think I was a good trainee, but still way hard and not an easy task.

Well we also had dinner with some members last night. It was way nice and they loved us! It was probably my first time eating in a members home so that was an interesting experience being hosted whereas I am usually part of the hosting.

Well, love you all!

Elder Bloomfield

View from Apartment Patio

Elder Yoshida -He was with the missionaries waiting to receive his Visa to serve his mission in Orem, Utah

Member Couple that had them for dinner.

Boys they played basketball with.

Thought for the Week: