My Companion x2

Playing basketball.

Peterson Shimai is a pro at basketball!

Dear everybody,

I had a kokan this week with Elder Moretti from Brazil. He's our Zone Leader along with my old companion, Elder Chiba. Speaking of...Chiba choro came back to Nagano and dendoed with my current doryo, Elder Yamada. Two of my companions together. haha.

  I went to Matsumoto were there are 4 elders in the same apartment. One of them, Elder Wilkinson, is finishing his mission next week. It goes by so fast. It was way funny to see the craziness of a 4 elder (yonin) apartment. It was way fun! It was also Wilkinson Choro's birthday and President and Sister Yamashita called to sing Happy Birthday to him. Way nice!

  Well this is week 6... Transfer Calls and Nielson Shimai's last week of dendo. Next week will be kind of sad with her and maybe me leaving. She is going to the Mission Home Sunday right after church and we will probably see her off at the Eki (train station). We are excited for her though, she is a great missionary.

  Last night we had a great lesson with our Recent Convert Tezuka Kyodai who was Baptized by TuAkoi choro before I came here. He has had a rough life and still struggles with some things, but the gospel has really helped him. He is way nice and says he wants to go to the Temple. I haven't seen anyone quite like that except for him so far out here. It is really amazing to see how the gospel can change lives. That's what I love to see.

  So wish us luck and keep all of Nagano in your prayers. We will try our best for Nielson Shimai's last week, for that last week of the transfer, all the members and investigators, whether I transfer or not, and for the Lord, Jesus Christ who I know loves these people, even more than I do.

I pray for you all to have a great week as well!

Love you all,
Elder Watkins

Those are moths flying into the lights, freaky!

Those are moths flying into the lights, freaky!

Elder Chiba's coke.

Elder Chibas american name tag.

Rainy Sunnyness

Shokujikai!!!

Shokujikai!!!

Members chillin at shokujikai (food after church).

Members chillin at shokujikai (food after church).

Kamen Rider Gaim Kiwami Arms

Tokkyu 6's Megazord

With all the force of a Great Typhoon!

Shyabu shyabu resturaunt last Pday. Oishii yo!

Cheetos!

Do these make me look smart?

Last week the biggest Typhoon in 3 years was hitting Japan. Very big, very slow. Everybody was batting down the hatches. There have been clouds and rain and a little thunder everyday recently.

  Then Thursday, the day it was expected to hit. During morning studies we get the text message from the Mission Office; "The following areas are not allowed to leave their apartments today due to the typhoon. Do not leave your apartment today, even if it looks nice out." The list of "lock-down" areas included the entire mission except for twelve missionaries in Kanazowa Zone. So we were stuck inside all day. And the best part? The Typhoon was NOTHING. Just some rain, like usual. So disappointing. But we stayed in just in case as ordered, and cleaned the apartment, updated records, planned, studied, and took a nap. Also made some awesome Hayashi Rice. It was boring but also a nice break.

   After that I went on one of our famous kokans with Elder Beck in Ueda. We had Baskin Robbins! 31 flavors of yum! We also sang High School Musical's "Scream" by Troy Bolton while dendoing haha. It was fun. Then we went to Matsumoto for interviews with President Yamashita. There was also a big multistake Super Saturday for the Seminary kids. So it was busy there. It made me miss youth activities again.

   Interviews with Yamashita Kaicho were great, very spiritual. He gave each of us a Priesthood Blessing. I haven't had a blessing given to me since I left for my mission. Then President Yamashita came out and gave a talk to all of us missionaries. The spirit was so strong in there. He talked about how he's been Mission President for a year now and he's been thinking about what he's done and how to improve. I love when he speaks, it's always so powerful and inspiring.

   Well I hope you all are having a good summer. It's hot here in Nagano ken, but there is a nice breeze around.

Take care and have a great one!

love,
ワトキンズ　長老

Baskin Robins, yum!

Chiba Choros picture in the Matsumoto church, haha!

Doctor Who meets Missionaries.

Toy store with Elder Beck.

Full moon

Mister Donut, so good!

My planner

My wall

Homemade Power Rangers poster.

Old First Presidency above my desk.

My toe socks :)

Yama chan making some food.

Yamada choro being bored.

The so called Typhoon.

Nagano Zone chillin

Nagano Zone chillin

Nagano Zone chillin

Amerikajin Poi!

Awesome District Activity on Pday!

Me and Yama

Awesome District Activity on Pday!

Dear fellow Americans,

    Hope y'all had a great party over there. We had work as usual, but we where still able to celebrate on our own. We had a pretty fun week.

   I went on a kokan with Mueller Choro in Ueda. We talked about revelation. It is a great gift and with it we can learn of God's will for each of us right now. It's crazy sometimes, but as we trust in Him, we will be changed into what he wants us to become, like Him.

    We also visited the Ezaki K and Yamaguchi K again. I love them! I am so blessed to be able to be here for another transfer with them! The kids love the fact that I love Super Sentai and Kamen Rider too. One little boy pulled out his toys and a book with all the Riders in it for me to look at. And of course there is a familiar feeling at both these homes, as though I were back at my home with my friends and family.

  At the Ezakis, Yamada Choro taught us all a cool magic trick with cards. Everyone loved it. Nielson Shimai got really good at it haha.

  This next weekend we have interviews with that wise sage, Yamashita Kaicho. Remember that Lion or Sheep, Who's Child are You talk I told you about? President Yamashita had it published in the August addition of the Ensign and Liahona. I invited you all to read it.

   Well that's all I have, next some photos!

Love all you Americans! Take care.

Elder Cullen Watkins

After ZTM

America Day!

Bball champ!

Budou Arms!

Card tricks!

Catz Cafe

Catz Cafe

Catz Cafe

Catz Cafe unlimited parfaits!

Drawing of Ezaki Kyodai by Nielson Shimai!

Nielson Shimai's drawings of people.

Ezaki cookout!

Ezaki cookout!

Ezaki family!

Ninja adventure!

Ninja house

Ninja house

Ninja Storm!

Puppies at pet store!

Puppies at pet store!

Rider blocks?

Suwa and Ina people

Yamaguchi FHE!

That's Way Sick

Ohayo!

 I am just getting over a bad cold from last week. It was terrible, we had to stay in the apartment all day. But I'm better now.

   When I was in the apartment feeling bad I watched the District on DVD. That helped me keep up my dendo fire and determination to get well.

  I also got a letter from home. Lots of good things were in this letter, including a news of a man being baptized in my home ward in Conway. I recognized his name, he was a man that I had taught with the missionaries, Elders Phillips, Houghton, and Maurer a whole year ago! I was way excited. It made me want to jump out of the apartment and tell everybody about the gospel and baptize everybody!

  And so we see that tho it may take a while, the gospel can really change people's lives. I have also seen this with the recently baptized member of our Nagano Branch and how his life has gotten better in just 4 months because of the gospel. I encourage all of you to never give up on your friends and always invite others to come unto Christ.

  Today we are going to the ninja mountain again! I forgot to bring my camera to the church so sorry, pictures will have to wait until next week. Don't worry there wasn't anything too cool this time.

  I love you all, Shout outs to Grandma Parker for her 31st birthday!

Take care all,
Elder Watkins