Sunday, February 15, 2015

New Dendobucho coming in Summer

Hello! Here is information about our new Mission President coming in the Summer. President and Sister Ishii. (from lds.org newsroom)

We're gonna miss the Yamashitas so much! But I've heard many good things about the Ishiis. It will be interesting.



Japan Nagoya Mission


Tetsuji and Fumie Ishii

"Tetsuji Ishii, 63, and Fumie Ishii, three children, Toyohashi Ward, Nagoya Japan East Stake: Japan Nagoya Mission, succeeding President Kazuhiko Yamashita and Sister Tazuko Yamashita. Brother and Sister Ishii served as senior missionaries in the Japan Fukuoka Mission. Brother Ishii is a former Area Seventy, stake president, bishop, director of a multistake public affairs council, and missionary in the Japan Central Mission. Retired manager of general affairs, overseas procurement, and employee education, Aichi Nikon Company. Born in Hiroshima, Japan, to Yuuichi Shibata and Hiroko Nakamoto Shibata.

Sister Ishii is a former ward Relief Society president, counselor in a ward Young Women presidency, family history counselor, Sunday School teacher, and seminary teacher. Born in Toyohashi Aichi, Japan, to Takashi Ishii and Miyoko Fujiwara Ishii." (lds.org newsroom)



Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Yo Hablo Espanol?

The Brazilian/Spanish family in our branch

Hola! Como esta mi amigos!

   We went to a Brazilian/Spanish members house for dinner this weekend. we had homemade pizza, it was delicious. The dad, Garcia Kyoudai speaks Portuguese and Garcia Shimai speaks Spanish and Portuguese and the daughter speaks Japanese so we communicated through her. It was a really fun evening. They are so nice and have strong testimonies. I talked about how I knew some Spanish from back home and tried speaking a little, the mom said I had a Mexican accent. They even asked me to read a scripture in Spanish. It was funny.
Pizza made by Garcia Kyoudai

    I also went on another 3nin kokan with the Zone Leaders, this time with Elder Bedwell. I knew him from way back in Nagano Zone. We had a way fun time trying to find people and visiting members. We contacted everyone we had in our Area Book. Most of them were young moms that the Shimai had once taught. Out of all of those people, Some of them responded to us, and one of them even made an appointment to meet with us again. Yay! No effort is wasted.

   Everyone at church is getting excited for elder Ballard of the 12 to come and speak to us in 2 weeks. We missionaries are challenged to bring 10 nonmember folk to the big event. The members are also going to bring their friends. Our branch choir will be singing at the conference. It is very special since Elder Ballard is only coming to our Mission and only our Stake (it will be broad casted to the other stakes in the mission tho.) We are looking forward to see what he and the other General Authorities have to say to us.
Me and Nagoya Castle's top

   Well guys, I know the gospel is true. Sorry there aren't much pictures this week. This week is my 1 year in Japan! I am kokaning with Elder Tanner to celebrate. And hopefully we'll get ice cream at 31 =). Hope you guys are doing splendidly!

Love you all
Watchan

HBD to my homies Elder Tanner, Trevor, and Shane!
Elder Bedwell and The top of Nagoya Castle, taken down for cleaning.

Elder Tallent and the top of Nagoya Castle

Elder T's haircut

Model missionary

funny English rules


Wednesday, February 4, 2015

I Hereby Pronounce You Hitched!


Us and the happy couple :)

I only got a couple of emails, but maybe that's cuz of the Super Bowl. Happy Super Bowl everybody! Unless your team lost I guess...

 It was a fun week. I can officially say I've been to a wedding reception and a funeral on my mission. Oikawa Shimai got married and a lot of YSAs and young families from all over came for the party at church. Including some of my old friends from Seto! There were some nonmembers too! It was way fun. I felt like part of the family, just like when we had stuff like this at Gram's or something.
Game at wedding reception


  Also this week we met a band of young motorcycle riding, hip hop dancing, party people. Elder Nakamoto, a Kasugai missionary who was on a kokan with Tanner, got challenged to a dance battle with him. It was so funny!

   Other than that, I had an interesting experience; I received a random phone call from an hidden number. I was a lady who wanted to change her life. She asked me many hard questions to which the answers were prayer, faith, the Atonement, and baptism. I had to follow the Spirit and we talked for an hour. She was really nice, I invited her to church and she said she'd call again. And actually she called again right as I was typing this very email. She pointed out that life is hard, but as I shared my testimony through my own experiences, I think she began to understand a little more. So I want to testify that I know that even when life is hard, if it seems like we've hit rock bottom, or like all hope is gone, the Savior is there. He loves us when no one else does, and He knows what we need and who we need. And all we really need, is to follow Him.
Bride and Groom


  I just watched the video were He raises Lazarus from the dead. That is just a small part of what He can do, but isn't that amazing? He also said, that if we believe, we can move mountains. I often wonder why, even though I try hard, why am I not finding, but this experience and those scriptures prove to me again that prepared people are out there. And if I have faith, believing, I zetai ni (definitely) can bring them to Christ.

   Well here's to another good week of doing the work! Much love everyone and enjoy your great American tradition!

Love,
Elder Watkins (next week will be 1 year in Japan for me!)

Happy Birthday to Abigail and Elder Beck this week!
Some of my member friends from Seto came! Kojas and Yamagichis (with Yoza Shimai) :)
The reception

Picking on Arisaka President
Chocolate!

Chocolate!

Valentines messages at the mall.

Valentines messages at the mall.

My udon at the udon shop, delicious!

My transfer 9 Doctor who planner with a timey wimey scripture.

My transfer 9 Doctor who planner.

I broke 2 glasses this week. Yay.

A Chevy?! @UncleDavid

The steering wheel is on the left side of the car! Craziness!
Elder Tallent

My doryo

A Japanese flag? Don't see that too often.

This is what our journey has led us too...

an ancient mile marker. Pretty cool.

Used to be part of a road to Tokyo.

Used to be part of a road to Tokyo.

Elder Nakamoto with some punks on the street.

Elder Tallent and Nakamoto with the gang.

Nakamoto choro and the boys (did a dance battle with these guys)

Some scenery
Some scenery

Awesome view of Nagoya!

Awesome view of Nagoya!

Moving an office

Still has a copy machine in it.. lol

Knockin on doors

Knockin on doors

Looking for people

Looking for people