Sunday, November 25, 2012
Dear Family,
Well it has been another great week. It sounded like quite the Thanksgiving. No I didn't have turkey this year but we went out to eat at this restaurant and I ordered the biggest size you could get which actually isn't on the real menu. It was mainly just a lot of rice, meat, and onions. We also had dinner with some of the members this week where we had a ton of sushi. So I had plenty of food and I guess a good Japanese Thanksgiving. I think you would also be glad to hear that I'm probably now the least pickiest eater. I really eat just about anything and honestly enjoy it. I've learned to love so many different types of food that I just wouldn't eat before the mission.
This last week we had transfers and my new companion is Elder Iino. He reminds me a lot of Daniel so it has been really fun working with him these past few days. We have been working really hard and I always feel great after a day of hard work. It is very different having a Japanese companion but great. I do feel like I'm understanding the culture more and more. I think when I understand the people here it will be easier to teach them. I feel even though I don't understand everything that is being said I am learning so much from them.
This week we also had an investigator come to church. She is progressing very well and we have a baptismal date set. Hopefully everything continues to go well. Being a missionary is a lot of work but it is a great feeling going out and talking to people and being able to bear testimony to them. I'm so grateful for this opportunity that I have and I'm looking forward to making the most of it. I love you all very much and pray for you everyday.
Love Elder Gandy
Well it has been another great week. It sounded like quite the Thanksgiving. No I didn't have turkey this year but we went out to eat at this restaurant and I ordered the biggest size you could get which actually isn't on the real menu. It was mainly just a lot of rice, meat, and onions. We also had dinner with some of the members this week where we had a ton of sushi. So I had plenty of food and I guess a good Japanese Thanksgiving. I think you would also be glad to hear that I'm probably now the least pickiest eater. I really eat just about anything and honestly enjoy it. I've learned to love so many different types of food that I just wouldn't eat before the mission.
This last week we had transfers and my new companion is Elder Iino. He reminds me a lot of Daniel so it has been really fun working with him these past few days. We have been working really hard and I always feel great after a day of hard work. It is very different having a Japanese companion but great. I do feel like I'm understanding the culture more and more. I think when I understand the people here it will be easier to teach them. I feel even though I don't understand everything that is being said I am learning so much from them.
This week we also had an investigator come to church. She is progressing very well and we have a baptismal date set. Hopefully everything continues to go well. Being a missionary is a lot of work but it is a great feeling going out and talking to people and being able to bear testimony to them. I'm so grateful for this opportunity that I have and I'm looking forward to making the most of it. I love you all very much and pray for you everyday.
Love Elder Gandy
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
November 19, 2012
Dear Family,
Wow it sounds like so much is going on back home. That is so amazing about everyone else and their mission calls. I'm always very excited when I here about where people will be going.
Well it has been another great week with a lot of different things that happened. To start off I don't think we have any plans or activities for Thanksgiving. I'll just have to eat a lot and imagine Grandma's gravy on whatever I'm eating. I think that should satisfy my needs.
Anyways this last week was really good. For p-day we went to Miyajima which is considered as one of Japan's top 3 prettiest places. It was a great place that had a lot of foreigners which you don't really see all that much. There is so much to see there that it would take a few days but it was still fun going for just a couple of hours.
This last week we also had a couple of exchanges where I had the chance to work with my district leader and the assistants to the president. It was great fun and we experienced a lot of miracles. We did a lot of contacting and focused on finding. We met a bunch of people and taught several lessons. We also had an investigator come to church on Sunday. We have a baptismal date set with her and hope that she can come to the knowledge of the truthfulness of our message.
It has been interesting right now most of our investigators have come from knocking on doors. You can really tell who is being prepared. We have another investigator from China who is really interested and shows a great desire to learn more. I know that in this great work I can do nothing except when the Lord is with me. For if we have faith in Him we can accomplish all things. I have learned so much and I'm grateful to be serving at this time. I'm thankful for all of the many blessings I have received.
Well before I finish we just got the exciting news of transfer calls. I will be staying in Takasu but I will have a different companion. My new companion is actually Elder Ichikawa's trainer, Elder Iino. So I will have another Japanese companion. Well at least I know my language skills will continue to improve. I'm excited to be speaking Japanese again for another transfer. Well I love you all very much and am grateful for all of your support.
Love Elder Gandy
Wow it sounds like so much is going on back home. That is so amazing about everyone else and their mission calls. I'm always very excited when I here about where people will be going.
Well it has been another great week with a lot of different things that happened. To start off I don't think we have any plans or activities for Thanksgiving. I'll just have to eat a lot and imagine Grandma's gravy on whatever I'm eating. I think that should satisfy my needs.
Anyways this last week was really good. For p-day we went to Miyajima which is considered as one of Japan's top 3 prettiest places. It was a great place that had a lot of foreigners which you don't really see all that much. There is so much to see there that it would take a few days but it was still fun going for just a couple of hours.
This last week we also had a couple of exchanges where I had the chance to work with my district leader and the assistants to the president. It was great fun and we experienced a lot of miracles. We did a lot of contacting and focused on finding. We met a bunch of people and taught several lessons. We also had an investigator come to church on Sunday. We have a baptismal date set with her and hope that she can come to the knowledge of the truthfulness of our message.
It has been interesting right now most of our investigators have come from knocking on doors. You can really tell who is being prepared. We have another investigator from China who is really interested and shows a great desire to learn more. I know that in this great work I can do nothing except when the Lord is with me. For if we have faith in Him we can accomplish all things. I have learned so much and I'm grateful to be serving at this time. I'm thankful for all of the many blessings I have received.
Well before I finish we just got the exciting news of transfer calls. I will be staying in Takasu but I will have a different companion. My new companion is actually Elder Ichikawa's trainer, Elder Iino. So I will have another Japanese companion. Well at least I know my language skills will continue to improve. I'm excited to be speaking Japanese again for another transfer. Well I love you all very much and am grateful for all of your support.
Love Elder Gandy
November 11, 2012
Dear Family,
Well it sounds like everything is going well even with all of the snow. It is pretty cold where I'm at also but there is no snow to show for it. If I'm lucky I may see snow this winter. If not at least I don't have to worry about getting wet.
Things this last week have gone really well. My japanese has been improving a lot. I'm almost done with the lesson mastery project I have been working on. I can almost teach every single lesson in understandable japanese. It has been a lot of fun. This last week we have been working with some great investigators who really seem to be progressing and having a greater desire to learn more. We have also done some finding this week just like we do every week. This week I felt like we were really successful in sharing the gospel.
My testimony has grown so much since the beginning of my mission. This is the Lord's work and it is amazing as I'm sure all of you already know. This gospel brings happiness into the lives of many. I'm extremely grateful for all that it has done in my life. We are all children of our Father in Heaven. My skills as a missionary are improving as I rely on His loving guidance. I want to do my best to be a disciple of Christ at all times. Even though we go through hard times it is after the trials of our faith that we receive a witness(Ether 12:6). I know this to be true and I hope that at all times we may exercise our faith in Him. Even as a missionary there are times where I have felt weak and seen them but through His help I have been lifted up and made strong. This is what I want to remember that we can do all things through our faith in Jesus Christ.
I love you all so much and honestly am grateful for each and everyone of you and the examples you have been to me.
Love Elder Joseph Gandy
Well it sounds like everything is going well even with all of the snow. It is pretty cold where I'm at also but there is no snow to show for it. If I'm lucky I may see snow this winter. If not at least I don't have to worry about getting wet.
Things this last week have gone really well. My japanese has been improving a lot. I'm almost done with the lesson mastery project I have been working on. I can almost teach every single lesson in understandable japanese. It has been a lot of fun. This last week we have been working with some great investigators who really seem to be progressing and having a greater desire to learn more. We have also done some finding this week just like we do every week. This week I felt like we were really successful in sharing the gospel.
My testimony has grown so much since the beginning of my mission. This is the Lord's work and it is amazing as I'm sure all of you already know. This gospel brings happiness into the lives of many. I'm extremely grateful for all that it has done in my life. We are all children of our Father in Heaven. My skills as a missionary are improving as I rely on His loving guidance. I want to do my best to be a disciple of Christ at all times. Even though we go through hard times it is after the trials of our faith that we receive a witness(Ether 12:6). I know this to be true and I hope that at all times we may exercise our faith in Him. Even as a missionary there are times where I have felt weak and seen them but through His help I have been lifted up and made strong. This is what I want to remember that we can do all things through our faith in Jesus Christ.
I love you all so much and honestly am grateful for each and everyone of you and the examples you have been to me.
Love Elder Joseph Gandy
Monday, November 5, 2012
Dear Family,
It sounds like everyone is having a great time and that Halloween was fun. This week we had another Halloween party but in a different area. Its because I teach the english class over there. It was really fun I had a make shift costume as Santa Clause and my companion was John Lennon. We found parts of our costumes at the church. They really don't celebrate Halloween here in Japan but it is great way to help investigators come to a church activity and to build better relationships with the ward.
Thanks for all of your insight I really appreciate it. Time has just been flying by. I can't believe Hunter is turning 4 wish her a happy birthday for me.
This week has been great we did a lot of work. We had an exchange and we also found a couple more investigators. We also met one of our investigators who is from the Phillipines and her soon to be husband who is American. It was interesting talking with them and sharing points of the gospel in english. That is something I'm not used to but it felt very natural.
We also had a specialized training a couple days ago. It was really good. We talked a lot about new programs and other things they are doing. It was great and now I just want to apply the things I learned. I feel within this transfer I have really improved in many ways. It takes a lot of work but it really pays off. Even when it feels like you are going nowhere success is just right around the corner. Patience has really been something I've learned on the mission. Not only do we need to be patient with others but we need to be patient with ourselves. We also need to continually exercise our faith by doing what is right. As we continually nourish the seed of faith it will grow but once we stop our progression stops as well. Then we all know what happens to a plant when it doesn't get the right nourishment. This has been what I'm trying to work on continually exercising my faith. It takes a lot of effort but as we strive to become more Christlike we will receive the help that is needed.
I love being a missionary and learning more about this gospel. I want to continue to serve people throughout my life. Thank you all for your prayers of support. I love you all very much.
Love Elder Gandy
It sounds like everyone is having a great time and that Halloween was fun. This week we had another Halloween party but in a different area. Its because I teach the english class over there. It was really fun I had a make shift costume as Santa Clause and my companion was John Lennon. We found parts of our costumes at the church. They really don't celebrate Halloween here in Japan but it is great way to help investigators come to a church activity and to build better relationships with the ward.
Thanks for all of your insight I really appreciate it. Time has just been flying by. I can't believe Hunter is turning 4 wish her a happy birthday for me.
This week has been great we did a lot of work. We had an exchange and we also found a couple more investigators. We also met one of our investigators who is from the Phillipines and her soon to be husband who is American. It was interesting talking with them and sharing points of the gospel in english. That is something I'm not used to but it felt very natural.
We also had a specialized training a couple days ago. It was really good. We talked a lot about new programs and other things they are doing. It was great and now I just want to apply the things I learned. I feel within this transfer I have really improved in many ways. It takes a lot of work but it really pays off. Even when it feels like you are going nowhere success is just right around the corner. Patience has really been something I've learned on the mission. Not only do we need to be patient with others but we need to be patient with ourselves. We also need to continually exercise our faith by doing what is right. As we continually nourish the seed of faith it will grow but once we stop our progression stops as well. Then we all know what happens to a plant when it doesn't get the right nourishment. This has been what I'm trying to work on continually exercising my faith. It takes a lot of effort but as we strive to become more Christlike we will receive the help that is needed.
I love being a missionary and learning more about this gospel. I want to continue to serve people throughout my life. Thank you all for your prayers of support. I love you all very much.
Love Elder Gandy
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