Dear Family,
Hey well everything has been going great this last week. To start off my p-day is still as usual on Monday. The last couple of weeks were just kind of interesting because we couldn't use the computers in our area. I did get the package that you sent. Thanks those were just a few things that I wanted.
My companion Elder Cox is from Hurricane, Utah and he is actually nearing the end of his mission. He only has a couple of months left. Yes this was the first time I gave a real talk. I had said my testimony many times before though. That time they actually asked me to prepare a ten minute talk. Most of the wards I have been in are pretty big so usually just the members speak. The ward where I am now is kind of small and I hear that missionaries give talks here more often.
The weather here is really nice and as the subject says the cherry blossoms are just blooming. So we will be going to see those today. Another thing that is interesting is one of my zone leaders, Elder Kurose, is from Hokkaido and he said that he went on splits with an Elder Gandy before. So I'm pretty sure he met Daniel. He said he was from Asahikawa, I think. I'm not positive though. Well my new area is amazing and we saw a lot of miracles in the past few days. The people here are super nice and I'm looking forward to working here.
Well we have some more things that we need to do today. I love you all and hope you have a great week!
Love, Elder Joseph Gandy
Monday, January 28, 2013
Sunday, January 27, 2013
January 21, 2013
Dear Family,
Well you might be wondering about what the subject of this e-mail
means. Right now I'm in one of the coldest parts of the mission but I
am being transferred again. I have only been in this area for about
three weeks. The thing is that a missionary got sick and had to return
home. So tomorrow I will head to my new area which is called Nago
which is down in Okinawa. I'm a little sad to leave because it has
been a really fun three weeks. I enjoyed being companions with Elder
Liddle and Elder Yamanashi. They are both funny and just incredible
people.
My new companion is Elder Cox and I met him at the beginning
of my mission and we joked around about being companions one day. So
I'm looking forward to working with him. As for this last week a lot
happened and it was amazing. We had a companion exchange, went to the
temple, I gave a talk in church, we had zone conference, and p-day
with the mission president. It has been an enjoyable week and I
learned so much. I spent all week studying and preparing my talk which
was on being thankful for all blessings. I focused my talk on how one
of the biggest blessings is testimony. It turned out alright. I felt a
little more nervous then usual.
I felt like I really got to know who Pres. Gustafson really is. I had a chance to do a practice lesson
with him and I learned so much and I know that he really wants to help
us out. President is also really funny and definitely likes to have
fun. Well I'm running out of time but I know that Heavenly Father is
definitely leading this work. He knows where we need to be and who we
need to meet. I'm so grateful to be a missionary doing what Heavenly
Father wants me to do. I love you all very much and appreciate all of
your prayers.
Love, Elder Gandy
Well you might be wondering about what the subject of this e-mail
means. Right now I'm in one of the coldest parts of the mission but I
am being transferred again. I have only been in this area for about
three weeks. The thing is that a missionary got sick and had to return
home. So tomorrow I will head to my new area which is called Nago
which is down in Okinawa. I'm a little sad to leave because it has
been a really fun three weeks. I enjoyed being companions with Elder
Liddle and Elder Yamanashi. They are both funny and just incredible
people.
My new companion is Elder Cox and I met him at the beginning
of my mission and we joked around about being companions one day. So
I'm looking forward to working with him. As for this last week a lot
happened and it was amazing. We had a companion exchange, went to the
temple, I gave a talk in church, we had zone conference, and p-day
with the mission president. It has been an enjoyable week and I
learned so much. I spent all week studying and preparing my talk which
was on being thankful for all blessings. I focused my talk on how one
of the biggest blessings is testimony. It turned out alright. I felt a
little more nervous then usual.
I felt like I really got to know who Pres. Gustafson really is. I had a chance to do a practice lesson
with him and I learned so much and I know that he really wants to help
us out. President is also really funny and definitely likes to have
fun. Well I'm running out of time but I know that Heavenly Father is
definitely leading this work. He knows where we need to be and who we
need to meet. I'm so grateful to be a missionary doing what Heavenly
Father wants me to do. I love you all very much and appreciate all of
your prayers.
Love, Elder Gandy
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
January 14, 2013
Dear Family,
Well I can't believe that I'm 20 now. It feels like yesterday that I was in Elementary school just waiting to go to recess. I had a great birthday and we even had some cake. On my birthday we went to a Tongan members house where we had a great meal.
This week we worked a lot with the members and visited a lot of investigators. It really helps to have the members involved because missionaries will change but if they have ward members who are friends there is always someone around to help them. The members here are really helpful.
This area is different from my other areas because it isn't a big city at all. There are a lot more homes than apartments. We are kind of up in the mountains and actually had some snow just the other day which we actually played soccer in with some investigators. Also in response to Daniel's e-mail how he met an Elder Stratford's mom. Well Elder Stratford is my zone leader and we are in the same district right now so that is interesting.
Sorry this e-mail is so short. I love you all very much.
Love Elder Gandy
Well I can't believe that I'm 20 now. It feels like yesterday that I was in Elementary school just waiting to go to recess. I had a great birthday and we even had some cake. On my birthday we went to a Tongan members house where we had a great meal.
This week we worked a lot with the members and visited a lot of investigators. It really helps to have the members involved because missionaries will change but if they have ward members who are friends there is always someone around to help them. The members here are really helpful.
This area is different from my other areas because it isn't a big city at all. There are a lot more homes than apartments. We are kind of up in the mountains and actually had some snow just the other day which we actually played soccer in with some investigators. Also in response to Daniel's e-mail how he met an Elder Stratford's mom. Well Elder Stratford is my zone leader and we are in the same district right now so that is interesting.
Sorry this e-mail is so short. I love you all very much.
Love Elder Gandy
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
January 7, 2013
Dear Family,
Well like I told you in my last e-mail I got transferred to Saijo. Its a city in east Hiroshima with a lot of mountains around. I also have two new companions Elder Yamanashi and Elder Liddle. They are both really great people.
Well this last week has been a lot of fun and I had some pretty neat experiences. The thing that stands out to me the most about this last week is the things that I have learned. I love studying the scriptures. Study in the morning really helps guide me in what to do. I really appreciate what you said in your e-mail. The thing that I've learned about is Heavenly Father's love for each of us and how we should love Him.
This week we listened to Elder Holland's talk from last general conference and it is an amzing talk. After listening to the talk the things that I had been studying could easily relate to it. As we come to truly understand the Atonement and other important principles of the gospel our love for God grows. As that love grows our desire to share His loving message should increase also. That is why we are called to feed His sheep. It honestly comes from an understanding and love for our Heavenly Father who loves all of us and our fellow brothers and sisters. I love Him and pray that my love for Him might only increase as time goes on. I know the best way to show that love is by obedience to the commandments and sharing the gospel. I hope that we all might be able to have a greater love for those who are around us everyday for they are all everyone of them a son or daughter of our Father in Heaven. I love you all so very much and pray for you everyday!
Love, Elder Joseph Gandy
Well like I told you in my last e-mail I got transferred to Saijo. Its a city in east Hiroshima with a lot of mountains around. I also have two new companions Elder Yamanashi and Elder Liddle. They are both really great people.
Well this last week has been a lot of fun and I had some pretty neat experiences. The thing that stands out to me the most about this last week is the things that I have learned. I love studying the scriptures. Study in the morning really helps guide me in what to do. I really appreciate what you said in your e-mail. The thing that I've learned about is Heavenly Father's love for each of us and how we should love Him.
This week we listened to Elder Holland's talk from last general conference and it is an amzing talk. After listening to the talk the things that I had been studying could easily relate to it. As we come to truly understand the Atonement and other important principles of the gospel our love for God grows. As that love grows our desire to share His loving message should increase also. That is why we are called to feed His sheep. It honestly comes from an understanding and love for our Heavenly Father who loves all of us and our fellow brothers and sisters. I love Him and pray that my love for Him might only increase as time goes on. I know the best way to show that love is by obedience to the commandments and sharing the gospel. I hope that we all might be able to have a greater love for those who are around us everyday for they are all everyone of them a son or daughter of our Father in Heaven. I love you all so very much and pray for you everyday!
Love, Elder Joseph Gandy
Sunday, January 6, 2013
January 1, 2013
Dear Family,
Happy New Years! It was great talking to all of you on Christmas and I'm glad everyone is feeling better. Well I'm sorry this e-mail is going to be really short because we don't have a lot of time.
Well it is now the beginning of a brand new year with a lot to look forward to. New years in Japan is really big and everyone is always super busy but the members have been helping us celebrate by eating with dinner with them. The members here are amazing people.
Well today was also the day we got transfer calls. Surprisingly I'm getting transferred it was the last thing I was expecting. However I am staying in the same zone and the same stake. My next area is Saijyo which is still in Hiroshima. There also is not a church there yet so we we'll have to travel out of our area for church every week. Hopefully we will be able to start a branch. My new companion is going to be Elder Yamanashi. He is a super tall and nice Japanese guy that I'm extremely excited to work with. Well time really is flying by super fast. I love you all very much and wish you the best with the new year.
Love Elder Gandy
P.S. Here are some pictures. For new years we went to Miyajima again. Normally the Japanese celebrate by going to shrines and having a big dinner with their family. By the way I'm getting better at taking pictures.
Happy New Years! It was great talking to all of you on Christmas and I'm glad everyone is feeling better. Well I'm sorry this e-mail is going to be really short because we don't have a lot of time.
Well it is now the beginning of a brand new year with a lot to look forward to. New years in Japan is really big and everyone is always super busy but the members have been helping us celebrate by eating with dinner with them. The members here are amazing people.
Well today was also the day we got transfer calls. Surprisingly I'm getting transferred it was the last thing I was expecting. However I am staying in the same zone and the same stake. My next area is Saijyo which is still in Hiroshima. There also is not a church there yet so we we'll have to travel out of our area for church every week. Hopefully we will be able to start a branch. My new companion is going to be Elder Yamanashi. He is a super tall and nice Japanese guy that I'm extremely excited to work with. Well time really is flying by super fast. I love you all very much and wish you the best with the new year.
Love Elder Gandy
P.S. Here are some pictures. For new years we went to Miyajima again. Normally the Japanese celebrate by going to shrines and having a big dinner with their family. By the way I'm getting better at taking pictures.
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