March 18, 2013
Dear Family,
Wow mom it sounds like you have had some pretty cool experiences. It sounds a lot like what we are doing here just talking to people and getting to know them hoping we can share our special message. I remember when I first came to Japan I was so nervous talking to people but now it is something I enjoy. Still a little scary at times but I know that the Spirit is with us and guiding us to know what to do.
Well this has been an amazing week my new companion and I have just been working so much. My new companion just came from the MTC. So Nago is his first area. He is a great guy from Farmington Utah but his mom is actually Japanese. He was in the first group to officially start the 9 week program at the MTC. So it seems like the pilot program turned out well after all.
Things here have been going super well and I'm really enjoying the work. I feel like I have really been blessed these last few days. I know that the Lord's hand is in this work and he will not let us fail. I'm so grateful to be serving our Father in Heaven at this time. This last week we also came up with a transfer theme. We decided on "A Persons a Person No Matter How Small" and our scripture to go with it is Matthew 25:40. Our goal this transfer is to talk to everyone and remember that they our children of our Heavenly Father who loves them. So we hope to do our part by at least helping one person come closer to the Lord a day. It has already been going well and I'm looking forward to whats in store. I love you all so very much and am extremely grateful for your prayers.
Love, Elder Joseph Gandy
March 24, 2013
Dear Family,
That was a lot of great news. Its exciting to hear all of the different things that are going on over there. So yes I'm now a trainer and it has been amazing. We have been seeing so many miracles and success. Another thing we found out this last week is how our mission will be increasing. Right now my mission has around 120 missionaries but by November that number will double to 240. It is awesome being able to see the mission grow.
This last week we just went to work and did our best finding those people who might be prepared. We were blessed to meet so many people and share our testimonies with them. We met this one lady who seemed really interested and said we can come back and share more. We found out that her aunt is a member and she heard a little bit about the church when she was young. We also met this girl who came to our English class. Apparently she met Pres. Gustafson while him and his wife were on the plane on the way to Okinawa. From meeting them she decided to come to English class.
A lot happened last week and it still always amazes me what the Lord can do. Honestly to me one of the biggest miracles is that I can speak Japanese. It still isn't perfect and there is a lot more I can learn but in the last couple of weeks I feel like I have received more help from Heavenly Father. Like in Alma 25:12 I know that I am weak but as long as I trust in the Lord all things are possible. I love being a missionary and helping people come closer unto Christ. This is a marvelous work. I'm so grateful for all of your prayers. I love you all so very much.
Love Elder Joseph Gandy
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Dear Family,
That is some interesting news about the missionaries and the work they are doing on the computers. I have heard about missionaries doing something similiar to that in Tokyo. Well everything here has been going well this week we have transfers and my companion is actually just finishing his mission so next week I will have a new companion.
I feel like the work here is picking up and things are just working out really well. We have two investigators that we are teaching fairly regularly and one of them has a baptismal date for the beginning of next month. Its super exciting seeing people want to learn more and doing what is needed in order to come closer to Christ. Missionary work is really just amazing. I'm sure Joshua will just enjoy it as well.
Last week there was also a church cleaning day that we didn't know about but we just happened to show up at the church right as they were starting so that was a nice unexpected act of service we got to do. Just the other day a former missionary that served here in Nago came to visit the ward. It was cool he actually took us to meet one of the people he taught while he was here. It looks like she is willing to listen to the missionaries again. Today we are actually going to go play some frisbee with recent convert. That is something I'm looking forward to. It feels like a long time since I've played. Well I love you all very much and hope you have a great week.
Love, Elder Joseph Gandy
Here are some pictures from a p-day activity.
That is some interesting news about the missionaries and the work they are doing on the computers. I have heard about missionaries doing something similiar to that in Tokyo. Well everything here has been going well this week we have transfers and my companion is actually just finishing his mission so next week I will have a new companion.
I feel like the work here is picking up and things are just working out really well. We have two investigators that we are teaching fairly regularly and one of them has a baptismal date for the beginning of next month. Its super exciting seeing people want to learn more and doing what is needed in order to come closer to Christ. Missionary work is really just amazing. I'm sure Joshua will just enjoy it as well.
Last week there was also a church cleaning day that we didn't know about but we just happened to show up at the church right as they were starting so that was a nice unexpected act of service we got to do. Just the other day a former missionary that served here in Nago came to visit the ward. It was cool he actually took us to meet one of the people he taught while he was here. It looks like she is willing to listen to the missionaries again. Today we are actually going to go play some frisbee with recent convert. That is something I'm looking forward to. It feels like a long time since I've played. Well I love you all very much and hope you have a great week.
Love, Elder Joseph Gandy
Here are some pictures from a p-day activity.
Monday, February 25, 2013
February 24, 2013
[Note from Gayleen: Joshua has started working on his mission papers. That is what Joseph refers to at the beginning of this e-mail.]
Dear Family,
That is some exciting news about Joshua. I hope he comes to Fukuoka. If he doesn't I'm sure he will go exactly where the Lord needs him. That is something great about a mission. You know that you are where you are because the Lord has sent you there. We might not know why but as we trust in Him we might learn the reason. Anyways I'm looking forward to hearing more about it as it gets a little bit closer.
Well things here have been going well. We have been doing our best to share the gospel with everyone. I really do love mission life. It is always exciting. I feel like my favorite part about missionary work is sharing with others how the gospel helps us. I know that I have felt more happiness because of my knowledge of our Savior and His Atonement for each and everyone of us. I'm thankful that I have this time to serve Him by serving the people here in Nago. I want to do my best to help others feel the same joy I have felt which joy can only come from learning and gaining a testimony of the truthfulness of the restoration of the gospel. I know that there is a lot that I still don't know but now I just have to trust in Heavenly Father that everything will work out as long as I follow Him. I'm thankful for all of your examples. I love you all so much.
Love Elder Gandy
Dear Family,
That is some exciting news about Joshua. I hope he comes to Fukuoka. If he doesn't I'm sure he will go exactly where the Lord needs him. That is something great about a mission. You know that you are where you are because the Lord has sent you there. We might not know why but as we trust in Him we might learn the reason. Anyways I'm looking forward to hearing more about it as it gets a little bit closer.
Well things here have been going well. We have been doing our best to share the gospel with everyone. I really do love mission life. It is always exciting. I feel like my favorite part about missionary work is sharing with others how the gospel helps us. I know that I have felt more happiness because of my knowledge of our Savior and His Atonement for each and everyone of us. I'm thankful that I have this time to serve Him by serving the people here in Nago. I want to do my best to help others feel the same joy I have felt which joy can only come from learning and gaining a testimony of the truthfulness of the restoration of the gospel. I know that there is a lot that I still don't know but now I just have to trust in Heavenly Father that everything will work out as long as I follow Him. I'm thankful for all of your examples. I love you all so much.
Love Elder Gandy
Thursday, February 21, 2013
February 18, 2013
Dear Family,
Wow that was a lot of news. It sounds like so much has happened in just a short amount of time. That is exciting that you and Daniel are going to Sapporo. It would be funny if you ran into Braden while you were there. The news about the beehive was a bit shocking to read. Will it be safe for me to come home in a year?
Anyway it has been another great week. Today for p-day we rode our bikes across a couple of Islands just off the coast of our area. The weather is really nice and it is actually getting pretty hot now. I also gave another talk in church yesterday. It was pretty easy because they asked me to talk about missionary work which is what I do everyday. This last week has mainly been finding. We have had a lot of opportunities to share our testimonies and to share the gospel with others. We also found a couple of people who seem like they might become investigators. I'm sure that we are also helping in the preparing process. I have high hopes for this area and really hope to strengthen the ward here.
It has been good week. I'm thankful for all of your prayers and support. I love you all very much.
Love Elder Gandy
Wow that was a lot of news. It sounds like so much has happened in just a short amount of time. That is exciting that you and Daniel are going to Sapporo. It would be funny if you ran into Braden while you were there. The news about the beehive was a bit shocking to read. Will it be safe for me to come home in a year?
Anyway it has been another great week. Today for p-day we rode our bikes across a couple of Islands just off the coast of our area. The weather is really nice and it is actually getting pretty hot now. I also gave another talk in church yesterday. It was pretty easy because they asked me to talk about missionary work which is what I do everyday. This last week has mainly been finding. We have had a lot of opportunities to share our testimonies and to share the gospel with others. We also found a couple of people who seem like they might become investigators. I'm sure that we are also helping in the preparing process. I have high hopes for this area and really hope to strengthen the ward here.
It has been good week. I'm thankful for all of your prayers and support. I love you all very much.
Love Elder Gandy
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
February 11, 2012
Dear Family,
Mom thanks for the e-mail it was nice reading and I hope that I will be able to use more faith as I work. By the way my year mark/hump day is the Feb. 22nd. This year has gone by super fast I wish time would just slow down a little bit. This last week though we had a missionary conference with Elder Ringwood. It was a great meeting and I learned so much. We talked a lot about who we are and the purpose we have. I know that I'm where I am for a reason.
While we were there Elder Ringwood, who used to be a mission president, met one of his former missionaries. The weird thing was I thought that the person he was talking to looked really familiar. So I asked him where he was from and after he looked at my name tag he said wait your Bryce Gandy's little brother. I didn't get his first name but his last name is Belka or something like that. He told me to tell Bryce hello. Apparently he is over here in one of the military branches. Other than that it has just been another great week. We are working hard and doing all that we can to help our fellow brothers and sisters in this part of the vineyard. Well I love you all very much.
Love, Elder Gandy
P.S. I keep forgetting to bring the cord for my camera so I can send some pictures. Hopefully I'll remember next week.
P.P.S. We don't have a whole lot of investigators right now. So I was wondering if you would be willing to pray so that we can find some more people that are being prepared to hear the message of the restored gospel. Thank you!
Mom thanks for the e-mail it was nice reading and I hope that I will be able to use more faith as I work. By the way my year mark/hump day is the Feb. 22nd. This year has gone by super fast I wish time would just slow down a little bit. This last week though we had a missionary conference with Elder Ringwood. It was a great meeting and I learned so much. We talked a lot about who we are and the purpose we have. I know that I'm where I am for a reason.
While we were there Elder Ringwood, who used to be a mission president, met one of his former missionaries. The weird thing was I thought that the person he was talking to looked really familiar. So I asked him where he was from and after he looked at my name tag he said wait your Bryce Gandy's little brother. I didn't get his first name but his last name is Belka or something like that. He told me to tell Bryce hello. Apparently he is over here in one of the military branches. Other than that it has just been another great week. We are working hard and doing all that we can to help our fellow brothers and sisters in this part of the vineyard. Well I love you all very much.
Love, Elder Gandy
P.S. I keep forgetting to bring the cord for my camera so I can send some pictures. Hopefully I'll remember next week.
P.P.S. We don't have a whole lot of investigators right now. So I was wondering if you would be willing to pray so that we can find some more people that are being prepared to hear the message of the restored gospel. Thank you!
Sunday, February 10, 2013
February 4, 2013
Dear Family,
Mom first off I just want to let you know how much I enjoy reading your e-mails. It sounds like everything is going well back home. It is hard to believe that its February already. The weather here is super nice that it seems like it should be later in the year. Time really has flown by in about twenty days I will have been a missionary for a year.
It has been another good week in the mission field. Elder Cox and I get along really well because he likes singing and musicals. So we are always singing as we go which is fun. Well this week we had a cool experience. While we were doing some housing we met a former investigator from about a year ago. We had actually planned on visiting her earlier but didn't get around to it. So we were surprised when she told us who she was. It was great timing and looks like we can share the gospel with her again. It has been a great week and we have been working hard. This week we are having a missionary conference with Elder Ringwood so that is something I'm looking forward to.
Well things are pretty busy here and it always keep us moving. I love you all and hope you have a great week.
Love, Elder Gandy
Mom first off I just want to let you know how much I enjoy reading your e-mails. It sounds like everything is going well back home. It is hard to believe that its February already. The weather here is super nice that it seems like it should be later in the year. Time really has flown by in about twenty days I will have been a missionary for a year.
It has been another good week in the mission field. Elder Cox and I get along really well because he likes singing and musicals. So we are always singing as we go which is fun. Well this week we had a cool experience. While we were doing some housing we met a former investigator from about a year ago. We had actually planned on visiting her earlier but didn't get around to it. So we were surprised when she told us who she was. It was great timing and looks like we can share the gospel with her again. It has been a great week and we have been working hard. This week we are having a missionary conference with Elder Ringwood so that is something I'm looking forward to.
Well things are pretty busy here and it always keep us moving. I love you all and hope you have a great week.
Love, Elder Gandy
Monday, January 28, 2013
January 27, 2013
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
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
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