Dear Family,
This week has been a super fun week. Especially with the chance to see general conference. It was very uplifting.
We did have some interesting funny experiences though that I would like to share. On Wednesday we went out with four other missionaries and passed out over 2000 flyers for our English class so hopefully it will continue to grow. While we were doing that this dog started chasing my zone leader that I was with at the time. It was kind of scary at the moment.
Another thing that happened which I thought was unbelievable was that I blew up an egg. I had been told that it is impossible to take an egg in your hand and then brake by just trying to make a fist. I had tried before and couldn't do it but last week I did. It was actually super unfortunate because egg got everywhere. So it wasn't terribly fun to clean up. Those were just a couple of random funny things that happened.
As for the work though we keep pressing forward doing our best to find those who are prepared. I know that the Lord will be able to guide us. This week we spent the last part of the week in another area to watch conference. It was a lot of fun I had the chance to work with Elder McConnell who was in the MTC with me. I enjoy the mission so much.
I'm going to make my guesses for where Joshua will be spending the next two years. Foreign: Fukuoka Japan. Stateside: Boston. Those are my two guesses. I can't wait to hear where he is going. I know that Heavenly Father has a purpose and a plan for whereever he sends us. I love you all so very much.
Love, Elder Joseph Gandy
Monday, April 15, 2013
Thursday, April 11, 2013
April 7, 2013
Dear Family,
Well it has been another great week full of work. This week we spent a little bit of time making cookies to give to investigators and ward members. It has been a lot of fun just doing small nice things for people. We have also been riding all over town talking to everyone we see. This week I felt like the Lord has blessed us in a few ways for all of the work we have been doing. One of the blessings is that a couple of less actives came to church yesterday who we haven't been able to contact in a while. The other one was at our english class we had 8 new students show up which was super exciting. We also had to find some more chairs so everyone could sit down.
This week we also got a DVD from the APs which had a talk that Elder Holland gave at the MTC. It was similiar to his talk in last conference but more directed to missionaries and the work that they do. In the talk he says a mission should change your life. In order to be an effective missionary you need to have the gospel already planted in your heart. It was just an amazing talk and helped me want to continue to do my best. I'm grateful for all of your support and prayers. I love you all very much.
Love Elder Joseph Gandy
Well it has been another great week full of work. This week we spent a little bit of time making cookies to give to investigators and ward members. It has been a lot of fun just doing small nice things for people. We have also been riding all over town talking to everyone we see. This week I felt like the Lord has blessed us in a few ways for all of the work we have been doing. One of the blessings is that a couple of less actives came to church yesterday who we haven't been able to contact in a while. The other one was at our english class we had 8 new students show up which was super exciting. We also had to find some more chairs so everyone could sit down.
This week we also got a DVD from the APs which had a talk that Elder Holland gave at the MTC. It was similiar to his talk in last conference but more directed to missionaries and the work that they do. In the talk he says a mission should change your life. In order to be an effective missionary you need to have the gospel already planted in your heart. It was just an amazing talk and helped me want to continue to do my best. I'm grateful for all of your support and prayers. I love you all very much.
Love Elder Joseph Gandy
April 1, 2013
Dear Family,
It sounds like you are having a great time up in Sapporo. If you ever run into Elder Hutchinson tell him I say hi. This last week has been pretty good. We have been talking to everyone we see and trying to share the gospel with them. It has been a lot of fun. We did have some cool experiences as well. A couple days ago we got a call from a member who we actually home teach asking for a blessing. When we got there she didn't look well at all and was super sick. She was worried that she wouldn't be able to come to church. So we gave her a blessing and kept praying for her to get better. Yesterday at church she came and was feeling so much better. It was a great seeing her there and being able to partake of the sacrament. That experience really helped me know more about the power of prayer.
I'm extremely grateful for all of your prayers they really do strengthen and support me. Yesterday I also was assigned to give a talk in church on agency. I felt like as I started I was super nervous but then the words just seemed to flow. So I think it went pretty well even though I couldn't feel my legs after I finished. Well I hope you enjoy your time in Sapporo and that everything continues to go well at home. I love you all very much.
Love, Elder Joseph Gandy
P.S. There are a couple of other things. I couldn't find a good place to get glasses. I was also wondering if maybe you could find out some of my friends mission addresses. Right now I only know Bradens.
P.P.S. Apparently there was a tornado warning here the other day as well. Which is weird but nothing happened as far as I know just a warning.
Note from Gayleen: If any of Joseph's friends or their parents are reading this and want to get in touch with me to give me the addresses he has requested, I will send them to him.
It sounds like you are having a great time up in Sapporo. If you ever run into Elder Hutchinson tell him I say hi. This last week has been pretty good. We have been talking to everyone we see and trying to share the gospel with them. It has been a lot of fun. We did have some cool experiences as well. A couple days ago we got a call from a member who we actually home teach asking for a blessing. When we got there she didn't look well at all and was super sick. She was worried that she wouldn't be able to come to church. So we gave her a blessing and kept praying for her to get better. Yesterday at church she came and was feeling so much better. It was a great seeing her there and being able to partake of the sacrament. That experience really helped me know more about the power of prayer.
I'm extremely grateful for all of your prayers they really do strengthen and support me. Yesterday I also was assigned to give a talk in church on agency. I felt like as I started I was super nervous but then the words just seemed to flow. So I think it went pretty well even though I couldn't feel my legs after I finished. Well I hope you enjoy your time in Sapporo and that everything continues to go well at home. I love you all very much.
Love, Elder Joseph Gandy
P.S. There are a couple of other things. I couldn't find a good place to get glasses. I was also wondering if maybe you could find out some of my friends mission addresses. Right now I only know Bradens.
P.P.S. Apparently there was a tornado warning here the other day as well. Which is weird but nothing happened as far as I know just a warning.
Note from Gayleen: If any of Joseph's friends or their parents are reading this and want to get in touch with me to give me the addresses he has requested, I will send them to him.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
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
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
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
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