That is way exciting that Matt and Jordan come home this week. I bet they get to fly all the way home together, that would be fun. When I fly home, I will probably be alone the entire way (unless there is a sister missionary or two from Utah that come to our mission in a few transfers).
This week we had a lot of really great lessons. I have high hopes that two or more of our investigators can get baptized next transfer. Last Wednesday night we met with Shinsuke san, an 18 year old kid that just started college. We met him about a month ago, and the reason he was interested was because he likes English and he wanted to come to English class. With the way his schedule has worked out, though, he hasn't been able to come to English class once, but we have been able to meet with him a few times, and he has grown an interest in the gospel. So on Wednesday we taught him Lesson 1 (the Restoration is the focus point). He didn't believe that Joseph Smith actually saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, but he wants to learn more and he committed to reading the introduction to the Book of Mormon and praying to know if it is true. He really wants to learn and he loves meeting with us, so we are praying that he will receive a witness from the Holy Ghost about the truthfulness of our message.
This week we have been helping a member quit smoking. He is in his 40s (and has been a member since he was 19) and has had a problem with smoking for quite a few years. There is a really good program that someone developed for missionaries to help people quit smoking. It seems to be a really good program, and the member has currently made it almost 6 full days without smoking. We hope that he will be able to stop permanently.
On Sunday we had dinner at the Pyatt's house. The husband is American and the wife is Japanese, but they both speak perfect English. The other Americans in the ward also came, and it was like an English party. I loved it. We even got to eat cheddar cheese (very rare and very expensive in Japan).
Yesterday we had a lesson with a 19 year old that we met on Monday. We were actually sort of surprised that he came (his commitment on Monday was sort of sketchy). Anyways, before the lesson even began, he told us that he wants to become a volunteer like us. He loves helping people, and finds more happiness in helping others than in helping himself. So that was a way awesome start. The lesson went great, and he actually believes that Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. It was way awesome. He committed to read and pray, and he is going to some to stake conference with us on Saturday night (we get to listen to Elder Bednar!).
We are way excited for this upcoming week (it is the last week of the transfer). We have mission conference on Friday with Elder Bednar. That night, we all get to go to the night session of Stake Conference in Sapporo and hear Elder Bednar. On Saturday night, we get to go to the nightly session of the Asahikawa Stake Conference with our investigators and hear Elder Bednar again. And then on Sunday we have the normal Stake Conference and we get to hear from Elder Bednar for a fourth time! Exciting stuff. And then we will find out about transfers on Tuesday night. We think that I will stay in Asahikawa and my trainer will get transferred out and I will get a new companion.
The missionary work is really starting to progress, and we are super excited for the future work in Asahikawa.
Thank you for all of you love and support. I love you all.
Elder Christensen
