week #48

Yeah, it will be fun to do a mission report when I get back, I teach so many that don't have the background knowledge, that are weighed down by the apostasy of their fathers, and worship their ancestors, and whatever else, that it’s harder for me to teach those who are Christian. 

Here is a little fact about Japan, some 100 years ago Christianity was introduced to Japan and took on well, like 90% of the population became Christian then the government, fearing the possible uprising because of the strong faith, squelched the problem, forces thousands to renounce there faith and killed those that didn't or drove them out. They brain-washed the people with bad images of Christianity, well that was then. Most of that generation’s stuff has faded, but there was still almost no acceptance of Christians when it was allowed back in, most people in Japan are Buddhist or a sect there-of, all in Okinawa are Senzo Suhai, which is ancestor worship, or an idea there-of, but most have that more as a culture and because there family was that, and don't do much other than say they’re Buddhist of Senzo Suhai, but they are still kind of stubborn mostly cuz of the family thing. Not to say that there aren't those who accepted or want to learn I've seen too many people accepted the Gospel to say that, but it’s definitely different here. Most of the time we teach Christianity as a whole, the first lesson is The Restoration and it’s more like the 7th lesson we teach. we rarely teach a full lesson as it is in the PMG, but they are definitely opening more and more here. We as missionaries just have to make sure were going at their pace rather than our pace. Anyway that’s my little rant on the matter.

I love these people I really do! This is the best and most fulfilling time of my life, no I didn't think I’d be taking on one of the hardest academic challenges of my life thus far, but it helps that I want to learn Japanese and have a purpose for it. On that note its coming along good I constantly have to change my study methods to keep me interested enough to improve, I'm at the point that I can do enough to be comfortable and so it’s really easy to fall into disinterest without the immediate need so I’ll keep doing what I'm doing.

Anyway as far as my week went we had a few splits happen in Shuri so lots of sleep overs, had interviews with President, and some training from the AP's that was all a lot of fun. Weather’s been futsu, hot humid and rainy then blaring sun, that's just fun in Okinawa for you.

thanks always for all that you do and the example you are to me, I love you and miss you but not too much…

stay strong stay faithful stay diligent , J.K.S. the choice is always your’s.

ja, mata kondo

Kemp Chourou

Week #47

I wish I could aspire to the level of Nephi but i don't think I'm quite as good at following the spirit or at visions or obedience all things i want to work on, excepting the visions cuz that's not really my choice, but you know what I mean...

But any way its time for the rest of the story I suppose. Now where was I, oh ya so we're back for dinner near the same time as the other two missionaries we live with, and guess who is the cook of the apartment, meeeeeee! Yaaa, so I start making something, I don't usually know what until the end, but usually rice or pasta with a mix of veggies meat or tofu and sauce and there's a hundred different variations that can be done there. After eating my fantastically amateur meal it's time to head out again. Now the following evening can take a number of turns but know for now it involves dendo, ;)  but ya we get back on the bikes and go have some more fun in the jungle, maybe we have a lesson, or something, and then around 8:45 its time to get back with some streeting along the way back in at 8:58 or so. Then we do something, what, you may ask, well you will have to find out next time on Dragon Ball Z... i mean my dendo life.

   

Ya, this week was good we found a new investigator name Shou and will meet this Saturday, and we're working with a lot of people to get them up and running as investigators!

 

It's weird to think that I'm over humpday now it passed like nothing and I feel like I need more time to do things!  The days are just getting shorter from here, but I'll give it all I've got for this last year and do all I can for Japan.

Pray for these people, the prepared ones are here, pray that they will find us or that we will find them we will do the same here, it's just a matter of timing we just have to be ready when they are and when the Lord is, so always being ready is the only effective way, dakara gambarimasu (because of that I'll do my best)

Any way, love you guys so much, have fun with your new daughter but don't let her get all wamp. tell her to follow the schedule and just fill it with service like cleaning my room or something like that. 

but as always stay strong stay diligent stay faithful stay diligent, J.K.S.

Elder Kemp

Week #46

And now the rest of the story, so after lathering on the sunscreen we file out the door slipping on our shoes at the genkan cuz you don't wear you shoes inside in Japan, then while still by the door to our fourth floor apartment, we pray to our one true Father in Heaven to allow us a successful dendo experience and safety as we go.

Prepped, planed, studied and protected we get to the bikes and get out there heading for any number of different people; less actives, members, investigators, potential investigators,etc. or maybe just dendo of an area of houses. Talking to every male as we go cuz were not allowed to street contact woman, most say no, in the form of a raised hand in the sumimasen gesture (excuse me). But occasionally running into those prepared people,asking questions, kamisama nitsuite kangaita koto ga arimasu ka, have you ever thought about God, jinse no mokateki wa nanda to omoimasu ka, what do you think the purpose of life is, and many other things, and then the time roles around to 4:45 and its time to get back for dinner, I'll tell you what I made next time when I tell the rest of the story.

This week's been another fun one the start of a new transfer, new comp. and new goals. The transfer looks promising! We have two new solid investigators and our progressing investigators now has a baptism date! He's really doing great.

I wouldn't say my Japanese is so good that I don't have to think, but, I can say most of what I want without too much effort, so that's going well enough! I'll keep on studying hard every day though!

My comp is great, his name is elder Shriver, I'm actually older than him not by much but that's weird! He's doing great as well, way hard worker.

Any way I hope you all have fun with the beach front prop. and the new barbi, throw some shrimp on there for me pops.

I'll be able to enjoy it this time next year, also way weird and way too close.

Love you guys and all that you do,

stay string, stay faithful, stay diligent, J.K.S.

Elder Kemp 

Week #45

And now the rest of the story, comp. study comes to a too quick end leaving me wondering if we a prepared enough for the lesson we have that day, i move into language study, making flash cards essentially prepared to learn through out the day, sometimes just righting out lesson plans in Japanese.

after coming to an abrupt end that many times goes unnoticed, but its lunch time and I got to make some food put the rice in the cooker cut up veggies and meat start um a frying then make a sauce, a pretty average Japanese meal, one hour later, its time to get out of the apartment and go dendo it up, but you will have to see what that's like next time, when I tell the rest of the story.

So yeah I do indeed want some of that cobbler, ahh camp Bradley that's natsukashi,(nostalgic) I remember I used to think the bike ride to the lake was hard, it would be so easy now, I bike more than that every ten minutes, I also remember going to Sun Valley all the time that was always fun but yeah it's expensive.

We've been having a lot of rain lately which is always fun and had an unexpected typhoon a few days ago but it was only the edge so we could dendo in the evening,

Are progressing investigator shirasuna san is doing way good, he is the college student i don't know if I told you about him yet, he is studying Japanese traditional style art, and is way smart gets the lessons way good despite my terrible teaching.

We have a lot of other great people were working with and hope to get them to investigators than to new members. pray for them please. shirasun, hiroko, izumi, uechi, kameyama, touyama, .

Any way, I did get the shoes and there great, my others have holes now so those were a huge blessing, unfortunately if I keep losing weight again like I have been lately my close will be way loose soon, as for suits right now my brown one it like wearing a robe its so loose, and I cant were my black suite pants I just were my new slacks and the jacket and it matches it well enough, I'll keep looking for a suite here but it doesn't look like it yet.

any way love you guys so much

stay strong stay faithful stay diligent

J.K.S. 

Love,

Elder Kemp