Week 7! I missed week 6...

Hey Everyone.

I want to apologize about last week. I was at the Hospital all day for my knee and had to get it taken care of. Turns out I have a badly strained ligament problem which hasn't really been allowing me to walk very much. This started from football, but has worsened with all the bike riding and walking. I have a knee brace and they gave me medicine BUT I’m stilling doing my best to work hard and continue to hasten the work.

This week was a sloooowwwwww week. Because of the knee injury, couldn't do a WHOLE lot, but did the things best i could. we have a lot of neighbors who are investigators so that’s nice!! I was able to hobble my way over there and teach them. Me and my companion have been really wanting to visit `Talks a lot Lady`(that’s going to be her name, because she talks a lot). She lives somewhat far from us near the Eki (train station) so its been difficult trying to see her. Basically, our last visit with her, we talked in the genkan ( front room, basically the doorstep ) about the Book of Mormon, she is a Buddhist, and so we thought it might be hard, but we did anyways. She did,say OH! this looks cool, im a Buddhist but since you’re giving it to me i GUESS i have to read it. BAM! Finna! (its slang for get a baptism real quick!) if she progresses she will be baptized. We will see how that goes and ill let you know next week! 

We had our Ward Halloween Party on Saturday too. SO FUN! Definitely made up for the week!  my companion and i didn't have costumes at first.  He was previously in the Air Force and had a cool Air Force Jacket that he wore. so he was a pilot! i was just a  missionary when i showed up haha, BUT. a Sister in the ward said, Preciado ちょうろう！！ This is for you!! It was a Super Mario costume. Yes, i was super mario. it was pretty sweet. I even entered the costume contest and won a Medal! hahaha.

Pray i have a better week on behalf of my knee. i was put on the ward prayer list for my knee here. i even got a handmade bracelet from a member that is supposed to contain magic powers that will heal my knee. (Whatever that means) But Whatevs!! it was a gift so ill take whatever helps haha! 

I want you to know that through my experience thus far, I’ve come to know our Heavenly Father, and his Son, Jesus Christ VERY, VERY well. Through my daily prayer and scripture study, I’ve been taught so many things about myself, and the way God deals with men. I invite you all, if you are not already, to start daily studying your scriptures and praying. It’s been the most wonderful experiences and revelation that I’ve received. The more you strengthen your testimony, your beliefs will turn to action and you will be farther on your path to receiving exaltation.

i Know that.

Have a good week, and pray my knee doesn't worsen! I am always praying for you guys. Have a good one, till next week!

プレシア度長老

Elder Preciado

Japan Week 5!

Pretty good, crazy, yet anther fast week. Where is time going!?!

Tuesday was the weirdest day I’d say out of all of them. Started out with our normal study and day prep, and we were going to visit all our neighbors! NONE OF THEM WERE HOME. Lame sauce. So me and my companion journeyed on our bikes to this older less active lady (probably took about 40 minutes to get there) and we then found out she wasn’t feeling good! We offered a blessing but she said no sorry, come another time. So we felt like we rode hecka far for nothing it felt like, but at least good exercise right!. So we headed back home.

Oh on my P-day, me and my companion stopped at a music shop, this old really small music shop. We asked the lady if they had any Ocarinas, a flute style instrument. I really wanted to get one! She said no but they could order them into the shop and showed us this catalog filled with Ocarinas all ranging from 80-120 plus dollars. So i said nope, can’t afford that! Then this other lady from the back comes out. WAIT!! I have one!! She brings out this little Ocarina and says it is really old version but is still a really good one. It was 70 bucks, but she kept apologizing. I’m sorry it’s an old version I’m really sorry. I’m really sorry!  I kept saying it is fine, I’ll keep looking and she still kept saying I’m sorry! I’m sorry! and then ended up giving it to me for 30 bucks. SCORE! I am already learning a couple of songs like “Hie to Kolob” on it. Great Preparation day activity! I love it!

Oh and on our way out i see this turtle crossing the street. I am thinking it was about to die! So i had to save it! Although I didn't know what to do with it because there was no water sources around. So i gave it to these two small elementary kids and said here take this guy and go nuts! Bye! Hopefully that little guy is doing good :) after that we started becoming really successful with the work. Contacting people, finding those we needed to and such. Then ended the day with a zumba class at the church! Solid day! haha!

Got to watch General Conference finally and man was that an amazing experience. you may think its the same, but there’s something about being a missionary and listening to the words of our prophets that made it that much more amazing. I received lots of good guidance and revelation! My favorite talk was by Tad R. Callister. Made me think of you Dad! And all the things you’ve taught me growing up and how you’ve helped shape me into the man and missionary i am now. Talk made me cry for how much appreciation i have for you. Thanks Dad i love you!

We also went on another Companionship exchange with Elder Wilkin from Australia. Got stuff done! It was just a really, really fun and great experience all around. After that I had an Interview with President Welch, and he taught me so much regarding my questions. Doctrinal questions about 1 Nephi 11. I advise you to think about what you felt or learned last week, and reread …truly pondering and thinking about what it is YOU desire to understand. I found out that the way the spirit teaches Nephi, is the way I should be teaching my investigators. Teaching them as far as they can learn, little by little until they’re ready! I’m excited to apply that doctrine!

And to top of the entire week, yesterday was the 祭り！ (Matsuri)… Which is a festival they hold after the yearly harvest. To show gratitude and thanks! Saturday night as they prepped for it, We went to check out what they were doing, and this guy comes up to us and says please join us tomorrow! Represent our district! So the next day he dressed us in a Hapi and put us in the festival! I got to participate in carrying a flippin heavy Danjiri with a ton of small Japanese guys. Tons of flutes and drums playing everywhere! Alot of them were amazed and and they all flipped out! Especially when i said i was 18! Because it was such a success, they invited us to their big meal later that night (which is a very very rare opportunity for not just us but anyone) and got to meet everyone and talk and enjoy food with them. When we had to get up and leave everyone was cheering so loud and just loved us! Such a cool Experience! We noticed that now we have a good image of us elders in the neighborhood, we can easily start teaching these people. Perfect Missionary opportunity!! So pumped! Now my shoulders are jacked up and bruised from the festival but I don’t care cause it was a great experience :)!!

For this week I want you all to think about the words we heard from the prophets this past weekend. Really take into your hearts and heed to their words because they spoke the words of our loving Heavenly Father. Think of ways to apply it to your life! I testify that when you do, the things you may be dealing with will be lightened. I think of one of m favorite scriptures, Isaiah 41:13. “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee’ fear not; I will help thee”. God is there for us and he cares about YOU. Remember to always pray and study the Book of Mormon and your scriptures!

Can’t wait to talk to you and tell you about next week! I had a really good week with many great lessons. Next week will be even better! I love you all! :)

プレ氏アド長老

Elder Preciado

Here's a Picture with all my new buddies from the Festival!

Hahaha having fun! I'm Tarzan!

The cool turtle I found!

My sweet, awesome ocarina! Jordan I know you're jealous!

And one of the Danjiris I carried!

Cool Bamboo forest we found!

The stuff i wore for the matsuri!

Week 4, but who's counting!

Hello!

Week was really, really solid. not to mention FAST too holy crud! time flies when your having fun :) Started off the week with pretty poopy start still. Was sick again and what not but i said FORGET it and just headed out to work with Elder Scowcroft. Gosh we are such beasts. Things got way better after that. Wednesday was able to do some findings and found a few potential investigators. Did some volunteer work at a hospital that day too! Made bracelets for patients, and i guess they LOVE them so I was happy to help in any way :) Not to mention it was Jordan’s Birthday! Did some service for ya! I Love you bro keep making right choices.

Thursday was an even better day, we rode SUPER far on our bikes with the Sisters to a less active women’s house to share a lesson and do yard work. Her husband recently passed away and she can’t keep up her Yard like he could so of course the Choros come! (Elders). Then afterwards we had a lesson with a recent convert, so it was a filled up day. Friday had my first Zone Training Meeting. I felt the spirit so strong and was able to get acquainted with everyone in my zone. It was good! I went on another exchange but this time with the zone leader Elder Davis and we were in Mikunigaoka, which is basically Osaka. Had an awesome time there and was able to teach an australian man named Tony on the street and he said he’d hit up the missionaries back home! ( Seed planted :) ) Also was able to talk to this 26 year old guy at a park. I’ve never felt so much love for a random stranger before. It was clear that he lived a hard life and hasn’t found purpose in it. When we said to call us anytime and we will help you in anything, he gave me the sweetest look on his face that just made me want to cry. I love it so much! 

Saturday came around and first thing we do is hit up 巣白!! (sushi ro) which is the famous sushi on a conveyer belt restaurant. smashed a ton of plates of sushi filled with assortments of squid, octopus, salmon eel, tuna, etc. BOMB to the DOT COM. I attached some pics! Little Obachans were looking in amazement! i wasn’t even full i could have smashed another 20 easily, no joke. J

After that we tried findingbut people nothing was working, so we tried riding around the neighborhood and we found an 18 year old kid in an apartment who is READY. and when i mean ready, hes freakin READY. He was crying just at how friendly we were to him. He works hard to support his mom and sometimes things just get really hard in life like we all experience….but we taught him about god, how he loves us, and knows us. He lost it again in the closing prayer and said we could come back anytime. SOLID MAN! That makes a total of 7 progressing investigators. Its hard work but it’s not mine, it’s the lords. If this work was all up to a bunch of 18 or 19 year old kids, it would have failed a long time ago. That’s just a small testament to how true and amazing this gospel is and what it can do for us and our families. Keep working hard and open up your mouth. Christ is right beside you as you exercise your faith, EVERY soul is worth it. Strive to Develop faith like Nephi if we all had the amount of faith of his and the amount of muscle (or mine ;))jk.., we’d all be unstoppable!

Read in 1 Nephi 11. Ponder about ways you can strive to be closer in faith like unto Nephi. I’m not asking you to be like him and see angels. But trying is better than nothing! That’s all that Heavenly Father wants us to do in anything that we do. Is to TRY. We don’t grow or learn unless we try…. So DO IT! J

I love you all :)

プレ氏アド長老

 Elder Preciado :)

Love serving them..and dad should be proud :)

soo good!

Yep, those were all my plates :)

Its' like a dream...never-ending sushi!