10/7/2013: Tomorrow is transfers! :O

Hello everyone,

 

I'm at a lack of words as to what to write this week, so I'm sorry if it's a bit short.

Interviews were great, I loved getting a chance sit down and talk with President Wada. His incites on Japanese religious experiences were really interesting.

We met with the N. family this last Friday, it was a great lesson. The Ward Mission Leader and his wife came with us. It was such a good experience for the N. family. They really built a good relationship with them. When we left the family seemed to be a lot happier than before. Something was wrong yesterday, but I haven't heard what yet. The Bishop's wife (who is also a close friend of Sister Longs) got a call last night from her. We didn't hear the conversation, but it was good to know that the Long family have member friends who she feels comfortable calling up anytime. Three cheers for wonderful member support/work!

Brother M. has been doing well recently as well. He went with the ward to the ward temple night and did baptisms while everyone else did endowments. It was awesome to see how excited he was about having a temple recommend. One reason he hasn't been at church is because it's hard for him to actually get himself up if he took his pain medication the night before. Yesterday since he didn't wake up for the English Ward, he instead came to the Japanese Branch's sacrament meeting. He enjoyed it, and wishes he could have stayed for the whole thing, but his back started hurting again so he went home. For P-day someday we'll be going to Monkey Island, though next week we'll be at the Oct. Cultural Festival to be held at the church near the Mission Home.

I'm excited to receive transfer calls tomorrow. I'm amazed at how much better Elder N.and I have been getting along the last two weeks, and find it funny that it always seems to be just as you start to really like a companion that transfer calls come. I've loved working in Yokosuka, and truly want to remain here. However, no matter what/who/where the Lord has in mind for me, I'm willing and ready to work hard and do my best for the next 6 weeks.

 

Sincerely,

 

Elder Jeff Mosdell

9/30/13: @_@ Now Sept. is over too!?!?

This week hasn't been too different from the last couple weeks, except that I think that Elder Nakayama and I are starting to improve our relationship. I think we still have a ways to go before we're anywhere near perfect, but I feel like this week we've finally started (at least to try) to understand each other, and I feel like we're making steps to overcome the gap between us. I'm super excited for that! Whether it happens while we're companions or not, I'm just glad that we're not at each others throats any more (figuratively speaking).

While our number of lessons taught this week is... well... non-existent, we did have a great week with our LA members. We were able to make our goal of teaching three lessons. I think one thing we can do to improve would be to shorten the length of the visits, and to be sure to share something every time we do visit. We've been making great progress with Bro. M!! Having him come with us to meal appointments has been great for helping him build friendships with the members. Slowly more and more of them are getting to know who he is. Hopefully soon he'll be able to meet with bishop and start working towards blessing the sacrament and receiving the higher priesthood! I'm also glad to know that he'll be moving to Salt Lake to go to University of Utah next fall, so it's going to be easy for me to keep in contact with him after my mission.

I've been able to stay in contact with the N. family all week, though we didn't ever get an appointment set up. They had a good weekend out at her parents house, which seemed to have reduced a lot of the stress they've had built up (yay!). Sister C. has also been in contact with Sister N., and regularly invites her to church (more yay!) . Since they were out of town this week they didn't come, but she also told Sister C. that she couldn't go because she doesn't have a skirt. Her reply was a prompt, "I can get you a skirt, I'll bring it over before Sunday next week" (even more yay!). The YM also visited Alex to try and cheer him up. It's so great to know that the N's have so much member support! I am concerned that the reason they're not coming to church is more than just because the son's knee hurting and not being able to go. I think if that were truly a concern than they also wouldn't be able to have him go to school, or drive clear out to visit her family. I'm praying that we can meet with them and try to lovingly discuss their concerns. I can tell something is holding them back, but we just haven't been able to meet with them recently to figure out what it is. They read and pray daily, so I know they're seeking for the comfort the gospel has to offer, but I wonder if they have some kind of fear of what church will be like.

I read a great talk this week given by Elder Bednar in the MTC the summer before I got there. It's about being a PMG missionary, and what that exactly means. I wish I'd have read this talk earlier in my mission, not because I feel like I haven't been a PMG missionary for my whole mission (because I do), but because I never had a good definition for what a PMG missionary IS. Obviously there are a few things that they would have to be, but I couldn't ever really put it into words so I avoided the phrase. This talk explained it simply. The talk in entitled "Becoming a Preach My Gospel Missionary". Absolutely great talk.

Love,

-Jeff

ジェッフ　モスデル

Side note from Mom--

Hey Everyone!
I just wanted to let you know that I received an email from a member of the Tokyo South Mission Presidency this morning.  It has been confirmed that Elder Mosdell will be home on November 19th.  We are awaiting additional information concerning flight numbers, times and all that seemingly tedious stuff.  We'll let you know when we find out more info!