Week 56: August 28, 2017 - Actually doing things for my birthday!

Thanks to everyone, once again for the birthday wishes! It's great to

realize that I'm actually older, even if it doesn't feel like it at

all!

But, in case anyone was left fearing, I did manage to eat cake for my

birthday. Every Monday night we run a family home evening activity at

the church as missionaries, and sometimes we will make food. For some

reason, I had a cake mix that somebody had sent me before, so we made

American cake, tried making more from scratch, played games, and

shared a spiritual message, as any good family home evening does, with

varying kids that we were able to invite. The odd thing was that none

of the parents ended up staying with their kids, rather, dropped them

off and came back, but the kids still get to learn from the

missionaries.

Elder Jo and I also had the chance to meet the Matsuyama family again,

after running into them last week. It was a crazy first contact,

because we knocked on her door, and it was as if we were best friends.

But neither Elder Jo not I had ever met the lady before. Long story

short, she knew the missionaries about a year ago, before her son was

born, but then got busy with family, and lost track of them. So it was

our pleasure to continue that relationship, and she was more than

happy to listen. And, way excited to read the Book of Mormon, and come

to church, almost before we could even ask. It amazing how God will

use us as his tools, to help His children, sometimes without us even

knowing. For me, it was just an experience of one of the times I've

seen myself as part of His plan in an immediate area.

Lastly, we got to meet and eat dinner with one of our Eikawa students

last week. It always amazes me at the kindness and memory of these

people, as she told us stories about old missionaries, while making

enough food for 10+ people. Another blessing of the Lord that we felt.

That's all for this week, but I'm very grateful for all that everyone

has done, said, and sent me. I love you all!

Elder Mitchell Woodhouse

Week 55: August 21, 2017 - One Year in the Service of the Lord

Hey everybody!

Thank you all so much for all the letters and mail you sent my way for

my birthday. It's a crazy reminder to me that I actually have a

birthday, and that I've been a missionary for a little over a year

now. My last birthday was in the MTC, and it fair to say that I've

learned a lot since then. As the primary song says, "One year older,

and wiser too!", and being on a mission has definitely helped with

both parts of that. I've had the chance to see many miracles and the

Lords hand among His children in Japan, and I'm extremely grateful for

the chance I've had to be here.

With that noted, the past week has been another opportunity to work on

the beautiful island of Amami! Sadly, we haven't been able to teach as

much as we have wanted to, but there is still satisfaction in talking

to everyone. And, the best feeling is when you know that you were able

to brighten someone's day. It's not always the miraculous instantly

baptized person that you find, but it's the small things, the grandmas

living alone, the kids having a bad day, that we get to just light up.

I know that this is a gospel of light, and in all ways, shapes, and

forms to be able to share that every day is amazing.

We also had interviews with President Egan, and that is always a great

experience. One of the focuses we have had as a mission, and one of

the things he reemphasized was the need for love. As we find ourselves

filled with love for the Savior, we will learn of him, preach of him,

and live like him in ways we didn't even imagine possible. I know that

the days I remember why I am here, that I love the Savior, I love his

joy, I am able to forget about me, forget about everything but the

people I get to help. It's amazing.

Lastly, we also found a snake! Without pausing to learn what type of

snake it was, we quickly left, but that's our last bit of news for

today!

Love you all!

Elder Mitchell Woodhouse

Week 54: August 14, 2017 - The tropical life!

Hey everyone!

Its a blast down on the island of Amami, quite literally! Due to the

previous typhoon, the big summer festival all around town was pushed

back to this week, which included boat races, food, and fireworks!

Sadly, we weren't able to join and watch a lot of it, because we were

in the wrong place at the wrong time, but all four of the missionaries

were able to gather with one of the less active members, and watch the

end of the fireworks. It's odd, because I didn't watch any for the 4th

of July, and now I get some on a tiny island in the middle of the

pacific. It just goes to show how different cultures have different

celebrations, and I'm just blessed to be in the middle of it.

Besides explosions, Elder Jo and I also witnessed the hand of the Lord

guiding His children over the past few days. We have had a large focus

on bringing people to church as a mission, as a way to help the feel

firsthand the spirit and love of God. However, we haven't had any

people to bring to church, until Saturday, when we met Sakai walking

on the street, maybe 5-600 meters from the building. As we talk to

him, we end up walking back to the chapel, and teaching him more about

who God is, and how he communicates with us. Being slightly

interested, Sakai listens, and says he will come back the next day for

church. However, when 10:00 rolled around, he wasn't here yet. So we

went inside, and church started. But who comes halfway through but

Sakai, ready to learn and with a desire to be there. It's crazy how

fast we went from having nothing to be helping one of Gods children,

one of our beloved brethren. As He says in 2 Nephi, "I am able to do

mine own work", and the missionaries role is just to be the tools, the

hands he needs.

The branch here is about 10-15 people per week, counting the

four missionaries. Three of the missionaries in the apartment (me,

Elder Yanada, and Elder Jo) all came to Japan together, leaving Elder

Johnson the oddball out, but he's from Maryland, so I have an east

coast friend.

As for food, I tried to take pictures of what I was eating, but I

forgot a lot, so I only have three. But on Naze, we do individual

meals every meal, every day, so I'm getting a lot of practice on

making whatever I want.

I love being able to serve out here everyday, for two years of my

life. The longer I've been out the more I've seen how much I've grown,

and how much good the Lord has been able to do through me. And, to top

that off, I'm living on a tropical island, feasting on dragonfruit and

passion fruits! Thank you for all of your support and emails, I love

you all!

Elder Mitchell Woodhouse

Week 53: August 7, 2017 - Typhoons!

Well, I think everyone already knows the big news from this week,

which was a typhoon!

I guess one of the blessings of being a missionary is not being able

to watch the weather. Because no matter what it's like, we always have

the inherent hope that it will get better, that it will clean up so we

can be happy and dry as we do Gods work. Which explains why Friday, we

were outside knocking doors as the rain started to fall. And fall. And

fall. It actually rained quite a bit. So, knowing vaguely that there

was a typhoon coming in, we took the opportunity to walk back, staying

safe and only a little wet. And then spent the next day on lock down,

keeping everyone safe as the amazing powers of nature whipped through

Amami all day Saturday. Thankfully, it gave us a chance to call

various people, who were also all doing well, and we were still able

to work.

The most blessed thing might have been the fact that the storm ended

Saturday, so we were able to have church on Sunday. It by far wasn't

the largest sacrament meeting I've been a part of, but to be able to

gather, and see the faith of the saints who could come, was really

amazing. It reemphasized to me how important the sacrament is, and how

important the Savior is to us. And as part of that, how much we

believe in an active religion, an active lifestyle. If we want the

blessings promised from heaven, for example, if I want to be a

successful missionary, if I want to help people find joy, I better be

working, meeting and talking to them. If we want the eternal happiness

that Christ has promised, we need to do all we can, every week, every

day, to be His representative. That's what all the people who trudged

through the aftermath of our typhoon showed me, and it was amazing.

Well, I'm safe, and all is well on Amami! Thank you for all your

emails and prayers!

Love,

Elder Woodhouse

Week 52: July 31, 2017 - On an Island, again!

So, after 15 hours of travel, I've arrived! There is now one more

happy, smiling missionary on Amami!

I guess my week technically started before transferring, but it was

hectic saying goodbye to people, and getting Elder Barker ready to go

home. It was a pleasure working with him, and I'm glad we had the

chance to work and learn. The peace in all of the hectic things was

dinner Wednesday with the Nishihara couple, who have helped us so much

with Sachiko and Takuya. It was great to get to talk to them one last

time, and thank them for all of their kindness, assistance, and

strength in the Lords work.

And then I left for Amami, spending most the day alone on a boat,

which was kinda weird. It was a great chance to get caught up on

studies and my journal, but besides that, and lots of pretty views,

not much crazy stuff happened. But, after the ride, I got to Amami,

and got to meet Elder Jo again!

From that point, everything has been hectic once more. We are busy,

happy missionaries, trying our hardest to find the people the Lord has

prepared. Right now, the branch is a little small, but all the members

are strong in faith, and ready to work with and help the missionaries.

We even spent a lot of Saturday visiting less-active members with

Iwamoto Kyodai and Nagatomo Kaicho, who was just visiting for the

weekend, but it is clear to me that the members care about everyone

else. It's a sign of Gods love, because as our Father, he cares about

each and every one of us individually. He sends us love and peace as

we need, and I can feel His love for all of the people on this island

of 44,000, and the chance to serve all of them is amazing.

And that doesn't even count the miracle of Sachiko and Takuya's

baptism on Saturday. Obviously, being a 12 hour boat ride away made it

so I couldn't make it the service, but I heard it was amazing and

filled with the Spirit as they bore their testimony. I'm so glad I had

the chance to work, teach, and help the understand the importance of

the gospel, and the role their Savior has in their lives.

I'm excited to see what other miracles and experiences the Lord has in

store for this island. It's amazing to be here, and I love every

chance I have to be a missionary and His representative. Love everyone

back at home!

Love,

Elder Mitchell Woodhouse

Week 51: July 24, 2017 - I'm Off!

Hello to everyone!

As you may realize, by the delayed email, it's that time of the

transfer again! Today was the day of transfer calls, and after just

over four months, I'm leaving! Kinda a surprise, because Elder Ishizu

and I were right in the swing of things, and have Sachiko and Takuya's

baptism coming up on Saturday, but if it's the will of the Lord for me

to leave, that's what I'll do. However, I'm not going to leave the

island life behind for that long, because starting Thursday night I

will be on the island of Amami Oshima, after a day long boat ride from

Okinawa. So I've been out a little under a year, and I'll have

transferred on a bus, a plane, and now a boat! I guess it's fair to

say that Elder Woodhouse is sharing the gospel everywhere! As for my

companion, I'll be returning to the MTC era, and working with Elder Jo

for the next six weeks. Fair to say I'm excited, very sad to leave

Okinawa, but excited.

Besides the crazy news about transferring, we also have the great news

about Sachiko and Takuya. Last week, Elder Ishizu and I had the chance

to go meet with them at their house, and have a family home evening

with their family, which includes both of them, and Takuya's younger

brother and sister. It was great, because they already feel like

members. Walking into their house, I felt completely at home, I could

feel the love they all had for each other, and for our Savior. It felt

good. That's why we teach the gospel, to help families that didn't

have those feelings develop them, and to help those that were already

their, like the Maruyama's, make those relationships eternal.

One of our mother investigators, Yudai Miyagi, also had great news

last week, as he passed one of his big English tests. I'd go into more

detail about why it's important, but I don't really understand either,

so suffice it to say it's great for him. As we all helped him study

for it beforehand, he also came to us on various occasions and we

prayed together for his success. I know and he knows that God heard

and answered every one of those prayers. As He helped Yudai with what

was important to him, He has helped me with numerous personal things,

big and small in my life, and He will help every single one of us, if

only we have the faith to ask.

That about covers the big news from last week. I'm sad to leave it

behind. Okinawa has had amazing members and faith filled missionaries.

I've been blessed to see the hand of God guiding this His work here.

It is His work, and He is personally involved. Our Father in Heaven

loves each and every one of His children so much, and the only thing

we have to do is turn ourselves into His instruments. It's tough, but

I promise it's the most rewarding thing we can do.

Love you all,

Elder Mitchell Woodhouse