Week 99: June 24, 2018 - Another transfer week...

Good Afternoon!

It's been another good week in Tsuboi, including some last minute

travel plans to Beppu, on the other side of Kyushu, and then meeting

and talking to lots of amazing people. It's also the last week of the

transfer, so transfer calls are due any minute, but we don't have any

information yet. Most likely, things stay as they are, but, it's in

the hands of God. What we do know is that President Mack is starting

this transfer, so everyone is excited to meet him!

But as for this week, as I mentioned we went to Beppu on Friday, which

is about a 4 hour bus ride, to do a baptismal interview for them. It

was a crazy day of travel, capped by the return on Saturday morning,

yet remained a spiritual experience the entire time. The girl being

baptized is 18, and just by talking with her you could see the changes

that God has wrought in her life already. She has so many plans and

ambitions, to become a surgeon and the such, and knowing that God will

be with her every step of the way is comforting, and a good reminder

for me to see. We also spent the night with the Beppu elders,

including Elder Arnold, and it was fun to see the growth he has made

from the time we were together on Ishigaki. The Lord guides and shapes

us, and it's just up to us to trust the final product.

Besides that, we met a cool man named Okuda last week, and went back

on Monday to talk more with him. He used to be involved with the

mafia, but that involvement has given him a very independent outlook

on life. So rather than listening to us teach a bunch of lessons, he

has determined to 'come and see'. After experimenting for himself,

coming to church, and personally feeling, he will decide if this is

indeed Gods church, and if this is indeed something he needs in his

life. If only more people had that mentality! We aren't trying to

force anything on anyone, but as I promised him, God will keep his

promises. He will help you, and bestow peace upon weary souls, if you

allow him to. If and when you test his words. Which makes this Sunday

all the more exciting!

That's about what our week turned into. We have the honor everyday of

working with and among amazing people, and I can't imagine it ever

stopping. Thanks for all of your support!

Love,

Elder Woodhouse

So it turns out nobody is transferring! Here's to another 6 weeks!

Week 98: June 17, 2018 - Onwards!

Hey everyone!

It's been another good week, but nothing crazy happened. I think the

most exciting thing I did was find new food, and make some corn bread,

which worked... about as well as you may expect. But it's all a

learning experience, and a blast to learn new things.

One of the other highlights was meeting with the Stake President,

President Takahashi. He invited me and Elder Burr, as the zone

leaders, to counsel with him on how the missionaries are doing, and

what things the members can do to assist, as we are all simply players

on Gods team. He has such an interest in our lives, in helping us, and

you know that the primary goal is not simply to check off that he did

something, but rather, to improve the lives off all those he comes in

contact with. A really good example of a man, and a really good

example of ministering as the Savior did. It makes me so glad to work

with people like him, because there are so many around the church and

world, simply good people doing better than their best through the

help of the Lord.

We also had the chance to hear from Elder Gong and Elder Rasband on

Sunday, as part of a countrywide special Stake conference that they

broadcasted from Salt Lake. They both gave really good talks, and my

general takeaway was how important our small and simple actions and

sacrifices are to the Lord. It's built upon the things we give that we

find ourselves, and exciting to see how He uses everything!

Love you lots!

Elder Woodhouse

Week 97: June 10, 2017 - The rains came down

Hey everyone!

It is now the rainy season in Japan, at least according to everyone we

talk to! I guess it doesn't mean much, because I don't feel like it's

raining that much more, but we do get some precipitation pretty much

every day. Comes down, cools you off, and helps you keep going. Though

since I've thought about it, just a completely different season than

Virginia has. It's always crazy to see how people have grown and

adapted to their circumstances. One of my favorite things about being

a missionary.

With that, we had junkais this week, which gave us a chance to work

with many other missionaries and see how they have grown, and grow

from their testimonies. On Friday I was with Elder Rolin, from Brazil,

and we had a way good talk about what it means to be a leader. He was

called as a district leader a couple weeks ago, and it's already crazy

to see the change. As he elevates himself to who he knows the Lord

needs him to be, I've been able to see his district follow that

example, and elevate themselves. So it was amazing to see the power of

example, and to work with him. The other blessing was to watch the

small, seemingly simple things, such as going to a convenience store

to use the bathroom, turn into miracles. In the above incident, we ran

into Alex, who I met about 5 weeks ago, and he is busy studying

Genesis at college. To know that this is his time, and to know that

God has and will prepare his way, is a peaceful knowledge, even if we

can't see how the path will flow.

After that, I worked with Elder Wheeler, who reminds me, as do a lot

of missionaries now, about where I was a year ago. He has a crazy

desire to work, study, learn, and help the people around us, our

beloved brothers and sisters in Japan. Yet, to paraphrase the Bible,

we are all still learning to 'cleanse first the inner vessel'. The

true measure of success comes not from the outward results of your

supposed actions, but rather, from the growth you experience. As we

grow with our companions, with the people we meet, then the bonds of

friendship are created that will span eternity. We have to be the

change we wish to see in the world, because that is where growth, and

repentance, starts. With us. And with that, building off the faith and

desire to change, the Lord will bless us with miracles, such as

meeting a college kid who used to go to church in Kagoshima before he

moved to college. This is His work, and He guides those who listen and

strive to lift the world. I have never felt that more than the past

few days.

It's been a full, fulfilling week, and lots of things learned. Also,

congratulations to Rebecca for graduating!

Love you all!

Elder Woodhouse

Week 96: June 3, 2108 - The Last Interview

Hey everyone,

I hope it's been a good week! We are already in June, and I don't even

know what happened to May, or April, or March for that matter. There

were a couple highlights, but one of the craziest things was the last

interview with President Egan. This is His and Sister Evans last

transfer, and it's really odd to imagine them going home, and

President Mack coming. So we had that, zone pday, zone Conference,

junkais in Fukuoka, and then came home to try and let things settle

down.

Starting with zone pday, we somehow managed to gather missionaries

from across all of Kyushu, because our zone is basically a band across

the island. End result was everyone coming the day before zone

conference and playing soccer, ultimate frisbee, volleyball. Basically

exactly what you would expect from 20 year old kids. But then to see

the turnaround for Conference the next day, where everyone was

speaking from the heart, and following the promptings of the Spirit,

it was amazing. Our training was about the strength of personal

testimony, and how a true knowledge and understanding of the Savior

and His atonement will change your life in a way that cannot be

reversed. But to hear the strength of these same 18, 19, and 20 year

olds who the day before had been having a blast with a frisbee and now

were having a blast changing lives for eternity. It builds my faith in

the Lord and His work.

After that was junkais with Elder Ricaldi from Germany in Fukuoka.

Another chance to work with the living embodiment of everything we

teach. As we talked to people, the gospel and Gods love for them just

flowed from his mouth, natural as anything. That is an example of

conversion, and the purpose of both us serving as missionaries, and

why we share the gospel. There is nothing on this earth that has the

power to change lives, save Gods hand is involved. It was a good

lesson to remember and learn, and fun to bring back home.

Elder Burr and I are still doing well, and it's his birthday next

week, so we will be doing something. I'm sure I can get something

exciting that he won't realize, but it's still in plans.

Love you all

Elder Woodhouse

Week 95: May 27, 2018 - The Castle

Hey everyone!

It's great to hear about how you are all enjoying spring. In Kumamoto the weather hasn't decided if it wants to be hot and muggy or rainy yet, but it gives us lots of chances to enjoy the beauty that all weather brings. Hopefully things keep us, because the rainy season is apparently looming in the distance. With the weather though, we've been able to go out and actually do things, like visit the castle! And, a whole bunch of other fun bits and pieces. 

To start, Elder Burr and I went up to MLC on Tuesday, up at the mission home in Fukuoka. Just like last transfer, it was amazing to hear trainings and thoughts that correlated with exactly what I was thinking and feeling. It is a testimony to the power of the Spirit, where we can learn from God directly, and receive that personal revelation for us as individuals. 

After coming home, we had district meeting, where Elder Larsen discussed once more the importance of the Spirit in conversion, both for our investigators and ourselves. It's a theme that we are trying to carry into zone conference on Tuesday, of helping people to lean and depend on God, because that is true conversion. There is no way to deny a testimony borne directly to your heart by the Spirit, you just need open your heart and search for it. After that we had a district potluck, where I made Bishops Bread, which is universally loved. Everyone was a fan, and it was good to have a taste of home. 

Which brings us to the exciting part of the week, because from two days ago on Saturday until this upcoming Friday, I'll be on Junkai and not working with Elder Burr. We went with Elder Larsen Saturday, with Elder McColm visiting from Beppu for zone conference until Wednesday, and then the assistants on Thursday. It's an amazing opportunity to both hear and hear testimony. Set for an exciting week!

Love,
Elder Woodhouse

Week 94: May 20, 2018 - Elder Renland and member missionaries

Hey everyone!

It's crazy how time works, and I guess thats what happens when you

skip a week. For everyone I didn't get to see last week, happy belated

Mother's Day! To be able to have such technology to skype across a

planet is amazing, and speaking to family always reminds me how

important each individual is in Gods plan. We choose to come to earth

with perfect faith that He will guide us and help us grow, and such a

large and immeasurable part of that comes within families. Always a

great reminder to our individual roles and influences.

With that, one of the cool experiences from last week was seeing how

our experiences are know by God. Elder Burr and I were knocking doors,

and at one of them this college student comes out. We talk to him,

explain what we are doing, but it's not until he mentions that he is

from Okinawa that he really opens up. Because, of course, I know where

he lives! Just a short 30 second interjection about the area, and now

we become best friends. And the most important thing I've seen

recently is that trusting relationship with people. We know we are

bringing light and life into their existence, but if they don't trust

us, they won't listen. But trusting us, Shimabukuro (also a sign from

Okinawa), set up a time to meet next week, which made me realize that

I needed to be here for him. We have such amazing potential and power

as individuals.

That was also the theme of Elder Renlunds devotional last Friday. It

was broadcasted across all of Japan, and highlighted by that thought

and a chopstick analogy. If you have two chopsticks, but only use one

at a time, it doesn't work. Go ahead, try it! But the unity, drawing

upon everyone's contributions, is how anything gets done. So his

challenge was for everyone, members and missionaries alike, to do

something. Honestly, anything, as long as it is your action. Without

that effort and faith, God can work no miracles. It was an amazing

opportunity to hear from an apostle of the Lord, and to have the

chance to take what he's taught us, and go forward implementing it is

always exciting.

All in all it's been a good week. Each day feels like a year, and each

week, the blink of an eye. One day I'll figure it out.

Love you all!

Elder Woodhouse

Week 93: May 12, 2018 - Mother's Day Call

Mother's Day Call - In Idaho.  Mitch talked to his Grandpa & Grandma Woodhouse and his Grandma Mitchell.