Week 63: October 16, 2017 - Beaches and Transfers!

Hey everybody,

Sorry for the late email this week, but today was transfer

announcements, which for all intents and purposes means that I have

finished one more transfer as a missionary! It's crazy, because I feel

like it's only every other week that we get calls, and Elder Zeller

basically just barely got here. But, thankfully, I get to spend

another transfer with him, as no one will be leaving the island. So

one more transfer of watching the hand of the Lord with Elder Johnson,

Elder Zeller, and Elder Ehlert!

It's crazy, because we are definitely in the stages of being  blessed.

The quickest example is from only last night, when our plans fell to

pieces, and Elder Zeller and I were left with time, and out of things

to do. So, we prayed, took off on the streets, and less than 5 minutes

later, ran into Sakae, one of the investigators me and Elder Jo has

found, on a back road we never take. It took an amazing miracle to

find him, as he came to church, and then another one to run into him

again. Sadly, we don't have any contact information for him, so I have

no news on when we will be able to meet him again, but I know that we

were guided last night. As Elder Rasband stated in his conference

address, coincidence isn't a word in the vocabulary of God.

That's almost been the theme of the last six weeks. I've found as we

try to do the right thing, something good happens. Our life gets

better. And not only ours, but also that of those we have been blessed

to work with. Another example from last week is working with a lady

named Horita. The first time we meet her, she invited us in for a full

meeting and lesson, and every time we meet her her faith grows even

more. When we taught on Wednesday, she told us that she feels better

when we come. She can't explain why, and to be honest, I don't think

anyone can. Explaining the power of the Spirit, which testifies of

truth and brings light unto everyone's soul, and why and how it works,

is really difficult. But I do know that her feelings come as a result

of hearing truth, of knowing that she is a beloved daughter of God,

and He knows her.

As a side note, being transfer p-day, we also went to the beach!

Attached, at long last, are some pictures!

Love you all,

Elder Mitchell Woodhouse

Week 62: October 9, 2017 - General Conference!

Even though it's a week late, I love General Conference!

That was by far the highlight of the past week, and the outpouring of

faith and the spirit that it brought upon us. I embrace every chance

we have to hear from the leaders of the church, called of God and

holding his authority, and the chance to apply their advice in our

lives. Something that I felt was especially accented was the

importance of following the council of our living prophet, Thomas S.

Monson, and READ THE BOOK OF MORMON. It is the standard of our faith,

and a key component in keeping ourselves moving on the path of light.

As an example of the importance of that faith, Elder Zeller and I had

only had an alright week up until Conference. Obviously we were trying

to find all of Gods children, but for whatever reason we weren't

finding the people we expected to. However, after Conference, and

feasting upon the living words of Christ, we were bolstered. There are

angels, walking not just with the missionaries, but with every single

person trying to walk the path of righteousness, to do the right

thing. Walking with them, we were guided to various people prepared to

hear His words, including an international building. I never knew that

other foreigners even lived on this island! We are not even on

mainland Japan, but I was blessed to be able to speak in Japanese with

a person from Vietnam and Nepal, among other countries, and share the

gospel. It's amazing to think of how many coincidences happened to

lead us there, but of course, as we learned in Conference, there

aren't really coincidence when God is involved.

Not much else to report, but as always it is amazing to serve God in

the reaches of the world. I love you all!

Elder Woodhouse

Week 61: October 2, 2017- It's beginning to feel a lot like fall!

How's everyone doing?

It's great to get to email again, and hear about all of your lives. I

hope that all of you continue to have success and good fortune, and

enjoy it as much as I'm enjoying the tropical island of Amami. It

amazes me every day how much of a difference taking a step back can

have. On Wednesday, Elder Zeller and I packed a lunch to save some

time, and we walked a minute from where we were to eat on the beach.

Things like that, just stopping to smell the roses, to enjoy the land

that God has created for us, are amazing opportunities.

That about sums up how the past week has been, with small things like

that to give us the energy to keep moving on. We had yakiniku with

some of the members on Tuesday, where I introduced Elder Zeller to the

internal organs of something. It's a problem when you can't read quite

everything, but we are pretty sure our trip involved heart and stomach

of either a pig or a cow, among the normal slices of meat. But the

entire trip was another chance to get to meet and work with the

members, and strengthen both our faith, and theirs.

Another interesting thing was one of my Eikawa students, who is

leaving to Australia next month. It was her last Eikawa, but no one

told us, so we didn't even get to have a party. I guess it's a simple

reminder that things we expect, don't always happen, and you need to

expect the unexpected.

God guides us, sometimes in large ways, but most of the time in the

small, simple things, things we rush by, we push aside to coincidence,

or simply forget about. I can promise that He is in all of them, and

loves each of us dearly.

Love you all,

Elder Woodhouse

Week 60: September 25, 2017 - Stomachs in my stomach

How's everyone doing?

It's great to get to email again, and hear about all of your lives. I

hope that all of you continue to have success and good fortune, and

enjoy it as much as I'm enjoying the tropical island of Amami. It

amazes me every day how much of a difference taking a step back can

have. On Wednesday, Elder Zeller and I packed a lunch to save some

time, and we walked a minute from where we were to eat on the beach.

Things like that, just stopping to smell the roses, to enjoy the land

that God has created for us, are amazing opportunities.

That about sums up how the past week has been, with small things like

that to give us the energy to keep moving on. We had yakiniku with

some of the members on Tuesday, where I introduced Elder Zeller to the

internal organs of something. It's a problem when you can't read quite

everything, but we are pretty sure our trip involved heart and stomach

of either a pig or a cow, among the normal slices of meat. But the

entire trip was another chance to get to meet and work with the

members, and strengthen both our faith, and theirs.

Another interesting thing was one of my Eikawa students, who is

leaving to Australia next month. It was her last Eikawa, but no one

told us, so we didn't even get to have a party. I guess it's a simple

reminder that things we expect, don't always happen, and you need to

expect the unexpected.

God guides us, sometimes in large ways, but most of the time in the

small, simple things, things we rush by, we push aside to coincidence,

or simply forget about. I can promise that He is in all of them, and

loves each of us dearly.

Love you all,

Elder Woodhouse

Week 59: September 18, 2017 - The typhoon that wasn't

Hey everybody!

I hope you are all nice and dry now that school is back in session

around all the country. The craziest news from last week was the super

big, super wet typhoon that apparently hit Kyushu and Honshu, shutting

most of the mission inside on Sunday. However, down on Amami, we

didn't get hit by anything! A little rain, a little wind, but plenty

of time to go out and help the children of God. Kinda a let down after

hearing about the build up for this storm, but at the end of the day

better safe then sorry.

After that, we had a busy week, primarily cause by the popping of a

bike tire. As me and Elder Zeller were riding to an appointment, my

back tire completely dies, going from full inflation to no air, none,

whatsoever. Somehow we finish the night off, but as we walk home, an

older couple sees us walking and half invites, half drags us over to

their office, to try and pump up my tire. Lo and behold, more air

won't help, but rather then letting us finish our walk home, we trade

bikes for the night. As is somewhat visible in the picture, most

people in Japan ride very easy going, low impact bikes. So it was

definitely a difference than my normal ride. The next day we return

the bike, pick up ours, and life continues. Just one of the fun little

hiccups of missionary life.

We capped the week with Elder Zeller pushing me harder then I've gone

before. It's a lot of fun to get to go out everyday with someone for

which this is new. It brings an added gleam and love to the work, and

reminds me that each and every moment we have is a chance to stop and

smell the roses. God has provided us with a beautiful life, and

amazing opportunity, and ours is the privilege to enjoy it. I love

being out here, even though it's far from home, because this is the

only way other people can find the same joy.

Love you all, thanks for your letters and updates!

Elder Woodhouse

Week 58: September 11, 2017 - Feels like I'm new again

Hey everybody!

After spending a long, long time on a boat, Elder Johnson and I

finally made it to and back from Fukuoka, and we are now up to a four

man apartment once more! It was one of the oddest things of my

mission, because we spent a solid three days on travel. But it's been

worth it. Elder Zeller, my new companion, is amazing! He's fresh out

of Indiana, and ready to work. So I'm really excited for the time we

will have together! There is also the benefit of working with someone

new to the field, as he pushes me everyday to be better, and I'm

flooded with thoughts of my first transfers in Yamaguchi with Elder

Welch.

The cool thing is that even on the boats and busses we were able to be

missionaries. On the way home, we ran into a couple of hitchhikers

from Tokyo, going all the way down to Okinawa, and then flying up to

Hokkaido. So we caught them halfway through their journey, but were

able to have a great conversation about what we do as missionaries,

and how they can learn more by reading the Book of Mormon. Even though

we can't meet with them, they both promised to read, and I know that

it will change and bless their lives as they read.

Besides that, Amami is still doing great. We are blessed by the Lord

each and every day, because He lives, and loves all of His children. I

love being out here and working, and I appreciate all the help, love,

and support you all send my way.

Love you all!

Elder Woodhouse

Week 57: September 4, 2017 - Transfers have come again

Hey everyone!

It's crazy to think that it's already been six weeks since I learned

I'd be transferring on a boat. What's even crazier is that tonight,

I'm leaving on another boat, heading to Fukuoka! The difference is,

this time, I'll be coming back, and I'll be brining my new companion

with me. So sadly, Elder Jo is leaving Naze, after only a short, quick

transfer together, heading up to Hiroshima. It's been a blast to work

with him, to learn, and see the hand of the Lord bless this beautiful

island.

And He has been present in this work. While we've had trouble meeting

with the people we are trying to meet, we keep finding new ones. At

church Sunday, after three weeks of no contact, Sakai popped back in

out of no where, and we had another man from Myanmar walk in right

after the first block of meetings, looking for a church to go to while

he is on Amami. And this is a small island, so random things like this

don't happen. There is no way to explain it, besides the blessings and

hand of the Lord. As we work, and believe in his promised blessings,

they will come. Some times immediately, sometimes latter, but they

come as we rely on him.

Another experience that taught me this last week was yesterday, at our

family home evening. Right now, it's Obon, a Japanese holiday for the

deceased ancestors, and it was raining, so our attendance at 7 was a

grand total of one person. And it's tough, tough to justify it, tough

to be effective when you're prepared for many, but only one comes. So

I had the chance to plead on the Lord, to ask for comfort, and help,

and to be able to do whatever He needed done. Of course, it would be

hard to prove that a prayer did anything, but we were blessed with the

largest crowd that I've seen so far, and I know my prayer was

answered. I've said many times, but there is no doubt in my mind that

God is in this work. I know it, and I love Him. No matter what we

have, He cares, and will comfort, counsel, and love us as long as we

let Him.

I love you all! Thanks for all the updates on your lives!

Elder Mitchell Woodhouse