December 26, 2017: Merry Christmas ! メリークリスマス🎁🎄🎅

Merry Christmas everyone!  Christmas Day was a blast here.  Went caroling, shared a bunch of candy to less actives and investigators, and just have a good time!  I know everyone at home is celebrating right now and i hope you have a safe and Merry Christmas!

Just a little announcement, on the 21st of February Elder Holland is coming to the mission and we are having an special conference!!!  :):)) On Tuesday, we had the special Christmas Zone Conference in Sendai.

The District and I did a pretty well done nativity scene with a little Japanese twist on it.  I was Joseph and during the part were he is searching for an inn, I got rejected in Japanese.  Some of the inn keepers told me that I couldn't stay because they were Bukyou(buddist).  It was very funny.  However, on a serious note, during the nativity I started to feel how humble of a birth the savior of the world had.  Not a palace, a mansion, high rise, or even a hospital but a manger.  A manger for the redeemer and the savior of the world.  Jesus Christ came to this earth and lived for us.  We then went home, then back to the church and taught the Sato family.   The mom is a self referral and wants to have her 7, 5, and 3 year old learn about Christianity and God.  Its been a blast teaching them and we have so much fun with them.

Also had a eikaiwa party were I got to be Santa Claus and give out tons of gifts to kids:). That day too, while riding the train, we talked to this kid who is in high school who was wondering about a world after we die and I taught and testified about the great plan of happiness and how we can all have happiness in this world even tough we have hard and challenging times.  He got way excited to learn that in the next life he could meet his ancestors again.  But he didn't exchange contact info so it's all up to God at this point!

This week Elder Davies and I didnt teach very many people but were able to share the Christmas joy.  We got a ton of little presents from the mission home and we went around all week sharing the joy of Christmas and giving these little packages of candy.  Even though we are called to teach, we still accomplished our purpose of bring people unto Christ by helping them feel the joy and comfort of Christmas.

It has been a great Christmas season and now its time for awesome New Year season in Japan!!  Way excited:)

 

Elder Halverson

ハルバソン長老~日本仙台伝道部

December 19, 2016

Busy

December 5, 2016: Hello Family

This past week was my beloved Elder Koide's last week.  To start of the week, I had a first time in my life/mission experience on Tuesday.  A 3 man split.  There was a lot going on last week that ended up in an Elder going home and making a 3 man in Izumi.  So when our split rolled around, I got paired up with Elder Hargadon and Elder Olivera (Brazilian but speaks perfect Japanese). It was fun and a great learning experience.

 

A member is taking Elder Koide and I out to lunch before he leaves.  I don't have much time because I have to pack as I am spending a few days in Izumi waiting for my new companion.  This will be short but I wanted to share one more thing.

 

Well to be honest Elder Koide and I only had an hour of work all week.  But during that one hour, which was spread out over a couple days, we were able to visit a less active and share pamphlets with people.  I was feeling pretty guilty like I let God down cause the time wasn't used the best. Our working time was cut drastically but when I was handing out pamphlets and telling people about the plan of salvation, all those negative feelings of guilt went away and brought peace.  Sharing the gospel really does bring peace and happiness. That is why I love being a missionary.  Helping people come to know the way to happiness, the way to Christ.  This Christmas season let's celebrate, worship and learn about Christ.  Go to Mormon.org/LighttheWorld and there are simple ways to be of service every day until Christmas.  I promise by doing the things that Christ did, you will light someone's day as well as your own.  I know that Christ is the source of light and He made it possible for us to receive that light.

Love you all and have a good week.

 

Elder Halverson

ハルバソン長老~日本仙台伝道部

 

 

December 12, 2016: Transfers, craziness, and a Canadian!

Hello, everyone!  How are you all doing?

 

It's been a real fun/exciting week here in Kamisugi, Izumi and Furukawa.  So let's begin.

At the beginning of the week, it was Elder Koide's last of lasts.  We couldn't go out and work at all Monday night cause he had to pack which took until just before we had to go to bed that night.  But, it was ok because I was supposed to come back to Furukawa with my new companion on Wednesday.  However, after we went to Izumi to spend the night everything went on its head.  Something with the flights coming to Japan got mixed up and the new missionaries from America didn't come until Thursday.  Because of that I got to spend a lot of time in my beloved Izumi waiting for all the missionaries.  It was a lot of fun to be able to work with Elder Sharp (who also worked in Izumi at one point in time).  We were able to talk to a lot of people and found a PI for the Elders in Izumi.  Nice old man, who had a question on why there were so many churches in the world.  I also got to go to Eikaiwa in Izumi which is the best eikaiwa in the whole mission. In my opinion.

The next day, Thursday, was the new missionary orientation.  Before the meeting starts President Smith tells us all who is with who and showing it on a big slide show.  My name comes up and it's paired with Elder Davies!! Right after I see that Pres. Smith motion to me and he tells me that Elder Davies is still in Tokyo cause his flights got mess up same with another 3 elders haha.  So I was yet again comp less.  I finally meet Elder Davies at the end of the conference, he is 18 years old from Alberta, Canada and is awesome.  He is ready to work hard and have some fun!!  He is really a cool guy, wants to work, and very humble.

We couldn't start working until half way thru Friday cause of meetings and getting back to Furukawa. But it was a successful couple days in my book!  We found a couple solid PIs that wanted to learn more about the purpose of life and the church so hopefully we will be able to start teaching them pretty soon.  Also we had to drop two of our investigators this week.  We have had a tough time meeting anybody really and when we finally meet those two they told us not to come back.  So that is sad but the work continues.

Finally, I have had this feeling since I became a trainer I have felt an incredible amount of stress to help my son be successful.  In missionary terms my comp is my son.  And just like any father, I want this Elder to be successful and happy.  Raising a Kid is HARD and TIRING.  But I know I have the Lord on my side, as we all do.  I know that God lives and he wants the best for us, his children.  The church is true! Love you all and have a good week.

Elder Halverson

ハルバソン長老~日本仙台伝道部

November 28, 2016: Yay another holiday i totally forgot about!!

To be honest, I didn't remember that in America this week was Thanksgiving until I got an email from mom.  However, happy belated Thanksgiving!!  Hope everyone ate a lot, watched a football game and had a good time.

 

This week was awesome!  I think I will start off with what is on everyone's mind.  On Tuesday we had an earthquake at about 6 am.  It was off the shores of Fukushima which is in the mission boundaries.  It was around 6.8 or 7 on the Richter scale.  There is a Japan wide alarm system for earthquakes and natural disasters that sends an alarm to every mobile phone in the affected area.  I woke up to that alarm and felt all that shaking which lasted about 15-20 seconds.  At that moment I realized that I had forgotten all about earthquake safety.  During the shaking I stayed in my bed  and just waited it out.  Ha-ha (sorry mom you are going to read this and cringe lol) Lucky there was no damage to our apartment and nothing much in the area.  However, I do remember thinking at that time that all would be ok and there was no need to run or take cover because the spirit was whispering to me that all would be ok.  I want to talk a little more about the spirit and impressions we receive later.

A couple funny things this week.

-While housing I was talking to this guy though the interphone and I asked him a question and he says "sorry there is nobody home" even though I had a conversation with him for about 30 seconds.

-IT IS COLD, been about 0 degrees all week all day.  Thanks for mom coming up clutch and sending me this jacket that could be worn in -25 weather. My upper body has been nice and warm but my legs have been suffering a little bit.

Going back to the spirit.  Since this week the Sendai mission had another big earthquake, the wife of one of the councilors in the mission told this story yesterday at a fireside.  This takes place on March 11, 2011.  She was coming home after the earthquake hit the Sendai area because she wanted to see how badly her house was damaged.  On the way home the spirit told her to turn around immediately and go the other direction.  She looked to her right and saw the tsunami coming in to shore.  She described it as "a huge, pitch black wall of water" and "bigger than most buildings".  She escaped as well as her family but they lost their home.

I don't know why things like earthquakes or natural disasters happen.  I don't know the meaning of all things, but what I do know is that God lives and loves his children.  I love the Japanese people, they have been so kind and accepting of me.  Our Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ live.   I testify that the whisperings of the spirit are real.  Don't give up keep trying!

Love you all have a good week!!

1 Nephi 11: 16-17

 

Elder Halverson

ハルバソン長老~日本仙台伝道部

 

November 21, 2016: Look through heavens eyes

This week has been another one for the books.  All week the unexpected happened.  For example, a split that was supposed to happen but didn’t, my bike breaking twice, and a lot of other things that I recorded in my journal.  

 

This week I’ve had fun teaching although teaching opportunities have been scarce.  However, we taught a bunch of seven, five, and three year olds about God and taught an investigator about God and the book of mormon.  Lastly, we taught another investigator about the Book of Mormon but this time we taught directly from the B of M stories book (the one that is for children, thanks Mom).  I gave it to him cause the actually book is too hard for him and his children to understand.  This made all the difference to them and I was grateful I had the book to share.  Anyway, he is a funny guy and fun to teach.  Always has something to say that is random.    

 

Another highlight this week was that I was blessed with the chance to have an interview with the man, President Smith.  He is incredible, I look up to him so much and in so many ways.  He gave me some great counsel on how to press on and encouraged me to always try to bring the spirit into my life which can be done by being a Christ-like example for others so they can see and feel the Holy Ghost presence.  kaicho is honestly the best.

 

Saturday and Sunday were all about stake conference.  The Sendai stake has a goal to have a temple built in the next 10 years.  We are going to need a miracle but I definitely can see it happening if the members and the missionaries work together a little more.  

 

Had a lot of eye opening experiences this week and I'd like to share one of those.  When I was waiting for the interviews to be over, I was talking to kuroda shimai and she told me that a lady Elder Kudo and I met while housing a couple months ago in Miyako is now an investigator of the sisters in Morioka. The cool thing is that she remembers that time we meet her and received something from us.  It made an impression on her and she looked until she found the sister’s in Morioka.  I testify that God really does guide everyone to the prepared or the prepared to the missionaries.  His ways are higher than our ways, we may not understand it all the time but he is always looking over us and has a plan for all.  I am grateful for this knowledge and I know the church is true.

 

Love you all! 

Elder Halverson 

ハルバソン長老~日本仙台伝道部