August 8, 2017: Second to last!

This is all I have for this week.  But because of the mission I've never had more of a reason to rejoice.  Love you all.

Alma 26:35-37

 

35 Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.

36 Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land.

37 Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever.

Amen.

 

Elder Halverson

ハルバソン長老~日本仙台伝道部

July 31, 2017: Take Me Out to the Ballgame

TAKE ME OUT WITH THE CROWD!  I'll just say it, this past Thursday a member took the 6 missionaries and our recent convert to the greatest game on dirt.  The home team lost to a score of 5-1 and apparently every time the missionaries go to a game the local "rakuten" team loses.  Idk if there is some funky juju that is linked with the missionaries.  But since the Cubs won the World Series last year, I have ceased to believe in curses and things of the sort.  Haha Well anyway it was a great blessing to go see the game and enjoy the atmosphere.

This week was great great as it always is.  Time is dwindling and as I reflect, all I think about is the good and how great it has been to be in every area and meet such wonderful people.  But it's not over till God says it's over and I haven't heard anything yet.

I had the opportunity to go to Tagajo this week for splits.  First of all if I can live in a place like Tagajo's apartment in the future it would be awesome cause that apartment is sweet!!  Anyway.  Elder Perez was my split comp and it was really fun working with him there.

It was really nice cause we were blessed with a lot of chances to teach on the street as we stopped people with riding our bikes.  We met a guy who used to go surfing with the missionaries 29 years ago and remembers all the teachings and the best part is that he wanted to talk with the elders again!  Pretty sweet right?  Surfing dendo works!! Lol

It has been a busy week, as it usually is.  We have been doing a lot of travel and splits.  Also been planning a lot for zone conference this coming week.  Just an update on the weather mom!  It is still hot and every time I leave the apartment I get really sweaty.  Remember the times I gave you a hug after football?  It is just like that and times it by 5. Haha Everyday is a blessing!  So happy for this opportunity, really been a life changer/saver.  The benefits and blessings are endless.  God lives and he loves us and I have the knowledge of that and how sweet is that!  I love you all and have a good week!

Elder Halverson

ハルバソン長老~日本仙台伝道部

 

 

July 24, 2017: Costco and ピカチュウ君に決めた

こんにちは皆さん.  元気ですか？

こっちは元気です。今週の木曜日、私はダテ姉妹という上杉の会員から野球試合に連れて行かれますよ。野球試合を見るのは伝道中一番やりたかったことです。weeklyメールに何を書けば書けがさっぱりわからないので日本語で書いてる。できれば私が意義深いこととか霊的な経験について話していると親に考えてもらえたらいいですけどね

笑笑. 今週は大きな奇跡を目にしました。高橋君という19歳求道者が昨日初めて教会に来てくれました。そして聖餐会で彼とよく合う話がたくさんありました。関口会長姉妹は自分の改宗談と宣教師が何のことを犠牲にしているのかとどれほど素晴らしい人のかについて話していました。

とても素晴らしかったですが、その高橋君と会話していて"あの話ってどうだった？"

聞いたら彼はめっちゃよかったって答えてくれました。結局彼は求道者になりました。私は高橋君に感謝しています。

Hello everyone!  I just wanted to share a miracle about a kid we are teaching named Takahashi.  He came to church yesterday for the first time and he said he loved it.  Yesterday we had President and Sister Sekiguchi at church and then after we had a food party and he stayed for all of it.  He loved it actually!  I am so happy for that experience and he said that we can meet and start the discussions again!  Way excited for that!

The people are really nice here!  An English class member took us out to eat this week at this restaurant on the 31st floor of the tallest building next to the Sendai station!  It was way sick!  It was expensive and probably the best food I've ever had in my life, almost!  Don't worry mom cause your food is still better!!

This week in the mission we had a contest called the kekko contest and the winner will get a steak from President Sekiguchi!

I've been really blessed with two 👍🏿😎 baller mission presidents.

For the contest, I figured I would get rejected if I went along with the plans so I decided it's better to just be me come what may.  I decided to just be the normal me and talked to people on the street and people were more than friendly and nice.  It didn't matter if they accepted a tract or not, I saw people as people.   We ended up finding 3 new investigators which is a blessing and a half!

Lastly a spiritual note.  I've been reading the miracle of forgiveness recently!  It's way intense!  But really, because of the my reading I've had more of an appreciation for the atonement of Christ.  He loves all of us.  Because of that he came to the earth, enlightened the path he walked, taught many, and finally made it possible for us to overcome death and return with our families and Father in Heaven!

Please take some time to learn about Jesus this week!  Love you all and have a good one!

Elder Halverson

ハルバソン長老~日本仙台伝道部

 

Zzzzz

 

July 17, 2017 Zoo Day

Hey family and friends!

 

Today was district pday and we went to the zoo!

Took a lot of photos and had a great time.  I'll send some photos home 🏡!  They are pretty good so mom, I think you will be happy.  Haha.

 

Well as for this week it was hot again!  We found a new investigator who is a college student that said we could come back and talk with him when he enters summer break.  Always love hearing that.

I've really been treated so nice by all the members here!  They are taking us to Costco next Monday and then a few days after that we are going to a baseball game in Sendai.  One thing that I have really come to know on my mission is that there are really no bad area because it is the members in every single area are what makes it a good place to be.  I love the members here, they are all awesome!!

 The church is true and God lives!

I'll send lots of photos to compensate for the lack of writing!

Elder Halverson

ハルバソン長老~日本仙台伝道部

 

 

 

July 10, 2017: President Sekiguchi

Well, it has been business as usual.  Weeks like this really make me more appreciative of shorts and air conditioning.  Sometimes I wish I could be like the Japanese business men and unbutton my top button and take off my tie while biking and walking around.   I guess I really can't complain because there are missionaries in Africa or other places who deal with this stuff all year round. 

We officially welcomed in the new president this week at the Kamisugi chapel.  We had the classic "welcome, welcome" conference.  I am very excited to have my last weeks with Pres. Sekiguchi because he has got tons of ideas and has incredible ideas for the mission.  He is making a mission Facebook page for all the members to see the progress in the mission so that those that live in far places from the mission home feel included.  He also has got a great sense of humor.   He kept telling my comp and I that if we get into trouble or anything with the police, we were to just start speaking English and walk away.  Then in case we get arrested it is ok cause he will come get us out no problem! haha   It's all a joke but I have the tendency to think that in the case that someone does get arrested, that is exactly what will actually happen! haha 

Really at this point of my mission I don't know what to write in these weekly emails any more.  Again I forgot my journal and this last week as just a blur...  really sorry mom and dad.  What I do remember was great.  We had an investigator come to church and we reset a bap date with Yoshio san.  It was a pretty eventful week I think!   hahaha  I do know that God is there and watching over each of us and that the book is true.  Throughout my mission I've had a ton of experiences that have deepened my understanding of how sacred this missionary work is.  I am thankful at the end of everyday for a loving Heavenly Father that brought me to Japan to speak Japanese and share the gospel with these amazing people in Sendai as well as other places over the past two years.  My mission has been awesome, there is no other word for it.  I encourage all who haven't gone out yet or have a chance as a couple, to leave and go on a mission.   God lives and this is true!!  love you all!

 

peace be with you all
--

Halverson Chourou

 

 

July 3, 2017: The New Guy!

こんにちは！皆さん元気ですか？こっちは元気です。疲れているんだけど.

今週、仙台の天気がとても暑くなってきました。普段は33度とか30度ですね。アメリカの計り方にすると85-90degreesです。ユタ人にとってはそんなに暑くはないだけど日本の湿気はひどいからちょと大変ですね。でも私は頑張ってこの蒸し暑さを耐えたいと思います。

 私のための祈りがあればありがたいなぁ笑笑

今週は先週と同じ週だったので忙しかったです。今週の木曜日はスミス会長の一番最後のゾーン大会でした。御霊と啓示と決意があふれる大会でした。涙もいっぱいでした。それから私の心の中にまだ残ってる印象はスミス会長の最後の言葉です。彼は本当に素晴らしい方です。

彼はこう言いました。人生で最も大切なのは第一家族、第二従順、そして第三聖霊の導きです。

この話はちょとズレっていきますがスミス会長ってすごいよ証を述べるたびに御霊をよく感じました。ものすごく力強い証を持っています。福音を愛してるし、会長の模範によって私はめっちゃ良い教育を受けるように感動を与えられました。言葉にできないほどスミス会長に感謝しています。またユタ州で彼とスミス姉妹に会うのは楽しみにしている。

 

Hello everyone!  I am doing well and the humidity is still very much here!  Well the times are a changing and President Sekiguchi is now the man with the reins of this operation.   I was trying to think of a quote from a movie or something that everybody knows but I've been separated willingly from the world and I've forgotten just about everything. But he is a really cool guy and I've meet him a bunch of times since he came here which has been great.

A little food for thought.  There has been a lot  of separation and leaving recently.  President Smith went home, President Sekiguchi arrived, and the stake patriarch passed away.  We had his funeral over the last couple of days and it was full of tears and reminiscing for all of us.  But this is what I want to share.  At the funeral, Seza Kaichou (of the mission presidency) talked about Hayasaka Kyoudais return to heaven.  He said that even though the earthly separation is hard, the reunion on the other side is very, very joyful.  At that moment he shared a video of President and Sister Smith returning to their 5 children, 17 grandchildren and other loved ones.  They ran up to them with open arms, tears and tons of joy.  While death is hard we always have people waiting on the other side with open arms and big smiles.  God created a plan for all of us to return to him and be with our families.  Jesus Christ is the center of that plan.  He was the one that said "Here am I, send me" so that all of us could return to Him one day.  The church is true, God lives and loves us and I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ.  See you all next week!

 Elder Halverson

ハルバソン長老~日本仙台伝道部