Week 76- Think About Why.

 Aloha 皆さん、

It's been a crazy few weeks. But something I've been thinking about recently again is my why, my desire, and my purpose. 

It's a topic that I think about a lot, and what we are going to talk about for Zone Conference, so I've been able to devote a lot of my personal study time to listening to Conference talks and devotionals. 

As I've studied and thought, I kinda wondered if there was any particular reason I came back out on the mission after being sent home. As I thought about it there wasn't a particular reason as to why I went back out other than its what was the norm for members of the church. To complete your mission. 

That's not a bad desire, or a terrible reason to go out and I'm not a bad person for initially letting that be my reason. However if my reason and desire clings closer to God's will, I will be happier, see more miracles and blessings and overall be a better tool in his hands. 

Its been something I've been thinking a lot about and it really is hard to change the desire of our hearts. It definitely seems impossible to make my love for the savior and other people the reason why I get up in the morning, the reason why I leave the apartment to go into the hot sun and go streeting. 

While I was studying I came across “Sharing The Gospel” by Dallin H. Oaks

As with so many other things, sharing the gospel begins with desire. If we are to become more effective instruments in the hands of the Lord in sharing His gospel, we must sincerely desire to do so. I believe we acquire this desire in two steps. First, we must have a firm testimony of the truth and importance of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. ~ Second, we must have a love for God and for all of His children. In modern revelation we are told that “love, with an eye single to the glory of God, [qualifies us] for the work” (D&C 4:5). The early Apostles of this dispensation were told that their love should “abound unto all men” (D&C 112:11).

I would say my desires still aren't where I would want them to be but I do wanna continue to work and strive to be better. 

Highlights:

-Exchanges

-i ate horse (raw) (twice) 

-serviceeeee

Exchanges:

As always had a ton of exchanges. We went to Oita for 3 exchanges in a row since it's so far from our area and there's so many elders there. So basically I didn't do any missionary work in my area this entire last week. It's always fun though and I got to see the franky statue! It was super dope. While in Oita got to exchanges with my son (missionary i trained) Theurer 長老. He's super fun and super easy to get along with. Overall exchanges were a dub. 

I ate horse (raw) (twice) :

I finally ate raw horse. It's a Kumamoto delicacy and it taste like nothing but soy sauce and green onions which you use to garnish (?) The horse. Anyways it was a cool expirence, next up raw chicken? 

Servicceee: 

We did service this past Saturday. A nearby city was super flooded so we went over and did a ton of service! It was super fun and our mission President asked all the missionaries nearby to go as well so it was cool to clean out some houses and chat with other missionaries. That same day a member took us to go watch fireworks. Basically service and the fireworks took up the whole days (whoops)

Das all though, love yall

Shoots!

愛してるよ！

エリス長老

TheRisingSon