Hey, I love you all so incredibly much!! I'm staying in Kisarazu for another 6 weeks and I'm finishing up training Elder Larm.  Nothing changed haha. One of the other elders is leaving though and his companion is going to train too so we will have 2 trainees in the apartment. So about 2 weeks ago we were trying to contact a referral in the neighboring city and we were walking down the street.  We passed this "church" and all these people came out and started talking to us.  I say church because this church is a combination of tons of religions. It's weird haha -  there were like 7 people talking at me. One guy spoke some English but honestly he really can't.  You can't understand him. His pronunciation is impossible to understand.  I taught the restoration to them though and after I got done saying the first vision the guy, in English' yelled "I believe that!" I was like - "good" haha we gave him a Morumon Sho (Book of Mormon) and just the other day he called us. He likes it.  He said it makes him happy.  The only problem is he refuses to speak Japanese!?!?! I try speaking Japanese to him but he just keeps trying English but he is impossible to understand haha. So after 45 minute phone calls he's petty much said the same thing a bunch of times haha. It's ok though.  He loves it.  He has called us probably 4 times a day the last 3 days wanting to talk about the Book of Mormon haha. It's awesome.  His name is M--. I never thought this would happen but I honestly want a person to speak Japanese instead of English so I can understanad them - haha.  Its pretty funny. He is a really nice man though so please pray for him! 

S-- is busy so we weren't able to doing anything but we did drop off candy at his house and treats. We also found a family yesterday that we will meet again on Wednesday:) It rained yesterday and my gloves are pretty much worthless haha so I almost lost my hand but it's ok haha it was pretty funny. The other we knocked on the door and this little girl answered and yelled, grandma, its people from America!!!! Haha little kids are so funny and I think one of my favorite things has to be hearing a Nihonjin (Japanese native) say "herro!!" And "see you!" In there completely Japanese accent haha I love the Japanese people. Mom, thanks for the Valentines letter. I got it but forgot to let you know. Tell Kimberly D. thanks too for her letter.

I would suggest you all watching the life of Christ bible videos on the LDS scripture app. They are amazing. They are ridiculously good quality. My favorite is "Jesus declares, I am the light of the world." Watch it!!! Also the baptism one is good too.  I read Alma 39:11 today.  Its the chapter where Corianton is getting advice from his dad.  Verse 11 says that because of Coriantons transgression people Alma was teaching wouldn't believe.  We neeed to always reember who we represent.  Always remember how you act what you say and your appearance because it means a lot. People will have their faith at first sometimes based on those things.  So always remember what you say, how you act, and your appearance.

I love you all!!!!!!!!!

Love,

プロクター長老  (Elder Proctor)

 

 

There's just a little Japanese for you - haha. It just says today we are going to the Tokyo temple and this week was interesting - haha. So we ate sushi on Monday with S--and S--. It was fun and they basically treat us like their grand kids - haha. They help us with everything. It's so funny. I'll send you pictures of my first sushi experience. We were able to give them each a Book of Mormon that day. S--was busy but S-- came to church. It went well.  In the second hour we had two  investigators there. The other elders had one too and their investigator speaks English and refuses to speak Japanese - haha. So everyone was speaking English and I had to translate for S--. It was my first time translating. It was so much fun!! Even though  I was not good at it I was still able to translate most of it. I got the ideas across - haha. It felt really good though to be able to help her understand.  Yesterday we ate sukiyaki with them. You make the food while your sitting there. They didn't make us sit seiza thank goodness. My knee can't handle it - haha -  it tasted really good. We meet with them again on Saturday and we are going to try to have them both come to church:) My talk didn't go as well this time. I didn't have much time, just a week, and I only translated it once. So I got up there and started doing it and then I was like, "what was I thinking? This doesn't make sense..." So I just turned my ipad off and talked - haha. It went way better once I did that, I didn't mention either that I was the last speaker and had 20 minutes?!? I saw that and the branch president just smiled. I did it though and after wards he was just laughing because he knew it was really tough - haha. My testimony of Christ grew a lot this week. I love the Gospel. Everyday reading the Book of Mormon and Bible I realize more and more how much it means to me and how my life is centered on the gospel. Everyone time we talk to people I testify to them about eternal families and what the Book of Mormon has done for me in my life. That seems to work the best because they can see how much it means to me. At a testimony meeting one of the less active bore his testimony about prayer and he said that since he's changed his prayers to praying for thanks and others more it has helped him the most, I want to challenge you all to do the same. I can promise you if you do that your prayers will be stronger too:) Sounds like SFA is doing well! That's awesome!The temple was great. I enjoyed it a lot. There was a little bit of japanesey-ness to it too. So cool. There was am amazing picture of Mount Fuji. I'm back in Kisarazu now. It's already transfers again next week!?! I'll get to let you know what's happening next email. I love you all!!!!!!

Love,

 Beautiful Temple

 

Shibuya - Busy Place

Hey everyone! This week went great. We have been successful at finding people. I have started telling people about my own experiences with the Book of Mormon and feeling the Spirit instead of just introducing it. It has worked so much. They always feel the Spirit then are interested to see if they really can feel God's love by reading and praying.  That has been the key. So let us continue the awesome S-- story. That's longhorn hat guys name. So after email and learning the crazy story with the longhorn hat guy we went to the store.  We ended up needing to go back to the church.  on the way I said, "keep an eye out for the longhorn hat guy." we ran into him by the church.  He was coming back from the dentist.  We talked again and he was completely changed. I dramatically pulled out the email (thanks to the ipads) from his daughter and he was awestruck.  Then I knew his  grandsons name.  He was shocked.  I told him this was not a coincidence.  It was by God. It was so dramatic for him to look at my nametag and say, purokutaa. so awesome.  He agreed to meet again and gave us his address, email, phone number.  He walked away and said I'll call you.  He had a tear in his eye.  We then said bye and prayed a prayer of thanks.  **MIRACLE.** Then we called him later in the week.  He wants to eat sushi with us. Then on Sunday morning we get a text from him that says he would meet us after church.  We met him and his girlfriend.  We showed him around the church and we are eating with him today. He said he had never been in church before. His car has Texas stuff all around it and he has a belt buckle and everything. So funny. It is a miracle. He then gave us a map to his house.  Wow is it awesome.  He is a miracle. I'm so happy that you are all being missionaries at home, that is amazing.  I have a talk next week  on the charity of Christ.  I'm learning new vocab for it this week -  haha.  I'm going to try to return my keyboard today and get the one my companion got.  My enter key and almost the whole left side doesn't work.  S- is the longhorn hat mans name.  He is really nice.  So with speaking Japanese some people I can communicate really well with.  They speak clearly and its easier.  old people are hard though and S- is older haha we are doing our best though so pray for us!!!  I love you all and I hope you had a nice week.  I love you!!! 

Another Shrine

 



This was the most successful week of my mission.  Pretty cool experience.  On Thursday we had a lesson with K-- the old man and it didn't go as planned.  We got there and I misunderstood one thing he said and him being an old Japanese man was kind of frustrated.  So we didn't really teach and I got to the apartment that night and just prayed for help.  I just wanted things to go better.  That was Thursday and since then we have found tons of investigators. The first is trilingual 18 year old. Eating with him tonight. On Saturday there literally was a blizzard. The wind was so strong it almost knocked me down once. It was crazy - luckily my companion caught me. We stayed out and worked and found 2 people at their houses.  Then we handed out a couple of copies of the Book of Mormon yesterday and at last found a family last night that we are teaching at 4 today.  I'm excited to teach the M-- family, they have 5 people in their family.  I read the letters about that longhorn hat man. That is amazing that his daughter is in Tyler. I'm going to be looking out for him.  I actually met a kid that had a hoodie that said Texas and Austin on it yesterday too by the way - haha.  So yea, I don't know what you guys did, I guess temple and stuff, but your prayers are working.  I am seeing success.  we taught a man from Ethiopia yesterday and he is reading the Book of Mormon again now.  The ipad is awesome.  I got a keyboard and case for it.  So awesome.  The keyboard is a little weird. I love you all.  My companion is doing great.  He still is obviously new but so am I - haha. We just ganbaro (work hard) through every day.  I'm getting better though because my mind kinda has no choice - haha.  I know this is all true. I love you so much.  Happy Valentines Day!!!!!!!!!

Love,
Elder Mason Proctor

 

Sorry, no pictures this week as my cord is not working for the ipad.

This week was great! We had a mission conference with Elder Scott D. Whiting and after the conference with Elder Whiting I told my companion we are changing.  We are not using the "whitewashing" excuse as to why we are having difficulty in our new area (whitewashing is starting a new area).  That day we found a Pilipino family and an investigator named K--  So cool.  The Pilipino lady spoke Japanese for like 5 minutes then said I speak English and started laughing.  So funny.  I don't think they thought we were serious because the times we went to see them, they weren't there but tonight we are visiting them. 

 

Crazy coincidence.  A guy on the street was wearing a longhorn hat so I stopped and talked to him.  His daughter lives in Tyler?!?!?! of all places! His son is on a mission in Japan.  I asked him if he was a member and he said no.  I tried to set up time with him but he has obviously heard it.  What a crazy coincidence though.  We ran into a Jamaican man.  He was kind of bible bashing but he said he'll come to church.  This past week was stake conference so maybe next week he'll come.  Stake conference was awesome.  Exactly like ours except everything Japanese-haha you know: kids screaming, happy people and everything-haha.  We sang our mission song for the stake.  A lot of them cried.  They pulled out their phones and recorded too haha.  I read D&C 60:2-3 and it has helped me.  Don't waste what you have been given.  I have been speaking a lot more this week to everyone. 

 

Yesterday for the first time I got to quote the first vision to a man on the street.  Its so funny because I go from rudimentary Nihongo (Japanese) to high level flawless for 30 seconds then back to rudimentary haha.  He liked it though but said he is busy.  We found a former investigator.  I saw two kids on bikes and felt we should go to them .  We tried to catch up but couldn't so turned around.  When we walked back where we were a man ran up and he said are you the Mormons?!?!  I was like yea!  He has read the whole bible and Book of Mormon and studys a lot of religions.  He said Mormon is most correct haha.  So we are teaching him now.  He is like 65 and I can never understand old people but I can understand him.  I think Heavenly Father has something planned for us because I can understand him and he is the only old man I can. 

 

I love you all and know that you mean the world to me.  Ill send some pictures.  I went to the top of the Kisarazu monument this morning for exercise.  I love you!!!!  We get ipads on Wednesday!!!  Yoshi!!!!  Getting my stuff for it today. 

Love,

Elder Proctor
 

Tai Chi class in the park - cool!

 

 

Not much to talk about.  I was on the bus through Japan and spent a lot of time packing.  It snowed really bad in Niigata but now it is perfect weather here in Kisarazu.  In just the past few days my Japanese has improved a lot because I have no choice, since I am training - haha.  I have to.  My trainee, Elder Larm from Utah, only knows MTC Japanese which is a different language - haha.  He's 18 and young. Its funny seeing where I was 3 months ago - haha.  So I'm helping him and trying to focus on teaching him to focus on the Spirit and not Japanese because the Japanese will come.  Yesterday I gave my first blessing.  I did it in English for the anointing and a ward member blessed her.  It was the most amazing thing hearing it in Japaense.  Sounds so powerful and he was using super polite and humble Japanese that I couldn't make out.  SO amazing.  I taught home teaching for the first time and the same brother that did the blessing was with me.  He told the recent convert that she needs to build the spirit for herself.  The missionaries have it and that's how she could feel it so much before she was baptized.  Then he went on and on about how I had the Spirit and I just felt warm and privileged inside because the Japanese people look up to us so much because pretty much everyone is a convert. 

 

I blessed the sacrament in Japanese for the first time yesterday and that was cool.  I felt awesome.  In Sanjo a member almost cried when I left and I did haha.  I also said bye to I- our investigator.  The apartment I'm in now is tiny and we are crammed but I'm slowly becoming less stressed. 

 

Training comes with so much responsibility and I'm doing my best.  We whitewashed in too so we have no one and are starting from 0.  We can do it though.  We are a new area.  I love you all.  So cool that it snowed.  Thanks for your emails guys. I read them all and feel your love so much.  More next week, I love you!!!!!!

 

Love,

Elder Proctor

Elder Larm and Me - Getting set up in Kisarazu

Departing Sanjo - 2 great ward members They are sad that I am going I guess - lol

"Mary Had a Little Lamb, Little Lamb, Little, Lamb"

 

 

So first ill tell you about transfers.  Its pretty crazy.  I'm going as far south as possible.  To Kisarazu, Japan. (Click on Link to see where I am serving in Japan) That's not the crazy part though.  I'm training a brand new missionary.  Wow was that a shock to hear.  I'm going to a new area, with a new trainee.  Whitewash training.  That's not the craziest though.  I was setting my goals for next transfer this morning and I was a bout to be done.  I was about to pray but then I felt like I should make a goal to be a leader and live up to my potential.  Right as I wrote that the phone rang and they told me I would be training in a new area.  That goal was definitely guided by the Spirit.  All my other goals were about faith and diligence too so it all lumped into exactly what I needed.  I'm not going to lie, I'm super nervous, I can do all the gospel stuff, teach 12 week and I know what we are supposed to do, there is just the huge Japanese thing.  I literally have to be the one to lead. I have a chance to get a Nihonjin (Japanese) companion though.  But if I don't, its up to me.  I know that ill get help though.  Heavenly Father doesn't just leave us out there on our own.  Its going to be a crazy week moving 7 hours away through Japan but ill be settled next P-day.

 

I split with a 1st transfer missionary this week and we saw a cool miracle.  We were going to ride bikes but I felt like we shouldn't because it was dangerous so we didn't, then we were going to visit someone but I felt like we shouldn't because it wasn't effective so we didn't.  So we ended up walking past the church and the lights were on.  We walked in to turn them off and then a former investigator wandered into the church.  We talked to him and now the other elders are teaching him tomorrow.  Definitely always follow the Spirits promptings - - Always.  Also when we housed this lady we talked to her for like 10 minutes then I testified about families because she said no.  The trainee I was with said he felt the Spirit.  The lady ended up saying she has read the Seisho (bible) and hopefully she will develop interest.

 

At church yesterday I said my goodbyes.  One lady when we were taking a picture of all the missionaries she cried.  Sister T -  is her name.  They love the missionaries because that's where all of them came from gospel-wise.  No family.  Also, T- said I love you to me in English.  That ripped my heart.  We went to his house again on Pday last week and he showed us his Japanese swords.  then we looked at motorcycles with him at a store haha.  So yea ill miss him.  So cool because all the members were proud because I could finally talk to them after 2 transfers and they could learn who I was.  I lived in Sanjo Japan for almost 3 months.  Crazy.

 

I have pictures but I forgot the cord to send to the computer. sorry!  I'll send them next week.  I love you all!!  Also on splits this week I played blind soccer?!?!  These blind kids were awesome.  It was so hard.  They were so happy and it really made them feel good.  Then there was a legit adult practice after.  All of us wore blindfolds.  It was the weirdest thing ever playing blind soccer with Japanese men who weren't blind haha.  ill send pictures. People call me protector chourou sometimes by the way haha so funny.  I love you all.  Wish me luck and pray.  Its going to be a crazy week and I have to be a trainer now so I definitely will need the help of prayer.  Can't do this alone.  I love you!!!!!!!!!

 

Sincerely,

 

プロクター長老 (Elder Proctor)