Lost, but now is found - Letter to Mom - 7 June, 2015

Hey mom!! :)

How was your camp with all of the Young Women this past week? I was praying for you, and I hope that everything went well. :) <3 Let me know all about it, okay? Is there anything else that I can do for you? You are the best mom ever, just so that you know. :) <3

This last week was pretty normal, but with a lot of really cool little miracles. One of the best parts was that I got to go on splits with Elder Blanchard, one of the assistants. He is super super cool! He and I have become really really good friends since I have moved to Kichijoji, so it was just so great to spend splits with him. :) He is super humble, and so nice. He is from Idaho, and we had a blast. We got to go and teach a guy from Vietnam. He was really cool, but talking to him was a little bit of a struggle. He is studying Japanese right now, but his Japanese level is a little bit lower than ours, and as far as church words go he knows absolutely nothing. So, that was hard. But it was a really cool experience, and thanks to google translate we were even able to teach a little bit about church. :) haha

One of the highlights this last week was talking to this man named Akihiro. :) He is super cool. He speaks fluent English. I don't know if I talked about him last week, but he grew up for about 5 years in London. I will say, it is really strange to hear a Japanese man speak English fluently......with a British accent. :) haha Kind of an interesting experience. But he really really wants to know what we believe, on all sorts of subjects. :) So much fun. We are working on meeting up with him actually, because the last two lessons have been.....wait for it.....over the phone! Or on FaceTime, for one of the times. Crazy, huh? I love how the Lord is using technology to move the work forward. It is such an incredible opportunity to be here and using it.

The other highlight of the week was for sure talking to and meeting up with Ryojiro. I believe that I mentioned him over a month ago. He is super great. But we lost contact with him completely. We have not been able to call him for about a month. But, we know where he works, so we went and asked them when he was going to work next, and then met up with him yesterday while he was working! haha (As a random side note, I feel that the world's most professional stalkers are and will forever be missionaries. We do everything that we can to know everything that we can about people. Crazy huh? :) haha so funny when you stop and think about it). He was lost! But now he is found again. I am amazed by his faith. He is still reading from the Book of Mormon! Usually it is just a little bit here and there, not super consistently all the way through yet, but we were able to set up an appointment to meet with him on this coming Wednesday and to read 2 Nephi 31 with him. We are hopefully going to be able to set a baptismal date with him and help him to understand what needs to be done in order for him to progress towards baptism. He is super open though, so I am not too worried. :)

Another person that we are helping right now (he is technically the other Elder's investigator) is a man named Yutaro. He is so cool. He is 23....? I think. haha Right now he is working super super hard to study for a test that he has this coming Saturday and Sunday. Please please pray for him. He is so stressed, because it is the test that decides his entire future. So, obviously no pressure there, right? haha he is one of about 10,000 people that are going to take this test to enter the program that enables you to someday become the ambassador for Japan. Only 44 of those people gets to do it. So, please, pray for him. He is super nervous. We are doing all that we can to help and support him. And he really wants to be baptized! The only reason that he hasn't been baptized yet is his test. After he finishes it he will be able to focus more, and not have to take practice tests on Sunday. He is also really good at English, though.

One thing that I have definitely learned on my mission that I believe is true for all callings in the church is that it is always about people. We are not called on missions to become really good teachers, or really good proselyters, etc. We are called on missions to help other people. We are called to help them come unto Christ, who ultimately is the only one that can help them return to their Father in Heaven. We are called here to be converted so deeply unto Christ that nothing can tear us away from that. I honestly believe that is one of the main purposes of a mission. The Lord needs people who are converted, not just have a testimony (for interesting study, study the difference between the two of those. I believe you already know it, but it is always good to learn things again). I want you to know that i know this church is true. I know that Christ is our Savior. God is our loving Heavenly Father. He loves us so much that He sent us to earth and gave us trials. He loves us so much that He provided a way for us to overcome our trials. He loves us so much that when we falter and fall, He is always there to pick us back up. He loves us so much. I testify that what I wrote is true. Never forget that.

I do have one thing I need to apologize for. This past week was really bad with pictures and videos, and we totally forgot to take any......so I will try to remember and send a ton next week, okay??! I love you so much, Mom! I hope that things are going well with everyone there at home. Let me know how your health, the girls' health, etc. are doing as well. Take care of the girls, Ammon and Audge, Kaitlyn and Sam and their little rugrat, and Jenna for me. And Dad. He needs taking care of too. ;D haha I love you!!!

Love, Elder Livingston

But we have more videos!! - 2 June, 2015

Remember the pillow case with little suggestions?  Here are more videos based on those phrases.

Be Happy!

Cover your mouth

Don't talk with your mouth full

Don't jaywalk

Lock your door

Take your vitamins

Pictures this week - 2 June, 2015

The Hotta Family (they lived in Traverse Mountain)

Elder Livingston and Elder Leftwich at the Temple

Elders Leftwich and Livingston by a dinosaur statue

Onward! The work must move forward!

I ALMOST Become a Model - Letter to Mom - 2 June, 2015

Dear Mom,

How are you?? I don't know if you will get this before or after you leave for Young Women's camp, but if it is before then please know that I love you and I will be praying for you. Do not worry. The Lord has a better plan than any of us could have. :) So, whatever happens at camp will be exactly what needs to happen. I honestly actually thing that if you do end up getting sick there that it will be a huge defining moment in a lot of the girl's lives as they get to see the grace and poise that a queen like you has in spite of the trials that buffet around every side of you. (That was probably the most complex, beautiful English that I have written in a long time! hahaha)  Also, it will give them an opportunity to serve you. So, don't worry. :) :)

I was so glad to get all of your emails and such. I love it when those come in before I email, so it was really really nice to have Temple P-day and get all of those! That is the best. :) I also had an absolutely incredible time at the temple!! it is such a spiritually refreshing place, and I realized today again how much I love the Spirit, and how empty it feels when it is gone. Always live worthy of the Spirit. It is worth any sacrifice in the entire world. :) I know that you have it though. Because you always made sure that it was in our home. That is one of the most incredible things to see as a look back on growing up, just how much you had the Spirit in our home. It definitely set the mood for everything, and it is something that I want to establish in my home as well some day. Thanks for that amazing example, Mom!! <3

So, we have this really cool Eikaiwa student (English Class) who is named Asato. He is so great. He is about 19 years old and is studying.....fashion design!! Actually not uncommon, even for guys in Japan. One of our ward members is a really good fashion designer and actually makes all of his wife's clothes. He is super cool. But, anyway, we got to go out to dinner with him last night, and to talk about his life and his dreams, and we talked about another English program that we do that is half English, one on one, and half about the gospel! He said that he had tons of interest!! We are so excited to start those lessons with him. I also think that it will really help him come closer to his dreams and to religion. He is non-religious, and he really really wants to study fashion in England, so he has to know English. We are going to help him with both! He doesn't have a huge interest in religion right now, so we have to help him along slowly. He also asked us to do some modeling for him.....we decided it might not be the most appropriate missionary activity. ;D haha

Let me explain a little bit about helping Japanese people become converted, in the way that President Wada would. First, you have most Japanese people. They are non-religious. Most of them will tell you that they are Buddhist, but that is more of a cultural thing to 99% of people than an actual religion. And then there is the 1% that are religious with it. Haha. But anyway, there are about 3-4 steps that they have to go through. This is part of why Japan is not just booming with baptisms yet....yet. ;D haha They have to first become religious. That entails thinking about deeper things like God and life after death, etc. This is the first step, and probably one of the hardest. It is hard to explain why God is important to someone who believes in only their own self, and in money and things like that. The next step that they have to go through is going from just religious to becoming Christian. That is another big step, because it involves belief in Jesus Christ specifically, and starting to act a little bit on the things that they believe. And then lastly they have to take the step from just Christian to being members of the Church. That is one of the harder ones too. It is fairly simple to just be Christian. You don't have to do much with it. You just proclaim that you are Christian in much of the world. But to really be an active Latter-Day Saint, you have to work, and you have to serve, and you have to DO things. That is a big change. But, we are helping them move slowly towards Christ, which is really what missions are all about.

But it is not impossible. I love Alma chapter 5. It is a very good check on whether or not we are converted. If you ever want to go through and get your conversion to "level up" then I suggest you go through and read that. I love that conversion is a never-ending process. That makes it so much more fun. :) I challenge you to make sure that your personal conversion does not go stagnant. I love you so much, Mom!! :) :) <3 Make this week at camp one of the best weeks ever, okay?! I love you!!!

Love, Elder Livingston :)

Throwing in the Towel - Letter to Dad - 2 June, 2015

Hey Dad!

I am so proud of you for all of the hard work that you have been doing! Don't worry, the Lord will direct your paths for good, and He will always make sure to help you. Just remember, if you don't feel like you are hearing His voice guide you as to where you need to go 1) either repent and try again (repent anyway, we all need to! haha) or 2) He trusts you to make this decision, and He will stop you before you do anything wrong if He leaves it up to you. So don't worry. i will completely back you up and support you in anything that you choose, and I know that Mom and the girls are the same way. Don't worry, and don't stress. :)

I am way jealous that you get to start using the Apple Watch!! I really wish that I could see what it does and to have one of my own.....someday. :) haha I am excited to see just how powerful of machines they are, and how well they will be integrated into normal life. Also, how fragile are they? I feel like often Apple products are notorious for how fragile they are, and the watch seemed to be no exception in the pictures that you sent. I am curious. Send me some of your personal thoughts and specs and pictures when you get it!!

I need to throw away my towels! haha You know the microfiber ones that you got me? They are incredible as far as packing and drying goes, but they STINK so so badly! So, I will be throwing those in and getting new ones soon. :) That is all I meant by the title hahaha :) Don't worry, I am definitely not going to throw in the towel. :)

I loved going to the temple today. I had a really cool experience when I was in the Celestial Room. I think that all I should share about it is that I felt, very strongly, that Grandma LuJean was with me. I love her so much. Remember to thank Heavenly Father in your prayers for her with me tonight, okay? It was really cool. :) Make sure that you go to the temple often, okay?! How often are you going to the temple right now? I feel so blessed that we live so so close to so many temples. Make sure you don't take it for granted. Go as much as you can! I can't wait to go with you again, and to go with you someday in the Tokyo temple. That should be on our bucket lists, okay? I think so. :)

I hope that Mom's health improves soon! I am so sorry that things are still rough as far as health goes. I really hope that everyone gets feeling better soon. We really can not catch a break, huh? haha I know that as we continue to learn and to grow, though, we will come closer and closer to the answer, even if the answer is just, "Be patient and wait for the second coming." haha I don't like that answer as much as actually finding a way to help them, but it is okay. We just need to trust the Lord.

Cherish the time that you get to be with Britta this week. Let her know that I love her a lot! Is she reading her Book of Mormon? If she isn't have her email me. I have some really cool ideas and things that I could do to help her. I just want her to know how important that is, as well as how much I love her! I am actually really really jealous that she is going to take tennis lessons. There are SO many people in Japan who love to play tennis. It is such an incredibly graceful sport, and at the same time so brutal, due to length and things like that. It is also quite a workout, as well as a very mental game. So, I think she will do fantastic. She is super athletic, and has a very very smart mind. Let her know she is the bomb. :)

I hope that things continue to go well with all of the developing of the game that you are making. When do you think that you will be able to release? Is there anything that I can do to help? Send inspiring quotes, and things like that? haha

Oh, in regards to Mom's question about the CD that Carmen is going to give you, it would be best if I could get it digitally, even if it is broken up into segments. Then I can use it with my iPad as I go throughout the day to let people know some of the things that I did, as well as listen to it in the apartment when we are working out, eating, and doing things like that.

I hope that you have a fantastic week, and that Mom and Quinci return home safely! Speaking of which, we actually had a pretty big earthquake here the other day. I have felt quite a few since being here in Japan, but yesterday was definitely the biggest one that I have felt in my whole life. The whole entire house shook. It originated in the ocean as an 8.5 earthquake or so, and we definitely felt it's waves! Anyway, I love you so much, and wish you the best!! :) :)

Love ya!

Love, Elder Livingston

Pictures this week - 25 May, 2015

An old brick building in Yokohama that survived the Kanto earthquake

Very busy and famous crosswalk

Elders Livingston and Leftwich with a unique perspective of the ceiling

A dog statue

Elders Livingston and Leftwich selfie

Elders in front of the old brick building

Ferris wheel in Yokohama

Kichijoji missionaries and Elma (who was baptized 23 May, 2015)

Leftwich and Livingston again

Nissan showroom (Nissan GTR)

WWII Ship in Yokohama Bay

Yokohama Bridge

Selfie in front of Yokohama Bridge

Yokohama Skyline

Yokohama Skyline with elder Livingston

But we have videos! - 25 May, 2015

So, we were looking at the pillowcase that you sent me and decided that all of the items, if read with different intonation, create humorous orders, or ironic things due to the Japanese culture. So we decided to make a video series based off of their alternate meanings. 

"Read your scriptures."

This one is also important "Button your coat."