A trip to Yokohama by way of Memory Lane - Letter to Mom - 25 May, 2015

Hey mom!!

How are you doing? Sorry that this is coming a little bit later than it usually does. This whole transfer will probably be a little more like this. There is an Elder Young in our apartment who is on his last transfer and wants to travel to his previous areas and see some cool sights so we are going to do that. Also, heads up, next week is the temple! We had to get our day moved do due construction so it is earlier than usual. So I will write a day later next week. :)

So the first place that Elder Young wanted to go was to Yokohama! :D He served in the area that had Yokohama proper for about 8 months, so it was so good for him too and see a bunch of cool places. He showed us some INCREDIBLE things, and we got some super good pictures. (Speaking of which, I have taken a TON of pictures since last Monday. I think you'll be happy :) ). It was also very nostalgic for me since I loved to go and visit Yokohama when I was in Hodogaya. Today was very busy, but also a very good day. We have walked about 5 Kilometers since we have been here. :) haha We got to see things like Yokohama Bay, really good views, and the Nissan car center. It was way cool. But, I also need to recap this week!

I went to a BYU symphony while I was on my mission. Haha the Area presidency approved it so we got to go outside of the mission (by about 5 minutes) and get home past normal curfew. The show was absolutely incredible, and our friend (he doesn't want to learn about gospel stuff yet, but wants to be our friends and just ask his sister about the gospel) had a super good time. His name is Yodai. It was super fun, and just a good experience. After that, we got doughnuts on the way home! There is a doughnut factory that is only open after 10, so his was the absolute only time on our missions that we could get it

without breaking the rules. Because it was totally open when we were on our way home. So we got those and they were way good!

After that Elder Leftwich and I have had a pretty normal week. We got to go to the district meetings of all of the districts in our zone, like normal, but it was fun to see how the new groups of Elders and Sisters were jelling together. It was great. I love working with Elder Leftwich. He is a great man, and is a super good leader. He is actually a part of the Air Force! Which I think is way cool. He is a bold, friendly guy who loves talking to everybody on the streets, in parks, and on trains as much as you can. Which is so good.

One of the people that I want to share about is Yutaro. He is an investigator that is in Kichijoji B (the other Kichijoji Elders) area, but Elder Leftwich is his best friend because he used to teach him. So we may get his records soon so that we can continue to help him progress. He is having a really hard time getting baptized because of friends and a girlfriend that are opposed to the church. It has been really hard for him. They basically said, "The church or us." And that

has been so hard for him. It has made me think a lot about how easy I have had it in my life. I have never had to worry about having support in following the gospel. I thank you so so so much for your example, Mom. :) <3 you always did what was right, not what was popular. Which I think is so cool. It can often be hard to stand out and up for the things that you believe in, but I have a firm testimony that when we please God, not man, we will always be okay. I have also realized just how common the sin of fearing man more than God is. All of us do it in one way or another. It is linked directly with pride. And as such, it completely dies when we have charity. If we feel a prompting to call someone and invite them to church, but worry that they will think we are weird, we are fearing man more than God. But with charity, we invite them because we love them. When we don't leave the movie theater, or ask our friends to switch the movie/music/conversation, we are fearing man more than God. But with charity, we ask them because we know it will bless them. I plead with you to always fear God more than man. When we do, we receive more blessings than we could ever know. :)

And with that note, I have one request. Do all that you can to take Quinci on Trek with you. Those are precious memories and experiences that she will never forget. Of course, follow the Spirit with this, but don't just rule her out because it might be hard. It wasn't easy for them either. I promise that as you pray you will know what to do. :) <3

I hope that the medicine is helping! I am sorry that you have continued to be sick, along with the girls. That is no fun at all. :P I wish that I could be there to help you, but I know that the Lord will take care of you.

Lastly, don't worry about me, or about me focusing. :) you have seemed particularly worried about that in your last emails, and I want you to know that I will always do what the Lord wants me to. I will be focused on His work, and help Him as much as I can. :) And part of that work is not forgetting you guys. Don't worry, I am doing the things and fulfilling the work that I need to do here. I actually just had the Spirit confirm that to me again today.

I love you so much, Mom, and I hope that you get feeling even better soon! I love you infinity infinities!

Love, Elder Livingston

School - Letter to Dad - 25 May, 2015

Hey Dad!

How are you? By the way, I forgot to say, but please please let Spencer and Cameron know that I am so proud of them, and that they will love their missions. I am also happy for Megan that she will be married soon, and it is so crazy that Jared gets back really really soon. It has been different as a zone leader, and I love what you said that there are a lot of different ways that the Lord asks us to serve. I have felt that a lot as a zone leader. There are many times that you

just don't have the amount of time that you would like to go out and talk to people, or have lessons, because you have to plan things, email people, or go to various meetings. But at the same time, it is good. I honestly feel like a big part of what I am meant to do on my mission has to do with the missionaries I serve with, not just the investigators that I help. It is an aspect of missionary work that I didn't really think about before I came on my mission.

I am glad things are coming well with the apps that you are working on. I pray that they will continue to go well and that you can see your business take off. :) I know that it probably is not easy, but I can promise that as you work hard and learn and grow you will gain so much valuable experience, the vast majority of which should be the experience of relying on the Lord. :)

So, for some funny news this past week....my English is suffering! Haha I have had so many mistakes, and I am sure that my emails are riddled with them as well (partly due to auto-correct I hope). :) haha despite that, I feel like my Japanese has not actually been progressing that much lately. So, with that in mind, I took the opportunity in one of my language studies to develop a system that I think should help me to learn it a lot better, especially because it includes spaced reviews.

So, I was in Yokohama today and I couldn't help thinking about how famous of a tourist spot it was, and wondering what your current thoughts are concerning the trip that you would like to make at the end of my mission! I also was thinking about it and I believe that the new mission president thing will not be a problem, as long as I go home at the same time as President Wada, which is what one of the new AP's thinks. :) I am actually really happy about that. I didn't really want a new mission president for just a couple of weeks. However, no matter what happens I know that the Lord is in charge. So, what are your thoughts? Also, you mentioned you got a cool book about Japan for Christmas, right? What kinds of things did it have in it?

One thing that I want to talk about now is Japanese culture in regards to schools. They are so crazy. Half good, half bad I think haha :). They definitely know how to work. I can say for sure that they know how to study much much better than anyone I ever knew in high school. They can literally study all day long for weeks at a time. Which is a good and a bad thing. I feel so bad for the students because of how stressed they get and how much they have to do. It is really like having a job. A Japanese job, which means you work a lot more than American labor laws says you should. It is sad in so many ways just how long of hours they have to work. But, they are also one of the hardest working nations in the world in my opinion, which is very commendable. One thing that a member said yesterday that stuck out to me, that I didn't think about, was that when he was on his mission and he had a foreign companion, they knew what they wanted to study in school, what they wanted to do for a job, what he wanted for a family, etc. like he just knew exactly how he wanted his future to go. And it stuck out to him that all foreigners were like that, at least Americans, but that Japanese people were not. So, my challenge to you is to always have that dream. It is a drive that really gave birth to American innovation. It is what pushes us to be better in so many ways. It is what turns a job into a lifetime enjoyable activity that you conveniently get payed for. :) haha always keep that dream, Dad. I think that you have always had that, and it has been a good example to me. I look up to you and how hard you have worked in your life. Never forget your dreams. :)

I know that the Lord is watching over you and our family. Trust Him. Sometimes that is easier said and done, and I can definitely testify to that. But never ever give up on Him, or leave Him. Because He has never given up on you, or left you, no matter how many mistakes you have made. I testify that He lives and love you. I love you so much, Dad. :) keep being amazing!

Love,

Elder Livingston

Long Time No See - Letter to Dad - 17 May, 2015

Hey Dad!!

Sorry that I didn't get to email you last week. It was kind of a crazy day, with going to the temple, eating a huge hamburger (it had cherries on it, and it was so good!!), and then trying to fit in emails and shopping and stuff with what was left in the day. But, I have plenty of time this week, so that is good. :)

Anyway, this last week was so good! I absolutely loved seeing all of you. You all looked so great, and Emmett was absolutely adorable! :) It blew me away just how grown up he is. That is honestly one of the things that I am saddest about missing. But, I am so glad that I got to see a little tiny bit of his amazing, fun personality on the FaceTime call. Make sure to send a lot of videos of him for me!! :)

I am glad to hear that the tip app is coming along well! Has your apple watch come yet? When do those officially come out? What are some of the things that you are most excited to do with these new watches? What exactly can they do? I am excited to see just where technology will be when I get home. I have a feeling that things are going to be bafflingly amazing when I get home. :) haha I guess I will see quite a bit of the stuff that changes being here in Japan though.

Dad. You have to find out/hear/be enlightened about one of the most amazing types of restaurants ever. :) It is called Yakiniku. It literally translates to cook meat. :) haha basically you pay for an hour to ninety minutes of all you can eat. And then you go and load up your plate with....raw meat. :O Yep. Raw meat. And you cook it on a grill that is in front of you. :) it is so amazing and it tastes so so so good. If you come, you really have to get some. It's amazing. :)

Dad, thanks for everything! And thanks for your email! I love you so much, Dad!! Don't forget that!

I love you!!

Elder Livingston

P.S. What can I do for you? Anything? Love ya!

Time Flies - Letter to Mom - 17 May, 2015

Hey mom!

How are you doing? Can you believe it has already been a week since we talked over FaceTime? I can't! haha It went so insanely fast! Also, guess what? The transfer is already over. I am now a transfer 7 missionary! :) haha Also, transfer calls came! And..........I am staying in Kichijoji as a Zone Leader with Elder Leftwich as my companion, the one that you saw first on FaceTime. Crazy huh? It is going to be so fun, and I really look forward to working with him.

How are things going on at home? How is everybody's health holding up? Hey! The girls get out of school in just two or three weeks, huh? When is the last day of school this year? Is it in June? That would be no fun. ;P haha

So, let's see what I can update you on this week.....Oh! We had zone meeting. :) This was my second one as a zone leader, so Elder Scott made me organize it all this time. It was way fun, and I loved doing it! I got to do a training on preparation using the Book of Mormon to teach it. It is all about Captain Moroni and how he prepared the people and the cities against the Lamanites, and all of the things that he did right. It was so fun to teach. It went really really well, and I absolutely loved doing it. :) <3 It made me realize just how important preparation is, and planning. It is probably the presentation that I have prepared for most on my mission and in the church, and it was incredible how much more I felt the Spirit when I felt prepared compared to when I just tried to slap something together really fast. So, what do we learn from this? We learn that preparation brings blessings, particularly the Spirit confirming to you that it is going to all work out. No plan is a plan to fail. (Read it again. There are two different meanings depending on how you choose your intonation). Also, the Spirit will never let us down if we do all that we can to repent and come closer to Christ. I want to testify of that as well. I am so grateful for the opportunity to repent every single day. Just think, because of the sacrifice of our Brother, Jesus Christ, we can become [clean] literally every single day of our lives. To me, that is amazing. I would not trade that for anything. :) :)

Love is such a powerful thing. I think of the people that I meet here, and how quickly I come to love them, and it astounds me. I think that is one of the miracles of missionary work. What other work can take 18-25 (usually) year olds and make it so that they unconditionally love a people that sometimes completely ignore them? I think that is incredible. I have felt it so many times where I meet a new Young Adult guy who moves into the ward, and instantly I feel connected to him and love him. I have met random people on the street that I love instantly, even if they completely rejected me and treated me like dirt. I love the companions that I have served with so much, and it is always sad to have to split away from them, even if you only knew them for six weeks. Love is incredible. It allows you to see peoples faults, and completely ignore them, because they are not what defines a person. Love allows us to go beyond the natural man, which would bring others down, and lift them up so that they know that God loves them. Love allows us to become more like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for love. I love you so much, Mom!! You are an incredible example. :)

So, guess what I get to do tonight? I get to go and see the BYU Symphony perform! ;D haha We are taking one of our potential investigators (hopefully an investigator as well) and going. It is actually outside of our mission boundaries so don't tell President Wada.......just kidding. ;D haha We have permission and everything from the Area Presidency since it is literally a 5-10 minute bike ride out of our area. I am so excited, and the music that they have lined up is going to be absolutely incredible!!! :)

Mom, I feel like I have thanked you for this before, but thank you for making sure that I always took piano, and stuck through it. I am so glad that you helped me when I hit my limit at about 11 years old. I never did progress from there. ;D haha I play every week in Priesthood, and I also get to play for ward choir, so it is a blast. There is actually another Christian Choir (a bunch of different sects) that practices here every once in a while, and they want me to play for them too, so that will be a good missionary opportunity when they are here! Overall I am just so so grateful that you helped me to do that. It is so important. :) Always help your talents improve. That is way important.

Well, I wish you the best of luck with your YW camp coming up soon! Is there anything that I can do to help you? I hope that you had a good Mother's Day. :) What did you get? Did you do anything fun? I want to hear all of the details. I love you so much, and I miss you, Mom! You are incredible! Also, your haircut really did look beautiful. :)

Thanks for everything! I LOVE YOU!!!!

Love infinity infinities,

Elder Livingston

Pictures this week - 12 May, 2015

BBQ in Japan

Elders having fun!!

Kichijoji Missionaries

Sister Law selfie with Elders Leftwich and Livingston

WOW - Letter to Mom - 12 May, 2015

Hey Mom!

Wow. I got to see you today. It was SO great to see you! I will admit though, that since we went to the temple I do not have as much time to write. This may be pretty short since we talked today. :) it was so good to see your smiling face! I love you so much. :)

So, today I had a way good day at the temple. I love it so much. I want to testify that the temple is a place of power and that the Spirit is incredibly strong there. :) I love it. I challenge you to make sure and go at least once a month. :) Also, do all that you can to take questions with you so that you can have the Spirit teach you in an even more personal way. :) I love it, and I wish I could go to the temple here with all of you! Maybe someday. :)

I also got to go and buy another jersey! Which is why you may notice there was money drawn out today. This is the jersey that I wanted for this area. It is the Japan national jersey that they had in the World Cup. It is so sweet. I'll send you some pictures later.

All in all the best part of today was seeing my very own family all together. I love you all :) I also heard there is a video of Emmett doing sit-ups and counting one two three! Haha I would love to see it. ;) I love you so much, Mom! Sorry this is so short! I hope that you had a good Mother's Day. :) you are the best mom in the universe.

Love, Tanner

Pictures this week - 4 May, 2015

Tanner loves elder Scott

Playing soccer #1

Soccer #2

Soccer and peace (two important principles)

Soccer in action