In the Year Of Our Lord Two Thousand and Seventeen (Week 16)

皆さんこんにちは! Hope everyone had a great week because it was great here in Japan. This past week has been incredibly busy for the missionaries and for everyone else. So basically, Japan sorta celebrates Christmas, but Shogatsu (New Years) is the big one. Everyone goes back to their hometowns for a week or two and spends time with their family partying it up. Because of this special holiday season, the church members here in Fujisawa have been feeling particularly generous and have been feeding the missionaries a ton. We have had at least one shokuji (meal with a member)everyday for the past week but most days we had two shokuji. Because of all the time spent with members, traveling back and forth, and preparing for the new year, we haven't had much dendo (basic missionary work i.e. streeting, housing, etc.) time though which was kinda a bummer. In top of that, our investigators are out of town with their families so we haven't really been able to work with them either. But, this has been valuable time to get to know the member and build that relationship.

Because Japan is the land of the rising sun, technically, we were the first to people in the world to experience 2017. In your face America! This year begins what missionaries call the "dark year" for me. Basically it's the year on a mission that missionary doesn't see his family. 2017 will be that year for me. Family and friends have always been very important to me so it has been hard to leave them behind for two years. But, at this time in my life, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I'm still a pretty new missionary, but this mission experience has changed me like nothing else. I have been able to gain a stronger testimony, learn several life skills, and meet some amazing people. The mission has definitely been the hardest thing I've done, but it has also been one of the most rewarding. I am beyond grateful for the love and support from my friends and family who made this mission experience possible for me. I am doing my best to make the most of every moment! Working hard and playing hard. Time flies when your having fun, so if time isn't flying for you, you're doing it
wrong! 皆さん愛しています!

サドラー長老