松本が完全に凍っていますよ！ (Matsumoto is completely freezing!)

Japanese Nativity Scene, 19th century

Hey family! 

            Wow, well I thought things were cold before...this week has been FREEZING! (subject line is: Matsumoto is completely freezing!) It was -2 this morning and gets down really far at night. we had a good bit of snow and stuff and things are freezing solid. 
            This week went pretty well! I guess you already heard from Sister Baird, but we had the conference on Tuesday and all that good stuff...it was SUCH a good conference! President and Sister Baird and President and Sister Stevenson all gave talks, and I was able to learn so much! I conducted for the first session, and then I translated for Sister Baird during the afternoon session because the speakers would switch off and on from English to Japanese and back. I feel like we have been so blessed to have so many wonderful people come to visit our mission...Elder Chei, Elder Holland, Elder Rasband, Elder Stevenson...there is such a special spirit in the meetings when they are there!
            I guess another cool part of the conference was that I was able to see Elder Ogaki and hear how he`s been doing...it`s so strange to look back on things and see the difference that just eight months makes. We always had a good friendship, but it`s so neat to be able to communicate on even better level because of the things I`ve been able to learn in those eight months. 
            As for investigators, Otsuki we feel is doing good! He still has a sincere desire to work for receiving baptism, and we are doing everything to support and help him to accomplish that. We are still at a pretty low stage with investigators...we are really trying to build back our teaching pool and start getting things moving faster here...and that is something that I know will come as long as we keep working hard and follow the spirit. I feel the Lord`s love for the people here in Matsumoto and I know that there those who have been prepared for us, so we are just going to keep on searching for them! 
            I apologize for the short length of this e-mail...I spent more time than usual writing more individual e-mails and my letter to President Baird.  Hope you are all having a great week though, I love you so much! Two more weeks and we`ll get to talk to each other on the phone! :)

                                                                                                                                    -Elder Voss

Snow! Email 5 December 2011

This picture is from last year, when he was in Suwa, Japan. Matsumoto is looking similar right now!

Hey Family! 

          Well, this was a busy week! We had zone leader conference down in Nagoya, we had exchanges with the APs, and we had our first snow! It was actually while we were on our exchanges that it happened...we woke up on Friday morning as usual at 6:15 to find absolutely gigantic snow flakes falling steadily outside...we generally are outside running every morning, but that morning we had four people there so we decided to toss around a football amidst the snowflakes. It`s been getting steadily colder all the time...all the mountain tops around us are capped in snow, so it doesn`t really warm up that much in the day anymore. Never thought I would be in Nagano ken to see snow again...but here I am :) 
          Zone Leader conference was probably one of the best highlights of the week...Elder Brown, Elder Cruz, and I, are all zone leaders, and Elder Rust is one of the APs, so we were able to have everyone from our MTC room there at the conference. :) Hadn`t seen Elder Cruz since February, so that was great. Anyway, we were in the conference from 10 to 5 and it was awesome! I have always loved trainings that we have had with President Baird, but because there is only twelve zone leaders the meeting is a lot more close and personal. He is truly an AMAZING mission president. Every single time I have heard him talk I can just feel the spirit and power of his testimony. We all came away from that conference feeling like we had learned so much, and with a whole lot of fire for missionary work! As zone leaders we have been preparing a lot for a special zone conference that we will be having tomorrow morning. President Stevenson will be coming to speak to all of us :) President of the Asia North Area. I have been given the assignment to conduct the morning session, so that is something that I`m looking forward to/a little nervous about. haha. We will all be going down to Nagoya tonight to stay in other areas and then go to the Honbu in the morning. 
           As for things with investigators this week...Brother Otsuki is doing great! He has made huge progress this week, and even though we still haven`t been able to reschedule a baptism date with him, we feel that he is really doing well. We had somewhat of a surprise experience with someone that the shimai found while housing...they ran into a guy who after about five minutes talking with them said that he already believes in Jesus Christ and that he prays every day...oh and also that he would be very interested in learning more of what we have to hear! He wanted them to come in right then to start hearing our message. They told him that they would send us along to visit him, which we did that very day and had a great first lesson with him :) He is very interested in continuing to learn, but has such a crazy job schedule right now that he hasn`t had any time lately to even sleep, much less meet with anyone. We`re not really sure how we are going to pull off meeting with him a second time, but we exchanged phone numbers and have an appointment to call him this week. We`ll see what happens :) 
           I remember you asking about Christmas stuff...and I honestly can`t remember for the life of me if I ever answered...I think that the only things I can think of are shoes and hazelnuts...haha. That sounds like the weirdest Christmas request ever...but I think that would be awesome :) Well and of course getting to talk with all of you on the phone is a pretty big Christmas present all by itself!
           Anyway, I`d better run...but thank you for your e-mails! I didn`t really hear much of what was happening besides mom`s e-mail, but I hope you are all doing good! I also hope that those pictures that the honbu sent with that Christmas card aren`t too weird...there are some pretty odd ones floating around. haha. Have a great week, I love you!

                                                                                                    -Elder Voss

It's Almost December! Monday, November 28, 2011

Dear Family, 

         It`s almost December! Is that crazy or what?? This year has come and gone in the blink of an eye! I realized the other day, that in three weeks when we get to talk on the phone, there is a possibility of me being in the exact same area that I was seven months ago when we talked on Mother`s Day! THAT`S a pretty strange thought. Everyone here in Matsumoto (or rather, all the members in Nagano ken) are always talking about how unusual it is for someone to be here as long as I have...they are always like "Elder Voss, I`m happy that you didn`t transfer because we love having you here...but really, when ARE you going to transfer??" haha. I`m glad that I have had the opportunity to be here so long though...I feel like I know pretty much all the members in the zone, and have been able to meet so many amazing in that time. 
         This has been another good week! We had a great experience while we were housing on Tuesday night! Well, I say housing...but what we were doing was going out to contact referrals that we had gotten from the sisters, and then doing the 10X housing pattern that President Baird introduced to us. It was probably one of the more far out places that I have been to in Matsumoto, and it was absolutely FREEZING that night. We biked out to a place close to the biggest college in Matsumoto (which for some reason is out in the middle of nowhere) and discovered that the place we were supposed to contact was actually right next to a  Juvenile Delinquent center (not a terribly promising environment I know). In the end we actually weren`t able to contact the referral, but we started 10Xing and after about 20 minutes we ran into this woman named Ikeda. The whole apartment had kekkou boxes (intercoms) and so we were afraid that nobody would actually come out to talk with us because it was so cold, but started talking to her and asked if she could come to the genkan for a couple minutes so that we could share our message with her, which she readily agreed to! She came out and it ended up turning into us teaching three of the principles from the first lesson, giving her a book of mormon, and inviting her to read and pray to know if it is true...which she agreed to as well! :) It was awesome!  That whole experience reminded me a lot of when when we first housed into Miyake shimai in Toyota and almost the exact same thing happened. We are going to go back this next week for another lesson, and we have a really good feeling about her. We also found several other PIs in that same building, so we are going to visit them too when we go back.
           Otsuki is progressing really well! We have had a couple lessons with him this week, and he is really working hard to prepare for baptism. It might take a little more time for him, but we feel confident that with the desire that he has to be baptized and to be on the right path, that he will receive the help that he needs from Heavenly Father. 
           Probably one of the coolest things that we had happen was when President and Sister Baird came to do two firesides this weekend. It was mainly focused around the in-active members in our branch, and it was a huge success! In specifically there were two members, one who we have been meeting every week, and one who just randomly showed up at Eikaiwa this week, who benefited from it so much! They both haven`t been to church in a very very long time, but during that fireside President Baird asked if they would commit to come to church and be as active as they could for three months, and also take the steps necessary to prepare to go to the temple, which they agreed to. I think that a lot of the members were kind of doubtful how that would turn out, but on Sunday they came, dressed in suits, and ready to follow exactly what they had committed to do! They had a great time at church, and really seem like they are ready to follow President Baird`s counsel. 
          Anyway, there was a whole lot more to the week...but I`ve got to run! I hope that everything is going well back home! On a little side-note...we actually did get to have somewhat of a Thanksgiving celebration! We got a whole bunch of less-actives (who brought a lot of their non-member friends!) and had blast making big apple pies, which we ate with vanilla ice cream...sooooo delicious! We also followed the traditions that we had from back home by talking about the things that we are grateful for...which in turn really brought a great spirit to the whole activity, and we were able to introduce some of the basic things about the church to the non members there. Gotta run! I love you all, have a wonderful week!! :) 

                                                                                                                         -Elder Voss
         

Thanksgiving! (感謝際!) E-mail 21 November 2011

Dear Family,

             Hey!  Well, things are getting really cold here in Matsumoto! There have been a couple times when we have been freezing to our handlebars, but it`s been a really good week :) Otsuki came to church!! That is probably one of the most exciting things that we have had recently...he seemed to really like everyone there and was really impressed by the speakers. We did have a little bit of a issue come up with his baptism date for this next Sunday though. We introduced the Word of Wisdom to him a while back, and at that time he gave us the impression that he didn`t have any problem with keeping it, so we continued on with the lessons with the intention of reviewing it today and double checking just to be sure. Well, yesterday he talked with the branch president and it turns out that he actually does have some things that he will have to work through...so it might be a little longer before he is baptized. It definitely isn`t something that can`t be worked through though...we met with him today, talked over the word of wisdom, and he said that he wants to hang in there and work as much as he can to overcome those things...and that he really feels like this is where he needs to be going. We`re going to meet again with him on Saturday, and until that point he is going to work gradually to overcome those things one at a time. Despite the fact that his baptism is delayed for a bit, I feel that it is the best possible situation that it could be...and that his faith is just going to keep growing stronger and stronger. He is an amazing man, he really is. 
           We met with a couple other investigators this week...went out to do a service project for Yoshiya`s family again, and had some good lessons with others...but unfortunately I don`t have much time left at all. I guess to sum things up for this week...we are going to being having our first area district coordination meeting this week with all of the church leaders of Nagano ken on next Sunday, so that should be fun. I guess we have it once a month as zone leaders, and we just discuss all of things that will be happening with missionary work in the next month, and what we want to have happen. It feels so weird because I remember back in January when I first came to Nagano ken as a junior companion with Elder Kekauoha...and now almost a year later, I`m still in Nagano, but as a zone leader. Time flies. Actually, as zone leaders we had a bit of an exciting thing this week...I think I mentioned this before, but President Baird has recently been emphasizing on completely obeying the morning schedule down to the really little things. We have been working to help everyone so that they can accomplish that, and this past week we became the first zone in the mission to have everyone up at 6:15 instead of 6:30, and ready to go every morning! :) We were really excited about that...we feel that this zone is really feeling the blessings of that obedience. New investigators are showing up, current investigators are progressing, and everyone is feeling even more committed to the work! Really really exciting things to see :) 
             Thanks so much as always for your e-mails...sorry I can`t reply to more of them! I love all you guys so much, have a great week! The gospel is true! 

                                                                                                                                        -Elder Voss

Surprises, Surprises! Email, November 7

My dear family! 

             Hey!   Wow, well there have been a whole ton of surprises that have come with transfers! I...am actually staying for my sixth transfer in Matsumoto! Something that I was totally not expecting...but I` m excited for it! :) Other things that I was not expecting...I`m continuing as the district leader here...but I also became one of the Nagano zone leaders!  Elder Wilson (same one as back in the times of Toyota) is my new companion, and so we will be serving as zone leaders together here in Matsumoto! I`m wayy stoked about that! He is an absolutely awesome elder, and I`m so excited to see what we can accomplish with this next transfer together! Elder Numakura is transferring down to become a senior in a little place called Ogaki in the Nagoya area...kind of sad that we don`t get to be together for more than one transfer! He has actually been one of my favorite companions so far...I honestly have probably mentioned this before, but I swear that he reminds me so much of Michael Ridgell! Really similar personalities, so it`s been a ton of fun.  :) 
                
            Wow, well we are really running short on time today...things got kind of taken up with transfer stuff, but this week has been good though! I was pretty surprised that I will be here in Matsumoto for another transfer, but I have felt more and more strongly over the course of my mission that I will be sent exactly where I am needed the most...exactly where I can best help people come unto Christ.  We really have been doing all that we can to help our investigators this past week...it kind of turned out to be one of those tough weeks though where appointments fall through and people can`t meet. We were able to meet with Otsuki though and Abe...and we feel that they are progressing well! We had some great things with less-actives this week too! Nancy and Karen the American mother and daughter that haven`t been to church in about a year finally came to sacrament meeting yesterday! Everyone was so happy to see them, and I think they really felt the love and caring from all of the members. Really hopeful that this is the start of long lasting pattern! We were really just able to have a ton of lessons with less-active members this week...kind of following the pattern that we have had for the past transfer. I really feel that through strengthening all of the less-actives that we have been working with and having them come back to church and show everyone that they are not gone for good...that is what will light the dendo fire for all of the FF and other member missionary work here. Really excited to see the things that will be happening in Matsumoto over this next transfer! 
            I`ve gotta run, I`m sorry this was so short...I loved all your e-mails! It was great hearing how things are going! I love you all so much! Have a wonderful week, the gospel is true! 

                                                                                                                                        -Elder Voss

Mission work is the best! November 14, Email

Dear Family, 

            Hello!  This week has been awesome!  I would say that it is one of the best things ever to be paired off with a companion that is so close in dendo age to yourself. On top of that, it`s Elder Wilson, so that makes it even better. We have been working as hard as we can, and been having a ton of success and fun! We were able to meet with our investigators a fair  amount this week, and Otsuki is progressing so well! He prays every single time that we meet, for Heavenly Father to help so that he can be baptized. His faith and testimony of prayer is truly amazing to see! He worked really hard to be able to come to church this past Sunday, but in the end he wasn`t able to make it because his mom`s condition has recently become worse, and was relying on him more than usual to come and take care of her. Because of that, he doesn`t have a set baptism date, but he is so committed to being able to receive baptism, and we feel that when we meet with him next on Wednesday that we will be able to reset that date for sure.  He has expressed lately how much he appreciates and is thankful for the efforts that we make to meet with him and call him every night to see how he is doing...saying thank you for caring and worrying about how I`m doing, but honestly I just feel like we have so much more to be greatful towards him for. He is one of the most pure and genuine people that I have met here...in Japanese we say 純粋な人 (jyunsui na hito). He has just become so dedicated to the goal of preparing for baptism...it is awesome to see :) 
           We have also been able to meet with Yoshiya a couple times...and oh my gosh! I realized something way cool that I had never thought of before...his name, Yoshiya (良矢) means "Good Arrow" how cool is that?? I love Japanese kanji...there are so many cool meanings like that. Anyway, we were able to meet with him and finish teaching about the restoration and are now teaching about the plan of salvation. It`s amazing because he already believes in so many of the things that we teach...he is so ready to receive this gospel!  He just needs to feel that this gospel is the path he needs to take...from all that he says, it has everything that he is looking for :) We also were able to meet with Nakatou and the brazilian Shotoku family...they`re doing good, and we`re hoping to be able to meet with them again soon! 
       Actually this week we had another really cool experience with our in-active members! Nancy and Karen Nakajima came to church again (the two American members)...but this time they didn`t just bring themselves, they brought another in-active member along with them, who we have been trying to contact for months! He came and participated in Sacrament Meeting and the branch meal that we had after church and seemed to have a pretty good time. We invited him to the sports night that we are having on the 25th of this month and he is planning on coming :) We are continuing to work with the other in-actives that we`ve been seeing lately, and have set a goal with one of them to have an interview with the branch president to prepare for receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood and entering the temple! Really excited for him :) Things are also going really well in preparation for the fireside that we will be having with President and Sister Baird on the 26th...the branch has created awesome fliers for it and are passing it out to all of the less-actives, so we are hoping to have a pretty big turn out :)
         Responsibilities as zone leader have been pretty interesting! In the end I actually am not going to be the district leader as well, so that is kind of a relief! Would`ve been fun I`m sure, but I think one at a time is good. Along with coordinating a lot more with the branch and district presidencies of Nagano ken, we talk a lot more with the APs and report all of the zone`s stats and that kind of stuff every Monday morning. It`s actually way fun because Elder Rust (the one that I was in the same room with in the MTC) just became one of the APs, so I get to hear from him more. Everyone is staying genki, Elder Shade and Sister West, the two bean chans, are adjusting quickly to things here in Nagano, and everyone`s dendo fire is up! :) Elder Skankey up in Ina is actually the new district leader, and we have been combined with Suwa...so every district meeting on Friday is almost the size of a zone conference! Lot of fun to see everyone more often though.
          Anyway, I think that I had better run here pretty quick...not a whole lot of time left...but I love all of you guys! Thanks as always for your e-mails and support...you mean the world to me :) Have a great week! 

                                                                                                                                       -Elder Voss

Monday, 31 October 2011, Email

Hello everybody!  ごめん、今日短くしないと行けない!　

          Well,  actually the title says "sorry, I have to make it short today"...time is pretty gone for e-mailing this p-day :P This has been a good enough week I guess! A lot of things that we were hoping to have happen fell through, but there were a lot of good things that happened too. We were able to meet twice with Otsuki, and he is definitely progressing really well! Despite the efforts that we made to help him come to church though, he wasn`t able to make it because he still goes every Sunday to spend time with his mom. We have daily contact with him though, and are meeting regularly...we are just going to keep working and praying hard that he can overcome that issue. 
         We were able to meet with Yoshiya as well, but weren`t able to have an official lesson...we did a service project with him and his family though, and were able to have some good discussions on gospel topics such as The Word of Wisdom. We have a lesson appointment scheduled for this Tuesday, so we are hoping to make a lot of progress with him then.
          The biggest success of this week was probably the Halloween Party and Dendo Fireside that we had. Now, just to make that clear...those were separate events, but they were both a lot of fun. ;) However, as unlikely as I might have thought it would be...we did manage to share a spiritual message before the party began. We all gathered in the chapel, sang an opening hymn and had a prayer...and then the shimai shared a message about in this church we really feel that families are important and that through the activities that we have, they can be strengthened. It was pretty cool :) A lot of in-active members came, as well as some non-members too. All in all, a really good success I feel. 
          We had been preparing a lot for the dendo fireside that we had on Sunday, and were feeling pretty nervous about the whole thing leading up to it...but it turned out really well! Elder and Sister Matsuhashi started it off by explaining and testifying about the revelations regarding Japan, and then the four of us younger missionaries took turns explaining each of the four sources for the pool of propinquity. From the things that we heard afterward, everyone seemed to come away with a good impression, and excitement for being a part of finding the people being prepared here in Matsumoto. I felt a certain air of excitment too as we explained those finding methods to everyone...felt the potential of having everyone involved and working with us on these things. That is definitely what is going to make the difference...getting everyone in the branch working right along side us  in our finding efforts. That`s of course a goal that has been strived for for a very long time...but I really feel that through the fireside that we had, and the ones that we will have in the next few weeks...we made a big step in the right direction for that.
          I guess another fun little experience was that Elder and Sister Bingham from Nagano made a surprise visit to our branch on Sunday, and they gave talks in Sacrament meeting which actually fit perfectly with the theme of our fireside. They talked about trusting the missionaries and working together with them to accomplish the Lord`s purposes here. Neither of them speak enough Japanese for a ten minute talk, so I stood up there at the podium with them to translate for the congregation...probably still one of the more awkward feelings I have experienced. 
          Transfers are already here this next Monday, and so we`ll see what happens! Until then, have a wonderful week...I hope everyone is doing well! Love you! 

                                                                                                                                     -Elder Voss