Alive and Happy

Hullo, uvrybuddy

Takatsuki has seen another week and we're all alive and happy. I have an inflamed knee from running and playing basketball (half-court, following the handbook). President and Sister Welch dropped by to give me some Real American Drugs™ (just regular Ibuprofen) to help me get better. That's how awesome my mission president is.

We did a lot of service this week as well. We normally help some devoted volunteers clean up a special garden, supposed to be part of an ancient Christian samurai's castle. This week, however, we also went to a care center for old people. Playing with old people is a lot more fun than you'd think. Other than that, we had a pretty good District Meeting and just good old talking to a whole lot of people on the streets. Just truckin' along.

That's all for this week. Thanks so much for reading! I hope you all have a splendid week!

蟻が十ね。
Arigatou ne.

～聖徒長老、ELDER SANTOS

...endure to the End!

Blargh. It's cold, wet weather right now. It makes me want to just go home and sleep for the rest of my life.

...

Eh, sleep is overrated. 

I hope you have all had a wonderful week. Things are moving along slowly here in Takatsuki. As we've been trying new ideas and creative finding techniques (like making a survey about happiness on your iPad and use it to stop people on the street) we have been able to ramp up a little bit — more people are willing to talk to us. We just need to keep trying and trying.

There is an awesome scripture that I've probably already shared...

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

— 2 Nephi 31:20

Steadfastness (or faith) in Christ, a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men is all we need. We can develop these attributes by feasting upon the word of Christ and applying His example in our lives. It's pretty darn easy, right?

Sometimes it's really hard to keep up a positive attitude when we don't see much success in the work we do. But as we keep filling our hearts with the aiding words of our Counsellor, we will not run out of fuel to keep hope's bright flame alight, even in dark and night.

I love all of you! See you next week!

〜聖徒長老、ELDER SANTOS

Spring Coming

Hey, everybody!

It finally started getting warmer last week! Spring is coming! Yay!

We had a really nice week. We've been able to pinpoint a lot of things
that we want to focus on this transfer. My trainee has grown a whole
lot throughout these past six weeks and I'm super happy to be his
trainer. He's gonna be a leader soon!

Went to Kiyomizudera again, today. Lots of fun!

No time! Have a good one!

ELDER SANTOS