Well it took a few weeks and a bad case of the flu, but we finally got our investigator baptized! Hiratsuka Keiko got dunked on Saturday 26, which was Elder Knightons birthday, who did the dunkage, not a bad birthday present (almost as good as the french toast, hashbrowns and sausage I made him for a birthday breakfast!). It took 3 times, she kept putting up a bit of a fight, so Elder Knighton finally gave her a "boost" with his forearm and got her under. Shell thank him someday...We celebrated that night with some pretty good sushi and a tim tam slam! Except there are no tim tams anywhere in this town, so we used these Japanese cookies that work about the same. Last week we had a zone conference in another area, hakodate, 2 hours away by train. We all got lunch at this famous burger place that has a huge burger about 8 or 10 inches tall called the Fat Super Burger (in Japanese), they bring it out ringing a bell and tell you they will pray for your health, it proved to be filling and delicious. Thats been about it, we are cranking out down here. Have a great week!

Elder Andrew Kade Jones

These weeks keep going by too fast, I swear. Not much has happened lately, Ive just been figuring out my role as senior companion and it feels a little hectic at times. We dropped a few investigators that werent going anywhere, so it was pretty weak for a bit, but we had a full day of knocking doors the other day and gave out 2 book of mormons and taught 2 great lessons, so there is hope. We were also down by the shore that day so we took a few minutes to enjoy the great view, it makes living in this beat up old town kind of worth it. Its been way cold and windy and snowing like crazy, we are just trying to stay warm and happy when we see the sun! Thats about it... well have a great week!

Elder Andrew Kade Jones

Another week in Muroran! Ive seen the sun about 2 or 3 times since Ive gotten here, only for about 15 minute periods. Other than that it is cloudy windy and cold. But hey, it makes you appreciate the sun that much more. Well things are good this week, I am at the church right now, we just finished a ward activity as today is a holliday. We had whats called a "Mochi Tsuki", where we made mochi, essentially just rice pounded into a pulp. Its ridiculous how much Japanese people use this rice stuff. Its a way traditional thing; you throw a bunch of cooked rice into a stone bowl, and pound it with a giant mallet until it is sticky mush. Then you ball it up and can put it in soups and stuff, or put stuff inside to make dumplings or treats, it was quite fun. All the little kids had fun watching me swinging that mallet like a boss, I had to get in there and show these little Japanese guys how its done.

Yesterday was pretty interesting, the 3 day weekend holliday is for everyone becoming an adult (age 20 in Japan). Yesterday we went with a member to a convention center, where on this holliday every year everyone that will turn 20 soon or has recently turned 20 gets together. The mayor gives a speech and all, and there was a raffle, that was about it. Most of the guys are in suits, and the girls are all in crazy colorful beautiful kimonos with decked out hair and too much makeup. After the thing everyone was standing around in the lobby, and since we are the only white guys in town, not to mention tall and yound and devilishly handsome, we attract alot of attention, especially with a lot of young people packed into a room. Lets just say there was alot of staring and pointing and giggling and people asking to get pics with us. Quite the experience.

The other day we were helping clean out an old members apartment as he is moving into the hospital, he gave us this old guitar he was going to throw out. Elder Knighton cleaned it up and got it tuned, and even made a make shift capo from pencils and rubber bands, it has proven quite fun and very distracting. Thats been about it lately, we are doing good, having fun, and kicking butt!

Elder Andrew Kade Jones

Greetings from the new area of Muroran! I got in last Thursday and its been great so far. I am pretty close to the coast (cant see the ocean from the apt unfortunately) and we get a nice strong cold wind blowing most of the time. But it is pretty good! My new Comp Elder Knighton is a cool kid, we get along good and are having a blast! Our first full day, last Friday, we went to visit an 80+ year old investigator to say hello. I used her bathroom before we went, and guess what? I got stuck. The lock wouldnt turn back to open! It was in need of a good dose of WD40. I tried to quietly and forcefully open it to no avail, and ended up being too noisy. So I had to admit I was stuck, and the lady goes and grabs some tools and starts hacking at the door while I am on the other side about ready to break the lock. At one point she yells "Elder Knighton, pray to God for help!" At least she has faith in prayer and God! I finally got the door open, and after some apologies, we high tailed it out of there laughing our ties off!

There is an investigator who should be getting baptized in the next few weeks, we had her last lesson yesterday after church. We reviewed the baptismal interview questions, and she was bearing her testimony about how she knows this church is true. It was very powerful, and we were all shiny eyed as we felt the spirit strong. She is quite an awesome lady.

Before I forget, New Years day was pretty cool. This was back in Moiwa before the transfer. The 4 of us went out for burgers, then over to the zoo which was free for the day. We then went over to the biggest shinto temple shrine in Hokkaido, and the whole town was there. Everyone goes on New Years to pay respect to the ir ancestors and all, there was also a festival we went around and got some food. Good times. Well things are looking good for this transfer. Oh, I am also close to some of the most famous Hot Springs in Hokkaido, so you know I will be heading over there to celebrate soon!

Elder Andrew Kade Jones

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year. It was quite awesome out here. Christmas Eve was good, all the missionaries in the city got together and played games, had a gift exchange (I got the Japanese version of chess...) and a delicious dinner, then went to carol in this big park. Sang all our songs then decided to head down into the subway station. We got settled and about 30 seconds into the 1st song before some cop ran over and started yelling "where did you get permission?!" We all turned and looked at the Mission President, who shrugged and said "Its Christmas Eve, who cares?". They didnt like that answer and kicked us out! Christmas morning I got to talk to the family, then we had an apt Christmas with our small tree, hand made stockings and gifts from the local church members (the box from my family came a little late). That night we got together with a few other missionaries and a member and a friend at the church and made some delicious Christmas curry. Yesterday we had a mission wide "Book of Mormon" day, we stayed in the apt all day, fasted breakfast and lunch, and just read. All day. I made a goal to finish no matter what. I started 630 am and finished at 11 pm, and other than an hour for dinner, about 20 mins for planning and a bathroom break now and then, It was just reading. But I got through all 531 pages, and it was MIND BLOWING. I mean ive read it through a few times, and study every day, but reading it all at once... I finally get it. I mean I understand the flow and who is who and the time line and all, But I get how it relates, why I invite people to read from it and know for themselves that its true. I got my transfer call, I am heading down to the coast to a small town called Muroran, becoming senior companion (as in the person whs been out longer) with a missionary from Gilbert! Ive only talked to him about twice or so, but he lived about 10 minutes down the street from me, went to Mesquite High School, and we know a few of the same people. Should be a blast! 

Elder Andrew Kade Jones