“Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith let us to the end dare to do our duty as we understand it.” Abraham Lincoln

Week 14 and the Roads are Clean 

Helloooooooooo Everybody,

This week went by super fast, and I hope that thanksgiving was a blast for everyone. It was fun for me. First off, I want to say that my investigator from Okazaki got baptized. Sister Sato was baptized yesterday and I'm so happy for her. It was an awesome experience being able to find and teach her everything. She was an example to me that God prepares people and we just need to find them. Over the space of three months she went from wondering who these two white boys were, who were talking about some kid who saw God, to being a member of our church. 

It's amazing. I'm grateful for her and know that her life will be blessed. 

(The following is a note to Eli from Kaoi Sato.)

(It's from Sato, my investigator, and it made me super happy.)

Hello!
Are you fine? How's your Kanazawa life?
Today, I was able to recieve baptizma. I was nervous but thanks to everyone I was able to finish safely. My son also came to church and I was able to have a wonderful time. All thanks to Elder Frisch and Elder Porter. Thank you very much!
Please take care of yourself and do your best for evangelism.

Kaoi Sato

This week I ran into a Muslim guy from Indonesia on the street. We talked a bit about church stuff and he said it'd be alright if we meet up sometime. It was good because we haven't been able to get that far in a while. We have been sharing messages about Christmas which is fun. People really don't know much about it. 

Oh, my cool story for the week. I ended up in a Japanese Police station which was interesting. It was actually a miracle. I had lost my name tag on the same street, and prayed that I'd find it, but we couldn't. A couple days later we got a call at the church that someone had found it and it was at the police station to be picked up. I thought it was a miracle. They made me fill out a pile of paper work which was pretty funny but I got it back. 

Thanks for everything everybody. Have a joy filled Christmas season and smile everyday.

Elder Frisch

This Is because Abe is cool.

“Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith let us to
the end dare to do our duty as we understand it.”

Abraham Lincoln

I went to the legendary Kenrokuen Park and took pictures.

The park attracts a bunch of visitors and sightseers, so it's funny to see white people, especially when they don't speak English. Ha ha ha. I met a Muslim guy from Indonesia and I learned stuff I didn't know about Islam. He also said we could meet again. I went on an exchange to the Japan finger that I always wanted to go to! It was pretty fun.

As missionaries there are two Americans, a Canadian, and a Australian in our apartment, so we went out to eat on Thanksgiving. We got Katsudon, which is a rice bowl thing, which was pretty good, and for the kids in seminary, we woke up and made them pancakes. Good day. 

I had a miracle this week. I lost one of my name tags while visiting the castle so we told the people and they said they'd let us know. Well, in about three days we got a call from the police station and they found my badge and it was awesome. It's cause we prayed that I would find it.

Week 13 and I'm Not Hurting...

(If you haven't noticed the poetry, Eli likes to rhyme, a lot, there have been original rhymes and poetry in all of his letters.)

Transfer day, leaving Okasaki and heading to Kanazawa.

Hey everyone!!!

I crashed again, that's number four. I'm going for the record. This
time I saw this guy praying in the middle of a parking lot, so I turned
to see what he was doing, and nailed a metal box with my handle bars.
It was cool. You should've been there.

Here is a cool family from Okazaki that fed us the most.

Now I'm on the opposite side of Japan in Kanazawa. This city is way bigger than Okazaki and has some big tourist attractions, so I see a lot of foreigners. The ward is pretty big and the people are awesome. I'm in an apartment with the zone leaders again (different zone) which is cool. Our sleeping arrangements are sort of like a sardine can with overlapping futons. My futon is just long enough. I only have two in this apartment, but it's ok. My sleeping bag is super warm.

 

It's fun. We get to go to seminary every morning which is cool. It'll help with learning Japanese also. My companion is a transfer 5 which is fun because I get a chance to practice a lot more.

I met some cool people this week, including an 83 year old guy going for a walk and a 81 year old guy with no teeth. They were super funny and didn't want to talk about church, but they did talk about the purpose of life with us. I was able to teach the plan of salvation to a Thai guy which was cool. It turns out he doesn't believe in God, but it's good to know, so, we have a place to start with him. Missionary work is awesome. God is good. He puts you in different situations to help you grow. Pretty cool. Stay safe everyone.

Elder Frisch

Hey family!!!
I'm doing a big email this week. How was everyone's week? Mine has been
pretty good. I'll have an opportunity to grow my patience and things, but it'll be alright. Kanazawa is a big city with a bunch of tourists and things. The nature is way beautiful and they have Kenrokuen Park, which we live 2 minutes from (you should look it up).

Thanks for all of the pictures and things. The people in the ward are way nice and I've met a bunch of them. Here's a video from my train ride.  I wonder if I'll have my first white Christmas here.

Hey Dad,

Thanks for the email. I've been in Kanazawa for about a week now trying to adjust to the new place and companion. I'm getting a chance to grow up quickly because of my young senior companion. I'll also learn patience. I've already lost him twice because he likes to not talk to people and I stop and don't see where he goes. He tells me that we
have things to do, but we just waste time, so I like to talk with people. I'll have to figure something out. We have seminary, so we get up at 5:30 every morning. It's good but we don't have exercise time which is a bummer. I get up really fast and do push-ups and things.
I'm in another apartment with four guys and they are all 20 which is funny. I thought everyone would come out at 18. I'm glad work is good. Keep working hard. Working makes me feel good. That's why I am out here, if we aren't doing anything, I don't feel good. How are the young men in the ward? Scouts isn't a thing in Japan. Over all I'm doing good. Thanks for your example to me and everything. I love you.
Love,
Eli

Goodnight everyone!!!!
I love you all and miss you.
Have an awesome thanksgiving and eat a lot for me because I don't know if we'll have one. Thanks for the letters and things. I sent you one last week. Keep on keeping on.
Love,
Eli

I made tacos. Chopsticks are fun and I'm pretty good at them.

7.3 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off the Coast of Japan

On November 21, 2016 a 7.3 magnitude earthquake rattled Japan, I don't think Eli will be effected, even though a tsunami is expected.

Videos from Week 12 in Japan, Last Week in Okasaki

Click on each of the links below to watch a video.

Elder Frisch Week 12

Phone Call in Japanese

Elder Frisch

Week 12 and I'm Clearing My Shelves

Well it's been a great two transfers here in Okazaki, but I'm transferring this week. I'll be headed to Kanazawa (in the middle of the yellow on the map), the opposite side of the island bordering the Sea of Japan, tomorrow on a new adventure. My new companion is a kid from Australia and I'm supposed to be seeing a ton of snow. I'm pumped.

This week was pretty awesome. We found a new investigator who is a funny old guy. Our investigator, Sato, is getting baptized in two weeks! Her husband said yes so everything is clear. I won't be able to see it, but it'll be awesome. We got attacked in our apartment last night by some crazy 20 somethings from our ward. They doorbell ditched us, and when we went out to see who it was, we were met with a face full of whipped cream. It was pretty funny. I was able to give out a Portuguese Book of Mormon this week, which was pretty funny. I carry one everywhere and yesterday stopped a guy on the street who I didn't share any language with, but I had this sweet book in his language. I said "Jesus Christ" and gave it to him. 

I said bye to the ward and investigators yesterday. They are good people. I'll miss them. I hope everyone has a good week.

Here's a poem I really like from a talk.

You are the fellow that has to decide
Whether you’ll do it or toss it aside. …
Whether you’ll try for the goal that’s afar
Or just be contented to stay where you are.

Out here there's no one telling you what to do or how to do it. Just
me and my companion. It's all up to me and how hard I want to work for
God and the Japanese people. I'm trying to make a difference.
-Elder Frisch

My Myanmar investigator

Crazy Adventuring!

Protecting Super Cool Grass!

"Duty is never worthily performed until it is performed by one who would gladly do more, if only he could."

Good morning from the other side of the world!

This week was pretty cool. My companion and I went on a crazy adventure into the mountains last preparation day and found some crazy traps in the forest, big enough for bears. We then found some cool abandoned rice fields. I went on my first exchange where I got to sleep in a different area this week. I went to Kariya and to help out at an old-folks home. Everyone was super funny and nice and were talking to me about all this funny stuff like "rock, paper, scissors". We then went to a members’ house for dinner which was awesome because we've probably only done that about five times here. Out investigator didn't get baptized this last week, but she did come to stake conference and really liked it. Our Myanmar investigator also came, but it was hard for him to understand. I had the opportunity to give a priesthood blessing to Paing (Myanmar guy) to help him with the word of wisdom. I talked to him on Sunday and he says that whenever he wants to smoke now he thinks of it and doesn't. It was pretty awesome. He told us he felt good after it which made us feel like we've actually accomplished something. We met a lady last night while less active hunting who came out to her front gate to talk to us. We asked us when she was baptized and she said 80 years ago! She was 91! It's so hard to guess their ages and they all think we are 25. Good week and we found a new investigator while streeting (tracting).

Here's a cool quote I found his week.

"Duty is never worthily performed until it is performed by one who would gladly do more, if only he could."

It's always good to remember why you do things in life. It gives you that extra push.
Thanks for reading this whoever does.

Elder Frisch