Week 3: Tender Mercies and Miracles

Hey everyone!!

My first week in Japan has been AMAZING!!!

I suppose I'll start at the beginning. On the way over to Japan, I made a goal to talk to everyone about the church. I talked to Buddhists, Atheists, people who had been to Christian churches when they were young, people who had preachers as fathers... all sorts of people. Unfortunately, none with any interest in learning about the church. Only one would accept a Book of Mormon, but a few took pass along cards. It was fun to practice my Japanese, regardless.

Well... when we finally got to the airport, there was a mix up... and the people who had come to the airport to pick us up had already left. We looked around for a bit, and then decided to call the mission home. We had to ask a native for help with the pay phone - apparently we had to dial a 0 before we dialed the number, and I still don't really understand why. We ended up sticking around the airport for a few more hours, so we bought some food and talked to some people. It was an exciting first day.

The next day I met my companion, Elder Abo. He pulled a couple pranks on me, and we pulled some on the other Elders. He'd Facebook stalked me and had some pretty good ways of catching me off guard. It turns out that we have some pretty crazy connections. Essentially, I figured them all out when he announced to the Ward Mission Council that I had dated his cousin and that we came from the same city. I didn't understand much of the Japanese, but I could tell something exciting was going on and that I was involved. So... he is super funny, and
also really motivated, so I'm excited that he's my trainer! I'm sure that I will learn a lot from him.

The Urawa area is AMAZING!!! I already love the people here, the members especially. We can be laughing one minute, and feeling the Spirit through powerful testimony just a few minutes later. I think that is the perfect relationship to have with people as a missionary. Laughing and feeling the Spirit.

As far as investigators go, I haven't met them all yet. As far as I understand, we are teaching a few "eternal investigators" - basically people who have interest, but haven't been keeping commitments. However, in all the ones I've met so far, they seem to be just on the verge of changing. Plus, my referral per day average is about 2 right now, which is pretty good. We already have appointments with a couple of them, so we're hoping to get some new investigators soon. So while this past week has been great, I expect the next week will be even better!

I've seen God's hand in so many ways in the short time I've been here. The Spirit guides what we say, and I've already seen God's love for the people here. I'm so excited to do the work!

Hurrah for Israel!
Elder O'Reilly

 This is a pic we sent to the Dendoshunin (Missionary ward leader, I
think) to advertise for "Dendo night" - where people can go on splits
with the missionaries.

Arriving in Japan!

After some mix-ups and confusion with exactly when Elder O'Reilly would be leaving for Japan, his visa came and 3 of them left the day after the rest of the group. Here are some pictures that were sent home:

Headed to the airport Tuesday morning.
So thankful for the nice person who sent us this picture to let us know he was on his way!
And then for a kind person at the airport who let him call home one last time!

With President & Sister Nagano 

... and his new companion, Elder Abo

The whole group and their trainers.

So glad to know they have arrived safely and looking forward to his first email on Monday! :-)

Week 2: The new best day ever!

Hey everyone!

I'm a little short on time to write. Sorry! :P

This week has been crazy. Every day we teach one or two lessons in Japanese and most of the day is class time, so we don't get very much time to prepare. Aside from the Japanese language, learning to teach people and not lessons is difficult!! Doing both at the same time is impossible. But as my companion and I have learned to rely a little more on the Spirit, we've been prompted with things to say and questions to ask. Doing the Lord's work is so incredible!!! Truly, it is His work!

Well... the Spirit here is incredible! As I've had all these crazy experiences, it can be a little stressful, but by the end, we rely on the Lord and every day is my new favorite!!

Life is Awesome!!!

Hurrah for Israel!!

Elder O'Reilly

My district in front of the Provo Temple!

My zone! I'm going inside today! Can't wait!

My district and some of my teachers.

Week 1: A cRaZy week!

Hey family and friends!!!

This week has been crazy, but awesome! Every moment has been scheduled out, and my companion and I often study through breaks, shorten meals, etc. to learn more. So we're definitely working hard - there's just so much to learn!!! But it's awesome! I've felt the Spirit so much, and I've definitely already seen how God can help me understand and speak Japanese! It's incredible.

So... A normal day goes like this:

I get up around 6:08 (that way we feel like we slept in 8 minutes, haha). Then off to Gym or to clean a building, depending on the day. We come back, get ready in like ten seconds, eat breakfast and run to class. We have class pretty much until dinner, with a break in the middle for lunch. During class we study the Gospel in Japanese, which at first seemed impossible, but with a little bit of time and a TON of God's help, is now somewhat enjoyable.

Then, during some point in morning class, Johnson Chourou and I go and teach a PI - a "progressing investigator." We are teaching Morimoto and Youko. They both have backgrounds of real people even though we are really just teaching actors. It's so fun and sooo fulfilling - even if it is a little nerve racking. I can't wait to do it for real!

Probably the coolest thing we did this week was skype a member in Japan. She was converted to the Gospel 4 years ago, but her husband and 4 kids didn't join with her. We just talked with her about keeping up the faith and how she could stay strong in the Gospel. It was an awesome meeting!!! There isn't a work as satisfying as the work of the Lord!!!

Well... as I have been thinking this week, I was thinking about why the Lord chose to send me to Japan. There are probably literally more than a million people who could preach the Gospel in Japanese better than I could, but as I thought about Joseph Smith - a 14 year old boy who God chose to restore the Gospel through, I realized that God picks people a little differently than I do. He chooses people so that they can learn from the experience. He chooses people He can humble and use as an instrument, not the master speaker or teacher. Sometimes, I feel like I need to be perfect right now - but I can't be, and luckily that isn't the expectation. Instead, God blesses us with miracles and the help needed to get through the week. Truly, I know that God never leaves us alone!!! He will always be there to help us through.

Well.. I hope you all have a fantastic week!

Love you all!!

Elder O'Reilly

With my companion, Elder Johnson (from Farmington, UT)

My District

My district on P-day

Day 1: Life in the MTC

Hey guys!!!

So... I don't have a lot of time to write, just a few minutes to tell you how I'm doing.

Things are fantastic here at the MTC! We just talk about the gospel in Japanese all day. Which combines two of my favorite things. :) It's a little challenging, but I've always liked a challenge. Tomorrow, we will be teaching our first lesson in Japanese. They described an investigator, and we had to come up with what to teach. Can't wait to try it!

My companion, Elder Johnson, is AWESOME!! I would have sent you a picture of my companion and district, but I didn't know I would be writing home today.... sorry - I'll have to do that next week. He and I have opposite strengths in Japanese, so we can teach each other a lot. God knew what He was doing when He put our companionship together!

So... I don't know the exact date that we leave for Japan, but we will be leaving in about three weeks. 

Love you all!!

Hurrah for Israel!

Elder O'Reilly

And so it begins...

Seeing Thomas off at the Missionary Training Center (MTC)

It happens so fast!