41 Different Species of Pufferfish

This week we had 5 return appointments, FIVE, two are new investigators, we have a lesson tonight with another who might become an investigator and one wasn't there at her house when we went and one is right before English class because he is an English student. Our district this last week of six missionaries got 15 return appointments. That's very high. We are definitely pushing the rock right now and the Lord is blessing us. This is definitely directly related to Egan Kaicho's revelation about challenging us to find our faith and build it and consecrate ourselves unto the Lord. PS he and his wife just decided to come to our branch this Sunday and they got like a presidential reception and someone tried to film it (Fukatani Kyodai). The first was a 20 year old kid named Okumura who is really quiet and he told us he is scared of talking to people so it was a really big leap of faith for him to meet. We taught him about God and are challenging him to pray. We meet on Saturdays with him. He said he will start coming to church too. He thinks God is there and wants to learn. Our second was another college kid named Kawachi (川内) and he is skeptical about everything. He is very stubborn and has his own strong opinions about everything and flat out said that even if he knew God was there and the church was true he probably wouldn't change and we told him with that attitude he won't know it's true and he was humbled and he's willing to read the Book of Mormon and pray. We have no doubt he'll end up getting a testimony and the knowledge of the restored gospel, but like he said, will he change? He's a deep thinker (like someone else out here, me) and questions everything (like me again) and doesn't listen to people except he sees the benefit (me) and we boldly testified and promised him that he would learn of the truthfulness of the gospel if he really wanted to. This promise doesn't go for just him, but for everyone! Pick up a Book of Mormon, read a little bit and if you want to believe, pray to God. Test him. He said he would answer and you would know the "truth of all things." Prove Him. Try Him. God keeps his promises to hose who honestly seek him. Anyways, our third return appointment is much like the guy I just talked about but this guy's name is Jun and he used to be a doctor in America and comes to English class for the sake of retaining English (he knows more English than me but his accent is funky) and he confides in my companion Flippo Choro in the advanced class (I do intermediate) that he wants
to learn what true happiness is and that he's not happy and (he's taken lessons before a year ago with the missionaries and never understood the principles, he's very logical) my companion promised him that if he would learn and act on the gospel of Jesus Christ then he would change. He said he would try. You know when a grown man psychiatrist is asking a 21 year old missionary for help in his life, there's got to be something to our message. He sees missionaries and members and doesn't understand why we are happy with all of our rules and commandments but the fact is that commandments protect us! They allow us to be free!

Anyways I'd like to share a couple of scriptures. The first is Mormon 9:15 "..; God has not ceased to be a God of miracles." It's true. Have faith, look for the miracles and test out His promise and I promise you that you will see miracles.

The second is 1 Corinthians 6:10 "... Drunkards... Shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven." It's in the bible. Don't drink folks. If you can't control yourself how are you supposed to be able to make
Christlike and spirit bringing decisions? You can't.

I love you all!

Elder Tschirki

 Us and one of my favourite people, Kobayashi Kyodai. He's one of the sweetest people I've ever met.

 Our district at the aquarium and dolphin show. They also have 41 different species of pufferfish there.

A panoramic of Shimonoseki from the aquarium. This is such a beautiful place! It's home!