20

Well I guess something happened yesterday and I turned twenty years old and that's weird I feel completely different. Tons of people say they feel the same but I feel like a man. I can drink alcohol (not like I will because that stuff is messed up) and I have a little more hair on my chest and I will be able to grow a good beard in eight months and I can speak Japanese pretty well and I can get myself dressed now and I'm in Okinawa and I'm in charge of helping people change their life like dang this is some pretty big responsibilities. But it's so much fun! So yesterday we had a birthday party for me with some military YSA who we always do stuff with anyways but yeah we went and there was fried chicken and pancakes and shoutout to Alban because that was the best fried chicken I ever had. But the thing is is now whenever I eat American anything I always have stomach problems so yeah it's so fatty and sugary and it's kind gross but good but I like Japanese food better :) but anyways yeah this morning I had some diarrhea because of American food and that's been the last week lol. Good times. Also yeah it feels like my my life is in a new stage and I'm just like figuring it all out. It helps being here because obviously a lot of the YSA are between 20-26 and they are in the military so they see a lot of good and a lot of bad things that happen out here and just talking to them is really awesome to know that these people truly put Christ first in their lives despite all the temptations and crazy people and situations around them. Also Sano Shimai in Kagoshima sent me a birthday present and I got it today and it's the best present ever! I'll show a pic later.

Oh by the way mom it is kind of weird being in a district with four sisters and me and my comp and hopefully the sisters all have good relationships because I don't want to be the guy that has to put up with the drama. I think everyone will be good though. Stay tuned. Oh ps they call people like me the "relief society president" ha. Good times.

So since Wednesday not much has happened really. A recent convert Teddy took us to a way good ramen shop and he told us his conversion story. We met with our 26 year old investigator Tamashiro Yuuya who is ex yakuza and wants to change his life. The yakuza is the Japanese mob that extorts money, sells drugs and prostitutes but they aren't dangerous to the general public. They only hurt and kill people that mess with them and don't pay them back. But our boy is trying to change his life and come to Christ. He even has a book called "from yakuza to Christian" or something like that. He is also getting his yakuza tattoos removed :( they look awesome (he showed us when he was drunk one time) and they're really pretty tattoos. Look them up on google. But he wants to completely turn his life around and right now the biggest step for him is quitting drinking but we know he can do it. He says right now he drinks to numb the pain of his tattoo removal surgery. His scars are pretty crazy because in the yakuza they tattoo most of your body. Seriously, look them up and you'll see. But he came to church and had a great time, felt the spirit and learned a lot! Every time we meet him he always thanks us so much and bows at a 90 degree angle and shows us so much respect. He is working so hard.

We had thanksgiving at a members house on base and he invited a lot of nonmembers and a less active dude. The member is way solid and doing great member missionary work. He is 23/24 ish. He actually served a mission in Ogden Utah. But anyways it was fun being there with all these young marines and hearing their crazy stories which most of them involve being insanely drunk in crazy parts of the world and everybody was just laughing. But the thing is is that now that a couple of them have their drinking rights taken away because of stupid choices they are really considering life and it's purpose and that's where the member has already jumped in and given them Book of mormons and has offered to help them so we will see what we can do too. They're all busy dudes but they seem open and willing to change. We will continue to work the the member to see what we can do for his friends. But really though, I don't think I've heard crazier stories. Shoutout to Clack. He is the funniest person I've met. 

We're also working with some less active people and one is in the military and he wants to start coming back so he actually came to district conference yesterday and we talked to him a bit and even last night and he really wants to get his life back on track so that he can go to the temple and be married eventually. It really shows just how no matter what you've done, you can always come back and come closer to Christ. Our progression is eternal. 

Anyways that's about it for this week! Keep being awesome and don't sign up for a bank account with Wells Fargo.

Love you all!

Elder Tschirki

君を愛してるよ

Small thing from Sano Shimai. She does this thing called oshibana which is when she preserves flowers and presses them and makes pretty things. I love her so much, 

she's the best.

This way good ramen we found

Tamashiro yuuya

Chilling in okinawa

Snoopy donut

Okinawa