Week 100: Move forward with Faith 前に向けて信仰を持って進もう

Its all over.

2 years have felt like a whole lifetime in a month. (does that make sense?)

As far as investigators go we weren`t able to meet with all of them before I go, but we were able to meet with a bunch of them.  The TV reporter finally got broadcasted for the first time and so she was busy, and the Filipino guy had to go back to the Philippines for a while.  But it was a good last week anyway.

We had a meal with the branch yesterday, I bore a short testimony and got to talk with all the members one last time. It was good. A bunch of them will see me off Tuesday morning when I get on the bus. Such great members here.

Guess who`s taking my place........!    Elder Hoshino. My Japanese companion when I was in Osaka. He`ll be companions with Elder Wier. I trained them both. haha. Should be fun. I`m excited for them.

I`m excited also to tell everyone about the great things I learned on my mission at my homecoming. Also really sad to leave the mission. It`s mixed obviously, but the time is come. The only thing to do is move forward with faith, knowing that as long as I do so, the path will be prepared to do whatever it is the Lord needs me to do next.

Love you all!

Elder O`Reilly

This guy is great. Had lots of lessons with him at his house.

We had lessons with this guy every week. This last week because I was leaving he took us out to waaaaaaay good sushi. It was soooooooo good. and it was like $200.

I think they serve these fish? it was a really cool sushi place.

We also were fed dinner at another member`s house. Needless to say, I didn`t cook much on my last week. Maybe 2 or 3 times. haha. XD it was great. I don`t know what we are doing in this picture.

Last after-district-meeting-lunch. We convinced our young companions to get the king size. My companion threw it up after. Bad choice. haha.

A sister in the branch made us this delicious lunch! Its is Malaysian food. was way good.

Week 99: Happiness to the End 最後まで楽しむ

Woah. I can`t believe I put the number up by one every week for 99 weeks. Next week, my final e-mail, will curiously be exactly 100. Interesting.

It was a crazy awesome week.

We taught the family of 5 this week. They live in the middle of the crazy mountain jungle land. It was a rainy day and the clouds were laying all over the mountains. It was way cool. We drove above the clouds on the highway with a member (its way too far to ride bikes..... would take 3 hours probably just one way!)  The lesson went well, but we won`t meet again for 2 weeks. In other words I won`t meet them again. Such a good family too! haha.

We had a meeting to say good-bye to the Zinke`s (mission president). They go home the same time as me. It was different than a usual meeting, we just sat in a circle and talked. It was really fun. talked about how the mission is now and how it will change. We had a training meeting right before. I translated for both meetings, so I had like 5 hours of simultaneous translation in a row. That was also fun. haha.

This last week we have appointments every day. I also have homework to write to the best of my knowledge the condition of all members in the branch, to leave for the branch leadership. I know this branch`s 300 members better than almost anyone. I`ve biked to visit many many people, I`ve prayed for this branch, I`ve searched the scriptures so that I can strengthen this branch. I love this branch.

There are many people in our ever-growing investigator pool that will eventually get baptized. Right now most of the strong investigators are early on in the process however.

I know I am weak as to the flesh, but through Christ`s atonement, I know that even the weak can do many great and important things, even if those things may appear small to the wise.

So glad that I was able to participate in the work of Salvation in Japan. There truly is no greater work. Although I may be released from my time as a full-time missionary soon, my duty to spread the gospel will never end. The gospel is so true.

Love you all!
Elder O`Reilly

We went to ryuugado cave! it was sooooo cool. Here is the next best 5 seconds of your life.

The biggest waterfall in the cave is 11 meters tall. Way cool.

It was way big. took an hour to walk through.

Not another zubat!!! haha.

Week 98: The end closing in 終わりが迫ってくる

2 weeks left. I can`t believe it. I thought it would never come to an end this soon.

The last 2 weeks will be busy. we are meeting with 3 families (one of 3, one of 4, and starting this week one of 5) and many other investigators. This past week was a slow week, and most investigators were busy, but we will be busy with lessons again this week. Got to make this last 2 weeks some of my best!

The investigators that meet with us, read scriptures, and pray... progress. Everyone else doesn`t. Its that easy.  Read scriptures! Pray! Build faith! I don`t think anyone really understands how important those things are. I`m glad I learned from a young age. As one of our older investigators always reminds us (every single time we visit him) it is a lot harder to learn when you are older. haha. ;)

Elder and Sister Zinke are leaving the mission the same time as me. That`s when they finish their 3 years. They have been a great help to me and brought this mission to new highs. I am so grateful for their service.  We will have a meeting to say goodbye to them on Wednesday in Matsuyama.

The work is great.

Love you all

Elder O`Reilly

I only took one picture this week. A famous food in Kochi. (literally everyone in kochi thinks it is the best thing ever, which it probably is)

Katsuo tataki shio.

Salted bonito (not sure on the english spelling, this is a kind of fish) (flamed on the outside, raw on the inside)

It was way good.