Howdy Y'all!

What a great week!  Paul Wilkerson got baptized on Sunday!!  (Along with Niwa from Nagano - I did his baptismal interview)

On Sunday morning he called us and was okay, just needed us to help him tie his tie.  So we went over there and helped.  He came to church a little late, but made it.  After church we all rode up to Nagano for the baptism.  It was a really nice service!  The spirit was there, along with a lot of people from both Nagano and Ueda branches.

Elder MacDonald baptized Paul (I'm doing his confirmation this Sunday!)  After the baptism we all had food (pot luck type thing) and everyone mingled and socialized - great!  That's when we challenged Angel, Paul's sister, to hear the lessons.  Our ward mission leader also challenged Ken, Paul's friend!  We taught him lesson one on Tuesday!!!

It's been great!  We've made three new investigators this week already and are still planning on at least two more!!  One was on Monday night - Kobyashi san - a 50 or 60 year old woman we found housing, who has a lot of interest in Christian churches and has studied with the Jehovah's Witnesses in the past.  The spirit was strong during the lesson - she's a great lady- really wants to know the truth.

Then, Tuesday morning we taught Terakada san, a college student (also found housing) who likes religion and philosophy and wants to know the truth, but has a hard time believing and wont try to find out if its true (though he says he knows he needs to).  The last time we met with him we all three prayed and the spirit was SO strong, but he didn't feel it he said.  It's hard - he's thinking with his head, but is a nice guy.  We're praying for him.

And we taught Okata san (ken) on Tuesday night.  He believes EVERYTHING we taught!  He said about the Joseph Smith experience, "Honto no koto desu yo!" or; "Of course it happened!" (roughly translated).  However, he also believes that Buddhism is true and isn't sure he wants to drop it yet, but he's growing and changing and will be baptized soon, I think.

Hey!  I handed out two Books of Mormon in Portuguese this week!!  I actually explained about the B of M in Portuguese!  It's so cool!  I just memorized the explanation from the lesson plan.  I can't understand a word they say back to me, but I can at least tell them who we are, what we're doing, and even bear testimony about the book (and get their name and phone number).  I still haven't met a Brazilian yet that wont take a Book of Mormon!  Amazing!  Maybe one of of one or two HUNDRED (less than 1%) Japanese people take a book, but near 100% Brazilians.  Amazing!  Why?  What's the difference?

Hey - Did I tell you we're doing a concert?  Before I left the Honbu, the Dendobucho told me I should put on a music concert in Nagano and invite everyone.  he's also told Sister Garner to use her talents a lot, too.  So - we're doing a concert in June!  We'll both do some piano solo and accompany each other singing, and even do a duet or two (we're doing dad's arrangement of "Come Unto Jesus" that we sang at my farewell!)  We're performing classical, jazz, pop, church - and we're thinking of even inviting the city mayor, etc.  (The Dendobucho told us to thing BIG).  It should be really good.  Some of the things I'm playing are:

Parts of Rhapsody in Blue

Maple Leaf Rag

Moonlight Sonata - 1st movement

Clair de lune

Golliwogs Cakewalk

a Mozart Sonata

One of my hymn arrangements

some Bach, Chopin..

and I'm singing Ave Maria

Most of this music I still have in my head pretty well, so it shouldn't take too much practice.  It could be a really good dendo tool - plus it'll be a lot of fun!