July 23, 2108

Email July 23, 2018 – Elder Jackson Kunzler Burton

Hey Everyone!

                  So to start off, I didn't transfer! And neither did Elder Ramsey so this will be my first time spending two transfers with the same companion, I'm excited! It also means there's a good chance I'll be in Ebetsu at least one more transfer because this is Elder Ramsey's last transfer. So I'm excited, I love Ebetsu! This last week there were some ups and downs. We had three great lessons on Wednesday, but on Thursday, Takafumi, who we had one of the lessons with and was progressing really well, messaged us and said he had looked up our church online and now doesn't want to get baptized because he doesn't think he can live the standards members have to live. And because he's busy he doesn't want to keep meeting. However, he did say he would keep reading the Book of Mormon and we can still talk over LINE, so there's still hope. I'm just really hoping the power of the Book of Mormon will be able to change is heart and  help him realize why this gospel is so important. Later in the week we met a college student on the street who goes to a Christian college nearby, and we set up an appointment for yesterday. We had a member come and had a really spiritual lesson that I thought went really well. But when we introduced the Book of Mormon and asked him to read it, he just kind of stared at it as if he was thinking really hard. We waited, and when he still didn't respond we tried to explain and testify more, but after a while where it looked like he was kind of debating in his head, he said no, and ended up not even taking the Book of Mormon. He wouldn't say why he wouldn't take it or read it, but I got the feeling that someone, probably a teacher at his college, had told him to stay away from the Book of Mormon or something along those lines. I think he was fighting between what he had been told and  what the Spirit was telling him, and sadly he chose the former, but hopefully he'll get another chance in the future. I know he felt the Spirit so if he remembers that feeling, when another chance comes, he may decide to act on it. I was sad that he didn't accept our message, but I still feel okay because I know we did everything we could to help him. I know God is still aware of him, as He is aware of all His children, and will continue to prepare him for the right time. So that was my week. Today for P-day we tried out the massage chairs at an electronics store which was way nice. Also, because the number of missionaries in our mission is decreasing, our mission went from 5 zones to 4, so Hakodate zone, the zone I was in for the first 6 months of my mission is now gone haha. Anyway, I love you all! Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Burton