Happy New Year Week 30!

Wow what an amazing week it has been here in Japan!  Christmas was this week and it was definitely a different experience being away from home for the first time, and being in a country where Christmas isn't a very big deal!  I do want to bear my testimony on the season of Christmas.  It is such a special time for us to really reflect on the Savior and his birth, and how significant that was.  I am so grateful for him, and this Christmas I felt like I was really able to draw closer to him, as I put my focus on him during the Christmas season.  It has amazed me how while I have been out hear on my mission, I have really been able to see my relationship with the savior grow so much closer, and I am so grateful for that!

 

  It was such a blessing to go out on Christmas and teach people who have never heard of Jesus Christ, about him and why he is important, and why Christmas is a holiday.  It was so cool to see people realize that Christ's name was in Christmas and make that connection.  We really were able to see so many "Christmas Miracles" on Christmas and we know that it was because the Lord was happy with us that we were out striving to bring others closer to him on that very special day.

 

  I am so grateful for this gospel.  I am so grateful for the knowledge it gives me about life, and the happiness it brings me and my family.  I am so so grateful for the opportunity I now have to share it with people here in Japan.  I have seen it change people's lives, and I am so grateful to be able to be a part of it.  Heavenly Father could do this work without us, but he allows us to grow in the process and I am so grateful for that!  I have really seen a change in my life, and I look forward to becoming an even more profitable servant for him throughout the rest of my mission!  Thank you so much for the support I get from home.  I was so grateful to have the opportunity to talk to my family this week, and how amazing that was!  You all look stekki as ever;)  So blessed to be a part of such an amazing family and I am just forever grateful for all the love I get from you all!

 

  Please know how much I love and pray about each and everyone of you!  Have an amazing week and I will talk to you soon!

 

  All my love,

 

Elder Cottle

Christmas Morning!

We got to Skype Logan!

Dreamy. He looked and sounded SO good. Merry Christmas!

Week 29! Merry Christmas!

Hello everyone!

 

  I am so sorry that I have not been doing very good on sending a good big email out..But I promise that I will try to be better!  I know that I have a blog to keep going..so I will try and be better;)  Sorry Mom!  So this last week here in Japan has been one full of Christmas Miracles!  We really have seen the Lord's hand in the work so many times this week I really couldn't believe it. 

 

  To start I just want to explain how Mito's success has been in the past.  Since I have been here, we have had one baptism, but other than that not really teaching very many lessons, and not really finding a crazy amount of people either.  Doing a lot of finding, but not great success.  It has been difficult to find what we have needed to do to change that!  But, this week was definitely a turn around week.  We had an amazing week of finding and teaching and numbers wise, we were way higher than I have seen here in Mito, in fact the numbers were higher than anything Mito has seen in months.  We were able to find 7 New Investigators and able to teach a lot of lessons!  One of the most amazing parts was we had a Ward Christmas Party this last Saturday.  There were many members who brought their non-member friends and we were able to talk to them and help the members share the gospel with them!  We were able to contact 5 of these referrals and we now have contact information on them and although they aren't new investigators yet, they should be by the end of this week!  The member-missionary work is an amazing thing.  I have such a strong testimony that this is the new way to do missionary work.  The Lord blessed us to see so many amazing miracles through that work, and it really strengthened my testimony to see it!  I know that as we strive to work together as members and missionaries, we will be able to successfully bring others unto Christ!

 

  So in the middle of this incredible "dendo'n" week, we were able to have a 3 Zone Conference with President and Sister Budge and the Assistants!  It was an amazing conference and I was really able to learn so much!  We also had a District Leader Training and that was a little bit humbling!  Being the youngest Elder in the room was humbling..but I was so grateful for the opportunity to learn from some experienced missionaries on how they were able to be effective, successful District Leaders.  It was also very humbling to hear President Budge tell us that those he calls as District Leader position, are the people he sees leading the mission as Zone Leaders someday.  I really hope that I can become a better missionary by them because the thought of that is overwhelming!  I really want to become a more profitable servant of the Lord, and I hope that as I strive my hardest to do that I will be worthy of this calling, and callings to come!

 

  I just want to bear my simple testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ.  I have such a strong testimony of his atonement, his love, and his hand in the great work.  I KNOW HE LIVES.  I know that he suffered in the Garden for us, died on the cross for us, and was resurrected on the third day.  I know that he did this.  There is no doubt in my mind.  I know that because he did this, we too will be able to defeat death, and also be able to, through the atonement, defeat our spiritual death.  I am so grateful during this Christmas Season to be able to celebrate the Saviors birth, and how significant of a event that was.  I am so grateful for this opportunity to be here in Japan and have the chance to share this message of Jesus Christ, this message of hope, and this message of happiness!  I am eternally thankful for my savior, and now that I can never repay what he did for me.  However, I know that I can strive my hardest to bring others closer to him.

 

  I so am grateful for all the amazing people I have back home supporting me!  I received so much love from so many people through cards and packages and I really can not express how blessed I am, and how grateful I am!  Thank you for your love!  I love you all so much and I really hope you have a Merry Christmas!  Have a great week, and I will talk to you soon!

 

Love always,

 

Elder Cottle

 

 

Week 28!!!!

Here is part of a couple little emails he sent Jeff and I. I don't know why he hasn't sent a big email for two weeks but I'll be letting him know we need them next week when we talk at Christmas time!

I love 2 Nephi as well.  It really does, "throw down" in Tokyo Missionary terms haha.  I love the doctorine of Christ found in 31.  I love how the Lord invites us to follow him and how it is kind of the underlying message of the chapter.  The main message is obviously baptism, but if you study that chapter closely, you will notice that the Lord is asking us to follow him, and that the only way to do that is of course baptism, and then keeping his commandments at all times.  I really have realized that in my life I really am the most happy when I am being EXACTLY obedient.  I wish I would have wised up sooner;)  But I am grateful that I am seeing it now.  God really does bless us with that happiness when we show our love for him and follow his commandments.

I know that this church is true.  It is amazing to me how much my testimony has grown while I have been here, and how I can already see how my life has changed.  Before my mission, I always thought that I didn't want to come home different, and that I wanted to be normal Logan when I got home.  Now I see that I want to be different.  I want to be a changed person, someone who has really given themself to the Lord to be molded and turned into his perfect disciple.  I am so grateful for this opportunity to be here.  I love this work and I am so glad that I still have a year and a half to do it.  Thank you for always believing in me.  I love you so much and I can't wait to talk to you next week!

All my love,

Elder Cottle 

Here are some answers to some questions I asked. 

1.  I did not get transferred..however there were some pretty big changes here in Mito.  We got another new companion named Elder A.  He is a transfer 3, and I knew him from Niigata!  Elder M  left to another area.  So it is me, Elder A and Elder N.  I am training Elder N, and I was made a District Leader.  I am very humbled by this opportunity I have to serve the people in my district!  I really think that I will be able to grow a lot, and I am just so excited for the opportunity!  Was not expecting that though..transfer 4 district leaders are a little mezarashi...(rare) but I know I was called for a reason and that the Lord knows I can do it!

2.  Yes we are supposedly doing video I believe..I think that you can probably call us..I will figure out all the details by next week I promise. 

3.  Yes we will figure out details and if the connection is bad we can hop on the phone no problem

4.  The 12 Days of Christmas are incredible!  Thank you so much they have seriously made me so happy!  There really is nothing better than a note from someone you love with their testimony in it..THANK YOU!  You are amazing.

5.  I knew Elder H would be Assistant!  He is an incredible missionary and someone very close to my heart!  I got to see him at a trainers training down in Tokyo this last week and it was so good to see him!  I know he is going to do amazing, and I am just so grateful that I was able to have him as my trainer.  What a blessing!  He really has helped me become the missionary I am today.  He is going to be an amazing lifelong friend!

6.  I am not currently singing in a choir..we don't have one but I think we are singing something for our ward christmas party..we will see how that goes!

 

Week 27! Only pics!

Logan sent off personal emails but ran out of time for a big one. So here are some pics he posted and I will send anything extra next week!

Smile Dendo! Thanks Sister Missionaries!

Eating Thanksgiving Feast!

Pictures with a recent convert. 

The Thanksgiving feast. Yum yum. :/

The family room with my Christmas Tree I sent and presents!!!

Logan at the Tokyo, Temple. He loved being there for the first time!

Week 26!

Hello everyone!

 

Another amazing week has gone by and we have been so blessed to see some amazing miracles!  To start we started to do a new type of finding here in Mito called "Smile Dendo" that the amazing Nagaoka Sisters invented up in the Niigata Zone!  Basically what we do is we made some signs that said smile and I'm a Mormon with the church website and mine had a giant smiley face on it that said Happy?  We have a really big train station and so we went there and there are tons of people.  We started doing it and it was crazy successful!  People were coming up to us asking what we are doing and why we are so happy, and we were then able to share a simple message of why we really are so happy.  We have been able to find many new investigators and lots of potential investigators so it has been really amazing!

 

The miracle for this week was Y____  he is 33 yrs old and is a complete alcoholic, gambler, has no job, no food, and is just a sad guy!  He came up to us at the station and told us he was not happy..We started talking to him and he explained that he had all of these problems, and that he was starving.  We went and bought him just a sandwhich and a warm drink and gave it to him and he started bawling!  He was so grateful and just would not stop saying it.  It was so sad to see him so desperate..but so amazing to be able to help him.  We then started explaining how the church could bless his life and that he could get through all of these problems through Jesus Christ.  He thought that it would help, and he was able to come to church the next day!  We have met with him twice since then, and we are preparing to set a baptismal date with him!  We are so blessed as missionaries to help these people that the Lord needs us to help.  We are really hoping that we will be able to change this man's life and help him turn over a new page!

 

I am so grateful for this amazing opportunity to be a missionary!  I am so blessed!  We get to do so many amazing things as missionaries, and it really is such a blessing to be able to help so many people.  There is nothing in the world like it!  I love this gospel, and I love this work!  There is not a doubt in my mind that this church is true and that right now the Lord is hastening his work.  I love you all so much and hope you all have an amazing week!  I pray for each of you daily!  Be safe, and I will talk to you soon!

 

All my love,

 

Elder Logan Cottle

Week 25!

Dear Everyone!

I feel really bad because I did not have very much time today, but I was able to get some pictures on here so I hope that would be ok for this week! I also have one great story.

This last Sunday, I was able to have the incredible opportunity of confirming our recent convert T______and giving him the Gift of the Holy Ghost. The spirit was incredibly strong, and it was an amazing experience. I have been so blessed on my mission to be able to confirm 3 people in Japanese and it has been incredible! In english, it is really amazing but in Japanese, it is crazy powerful. The words are amazing and it is such a cool thing to get to do!

The work is being hastened and we are so blessed to be a part! This last week we had a Conference with the South Mission and Elder Evans and it was incredible. We had an amazing conference about how we can become even better missionaries and I was really able to come out of it with amazing new ideas on how I can become a more profitable servant.

I love you all so much and I hope you know I love being a missionary! I will talk to you all soon, and hopefully have more time next week! Have fantastic weeks!

All my love,

Elder Cottle

Week 24! Another baptism!

Hello everyone!

 

  This week has truly been an amazing one!  It definitely was one full of adventure and excitement, and miracles!  I am loving the city of Mito, it is incredible!  There is so much potential in this city, we are so excited for the weeks to come!  Yesterday had to be the high light of the week however, because we were able to see a baptism!  T_______was able to be baptized after church yesterday, and it was an amazing day!  There really isn't anything like watching someone's life change, and then them making that first step, and receieving baptism.  He came out of the water and was just so happy!  The rest of the day he really was just glowing.  He is going to be an amazing member of the church, and is going to help so much in the ward.  Thank you for all of your prayers!  I have such a strong testimony of prayer.  It really does make miracles happen.  I know that your prayers helped him have that courage and faith to get baptized.  Prayer is such an amazing thing because we really get to express to God the desires of our hearts, and as we do that he is able to bless us!  So thank you so much!  We were really excited to see that baptism happen, and are so excited to get out and hopefully see some more soon!

 

  So besides the baptism, right now we are completely in find mode, which is different for me because in Sanjo we were always just teaching lessons!  But we don't really have any other investigators, so this week we have the plan to get out there and find some amazing people who have been prepared!  Please continue to pray so that we can find these people!  We know that they are there and we are ready to do what it takes to find them!  We are really excited to work hard and see some miracles this week!

 

  Tomorrow we have a huge 2 mission conference with Elder Evans!  I told you a little bit about it in your email dad!  But this conference is with the South, and the North mission!  It is going to be huge and we are having a 3 hr conference with him!  I have been preparing a lot by reading some of Elder Evans talks, watching some of them as well to really be able to get as much as I can out of it!  Tonight we will travel down to Matsudo and stay the night with the Elders down there, and then head off in the morning!  It is a total of about 2 1/2 hrs by train to the church we are meeting at, but I am so excited!  Then after, all the missionaries in the North mission will be meeting and we will have a conference and dinner and stuff!  It is going to be a crazy day tomorrow, but we are so excited to be so spiritually uplifted!

 

  The companions right now are doing great.  We have been able to really get close the last little bit, and it has been great!  I love these two.  We are having a lot of fun, but we are also really growing alot together!  We have really high expectations for the area, and we want to be able to see this area just sky rocket like we know it can!  We all have the same desire to work our hardest and see this miracle happen which I think is really important.  I really have been so blessed to have such amazing companions so far on my mission, such a blessing!

 

  Besides our baptism, there really wasn't anything crazy exciting this week unfortunately..so I am sorry this email wasn't better!  However, this week is going to be amazing, so I will have great things to write next week!  Just know that I love you all so much and I am so grateful for such an amazing support system!  You all are amazing and I pray for you every night!  Talk to you soon!

 

Love,

 

Elder Cottle

 

Week 23!!!

Hello everyone!  This was definitely one of those weeks that I had no time!  But, I do have a few pictures and one important story!  The story is that we have an investigator who is going to be baptized next Sunday!  He is 20 yrs old and his name is T________!!  I love him and he is way sweet and we are so excited to baptize him!  It is going to be this sunday so i was just going to ask for your prayers so that the baptism will go through!  We are so excited for this opportunity and we know how blessed we are.

 

I love you all so much and just know i miss you and love you!

 

Love,

Elder Cottle

Pictures!

So first...We went on a way sweet hike...thats all these sweet pictures!

 

Then..I transferred..and that is the rest of these!  Like the Night before I transferred...leaving Sister M_____ and my brother elder Hall..and then leaving Y______which really broke my heart!  But fun stuff!

He will miss him so much. :(

Beautiful 

In the apartment 

He and his brother Elder Hall

Week 22! November 4th

My dearest family and friends!

 

  So I first need to apologize for missing the big email last week!  I messed up...and I promise I won't do it again!  Haha this week has been crazy...After I got the transfer call i had to pack up and get ready to move!  It really is crazy that as missionaries we just get up and move acrossed the country just like that!  I am now living in Mito!  I am so excited!  This city is amazing and I really can feel that we are going to have so many amazing miracles happen here!  In our district, we have the "Matsudo Church," which is the biggest church in all of asia.....is is 6 stories high and on the top floor has a futsal/basketball court!  It is an amazing building and I actually get to see it tomorrow!  way excited to see it!  Mito city is on the completely opposite coast that I was on last transfer, so i got to see the ocean yesterday!  I have officially seen both coasts of Japan.  Way too cool.  Such incredible opportunities as a missionary in the Tokyo Mission!

 

  So it was really sad leaving Sanjo!  I did not think that i would get as close to people here as i did!  it was way sad to have to leave on such short notice..there were a lot of people i didn't even have a chance to say goodbye to!  So it was hard..but i am so excited to meet the new people here in this ward!

 

  I love both of my companions.  They both want the same things I want, and want to work hard like I do so I can't complain!  I know that president budge called us here on purpose so I am way excited to see the miracles this transfer!

 

  So I know that this seems short...even though the week was crazy..most of it was just doing move stufff and getting settled.  But I am going to send out a picture email right after this, and it will really sum up the week!  I am so grateful for all of the support I have received!  It really has been such a blessing.  I have amazing family and friends.  Thank you all so much!  I know that this gospel is true!  I know that the Lord is hastening his work right now and that there are so many miracles here in japan that are ready to happen!  I love being a missionary here, and I realize how blessed I really am to be able to serve the Lord for this short time.  I love you all so much I will talk to you soon!

 

All my love,

 

Elder Cottle

No long email this week, but he sent this little one and will have to do for now.

Here are some answers to your questions.

1.  Which letter? The one with all of your letters in it did come.  Thank you so much that was so sweet!

2.  We have 2 baptismal dates, and they are going ok.  We need a little more love with them..but we will see how it goes!

3.  I sleep like a rock!  It is getting a little more chilly at nights...but my blanket I brought with me is amazing and I sleep really good!

4.  I am transferring.  Matsudo Zone, Mito Area.  Wayy excited.

5.  Um..Now that I have transferred..I'm not sure the day..let me look it up..I can't get into the portal..I will have to let you know as soon as I can.  I would love it if you fasted with me!

6.  Yes I got your email.  Your parents are amazing.  I love them so much.  Could I get one of their emails so I could send them something?

7.  I teach Eikaiwa (English) every week!  EveryWednesday at 7.  It is so much fun to get to teach people English.  It is one of my favorite times in the week!

 

  I am so lucky to have so much love!  It really is unbelieveable..I'm so blessed.  That is incredible to hear about soccer, and trying out again for the BYU soccer team when I get back. I have actually been thinking about it alot and I think that I could get back and work really hard to get where I need to be to play..I would love to have that opportunity..I don't want to pass it up if I have the chance!  Might as well try right?

 

  We didn't feel the earthquake, not big enough I don't think cause we were pretty far away.  I love you mom:)  I will try to send more audio files i promise!

 

Know how much I love you!

 

Love,

Logan

Week 20!!!!

Dear family!

 

  Today has been a very crazy day!  I do not have a lot of time, I have written to most of the family already, so I just wanted to share about the week really quickly!

 

  This week has been really good!  It was pretty averagely good week, until we had zone conference this weekend and then it was amazing!  What a great weekend!  We had President and Sister B_____up here in Niigata and we had a whole weekend of being spiritually uplifted!  How amazing.  I love President and Sister B____so much.  They are such amazing people and such amazing examples to me.  I love up to them so much! 

 

  In the conference we were able to learn, and get some really good tools on how we can be ready to teach more effectively, and then we had some conference with the members and it was all about Members and Missionaries working together!  That is kind of the big theme now a days in missionary work right?  So we talked about how we can more effectively do that!  It was such a blessing to see our entire zone just really get fired up and get really excited!  They are all ready to go out and talk to their friends and neighbors about the church, invite them, and then introduce them to us!  I think we are about to see a wave of success in missionary work like never seen before.  I am so incredibly excited!

 

  I know that this church is true.  I feel it, and I know it more and more everyday. In the conference this last weekend, there was so much power there.  The spirit was so strong, and I couldn't stop thinking how amazing it is to be a part of something so amazing.  It is such a blessing that we have the gospel in our lives, living in Utah, most people I knew were mormon, and I never really spent time with non-members.  As I have been here in Japan, I get to see people who live really sad lives, but as they come to know Jesus Christ and begin living the gospel, their lives completely change.  That is a testimony builder right there.  You can literally see them change.  It is like nothing I have ever seen.  Amazing.  I am so blessed to be a missionary at a time when the work is being hastened.  We are no long planting seeds.  "The field is white all ready to harvest."  It is.  I think that we are about to see some incredible things, some incredible miracles, and I am so lucky to be a part.

 

  I love you all so much.  Know that I pray and think about you all daily.  I know this church is true!  I love being a missionary.  Everyone please have an amazing week, and I will talk to you all soon!

 

Love,

 

Elder Cottle

Just finished a long bike ride with his companion!

Beautiful!

Logan and his companion!

Second letter of week 19!

Dear Family!

 

  Another week has come and gone, and it really has been a special one!  So blessed to be out here on a mission.  Everyday I have a moment when I just stop and think, how am I so lucky?  I really have been so blessed to see so many miracles on my mission already, and I can't wait to see more.  It is crazy to me to think that I really am here serving in Japan.  There are so many things that are so overwhelming as a missionary, but there are so many more things that bring so much joy that the overwhelming times are not even a big deal.  I have definitely had hard times..but I forget those times when I get to feel the joy of someone coming closer to Jesus Christ.  It is the most incredible feeling ever.

 

  So this week was a great week of work, just a really good week to be a missionary!  One of the highlights of the week was going on exchanges with my old buddy Elder Hall.  It was so much fun to work with him again!  He was able to come back to Sanjo and we were able to see some people that he hasn't seen for a while like Brother Y___ and it was way fun!  Elder Hall is such an incredible missionary and such a good example to me..I really have learned so much from him and it's so fun when we get the chance to work together!  We really have become really close even from just one transfer being together!  Love Elder Hall, such a good friend!

 

  But, after exchanges we were able to have a party for my birthday!  It was actually really awesome.  Our recent convert Sister M_____ actually set it all up to happen after Eikaiwa, and so at around 8 we had a little party!  They were all so nice to set it up and have it for me!  Everyone pitched in and got me a really nice tie!  It's a slim tie, they know me;)haha but it was so great!  It was so incredible to me that they would have a party for me!  So much fun we had such a great time.  So it was the week of my birthday, and I was lucky enough to have the best birthday present ever and have General Conference on my birthday!  It was seriously so amazing!  Seriously, I have never been so spiritually uplifted as I was this weekend!  We got to go to Niigata to watch it, and so we hopped on a train in the morning to head to Niigata, and watched it from 12:00-6:00.  We had our recent convert Brother W_____ and our less active Brother Y____come and it was so fun to talk to them in between sessions.  We were upstairs watching it with all the missionaries in English..and they had it downstairs in Japanese.  They really thought that it was good and I just absolutely loved it.  Such an amazing conference wasn't it?  Just like President Monson said, one of the most amazing he has ever been to!  I would have to agree..way good!

 

  So as far as the first birthday in the mission field went..it was way good!  Seriously..I don't know how it could have gone any better!  It was so fun and everyone was so nice.  I was so blessed to have so many people show so much love to me!  The Japanese people are really so full of love..It amazes me everyday how blessed I am to get to serve such a loving people for to years.  Really how lucky am I?  I also have to say how lucky I am having such an amazing family for sending me an amazing package this week.  Seriously?  I am way to loved..way too lucky!  Thank you so much for all the love that I have received!  I can barely handle it.  Thank you.  It makes the work so much better when you know you have amazing people supporting you back home. 

 

  This week really was one of the best in the mission.  I am really growing everyday as a missionary, in the language, and just as a person in general.  That is one of the biggest things I pulled from General Conference.  There were so many things and there are so many ways that I can improve in.  I have all these goals I have set and all these things I want to do and become not only as a missionary but for my entire life.  It has really helped me realize the person I want to be.  I know that the most happiness we can ever feel in this life is following the teachings of our leaders and of Jesus Christ.  As we do these things, and implement them in our lives, we will be so much happier.  I know this.  I have seen it!  I am lucky to be on a mission so that I can really focus on these things for 2 years, strengthen them, and share them with these people!  It is great.  I hope that everyone loved conference, I know that I really did!

 

  Well I am so blessed.  Thank you all for everything!  You have made my last week a very good one and I loved it.   Thank you for all the support and love you send me every week, it inspires me!  I love you all with all of my heart, and I will talk to you soon! 

 

With all my love,

 

Elder Cottle

First letter of week 19!

Dear Mom and Family,

 

  I am going to be on later today..actually probably later tonight..which is like 3 or 4 in the morning in america..we have an ward, well actually a district because we aren't quite big enough to be a ward..but we have one of those today so we are moving our p day a little later...so i had a little time before my shower to hop on and read all your letters and they were amazing!  I have the most amazing family in the world! You all sent the nicest stuff to me and I am so grateful to have such an amazing support system behind me as I am here in Japan.  I have to be honest..I have not received the packages yet..However, they did come on Saturday!  But..I was inNiigata, for General Conference and did not see the slips until Sunday night.  So we called the number and I should be getting them sent to me today or tomorrow!  Thank you mom(and the family im sure) and Rachel for sending me packages!  I know that it is not easy from America to japan..so seriously thank you:)

 

  My birthday was amazing this week our recent convert Sister M____ threw  a party for me and so we did that this last..Wednesday?  Yeah and then all these people there, most non-members pitched in and bought me a skinny tie hahaha they know me and my style;)  I also got a square tie from Elder S___ my old companion, a cake from the sanjo sisters, an amazing back massage from another Elder, Elder C____, and an amazing day full of the spirit after General Conference.  It was amazing this year huh?  I could not believe how lucky I was to have General Conference on my birthday!

 

  Thank you all for everything.  Seriously I love you all so much and I could feel your love all the way from America.  I hope you all enjoyed Conference as much as I did.  I think, to be honest, that was the first time in my life I have ever watched every single speaker, and every single hour of conference.  It was amazing.

 

  This church is true!  I know it, and God knows it and he is allowing me to share it with people.  He most definitely could do it by himself..but he allows us to grow from it.  I will email a full email later tonight..but i wanted to give you all something before sunday was over for you, letting you know how much i loved you and how great of a birthday i had:)  I will talk to you all soon!

 

With all my love,

 

Elder Cottle

Logan's kite flying day!

  Ok so for pictures this week we really only have one event, but a few pictures of it!  So I thought I would just kind of explain what is happening here.  Basically, Japan has some amazing cultural things they do, and one of these is to fly massive japanese kites.  Y____兄弟, my favorite less active, does this as a hobby.  He is actually on a kite flying team haha.  Basically these teams do this once a year and its this huge deal, they get these kites up and then once they are all up you compete in trying to bring other teams kites down, it is chaos!  But anyways, we went to go watch him and we started talking to one of the guys on another team.  All of a sudden before we know it, we are getting our fingers taped and getting ready to go fly their kite with them on their team!  They show me where to hold the rope and it is kind of hard to get these kites up at first because they are so massive, but they just tell me to grab it and run as fast as I can.  So, I do that and the kit shoots up into the sky!  Everyone is like screaming and then all of a sudden they are yelling at me in Japanese what I need to keep the kite doing.  I guess I was doing really good?...because as I'm flying this kite one of the guys takes off his "jersey" but it's just a classic japanese robe, and puts it on me!  All of a sudden I am on their team and doing all the flying and pulling!  It was amazing!  Seriously one of the coolest things I have ever done.  The kite is really big so as the wind is pulling it, its hard work!  it is such a big kite that they don't have string, it is like legitimate rope!  But basically I was able to get the kite doing what they wanted, and the rest of the day everyone there kept telling me "good fight" haha.  An amazing experience!  So that is kind of what these pictures explain!

 

Week 18 with pics!!

How's my family doing?!

 

  Things in the country of Japan have been quite good this week.  Hahathings really have been great, we have been having a lot of fun and doing a lot of teaching!  Which is what we like!  This week as far as missionary work is concerned, was a week that we really needed!  We were really able to get back to where we wanted to be, and get back to teaching and progressing the people we want to progress!  Last week was a hard week, and we kind of had a hard time keeping our appointments..but this week was much better!  We were able to hit the Standards..for the most part.  There were a few things that we just barely missed...but we have a really good plan to hit them this coming week!

 

  This week I was able to get a little package from home...(thank you mom and whoever helped I love you)  and it was awesome!  It was so great to have a little bit of American food!  We have already eaten the oreos..and one of the mac n cheese's, but today we are going to get the other ingredients for the other stuff so we are excited to have that stuff for this next week!  I am so lucky to have such an amazing family that takes such good care of me, even when I'm thousands of miles away.  Thank you!

 

  The companionship has been great, and the missionary life has been great as well this week!  I really love my companion he is the man.  I am so lucky to have such an amazing trainer!  He has helped me improve so much already, and is really good at helping me learn Japanese.  I have really seen a jump in the last week in my competence!  Which is really exciting!  That is really the only thing I am ever stressed about.  I mean, I do stress about our investigators obviously, but I always feel that I could help our investigators so much more if I could just talk to them like I could in English, and just really have like those good heart to heart talks sometimes ya know?  So, I am really working on just having that patience that learning a language takes time, and just working my absolute hardest to learn the things I need to learn to be able to talk to people effectively.  That is actually one of the goals I have for this transfer is that by the end of it, I would be ready to train.  We will have another 35 missionaries coming into the Tokyo mission..and not very many missionaries over transfer 3...there really is a good chance that I am going to be training soon...and I want to make sure that I am doing everything I can to be ready in case I do end up training!  Pretty intense..but exciting stuff!

 

  I want to say thank you to everyone who has been writing me emails!  I seriously love them so much..I love hearing from everyone specifically, so keep that up!  I love hearing how you are doing, even the little things!  Thank you so much for all the love you send.  I really am so blessed to have such an amazing support system.

 

  I know this church is true!  I love this work.  I love the savior and all that he has done for me in my life.  I feel him strengthen me everyday when I might feel like I don't know if I can do it.  There really is power in being a missionary.  I am so blessed for this opportunity to serve the people of Japan.  There is no where else in the world I would rather be right now.  I know that the Lord has placed prepared people in our path, and that we are being given the opportunity to help with this great work.  Thank you all so much for your love and support!  I love each and everyone of you so much, and pray for you daily! 

 

  Everyone have an amazing week and I will talk to you soon!

 

All my love!

 

Elder Cottle

 

Flying huge Japanese kites!

Logan was so good they put a robe on him. :)

Look how huge these kites are!! He had to tape his fingers to hold the ropes if the kite. 

Week 17!

Dear Family!

 It has been another week, I know it is a little wierd I feel like I am always on the computer writing you..It is going so fast it's crazy.  I really can't believe that I have already been here 2 months, and that I am already half way through my 2nd transfer!  Way wierd.  But its so much fun.

 So this week, was a little crazy.  This we my first full week with Elder Pronk and it was so much fun.  We really have so much fun together and he is such a cool chill guy it is awesome!  We both have the same goals and visions for the area, and so we are ready to work really hard to accomplish those goals!  I am really excited to see how we do the next couple of weeks it should be really fun!  I really think that we are going to be able to see a lot of success, and I really want to see a baptism with him!  We have a few investigators that really could be baptized, so we just need to get them moving in that direction!  Really cool though, so much potential!

 Yeah so this week, first full week, and I won't lie it was a little bit stressful.  The most stressed I have been on my mission, so far.  But it was a good stress!  See the thing is that when I was in the tri-companionship I was there, but I had two older missionaries who could make all the calls and make good plans and stuff and I would just voice my opinion and it was good.  But now, I am pretty much the one making all the plans because Elder Pronk doesn't really know everyone yet.  So I pretty much planned the entire week and made all the judgement calls and set everything up for the week so it was pretty intense!  I really started feeling the responcibility for all of these people we are teaching and although it was really hard and kinda scary and stressful, I really liked it:/  I don't know why, but like the pressure and stuff just made me want to work harder and be better and do better and just be a better missionary.  Things were really hard and hectic, but I just wanted to keep getting better and better throughout the week.  In this new companionship, I really am going to have TONS more responcibility, but I am really excited for this opportunity to grow as a missionary and to really just learn things that I need to learn!  Things are going really good!

 The other thing with this new companionship is that I think that my language is going to grow ALOT.  My japanese right now is..pretty good.  I can definitely get my point acrossed most of the time, but I am going to have many more opportuities here to use it and to apply the things I am learning as well!  Elder Pronk is way cool about helping me and working with me so it is really awesome and I think that that is going to help a ton as well.

 I seriously love my mission.  Don't get me wrong there are so many things that I miss from home, and America!  But it is SOOO worth it to be here and be able to help these people learn about Jesus Christ and watch them strengthen their releationship with him and really learn to trust him and have faith in him.  It is like nothing I have ever experienced in my life.  It is real joy.  Missionary work seems so hard, but really when you get down to it, we are just lucky to be here.  The Lord is allowing us to do his work.  He could take care of it if he needed to right?  But he allows us to be a part, and allows us to feel that joy of bringing others unto him.  There are so many times through out the day where I am just like..I am so lucky right now.  And I just smile.  I really do I just smile and I ask myself how I am so lucky!  To be a part of this amazing work, is really just such a blessing.

 I know this gospel is true!  I have such a strong testimony in the Restoration of the gospel in these latter days.  I am so grateful for the Prophet Joseph Smith, and all he did and went through so that we could have the Book of Mormon.  This book is so powerful!  I have seen it change lives.  I love the Book of Mormon.  I look forward to studying it more and more throughout my life.  This book can bless lives more than anything in this world if we will but read it, and apply it's teachings in our lives!  I am so grateful for Jesus Christ, and the strength he gives me everyday to go out and teach his gospel.  I know that it is through him that we are able to do the things we do as missionaries!  I'm so grateful to be a part of such an amazing work, and I promise that I am going to do everything I can every single day to make sure that I am doing the things He would have me do.

 I love you all so much!  I am so grateful for you all.  All of you helped me get out here on my mission, and have really made me the missionary I am today!  Have a good week, and I will talk to you all soon!

Love you!

All my love,

Elder Cottle

Week 16!! Another baptism!

Dear Family!

 

  This week has been a very eventful week!  I really can not believe how fast the weeks are going at this point..It's actually really weird!  But there is so much work to be done and it is so fun to be able to be a part!  There really was so many things this week, so I will try to make describe everything good, but there was a lot so I will try my best!

 

  First things first....WE HAD A BAPTISM!  We were able to baptize Sister M_____ last week!  We baptized her this last Wednesday, and we were able to do it in the OCEAN.  Yes, I have officially had my first ocean baptism.  It was such an incredible experience!  I will send a seperate email with all of the pictures, but it was so amazing!  Thank you for all of your prayers.  I really think that they helped her make that final walk out into the water and receive baptism.  I was able to have the opportunity to confirm her the following Sunday!  So I have been blessed to have confirmed two people, in Japanese, in my first transfer!  So scary but seriously one of the most amazing experiences of my life.  I can not believe how amazing it is to see someone after they have been baptized, and just how happy they are, and how blessed their life can be!  Amazing.

 

  Next big thing that happened this week was the transfer.  I won't lie to you it has been kind of a hard week!  I was really sad to hear that I wasn't going to be companions with Elder Hall anymore..but I met my companion on Friday and he is so cool!  His name is Elder Pronk, and he is from Canada!  He is a really cool, chill guy and is the same transfer as Elder Hall!  He LOVES snowboarding and he has a video of him throwing a double backflip!  He is like a pro its ridiculous but he is way cool!  We picked them up from the station and we just started talking about the work and we have all the same focus so it is way cool!  We have really high expectations for Sanjo, and I am really excited to have the chance to work with him.  I think that it is going to be an amazing transfer.

 

  So along with Elder Hall and Elder Sellers leaving, things have been a little more stressful.  But really good!  Basically I am the area Sempai, Sempai means like the older, wiser person kind of thing? It's hard to explain in English but basically it kinda means like I'm the "senior companion" just for knowing the area and knowing all of the investigators.  So its been pretty intense.  I have basically been making all the decisions and making all the appointments and stuff and it has been pretty intense!  It has definitely been different..but I have loved having some more responsibility and the best part is, we have actually been really successful!  We have been able to meet with a lot of people and things are going really good!  So even though it has maybe been a little more intense, it has been really fun.  I love the challenge.

 

  So a crazy busy week trying to get my old companions out and a new companion in!  We really were all over the place, but I think that we are back on track and really have things worked out and we are just ready to go to work!  So many miracles waiting to happen here in Sanjo, I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us this transfer.  MIRACLES.  I know this church is true and I know that this work is his work.  We are trusted to bring his children closer to him and as we work our hardest, trust in him, and have that faith, he will bless us with miracles.  I have seen it over and over.  I am so blessed to be here.  I know that the people of Japan are ready to hear this message.  Times are changing, and I know that as we are BOLD we will be able to bless the lives of theJapanese people tremendously.  I am so blessed to come from such an amazing family, and have so many incredible friends to support me!  Thank you for all that you do.  It means the world to me and helps me when things are hard to know that you are back home cheering me on.  I love you guys so much!  I pray for you every single night and every single morning, and a lot of times throughout the day too.  Pretty much just constantly..haha but just know how much I love you and how much I love this gospel!

 

With all of my love,

 

Elder Cottle

Pics!

Logan harvesting rice! So cool!

Week 15!

Dear Family,

 

  This week has been so crazy, but so incredible at the same time!  We really did so many amazing things and got so much work done!  I was definitely feeling the joy as we worked hard to help our investigators progress and help them get closer to baptism.  There was so much that happened this week, it really is just incredible we got it all done!  But way cool.

 

  So the first big thing we did through out the week was harvested rice!  We got to help out Brother T_____with the rice a few times and it was so much fun to help him!  One of the times after helping him we were able to go visit a little Japanese preschool and it was so much fun!  We just stopped in and asked if we could say hello, and they ended up making like a full on assembly for us!  It was crazy but so cool!  All of the little Japanese kids were so cute I loved it.  They said that we can come by anytime and they would be happy to have us.

 

  The weekend was where it got wild though.  So, while on exchanges, Elder Hall met these 2 way sick kids who play soccer.  G____is 20 I think, and just way cool.  C_____is the other, and he is 16 but really mature and just hangs out with all these 20 year olds.  His dad lives in London so he has perfect English as well as perfect Japanese.  But when he speaks english it is in a little english accent!  It is so legit.  So on Saturday, we got to hop on a train in the morning and go play soccer with them with all their friends at this field.  It was amazing.  We got to talk to the kids while we played and ended up getting G_____to come next week to come play music and stuff with us!  I guess he is really good at the violin mom, so i will have to let you know how he is!  So that is going to be sweet! 

 

  Then after playing, we went back home to Sanjo to go meet with some people and teach!  We were able to get two lessons which was way awesome, and then we went back to Niigata to go to the game!  C____got us free tickets, so we were able to go with all of his friends!  It was such an amazing opportunity to go!  I feel like I have had the best first transfer anyone could have..seriously amazing.  I have gotten to do it all!  The game was so fun and here in Japan they take it so seriously so it is awesome!  The stadium was huge, as you can hopefully see in the pictures, and it was just so fun to have that chance to go!  I really am so blessed. 

 

  So after the game, we had a chance to do a Skype lesson with Sister M_____ our investigator who is really close to baptism, and we did a three way with one of Elder Hall's recent converts Brother S______ He had a really hard time getting baptized because a lot of people didn't want him to, but once he did he realized the blessings and it really changed his life.  Sister M_____ is the same way.  She has some friends and family that don't want her to get baptized and she is worried that if she does they won't be the same to her anymore.  S_____ was able to tell her his experience and really testify that things will work out for the better as she gets baptized.  The lesson went amazing!  The next day (Sunday) she had her baptismal interview and passed easily!  She did amazing and she is ready I think!  She is planning on being baptized this Wednesday!  The best part is, she wants to get baptized in the ocean, so we are going to do an ocean baptism!  Sooo sick!  Seriously so amazing.  Please pray for her that she will have comfort and confidence these next couple of days to go through with the baptism.

 

  The last big thing for this week was transfers..kind of hard! I am losing my companions, and Elder Sellers is going to Sado, and Elder Hall is going to Niigata to be zone leader!  I really can't believe that they are leaving!  It is kind of sad..this is my first transfer and it isn't very fun!  Haha I loved these two Elders they are seriously amazing..but I guess it was for a reason!  So I will be the Sempai companion here, which just means I am the one who has to know where everything is because my new companion hasn't been here yet.  Pretty intense.  I want to set really high expectations for him as he comes here.  I know that I am the rookie, and don't know everything yet, but I want to make sure that he is ready to just see miracles here.  We need that high expectation!

 

  So blessed to be serving a mission right now.  I am turning a new page, and its a little weird but I am so excited!  I know that I am going to learn so much and that this is such an amazing opportunity to do amazing things!  I know this church is true and I know that Jesus Christ is the savior and redeemer of the world.  I have felt him strengthen me as I strive to do this work the best I can.  Thank you all for being such a good support and just know how much I love you!  I pray for you every day. 

 

Talk soon!

 

Love,

 

Elder Cottle