FROM: ELDER CONNER CARLINI
DATE: SEPT. 14, 2015
SUBJECT: AN ACTUAL EMAIL THIS TIME!!

Hello wonderful family and friends! Sorry it's been a couple weeks of not so much emailing, hah. I'll make sure to fill you in on this last week and give you just a quick peek into the missionary life of Elder Carlini. Welcome

(Last) Monday - On this fine day, me and the man Elder Nakamoto went out and hit up some parks and talked with people! We found some great people, but some from not around here, and the others not interested. So unfortunately, things are still a bit dry here in terms of people wanting to learn more. But we are doing our best and trying to find someone new!! Good stuff.
We also went out and did some visits to less active members, inviting them to the special Ward conference we had this Sunday. Wooooh

Tuesday - This is when I sent my "email" last week, but i didn't really give you any information besides that we went to the temple. Yeah! Temple P-day. It was good. We went to TGI Fridays with some fellow missionaries and then at night, me and Elder Nakamoto did some more less active visits and Housing in the area.

Wednesday - On Wednesday we were supposed to have a Zone Blitz with all the missionaries in the Yokohama South zone. BUT we had some straight up Typhoon action coming in and it was cancelled. However, we were still able to go outside and try finding people to talk to, which we did for a bit! We talked with some people for a while, but as you'd expect, people didn't want tostay outside too long, haha. I got some crazy rain videos. Well it's not too crazy...just a lot of big rain, haha. We then had a lesson with Nakamotoさん, the king of Cool. It went well and we finished off the night with English Class. Less people came than usual because of the Typhoon, but it was still a lot of fun!

Thursday - On this fine day, we had only a slight chance to go out and talk with new people, but we found them! It was only a couple down at the bottom of the hill near our apartment, but they were really cool! One was from Cuba and the other was Japanese. We started the conversation in English but then when the Japanese girl asked if we spoke Japanese, we switched right over to that, haha. She was quite surprised. It was a fun conversation. And then we had the long haul of doing Weekly Planning over at the church. Made it through almost all of it, then had a dinner appointment with the new family in our Ward, the Larsens!! The father is American and he's married to a woman from Taiwan. They both speak/can speak Chinese and they're really nice people. It was great to get to know them and we had a delicious meal!

Friday - On Friday, we went to the ever-so-classic, Negishi Park again and had some great weather this time! It's nearing the end of the heat and beginning the slight descent into the Winter season. It's great weather right now. Still Humid, but not so dang hot anymore. Anyways, we started our regular route around Negishi Park and talked with whomever would stop to talk with us. There weren't too many people in the park this day, but then we found this young mate sitting on a bench and reading a book. So we said "hello!" and asked if he came to this park often. That started a nice conversation and we ended up sitting down with him and talking for a good while. He's a really nice kid and he laughed at my jokes. So I like him, haha! Anyways, he said he had some free time that same day, so we scheduled to meet up with him again at the church later in the day. We then proceeded on and did some more housing until District Meeting! We had a nice little District Meeting, and then our boy from the Park (his name is Muuto by the way) showed up at the church! He was able to meet all the missionaries of Yamate and our Zone Leaders from down in Kamiooka. And after we finished up the meeting, we were able to show him around the church and got the chance to teach him the restoration! We weren't really planning on teaching, but after we showed him around and mentioned the Book of Mormon, he said he wouldn't mind if we taught him more about the book. So we taught and testified, and I felt good about it. We then went out and had a little dinner with him nearby. It was a good time. Kind of like the miracle for the week.

Saturday - Unfortunately, on this night, when calling lots of people to invite to the Ward conference and also checking up on some other potentially interested friends, we called up Muuto and it wasn't as I had hoped. I forgot to mention that we gave Muuto a Book of Mormon and also left him with the commitment to try praying, both of which he agreed to and seemed excited about. However, after a nice conversation and asking about what he did today and whatnot, I mentioned/asked about the Book of Mormon and prayer. I wasn't expecting a resounding yes or anything, heck it was only a day later, haha. But, he told me that he hadn't tried and that he doesn't want to learn any more about the church or Jesus Christ...Noooo! The Famine continues... Hah, it made me way sad because I feel like I'm pretty good at at least being friends with the people I meet and through that, help them want to learn more. But he just said that he's alright and that he is "declining" learning more about the church. But he's down to meet again. Hah, dang. We'll see what we can do.
Anyways, that was at the end of the day, but what the most part of the day was me and Elder Lobaccaro being together for splits! It was fun. I had some forms I had to put together and fill out to send to the ward as District Leader, and then we went to do yet another Less Active visit. It was a way creepy place and there were tons of old people drinking beer and smoking, just walking around staring at us as we walked into an almost institution like outdoor building to find the apartment. Haha, it was interesting. We found the apartment, but no one home. Then we had an unexpected but solid visit with our man Kurata at Yamashita Park that ended up with a lesson at the church with the bishop too. As for now...he's back! And hopefully we can teach him till he can help himself out of the hard situation he's in right now. He's having a hard time... Let's get the Gospel to help him!

Sunday - Alright, so this was the Ward Conference, special Sunday I've been mentioning in this letter, and it went great! There were a lot more people at church than usual and the food/meal we had after church was great! We had lots of opportunities to talk with various members and non members, and it went swell. I'm really growing to love a lot more people in this ward. Fantastic. The Missionaries also sang with several ward members during sacrament and that was a cool little musical number. Besides being at the church most of the day and talking with lots of people, that was pretty much it. It was good!

And that's the week!
I have several pictures to send as well so be on the lookout for that too.
Love you all! Byeeee
愛してます！
じゃねー

Elder Carlini
カーリ二長老

FROM: ELDER CONNER CARLINI
DATE: JUNE 21, 2015
SUBJECT: Crazy Week

Shoot. I don't have a whole lot of time, because I'm spending this
fine P-Day with my man Elder Scott who will be leaving next week for
America. Dang does the time fly.
Yeah, so this week was really up and down. I haven't had a week like
this in a while but it slightly reminds me of the early time I had on
the mission. Hahaha, that was hard. Really hard. So yeah.
Anyways, Tuesday was a rough day. I'm not gonna go into much
detail. But sometimes, you just don't want to be a missionary all that
much and the missionary life gets to you. Haha, but it always goes
away. I'm good now.
Wednesday was a lot of fun. I got to go to Kichijoji for an
interpreter training I was invited to, along with Elder Kennedy. That
was awesome. We had lots of fun, learned a lot, and I got to see Elder
Lobaccaro and Elder Moua!! We had a great talk!
Friday, we had a Zone Conference where I got to see my good man
Elder Bates as the new AP!! It was great. Learned a lot and got to
hear Testimonies from some Sisters from my MTC district, and also
Elder Scott.
Saturday. We got to meet with my man from Fujisawa, Toguchi! We
had a nice meal and talked about lots of stuff.
We also met with Kurata several times this week and he is progressing.
He is an awesome guy!

That's it! Byeee
-Elder Carlini

FROM: ELDER CONNER CARLINI
DATE: JUNE 15, 2015
SUBJECT: Yeahhh. Yamate

Alright, I'll try keeping just to the main points here.
We got to meet with our new man Kurata three times this week which was great. He wants to improve his life and is pretty unhappy right now. We have been trying to give him the hope he needs through the Gospel. He seems relatively willing to change. He's just having difficulties with the Book of Mormon and other new information to him. He's a great guy and we love being his friend!
We also met with Kenny this last week!! He is improving bit by bit and said that he could see him "going Mormon" as he put it. Sweet. We just have to help him implement the good of the Gospel teachings and change his life for the better. He is a good guy.
I also happened to hit my 1 Year and a Half mark this Thursday by the way. Today (the 15th) is the "6 months before I return home" mark, but dang, how crazy it is too have already been a full time missionary for now 18 full months. If I was a sister missionary, I would be home in a few weeks...WOW that's too fast!! It's time to go Hard and leave all the good behind that I can here in Japan. I love the Japanese people more than I can explain, and it will be a sad day to leave this great country. Anyways for now, we're doing our best everyday!!
On Friday, I got the awesome opportunity to go back to Kamiooka (my first area) AGAIN and do some missionary work with Elder Murakami on splits. It was great. We met up with and had a great chat with one of my friends throughout the mission, that lives in Kamiooka, and we were happy to see each other. He also told us several times that we have changed the way he looks at the church and Mormons in general. He said his image wasn't all that good before, but now he thinks really good of the church. Sweet! We took a picture to commemorate the good. His name is Toru by the way. Toru!!! I also got to see the Ogawa family again for a nice dinner. They are way funny. I love them. As well as everyone else that knows them loves them, haha.
And on Saturday, me and Elder Belnap had an opportunity to go out, eat, and talk with some new friends that we made while out and about doing the good work. A lot of times when you meet people that don't have much interest, even if you exchange numbers, you don't see them again too often...but these two were different! The Miyura's! They are a way nice couple and they wanted to take us out. So we went, had a way good time, and shared a scripture as well as our testimonies with them. They didn't have like a huge change of heart and desire to hear about the Gospel, but they respected our beliefs and enjoyed hearing them. "Through small and simple things are great works brought to pass" right? Good people nonetheless. Hopefully we can meet again soon!
And lastly, we went over to the Bishops daughters house for a dinner and to give a message to her husband who isn't a member of the church. He was a way cool and funny guy. Pretty quiet, but funny. He said he was happy to have us over and always loves to have missionaries over to talk. Then he asked us if we knew why and we said, hmmm, no, why? Then he told us that because when the missionaries come over, his wife always makes delicious food! Haha, good line. Niiiiiiice. We then shared a simple message with him. He has faith. He'll be alright.
So yeah, that's the visits of the week!
Cool stuff right? There's so much that happens in a week that I hardly believe it. Lots of good people and lots of tough trials. But it all creates an overall great experience for my life from here on out. We can learn from Mistakes just as well as from our success'. And probably even more from mistakes and trials to be honest, haha. Good week overall. Couple of bad days. But yeah! That's it for now. Byeeee

Elder Carlini
カーリ二長老


Me and my man Toru!! He's on the right...not wearing the missionary tag haha

Pictures of the Week... don't think I sent this yet...the sweet glasses


Standing on "The Road of Lights" that lead to Yamate station. And
basically our apartment.

FROM: ELDER CONNER CARLINI
DATE: MAY 31, 2015
SUBJECT: Simple email

Sorry mates, I'm tired and don't want to write a big email today.
Haha, so this is the just of the week.
We were able to meet with Noguchi, a new person we met named
Yoshida, Kenny, Once more again with Kenny and also Jenny, and then
Kambayashi and his 2 co workers.
We are planning to meet more with Kenny and Jenny this week and
change Kennys life around for the best. He's met with missionaries for
quite a while now and we are really good friends with him. He likes
Mormons and he likes what we do. It all depends on his self
commitment. So our plan is to PUMP him UP! And get him motivated for
life. In the picture I'll send wih him he looks way sad and old but I
promise he's a happy guy most of the time, haha. He just doesn't smile
as much in pictures, haha. Anyways, we will help create Kenny 2.0 this
week!!
Also, we got to go,to Questions of the Soul at Kamiooka church this
week. It was way awesome and I got to see the beloved members of my
first area. So nice. So great. And Kambayashi brought his friend to
that so I was able to give him a Book of Mormon and challenge him to
read it! Hopefully we'll see him again. Good man.
And yeah, we had a decent amount of people come to church yesterday
and that was great. Apparently getting people to church has one of the
highest correlation to Baptisms. So we go hard. And yup. Me and Elder
Belnap are doing well. We get along and we love Yamate!!
Hope you have a great week and we'll see ha later. Byeeee

Elder Carlini
カーリ二長老

We offered Mr. Macdonald, who we met randomly sitting on a bench, a
Book of Mormon. He just gave us a blank stare....but better luck next
time

Pictures!! Yamate is just too good.
Me and my companion got a quick pic by the Harbor.


More pictures! P-Day
Me and Elder Scott. The Kings of Landmark Tower...haha


FROM: ELDER CONNER CARLINI
DATE: MAY 25, 2015
SUBJECT: This Week. In Yamate～～～

Shoot! So I actually don't have a lot of time left but I wanna
write the main "goods" of the week. Me and Elder Belnap are working
hard and trying our best to improve hardcore this transfer. We've got
great goals and our sights are set high for this transfer here in
Yamate. The mission just goes by too fast to not have an awesome
transfer!
So yeah, we were able to meet with Kenny, Yuuki Matsuoka, and
Noguchi さん this week and they each went pretty well! Kenny is still a
bit stubborn but it was nice meeting him along with Sister Jenny from
the Ward whom is his good friend. We went out to Sushi and then had a
good talk at his place. I got to explain my story of coming out on a
mission and the little things that lead up to it. It felt good and
Kenny said he really liked what I said because it "came from the
heart". Yeahhhh. Good game.
We also had a great After Baptism lesson with Brother Matsuoka who
was baptized a few months ago (before I got here) and that went well.
Brother Oba joined in with us and we had a really awesome chat about
service. It's really important to serve others because it helps us to
forgot about our problems a little bit and feel more worth as we give
our talents and use our strengths for good use. So yeah, since he's
been going through some tough stuff lately, we invited him to try and
serve others and that through that he could feel more peace.
Alright I have like no time left but on Saturday we had the great
chance to finally get out there and talk with lots of different people
in the parks around here with the beautiful views! We talked with an
older man by himself sitting on a kind of bench, and then his son in
law came over and we talked with him too! Eventually, the older mans
wife and daughter showed up and we had a great yet unexpected chat
with 4 people! They were all really nice. I love the people here in
Japan. We ended up getting the guys phone number and hopefully plan to
meet again for at least a dinner outing or something. They said they
weren't too interested in the church but they really liked us so it
was a good chance to leave them with a good impression of the church!
Yup.
Then lastly, we found that there was a "Belgium Beer Festival"
going on in one of the parks we were walking through and there were
tons of people! Haha, we couldn't tell if it was a terrible place to
talk with people or just the right place. Anyways, we stayed on the
outside edge of it as we walked towards the other end of the park and
actually met a couple of cool guys. One was American and the other was
Swedish but yeah, it was good talking to them. Funny people. There's a
lot of foreigners here actually so we get our fair share of chances to
talk with them.
Yeah, so I gotta go now but that was some of the good points of the
week! We'll talk to you later friends! Enjoy the week!!

バイバイ〜
愛してます！

Elder Carlini
カーリ二長老

I can't remember if I already sent these 2 but this shirt is way
sweet! Donkey Kong!!