Aug 30, 2007
Darien's Josh Doying spreads the Word in Japan
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While most recent Darien High School graduates are beginning another year at college, Darien’s Josh Doying will be spending this year in Ushiku, Japan — not as a college student studying abroad, but as a missionary for the Mormon Church of Latter Day Saints.
Doying would have been a sophomore at Brigham Young University, but felt that it was his calling to spread the word of his Mormon faith.
“If you saw a really good movie, or ate at an excellent restaurant, you’d tell your friend right? Being a missionary is the same kind of concept,” Doying said in an e-mail interview last week. “I love this Gospel, I love the understanding and insights it’s given me and I can’t wait to share it with my friends.”
As a missionary he spends the majority of his time wandering Ushiku with his missionary companion, Elder Shibata, meeting people, and talking to those who’ll listen. The job is not without its challenges.
“It’s always discouraging when someone says ‘No thank you before you’ve said anything or when they completely ignore you or just walk of mid-sentece,” he said. “So always talk to missionaries! There great guys and want to make you smile.”
Doying remembered one time he started talking with a Japanese man and felt that they were really connecting.
Doying was able to understand almost all of the man’s questions, but got stuck on the word “Keiatsu.” When he brought Elder Shibata to help him translate, he found out that Keiatsu meant police. The man had been threatening to call the cops.
“Of course, for every 10 who ignore you, there is someone who listens.” Doying said. “Just the other day someone said ‘no thanks,’ but picked a fresh tomato form their garden and told me ‘work hard.’”
The Mormon church has one of the largest missionary programs in the world. Young men between 19 and 25 years old are expected to serve two years as a missionary, and women are also encouraged to serve an 18-month stint.
Since the founding of the church in 1830, its estimated that more than a million Mormons have served as missionaries.
Before becoming a missionary, Doying had to first go through an interview process to ensure that he was morally worthy. Then the church’s Apostle of the Lord reviewed his application and assigned him his country by revelation.
“For me it was even more exciting than the college application process,” Doying said. “Maybe that’s because I knew I wouldn’t open up the latter and it’d say-sorry, we had too many applicants for a mission this year so we’ll put you on waiting list.”
Doying is no stranger to Japan. He was born in the country, and spent his first 10 years there, before moving to Darien.
He does speak Japanese, but said that the many years in Connecticut have left him rusty. He went on to spend a month relearning the language and culture of Japan at the Missionary Training Center in Provo before heading out to Ushiku this Summer.
“I’d have to say the job is going well,” Doying said. “It’s not anything like I expect, but I guess that very few people know exactly what to expect. The church members over here are wonderful, and the people that we get to talk to are all pretty amazing too. Every day’s exhausting, but that’s because we’re working hard.”
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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