Weekly Letter

Do you belive in miracles....YES!!

I apologize that this is two days late but しょうがない (whatre you gonna do.)

This last Monday was ``Respect for the Aged Day`` so usually where we
do email was closed. I dont even know what they do on that holiday. I
tried to have the Eikaiwa students explain it to me but they were all
like, ``You just.....do nice things for old people...``. Cuz
apparently any other time of the year youre not supposed to haha.

That.... and there was a Taiphoon haha.

It was crazy intense!!! I almosty wrecked it on my bike.

And then yesterday I had a companion exchange with Yamada 長老 so I
couldt email haha. (Him and I have been on 4 exchanges already haha).

So I will start my week.



Tuesday 11th

We had just the normal District meeting and then we tried to go find a
members house. Sadly we got lost and we werent able to find it until
about 6 haha. But we found it and the shimai was very happy to see us.

Ato wa, we went to go visit Takeda-san, one of the investigators
Villalobos 長老 and I found. We stopped at his door, and he answered but
he said that he had just gotten back from rehab so he was very tired,
so we werent able to visit with him for very long. But we made a
return appointment for Friday, and then we headed home.

Wednesday 12th

We went to Fukuoka because I had an interview with President Gustafson.

Me and Gustafson Kaichou talked about the Ward, Companionship, and
other things for a bit, and then I went and did a Mogi (in english its
like.....demonstration....practice teaching thing....I think haha)
with the new AP Watanabe 長老.

At first he just asked a little bit about my day and then we started
talking about different dendo things and he brought up a man that he
had baptized in his last area, Yamaguchi. His name was Murata Kyoudai.
And I was like ``HEY I KNOW HIM!! He just moved to my ward!!`` And
Watanabe was like ``HOLY CRAP!!! YEAH!!! HE WENT TO KITKYUSHU!!``

So then me and Watanabe basically talked about him and a thing called
``Daily Contacting``. Something that the APs are trying to have us do
is to basically see our investigators everyday. They talked about how
we as missionary must always love our investigators. They asked us
``What is the opposite of Love?`` and most of us answered that it was
hate, but they said that it was actually ``Apathy.`` We as missionary
need to show our love by caring for our investigators and showing that
we care for them. And so far its going good =). Weve been able to have
so many good talks and meetings with our investigators, espicially one
named Aoi-chan, but I will talk about her later. I havent been this
genki in such a long time!! KITAKYUSHU IS DOING WAY GOOD!!!

But as Watanbe 長老 and I were talking, one of his investigators walked
into the room. So then, Watanabe 長老 and I taught a lesson haha.

IT WAS WAY GOOD!!!

WE COMMITTED THERE INVESTIGATOR TO BAPTISM!!!

Way tight.

Anywho.

That night we went to a family called the Sumiyas. We went and just
had dinner over at their house and it was just a way good time =).
They both shared their conversion stories with Beckstrand 長老 and I and
It was just a way neat meeting.

THURSDAY 13th!!

We did weekly planning and then we headed out to visit one of our
investigators Ideo-san. (He has crazy eyes and is really intense btw,
just saying, kinda scary) We visited him and then headed to the Church
for Eiakiwa.

We got there and met our newest student Aoi. SHES SO GOOD!!! Shes so golden!!
She was a refferal from Amamioshima and she is going to be here in
kitakyushu area for one year. Shes English peds and is wanting to go
to California next year in August. We had a fun time at Eikaiwa and
then we headed home.

Friday 14th

We visited Takeda-san. He has way bad eyes so I went and bought him
the Book of mormon on CD and gave it to him and he was way shocked. I
remembered that he had a CD player at his house but he said it didnt
work so I went and bought some cords, fixed it, and then I committed
him to listen and he said he would =). The whole time he was saying
that he liked the missionaries smiles haha. It was way good.

The rest of the day was just filled with more people just being angry
Japanese people haha. Dendo....whatre you gonna do?

Then that night we went to Dinner with Kimura Kyodai.　We went to an
all you can eat meat place, it was legit.

I had kind of a cool experience when I was there at the restaurant, it
was in the bathroom which is weird but let me explain haha.

My hands were dirty from riding my bike to the restaurant so I went to
go wash my hands and I was in the bathroom and at the restaurant they
were playing I guess new popular American music. SO I was standing
there listening and I realized how awful it was. I was like, holy
crap.....music nowadays is way bad haha. I know that Mom had been
telling me that forever haha so I laughed to myself when that thought
came to my head, but then I thought, dang.. Ive really changed for the
better haha.

Then to top it off, I got in the car to head home with kimura kyodai
and he had MOTAB playing and I was like ``Ah......This is better..``
haha It was way funny ;) I thought mom would like that.

Saturday 15th

Holy Crap. I love MIKI. She is the most corrupt little Japanese lady I
have ever met haha. She was recently traveling all around Europe and
came back with some sovenirs, one of which was a Narwhal Horn.
RIGHT?!?!?! How crazy is that?!?! She was like ``Yeah I wasnt allowed
to take it to Japan so I smuggled it.`` I was like ``First off, how do
you know the word smuggle in english and second thats illegal!!!``
then she just started laughing. I took a picture of her holding the
horn so someday you guys can see it haha.

Also on that day Aoi and Mary came so we were all practicing english
for a bit. I asked Mary about ``Respect for the aged day`` and she
said that she got some pocket money from her son so she said she was
going to buy alcohol, and then Miki was like ``Nice!!`` and High-5`d
her haha. Those little ladies are very messed up haha.

BTW Miki also smuggled 5 huge bottles of gin back home as well. She
explained to me that she had 6 but she had to pay someone off at the
Greenland airport with one. =P shes such an evil lady haha.

After Eikaiwa we had a lesson with Aoi-chan. There were only 3 of us
so we had to do the lesson in the entry-way of the church. It was way
good!! She wants to go to the temple, be married and all of that, she
just wants to learn everything, then talk to her family about what she
should do. So we will help her =).

Sunday we had church. We called Aoi-chan in the morning and convinced
her to come so we drove with Bishop to Moji and picked her up. And
then we just had a way good day at church, and went home.

Then the Taifu (typhoon) came.

HHHHOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLYYYYYYYY CCCCCCCCRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPP.

is all i can say.

We went out and tried to dendo in the Taifu but we got destroyed and
no one would listen at the apartment buildings we went to haha.
しょうがない. (Whatre you gonna do?)

Monday 17th

We switched up our Pday schedule and dendo`d in the morning so that we
could go play volleyball with Aoi-chan at the night time. So we went,
dendo`d, got yelled at (someone threw a beer at me haha no joke), and
had a fun time =D haha.

Then we went to Moji, had dinner with Aoi then went and played
Volleyball. Shes a lot better than Beckstrand and I haha, the Nakatsu
Elders came eventually and the 5 of us played but we were all way bad
except Aoi. haha.

Then Nakatsu stayed the night because we had District Meeting the next day.

Tuesday 18th

We had district meeting and then I had splits with my beloved 2nd
Daddy  YAMADA CHOROU!!!!! I love that man haha. We went and visited
Aoshima-san, our chinese investigator, We made him a banana cake and
shared a message with him. Then we went to the church and had a lesson
with Aoi. We committed her to Read the BofM everyda day, Pray
everyday, and come to church every week. And she said she would =).

That night was actually the first night of our Ping Pong
activity......but no one came haha.

So we moved the Ping pong table into the entry-way so that we could
play with Aoi.

It was way fun. Yamada is a Ping Pong beast!!

Wednesday 19th

Yamada and I had a way good study session and,.......

I FINALLY PASSED MY LESSON MASTERY!!!!

I have been trying so hard and I just could do it =P

But Yamada was like ``Just teach with the spirit and get me to do
something.`` haha

So I did it!!! I felt way good.

When we started Yamada was like why havent you already passed this
off? I was like cuz I cant teach lesson one in 5 min. and he was like
I know you can teach this lesson, Ive junkai`d with you 4 times and
youve taught it at least 8 times haha so he was like ``youre doing it
today!!`` so I did it =)

Yeah!

Then we went and met back up with Villalobos and Beckstrand at Kokura
and now Im emailing.

Whoooo...... todays letter was long my bad haha.

Dont worry about the CD dad haha thanks for everything you do =)

And BTW the computer I use is way old so couldnt watch those videos,
but the next time I email I will try to use a better computer so I can
see them =).

I love you alll!!!!!!!

Mom dad jamie meri grace sophie, my peeps and my dudes.

愛しているよ！！！！

Hello everyone!! How is everyone doing?! Things just sound like theyre
going way fast at home. Its crazy everyone is just growing up and
doing some way cool things.

Thanks for all of the funny stories and inspirational stories this
week, it was way nice to read them.

I love little funny moments that happen everyday on the mission.  Theres
always little fun times. The story Jamie told me reminded me of
sometimes that we have knocked on peoples doors. In Japan, most of the
doors have door bells that have a speaker attached to them so you call
into the house and try to get them to open up, but they usually never
do. But a lot of the time, if the place they have is nice, they will
have a camera and speaker for a doorbell. So the second that you hit
the button the camera turns on and you can talk into the house.

So we were knocking on a door with a Camera Bell (we call them Kekko
Boxes, because usually if they have them they will say ``kekko`` or
``no thank you``). But we ring the bells and the second we do a huge, I
mean HUGE like Godzilla sized bees start flying around us, so we
freaked out. So after like a good 30 seconds of waving our arms like
crazy men we hear from the speaker, ``are you good now?`` haha the
camera was one the whole time. It was way funny. Oh yeah, then they
kekko`d us. Aw well.

This week we were able to meet with a couple of people in our ward and
we brought them some cakes. We dont have ovens in our apartment but we
have a suihanki (Rice cooker) and I figured out how to cook cakes in
it haha so we have been delivering thank you cards and cakes to people
in the ward this week.

So Beckstrand 長老 is way good at the piano, and were going to be doing
a music night to get member, LAs, and investigators to come to the
church. And I need some favors. I need some sheet music for IZ`s
somewhere over the rainbow (like the lyrics too), and also if you
could, we have a new convert that moved into our ward and he loves the
guitar. So If there was a way that you could send a bunch of earth
wind and fire sheet music for guitar and piano, cuz he loves E W and
F, that would be awesome.

We saw a ton of little miracles this last week as well. On Saturday we
had Eikaiwa (English Class). We had Miki (who just got back from a
trip to Greendland Switzerland and London. She went to the olympics
and did a bunch of stuff including hunting whales and narwhals with a
bunch of inuites up in Greenland for over a month. Shes an 85 year old
lady and at first I didnt believe her but then I saw pictures. SHES
WHACK MAN!!!), Mary, and Chris. Eventually Nishikawa and Nakamura
Sister showed up and they were just being annoying haha. That sounds
bad but they keep trying to undermine everything that at least me and
Villalobos did. Theyre trying to basically take over missionary work
in the ward and their ways arent very good. But I keep making it so
they cant change what were doing and they hate me for it haha.

So they came to Eikaiwa (I dont know why, they never do) and then they
were just talking to each other in the corner. And it mad me way mad
cuz they didnt think I could understand them but they were talking
about how they wanted to change Eikaiwa and how long they would have
to wait until I was gone, they were counting down the weeks man... it
sucks.

I was like ``Dang gurl why you be all up hating on me and stuf?!?!``

Aw well.

But anyway, miracles.

None of our plans fell through the entire day but we were able to run
into a bunch of people in the ward, friends, and other eikaiwa
students who all gave us gifts and they all wanted to do stuff with
us!! It was way cool. Like there was a time of the day that we were at
the church and we werent supposed to be there because we were late,
but as we were about to leave a lady her sister and their families
walked up and asked if we were teaching an Eikaiwa at the building,
and we were like yea!!! So now theyre all going to come next week =)
IT WAS WAY TIGHT!!!

AND WE GOT A NEW DENDOSHUNIN (WARD MISSION LEADER)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

IIIITTTTTTTTTSSSSSSSs

OOOOSSSSSHHHHIIIIIMMMMAAA KYoudai!!!
Ooshima Kyoudai

SSSSSSSSCCCCCCCCCCCOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEE!!!

IM SO HAPPY!!!

He Is the BEST dude ever in the world ever!!

Im so stoked!!!

It was way funny though because we were at dendochouseishukai with
Kunitake Kyoudai and we were talking with him about our new dendo
shunin becuae we didnt have one yet and he was like, yeah, were going
to call someone today.....but I cant say who he is.......but his an
RM.........and.......he speaks english......... haha it was way funny.
SO YEAH IM WAY STOKED!!!

One more thing, because weve been planning this music night we have
been calling the Bishop a lot to talk about it with him to really get
started fast. But this last Sunday at the end of the sacrament meeting he stood
up and he said he wanted to share something before the meeting ended.

Ill try to just some it up. ``Recently the missionaries have been
coming over to my house, calling me, basically trying to get ahold of
me to continue to plan this music night. They called me up Tuesday and
they asked if I was home but I wasnt so they asked when I would be
home the next day and they just kept trying to set up appointments. So
they came over the next day and they just straight up began to say the
ideas that they had and I could tell that they had put a lot of
thought into this activity. They had this activity idea on Monday,
then Wednesday we finished planning it and now were putting it
together. These missionaries are going to get the work DONE. Elder
Beckstrand has shown so much love for this ward and I know that his
musical talents will make everyone want to come to the activity. And
Elder McConnell. Hes way young (then he laughed, and said) Since Elder
Mcconnell had been here we have had the biggest numbers in church
attendance Eikaiwa attendance and we have had 3 activities done and
another one happening this transfer. Before he came we had not done
any activity for the last 10 Monthes. I dont know how its happening.
When we met to discuss the activity he couldnt really speak because he
is such a young missionary, but he understands what im saying.
Everytime I would say an idea he would whip out his planner and right
it down and then he would just try to contribute as much as he could.
I was just sitting there looking at him and I just could feel the
goodness coming from him. Hes frustraited. You can tell. Him and Elder
Villalobos tried and tried to get things rolling in this ward and they
have done a good job, but things arent going as fast as they would
like. Now Villalobos is gone. But Elder McConnell is still going. So
help him. He loves you. (then he looked at me and laughed and said) He
cant really talk to you all that much so hes trying to show it in
actions. We should do the same.``

It was crazy.

The Bishop has basically hated the last 8 sets of Missionaries in this
ward and suddenly he just wants to help. ITS SO COOL!!

At the end of the meeting all of the memebrs were asking for Eikaiwa
Flyers they could pass out and anything that they could do to help us
prepare for this music activity.

I feel so loved.

That was basically what Ive been doing this week. Just dendo haha.

I love you all!!

Dad, Mom, Jamie, Grace Meri, Sophie, and everyone!!

愛しているよ！！

Tashiro 長老 + Aiura 会長 + Kaida 会長 = Sweet Sunday!!

So this week has been way good.

 

 

We started this last week with service in Kurume on Monday. We drove about 2 hours to the area and met up with some more members out there and actually Woodward 長老 and Stennet 長老 were there as well. We loaded up in a couple of cars and headed out towards our area. In the area we helped a couple of people remove furniture and things that had been affected by various floods in those areas.

 

We started in one house where the water had come in and had entirely destroyed the tatami floors. They were so heavy. They were just completely soaked with water. There were about 24 of them in the one house and we got them all out.

 

Next we moved to another set of houses where some other volunteers were already working. We came in and finished up with them and then from there we just headed home. We got home and we were so exhausted we went grocery shopping and then we went and emailed last week.

 

Because we spent so much time doing service last Monday the AP`s called us up and told us that we should take another P-Day because we did service for about 11 hours.

 

So the next day we woke up cleaned the apartment wrote letters and then headed out around 3.

 

We went and rode our bikes about an hour towards Tsuchida our Bishops house, and while we were riding we actually passed them, They waved us down and told us that they wanted to visit with us. So we told them we were going to go visit a couple of apartment complexes and then we would return.

 

We got up there and talked to a few people and ended up actually getting a new investigator.

 

Her name is #####-san we taught her and her two daughters. We shared a message about the Plan of Happiness and also about our daily lives as missionaries. She was really impressed and wanted to meet with us again so we actually have an appointment set for tomorrow.

 

Afterwards we went to the Tsuchidas and just had a small shoukujikai (meal....dinner appointment... I think thats what that is in english.). We were just visiting and we wanted to know what the Bishops ``vision`` for the ward was. He said that he wanted to work on service and reactivating less active members.

 

The problem is that a lot of the people on the less active list want nothing to do with the church or are ``sick in the head`` as Japanese people say. They have like mental disabilities.

 

So were going to go through the list with bishop and he is going to help us know who to visit and who not to.

 

Wednesday we had district meeting because our P-day had been moved from tuesday. We just talked for a bit and talked about something called the 40-Day fast from this talk called ``Spiritual Purity``. Its way cool. I dont know who wrote it but if you get the chance try and read it sometime.

 

We made a goal as a district to fast for the next sunday as part of the challenge from the talk and we were all way excited about it.

 

Then Villalobos and I went back to the apartment and finished up our study time.

 

We have both been kinda stressed and we just had to vent about a lot of things that had been on our minds. We spent a big part of the day just having a big long I guess ``Comp inventory`` sort of thing. But it wasnt reallly about each other just stuff in the area and things that had been stressing us out recently. It felt way good to sit down and just really talk.

 

We both came to the conclusion that we just need to get genki haha. We are both way depressed due to the ward, the area and other things and we just really need to change our attitude towards everything. We just arent genki. And it sucks.

 

That night we had Eikaiwa. We went and had a way fun time with everyone as a class. I made everyone a Banana bread cake using the rice cooker at our apartment haha it was really easy. Ill have to take a picture for you guys the next time that I make one.

 

We got back that night and I realized that the reason I hadnt been genki is because I have been feeling guilty. I have had a lot of self pity and have just been waiting for things to happen for me, and I havent been entirely obidient. So I made a commitment with myself that I just gotta go to work. And I have been. And its been way good.

 

Friday we went and visited one of our Eikaiwa students named kurisu. Her and her husbnad own a tea shop so we went and visited. We spent a lot of time trying to get to know them and we actually taught a lesson about the Word of Wisdom haha in a tea shop. Very interesting.

 

Afterwards we went and did some housing at a near by danchi. We got 4 lessons and 40 contacts but no PI`s. Sad.

 

Saturday we did another Helping Hands activity at a local Hospital. Villalobos, me, and 2 sisters did some gardenning outside and them we had to run to Eikaiwa.

 

At Eikaiwa the only two student were kurisu and Miki. We taught a lesson and then just talked until about 4. At 4 we heaeded home finished up our studytime and then went backt o the church for choir.

 

Villalobos and I were the onyl 2 guys with 7 shimai and we practiced singing Carry On. It was way fun!! We were there until about 8:45 and then we headed home.

 

Sunday we had dendochouseishuukai (the meeting with our Ward mission leader) and when we were in the middle of our meeting some people came to the church. We went out to the front and said hello to the Stake President Aiura Kaichou, his Counselour, Kaida Kaichou, and to the Area 70 Tashrio Chorou. They were all so genki (excited, I think)! We came and said hi and then we told them that we nedded to go do our meeting and then they asked if they could join haha it was way cool. The whole ward was there to greet them but they wanted to come into our meeting haha so they came in. While we were meeting people were watching through the glass windows in the hall to see what we were doing haha.

 

We went in and then just talked about our various efforts within the ward to strengthen people and different activities we were doing and everyone was really impressed. Aiura Kaichou told us that he had not seen a companionship trying so hard to strengthen so many people in so many different areas. He said that if we ever needed anything that him and the stake presidency would back us up. How cool is that.

 

At the end of our meeting Tashiro asked if anyone else had anything to add. Everyone said no. Then he asked me. And I said in simple Japanese that I didnt have anything. Then he said. Chourou we are all working together here we need to strengthen each other. I know you care about this ward. Speak! So I sat there for a sec and then bore a simple testimony about the work in Kitakyuushuu. They were all really stunned. They were like ``Man... you really care dont you? and I was like YEAH!! I want to help but I cant tell people that!! I can only do it through my actions.

 

We actually have some history with all 3 of those men.

 

Tashiro Chorou was in Villalobos chorous last area and Villalobos actually baptized his mother. And he was there the first sunday that Aoshima came.

 

Kaida Kaichou was with us when we went to Yabake and help the people there.

 

And Aiura Kaichou was with us in Kurume on Monday.

 

They all love me and Villalobos a ton.

 

The rest of the day we had various meetings and a shokujikai but me and villalobos were fasting so we didnt eat. (I wrote a funny story about that in Shelbys letter youll have to ask her about it)

 

And then we had a cool fireside by Tashiro Chorou.

 

After Church we headed home and broke our fast and then headed to an area called Moji for a dinner appointment we had with a meber.

 

WE went with the younger Sakuragi fufu and we had a great time together

 

Then we returned home, went to bed, snd now im here haha.

 

Villalobos and I are doing way good. In the rainging we still do a lot of housing and a lot of streeting. Were just both way down because of the area. The ward just needs to come together!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Im having a way good time. I still need to get some confidence in various things but Im ok.

 

I got the package today =) It was way good!!!! I wrote shelby about it in my letter.

 

Nothing else is too new. Just chugging along trying to learn how to be a missionary. 

 

I love you guys!!

 

BTW

 

GGGGGGGrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAccccccccccccccceeeeeeeeeeeeeee Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh and you too Dad....

 

Hope you guys have an amazing weekend.

 

Thank you guys for your prayers and everything you do be safe and dont do anything too stupid!!

Day at the Beach

Day at the Beach, a set on Flickr.

Looks like a zone activity at the beach

Video's and Things

I have been kind of lazy posting videos and pictures so I'm making up for it now!  Here are some neat videos of the country and some of the elders in Sam's district.

Bike Ride in the Mountains #1
Bike Ride in the Mountains #2
Bike Ride in the Mountains #3
Sushi Restaurant #1
Sushi Restaurant #2
Elder Playing the Piano

Day trip to the Mountain #1
Day trip to the Mountain #2
Day trip to the Mountain #3
Day trip to the Mountain #4
Day trip to the Mountain #5
Day trip to the Mountain #6
Day trip to the Mountain #7

Mitton going home, Floods, Helping Hands, and a 7-Day Junkai!!!

SO yeah guess what?
Turns out that this week turned out to be even more crazy than the
last two haha. Ill start with Tuesday.
We all gathered in Kitakyushu for district meeting where Elder Mitton
had told us that he had finally gotten the news that he would end up
be returning to America. The Hospitals here in Nihon were going to
take him and check him in for a week but the american doctors who have
been working with the nihon doctors told them no way. So the next
altenative was for him to go home.
We had a normal district meeting and then we went and did some stuff
with Elder Mitton in Kokura. He wanted to get some clothes and some
different stuff before he headed home.
So afterwards Villalobos 長老 and I headed with Mitton and Barrus back to Nakatsu.

Wednesday
Packing day. Mitton had a ton of stuff to pack and we helped him
throughout the day. Eventually the Yahata 長老たち came and they helped us
with that Eikaiwa that night. Elder Mitton was supposed to travel
alone to Fukuoka and Villalobos and Morris 長老 were going to go back to
Kitakyushu. So they all went to the train station and Unice Barrus and
I stay in Nakatsu........FOR THE NEXT 7 DAYS!!!!!

WE HAD A WEEK-LONG JUNKAI!!

Seriously right now Im writting my email and I havent seen my actual
bed in a week.

Nothing really happened throughout the week we spent a lot of time
cleaning up the apartment due to the huge rain storms and floods (ill
talk about that later haha). But all in all I guess it was an ok
junkai.

So.. its been raining a lil bit. And by a little I mean water is
coming down mountains into rivers and destroying peoples homes.. Its
pretty crazy. Its not actually in my area its in Nakatsu which is in
Oita-ken so im way far from it in Kitakyushu.
Me, Unice, Barrus, Villalobos, Morris, Kopenen, and Kurose 長老 were all
part of a ``Mormon Helping Hands `` activity. We split into two
groups. One went to the river to move debress and to help people and
there homes, while the other helped a member who lived by the river to
get the water in out of his home. I have some pictures but the
computer that I am using doesnt let me send pictures. I basically
spent 8 hours under a house with a bunch of Japanese men shoveling
buckets of water and trying to syphin water out of peoples homes. It
was nutz.
If you get the chance you should google these floods. its pretty
intense. I think that 14 people have died due to floods on the roads
and people being swept into the river. Its very sad.
But dont worry im no where near it, anymore.

BUT man.

Crazy stuff back home too!!

Mom?!?! Why`d that kid do that?!?! Did you drop him afterwards?? haha
Im sorry he hurt you. Do you think that it has done anything to you?
Like are you going to go to the hospital again?

Jamie.
Dude... that blows. 小がないけれども。。。。。I thought it was funny what you said
at the end though. About how you lost all fear of girls on the misson
haha. Man you playa. I can just tell from your emails and from talking
to you on the phone that youre way more mature.Its cool man. Im happy
for you. Go find a lady friend. 彼女を見つけなさい！！！But your`e not allowed to
get married until Im home so... 結婚がだめでしょう！I think it will be way good
for you to date tons of people!! いろいろな女性たちをダトしなさい！！！！But whatever you
do just have fun!! 楽しんでください！！
Dang Forrest is home huh??
How was his homecoming man?
I saw the pic of you Jacob and Forrest.
You all are mecha (めちゃ　freaking) old.
Do you guys just speak in Spanish with one another? I bet its a riot
to hear you 3 together.
Man.....everyone is just so old I wanna see em haha.

Sophie still sounds like a punk　haha.

Mom, Mitton`s mom asked me to say thank you for calling. Mitton called
his parents last week and his mom said she was very grateful. I really
miss Mitton. Hes such a sick kid. He has so much dendo fire. He sent
Barrus 長老 an email about being back home in america and said he was
walking on the street and felt uncomfortable asking people for
directions so he found the only Japanese person he could and asked him
haha. I love Mitton. He is supposed to come back after he recovers
from surgery so maybe we can be in the same district again =)

Well, Transfer 2 is ending tomorrow. And I have learned a lot this
transfer. We were at Nakatsu`s church this last week and we were
talking about ``Ture Conversion``. That just knowing of something and
being totally committed to that. I have been thinking about that a
ton. And I have never seen any other great examples since I have been
here. For example Elder Mitton. The guy never thinks about himself.
The entire time through all of the doctor visits and through all of
the tests he was always saying that he wished he could just stop his
dendo clock right now so he wasnt wasting his mission time, so when he
returned he would have more dendo time. I was thinking ``Dude!! You
might have cancer!! Thats mecha serious!!`` But the whole time all he
could only think about was dendo. Even when he was sick he was like
man.. I wanna go talk to people. I love that. And then also yesterday
with the Helping Hands activity. These members who were helping one
another and doing all they could for some one else was amazing. There
were people from the Fukuoka stake who had come and had no idea who
Kai kyodai was. They just knew he needed help. So they came 2 hours
from Fukuoka in order to save his house. Thats amazing. Japanese
people will never stop amazing me. When they believe in something the
will hold to it and do everything that they possibly can to fulfill
it. Members are such a great 証 of that. They just are fully convered
to the gospel, in a part of the world that is just vile and evil.
There are so many awful things that happen here, but these people
overcome. Because they have the gospel.
I love those people.

I hope you all have a cool week. It just started pouring rain and I
dont have my raincoat so that sucks haha. しょうがない。

Jamie, Meri, Sophie, Forrest, Dad, Mom, Grace!!!

Aishiteiruyo!!!
愛しているよ！！