August 3rd 2014

The island you see....that is Hanohano Chorro (Kana'i) Mission (Fukuoka)

Herro Famiry, hows everything going.  

I is good and i dont need anything right now.  actually pictures would be nice.  its been really nice lately to scroll through pictures on my ipod of the fam and i have the pic of noah giving the big hawaiian man statue a purple nurple as my home screen.

  I miss you guys.  Insight this week huh uhm i was listening to john bytheway the other day the first solo and when he talks about how his instructor got out of the plane and said "remember what i taught you." i was thinking about this the other day and i would be very surprised if our heavenly father before we were sent down to earth didnt pull us aside, talk to us for as long as we needed and then send us on our way having said something very similar.  I have that written down on the front of my planner to remind me throughout the day.  

The most challenging thing this week was that our most solid investigator dropped us the other day because he felt that he cant understand what we were teaching.  we were trying to teach as simply as possible but we could have done better.  We still have some comp issues but we are slowly working those out.  just missionary life no biggie.  

I have learned from my companion that being a pharisee is not fun so i will continue being futsu hito hahaha gotta smell the roses while ur out here or you will go crazy.

Havent really learned anything new recently except that during obon they "catch" god in this box in their house.

Onmaku was sat and yesterday which was pretty cool. we got to see 15min of the firework show and there was maguro from the giant tokyo fish market, was so ono.  OH AND I SAW A SQUIRREL! it was in a cage and i have a pic but i forgot my memory card reader at home zanen.

anyways LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

August 17th 2014

Herro peoples!

I is good same, and the comp is also good.  We saw kaicho last tues which was good.  The weather is pretty sucky lately lots of rain and its hot and humid all the time.  The most spiritual thing this week was zone taikai.

 Kaichos vision is much different from zinke kaichos so there are a lot of changes going on right now.  We will probably get ipod minis in septemberish. This weeks happy moments were talking to some of my mtc district on tuesday and stuffs like that.  The moneeys is ok right now.  I ate jellyfish on thursday which was not very good. It didnt taste bad but it had yucky texture.  

Oh did you send the package already? I need shoe goo, my cole hans are dying but they are still good i just need some goo.  Anyways this week was pretty slow, lots and lots of housing.  I is ok tho.  anything exciting happen in the world? I got an email from Jaren so i gots to reply to that oh and garrett emailed me. hes in cali right now but he should be heading over to brazil shortly.  yea das about it lol LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

Artsy pic....walking to the pad at marugame

August 24, 2014 Email

Howsit fam!  

I is good, this week was a good one.  Uhm most spiritual thing this week was my talk yesterday on forgiveness, the branch really needs to learn how to forgive. 

Funnest thing was a companion exchange with Phillips choro from my mtc district. We got to spend 2 days together while our comps were at DLT.  Hardest thing this week was my talk lol nihongo wa muzukashi ne.  The comp is doing good.  We got into it again like last week or two weeks ago cant remember but since then we have been getting along really well.  

The investigators are getting better. We may have a baptism this transfer but we shall see.  Food is tasty yes.  We ate with the branch president last monday but we dont normally eat at members houses.  They bring us food on sunday which is really nice. 

 Weather has been pretty crappy lately lots of rain and it is super humid all the time and super hot.  

Did you see Elder Bednars talk on social media and electronic devices? Check it out https://www.lds.org/church/share/goodness?cid=HPMO081814340&lang=eng

The work of the lord is being hastened!!!

we will probably get mini ipads next month which is gunna be sweet!  Why dont i go and issue a challenge ne! have you all seen the because of him video yet?

it is awesome go to LDS.org and watch the vid and then BE INSPIRED.  Find something you can do today to hasten the work of our Father in Heaven.  READY GO!!! 

I loveth thou,

time to get to work

August 31, 2014 Email from Yee Chorro

Herro famiry!  

how is everyone doing?  I is doing good.  Things are pretty quiet here for me at the moment.  The comp has one more week from today which is madness unto itself cuz he is freaking out just a bit but its auight for now.  Our investigators are few and the days are spent knocking on doors.  

Transfer email is next week monday and i have no idea what is going on. 

Are there lots of pictures on the memory stick you are sending?  I like pictures of everyone and of my friends and such.  i can print nice photo paper pics here for pretty cheap and recreate the fam photo album with better quality pics if you send them to me on the memory stick.  

This week has been full of straight hard work and i am exhausted.  Luckily there are these like jelly protein/ vitamin/energy drink thingys at all of the convenience stores.  

This weeks spiritual focus for me comes from Jesus the Christ i forget which page and chapter but its in the peace be still chapter.  It talkes about how Christ lived the law of health however he never allowed the body to rule the spirit.  

I can do much better in making sure that my body never rules my spirit.  There are many times throughout the day that my body wants to do a pudge and sit in the middle of the road cuz im tired but i gotta keep working.  I want to sleep during study but gotta study.  

The lord is mindful of us and of all of our wants needs and desires and he will bless us as we strive to become like him.  The road is not easy and sometimes it is super hard but as the lord said unto Joseph Smith "bro come on now did 15 of your kids die and all of your stuff get taken and you had some cray cray disease and all of your friends ridicule you? thou art not yet as Job so check yourself home skillet" (may contain some non scriptural references)  

We have much yet to learn and we can rely on him more in our lives.   Anyways love you guys!!! i make a year in 2 weeks crazy huh

July 6, 2014 Email

Konnichiwa aisuru kazoku.  Senshu wa yokkatta desuyo.  watashiwa ima genki desuyo soshite nanimo anatatachi kara hitsuyo koto ga naidesu yo. 

 Welch Kaicho is amaziing.  Brown choro(he is from my mtc district) and I were talking about what we think the mission needs moving forward and we felt that the mish needs to chillax,  ​rely on the lord and get to work.  Welch Kaicho is apparently soo chill that the Zls are freaking out.  Right now the mission has all of this structure set up to help us fullfill our purpose but i feel like if you suddenly took that away the missionaries here wouldnt be ably to function and so they often lose the privelage of guidance from the spirit because they are unwilling to meet the needs of an investigator. 

They are so busy trying to conform to the set "rules" of teaching that they forget to teach people not lessons.  If an investigator needs to hear kingdoms of glory and enduring to the end their first lesson and i feel good about doing that after i pray then im gunna do it because thats what he needs. Im not gunna teach the entire plan of salvation first to get to that point, if he is ready and needs to hear it im gunna teach it. 

This week i had whale yakiniku from a can, not bad pics to follow. See below....eeek

This past week I had a great relax night that i got to spend with one of my brothers from the mtc Brown choro.  He helped me a lot in the maddhouse that was the mtc hahaha.  We spent like 5 hours together just talking in okayama before the meet the president taikai.

Welch Kaicho is amazing and i was greatly moved and motivated after hearing him speak. hardest thing was the daily grind and the comp madness but all is well at the moment.  The investigators are sukunai but they are doing good. we also found a bunch of family potential investigators this past week so we should have a couple more coming up.

Got the box arigato.  It was really nice to get a card from the tuaoas, i miss them.  I worry about them. They will, as the rest of us older kids have found, receive no respite from the storms and perils of this generation. The mouth of hell gapes open with the click of a mouse.  Scary....but true.  So WATCH where your CLICK will take you and don't do anything that would drive away the spirit.

  

LOVE YOU GUYS!!

July 13, 20 & 27th Email from Yee Chorro

***Sorry, it's me here (opihi mama) and i haven't been posting on Jonah's blog....catching up now****


Wassup Peeps.  I is emailing. Didn't eat anyhting cool this week.

it has been super duper hot lately but today is a little bit cooler.  This week was pretty mild nothing super exciting.  I got to do an exchange with the zone leaders this past week which was really good.  Its nice to converse with someone who can entirely understand you hahaha. It gave me some time to think and reflect on the past.  

I have been so blessed.  This week i have been tired every day all the time.  Idk why maybe because its hot but i have been thinking a lot about the past.  I want to go home, i wanna chill at the beach and hop on street fighter so badly haha but im not done yet. 

Smart choro my mission mom came to church with his family and as soon as i saw him i realized how horrible of a trainee i must have been.  We may not have gotten along all the time in Miki but i have grown to love and respect him even tho he is haole.  I have much to learn.  I am grateful to be here and I know that heavenly father loves us because he asks us to do hard things. 

To answer hanos question as to how i was able to leave everything my answer is simple; For those whom I love, I will sacrifice.  I left because I love my family, I left because I love my brothers and sisters who have come to earth to follow Christ, I love my Savior and i am eternally grateful for his atoning sacrifice and I love my God.  Two years is not very long but in that short time i can help more people than you can imagine on both sides of the veil. 

This mission is not about me, I don't need to be here to return to live with God but by being here i can help those who cannot help themselves.  Yea its tough but its worth it.

 I think we are going to go eat yakiniku today but thats it.  anyways love you guys!!!

4th of July Pizza & Root Beer (Virgils which mom sent in my care package....yummy)

July 20th, 2014 Email

Hola famiry!!! therefore wo be unto the aukai and noah that do not email me for behold my anger shall be kindled against them and none shall stay my hand from smiting them to the earth upon my coming.  Tell those muggles to email me!  

Anyways things are pretty quiet here in imabari.  our investigators are at an all time low because noone can meet and all of the new investigators we found are moms whos husbands are never home so we had to give em to the sisters:P  I is fine oh and i took pics of the tags so i need some short sleeve shirts.  This week was freakin hot and super muggy.  Japan summer sucks especially when you have to go housing haha.  

Yee Chorro & Ogasawara Chorro (Together for 3 transfers so far) Ogasawara goes home in Sept 2014

That pic with noah giving the statue a purple nurple is classic.  I hopes all is well in hawaiiville.  I miss you guys and i miss home.  I wanna go home but my work here isnt done so no can do.  Ive got people to bless and families to save here in nihon so gotta saigo made taeshinobu(endure to the end) 

Transfers are next week so that should be interesting.  We get mini ipads some time before the year is over so thats exciting.  Efficiency will go up 10 fold if everyone uses them effectively.  The mish is freakin out right now because Welch Kaicho is super chill.  Everyone is waiting for a new training plan, basically waiting to be told what to do.  Welch Kaichos teaching style is almost the same as dads; prepare, talk about the important stuff but mostly just a guided discussion.  He is aka-AWESOME. 

I am so grateful for an awesome mission president. 

I went to this super strange sausage factory and like yakiniku sauce making factory. it was hen.  super boring cuz i couldnt understand anything the guide said except for yakiniku lol pics to follow. 

Hey can you send me a memory stick of some music cuz i accidently killed my ipod. it is still working but all the memory got wiped cuz i cant read kanji lol. If you send me like a 16 gig with hapa and iz and good stuffs michael jackson. as long as there is no swearing and no romantic lyrics it is good. lord of the rings sound track some hero stuffs maybe.  some yoyoma tell the kids to do it brooke knows how. 

I can pull the music off and then put the pictures and vids i have sofar on it and send it back.  Okidoki? anyways all is well LOVE YOU GUYS

July 13th Email

Wassup! so the storm didnt really affect imabari at all really. There was some rain and the wind was pretty strong but as a whole it was blocked by the mountains to the south. 

I didnt even know there was an earthquake? was it bad?  This week the crazy peoples made me both smile and lol.  One guy kept asking questions about Christianity but as soon as the comp asked him to meet or come to church he instantly refused but it was so funny. nothing made me cry this week.  

The comp is good we have been getting along much better these past few weeks which is good.  He is from Obihiro.  The investigators are doing good.  Aha moment of the week was just some of the connections that i have made reflecting back on life and how God may change your life so that you can help others.  

Cameron is having fun in mexico and i was kinda thinking back to what if i was to have left as soon as the age change was made? I dont know where he would be in life hopefully on a mish but i know that we wouldnt be the friends we are now if i left early.  I also would not have been able to help my brothers in the mtc and life would be very different.  

I was also able to spend 3 months working for Dad and i got to see Uncle B every day which is time that i will cherish for the rest of my life. Had i left early i would have missed that opportunity.  The lord is mindful of all things and we may not always see his wisdom, timing or even that he is helping us at all but he is there. 

Whenever i get discouraged lately i have reflected upon that. Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow.  The Lord is mindful of the bugs and he provides for them.  How much more are we worth and will he not provide? No, he will provide and he will carry us.  He is awesome. 

Oh it is muzukashi to get shirts here that fit my shoulders hahaha.  Anyways LOVE YOU GUYS rely on the lord and his atonement, he can help more than anything else in the universe.  did you win the lotto? if so i think a Mclaren MP4-12C hardtop convertable would be a great welcome home/happy birthday/merry christmas for the last 2 years gift hahaha.

5/25/14 & June 8th Update & Photo

June 8, 2014

Herro famiry! Whew this past week was pretty crazy.  We had Ztm on wed as well as Zinke Kaichos byebye taikai which was pretty sad but ill see them again.

 Zinke kaicho is so awesome and he said something at the byebye taikai which i think was from elder Christofferson but it really stood out as a testimony that the lord really does know me.  He said that sometimes just as important as the country and area that you serve in is the Mission President whom you serve with in helping to shape your life into that which the savior knows you can be.  Zinke Kaicho is a pilot, and he kinda reminds me of bumi from avatar cuz hes a mad genius.  

From day one i was able to look to him for guidance and strength.  He has been one of those people in my life like Uncle Darrel, and Earl who have influenced me in such a way that i will be eternally grateful for their example.  Zinke Kaicho is awesome. 

I love that Ogasewara choro really does try to love our investigators and he wont give up on them even if i may want to.  I love that imabari is close to the ocean haha.  I SAW A SNAKE THIS WEEK!!! it was like 4ft long idk what it was but it was a fast little bugger. i tried to catch it but it slithered under a car and we had to get to a lesson.

this week i learned the duties of the tribe of ephraim in preparing the world for the lords second coming.  i forgot what it was but i wrote it down somewhere lol its like perform priesthood ordinances, be witnesses of Christ and set an example and change he world something like that haha wasurechyata.  didnt eat anything interesting cuz that stuffs is expensive and i like eat during the rest of the week lol. it is super hot here and i didnt was my clothes cuz i forgot so i had to wear longsleeve this week haha.  i dont need anything and ill send you some pics after this.  LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

May 25, 2014

Yee Chorro & a few little people.....sweet!

Herro family!!!  The most spiritual thing this week was of course the taikai we had with Elder Christofferson of the quorum of the big boys.  I GOT TO SHAKE HIS HAND! and he talked to us as a mission for a good hour and a half.  It was basically a you guys are doing good, love the people and you will have success kinda thing but it was awesome.  He also did some QandA and i had to refrain from asking anything too crazy so i sat quietly and took notes lol.  The hardest thing is the daily grind but i make it fun.  Coolest thing this week was that we rode across the biggest suspension bridge in the world twice this past week and we got to chill in kobe for a couple of hours which was nice to be back in the city.  I got the package with my photo album in it and some candies.  it has costed me around 300 bucks to travel this transfer so we havent gone anywhere special but as soon as our reinbursments come in we will go eat sushi.  The comp is ok.  The branch is ok.  The weather is pretty good but its pretty hot and next month is rainy season so that should be fun. dont need anything.  nope no bike gangs or lambos here but there are a bunch in kobe and osaka.  i miss osaka but i am needed here. anywyas love you guys!!! 

Ibaraki Conference: Photo....where's Jonah....CHECK the middle...squint and look really hard....or enlarge the photo LOL

Ibaraki Conference: Can you find Jonah? Squint.....or enlarge photo NOW
1st row......count 5 ladies, then President Zinke: LOOK UP (see his head, LOL)

Photo Reprint:  I just really like this photo he took at Wakayama College Archery Club (He looks so happy)
Jonah LOVES shooting sports (Skeet, Trap, Sporting Clays and Archery)

May 4th (May the 4th be with you) Email from Yee Chorro

Herro family yes i am transferring.  i am going to Imabari on the island of Shikoku which is that big island to the south. it should take me about 6 hrs to get to my new area so YAYY hahaha but its all g. apparently Imabari is pretty country but we shall see. 

I will copy how to call me mothers day at the end of the email.  The investigators are doing pretty good and we still have a couple of people ready to be baptised in the coming month and june.  The most spiritual thing this week was the testimony meeting yesterday.  the ward mission leader dude idk what it is in english but the dendoshunin from takatsuki came to our ward and gave a powerful testimony on temples and missionary work which was really good.  

Most fun thing was uh... zone training meeting.  Hardest thing was daily dendo (proselyting).  Didnt eat anything cool today but on thursday we are having chicken adobo, in japan, made by a philipino lady, who speaks english lol. 

I dont need anything.... ope i lied wanna gomen (apologize) for forgetting last week but can you make me a photo book and put some fun pics in there of me and my friends and of u guys and stuffs like that cuz i need more pics to show investigators.  today is pack and then all you can eat pizza and then root beer and then yea.  so i cant buy a bike today? last pday was sushi party had like 30 plates of sushi it was awesome.  oh and its getting hot haha but right nw its a lot like home.

 **i asked jonah for some words of wisdom regarding what we should be pondering as a family***

Uh idk what you guys can study but study haha oh and aole pilikia in all things have faith in Christ and realize the importance in our message.  When someone sees me or any other missionary on the street or at any time, that is the luckiest moment in their lives ever. likewise our friends and family have no idea how lucky and blessed they are to have a member of the church in their lives but do we as members realize this? do we truly realize the importance our message has to others? we have the only true and everlasting gospel through and only through which we can receive all that our Father has.

I am staying fat at the moment but summer should lose some weight haha and these past few weeks ive been studying Jesus the Christ and its been really neat to read of the details behind his life and how he lived. its pretty cool.  Anyways LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

April 13th Email from Jonah

Herro everyone!!! hows life.

  Right now im chillin it in an internet cafe down south of the church.  its pretty weird cuz im like sitting on this strange pillow floor and we are in like a cubby hole kind of thing.  ill send a pic afterwards.  Anyway I am doing good.  wakayama is still weird cuz its pretty ghetto and then we saw a lambo mercy on sunday just driving around. 

 The investigators are doing good.  we got two to come to conference and they seemed to like it.  We got suzuki san to come to the priesthood session and after we asked him if he had questions and he said something along the lines of wtft is the priesthood lol.  Hes a funny guy. 

 This weeks mind blowing discoveries come from revelations and Dand C 77.  We were looking through it and in it it talks a little bit about the stuff thats gunna happen before the second coming. The hastening of the work is at hand and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will soon come in power and glory to rule the earth.  I CANT WAIT FOR HIM TO COME!!! 

Anyways my favorite talks were Erying choro, Holland Choro as usual and Bednar Choro.  As a whole conferencewas awesome!  I got to watch it in english thank the lord lol.  Elder Christofferson is coming next month around the 24-25ish i think. idkthe paper is in the church.  Today we went to this really stinky tonkatsu ramen place which was some of the best ramen ive ever had.  nothing super fun or super hard this week   

Working on improving my prayers this week.  You guys have a copy of PMG? Are you studying it??? The work will be hastened when the members are willing to work with the missionaries. WE CAN DO IT NOW!  

Love you guys!!!

April 20th Email: No pictures but some interesting updates....He's funny!

Herro famiry.  

My Easter was good.  full of planning and lesson making.  It was way different without all of the hype of the stupid Easter traditions at home.  It was nice to have a peaceful Sunday to contemplate the resurrection of Christ.  Last night was a deep doctrine talk about the second coming and how awesome that is going to be as well as resurrection.  It is gunna be awesome to be all glorified and stuff and to be able to eat everything and not get fat and not have to poop.  and we also were talking about how everyone speaks through instant wakaru (understanding) and how we are gunna have sweet robes.

  It was just awesome to go to church and not have all the craziness of the Easter bunny and all that crap.  The comp is awesome! hes cray and only speaks Japanese but hes awesome.  The language is coming along considering that we cant communicate without it.  I have a request haha.  if its not too much trouble can you send me some virgils hahaha they don't sell root beer here which is super lame.  I'm g right now so no worry about it if u stay busy. 

 Most spiritual thing this week was finishing writing aukais letter.  Writing about why I am here has inspired some super deep reflection and i finally finished haha so it will be on its way over today. Most fun thing was the day to day craziness that comes from being in japan with a Japanese comp and not being able to hold a normal conversation without a dictionary haha. 

 The finances are fine no worry.  Today is our sleep day since we couldn't do it last week and we are going to have dinner tonight with our investigator with a baptismal date so I'm looking forward to that.  The investigators are good.  Elder Christofferson will visit us next month on the 24th so the whole mish is excited for that one.  oh and can you believe that in like 3 weeks we get to talk again! time is flying by! anyways I love you guys!!!

April April 27th 2014 Email from Jonah****NO pictures sent....sigh***

Hello Family!

I is doing goods and i is having funs.  arigato for the box it should reach me just before transfers.  I dont need anything right now except for some surf time but its all g haha.  Theres a couple of piers in wakayama that would be pretty fun to jump from and it would be a pretty cool pic but i no like shinu so ill wait till i finish befo i swim lol.  I havent bought a bike yet but if i transfer i might next week.  and no squerrel.  im starting to think they dont exist but ill keep looking.  

The most spiritual thing this week was the lesson we had on saturday.  We travel about an hour away to the little town of kokawa to teach itou san and kumai san at itous house.  itou is 82 and kumai is an 87yr ould genki grandma.  We have been struggling to get them to accept the invite to baptism because they belong to a different christian church and last weeks lesson was on the first 4 topics of the POS.  we ended on the not of where we go when we die and felt inspired to ask weither they knew where their ancestors were and if they would go to heaven.  The spirit was strong as Uehara choro testified of the ability for us to do baptisms for the dead and the spirit was working hard. although they turned down the invite i could tell that they felt the wisperings of the spirit testify of out Heavenly Fathers awesome plan.  

Uehara Choro is awesome! He is so crazy and hard working.  I am so grateful for the example he is to me and for his constant genkiness.  Most fun thing this week was interviews with Zinke kaicho, hes awesome.  Today was our eat sushi till you die lunch and we were gunna try to break our records but we only ate like 30 each.  Baptisms are next month haha and a couple in june.  Health is yes.  Favorite thing about my mission sofar is realizing how awesome the gospel is as well as all of the awesome revelations about deep doctrine and stuffs.  Still dont know how to hie to kolob so still gotta study.  No gaijin in this ward and noone from hawaii.  Transfer email is next week so that should be fun.  Anyways Love you guys

Email from April 6, 2014

Herro famiry!

WOW SPOILER ALLERT! I havent seen conference yet as japan watches it a week late.  I cant wait.  This past friday Zinke Kaicho released a missionwide training plan called "astonish the world."  This is it!!!

Japan will one day become the most successful mission in the world and we are here in the piko of japan to kick it off.  The Japan Kobe Mission is going to lead the rest of Japan into an unpresidented era of success and we are going to build a kansai temple before the next general conference.  I am so greatfull to be part of the work here and i am ready to astonish the world.  I dont need anything right now and the comp is awesome.  Coolest thing this week was going to dendo near the beach which was waaaaaay nice.  the sea breeze was super nice and reminded me of home.  Funnest thing was our lesson on saturday which was way crazy haha but good.  Hardest thing was uhh idk haha.  Eating is yes sleeping is yes lol.  Oh and guess what!!!!!!!!!  D. Todd.Christoferson is coming to visit our mission next month and he is going to hold a mission conference in Ibaraki!!!!! I CANT WAIT!!!!! haha anyways all is well here in the land of the rising sun. hai minasan hontouni aishiteimasu and it was just all over the place but it was fun.  we got 3 solids and a bunch of possibles so pretty soon we should start seeing some real success. oh and its friggin cold today but it should start warming up again soon.  anyways i gotta head over to the Jo but i love you guys!!!!

Uehara Chorro & The Ocean View

Mcdonald's run........

Uehara Chorro & Selfie.....LOL

scary smile......

March 30th 2014 Email From Yee Chorro

Herro glad to here that everything is ok with our famiry.  I am doing fine.  As of right now i dont need anything. today can i buy a bike? not sure if i will find what i want but if i do is it ok? probably around 250-300 dollars ish.  

Funnest thing this week was seeing everyone at transfers.  lots of friends and it was nice to hear about all the success everyone is having.  Miller went home this week which is weird haha.  time moves so quickly out here. Most spiritual thing this week was the lesson we had with itou and kumai on saturday. Kumai shimai is 87 so its hard for her to get to church but i believe that if she did she would get baptized this transfer so we are trying to get her a ride to church but she lives pretty far away.  

The comp is cool.  Hes from okinawa so he besicaly is local.  His name is Uehara Chorro. he loves spam and works hard so this transfer should be a good one.  Last pday yoshida and langford had to pack so it was a chill day.  Today we are going to head over to aeon mall with the ZLS. Its getting pretty hot here but probably normal for home.  everyone cant wait for conference and i am extremely excited as well. 

This week has been pretty crazy so study has been barabara. This week my mind blowing fact was that Christs atonement also sanctifies the planet. All the trees and mountains and stuffs like that are able to be celestrialized through the Saviors atonement.  Pretty cool stuffs.  This next few weeks are gunna be tough speaking only japanese but ganbarimasu hahaha anything is possible through the Christ so im gunna work to do all i can to qualify for his divine help.  I will also pray for the cousins.  if you talk to them tell them that i said hi.  i will be writing letters every now and then so ill write them some as well.  Anyways not much time to email but LOVE YOU GUYS.

Maguro & Corned Beef for Breakfast

Robot Thingy......hhhhmmmmm

Uehara Chorro (New Companion)

Met some rock stars with Yoshida Chorro

March 16, 2014 and March 23rd : Staying in Wakayama

March 23rd, 2014******  Staying in Wakayama

I am doing good. I don't need anything right now.  The funnest thing we did this week was uh dendo(missionary work)  haha.  The most spiritual thing was our lesson on the first vision with demojah.  We taught it powerfully and although he didn't really see the importance, Elder Yoshida and i were edified and uplifted. 

 Hardest thing is trying not to go crazy when people no like listen but its ok we tried.  The comp is ku cant complain.  We got transfer emails today and i am staying in wakayama.  Yay no moving! oh and i am gunna be with a nihonjin companion so this is the transfer that my Japanese gets epic.  

The investigators are still chuggin along which is good.  we taught this 87yr old lady on Saturday and she was like "the bible is hard to read but this book of Mormon thing is easy so I'm gunna stop studying bible and just read this every day" she is way awesome.  Last Pday we went up to the new Aeon mall next to the college that they shoot archery at. it is huge! like bigger than alamoana.  

Today we are taking a chill day cause Yoshida choro has to pack and all that stuffs.  nothing cool this past week but maybe we will try this famous ramen place this week. 　Last weeks weather was good and its really warm today so hopefully it will get warmer.  this past week i was studying book of Mormon and restoration because that is where most of our investigators are.  I read through those again today for study.  I don't really have any questions for you guys except the usual hows everyone doing kine stuffs. just keep filling me in on everything.   

A view that was "found"

March 23rd 2014 email to Grandma Linda

Hi Grandma!

Thanks for the bday wishes! oh and i got your other email as well. 

Missionary work is hard haha.  I didnt think it was going to be this way at all but it is definitely worth it.  I just wanted to thank you for being an awesome example for our family.  For as long as i can remember we would always find you working or reading scriptures whenever you came to stay with us or we visited you.  I think the rest of the family was with me on this one but i always used to think "grandma is a little bit crazy how come she is always studying scriptures" and stuff like that.  Now i get it.  I have only been out for 6 months and i have changed to the point where my old self would be very confused.  I have had more fun studying from the Bom and scriptures in such a short time than i have after years of playing videogames.  I have learned more from scripture study than from all of high school and its important stuffs im learning as well.

These past few weeks have been difficult with all the crazyness at home but i cant imagine what it would be like to experience the loss you did.  I talked about what would happen with mom and dad if anyone passed away while i was gone which helped a lot.  I too have had my testimony in the plan of salvation strengthened through the trial of a passing loved one.  I can testify with power and conviction like never before.  When i received the news my entire mission was actually working on a training plan in which we were studying for two weeks on answering the question that the savior posed to his apostles "whom say ye that i am."  In those short two weeks i had the opportunity to take upon myself the yoke of our savior and to learn of him as i went out each day into the field.  I cannot express my gratitude to the savior for his atoning sacrifice in our behalf that we can be lifted and made strong through him. 

Oh and that is sooooo coool that you are working in the temple with asl.  I didnt even know that they did that kind of a session.  oh and did you see the new movie? mom said it was awesome and i wanna go so badly but gotta wait haha. anyways Love you!!!

Yee Choro

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March 16, 2014 **********

Herro Family.  You guys are probably still in the water right now and btw i am so j.  beach withdrawals! anyways i is fine.  I got the second box arigato ne.  bday dinner was great. it was also dignam choros bday so we was like lets just go big so we had steak haha.  I don't need anything that i cant get here.  The comp is cool. The investigators are doing good as well.  We had no zeros this week on our weekly report which is a first in wakayama for something like 6 months. 

 Most spiritual has been these past few nights ive taken time to just sit and ponder for like 30 min by myself and study something cool like revelations or second coming or Christ and i get some mind blowing stuffs sometimes.  the latest was that Christ was talking about the second coming in his prayer when he was on earth.  "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" refers to the time when the Savior will come down and establish the kingdom of heaven on the earth during the millennium.  Oh also learned that glorified beings don't need to open doors, they just pass through. Jesus after he was resurrected moved the stone so that people could see that the tomb was empty not so that he could get out or anything like that.  Cool stuffs like that.  

Most fun was probably our service project at wakayama jo on saturday and the hardest was staying awake in church LOL. the weather is actually starting to get pretty warm and the sun is out every day like at home so its really nice. The sakura are also starting to bloom so the city is starting to smell less like poop and more like flowers and poop hahaha. The mish is going well and im having fun out here serving the Lord.

Come Unto Christ & Be Perfected In Him (Moroni 10:32)

konnichiwa ohana!

Archery at Wakayama College

Moroni 10:32
"Yea come unto Christ and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness and LOVE God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace (enabling power) sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God"

I am doing good.  This past week was pretty hard but i'm fine no worries.  bdays kinda suck on the mission haha, it was a day of reflection and gratitude. 

 i kept thinking to myself "what the french toast" am i doing here? i could be helping my family or hanging out with my friends or at the beach surfing and then,  every time the thought would come to me: You are doing the Lords work. I am here laboring for such a short time in his vineyard for this the last time.  I am a servant preparing the fields for the coming of our savior.  

HOW GREAT IS THIS WORK! 

I dont need anything right now that i can think of.  The investigators are doing good and all progressing at their own pace.  we found two more this week which was cool.  Most spiritual thing this week was ZTM.  Our zone leaders are awesome. 

 Most fun was going to the archery range and watching them shoot.  Btw how did you see pictures of that? Hardest thing is that riding my bike so much has made my legs pretty beastly so some of my clothes are like skinny jeans lol.  The archery place is up at wakayama college. we talked to this random bro on our way up there and he said that we could come watch if we wanted so of course we did.  there were about 15ish college students practicing so we watched and talked to them for like an hour.  Pretty sweet day. 

 Last pday we went to kimindeta pretty cool i have some pics later.  Today is a chill day and then we are going to probably go eat a nice dinner for me and Dignam choros bday dinner cause viking was kinda cheepy but also free from a member.  im actually losing weight this transfer which is bad.  all of my stuffs are fine so no worries.  i ate some ootoro, some uni and some unagi on my bday from this little market place, was ono.  and no squirrel (there is a debate as to whether or not squirrels EXIST in Japan).

Love you guys!!

Entrance to Ookii Buddha Building (my mama is so so glad that i remembered to take pictures!)

Ookii Buddha, so zen!

Aloha Brah, das how we do!  LOL

Kireii Sakura

Sakura

The great debate: Did Yee Chorro gain weight?   Just a little i think...LOL

Archery at Wakayama College