About half way there.

Happy birthday Kate yesterday!

And ohayo gozaimasu. Which means good morning. For those of you who think you can't find the translation anywhere.

And that letter I sent home has easy Japanese in it. Get a dictionary and look it up. I can't really say it here. Unless you edit this before you let the world see it. I don't know if you do. Buy a Langenscheidts japanese dictionary and look it up. It will have all the words. And then send it to me. I would really like that dictionary.

So it wasn't the First Presidency here on Tuesday for the MTC's 50th birthday party. It was Elder Nelson again and Elder Holland. It was super cool. And the song we sang in the choir was one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. The spirit was so strong during that meeting. It was very cool. And then after the devotional we have our district devotional review. That was really good too. Everyone in my district is just so awesome. I love them. And we had one of the councelors in our branch presidency there. He said that someone like a prophet or something said that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are apostles with a big A. And missionaries are apostles with a little a. I can't remember who he said said that. I thought that was an interesting thought.

So the older Japanese missionaries and the Nihonjin left for Japan on Monday morning. I really miss the Nihonjin. They are the nicest people ever. I especially miss Elder Yamanashi. I really like him. We became pretty good friends. And he's going to Fukuoka! So someday I'll see him again and then have a conversation with him in Japanese. Real Japanese. I can't wait for that. And just so you know Yamanashi means mountain pear. Does that not just sound beautifully delicious.

So I'm going crazy here. I'm only half way here and I am going to explode. I have to get out of here. I don't care if I don't know any Japanese. I want to go to Japan now. Spending most of my life in a tiny classroom with desks designed to slide everything off at the slightest breath with twelve missionaries sitting shoulder to shoulder for most of my life is driving me crazy. I'm in that classroom all day and then I go eat bad food and then I go back to that classroom. I can't wait for Japan.

And every week now we go to the kitchen to help clean up and put stuff away and stuff. I already hate most of the food here. And yesterday morning I learned things about this food that I won't repeat so no one has to suffer the way I do. Hopefully I live. I might become anorexic. Jodan jodan jodan. which means joke. I have done pretty good at turning my brain off when I eat.

So I love my teacher Gremmert Sensei. I want him to marry Kate. He's good looking and funny and very spiritual and like 23 or 24. He went to the Japan Sapporo mission. And I tried to get him to call Kate for a date for her birthday. But he said he is taking a break from girls. So Kate. It looks like you will have to be in charge here. Just write him a letter and send it to me. I'll give it to him. I doubt he will give me his number to give you.

So Elder Eliason had a little disagreement with Elder Lloyd and Elder Lloyd said that he knew he was right and that he would bet his next four packages from home that he was right. And they found someone who knew for sure and Elder Lloyd won. But the only thing I could think of is I'd be lucky if I get four packages from home by the time I leave here. I guess he's just loved more. I just thought that was a funny story that I would share for no reason at all.

I like the letters I've been getting. Keep sending them. I like them. It keeps me sane. So feel free to help my sanity.

Well I need to go now. Aishiteimasu. Which means I love you.

Love Josh