The Nihonjin are here! (Week 9)

こんにちはみなさん [Hello Gentlemen]

How is everyone? I hope you are all well. I'm quite well this week.

Hey dad. If you have a minute tell me something cool from your mission. Something you learned. I want to hear about it.

So the Nihonjin missionaries came! And I've been talking to them. And they speak so fast that I can't understand them. But sometimes I do actually understand them. And its awesome! I love understanding them. Its so much fun. But I can't say anything back. They tell me I'm good at Japanese but I probably am only just barely understandable. On Tuesday after Devotional our whole branch got together to review the devotional with the Nihonjin. And we all had to go sit by a Nihonjin. And then I was told I had to translate everyone's english testimonies into Japanese for them. What?! I can't do that. But I did ok. I know more than I thought I did. But it is still so hard. I hope they understood me. He said I was good. But I don't know. Also we have time to go on the computers to learn Japanese and there is this thing we can do where we listen to people teach in Japanese and try to understand it. And I did one yesterday that I did before at the very beginning. When I first did it I understood almost nothing. Almost nothing. And I couldn't hear where the words were changing to another word. But yesterday I understood more than half of what was being said. It made me so happy. The gift of tongues is real. Watashi wa igen no tamamono ga arimasu.

On Wednesday I was one of those missionaries that takes the new missionaries away from their families. That was fun. And hard at the same time. It is difficult to watch all the moms cry as they see their sons and daughters for the last time for so long. It is especially hard when I see a big strong dad with a manly beard cry when his daughter leaves on her mission. It made me cry just to see it. But I got control of myself quickly.

Yesterday we did our service in the kitchen and I got to go into the basement of the kitchen which is really scary. But kind of cool to know such a scary room exists here. And then I saw on the floor what looked like a puddle of blood with a couple of rags soaked in whatever it was like someone was cleaning it but didn't finish. It looked just like blood. Just ask Wong Choro. He was there too. That place scares me.

The new American missionaries came that are going to Japan. Finally. We old people have been alone here for a long time. Most of them are pretty cool. Some of them think they know Japanese already. But they will learn.

I have really big news. Everyone make sure you're sitting down for this one. Maybe even with a seat belt. There is a sister in my zone named Soderborg Shimai. She is really funny and I like talking to her. But that is besides the point. She told me that one time Yo-Yo Ma was playing in Park City for a hockey charity thing and she was there and met him and shook his hand. And at the time she didn't know who he was. And then someone asked her if she knew whose hand she just shook. What?! She shook the Yo-Yo Ma's hand. I made sure to shake her hand. So I've shaken someones hand who shook Yo-Yo Ma's hand. He's the only person I still need to meet. I am so jealous. So so jealous.

So I've also had some cool spiritual experiences. I'm just happy here because the Spirit is everywhere. And I have come to know our Savior better than I ever have here. He is so much more real to me now. It's difficult to explain how it feels because He has always been real to me. But now its just so much more. It's awesome. I love it. This is one of the coolest things I've ever experienced. He really is there and He really does help. And I can recognize and feel that help better now. Its totally awesome. I wouldn't trade that for anything. This gospel is so true its not even funny. Its so true. I love it. And I'm so glad I can be a part of it. I'm so lucky to have the opportunity to serve a mission and that I was born in this church. It is so awesome. I'm so glad I have this gospel.

So I'm almost out of the MTC. Time is really flying now. Its scary. I don't know Japanese and I'm about out of here to go teach the Japanese people. I'm scared. But I'm so excited. I can't wait to get to Japan. I know God will help me so I'll be fine. I'm anxious to go teach the Japanese people about this wonderful gospel we have that will change their lives forever. I hear we get our travel plans next week. We're supposed to be out of here on March 12. And as far as I know the whole visa deal is fine. They haven't told me there are problems. So I think we're on schedule. Its just over two weeks from now I think.

I'm out of time now. This church is so true. Don't ever forget it. Give God the time he deserves everyday and he will bless you like you wouldn't believe. I love you all. I hope you are all doing well. Give Kujo kisses for me. Be happy. Life is supposed to be happy. I love you. 愛しています

リドル長老 [Elder Riddle]

Editor's Note: I will attempt to translate what Elder Liddle sends us. However, it already seems some things are lost in translation. I'm told there are no 'L's in Japanese (they love Christmas--get it? Noel?) that's why the last translation comes across as Elder Riddle.