We are going to Taketomi island again today! I'm so excited. Its Iino 長老's first time. We are going to have steak and stuff.
So. This week has been exciting I guess. Lots happened. Or rather lots didn't happen.
First the typhoon. It hit from the second we woke up on Friday and was still hanging around well into the night. We could not do anything all day. It was the strongest storm I have ever seen in my life. Iino 長老 and I got bored and we wanted to just run to the convenience store to buy some candy or something. And so we went out into the storm. I have never experienced that kind of wind and rain. The wind was so strong that it almost blew me over just standing there. And it was accelerating the rain to such high speeds that it would hurt when the rain hit you. It was the craziest thing ever. The previous typhoons have been windy and rainy. And they always change in intensity through the day. But this was way strong and was just constant all day. The wind was so loud outside our apartment. It was just crazy. And it blew over a lot of really big trees. It was crazy. I also saw a fire truck when we left the apartment. One of the fire trucks that is supposed to be able to go through any weather. It was exciting.
But we had an appointment with the wonderful T_____ family for Friday. And we couldn't visit them. That made me very sad. They are doing so well. The mom knows this gospel will strengthen her family. And we really need to start teaching them properly again. They can go so far. It will just take a lot of effort on their part to make time. And then when they do have time Satan makes a typhoon that actually is dangerous just to walk in. Not just a pansy typhoon everyone says is dangerous and then gets mad at you if they see you walking outside. Anyways. Hopefully this week will be better.
So on Wednesday we had planned to go visit a less active member named I_____ Shiami. Sister I_____. And our plans are to teach her all the lessons again but to let me do it as practice because then I can't ruin anyone's salvation with a mistake or anything. But I didn't get to teach her this week. When we visited her we talked just about the Atonement. I really can't understand what she says. But I understood husband, police, the huge bruise she showed us on her arm, and the way Iino 長老 reacted. And then after Iino 長老 did a little explaining to make sure I understood. She was abused by her husband. And now he is with the police. I was really upset. I_____ Shiami is such a nice sweet lady. She doesn't deserve that.
In happier news at Eikaiwa on Saturday I made a sentence with the grammar we were teaching. I said something like you need to go buy me 7 doughnuts from Mister Donuts. Mister Donuts is a way good doughnut place here. I love it. Way better than America. Anyways. These particular Eikaiwa students always take us out to eat and stuff. And at the end of the lesson they were like ok lets go to Mister Donuts and you can have as many as you want. So we went. And all the doughnuts were half price. Not that that mattered to the M_____'s. They don't care about money. Anyways. We were going through the line picking our doughnuts and M_____ san kept telling me to get more. Get more get more get more. So I ended up with six. And I ate them. And they were delicious. And after my sixth doughnut he said to me you didn't eat seven. You need more. Lets go get more. So he made me get one more. Wow. Seven doughnuts from the most delicious doughnut place I've ever been to. Those people are so nice. I love the M_____'s.
So I haven't really studied Kanji since coming on my mission. I have focused on listening and speaking. Not so much the reading. But I decided to start Kanji. So I was looking through my Kanji book and its set up so you learn a kanji a day and there are sections for every month. I should be on month 9 by now. But as I was looking through it I knew all of the Kanji up to month 5. It blew my mind. When did I learn those Kanji? I don't know where that came from. But I'm not complaining. If God wants to give me the gift of tongues then so be it. I will allow that. It was just cool and kind of a nice indicator that I actually am learning Japanese. Also we have a meeting with the ward mission leader every sunday. But we have only had that meeting the first week Iino 長老 got here and then yesterday. The ward mission leader hasn't been here. And yesterday he told me that my Japanese is improving quickly having a Japanese companion. He said just a few weeks ago I could hardly say anything but yesterday I was speaking more quickly and more detailed. I guess I'm improving. But it is so hard to see. I can't describe to you how hard this language is. It is just so different and sometimes overwhelming. So it has been nice to see progress.
We went to a festival last night where people got up to sing old Okinawa and Ishigaki music. It was so cool. I love that music. When I get to go to festivals and stuff I just feel like I'm at home. I love the culture here. It is so good. I never want to leave the Okinawa area.
So Iino 長老 is really good at cooking. He does all of the cooking. He makes some of the best food I've ever had. And I am learning a bit from him so I will probably be able to make something tasty for you at home if I have the ingredients. Its not too hard. He likes to use tofu. At first that was really strange to me but now I like it. I love his food. Except one thing he made that had raw egg in it. That was just weird and disgusting.
We help with a Japanese woman's Eikaiwa every week. And just before the class she gives us dinner. Sometimes it is the best thing I have ever had. And sometimes it is the worst thing I have ever had. I have had some of the strangest food that I can't even describe to you from her. These past few weeks have been crazy gross like that. Even Iino 長老 says its bad. It is so gross. But I eat it anyways because she is such nice lady. Hopefully this week will be better. I want Erika to eat her food. That would be fun to see.
I have had sushi a few times here. Sushi is pretty ok. It is quite different than anything I have had in America. It is just like more real. Fish on rice. With soy sauce or something. My favorite sushi was the octopus sushi. No just kidding. The shrimp sushi was my favorite. Some sushi isn't too good. It depends on the fish. I have had sashimi a few times. That is just raw fish all by itself with some kind of sauce and usually wasabi. Sashimi is difficult. I can have like two pieces and enjoy it but then I have to eat something else or the texture kills me. I'm still getting used to it. I would be ok to never eat sashimi again. But I probably will. So I might as well enjoy it. Iino 長老 told me there is an area in our mission that you can buy horse sashimi. I really want to try that. He also said in some places in Japan you can get dolphin. And whale. I want to try these. Especially horse and dolphin.
Well we need to get going to Taketomi pretty quick here. I think I will leave you now. I hope this next week goes better for us. Pray that we will be able to really meet the T_____s again.
Love Josh
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
Typhoon Jelawat
Typhoon Jelawat is slowing down the work for Josh. I know he had appointments scheduled for today, but he has probably had to sit in his apartment all day due to the typhoon that is passing very closely to Ishigaki.
Here's a current satellite image (click to enlarge):
Here's a current satellite image (click to enlarge):
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Hi again. (Week 39)
Well this week was pretty good. I got to ride airplanes again. Numbers 20 and 21. We went to Naha for zone conference. And guess who was there. You will remember the general conference last year in October when a nice Japanese man spoke about missionary work. This was the weekend after I opened my mission call. His name is Elder Yamashita. And he did in fact give the training at our zone conference. It was so good. He is such a wonderful man. I learned so much from him. And he taught in English. He said the Japanese missionaries should learn English so he is going to speak in English to help them. And it was so good. One of the biggest things I learned from him is that language doesn't matter that much. If you speak from your heart and show love then the Spirit will be there and that is what really matters. No one will care about your language skill if they can feel the Spirit. And the best part about that was his English is really good but far from perfect. And I didn't even notice. I just felt the Spirit the whole time. It was so good. That conference may have changed my mission forever. Elder Yamashita is the best ever. He is such a nice guy. I had the opportunity to speak to him for a little bit. It was good.
I also had an interview with President Gustafson this weekend. That was just really good. That man is inspired by God. I love him so much.
So we have been visiting M_____ san. He is a good old man. We visited him yesterday kind of late and when we got there he told us he thought we weren't coming and got a little worried. He is progressing little by little. I hope to see him join the church. He is a wonderful man. Very nice.
We also visited a family we teach in English. Well now its English and Japanese because Iino 長老 can't speak English. And the T_____ family is bilingual. It has been a really long time since we have visited them all together. They are so busy. So we met with the daughter earlier this week and then the mother yesterday. When we met with the daughter, V_____, she really opened up to us this time. She told me about some problems that have been going on and she was completely honest with me when we talked about how she had been with keeping commitments and stuff. And then I talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon and stuff and asked her to read every day and pray about it. And she said she would and really seemed like she meant it. It was a good lesson. And then yesterday with T_____ Mom I talked more about the Book of Mormon. She is such a wonderful lady. She wants to be a better mother to her children and she also was very open and honest with us about how things have been going with her progress as an investigator. The family really is about at the same place. None of them really do much about what we say. But I asked her to really try to read and pray this week and to help her children do it too. And she said she would. And I think she will. The spirit was really strong in these visits. And we set up a time to meet them as a whole family. I'm excited for them. And in our meetings with them I have just been overcome with such a love for them. I love that family so much. I really want to see them join the church. And I think they will if we all just try hard together to get them to continually progress. But I have a fear. I might transfer away from here in a few weeks. 5 transfers in Ishigaki may be too much to ask. I've heard of a few missionaries now who have gone 5 transfers in places but I don't know if I can do it. And so I might not be able to see it. Also I don't think Iino 長老 has the same faith in them that I do. And the ward mission leader doesn't have that faith in them either. So I feel like I'm alone when it comes to this family. I can't transfer or they might be forgotten. I want them to receive this gospel. I want to be with them in the Celestial Kingdom. So pray that all will go well.
While I was in Naha I went on companion exchanges with one of the Miyako elders and I learned something. We stopped a guy on the street and started talking to him. And I understood everything that was being said. And this man was upset about something. He would sometimes say things in English too. And he was just kind of in attack mode. And if I was the one good enough at the language to take the lesson I am afraid I might have just left him to go be angry by himself. But Elder Cottle is a great missionary. He was patient and kept himself calm. And in the end the guy asked if he could take our pamphlets and he was happy and we went away feeling good. So always be happy and patient no matter what.
By the way we aren't going to bike around Ishigaki. Just to a beach kind of far away.
This past week we were housing and found a nice old lady that was just a little bit crazy. She was part of a religion here in Japan and also a few other parts of the world called Kofuku no Kagaku. Which being interpreted means Happy Science. And here we have seen there building that says Happy Science in big English letters on it. It is an interesting religion that I think is basically just about how to live a happy life. And this wonderful old lady told us about how she can't really read very much anymore because her eye sight is bad and so she gave me and Elder Iino a couple books from her church. So now I have a book called Kibo no Ho. Which means the Laws of Hope. And its all in Japanese. I've actually read a little bit of it and most of it seems to teach good things. But some of it may be a little bit not so true. And I feel like I would rather read the Book of Mormon or something. So I won't read it. Anyways. It was just funny. She was so excited about her religion. And we only took the books from her because she said if we did she would take a Book of Mormon and try to read it. So yeah.
Well that was my week I think. So. Enjoy the package. Mom. Enjoy your shisa and other assorted goods. If anything doesn't have a home yet then you can decide what to do with it. I love you all. Have a wonderful day.
Love Elder
I also had an interview with President Gustafson this weekend. That was just really good. That man is inspired by God. I love him so much.
So we have been visiting M_____ san. He is a good old man. We visited him yesterday kind of late and when we got there he told us he thought we weren't coming and got a little worried. He is progressing little by little. I hope to see him join the church. He is a wonderful man. Very nice.
We also visited a family we teach in English. Well now its English and Japanese because Iino 長老 can't speak English. And the T_____ family is bilingual. It has been a really long time since we have visited them all together. They are so busy. So we met with the daughter earlier this week and then the mother yesterday. When we met with the daughter, V_____, she really opened up to us this time. She told me about some problems that have been going on and she was completely honest with me when we talked about how she had been with keeping commitments and stuff. And then I talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon and stuff and asked her to read every day and pray about it. And she said she would and really seemed like she meant it. It was a good lesson. And then yesterday with T_____ Mom I talked more about the Book of Mormon. She is such a wonderful lady. She wants to be a better mother to her children and she also was very open and honest with us about how things have been going with her progress as an investigator. The family really is about at the same place. None of them really do much about what we say. But I asked her to really try to read and pray this week and to help her children do it too. And she said she would. And I think she will. The spirit was really strong in these visits. And we set up a time to meet them as a whole family. I'm excited for them. And in our meetings with them I have just been overcome with such a love for them. I love that family so much. I really want to see them join the church. And I think they will if we all just try hard together to get them to continually progress. But I have a fear. I might transfer away from here in a few weeks. 5 transfers in Ishigaki may be too much to ask. I've heard of a few missionaries now who have gone 5 transfers in places but I don't know if I can do it. And so I might not be able to see it. Also I don't think Iino 長老 has the same faith in them that I do. And the ward mission leader doesn't have that faith in them either. So I feel like I'm alone when it comes to this family. I can't transfer or they might be forgotten. I want them to receive this gospel. I want to be with them in the Celestial Kingdom. So pray that all will go well.
While I was in Naha I went on companion exchanges with one of the Miyako elders and I learned something. We stopped a guy on the street and started talking to him. And I understood everything that was being said. And this man was upset about something. He would sometimes say things in English too. And he was just kind of in attack mode. And if I was the one good enough at the language to take the lesson I am afraid I might have just left him to go be angry by himself. But Elder Cottle is a great missionary. He was patient and kept himself calm. And in the end the guy asked if he could take our pamphlets and he was happy and we went away feeling good. So always be happy and patient no matter what.
By the way we aren't going to bike around Ishigaki. Just to a beach kind of far away.
This past week we were housing and found a nice old lady that was just a little bit crazy. She was part of a religion here in Japan and also a few other parts of the world called Kofuku no Kagaku. Which being interpreted means Happy Science. And here we have seen there building that says Happy Science in big English letters on it. It is an interesting religion that I think is basically just about how to live a happy life. And this wonderful old lady told us about how she can't really read very much anymore because her eye sight is bad and so she gave me and Elder Iino a couple books from her church. So now I have a book called Kibo no Ho. Which means the Laws of Hope. And its all in Japanese. I've actually read a little bit of it and most of it seems to teach good things. But some of it may be a little bit not so true. And I feel like I would rather read the Book of Mormon or something. So I won't read it. Anyways. It was just funny. She was so excited about her religion. And we only took the books from her because she said if we did she would take a Book of Mormon and try to read it. So yeah.
Well that was my week I think. So. Enjoy the package. Mom. Enjoy your shisa and other assorted goods. If anything doesn't have a home yet then you can decide what to do with it. I love you all. Have a wonderful day.
Love Elder
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Nani yateiru no? (Week 38)
So. This week has been pretty good. Pretty crazy and long but way fast. I feel like it was way fast but I can't even remember the first part of last week because it was so long ago.
I rode airplanes number 18 and 19 this week. The super tiny propeller plane that goes to Miyako. We had a junkai in Miyako with the Miyako elders and the zone leaders flew in from Naha. So it was a good few days actually being with missionaries. Iino 長老 was my zone leader last transfer so I got a new one this transfer. His name is Elder De la Mare. He is such a wonderful soul. I love that man so much. He is such a great missionary. I got to go housing with him for a while. And a bit of streeting but Miyako is way tiny too so not many people walk the streets. And I learned so much from him. I learned how to truly love dendo with that man. I had such a good time. And he pushed me to speak more Japanese than I feel comfortable doing but I found out that I was able to do a lot more than I thought I was able to. And my housing style greatly improved in those short hours. I learned so much from him. And I loved it. I'm ready to get going on Ishigaki. Tanoshiku Dendo Shimasho!
While I was housing with Elder De la Mare we found a nice woman with three children who listened to us. And she was great. She was listening and she was into it and it was just so good. She took a Book of Mormon and said she would read it and we made a return appointment for the Miyako Elders. And then later that evening when we switched up companions Elder De la Mare came back to the apartment and told us a miraculous tale. He said he found the mother of the nice lady I found with him and she too took a Book of Mormon and made a return appointment. And the mother and daughter have no idea the other found the missionaries. It was way cool. A family on Miyako is going to get baptized. I had a good junkai in Miyako.
So yesterday the police came to our door. I couldn't understand anything he said but Iino 長老 said he was looking for a thief.
O_____ san said I have good teeth just out of nowhere. She really likes them. Other than that there isn't much to report on her. She isn't really progressing anymore. I think she is afraid of something. But I don't know what.
Most of our investigators are just sitting around not doing much. Its really hard. No one is doing anything. And it makes me sad. We did have one investigator say he will get baptized if he receives an answer to his prayer that this church is true. But I am afraid he will give up on praying before he gets an answer. That seems to be the pattern with him and his family. But I hope we can help them. We received some good training from the zone leaders that should help actually.
And we found a new investigator! His name is M_____ san. He is a nice older man. We left him with a Book of Mormon last week and asked him to read some of it and the Restoration pamphlet. And we went back yesterday and immediately he jumped up and got his Book of Mormon and started to ask a few questions and wants to know who Joseph Smith is. He is a great little humble man. I hope we can bring the gospel to him. I'm glad to have a new investigator. We've been looking for a long time.
I think I sent a picture of me in some cool Japanese pajamas one time. I asked Iino 長老 if I could go outside in them and he said I could but that I would be like a kitanai Ojiisan. Which being interpreted means dirty grandpa.
So this whole Japanese all the time thing is really hard. I am struggling. And I have times when my brain explodes and I just don't want to speak or hear another word in this language. It is really hard. And things have been so hard this week. So I'm going to need you to double or triple your prayers for me. Onegai Shimasu.
Though this week has been really good. Probably my favorite week on the mission so far. I just love being here and I have been able to do a lot of cool stuff and I love to go out and dendo and the only real problem for me this week is Japanese. No other challenges really came this week. It was so good. Anyways. I just love this place. I love that I get to have the opportunity to be here.
On Saturday night we got a phone call. From the Yonahas. You always know its bad if they call on a Saturday night. Everything for Sunday basically fell apart. The stake leaders coming couldn't fly in because of the Typhoon. So the talks were going to be given by the missionaries. And Yonaha shimai asked us to teach sunday school for her. And Tagawa kyodai told us that the Typhoon would keep him at work on Taketomi island so we had to teach priesthood meeting. We found all of this out on Saturday. And my brain exploded. Japanese is too hard to do that. But we made it.
And just so you know if I don't email next week in a timely manner or at all it will be because we might bike around Ishigaki. But Elder Iino doesn't want to so we might not do it. We'll see. It would take like 10 hours or something.
It isn't really fall here. People keep telling us when it will start cooling down. They say around November or December. It will never get cold here.
Well. I should probably go now. I hope you are all well. I love you. And I love the mission. I have had such a great week. This week I am a happy man. Peace.
Love Elder 利怒瑠 (RichAngrySapphire)
I rode airplanes number 18 and 19 this week. The super tiny propeller plane that goes to Miyako. We had a junkai in Miyako with the Miyako elders and the zone leaders flew in from Naha. So it was a good few days actually being with missionaries. Iino 長老 was my zone leader last transfer so I got a new one this transfer. His name is Elder De la Mare. He is such a wonderful soul. I love that man so much. He is such a great missionary. I got to go housing with him for a while. And a bit of streeting but Miyako is way tiny too so not many people walk the streets. And I learned so much from him. I learned how to truly love dendo with that man. I had such a good time. And he pushed me to speak more Japanese than I feel comfortable doing but I found out that I was able to do a lot more than I thought I was able to. And my housing style greatly improved in those short hours. I learned so much from him. And I loved it. I'm ready to get going on Ishigaki. Tanoshiku Dendo Shimasho!
While I was housing with Elder De la Mare we found a nice woman with three children who listened to us. And she was great. She was listening and she was into it and it was just so good. She took a Book of Mormon and said she would read it and we made a return appointment for the Miyako Elders. And then later that evening when we switched up companions Elder De la Mare came back to the apartment and told us a miraculous tale. He said he found the mother of the nice lady I found with him and she too took a Book of Mormon and made a return appointment. And the mother and daughter have no idea the other found the missionaries. It was way cool. A family on Miyako is going to get baptized. I had a good junkai in Miyako.
So yesterday the police came to our door. I couldn't understand anything he said but Iino 長老 said he was looking for a thief.
O_____ san said I have good teeth just out of nowhere. She really likes them. Other than that there isn't much to report on her. She isn't really progressing anymore. I think she is afraid of something. But I don't know what.
Most of our investigators are just sitting around not doing much. Its really hard. No one is doing anything. And it makes me sad. We did have one investigator say he will get baptized if he receives an answer to his prayer that this church is true. But I am afraid he will give up on praying before he gets an answer. That seems to be the pattern with him and his family. But I hope we can help them. We received some good training from the zone leaders that should help actually.
And we found a new investigator! His name is M_____ san. He is a nice older man. We left him with a Book of Mormon last week and asked him to read some of it and the Restoration pamphlet. And we went back yesterday and immediately he jumped up and got his Book of Mormon and started to ask a few questions and wants to know who Joseph Smith is. He is a great little humble man. I hope we can bring the gospel to him. I'm glad to have a new investigator. We've been looking for a long time.
I think I sent a picture of me in some cool Japanese pajamas one time. I asked Iino 長老 if I could go outside in them and he said I could but that I would be like a kitanai Ojiisan. Which being interpreted means dirty grandpa.
So this whole Japanese all the time thing is really hard. I am struggling. And I have times when my brain explodes and I just don't want to speak or hear another word in this language. It is really hard. And things have been so hard this week. So I'm going to need you to double or triple your prayers for me. Onegai Shimasu.
Though this week has been really good. Probably my favorite week on the mission so far. I just love being here and I have been able to do a lot of cool stuff and I love to go out and dendo and the only real problem for me this week is Japanese. No other challenges really came this week. It was so good. Anyways. I just love this place. I love that I get to have the opportunity to be here.
On Saturday night we got a phone call. From the Yonahas. You always know its bad if they call on a Saturday night. Everything for Sunday basically fell apart. The stake leaders coming couldn't fly in because of the Typhoon. So the talks were going to be given by the missionaries. And Yonaha shimai asked us to teach sunday school for her. And Tagawa kyodai told us that the Typhoon would keep him at work on Taketomi island so we had to teach priesthood meeting. We found all of this out on Saturday. And my brain exploded. Japanese is too hard to do that. But we made it.
And just so you know if I don't email next week in a timely manner or at all it will be because we might bike around Ishigaki. But Elder Iino doesn't want to so we might not do it. We'll see. It would take like 10 hours or something.
It isn't really fall here. People keep telling us when it will start cooling down. They say around November or December. It will never get cold here.
Well. I should probably go now. I hope you are all well. I love you. And I love the mission. I have had such a great week. This week I am a happy man. Peace.
Love Elder 利怒瑠 (RichAngrySapphire)
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Its time for eggnog! (Week 37)
Well you are probably all wondering why I called you here today.
Firstly I'd like to say that my first full week of Nihongo dake went pretty ok. Japanese only. Its been hard. But kind of fun. Maybe it wasn't exactly Nihongo dake because Elder Iino can understand a lot of english. His vocabulary is impressive. But if you get too complicated with the grammar and stuff then he has no idea what you're going on about. So I can ask him how to say things in English first if I don't know how to in Japanese. So that has been really nice. And when I get really frustrated I just go off in really fast English to calm me down. So its been exciting. And I can say more than I thought I could. But still not all that much.
Secondly I'd like to say that on this beautiful Monday morning I watched Elder Holland's devotional last Sunday night. But it was live. How do I do that? I must be a Timelord or something. And it was really good. I love that man. That kind of reminded me of seeing him in the MTC. Only he was a lot more in your face in the MTC. It was good.
Thirdly. I want to tell you that Iino 長老 taught me some new Japanese. Barabara satsujin jiken. And then he said its yoku tsukau. Which means its used a lot. And the first word means random. The second word means manslaughter. And the third word means happening or event. Yoku tsukau? Why on earth would you use a phrase like that often?
Fourthly I want to send you my Christmas list. I have some stuff I will need by then and I just want to tell you because I'm in the Christmasy mood and I don't want to forget closer to Christmas. Now its up to you to remember and I don't have responsibility anymore. I need a new head for my razor by Christmas. The name of this razor is Philips Norelco SensoTouch 1150X. I need a replacement shaving unit, model RQ11. The book says go to www.philips.com/store. And I will need maybe some new sewing needles and more black and white thread. I could probably find that here just fine but I wanted to give you something to give me for Christmas. So there you have it. My Christmas list. Also a chocolate orange.
Fifthly. I was thinking back to my first days in Japan. And I was in the airport somewhere going to my first area, Okinawa. And I met a lot of missionaries all at one time so I can barely remember any of them. But one I do remember. He was Japanese. And he was tall. And he spoke only Japanese. And he talked to me and I was like aaaaahhhh! Why are you talking to me? Don't you know I can't speak this language? And I was afraid of that particular missionary. That missionary's name is, if I remember correctly, Elder Iino. Who turns out to be my companion. And also one of my very favorite people ever to be born onto this earth.
Seventhly. I'd just like to say that working with Elder Iino has been lots of fun. I love that man. And he is such a good missionary. I am learning so much from him. When we go housing and stuff he is way good at it. Elder Munro and I could barely get anyone to keep their door open for more than ten seconds. But Elder Iino can keep them for 10 minutes. He's amazing. And I'm learning how to do it myself. You just have to ask the right questions and do more of a self introduction rather than jump right into how they can live with God again. I love 飯野長老。He's the best missionary out there.
Eighthly. We housed an apartment building that was way scary. It was a night and there were like no lights and the feeling there was creepy and it was way dirty and almost no one was home and if they were they ignored us except one guy who was just smoking in the dark. There were no lights on in his house. All I could see was the cigarette and a little of his face from the glow of the cigarette. Wow. That was scary. I decided we broke some missionary rules housing there. The white handbook says to stay in well lighted areas at night for safety. I sure didn't feel safe there. Also from my childhood I remember having the same nightmare over and over from time to time. I was walking up really narrow really steep stairs with no railings and I had trouble balancing so I always felt like I was going to fall. And at that scary apartment the stairs were exactly like that. Exactly.
Eleventhly. I'd just like to keep you updated on all the girls that are in love with me here. I saw one at the airport that wanted me to go talk to her but I didn't. We housed into one who literally jumped down into her genkan so she could open the door wider when she saw me. And a few girls were walking on the sidewalk a ways away from me. I was on my bike and stopped at a red light. I actually stop at red lights unlike everyone else. And as I started going all three yelled Haro! But I didn't look over and just kept going. And then one screamed at me Amerikajin! Which means hey American! I just laughed and kept going.
Twelfthly. I just want to say that I love you all and that I hope all is well back at the homestead. I hope you are all in your dress goods and enjoying your Sunday. Sunday is a good day. Just really busy for missionaries.
Thirteenthly. I should head out. Have a nice week.
Fourteenthly. Love,
Fifteenthly. リドル長老
Firstly I'd like to say that my first full week of Nihongo dake went pretty ok. Japanese only. Its been hard. But kind of fun. Maybe it wasn't exactly Nihongo dake because Elder Iino can understand a lot of english. His vocabulary is impressive. But if you get too complicated with the grammar and stuff then he has no idea what you're going on about. So I can ask him how to say things in English first if I don't know how to in Japanese. So that has been really nice. And when I get really frustrated I just go off in really fast English to calm me down. So its been exciting. And I can say more than I thought I could. But still not all that much.
Secondly I'd like to say that on this beautiful Monday morning I watched Elder Holland's devotional last Sunday night. But it was live. How do I do that? I must be a Timelord or something. And it was really good. I love that man. That kind of reminded me of seeing him in the MTC. Only he was a lot more in your face in the MTC. It was good.
Thirdly. I want to tell you that Iino 長老 taught me some new Japanese. Barabara satsujin jiken. And then he said its yoku tsukau. Which means its used a lot. And the first word means random. The second word means manslaughter. And the third word means happening or event. Yoku tsukau? Why on earth would you use a phrase like that often?
Fourthly I want to send you my Christmas list. I have some stuff I will need by then and I just want to tell you because I'm in the Christmasy mood and I don't want to forget closer to Christmas. Now its up to you to remember and I don't have responsibility anymore. I need a new head for my razor by Christmas. The name of this razor is Philips Norelco SensoTouch 1150X. I need a replacement shaving unit, model RQ11. The book says go to www.philips.com/store. And I will need maybe some new sewing needles and more black and white thread. I could probably find that here just fine but I wanted to give you something to give me for Christmas. So there you have it. My Christmas list. Also a chocolate orange.
Fifthly. I was thinking back to my first days in Japan. And I was in the airport somewhere going to my first area, Okinawa. And I met a lot of missionaries all at one time so I can barely remember any of them. But one I do remember. He was Japanese. And he was tall. And he spoke only Japanese. And he talked to me and I was like aaaaahhhh! Why are you talking to me? Don't you know I can't speak this language? And I was afraid of that particular missionary. That missionary's name is, if I remember correctly, Elder Iino. Who turns out to be my companion. And also one of my very favorite people ever to be born onto this earth.
Seventhly. I'd just like to say that working with Elder Iino has been lots of fun. I love that man. And he is such a good missionary. I am learning so much from him. When we go housing and stuff he is way good at it. Elder Munro and I could barely get anyone to keep their door open for more than ten seconds. But Elder Iino can keep them for 10 minutes. He's amazing. And I'm learning how to do it myself. You just have to ask the right questions and do more of a self introduction rather than jump right into how they can live with God again. I love 飯野長老。He's the best missionary out there.
Eighthly. We housed an apartment building that was way scary. It was a night and there were like no lights and the feeling there was creepy and it was way dirty and almost no one was home and if they were they ignored us except one guy who was just smoking in the dark. There were no lights on in his house. All I could see was the cigarette and a little of his face from the glow of the cigarette. Wow. That was scary. I decided we broke some missionary rules housing there. The white handbook says to stay in well lighted areas at night for safety. I sure didn't feel safe there. Also from my childhood I remember having the same nightmare over and over from time to time. I was walking up really narrow really steep stairs with no railings and I had trouble balancing so I always felt like I was going to fall. And at that scary apartment the stairs were exactly like that. Exactly.
Eleventhly. I'd just like to keep you updated on all the girls that are in love with me here. I saw one at the airport that wanted me to go talk to her but I didn't. We housed into one who literally jumped down into her genkan so she could open the door wider when she saw me. And a few girls were walking on the sidewalk a ways away from me. I was on my bike and stopped at a red light. I actually stop at red lights unlike everyone else. And as I started going all three yelled Haro! But I didn't look over and just kept going. And then one screamed at me Amerikajin! Which means hey American! I just laughed and kept going.
Twelfthly. I just want to say that I love you all and that I hope all is well back at the homestead. I hope you are all in your dress goods and enjoying your Sunday. Sunday is a good day. Just really busy for missionaries.
Thirteenthly. I should head out. Have a nice week.
Fourteenthly. Love,
Fifteenthly. リドル長老
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Transfer 5! (Week 36)
So we just had transfers this week. And I have been gone 8 months! that's a third of my mission! Way too fast. Its been exciting. Lots of stuff went down. Good stuff. Hard stuff. Happy stuff. Sad stuff. So I am still in good old Ishigaks. Thank heavens. I love this place. Though I really wouldn't call this being spoiled. Ishigaki is great but I pretty much just work the whole time in the hot humidity. So dad. I'm not spoiled. Elder Munro did transfer away. To a city called Chikushino near Fukuoka. That was hard. I love Elder Munro. He was great. I had three transfers with him. And now I'm on my fourth transfer in Ishigaki. Can I make it to five? We will see. So I got a new companion. And his name is Elder iino! 飯野長老。He is in fact a Japanese man. I love him so much. He was my zone leader for the past three transfers in Naha. I was so excited when I got the call telling me he was my new companion. So excited. I love him so much. And it has been so fun already. We are working hard and he is Japanese and we have been having fun and he is Japanese so I really can't speak to him. But I try. And we figure out how to communicate. Its fun. But now I have no one to translate for me if I don't understand anything. So this will be good. There were two Nihonjin I wanted to become companions with. Elder Kusakabe who I lived with in Okinawa and Elder Iino. I am so happy. We are going to have such a good transfer on the little heavenly island of Ishigaks.
So we went to look for some less active members that no one has met in forever last night. And that was fun. We went to a house that was absolutely black inside. The sun had gone down and everything so it was dark. It was one of the scariest houses I have ever seen. And no one answered the door. So we booked it out of there as fast as we could.
So last P day Brother Tagawa took me and Elder Munro out to eat and see stuff. It was cool. Ishigaki is so beautiful. And we ate Yakiniku. My very favorite. And then later that night the relief society took us to a steak place. And when I say relief society don't imagine a huge group. There are only three. Actually like five but the other two were busy I guess. And I ate the best steak of my life. It was so so good. I can't even describe to you how good it was. And we were told that Kobe beef comes from Ishigaki. Kobe beef is like super good I guess and the cows for Kobe beef are raised in Ishigaki for a while and then shipped to Kobe. So it is really Ishigaki beef. And it is so good.
What do you call the cloud thing that follows after the airplane? Someone asked me because we saw one. In Japanese it is called hikokigumo. which means airplane cloud.
So this weekend was a festival or holiday thing called Obon. It was three days long and ended on Saturday. It was hard because people were way busy and didn't want to talk to us but it was also fun. I don't fully understand the obon. it is an only Okinawa thing. So Iino 長老 doesn't fully understand either and no one speaks good enough english to really help me understand. So all the explanations were in Japanese. It is like when their ancestors come back from the spirit world and visit and they put out food and stuff for them to eat and things like that. And then to end it we saw some people walking and singing all dressed up with their shamisens and their flutes and drums and we followed them. And then we watched a cool dance and then a weird dance and then a scary dance. It was weird. It was way cool though. Japan has so much way cool stuff. And I have been able to participate in a lot of it. I love the Okinawa culture. They say its different up north. So I'd like to go there but I think Okinawa is my favorite.
I did get the pictures from kate and the picture of my future self made me laugh. I knew exactly what it was when I saw it. I'm excited for my future.
We did have a bit of storminess this week with one of the typhoons. But it wasn't bad. And since then it has just been way hot. I appreciate dad's knowledge on typhoons. I only know what the Japanese people say and I can't really understand them yet. So I don't know much. So thank you for your knowledge sharing. I'm glad the tailgate went well. It sounds like fun. I wish I could have been there. Maybe someday. And I'm glad BYU won. Thats good. And dad. I have really been craving some cold stone ice cream lately. So if you could eat that for me that would be great.
Well. I think I might get going now. Its been real. Have a good day. Pray that I will learn Japanese.
I love you all. I hope all is well. I want you all to be awesome.
Love 利怒瑠長老
P.S. that is kanji that fits my name. Ridoru. It means profit, anger, and sapphire. The anger on is in a lot of bad Japanese guys names. So I'm the rich angry guy who makes his living with sapphires. Heian soto.
So we went to look for some less active members that no one has met in forever last night. And that was fun. We went to a house that was absolutely black inside. The sun had gone down and everything so it was dark. It was one of the scariest houses I have ever seen. And no one answered the door. So we booked it out of there as fast as we could.
So last P day Brother Tagawa took me and Elder Munro out to eat and see stuff. It was cool. Ishigaki is so beautiful. And we ate Yakiniku. My very favorite. And then later that night the relief society took us to a steak place. And when I say relief society don't imagine a huge group. There are only three. Actually like five but the other two were busy I guess. And I ate the best steak of my life. It was so so good. I can't even describe to you how good it was. And we were told that Kobe beef comes from Ishigaki. Kobe beef is like super good I guess and the cows for Kobe beef are raised in Ishigaki for a while and then shipped to Kobe. So it is really Ishigaki beef. And it is so good.
What do you call the cloud thing that follows after the airplane? Someone asked me because we saw one. In Japanese it is called hikokigumo. which means airplane cloud.
So this weekend was a festival or holiday thing called Obon. It was three days long and ended on Saturday. It was hard because people were way busy and didn't want to talk to us but it was also fun. I don't fully understand the obon. it is an only Okinawa thing. So Iino 長老 doesn't fully understand either and no one speaks good enough english to really help me understand. So all the explanations were in Japanese. It is like when their ancestors come back from the spirit world and visit and they put out food and stuff for them to eat and things like that. And then to end it we saw some people walking and singing all dressed up with their shamisens and their flutes and drums and we followed them. And then we watched a cool dance and then a weird dance and then a scary dance. It was weird. It was way cool though. Japan has so much way cool stuff. And I have been able to participate in a lot of it. I love the Okinawa culture. They say its different up north. So I'd like to go there but I think Okinawa is my favorite.
I did get the pictures from kate and the picture of my future self made me laugh. I knew exactly what it was when I saw it. I'm excited for my future.
We did have a bit of storminess this week with one of the typhoons. But it wasn't bad. And since then it has just been way hot. I appreciate dad's knowledge on typhoons. I only know what the Japanese people say and I can't really understand them yet. So I don't know much. So thank you for your knowledge sharing. I'm glad the tailgate went well. It sounds like fun. I wish I could have been there. Maybe someday. And I'm glad BYU won. Thats good. And dad. I have really been craving some cold stone ice cream lately. So if you could eat that for me that would be great.
Well. I think I might get going now. Its been real. Have a good day. Pray that I will learn Japanese.
I love you all. I hope all is well. I want you all to be awesome.
Love 利怒瑠長老
P.S. that is kanji that fits my name. Ridoru. It means profit, anger, and sapphire. The anger on is in a lot of bad Japanese guys names. So I'm the rich angry guy who makes his living with sapphires. Heian soto.
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