Just Dendoing (Week 97)

Hello. I am writing you for the second to last time. How weird is that? I'm about done with this gig. It feels weird. But more on how I feel later. Firstly I'll try to reply to what emails I received from base camp this week.

 

As far as where I want to live for school, I wanted to live at home for a bit but was too afraid to say it. So that is chodo ii. That works out just right. I would love to work with Jon again if he would be willing to work with me again. I know I was probably just annoying to him and the rest of the crew. And now I have school which will make me even more annoying. But if his heart is going to be filled with compassion towards me then I gladly want to work with him again.

 

I'm sorry to hear about the bug. But reliable transportation is important these days I guess.

I don't know everything about my classes yet. I need to go to the orientation thing now (which I scheduled as a date with my mother the monday after I get home, よろしく) and I need to take some stupid test that I will do quite horribly on before I can sign up for math and english classes and so I need to talk to my advisor after I do those things and then I will know about all of my classes.

Mom, you asked a bunch of questions in a row. Here are your answers. My week was fine. Two investigators made progress this week, more on that later. The work is unstoppable. I'm very happy, and sad, and stressed, and complicated. More on that later. Of course I'm not cooking. Who do you think I am? My companion and I get along great. I love Elder Eckman. He's the man. I sleep on a futon. Its like a mattress that is two inches thick if you're lucky. I have two. And you just fold them up in the morning. Which I forgot to do today. Good heavens I can't remember my waist size. I still wear some jeans I brought with me that do kind of slightly ok ish on the few days that I need them. But good heavens I have gotten fatter.

 

That's nice that dad got a new car. I hope he really enjoys it. I have felt bad ever since the mercedes was taken out by that ruthless nameless villain. I know what its like to have a car you love dearly be out of commission. And now I've known twice.

 

So this past week was good. Do you remember H___ san? Yeah. We meant to call him to see if we could meet with him on Saturday. And then he beat us to it and called us! What? No one ever does that. He is so cool. And the lesson went so awesome. That was just a really good day. He is a super cool dude. I love that man. And then the next day he gave me a heart attack by not showing up to church. For five minutes. And then he came and had a good time and it was the primary program week so everyone was getting slapped in the face with the Spirit the whole time and it just rocked. And H___2 san came to church as well. Which no one expected. She won't ever commit to going to church. And after she said things like I'm glad I came and it was fun and stuff. So as far as investigators go this week we had some success with them. So I am happy. And H___ san is just way sick. He's teaching me some Vietnamese. Its way hard. Japanese is way easier. He's sick.

Dad. Hurry and reply and tell me what you want from Japan. I've got something for mom and Erika and I will get something for Kate today but I just don't know what to do for you. So tell me. This is not an option.

 

Well I am nearing the end of my mission. And everyone asks me how it feels to be so close to the end. How it feels to be going home. And all of the members, who I know pretty well after ten months in the same ward, all make jokes about how I am leaving. That was weird when that started. I feel nervous for going home. Really nervous. To be honest for a while I was getting super homesick and was losing motivation to work but now that's over. I just love dendo and I love the mission and I want to keep going. I now tell people if I could extend for another year and not have to worry about anything at home then I would extend. I love Japan. I love the Japanese people. I don't want to leave here. I love it so much. You have no idea what its like being in this extremely foreign country and then growing so accustomed to it and loving the people so much that it really just becomes home. I don't want to leave this country. But I am also so excited to go home and see my mom and my dad and my little sisters. And Kujo. And I am so excited to play the cello again. I am excited to go to school and start moving forward in life. I am excited that I kind of have a plan and a goal in sight after the mission. I'm excited to figure out now how to be a member missionary. And I am excited for a country that has wide roads and proper air conditioning. Its all really confusing. I feel mixed emotions. But at the same time it hasn't quite hit me that I am going home. I just feel like I want to dendo every day and then the day I go home will sneak up on me. Or it will just feel like a normal transfer or something. Well maybe not. I never really had a normal transfer. But it just hasn't hit me. I know I'm leaving in less than two weeks now. But just how short that time is hasn't connected.

So there you go. That's how I feel these days. I'll keep working hard right to the very end. Don't you worry about that. Nothing could quench the dendo fire I feel right now. 最後まで楽しく頑張ろう！

 

I hope you are all doing well. I love you so much.

 

Love Elder Liddle Cholo.

Very fast week (Week 97)

Good morning yall in Utah. I hope you are all doing well. I am doing pretty well I suppose. Life is crazy. And its still hard. But I'll keep fighting through to the end. Dad said he didn't understand the subject to my last email. It says happy halloween but spelled in Japanese. Happi harouin. Erika should be able to read this stuff by now. Ask her.

 

I have just about everything taken care of for school. There are things that I need to do when I get home and I was wondering when we were going to be gone so I know which day to sign up for. If there is any important information in the stuff in the mail you can just tell me but I don't think there is anything I don't already know. I register for classes today and then it will all be done until I can get home. And as far as where I'm living I haven't really done much thinking about that. Elder Trane may or may not be able to go to UVU this time around so living with him won't be possible. He's from Colorado. They messed up his flight plans so he has to fly to Salt Lake and then to Colorado instead of straight to Colorado from wherever we land in America first. So anyways. I don't know what to do about where I live. I don't really care either.

 

Not very much happened in my week either. H___ was not able to come to church. He is really busy this week with preparing for some interview he will have in Japanese. But this coming weekend we will probably be able to meet him. M_____ chan is not answering her phone or texts. And we went all the way to her house on the mountain far away and only spoke to her sister. I don't know how she's doing. The only investigator we were able to meet was H___ san and she just isn't moving forward very much. We hope to change that. But until then its kind of frustrating.

 

In other news a few weeks ago we knocked on the door of this young family and talked to the father who was very kind and kind of interested so we gave him a Book of Mormon. And he said he was too busy to set a return appointment so we couldn't quite rope him in. And then we visited him again on Saturday but this time met his wife and two small super cute little Japanese children. And she was very nice. We had a nice little talk. And asked if we could come another time to share our message. And she said yes but she wants to listen with her husband. Which no Japanese woman ever says. The biggest problem in Japanese families is that the dad and the rest of the family are not very connected. But this family seems to be doing very well. And we will meet them on Friday morning. These are my first new investigators in a really long time. So I am really excited about that.

 

Is there anything you want from Japan? I took the money out but am having trouble spending it. I got some cool stuff for you but now I don't know what to get except for stuff I just want to take home. So if you want something tell me. Asap. Like right after you read this email.

 

Well I have only two and a half weeks left. I never thought I would get this close to the end. Its kind of scary. I don't know what to do with myself. I will probably just continue working hard. I have done a lot of thinking about missionaries I have known that just kind of shut down at the end of their missions. I've known a few. And I really don't want to be like that. So I will tanoshiku ganbaru. And work until the very last second. Maybe I'll still dendo people in America until I get released.

 

Anyway. I love you all so much. Have a good week.

 

Love Elder Liddle 長老

ハッピーハロウィーン！(Week 96)

I'm going to Miyajima again for the last time today and I'll make sure to get you guys some good stuff. Its the best place to go to get just a bunch of cool stuff. Like swords. :) If you have any requests for anything cool from Japan please let me know but odds are I won't get that email today and you will probably end up not getting it. Unless its easy to find in a normal store. Yoroshiku onegai itashimasu.

 

So you said something about a car and the lumina not working and stuff. There is a really nice beetle next to our house I think. It might not work either but I'm sure it could if there was but a little love thrown its way. よろしくおねがいいたします。

 

If Jon thinks I can work for him and go to school then I think that is what I would want to do. But I don't really know much about my schedule yet. Up until today I have been working every week with UVU to be able to just get in. There are a lot of things that I need to have them let me postpone in order to go. And there is just one more thing I need to do and then everything will be in the clear to register for classes at the beginning of November. And then the lady also told me to go meet her when I get home to see if I can't start some math and english as well after I get some test taken. So we'll see how that all works out in the end. I don't really know whats going on.

 

I saw that picture of some girl I don't recognize and the missionaries from Nathan and Sadie. That one was pretty funny. I actually did have my first dangerous encounter with a dog this past week. That dog wanted to kill me. But I got out of there before he could even touch me.

 

Japanese people don't really celebrate Halloween. They do get a bunch of decorations out in the stores and stuff but none of them even know what day Halloween is. They all know its probably at the end of October but that's it. Our ward just had a Halloween party this week and it was pretty good. A lot of nonmembers came. And it was just pretty fun. I didn't really have any costume. I was boring. But Halloween in Japan is not nearly as good as Halloween in America. American Halloween isn't that awesome either but at least the candy is good. There was no good candy at our party.

We did meet with H___ again. And he is going to be our investigator. It was an awesome lesson with him. He said over and over that he wants to believe and we told him what to do in order to believe and he said he was going to do it. And it was legit. But he didn't end up coming to church and we don't know why. I hope he is ok. We can't meet him again until the weekend because he is so busy with work through the week. I hope all is ok. He's awesome.

 

M_____ chan にも we met her. We went with the sisters to see her. And it was really good. A really good little meeting. And Sister Nihei asked M_____ chan what she wanted from God as far as help goes. And she said she wanted help with her sickness. And she just about started crying as she said that. And then Nihei shimai came in with the testimony and promise of God being able to help her and it was awesome. Sister missionaries are so awesome. We also learned that M_____ will be leaving her hospital to go live with grandma at some point. As to when she is leaving for grandma's house that is kind of unclear at this point. But she is no longer in the hospital. I also don't know how long she will be at grandma's. But I hope its forever. I always walk away from her lessons thinking that I just want to bring her home and let her join my family and see how a real family is. Its so sad. Thank you for being such a wonderful family. I don't think you realize how awesome your family is when you are just hanging around in Utah until you get out and see what families are like out in places like Japan. So thanks for being so awesome. I love you.

 

There was a lot of rain and bad weather this week so dendo was really difficult. I got super soaked and it was cold. Its been getting colder here finally. Japan is too hot. And too humid. So even when its cold its not really fun.

 

I'm just a 普通 missionary. Don't go around telling people I'm awesome or anything. I'm just the regular diggedy. But I do plan to work hard until the very end. The very last day. The very last hour. I sure don't want to leave my mission. I love being a missionary. I love Japan so much. Well for these last few weeks 楽しく頑張りましょう！

 

Love Liddle 長老

言いたいことはない (Week 95)

It has been yet another week. And it has been really fast. I don't really know where the time goes. I can't really remember what I did. But I know I was busy. I do remember that we went to Fukuoka for MLC again. That was fun. I only get one more of those. I love being in the mission home with President. It was also really interesting this time because we went to Fukuoka the night before without any real permission to do so and met up with 4 other zone leaders and went to all talk to President about a problem that we were all having. I was nervous to go without permission to leave early and talk about what we talked about but it really had to be done for the good of the mission. And so we did it. And President was just so full of understanding and love. And I just love that guy. So it went really well and I think things here will run a lot more smoothly for the whole mission. I am excited to work to the end of my last transfer.

 

Everyone keeps treating me weird now. They all make jokes about how I am going home soon and stuff. The problem with being in the same ward for almost a whole year is that they all get to know you really well and then they just make fun of you the whole time. Even President was talking about how I am about done. I just don't think that is something I want to think about right now. I just want to fight to the end. But I am excited to go home and see everyone.

 

We were able to meet M_____ chan again. This time we only biked most of the way and took a bus the rest of the way up the mountain. She is doing ok. She seems pretty genki when we meet her. I don't really think she needs to be in this hospital anymore. I think she is ok now. It seems like she is only here so that her mother can get rid of her. And she said that she and her mother were going to go to Okayama ken over the weekend to talk to her grandmother about having her go live with her grandmother in Okayama until who knows when. That is not in our mission so I don't want her to leave but I also think that it would be much better for her to live with grandma. It sounds like she is actually nice. So I don't know what will happen. But I hope things work out ok. I just don't know what to do for her. Its hard. But I guess we will just keep sharing the gospel.

 

Yesterday the Hikari sisters had us go with them to meet a potential investigator they had who is a man named H___. That is how you spell it in Japanese. It might be Juan in English. Anyways he is from Vietnam. And he is really cool. He really has a lot of interest in the gospel and he wants to come to church and listen to our message. And it sounds like he really wants to learn to pray. He was concerned that prayer might only be possible in Japanese. But we told him Vietnamese is ok too. So we don't know if he is going to be our investigator or the sisters investigator or both. But he is cool. And I think is ready to receive the gospel.

 

When I first went zone leader my zone was like 24 missionaries. And now my zone is 34 missionaries. It is a lot of people to keep track of. The mission is getting huge. And missionaries just keep getting dumped into my zone where you don't think there would be room for them. Its awesome. I'm sad I have to go home right as things are getting crazy.

 

Well I feel like I didn't really say anything this week. Sorry about that. I love you all. And I can't wait to see you. But until then tanoshiku ganbaro!

 

And by the way the word for hello in Vietnamese sounds like the Japanese word for unfortunately

die. Just so you know.

 

Love Elder Liddle

And so it begins (Week 94)

We had a nice successful transfer week this week. It was crazy as usual with problems right and left but everyone transferred just fine and now the whole zone is safe. There were quite a few changes made in my zone. I am not transferring just like I thought. Elder Eckman is not transferring. But Elder Braswell transferred down to a place called Yanai in Yamaguchi. And a new missionary came here to Hikari named Elder Alexander. My beautiful Elder Dolbin finally transferred out of Saijo. I was so sad to see him go. But he went to Kumamoto! Go Kumamoto! To be zone leader there. He is such a boss. And I will get to see him still a couple more times because all the zone leaders go to Fukuoka every month to meet with President. And now most of the Saijo missionaries are new to the area. Including Elder Trane! I finally get to work with my home boy! And not only is he in my zone but the same ward! That's what I'm talking about. We get our last one together. That is most of the stuff you would care about I think.

 

And now I begin my last transfer. Now more than ever my theme song is Alma 36:24. 楽しく頑張りましょう！

 

People keep treating me like I'm going home soon. It is really strange. It kind of makes me sad. I don't want to leave Japan. I love it here. I love these people. I love you guys too though. I really want to see you again. I can basically make any Japanese girl cry by how I talk about how much I love my family and just want to see my mom and my dog again. Just so you know.

 

So the sisters had a baptism this past week! It was pretty cool. She was my investigator until we passed her to the sisters to start teaching. Her name is Sister Ikkaku. Kind of an interesting name. I've never heard it before. But she is way cool. And her progression exploded after we gave her to the sisters. So that was awesome. There have been quite a few baptisms in this ward this year. All of which I have been privileged to see. I have been in this ward for a really long time.

 

I got pretty sick this week. With like a cold or something. I am still kind of feeling it a little. But I called the mission nurse about it and she ordered me to go home and sleep until I was better. So I had a whole day where I did nothing. Nothing but feel like garbage. It was pretty bad. Probably the sickest I have ever been on my mission. But I am feeling much better now. I still haven't seen a doctor about that other problem. No time. Just dendo. Mom, don't worry. I am doing fine. I'm just tired. Dendoing like this for a year and 10 months will make a guy tired.

 

So I got accepted to UVU today. I got it all taken care of. It was way harder and crazier than I like to think about and its too much to tell you here. But I'll tell you about it in 5 and a half weeks.

 

So is Thanksgiving after I come home?

 

So we visited O______ M_____ chan again on the top of her mountain. Get ready to start crying. So she is on the top of this mountain in the hospital for who knows how long. She doesn't know when she is going to get out. And it is obviously for some sort of mental/emotional problem. You can tell by her arms that she was once extremely dangerous to herself. So its no question that she struggles with some intense depression. But it looks like she is doing much better these days. She seems happy when we visit and there are no fresh scars. And then she said that her family has never visited her there. The last time she was there she was in for three months. I don't even know before that. She gets like two week breaks here and there. And then she said she never wants to go home and that her mother has said to her that she doesn't ever need to come home. Which is the Japanese way of saying I don't want you to come back. So she is just this 17 year old girl trapped in a hospital on the top of a mountain that has no loving family. I just wanted to take her home with me and show her what life is really all about. I want to show her my family and I want her to know what it feels like to have a family that loves you. So please go adopt her. It is just so sad. I don't know what to do. Just teach the gospel I guess.

 

E__ chan is awesome. She came to General Conference and she has just finished reading the Book of Mormon and the scripture guide in the back that they have in the Japanese Book of Mormon. She is just so awesome. And her baptism date is coming up at the end of the month. So we'll see how it goes. But I think that she is probably ready to be baptized. And I would be surprised if she didn't get baptized this month. Assuming everything with parents goes ok and they don't change their mind. Pray that all goes well.

 

General Conference rocked. I loved it.

 

Well I will talk to you in a week. I hope you are all doing well. I sure love you all.

 

Love リドル長老

I love mountain pear people (Week 93)

So the water fight last week was pretty good. There was approximately 260 water balloons and two squirt guns. Elder Eckman and I each had one balloon and a squirt gun. And then over twenty other missionaries had their water balloons and all attacked us. We counted on them turning on each other so we would get a break. But they didn't until the very end. So I was nailed by a few water balloons. They cornered me and just kept throwing them until I was saved by a phone call. And one of their balloons broke my balloon. So mine just got me all wet too. I got wasted. And then after I took the phone Elder Eckman got wasted. It was pretty good.

The rest of the week was pretty good. Really tiring. Really stressful. I feel like my health has not been that great these past few weeks. I am more tired than I think I should be. It has been difficult. And Elder Eckman called Sister Gustafson about it. She thinks I might need to go to the doctor. But we'll see. I'm just tired.

Yesterday we biked up a mountain to visit M_____ chan in the hospital. She will be there for maybe more than a month. And she is a pretty good investigator. So we want to keep visiting her. But the mountain climbing was death. I really did just about die. I am not in very good shape.  And then we came back and I started to feel dehydrated. So I bought food and a huge drink. And we kept working. And then at around 7:00 I started dying and my head hurt really bad and I felt sick. And we went back to the apartment and I just laid there and about died. I couldn't eat or drink because it made me sick. And I died. And then had to go out and work more at the end. But I didn't die. And now I feel more normal. So that was an adventure.

M_____ chan is really cool. I like her. She said she likes the bible more than the Book of Mormon. Which I have never heard. Especially from a Japanese person. Most of them have never read the bible. But she has. And she is really kind and wants to hear more about this. She said we can visit any time in the visiting hours. We might take the bus next time. She really is up on the top of a mountain. She is in the hospital for probably depression reasons. Which can't be easy for her. And she said that no one ever comes to visit her. No friends or family come. She does have friends inside the hospital. But it is hard for her. So pray for her. She's really a cool girl.

We found a new investigator yesterday named S_____ san. Please pray for him and that we will be able to meet him again and that his heart will be open to the Spirit.

Today is transfer call day. I haven't got my call yet but yesterday we called the mission home and asked a few questions so I know about me and some of my zone early. But all that information is subject to change until transfer calls start being made. So as far as I know Elder Eckman and I are not transferring. Which is probably how it will stay. But I'll know for sure in a couple hours. In two days I begin my last transfer. I don't feel ready for my mission to end. I feel like I am still the same person as when I started. I kind of wanted to come back a changed man. But I suppose I still have time to work on that. So 楽しく頑張りましょう！

This past saturday there was a talent show in one of the other wards. And they invited the whole stake. So I went. And it was good. Lots of really good talent out there. And they got word that I can now play the violin like a cello and they got a violin for me to play. So I played it. It was so hard. But I did better than the time in Fukuoka. And it was received well by the members. So I guess it was good. But it wasn't my cello. Oh how I miss my cello.

I hope you are all having a good day. Conference sounds good. I'll get to see it this coming saturday and sunday. I love you.

Love Josh.

書きたいことはない (Week 92)

Well it is good to be with you once again. I will try to share my adventures with you in the least boring way that I can. But lately I just feel like things have always been the same as the previous week.

Last week we had that BBQ which was really fun. Lots of fun people there. I guess its normal to me now but the food at Japanese BBQs is different. All the meat comes in small portions and they bbq lots of vegetables and there is always rice in some form. And their sauces are really Japanese. And you eat everything with chopsticks. And the most popular drink is the tea. I'm looking forward to some real BBQ sometime after I leave. This just doesn't cut it. But the people were really cool. I sure love the Japanese people.

Our week was pretty good I guess. We went to a far away place that is up a long hill that takes about an hour to get there because my body is weak. And we found an investigator from a long time ago. A nice family with 4 kids. That is way more kids than normal Japanese people. And they were cool. But not so interested in the Gospel. So we housed near there and found this girl in an apartment building near the old investigators house. She has a cool name. When you pronounce it make sure you say the t sounds clearly and not like a d. O_____ M_____. It took me a couple tries to understand what she had said. Anyways. She is really nice and wants us to come back. And I get the feeling that she really needs to understand that she is a loved daughter of God. There were a few things that gave Elder Eckman and I both that impression. So please pray for her. Pray that all will go well and that we will be able to teach her and that she will be able to understand it and feel the Spirit.

Near the new investigator there is a less active member who we started visiting this week. He is less active because he has kind of a mental problem and its hard for him to be around a lot of people. I had met him before but always with another member who did all the talking while he just stood there. But when we went alone he smiled at us when he opened the door and he actually talked to us. And we visited again a couple days later and he played the guitar and sang for us. In English. He is a really cool guy.

Yesterday the Hatsukaichi ward did their dendo fireside and the Hatsukaichi sisters wanted us to go do it with them. So we did. And it went really well. That is such a wonderful ward. During one of the role plays we asked them to do a sister came up to me and said her nonmember friend was just outside and wanted me to invite him to an activity coming up and give him the flyer and stuff. And so she took me too him and then she dendoed him hard core and I just stood there and watched it happen and handed him the flyer but said almost nothing. That's the way it should be. Members do everything with the missionaries just being there. And then later that day she came up to me to talk to me about a less active member in Hikari ward. A woman named Z_____ s_____. I met her once before a really long time ago. Probably in February. And she told me that Z_____ s_____ was kind of having a hard time and she wants her seven year old son to be baptized next year and she saw us missionaries the other day and wanted to talk but couldn't. So we decided to visit her yesterday. I have tried to visit her on multiple occasions and she has never answered the door. But she did this time. And we had a wonderful talk. And she just was way cool. We will probably go for a p day and bike with her to Miyajima. Road biking. So it should be fun. She is super cool. That was really fun.

It has started to get cooler here but its still really hot. I still sweat every day. The leaves are just barely starting to change. Fall here is cooler but they say it won't really get like cold until November. Which is terrible because October 1 marks the day that we have to wear suits every single day. That's like tomorrow desho?  Well. I am excited for cold weather. I love the cold much more than the hot.

Today we will have zone p day. We are going to have a water fight. The deal at the beginning of the month was if the zone could accomplish a certain amount of the monthly goals then they get a certain amount of water balloons. And the more they accomplish the more balloons they get and the less the zone leaders get. And our zone owned this month. They surpassed all the goals but two. So I am going to get wasted today. But it should be fun. And then we will BBQ the American way. Kind of. Its still pretty Japanese. There will be rice and stuff. But it will be good. I love rice.

I love you all. I hope you are all having a wonderful day. I'll talk to yall later.

Love Geri Geri chan

Howday (Week 91)

Well it has been yet another week. And I feel I don't have much to report again. But I'll do my best.

So the Carp game last week was the bomb. It was way taihen to take care of everything and getting everyone to the game but then it was an awesome game. To be honest it was the first time I have even seen the Carp score. But they won 5 to 4. And the only reason the other team scored from 1 to 4 is because in the last inning they put in some pitcher who wasn't very good. But they told me graduated from UVU so that was cool. There are like 4 guys on the team who aren't Japanese. Anyways. It was just super fun. Easily the funnest P day I have had in a long time. Maybe the funnest ever. I kind of yelled myself a little hoarse. And for a couple days I sounded really manly.

I'm sorry to hear that dad has to head out again. That is quite unfortunate. But he will be able to do good there so its all good right?

So I am having a few problems getting everything set for going to school in January. But hopefully it will all work out. Just pray. The hardest thing is only being able to do anything about it once a week. I would be really komatteiru if I couldn't get to school in January. So pray.

We were able to meet with our one investigator H_____ san. She is a friend of a member. She is pretty cool but not really progressing too much. She just seems like she likes to learn about a lot of religions. She wants to find the true one. But she doesn't necessarily seem like she is willing to do what she needs to in order to find out if its true. And she has the strangest questions that cause doubts in her. So its hard to teach her. But we are ganbaruing. And all should work out in the end. Other than that my other investigator we gave to the sister missionaries because it would work out much better if they taught her. And she came to church yesterday so that was cool. We had 4 nonmembers in our ward yesterday. It was awesome.

When I was in Saijo with Elder Dolbin a 23 year old girl found Elder Dolbin when he was on splits with someone else and knew all about missionaries and stuff. And we started teaching her. Her name is A_____. Perhaps I have told you about her before. Well I didn't get to teach her that much while I was in Saijo. But Elder Dolbin has continued to teach her. And yesterday she got baptized. It was really cool. She really is awesome. That is the first time I have had a person I taught get baptized. And I was privileged enough to see it. It was so good. The Spirit was so strong. I am so glad I was able to be there. She really is awesome.

So that was my week. Good stuff happened. And I am excited to work harder this week. And with that I'm off. I've got a bbq to attend in one of the other areas in our zone and it should be a party. I love you.

Love Elder Liddle

飛びたければ羽ばたかないといけない (Week 90)

Well it has been another week. It has been crazy. I can't remember any of it.

I went to two different areas for splits this past week. Which I am never doing twice in one week ever again. Its way tiring and makes dendo in my own area almost impossible. But we did our best. And I had fun working with some of the missionaries in my zone.

I got to go to Tohma kyodais house for dinner on Saturday. He lives in Saijo so its way far and I haven't been able to meet him for a long time outside of church. So that was fun. Lots of fun. And the Saijo sister missionaries were there too. They are a ton of fun. Hilarious people. And Tohma kyodai is fun too. I had a really good time being with him again.

I saw a watch I want for 200 bucks. kana...? Maybe just 150 kana..? yoroshiku. Buying it will help the salvation of the man selling it. He came up to us and knew all about missionaries and our church and was just way cool. So yoroshiku. :)

Today we are going to another Hiroshima Carp baseball game. This time with almost the whole zone and with a bunch of members. There will be like 30 people there. So I am really excited for that. It should be super fun.

Our investigators are going kind of slow this week. We did teach a couple of them this week. One of them twice. But the progress is slow. I really want to find someone new. Its been a long time since I have found a new one.

I never cook. I will never be able to. That's just a cold hard fact of life. So I could never cook for anyone. But I would love to talk about missionary work in Japan. That's my favorite thing.

I really don't have much to say this week. I was just way busy and had no time to do all the stuff I needed to do but I was trying. I really love the mission. It is really hard. Every day is hard. But it is so awesome. I never want to go home. But I also would like to have a break sometimes. You never get rest out here. Its constant work.

My knee is still holding up its rebellious ways even though I am using that chinese medicine. But whatever. Its fine.

Well I'm sorry this is a lame email. I love you all. I hope you are all happy. I pray for you all the time.

Love Josh

No Subject For You (Week 89)

This week was pretty good I guess. I never get as much done as I want to and things just never seem to move forward as much as I want but I guess that's ok.

That's cool that you had a crazy storm. We never have anything crazy here. Just rain. More rain than I've ever seen in Utah. But just rain. I love working in the rain. Its always so hard and annoying and I get soaked if I don't wear my rain suit but the harder your conditions are the more likely you are to see miracles for working through them.

My knee is not in good shape. You asked if it was still my right knee. Its still my knee that had surgery. The left one. The right one hurts sometimes too but not nearly as much. I am experiencing more problems in the left one by far. But a nice chinese lady in the ward heard about it and just gave me some old crazy chinese medicine so we'll see if that helps. It smells pretty bad.

Erika, メールしてくれ。日本語はそんなに難しくないでしょう。

So this week we had another MLC in Fukuoka and I got to ride that Shinkansen. And then a bus back. The shinkansen takes like 1 hour. An hour and a half if you take the slow one. But the bus takes like 5 hours. I don't like the bus. But being in Fukuoka is fun. I got to see my beloved Yamanashi 長老 again. And Trane 長老. And my beloved Chung Cholo but I don't think I've ever talked about him to you before. He is Elder Dolbin's friend from back home and I love him almost as much as I love Elder Dolbin. And I love seeing President. I made your cheesecake for President and Sister Gustafson back when they came up for zone conference and they really liked it and Sister Gustafson asked for the recipe. So I gave it to her this week.

We did a zone training meeting again this week too. That is always exciting. I get really nervous training people. Especially a whole zone. That is 24 people listening to what I say and taking it in to make them better missionaries and stuff. I'm just a 普通 missionary. I don't feel like I can really teach them anything but I do my best. And somehow it all works out.

Our investigators really didn't progress at all this week. I think because they were just too busy to meet. We'll see about this week.

I just want to say I love the members in Hikari ward. So much. There is a fairly recent convert here named Hanzawa Kyodai. And he is so awesome. We visit him weekly. He is kind of a shy guy. He didn't ever say anything to me for my first like 4 transfers in Saijo. But then all of a sudden he started talking to me. I would talk to him almost every week at church and eventually he just broke out of his shell and started talking to me. To be honest I can't understand everything he says but I don't think that matters. I just need to listen I guess. But he is so cool. Over a month ago we started visiting him at his house. And the first time just broke my heart. He told us about how much he really isn't getting paid at work and he said sometimes he doesn't have enough food. So now we visit every week to make sure he is happy and has food. And we bring him orange juice too. He can't afford anything that tastes good. He can only afford the very basic stuff. And sometimes he can't afford it. Shortly after that first time we went to a member we knew would help and she gave us a huge bag of rice to give him. And we doorbell ditched it at his apartment. And the next day we had an Uno party at the church because Hanzawa Kyodai likes Uno. And he told us about someone leaving rice on his door. And we just said how cool it was and how it was probably angels that left it. (He told us once way before he met missionaries that Mary would protect him and give him food when he was homeless so he totally believed the angel thing) Anywho. I just love him. And I thought I'd tell you about him. I love all the members here. I just don't have the time to talk about all of them.

Hey does anyone know if you can bring a bike on an airplane from Japan? I just got a bag to put my bike in so now I can take it on trains and stuff but I want to know if I can take it on a plane. If I can I want to take my bike home. But I don't know how to find out if I can.

Yesterday Elder Eckman and I were told three times that we seem like we could be gay. For various reasons. None of which were actually gay. Except maybe wearing matching pink ties and watches.

We have also been told on more than one occasion while at meal appointments with members or investigators that we should be comedians together. Its really just Elder Eckman. He makes everyone laugh and he uses me as the target.

Well. That was my week. I love you all so much. I miss you. I can't wait to see you sometime in the distant future. By the way I am now being treated by the members as someone who is going home soon. Its really weird. Have a good week.

Love Elder Liddle

Another psycho transfer week (Week 88)

Well we had transfers and nothing really went the way I expected. Elder Eckman's companion transferred way far away to Miyakonojo and the missionary transferring from Miyakonojo came here. His name is Ishikawa cholo. And he is now companions with my bean, Elder Braswell. And Elder Eckman is my companion. We are having so much fun. It has been a party all the time with him. And now we can focus on being zone leaders and it has been so much easier. President said there are no longer any zone leader/trainers in the mission. So that is good. And saijo went from two missionaries to having sister missionaris too as well as a senior couple who will arrive this week. I already knew all that and was way excited for saijo. And then I got the call and it turns out saijo is actually receiving two more elders as well. So it went from two man to eight man. Go saijo! And now our ward will have 15 missionaries every week until saijo gets its own branch. Also the Hikari sisters went from two man to three. It was crazy and super busy and I had so much to take care of but this time I had a companion to help me and everyone got home safe.

I'm speaking a lot more Japanese now with Ishikawa Choro here and because Elder Eckman is so good at Japanese. We speak a lot to each other in Japanese. So maybe I'll get good at this language before I go home. Cross your fingers.

On transfer day I attempted to carry a fairly normal suitcase up some stairs for one of the sisters transferring in something happened to my knee. It just shot pain through it and I couldn't support myself with that leg while holding the suitcase. The pain mostly went away when I put the suitcase down but it still doesn't feel too good. And today I started to feel the pain again when I was just walking myself up some stairs. So I don't know if I did something to it or not. But it doesn't feel great. Oh well. I will ganbaru to the end.

So on Tuesday President called me before our official transfer call to talk to me about some stuff and what I think about what he was thinking to do for transfers in my zone. I'm so important. :) But then he asked me if I wanted to transfer. He said I've got only two transfers left. I'm an old missionary. So I am on the top of the list to get what he wants. And he said he knows how stressed and hard this has been this past transfer and he wants me to have fun as I end my mission. So if I wanted to transfer and have a better experience he would make it happen. And then I told him I love this area. I love this ward. I want to give Hikari my all until the very end. And he said ok. That's what will happen. And he said that was his plan because I worked so hard in Saijo and loved it so much that he wanted me to be able to see what was happening there because of my work. I don't think I really worked that hard. But President sure is nice. So I will be here until the end. Unless something happens no one forsees. We'll see. But I want to stay. If I do it will mean 11 months in the same ward. Go Hikari ward!

Yesterday we had two investigators at church! T_____ san came. He is pretty cool but he doesn't look like he really wants to listen to the lessons. He just wants to come to church. And we are giving him to the other Hikari elders because Elder Braswell knew him too and they don't have anyone right now. Our other investigator is named H_____ san. She is a referral from a nice lady in the ward and she really seems like she is solid. She is really nice and seems to really be progressing already. I've only met her once. And Elder Eckman met her twice. But already she seems really good. So hopefully we see good stuff there.

Saijo also had an investigator there! All six months in Saijo I only had an investigator at church three times. I am so happy for Elder Dolbin. And it really looks like she could get baptized. She is really solid. Her name is A_____. Perhaps I told you something about her when I was still there. Elder Dolbin and I found her. So she is awesome. And the ward members were awesome with her. We barely saw her because the ward was taking care of her. It was awesome. Hikari ward is so good. I love it here.

Yesterday Tohma Kyodai talked to me at church. He is the one who gave me a watch. He is one of three active members living in Saijo's area. And I love him so much. Brother Tohma is the guy. Anyways. He talked to me. And he said his favorite missionary finally went home this past week and he didn't realize until he was already gone. And it made him sad. The missionary who reactivated Tohma kyodai. And he told me to not go home. He told me to stay forever in Hikari ward. I really love that man. And I can really feel his love for me. I think he was sad when I transferred to Hikari. I can't see him nearly as much. Only on Sunday. But we will visit him this week I think. Maybe next week. Anyways. I just love that guy.

Our ward mission leader, Tanaka kyodai, was released yesterday. That was way sad for me. I love that guy too. He is so wonderful. The best ward mission leader I have ever worked with. He is just the bomb diggety. And I gave him a big hug and told him he is my Japanese dad. And then he told me he loved me and I told him I love him and we said Tanoshiku Ganbarimasho! He is so wonderful. I'm sad he isn't our ward mission leader anymore but we will still work with him a lot.

Our new ward mission leader is named Gepford kyodai. He is American. Three American families moved into the ward. So that has been way fun. Lots of translating for them. But Gepford kyodai speaks Japanese. And he really seems like he will be a legit ward mission leader so I am excited to work with him. Him and the 14 other missionaries.

Tomorrow I get to ride another Shinkansen to Fukuoka for Mission Leadership Conference. That will be way fun. I love going to the mission home and meeting President.

And this morning I went to Miyajima again. It was really fun to see in the morning. I'll attach pictures and stuff. It was cool.

That was my second time to go to the Fukuoka temple. It was cool. I got English headphones but sometimes I took them off to listen to the Japanese. And it was really cool to hear in Japanese. Some of it is better than listening in English. But I don't want to make mistakes so I always made sure to have English on me.

Well I hope you are all doing well. I love you all. I hope you are happy. I will go now and write again in a weeks time to tell you of the fantastic adventures here in Hikari, the land of Light. (Hikari means light)

Love Josh

good week.
leg hurts.
miyajima.
mlc

Last week of the Transfer (Week 87)

This week was ok I guess. I can't really remember most of what happened. I just know we sure didn't get nearly as much done as I would have liked.

We got a new investigator this past week. His name is T_____ san. He came to Eikaiwa and I taught him there about the church a little. He was a referral from a different mission where he met missionaries and had some interest. And it turns out he wants to go to BYU and someone in Tokyo told him he should learn about the religion in Utah before he goes. So that's what he wants to do. And he said he will come to church on this coming sunday. So he seems pretty good. I am excited to work with him.

On this past Saturday we went to the temple. That was really nice. I am sad that I can't just go whenever I want. I really like it. It feels nice there. So that was really good. And I saw a ton of people all over the temple that I recognized but had never been close to from Tsuboi. That was cool. And then just before I left I ran into one of the young men of Tsuboi ward that I used to spend some time with. His name is Hiroyuki. And we had a nice talk. He told me that in a little bit Momoko would be coming to the temple. But not for another hour or so. And then my bus left. So I missed her. That was sad. I would have really liked to see her. I know she got her mission call. Does anyone know when she leaves? So that was the temple. I always like it there.

On Sunday we had a dendo fireside with Elder Tashiro of the seventy there. He is so cool. He is my favorite person ever. He lives in Kumamoto so when I was in Tsuboi I saw him all the time. And then he spoke at stake conference in Hiroshima when I first got here in January and he changed my life forever. And then he came here again but just to Hikari ward. And he changed my life again. He keeps doing that. And he remembered me. I just love that guy. The day before when we were at the temple I talked to one of the APs and he told us that for the dendo fireside Tashiro choro wanted the Hiroshima zone leaders to take half of the fireside. So that was scary. We had no time to prepare. We got like 15 minutes with Tashiro choro during gospel principles class to prepare for it. And it was going to be awesome. But then all kinds of technical difficulties went down and it just was not so great. Satan was really trying to mess something up. Something is about to happen in Hiroshima. Anywho. Afterwards Tashiro choro pulled us aside and we talked about the fireside a bit. He said it was the first experience for this presentation that is going to be done everywhere. And he said now we know how to do it. Now do it in the rest of Hiroshima stake. So I might be doing firesides all over the stake now. Crazy. And then at the very end I got some one on one time with Tashiro choro. He is my favorite guy. In our few minutes of talking he changed my life. He is the most amazing guy. I love him. I really hope I can meet him again.

Something is about to happen in Hiroshima. That is why Hikari area went from two missionaries to six. That is why next transfer Saijo is going from two to six. And that is why it is so difficult to do any missionary work right now. It is hard lately to have anyone listen or to just be able to get the work done. Satan is trying to get into everything up in here. Its yabeh. But we will keep working hard. And then make whatever sick miracle that's going to happen happen. That's how we do it up in the Hiroshima hood. Home skillet biscuit.

Today is transfer calls. I don't know what is going to happen. I can't imagine much is going to change in Hikari area. But the sisters will probably go threesome. I don't think I will ever transfer again. This is almost guaranteed to be my last area. But at some point Elder Eckman and I will actually become companions. I don't know when. I really want it to be this transfer. Its too hard trying to train and be a zone leader and then just do both of those not very  well because neither can get the time and attention they need. Its hard. So we'll see what transfers brings later today.

You asked about translating, mom. I'll respond just because its interesting. I had to translate stake conference from Japanese to English. And it was hard. I also had to translate some of the fireside on Sunday. Japanese to English is very hard. I don't always understand what they say and so I don't know what to say in English. And you are always an entire sentence behind because the verb is at the end in Japanese so you need to wait until the end until you know what they are saying. I also translated a district meeting for one of the district leaders this week English to Japanese. He is a really young missionary and so President told him to not be too prideful to ask the zone leaders for translation if he needed it. So he asked. And I can basically say almost anything I want in Japanese and I understand English perfectly so it was rather easy. There are still some challenges to it. And my Japanese isn't pretty. But it is easier to go from English to Japanese. I just thought that was interesting.

Tell Kujo I love her. Take her to my room and remind her of me. Don't let her forget. I love that stinky little dog.

Well. I love you all. I hope you all have a good day. Be cool. Stay in school. I'll talk to you next week in probably the same location and situation as now. So 楽しみにしてください。日本語で書くのはスーパー大変です。大嫌いですよ。フリーキングクラップ。

愛
トム・りドル長老

Oh by gosh by golly (Week 86)

Well this week was just as taihen as the last week if not more taihen. We had zone conference though and President came. That was a lot of fun. I love him and Sister Gustasfson. I made them one of mom's cheesecakes. They loved it and want the recipe. I gave it to a lot of people there and they all loved it. It really is the best cheesecake to bless the human race.

We still don't have any investigators. We have a couple of possibilities coming up. We'll see how those go.

We had stake conference yesterday and me and Elder Eckman had to translate it for all of the Americans with the microphone thing. It was so hard. I can't believe how hard translastion is. Its just a pain. But it worked out ok.

I only have two transfers after this one. And this one is almost done already. I don't know whats going on. Its so fast. I will have 15 transfers total. I am already almost done with number 13.

Well I have no more time to email today. sorry. I'm busy busy. But I love you. Sorry this is so short. I'll do better next week.

Love Josh

Kyou no nekutai wa murasaki janai (Week 85)

Well I had a real interesting week. I guess. I can't remember most of it. But I'm sure it was interesting.

I did learn something quite big this past week. I found out that for the past year and a half I have been gay. Or at least I sounded like it. A member had all 8 missionaries over for dinner this week and the sisters here in Hikari are both Japanese. One is named Nihei shimai. She is awesome. A great missionary. And then I said something to her companion and then she said to me after a moment: "Elder Liddle, when you say that it sounds a little okama." "Eh? What was that?" "Okama." "I don't know what that means. Hold on. Let me look it up in my dictionary. Oh. I see. Wow. I sound gay? What are the rules for that particle? Oh wow. I have been gay my whole mission. That's awkward. Well thank you Nihei Shimai for letting me know. Now that this way of speaking has become habit and I probably have no chance to change it now and now I will just always be aware of my gay talk right after I say it every time now. Yeah. Thanks." So I talk like a gay guy in Japanese. And I didn't even mean to. But the bright side is I am really good at it in two languages now. And another bright side is Kashida shimai told me that if I talked like that to younger girls, which I have done countless times because it was young girls I learned this way of talking from, then it will give them the impression that I like them and they will want to be my boyfriend. Who doesn't want that kind of power? Yeah. That was really a weird revelation to me this past week. Kind of funny though. I remember talking to all the girl members and investigators we had in Tsuboi. And that is where I learned most of my Japanese. That and the branch president's daughters in Ishigaki. And I even asked the girls in Tsuboi if I sounded weird because I knew I was just learning how they talk. They told me I sounded normal. Maybe I was just so bad at Japanese that they didn't notice and it just sounded like a gaijin who couldn't speak Japanese. But thanks to them I learned to talk gay.

That was probably the highlight of my week. I also got to do a sick junkai with the Elders in Yasufuruichi and Takasu. That was way fun. Just lots of zone leader duties that are actually fun. Working with other members of the zone.

I feel like I have switched my focus to being a trainer rather than a zone leader. Which is not that good. I can't quite find the right balance. But I'll keep working on it.

Mom I have no idea what you are talking about with Costco and pictures and whatever. I never knew there was a relation between a big american food store and pictures.

We went to see the atomic bomb dome again this past week as a district. It was pretty fun. Really sad. We went the day before the anniversary and I didn't even know it. So that was interesting. A lot of people there. And they were all trying to get the americans to stop liking war. Tanoshikatta ne.

Well. I got more zone leadery duties to see to so I best be off.

Love Elder Liddle

Nani ittara ii ka wakaran (Week 84)

So here I am again emailing you on a fine Monday. This p day we will have district p day and go see the Genbaku Domu (Atomic Bomb Dome) again. And then go to costco to get apple vinegar. Did I tell you I got my own Costco card?

Well I'll just get the bad news out there first so we can talk about something more fun at the end. We have no investigators. R_____ is not answering his phone. And there is just no one else. We are looking and looking for a new one but no one seems to care about God. I'd say about a third of the people I talk to actually laugh at me when I mention God. Its pretty difficult to get anyone to even listen to a lesson on the street these days. I just feel bad for my bean. Every bean comes out of the MTC expecting to have investigators that they can practice all their new teaching skills on and they expect there to be huge miracles and kinjin and stuff. But we are still looking for our investigators. I hope he is doing ok. Not having anyone to teach is pretty hard on the beans I think.

Speaking of my bean, let me tell you about him. He is Elder Braswell from Ohio. He is 19 years old. He loves to run. Which makes me feel bad because there is no way I am going with him to run again. And he is very enthusiastic and excited about life. He just wants to go share the gospel. I like him. Sometimes I feel stress from him but I think that is normal for trainers. I was stressed in the beginning with my last bean too. They just need time to learn how missionary life really works out here. And not think they already know everything as some beans seem to think. I feel like its really challenging to train again because my bean right now has such different strengths and weaknesses as my last one. So I feel like I have to relearn how to be a trainer. And a zone leader. At the same time. That is still really stressful. I never feel like I can put enough time to either one of my jobs and so I constantly feel like I am failing. It's very hard. But I guess I'll make it ok. So yeah. My bean is cool. I don't really know him that well right now either but I like him.

Everyone keeps making comments about how old I am as a missionary. The missionaries and the members. It makes me sad. I don't want to leave Japan.

So yesterday we had a big party at our ward mission leader's house. And then the ward mission leader's wife and some other members and the sisters all started to make fun of my name. It was weird because people don't really make fun of my name anymore. Most Japanese people don't understand that my name is close to little unless I tell them. But these people just went off forever on their little Japanese jokes. It was quite funny just because they thought they were so clever. For Japanese people that was pretty clever. But we get that all the time in America. The most common joke they make about my name is Tom Riddle because in Japanese the spelling is the same. I think I told you that once. Well it was just funny. I love Japanese people so much.

Has the world changed since I left? The new beans I talk to keep telling me about all this crazy stuff that they say is going down. How's the music? It's probably just the same garbage as always only different songs. But I heard Apocalyptica released a song from someone. That will be something to look forward to. I haven't ever thought about what the world was doing until these beans came. 後もうちょっとね。well I hope its fun. I don't want to come back to a boring world someday.

Sometimes I see star wars playing in stores here for various reasons. And I walk past it to hear if its in Japanese or if its only Japanese subtitles. And usually all the voices and everything are in Japanese. Which makes me want to stay and watch and call it Language Study. But I never do. Don't worry.

I feel like the way I'm talking may seem like I am getting too excited to go home and stuff. But don't worry. I just don't have much to report as far as dendo goes so I am just saying stuff so you have something to read. I hope you like this well prepared and thought out email.

Well just pray that we will be able to find a new investigator who wants to hear the gospel. That's what we need right now.

Have a wonderful day. Mom, you are such an お疲れ様。Love yall.

From トム・リドル長老
エリカ、キャン　ユー　リード　カタカナ？

Just another manic Monday (Week 83)

Well I appreciate all of your emails. I really enjoyed them this week. I liked your email, Dad, with the running thing. You said you didn't know where you were going with that but you totally did. You wanted me to apply it to myself in my dendo. Which I did. And I really enjoyed it. It made me want to work hard. I feel like I have been working harder than ever on my mission. And I will try to work even harder as I get closer to the end.

Speaking of the end I had to fight President this week for getting released in November rather than January. So that Disneyland thing better really happen. That is the only reason he let me take the November transfer. But now I know when I'm going home. That is how you all know I am an old missionary. When you get the call asking when you are going home you have gotten old. But I will ganbaru to the end.

Mom I also thank you for your email. I just really enjoyed it. And it was really nice to hear about Momoko. I haven't had any sort of contact with them since I left Kumamoto. But I have been anxious about her mission call. I am so excited.

I had a good birthday. The elders in my home made me a wonderful birthday breakfast and I got a bunch of phone calls from random missionaries telling me happy birthday. And then the next day our wonderful ward mission leader and his wife came into district meeting and brought a costco cake and said it wasn't late because it was still my birthday in america. It was a delicious cake. I ate a lot. So it was fun.

I have been extremely busy lately. I still don't feel like I have been able to be with my companion. Literally about half of this week was spent with Elder Eckman or with another missionary on splits and the two beans were left to dendo together. So it has been interesting. I have two companions and they just switch off every other day almost. It is so weird. I really feel like Elder Eckman is my companion. Not Elder Braswell. That may be a problem. So I will try to fix it.

We have been working really hard but I feel like I wasn't able to get enough done. I don't get to dendo as much. But our zone did really well. The APs told me this morning that our zone contacted more than any zone this week. We talked to as many people as three other zones put together this week. I don't know what is happening. But it is way cool. And Saijo district is just flourishing under the leadership of my beloved Elder Dolbin. So things have been going well for the zone as a whole.

No one ever told me that people are having babies and stuff. Until I got a letter from Aunt Manny. She keeps me updated very well. So don't worry. I already know.

Also I got the package from Tiffany and Jon. It was really nice. And I liked the cookies. And I will reply to the little kids as soon as I can. Maybe today. Maybe. But they dropped the news on me that Travis is a cop now. I had no idea he was leaving the painting business. So that was another surprise. I want to be a cop someday.

Well. I don't really know what else to say. I am just busy and stressed but somehow I still have fun. Elder Eckman and I are going to train the zone tomorrow and it will be pretty fun. I'll tell you about it next week though. It should be fun. I love you all. Have a wonderful day.

Love Elder Liddle

I got me a crazy job. (Week 82)

So to clear up confusion every zone has two zone leaders. They are companions. Because the job is pretty big and busy. But I am not companions with the other zone leader. I am just living with him. And both of our companions are beans. So we are both zone leader/trainers. Which are both jobs that require a fair amount of focus. Its been nuts. And I was only given one week to learn this area and now I have to teach it to 5 missionaries new to this area. So it has been way crazy. And hard. And stressful. This morning has already just been full of so much stuff I have to do. I haven't even had the opportunity to sit back and think about being 22. I might just do that when I get home or something. It sounds like you have had a crazy morning too. Ganbatte. So yeah. I am just busy. And I might be stuck with this job until I go home. We'll see.

So my new companion is named Elder Braswell from Ohio. I live with Elder Eckman from Idaho and his new missionary Elder Nartker also from Idaho. I had to organize how everyone got to their areas because I was the only zone leader here for about a day. And then Elder Eckman didn't show up with all the new missionaries and the new sisters weren't there either. So I had fun with that and figured it out. And now everyone is safe and sound in their sorezore no areas.

I feel like I have two companions because I am with Elder Braswell by default and I am with Elder Eckman all the time trying to figure out how to be a zone leader and figuring out what to do and stuff. So that has been interesting. Its been fun. I have been having a good time. I just always feel lost.

We have only one investigator. His name is R_____ from Peru. I don't know if I said anything about him before. I can't remember. He came to church yesterday so that was cool. I don't know if he is really that interested right now but he is our only one right now and he did say he had some interest. So I hope to see some cool stuff there.

Last night we had dinner with a chinese recent convert and her nonmember husband and mother and friend. It was way fun. The husband sat by me and I was all nervous that he was going to be weird because we are religious people but I totally had an awesome time just talking to him for a long time. I also got to blow their minds with all of my Chinese knowledge. I have been studying. So it was just fun. And maybe there is some potential with her husband.

I have one fear. I am afraid that I am not spending enough time focusing on my bean right now. It has been such a stress to learn the area and do all of my zone leader duties that I haven't had much time to even just sit and talk with him. So I hope he is ok and stuff. I just don't know. I know he must be stressed and stuff because this is all new to him. So I hope I can still be a good trainer to him.

Well. That has been my week I guess. I hope to have a good p day today but maybe I'll just work instead. Its more productive. P days are overrated anyway. I have already seen everything there is to see in Hiroshima.

I love you all. I am having a good time trying to figure everything out and I am just ready to go party and dendo and party dendo. Have a wonderful day.

Love Elder Birthday Boy

p.s. I'm 22 on the 22nd!

Greetings from the land of Light! (Week 81)

I had the craziest week. So last Tuesday I went to Fukuoka for the new zone leader training and then the mission leader conference. And it was way cool. I love being in the mission home. And I asked President where I was going to transfer to. And he said he didn't know yet. But I tried to persuade him to transfer me to Hikari because it is still the same ward as Saijo. And I basically already know that area.

Then I went back to Saijo and got a call on Thursday from president. And he said he would tell me where I was transferring a week early. Transfers are this coming Thursday. And he told me I was going to Hikari! Yay! Now I get to be Elder Eliason's companion again. But he said there was a catch. I had to transfer the same day to learn the area because Elder Eliason is transferring to the mission home. He actually already transferred on Sunday. So now I am with Elder Dolbin and Elder Clayton in Hikari until Elder Clayton goes home on Thursday. So I am zone leader and District leader for this week. And I have one week to know this area well enough to teach it to my new companion. Which I heard is also a new zone leader. So I have one week to master being zone leader so I can teach him how to do it. But then he isn't going to be my companion. Hikari area is going to be a 4 man area next transfer and me and the other zone leader will train new missionaries at the same time. And then also sisters will come to this area too. So I have to teach five other missionaries this area after only having it for one week. While also trying to run Saijo. So I am about to explode. I have no idea what is going on. And I don't really get to know this area well because Elder Clayton is preparing to go home and stuff and has a lot to do. So its just been crazy. I don't know how I am going to take care of a whole zone. But we'll do it somehow.

I really don't know how any investigators are doing because I only spent two days in Saijo this week and one of those was p day. So I don't know. But last week we were at the church and some random guy came up looking for our pastor. he wanted to talk to him. And I said he doesn't come here until Sunday. So he said he would come back. We wanted to meet him again because he seems so cool but we had to give him to the zone leaders because it is their area. And they set up an appointment to teach him and then I got transferred and got to teach him. So that was cool. His name is R_____. He's from Peru. And he is the only investigator in this area right now. All the rest of them dropped or got baptized recently. So I am almost starting over here. But the one investigator we have I found. So that's fun.

Also Elder Dolbin is going to go trainer next transfer. I am so proud. My son gets a baby of his own.

And happy birthday mom. I don't have much time and I wish I could say more. But I will say I love you very much. And I am happy that you are my mom. I hope you have a happy birthday. I wish I could send you a cool present. But alas. I love you. Have a good day.

I love you all. I hope you are all happy. Have a wonderful day.

Love Elder Liddle

Transfer calls! kind of... (Week 80)

Well everyone. This transfer will be coming to a close on July 18. And transfer calls will be on July 16 just like normal. But what is less than normal is that I half received my transfer call already. I was called a few days ago by one of the assistants to the president late at night and he told me that I was going to transfer on the 18th. But I don't know where yet. The reason he called me so early is because President wants me to become a zone leader. And tomorrow all the zone leaders and new zone leaders will go to Fukuoka for a meeting with President. So. Its not 100% until the day of. Anything can change. But probably not. I am going to be zone leader somewhere next transfer. Probably until the end of my mission. I am quite nervous. Zone leader has a lot of responsibility and is very involved in the workings of the mission. But whatever. I'll do anything President asks me to do. But it means I'll have to leave Saijo. I really don't want to. It is too wonderful here.

I will put forth my one last request to not have a package sent to me. You put too much money in my account for a package too. Besides. I want to send a package home before I transfer and sending so many packages back and forth gets confusing and then we can't remember who sent what package to who and its just a big hairy mess. So you should just not send one. :) Yoroshiku.

We didn't get to meet with as many investigators as I would have liked this week. But whatever. I guess that's just how Japan is. Too busy. But we met with G_____. And it was awesome. He is praying really hard to know if this is real. And he really wants to know. So please pray with all of your hearts that this beautiful man will get and recognize an answer to his sincere prayers. He is so important.

We also got a new investigator from Eikaiwa this week. We taught her with our Eikaiwa coordinator because they are good friends and he used to teach her in junior high. Her name is Y_____. And it was  my first lesson inside the church since coming to Saijo. And it was awesome. We will teach her again this week. She's 18 just so you know.

Also we taught the whole T_____ family. I haven't talked much about them recently. Brother T_____ takes us out to eat a lot. And on his rugby team a new tongan moved in who is less active right now but he served a mission a few years ago. So we had him there and Brother T_____'s whole family together for dinner which was huge and then a lesson on eternal families and temples. And it was awesome. And we asked J_____, the new guy, to participate in the lesson before hand and he gave a great portion of the lesson showing me up with his knowledge of the bible. I really need to read more of that book. It was just so awesome. I have never taught a whole big family like that before. And it was so fun. And they said we can teach them again.

I miss Utah. You said you had that day where you were sweating like crazy until the sun went down. I don't mean to one up you but I don't stop sweating until I get into the one room in my apartment with an air conditioner. You just sweat all the time here. From places you never knew could sweat. I love Japan. But the humidity and their intensely horrible way of doing ac is just not acceptable. I think I will live in Utah forever.

Well I am going to go have a good p day now. And buy a nice piece of wrist clothing. Have a good day all you beautiful little souls.

Love Elder Liddle

Eto desu ne... (Week 79)

Hello. It has been an exciting week I suppose. I wasn't able to get anything done this week and we only got to meet two investigators. We spent a lot of time a 40 minute train ride away in the zone leaders area. We had lots to do with the members of the ward. Which was really nice. We don't get to do much member work in Saijo. There are only 4 active members. And next month one is moving back to China for good. So we just can't get it done. But we have decided to go to the other area to visit the members of our ward maybe once a week. We did last week and it was very rewarding. We recieved a lot of food. :) But not only that it was good for us and for them to visit. We all felt good after and it was just good. And we have kind of got them a little more involved in our dendo in Saijo even though they live so far away. So it will be good for all of us. I love those members. And it seemed like they don't get visited very much. I think maybe the zone leaders are really busy and don't get to visit members as much as they like. So we will pick up some of the slack there.

We met with G_____ this week. And it was awesome. G_____ is so wonderful. We talked about a lot of his concerns. He is just so worried about his faith. He really wants to know this is right and he wants to know when he will know. So we helped him out. And we talked about baptism with him. And going to church. And we set a baptismal date with him. August 17, 2013. And he said he really wants to go to church so he is talking to his boss to get the time off. He is just so awesome. And I feel like this is the most legit baptismal date I have had since Tsuboi. And after that lesson he just seemed so relieved like he knew where he was going and what we were going to do to help him and stuff. It was just good. G_____ is so amazing. I love him so much. And he has been teaching me a little Chinese. I can now start and end my prayers in Chinese.

Also we had G_____'s lesson outside a little cafe thing at Hiroshima University. And a few tables away there were a few Americans. And they were talking and laughing loudly. And it was quite disgusting. They were just gross people. Luckily they got quiet for the more important parts of the lesson. But it was just weird. I haven't heard language like that for a very long time. Or such loud people. Japanese people are so quiet and considerate. And anyone I speak to in English doesn't know bad English or they are missionaries. And if Japanese people do say bad things then I usually don't understand it. So it was a big surprise to me. Very weird. I'm glad G_____'s English isn't very good. There is no way he would have understood so his ability to feel the Spirit seemed uninterrupted.

I watched that big mission meeting thing yesterday where they talked about the internet and stuff. Elder Perry said that we would be informed when it was time for our mission and specific areas to start doing such things so for the time being I am going to sit and wait. We will see. I think its a great idea. We need to get more creative with our ways of dendo. I hope to see success from such dendo. And its good dendo because members can do it too. Members really need to get on the ball. The most successful dendo is when members help the missionaries and do their own dendo with their friends.

I appreciate your kindness for the money for cool stuff. There is something here that I feel would be a cool souvenir from my mission. I have been looking around for stacking dolls for my whole mission. And I have not seen any. They have all kinds of dolls around here. And some that are really cool and almost look like stacking dolls. But no actual stacking ones yet. So I don't know about that one. And the next time I get transferred I plan on going to Ishigaki so there isn't much there as far as dolls go. Sorry. I know one place that sells some cool ones for like 10 bucks though in Hiroshima. But Ishigaki just has Shisa and stuff.

The heat and humidity here is death.

Do you remember the Kiribayashi fam? They emailed you that picture of us when I went over a few months ago. They have a chihuahua. And I got to eat at their house on Saturday. And their dog is so cute. Choco is the name. Choco chan. He is so cute. And he loves me now. Because I already have a chihuahua and I know how to take care of them. So he loves me so much now. It made me really miss Kujo. I still dream about her all the time.

Well. Dendo rocks. I love it. Its way hard and quite the emotional roller coaster. But it is awesome. I love being a missionary.

Have a good week.

Love Josh