Happy birthday Kate yesterday!
And ohayo gozaimasu. Which means good morning. For those of you who think you can't find the translation anywhere.
And that letter I sent home has easy Japanese in it. Get a dictionary and look it up. I can't really say it here. Unless you edit this before you let the world see it. I don't know if you do. Buy a Langenscheidts japanese dictionary and look it up. It will have all the words. And then send it to me. I would really like that dictionary.
So it wasn't the First Presidency here on Tuesday for the MTC's 50th birthday party. It was Elder Nelson again and Elder Holland. It was super cool. And the song we sang in the choir was one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. The spirit was so strong during that meeting. It was very cool. And then after the devotional we have our district devotional review. That was really good too. Everyone in my district is just so awesome. I love them. And we had one of the councelors in our branch presidency there. He said that someone like a prophet or something said that the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are apostles with a big A. And missionaries are apostles with a little a. I can't remember who he said said that. I thought that was an interesting thought.
So the older Japanese missionaries and the Nihonjin left for Japan on Monday morning. I really miss the Nihonjin. They are the nicest people ever. I especially miss Elder Yamanashi. I really like him. We became pretty good friends. And he's going to Fukuoka! So someday I'll see him again and then have a conversation with him in Japanese. Real Japanese. I can't wait for that. And just so you know Yamanashi means mountain pear. Does that not just sound beautifully delicious.
So I'm going crazy here. I'm only half way here and I am going to explode. I have to get out of here. I don't care if I don't know any Japanese. I want to go to Japan now. Spending most of my life in a tiny classroom with desks designed to slide everything off at the slightest breath with twelve missionaries sitting shoulder to shoulder for most of my life is driving me crazy. I'm in that classroom all day and then I go eat bad food and then I go back to that classroom. I can't wait for Japan.
And every week now we go to the kitchen to help clean up and put stuff away and stuff. I already hate most of the food here. And yesterday morning I learned things about this food that I won't repeat so no one has to suffer the way I do. Hopefully I live. I might become anorexic. Jodan jodan jodan. which means joke. I have done pretty good at turning my brain off when I eat.
So I love my teacher Gremmert Sensei. I want him to marry Kate. He's good looking and funny and very spiritual and like 23 or 24. He went to the Japan Sapporo mission. And I tried to get him to call Kate for a date for her birthday. But he said he is taking a break from girls. So Kate. It looks like you will have to be in charge here. Just write him a letter and send it to me. I'll give it to him. I doubt he will give me his number to give you.
So Elder Eliason had a little disagreement with Elder Lloyd and Elder Lloyd said that he knew he was right and that he would bet his next four packages from home that he was right. And they found someone who knew for sure and Elder Lloyd won. But the only thing I could think of is I'd be lucky if I get four packages from home by the time I leave here. I guess he's just loved more. I just thought that was a funny story that I would share for no reason at all.
I like the letters I've been getting. Keep sending them. I like them. It keeps me sane. So feel free to help my sanity.
Well I need to go now. Aishiteimasu. Which means I love you.
Love Josh
Friday, February 3, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Picture of Josh in front of the Provo Temple
This is a picture of Josh and other missionaries that we got from the "missionary mom" website. Pretty exciting. Look at how cute he is! ;)
Friday, January 27, 2012
I never know what to say here
So I am a month into my mission already. I can't believe how fast time is flying. It's crazy. Every day here seems like an eternity but then before I know it its P day again. I can't believe how fast its going. I still feel like I just got here.
And the Nihonjin missionaries are the nicest people in the world. The missionaries from Japan. They are easily the nicest people I've ever met in my life. I heard that some of them were very nervous about coming to the United States to stay at the mtc because they don't all speak english very well. I think only two are fluent in English. And I heard that the Nihonjin sisters were getting very emotional when they got here because everyone was so nice to them and trying to communicate with them in Japanese. They are such sweet people. I can't wait to get to Japan and be around the Japanese people all the time. The Nihonjin missionaries leave on Monday. And so do the other missionaries that have been here like six weeks longer than us. Then a week after that new missionaries come and we become the old ones that know everything. That's a scary thought. That also means I'm almost half done with the mtc. That's way scary to me. I don't know anything.
So on time Eliason Choro and I were teaching one of our investigators and Eliason Choro wanted me to speak at a certain point. And I had a lot of trouble. I don't know Japanese. And I struggled. But then all of a sudden I knew which direction to take the lesson and I knew the words and the grammer to do it. And I really felt the spirit. After the appointment Elder Eliason said that he prayed for me in the lesson and immediately after I started speaking. Prayer is real. So don't forget to pray. Especially for me. And the Nihonjin. We will all need it.
The organist/pianist at the firesides every sunday looks just like that crazy lady on Criminal minds only with dark hair. The computer lady. I think her name is Garcia or something. I thought that was kind of funny.
I did get the package. Thank you very much for that. I've been loving the toilet paper. And the picture of Kujo right at the front made me laugh. I miss her. Make sure she doesn't forget about me. I want her to be excited when I come home. Not angry or anything. And the tang has been good. I was sick last week. And the tang was very comforting. I was sick enough that I missed a class to sleep. But I'm better now.
I got a haircut. My first one. Its way too short. I can't wait for it to grow out.
A few days ago some elders and I were talking while Elder Eliason, who is now district leader, was in a meeting for district leaders. And then he asked what we were talking about and I said I wouldn't tell him. Then he said I'm pretty much your wife right now. You can't keep secrets. That made me laugh.
So every now and then I have had the thought come that I was only called to Japan because I had previous Japanese experience and that it wasn't really from God and that I won't ever be able to do this. But then I was reading the Morumon Sho and then I knew that this was a call from God and that I have previous Japanese experience because God was helping me prepare before I came here. And it really has helped. I can read the first two alphabets quite easily. And I already new a bit about how Japanese sentences work. So it hasn't been too difficult to learn the new stuff. Its just hard to actually speak it. Elder Eliason and I are trying to speak only Japanese until we leave the mtc except when English is required. Pray for me. I'll need the help.
On Tuesday the speaker at the devotional was Jose L Alonso. Is anyone else thinking of Doctor Who? Erika. This was for you. It was a good talk. He had a hard time with English but the spirit was still so strong. Sounds like what will happen to me in Japan. Also there are rumors going around. I never heard anyone in charge say this but everyone seems to know and they have a special musical number prepared for Tuesday's devotional so I'm pretty conviced. The rumors are that the First Presidency will be here next Tuesday. I'm excited for that one.
The Morumon Sho is awesome. Don't forget to read it. I love it more than I ever have. Its awesome. Always read it. Watashi wa Morumon Sho ga shinjitsu da to shitte imasu.
Aishiteimasu. Be happy. Don't die or anyting. Bribe the church to send me to Japan now. I don't want to wait anymore.
Love Liddle Choro
And the Nihonjin missionaries are the nicest people in the world. The missionaries from Japan. They are easily the nicest people I've ever met in my life. I heard that some of them were very nervous about coming to the United States to stay at the mtc because they don't all speak english very well. I think only two are fluent in English. And I heard that the Nihonjin sisters were getting very emotional when they got here because everyone was so nice to them and trying to communicate with them in Japanese. They are such sweet people. I can't wait to get to Japan and be around the Japanese people all the time. The Nihonjin missionaries leave on Monday. And so do the other missionaries that have been here like six weeks longer than us. Then a week after that new missionaries come and we become the old ones that know everything. That's a scary thought. That also means I'm almost half done with the mtc. That's way scary to me. I don't know anything.
So on time Eliason Choro and I were teaching one of our investigators and Eliason Choro wanted me to speak at a certain point. And I had a lot of trouble. I don't know Japanese. And I struggled. But then all of a sudden I knew which direction to take the lesson and I knew the words and the grammer to do it. And I really felt the spirit. After the appointment Elder Eliason said that he prayed for me in the lesson and immediately after I started speaking. Prayer is real. So don't forget to pray. Especially for me. And the Nihonjin. We will all need it.
The organist/pianist at the firesides every sunday looks just like that crazy lady on Criminal minds only with dark hair. The computer lady. I think her name is Garcia or something. I thought that was kind of funny.
I did get the package. Thank you very much for that. I've been loving the toilet paper. And the picture of Kujo right at the front made me laugh. I miss her. Make sure she doesn't forget about me. I want her to be excited when I come home. Not angry or anything. And the tang has been good. I was sick last week. And the tang was very comforting. I was sick enough that I missed a class to sleep. But I'm better now.
I got a haircut. My first one. Its way too short. I can't wait for it to grow out.
A few days ago some elders and I were talking while Elder Eliason, who is now district leader, was in a meeting for district leaders. And then he asked what we were talking about and I said I wouldn't tell him. Then he said I'm pretty much your wife right now. You can't keep secrets. That made me laugh.
So every now and then I have had the thought come that I was only called to Japan because I had previous Japanese experience and that it wasn't really from God and that I won't ever be able to do this. But then I was reading the Morumon Sho and then I knew that this was a call from God and that I have previous Japanese experience because God was helping me prepare before I came here. And it really has helped. I can read the first two alphabets quite easily. And I already new a bit about how Japanese sentences work. So it hasn't been too difficult to learn the new stuff. Its just hard to actually speak it. Elder Eliason and I are trying to speak only Japanese until we leave the mtc except when English is required. Pray for me. I'll need the help.
On Tuesday the speaker at the devotional was Jose L Alonso. Is anyone else thinking of Doctor Who? Erika. This was for you. It was a good talk. He had a hard time with English but the spirit was still so strong. Sounds like what will happen to me in Japan. Also there are rumors going around. I never heard anyone in charge say this but everyone seems to know and they have a special musical number prepared for Tuesday's devotional so I'm pretty conviced. The rumors are that the First Presidency will be here next Tuesday. I'm excited for that one.
The Morumon Sho is awesome. Don't forget to read it. I love it more than I ever have. Its awesome. Always read it. Watashi wa Morumon Sho ga shinjitsu da to shitte imasu.
Aishiteimasu. Be happy. Don't die or anyting. Bribe the church to send me to Japan now. I don't want to wait anymore.
Love Liddle Choro
Friday, January 20, 2012
I don't know what to put for my subject.
So this week has been pretty good I guess. I don't know. It was really fast. I feel like it was just barely P day. But here we are again. Its hard to believe that I've been gone as long as this. I still feel like I just got here.
So there is and elder in my district named Wong Choro. From Hawaii. He only has a little Chinese in him so He's mostly Hawaiian looking. Anyways. He likes to just shout out random Japanese words and make sentences that don't mean anything. And I tried to do that at lunch one day just to tease him. I said. Anata wa. Kamisama no. Jodan desu. And when you put all those together it says you are God's joke. Which was a complete accident. I didn't mean to actually make a sentence. Anyways. I just thought you should know.
After devotional every week we talk about it as a district. And It was pretty good talking this week. The spirit was really strong. And I cried. Abraham Shimai shared something really special to her and I cried. I'm the district crier. Thanks mom. Jk. I'm fine with crying. Especially from the spirit. This was just a lot of crying.
Use dear elder when I'm in the mtc. It's nicer to read the letters throughout the week and I only have a half hour to do email and then it locks me out. So dear elder is much better for now.
And those letters from the young women were nice. That was fun to read. I appreciate that. It made my day that day.
Japanese is still way hard. I don't get it. Its like a foreign language to me. But they say it will come. So it probably will someday. It's pretty frustrating. I can't teach worth beans. But I'm trying.
And our branch president came to our class last night for a special visit. Where he basically said we need to step it up as a district. It was pretty intense. And our teacher earlier yesterday said the same thing. I didn't think we were doing that bad but maybe we are. The Lord saw fit to call us to repentance twice in one day. It was kind of scary. But good. Now I'm going to be an even better missionary. And I was an awesome one already. Jk. But seriously. That was crazy. And I'm inspired to be better.
Every day I come to appreciate more and more how lucky I am to have the gospel. I was born in the best time and place where I could grow up in this church. The people in Japan mostly don't even know who God is. Its hard to imagine what it's like not knowing what I do. I'm so lucky. And so are you. Don't ever forget this great gift you have been given. Its the best thing ever. Out of all the billions of people that have lived and are living without the gospel you were chosen to be among the few millions alive right now to have it. Don't forget that.
I love you all. You are awesome. I like reading your letters so feel free to send them at any time. Peace out until next week.
Love Elder Liddle
So there is and elder in my district named Wong Choro. From Hawaii. He only has a little Chinese in him so He's mostly Hawaiian looking. Anyways. He likes to just shout out random Japanese words and make sentences that don't mean anything. And I tried to do that at lunch one day just to tease him. I said. Anata wa. Kamisama no. Jodan desu. And when you put all those together it says you are God's joke. Which was a complete accident. I didn't mean to actually make a sentence. Anyways. I just thought you should know.
After devotional every week we talk about it as a district. And It was pretty good talking this week. The spirit was really strong. And I cried. Abraham Shimai shared something really special to her and I cried. I'm the district crier. Thanks mom. Jk. I'm fine with crying. Especially from the spirit. This was just a lot of crying.
Use dear elder when I'm in the mtc. It's nicer to read the letters throughout the week and I only have a half hour to do email and then it locks me out. So dear elder is much better for now.
And those letters from the young women were nice. That was fun to read. I appreciate that. It made my day that day.
Japanese is still way hard. I don't get it. Its like a foreign language to me. But they say it will come. So it probably will someday. It's pretty frustrating. I can't teach worth beans. But I'm trying.
And our branch president came to our class last night for a special visit. Where he basically said we need to step it up as a district. It was pretty intense. And our teacher earlier yesterday said the same thing. I didn't think we were doing that bad but maybe we are. The Lord saw fit to call us to repentance twice in one day. It was kind of scary. But good. Now I'm going to be an even better missionary. And I was an awesome one already. Jk. But seriously. That was crazy. And I'm inspired to be better.
Every day I come to appreciate more and more how lucky I am to have the gospel. I was born in the best time and place where I could grow up in this church. The people in Japan mostly don't even know who God is. Its hard to imagine what it's like not knowing what I do. I'm so lucky. And so are you. Don't ever forget this great gift you have been given. Its the best thing ever. Out of all the billions of people that have lived and are living without the gospel you were chosen to be among the few millions alive right now to have it. Don't forget that.
I love you all. You are awesome. I like reading your letters so feel free to send them at any time. Peace out until next week.
Love Elder Liddle
Friday, January 13, 2012
January 13, 2012 (Re: Hey! I'm writing an email!)
Hi. I'm writing again. Things here are good. These past couple days have been a little harder I think. I just can't understand when our investigators speak Japanese to me and it takes me a really long time to reply in Japanese. I can't speak it very fast. But I'm good at remembering words.
Church is fine. I need to have a talk prepared in Japanese every week so they can call on me to give it. It's scary. But I've been lucky so far. Choir is fun. I only did it the one time because I've been trying to work out the cello thing when I have the time. And it hasn't been easy. I can't actually get the music librarian in her office and they have a really poor selection. I wish I had my own music to bring. The food doesn't have the same effect on me as it did at home. It gets stuck in me. I've been eating different stuff. But it hasn't been awesome yet. Maybe I'll just eat only salad. the MTC president is President Brown. He seems cool. I've taken some pictures but there is no way for me to email them to you. You will just have to mail me a new memory card and I'll mail you mine. The pillows are fine. Not too bad. I'm fine with them. Laundry day is really a pain. But it has to be done.
And just so you know my P day is every Friday until I get out of the MTC.
Lloyd Choro says that there is a little mail place next to Smiths in orem that mails packages to the MTC for free.
And apparantly they didn't want me to bring my own temple stuff so I'd like to send that home somehow.
On Tuesday we had our weekly devotional. Elder Russel M. Nelson was the speaker. That was cool. Basically what I got out of it was that we are helping God fulfill his purpose by being missionaries. And that isn't something to take lightly. He was cool to see so close.
There is another Elder Liddle here. I see him all the time. He seemed to know all about me already. It was weird. He knew who my grandpa was and everything. His grandpa is Wallace Liddle. And that makes us relatives. How weird.
I saw Sister Theobald a few days ago. We got our picture taken together. But on her camera. So you will have to steal them from her.
So the Japanese missionaries from Japan arrived. That's cool. I can't understand them. We had a little like testimony meeting after Elder Nelson's talk and a couple Japanese sisters were there. We could barely understand each other but we all felt the spirit anyways. It was way cool. The spirit doesn't care if you can understand what they are saying. The spirit will be there anyways. That was a really cool experience.
Japanese is really hard for me. I can't understand it. But it will come eventually. I just need to keep practicing. Its really hard though. I can't identify words when they speak really fast and I can't think of words to use. I can't say very much.
Elder Eliason snores really loud at night. But only like a small time during the night. It wakes me up every night. At like the same time. And then he stops snoring after a while.
We had an elder get sent home this week. He didn't take care of something before he came but decided to take care of it and come back worthy. The love we all felt for him when he told us was crazy intense. We all love him so much. Abraham Shimai told him that she really respects him for living what we are trying to take to the Japanese people. That made me cry. I'm a crier. We all love that Elder. Pray for him. Satan is going to attack him and he needs to make it back.
One of my teachers offered to skype him to help him learn Japanese at home. I have the best teachers. Gremmert Sensei and Heaton Sensei. Heaton Sensei is getting married but Gremmert Sensei is single. I want Kate to marry him. He's way cool. Way spiritual. And awesome. And he speaks Japanese.
Well I'm out of time. I love you all. Keep being happy.
Love Elder Liddle.
Friday, January 6, 2012
I'm emailing you again
Konnichi wa kazoku to tomodachi,
I still love it here at the MTC. Its pretty cool. I feel like I've been here forever but I also feel like I just got here. I'm excited for a routine. Nothing has been routine yet but my next ten weeks will be just like this one so I'll get used to it. The Spirit is everywhere. I love it.
The food was good for the first few days. Now I don't like it so much. It makes me hurt inside every time I'm done eating. And it doesn't all taste awesome. Its not good. I might die from some weird food thing. So I'll just say goodbye now. I love you all.
We've been teaching a guy in Japanese this week. That's very hard. I don't know how to say anything. But I've felt the Spirit in our meetings with him. I can pray and share testimony pretty good. That's about it. Elder Eliason is better at Japanese so he has done most of the talking but this next time I'll take about half hopefully. We'll see.
I'm going to be singing in the choir. That will be fun. We will sing at MTC meetings and devotionals. I'm excited. We had a nice song on Tuesday night. I have also been asked to play a song on the cello on a week from sunday. That should be pretty good.
I haven't had any texting withdrawals. Just so everyone knows. I've been fine. I hope no one is offended by this next part. The thing I have missed the most is my nice and wonderful and amazing and comfortable toilet paper. Send me Tang. I can use it. And send me my toilet paper. I can't live without it. Life is miserable without it.
So I figured out that the Spirit is absolutely necessary for life here. When its gone I just don't like doing anything I am supposed to be doing. Its too much to do all this stuff all day long and still feel like you need more time to get it done. So I've learned that keeping the spirit is pretty important. I've really been working on doing that so most of my time here has been really awesome.
Elder Eliason and I have been teaching each other for practice and I've been feeling the spirit in a new way. A way that I have never experienced before. It's pretty cool. I think I'm going to really enjoy teaching people. Once I can actually speak Japanese. I'm making progress in the language. Faster than I thought I would. But not as fast as I really want. But whatever. They keep saying that the language is not the first priority and we only have two hours a day to do language study. So I'll be fine eventually.
Elder Eliason is just like Jeff Stephens. The more I get to know him the more he is like Jeff. He's pretty cool. And good looking. It was freaking me out how he was just like Jeff but now I'm used to it. Multiple times a day he will do things that are exactly something Jeff would do. It's really weird. I like him. That's a really good thing. I was afraid of having a companion I didn't like so much. But he's cool. All of the Elders and Sisters in my district are cool. I love them all.
I was in the temple this morning and when we were sitting in the celestial room I was looking around at all the Elders there and I just felt a great love for all of them and I felt the spirit telling me that we are all called by God to go preach the gospel. I just love everyone here. And I know we are all supposed to be here to go teach our Father's children.
Well I need to get going. Have a good time at home. Be happy. You have the gospel and that is the greatest blessing. Aishiteimasu.
Love Josh Liddle Choro.
Send me the toilet paper and Tang. I can't function without it.
I still love it here at the MTC. Its pretty cool. I feel like I've been here forever but I also feel like I just got here. I'm excited for a routine. Nothing has been routine yet but my next ten weeks will be just like this one so I'll get used to it. The Spirit is everywhere. I love it.
The food was good for the first few days. Now I don't like it so much. It makes me hurt inside every time I'm done eating. And it doesn't all taste awesome. Its not good. I might die from some weird food thing. So I'll just say goodbye now. I love you all.
We've been teaching a guy in Japanese this week. That's very hard. I don't know how to say anything. But I've felt the Spirit in our meetings with him. I can pray and share testimony pretty good. That's about it. Elder Eliason is better at Japanese so he has done most of the talking but this next time I'll take about half hopefully. We'll see.
I'm going to be singing in the choir. That will be fun. We will sing at MTC meetings and devotionals. I'm excited. We had a nice song on Tuesday night. I have also been asked to play a song on the cello on a week from sunday. That should be pretty good.
I haven't had any texting withdrawals. Just so everyone knows. I've been fine. I hope no one is offended by this next part. The thing I have missed the most is my nice and wonderful and amazing and comfortable toilet paper. Send me Tang. I can use it. And send me my toilet paper. I can't live without it. Life is miserable without it.
So I figured out that the Spirit is absolutely necessary for life here. When its gone I just don't like doing anything I am supposed to be doing. Its too much to do all this stuff all day long and still feel like you need more time to get it done. So I've learned that keeping the spirit is pretty important. I've really been working on doing that so most of my time here has been really awesome.
Elder Eliason and I have been teaching each other for practice and I've been feeling the spirit in a new way. A way that I have never experienced before. It's pretty cool. I think I'm going to really enjoy teaching people. Once I can actually speak Japanese. I'm making progress in the language. Faster than I thought I would. But not as fast as I really want. But whatever. They keep saying that the language is not the first priority and we only have two hours a day to do language study. So I'll be fine eventually.
Elder Eliason is just like Jeff Stephens. The more I get to know him the more he is like Jeff. He's pretty cool. And good looking. It was freaking me out how he was just like Jeff but now I'm used to it. Multiple times a day he will do things that are exactly something Jeff would do. It's really weird. I like him. That's a really good thing. I was afraid of having a companion I didn't like so much. But he's cool. All of the Elders and Sisters in my district are cool. I love them all.
I was in the temple this morning and when we were sitting in the celestial room I was looking around at all the Elders there and I just felt a great love for all of them and I felt the spirit telling me that we are all called by God to go preach the gospel. I just love everyone here. And I know we are all supposed to be here to go teach our Father's children.
Well I need to get going. Have a good time at home. Be happy. You have the gospel and that is the greatest blessing. Aishiteimasu.
Love Josh Liddle Choro.
Send me the toilet paper and Tang. I can't function without it.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Liddle Choro sighting in MTC by cousin Laurel
Many of you know that Josh's cousin, Sister Laurel Theobald, is in the MTC as well. She ran into him Sunday night:
"I saw Elder Liddle aka Cousin Joshie for one whole minute! I ran into him outside one of the rooms where they show talks or films for an hour on Sunday nights...It was so good to see him! We weren’t sure if we could hug or not so we shook hands, then asked Sister Parker and she said no hugging so that was that. He said Japanese is hard, but I know he’ll be fine."
"I saw Elder Liddle aka Cousin Joshie for one whole minute! I ran into him outside one of the rooms where they show talks or films for an hour on Sunday nights...It was so good to see him! We weren’t sure if we could hug or not so we shook hands, then asked Sister Parker and she said no hugging so that was that. He said Japanese is hard, but I know he’ll be fine."
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