Holy Crap!!! This was such a BLUEBIRD week. How did you know that i had a good week? This week was just amazing! I dont know why either! Alot of things that would of made me upset happened. Its good to hear about your week and all that went down. I am glad to hear that you enjoied this past week as much as i did. My fast went really good too.
Thank you so much for putting my name on the Prayer Roll at the temple. It means so much to me. It really does. I appreciate it alot. Like i said last week. I fasted on Monday so that my language skills would just explode and that i would be less homesick. I thought that my fast has been really helping me out alot. I dont feel comfortable with the language but i am no longer going to let that stop me. I have been really shy to talking to people. But now i dont give a crap. I am goign to try and talk with them. Thats how i can show my faith that i want to learn. Thats how i will become better. It was a really good fast i thought. Thanks so much for tellign me about what you taught on Sunday. I love learning about the Atonement and about Jesus Christ. You can never get enough. I love reading anything i can about Jesus. I love him so much and i have really come to trust in him on my mission.
Sounds like you had an awesome Mutual activity goin down. thanks alot for teaching me how to make bbq. they dont have it here in japan and if i can find it, it is super expensive. Knowing how to make bbq sauce will help out so much with what i can make for food. Like now i can make sloppy joes, or have bbq chicken. It will really help. thank you thank you thank you. I really apprecitate you telling me how to make the cake. but we have a problem. they dont sell cake mixes here and fruit is super expensive. the cake sounds so good but unless i get sent some i will never be able to make it. but if i ever come across some i will definatley have to make it.so thank you for that good idea and reciepe.
HOw was Highland? I dont miss that place at all haha. I am glad that you enjoied it though. Are you planning on working there after bug graduates? Roasted chilis sound so good. we buy green chilis but i never have time to roast them. i dont even think i have a place i could roast them. oh well. they will be super good when i come back. it is a good idea to give to the members as well.
It sucks that bug didnt get to play at all in lhis game. I am glad that he was that mad. I really hope that he just has the attitude of "just playing to workout and stay in shape" that is the best attitude ever. Escepicially when your team sucks. I have been finding pennies here alot lately too. they arent american pennies though. they are 1 yen coins. but i have been finding them when i run in the morning. i really appricitate them.
How come you never fed the football team when i played? I always looked forward to the day when you and dad would do that for me! What the heck. this system is rigged. Bug is so spoiled. I wanted you to feed the football team when i played. I always talked about it with eric san diego haha. i am glad that it turned out well. ITs awesome to hear that Kamas went to the Football game. Did he go with you know who? I hope so! I have been praying for him alot. I hope things really work out. Its cool to hear that my Chargers won the game too. I am happy.
Grandma would know more about Breas family than anyone. what do you expect from old people. they get around and know everyone haha.
So like i said. My week was really good. i will tell you what happened.
Monday: I finished my fast and it was raining all day. We went and visited a less active who didnt want us there. We went housing and found a mom who wanted us to come back. when i say wanted i mean she said we could come back.
Tuesday: We had a Zone Conference, so i wasnt in my area at all. The conference was good, but since i am a ZL comp. i already knew almost everything taht was being said. I quess that is a plus aobut being with aZL. So i started to talk with people alot more. ON the train ride home i talked with 2 people. one was in English and the other was in Japanese. IT was way good. It lifted my spirits way high to know i held a convo. in japanese and understood most of it. Later taht night we taught one of our investigators.
Wednesday: The investigator that we taught on tuesday night emailed us and said she didnt want us to teach her anymore. she was way promisisng too. she was super nice and really open. we are plannning on emailing her still though. It rained like no other this day too. It was coming down hard for like 5 hours. Luckly i was in the apt. when this was happening. It was thundering too. It was way awesome. When we did leave the apt. it was stil raining pretty hard though. We went to this apartment to put in flyers in their mail boxes and there were little girls playing in the rain. they came in and started talking with us. It was awesome. Japanese people love talking with americans. So the little girls getting a chance to talk with us was a dream come true. they reminded me of my nephews. they all were different ages and they were playing together. Get this, they asked for our autograph. it was awesome. such a miracle. Later, we had an appointment fall through again and ended up doing more suff in the rain.
Thursday: This is our weekily planning day except we didnt do weekly planning. Instead we talked about our ward and there misionary work. THe members here in the narita ward dont do to much missionary work. They have stopped. so we talked aobut things we needed to talk with the bishop about getting the fire bakc. It was good. We had 2 lessons get canceled. Lessons get canceled all the time. Thats why it is hard.
Friday: We went to the Mission Home for a Confernece. It was good and i got to meet up with people from the MTC. It ws fun. One my friends from the MTC went home though. I hope he will be back out. Afterconference we had Weekly Planning.
Saturday: So do you remeber the guy i told you about taking away his cigarettes? well he called us up. we havent talked with him in 6 weeks. he had been in the hospital and had to stop smoking. He came and played ping pong with us and then took us to lunch. He has really changed alot. It is such an amazing thing to see what sins can do to you. He is super happy and doesnt wnat to start smoking again. WE then went to our stake conference adult session where our mission president jsut told the stake that their missionary fire has stopped. That really helped us when we talked with our bishop. It was way good and just what we needed.
Sunday: So we had Stake Conference and i didnt understand anything. but from what my comp was telling me it was good. When we got back to our area, we went and visited a investigator we havent seen in 3 weeks. The visit was way good. We ended up talking for 2 hours about him. He told me taht he was feeling pressured into the church. He has never learned about Jesus or God let me remind you and doesnt understand why we have so many churchs or which one is true. He said he didnt want to join any unless he knew that it was the right one. I told him about Joseph Smith and the Doctrines of Christ. He really connected with Joseph smith. I promised him that if he would pray everyday that he would recieve and anser on sunday on which church was true. He said he would do it. It was a way good night and i loved taliking with him.
Monday: I was on splits with a Travelling Assistant. They are to teach me about computers and go streeting wiht me. The computers part suck becasue i knew everything. My comp is a Computer Science major and knows everything about this computer. so win i wsa on splits getting taught about stuff i already knew, it was super boring. Streeting was fun though. I thought i would never say that. Right off the bat we found a new investigator. We gave him a church tour. Its funny because i met this guy on my 2nd day in transfer 2. haha. small world. but it was a good day needless to say. i enjoied it.
Today has also been good. THe weather has been amazing. The wind is blowing and it is in the mid 70's. It definatly feels and looks like fall outside. That lifted up my spirits. I cant wait til october to come. That is reall fall and my favorite time of the Year. I am fasting for my investigator to get his answer on sunday today also. I really need to show faith and fulfill my promise. Please pray for him that he will get his anser.
So, quess what. On sunday i had my 1 year anniversary of starting the HCG diet. I started the diet 1 year ago. Crazy Uh? i cant believe that it has been a year. On 28 August 2010 i wieghed 250 LBS, as of 28 August 2011 i weigh 176 LBS. I cant believe how much wieght i have lost. its crazy to think that was a year ago. I will send you a pic of how i look. Please keep it.
I cant beliee that christiaan is in Africa. That is so crazy!!! HE will love it! I am stoked for him and will defindatley have to pray for him. So i hit my 25% mark on 8 September 2011. That is in 1 week from thursday. I cant believe that i have been on the mish for 6 months. It is so crazy to think. I really want time to go by faster though. I want everyweek to be like this one. It was jsut an amazing week and it makes me proud to say that i was a missionary. I hope i get a cool package or something so i can celebrate!!! anyways, i love you with all my heart. Christmas is coming up fast and i cant wait to talk with you and the family. But i cant think to far ahead. I am having wonderful moments as you can tell. I can see those miracles and i write them down. I am happy. I will think BLUEBIRD for the week and stay happy. This next week will go by so fast and Bug will be 18. WEIRD!!! Ill try not to be to hard on myself but i will be focused and diligent. I love you and all the advice you have given me. Thank you. I cant wait to hear from you next week.
Love your Son,
Elder Kurt Van De Graaff
Called to serve in the Tokyo-Japan Mission
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
22 august 2011
It is so good to read your email and get the rundown on how everyone is doing! Sounds like bug is doing pretty well in football if he is being yelled at yby the coach. Its crazy that they scrimmiged Chandler. I never played them my senior year but i know they have a huge football team. their players are massive. way to go bug on sticking it to them and playing against them. I will be sending him a birthday card to him today. I cant believe that he is a senior in high school and that he will be 18 years old. that just blows my mind. I love him so much. I miss him alot too. I hope that he does good in football! Your trip to the cabin sounded way fun. PLaying cards sure seemed familar. i quess it was a good thing that it wasnt raining. i had totally forgot about that detail. haha. good times. I love our family. What a good way to show Brie what the reall VDG family is about. hahahaha. I hoep that it didnt scare her away. I dont think it did. Sounds like Kamas really likes her. I will continue to pray for him and his success with her. I will also pray for Justin and that he will get a better, higher paying job. He really does deserve someting better. But at least he has a job and can support his family. I hope kendi likes her new appt. I got a letter from Grandma E. saying that she had a date in Tuscon. Is this true? How did that go? Kendi has moved apartements like every year since going to UofA. She has got to be having fun down there. Is she a senior in the Music School or just a Juinor? Man, i cant believe that school is already starting back up. that is so crazy. I hope that everyone does good and all in there studies. Its good to hear that boo and marilyn are doing good. Did you get the letters to give to Kelly when she goes up? I hope she does well too! How does she look now? Anyways, thanks for the update on everyones week. It really does sound like you guys had an amazing week. Sounded really super fun. I wish i could of been there for it.
My week was not as good as yours. It was actually pretty dang slow and hard. I think it was so hard because of alot of factors. The weather, white days, being homesick, and stuff like that. It was the 1st week of transfer 3. That means my comp gets with the other ZL alot to discuss Zone goals and stuff. I had white days, or days where i had no lessons or anything, almost everyday this week. So needless to say, i did alot of housing, streeting, and train rides. My tire popped also, so i had to walk which was in noway fun at all. I walked for like 3 hours trying to find this bike shop on wednesday, just to find out taht the bike shop is closed on wednesday. It just capped off my day. It was the hottest day we have had here in japan too. So i was sweating like nonother. I quess Thursday was the fastest day of the week and thats because we had a super spiritual lesson with a less active. She told us her story of goin inactive. We told her that the Power of the Atonement can heal her and that she just needed to apply it. We challenged her to pray for the desire to forgive the person who wronged her and to start applying the atonement in her life. she agreed to try. It was really super spiritual. I really enjoied it. I think that is why thursday went by so fast. Friday it rained all daylong and haas been raining eversince. It was cool on friday though because there was lightning and thunder. It was the first time i had seen lightning in Japan. It was a super crappy day though because i was streeting and housing all day. ALL DAY! and we had no success. Saturday i was in the apartment all day becasue of things my comp needed to finish. I really think that ZLs should be a companionship so they dont waste other missionaries time. I would much rather be outside in the rain or the heat than to be at my desk doing nothing. Doin nothing just makes me feel useless and makes me want to come home. Sunday was not the best. I went to an area that is closed because of the lack of members. I went with the Bishop to go give the Sacrament to the members that are there. I gave a talk on Obedience and it went ok. It was like a 1 hour drive there and back. It gave me alot of time to think about my week and what i can improve on. it also made me very homesick. I love driving and seeing the beauty of the world. Just driving brought up memories of goin to the cabin, or to california with the family. I hadnt been this homesick in 3 weeks. I really wanted to come home yesterday. I did think alot of my week and what i can do to improve it. I am sick and tired of not knowing the language and gettign down on myself. On friday I read in Mosaih 27. Alma the Younger conversion story. Verse 22 really hit me in the heart. It is alma telling his preists to fast with him so that his son would recieve his strength and the ablitiy to talk so that the people could see and know the goodness of God. He had them fast and pray to see a miracle. I really thought about that over the last couple of days. I have been wondering how i can show more faith to God on learning the language. After thinking about that on sunday, i came up with the conclusion that i needed to fast to have his hand in my learning ablity more abundantly. And also that i would focus more on the work than on being homesick. So, right now i am fasting. I would really apprecitate it if you and the family could pray that m fast will go good and that the lord will bless my efforts. I made it a goal to really explode m langauge skills. A fast will cap off that goal and i will progress much faster. Or at least that is what i am hoping. I wish i could tell you this in person. It is so hard over the computer.
I really hope that this week goes much better than last week. I think last week was so hard becasue we had white days(tracting all day/no lessons) everyday. Time really is going by fast but ireally want it to go by faster. in 17 days i will be out on my mission for 6 months. crazy!!! 25% already done in 17 days. I wish it would go faster though. I cant wait to talk to all of you and be able to see everyone too. I love you all so much. I love you alot mom. I appreciate everything you do for me. I am also excited for fall to come. It is by far my favorite season. I cant wait till it comes around. I can start to tell it is coming. The sun here is rising later and setting earlier. It is also gettign cooler. It has been raining since friday and is expected to rain pretty much til the end of the week. I dont have any rain gear. haha. i will manage though. I love the sun more than the rain as a missionary. When i was at home, the rain was always a treat. but now when it rains, i dont want to do anything. just go to my apartment and watch movies and stuff. When it rains, I dont want to be a missionary. Its weird how my perspective has changed on rain since becoming a missionary. Rain just makes me depressed. Well that is my week. Nothing really intresting happend. Sorry to disappoint you. But i am trying to find all the miracles and write them down. It has been super hard. Escpessialy when you have no success and out in the rain for over 9 hours. But i am trying. I love you so much. I wish i could give you a hug and a kiss. I cant wait til the day comes that i will be able to do that. I love reading your emails and hearing about how everyone is doing. I am glad that you had a super good week. I hope that i have a good week this week. I should. Please continue to pray for me and i will do the same for you. I dont have much else to say. It was good to hear that Kamas had alot to say about me. I reeally miss kicking it with him. We did alot of fun things together. I miss him so much. I am glad that i am his brother. He is an amazing example to me. I cant wait til next week. I hope it comes fast.
Love your Son,
Kurtiepie!!!
P.S. THe food here is starting to taste the same. I think i have the 3 same things everyweek. Taco Rice, Mabodofu, and Yakisoba. That is all i eat. I miss eating Steak and Potatoes, Pancakes, Bacon, Chicken, PIZZA, Hamburgers. America has such variety in food. Here it all just starts to taste the same. My comp doesnt like buying to much food because it is expensive. It sucks. I miss meat so much. I want steak so bad. i am going to go crazy hahaa. oh well. I love you! I just needed to let you know that i love your food alot better than here.
My week was not as good as yours. It was actually pretty dang slow and hard. I think it was so hard because of alot of factors. The weather, white days, being homesick, and stuff like that. It was the 1st week of transfer 3. That means my comp gets with the other ZL alot to discuss Zone goals and stuff. I had white days, or days where i had no lessons or anything, almost everyday this week. So needless to say, i did alot of housing, streeting, and train rides. My tire popped also, so i had to walk which was in noway fun at all. I walked for like 3 hours trying to find this bike shop on wednesday, just to find out taht the bike shop is closed on wednesday. It just capped off my day. It was the hottest day we have had here in japan too. So i was sweating like nonother. I quess Thursday was the fastest day of the week and thats because we had a super spiritual lesson with a less active. She told us her story of goin inactive. We told her that the Power of the Atonement can heal her and that she just needed to apply it. We challenged her to pray for the desire to forgive the person who wronged her and to start applying the atonement in her life. she agreed to try. It was really super spiritual. I really enjoied it. I think that is why thursday went by so fast. Friday it rained all daylong and haas been raining eversince. It was cool on friday though because there was lightning and thunder. It was the first time i had seen lightning in Japan. It was a super crappy day though because i was streeting and housing all day. ALL DAY! and we had no success. Saturday i was in the apartment all day becasue of things my comp needed to finish. I really think that ZLs should be a companionship so they dont waste other missionaries time. I would much rather be outside in the rain or the heat than to be at my desk doing nothing. Doin nothing just makes me feel useless and makes me want to come home. Sunday was not the best. I went to an area that is closed because of the lack of members. I went with the Bishop to go give the Sacrament to the members that are there. I gave a talk on Obedience and it went ok. It was like a 1 hour drive there and back. It gave me alot of time to think about my week and what i can improve on. it also made me very homesick. I love driving and seeing the beauty of the world. Just driving brought up memories of goin to the cabin, or to california with the family. I hadnt been this homesick in 3 weeks. I really wanted to come home yesterday. I did think alot of my week and what i can do to improve it. I am sick and tired of not knowing the language and gettign down on myself. On friday I read in Mosaih 27. Alma the Younger conversion story. Verse 22 really hit me in the heart. It is alma telling his preists to fast with him so that his son would recieve his strength and the ablitiy to talk so that the people could see and know the goodness of God. He had them fast and pray to see a miracle. I really thought about that over the last couple of days. I have been wondering how i can show more faith to God on learning the language. After thinking about that on sunday, i came up with the conclusion that i needed to fast to have his hand in my learning ablity more abundantly. And also that i would focus more on the work than on being homesick. So, right now i am fasting. I would really apprecitate it if you and the family could pray that m fast will go good and that the lord will bless my efforts. I made it a goal to really explode m langauge skills. A fast will cap off that goal and i will progress much faster. Or at least that is what i am hoping. I wish i could tell you this in person. It is so hard over the computer.
I really hope that this week goes much better than last week. I think last week was so hard becasue we had white days(tracting all day/no lessons) everyday. Time really is going by fast but ireally want it to go by faster. in 17 days i will be out on my mission for 6 months. crazy!!! 25% already done in 17 days. I wish it would go faster though. I cant wait to talk to all of you and be able to see everyone too. I love you all so much. I love you alot mom. I appreciate everything you do for me. I am also excited for fall to come. It is by far my favorite season. I cant wait till it comes around. I can start to tell it is coming. The sun here is rising later and setting earlier. It is also gettign cooler. It has been raining since friday and is expected to rain pretty much til the end of the week. I dont have any rain gear. haha. i will manage though. I love the sun more than the rain as a missionary. When i was at home, the rain was always a treat. but now when it rains, i dont want to do anything. just go to my apartment and watch movies and stuff. When it rains, I dont want to be a missionary. Its weird how my perspective has changed on rain since becoming a missionary. Rain just makes me depressed. Well that is my week. Nothing really intresting happend. Sorry to disappoint you. But i am trying to find all the miracles and write them down. It has been super hard. Escpessialy when you have no success and out in the rain for over 9 hours. But i am trying. I love you so much. I wish i could give you a hug and a kiss. I cant wait til the day comes that i will be able to do that. I love reading your emails and hearing about how everyone is doing. I am glad that you had a super good week. I hope that i have a good week this week. I should. Please continue to pray for me and i will do the same for you. I dont have much else to say. It was good to hear that Kamas had alot to say about me. I reeally miss kicking it with him. We did alot of fun things together. I miss him so much. I am glad that i am his brother. He is an amazing example to me. I cant wait til next week. I hope it comes fast.
Love your Son,
Kurtiepie!!!
P.S. THe food here is starting to taste the same. I think i have the 3 same things everyweek. Taco Rice, Mabodofu, and Yakisoba. That is all i eat. I miss eating Steak and Potatoes, Pancakes, Bacon, Chicken, PIZZA, Hamburgers. America has such variety in food. Here it all just starts to taste the same. My comp doesnt like buying to much food because it is expensive. It sucks. I miss meat so much. I want steak so bad. i am going to go crazy hahaa. oh well. I love you! I just needed to let you know that i love your food alot better than here.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
15 August 2011
So, i am super excited to read about your week in TN! It sounds like you had just an amazing time up there! I want to go and view all the old Civil War sites and stuff like that! That would be so cool! I am glad that you and Dad both had a good time and that the trip was able to be a good trip for dad.
It sounds like you had a way busy but very fun week. My week was not as fun as yours though. I wish it was though. On tuesday, we went and did some posting. (putting flyers in peoples mailboxes) It sucked. August is by far the hottest month here in Japan. I can just stand outside and within 2 minutes i will be sweating as if i had been running for 10 minutes. Its very hot and super humid. so we went posting at like 2 in the afternoon. the hottest part of the day! i was drenched in sweat and i never got dry agian the whole day. it was pretty hard. We had a party with our members and 2 of our investigators but out investigators dropped out 30 min before our dinner appoitement. so we just had dinner at the members house. we had korean food and it was pretty good. it was a rough day though.
Wednesday, we had splits. I was here with Elder Lacayo. A brazilian. He was also the other zone leader. We had a lesson planned out but our investigator bailed out again and didnt call us. It sucked. We did have another lesson before english class though. Yet again another uneventful day and kinda rough.
Thursday we went down to do another Kisarazu Blitz! we had district meeting and lunch too. I was on streeting from 3-5 with Elder Welch and 5-7 was housing with Elder Wilson (DL). Streeting Sucked. We walked again in the hottest part of the day for 2 hours and didnt talk to one person. No one was on the streets. There is a reason for that. No one wants to be outside and melt. I walked like 4 miles in that time period. Housing was pretty good. We ended up talking and walking and he gave me some really good advice and leadership skills. but again, we walked like another 4 miles. all in all it wasnt a horrible day. I was able to stay positive but it was rough and way tiring. After that, i went on splits with Elder Madsen (my DL) we went to his area called Chousei. I had the best night sleep ever because their apartment has beds. It was amazing.
On friday we did nothing special. They have a very rural area as well and nobody was out. We had lunch with a less active and she just talked the entire time. I didnt understand anything she said. Not one thing. but that was friday. Nothing really exciting happend then.
Saturday was transfer calls. I am still in my same area. I didnt get transfered. I was alittle bummed about it. I really did wanted to get transfered. but oh well. I still have the same companion too. I kinda wanted a new comp. Elder MacCabe is the ZL and he is super uptight. He is on the computer all day long. there are things i have to be patient with him on. He loves to talk. he talks and repeats himself over and over and over again. It drives me nuts. He really beats around the bush too. but all in all we get along pretty well and this transfer should be good.
I hope that this transfer goes by faster than last transfer. Last transfer was definetaly easier than my 1st transfer. It went by really fast and i hope that it goes by faster. I hope that this week is better than last week too. The past 2 weeks have been hard. I have been trying really hard to keep positive though. I have made it a goal to just explode with the language this transfer. I really want to speak it. I have to put in the work to do so. Little by little things are making sense. I just cant speak. it drives me nuts. If i ever get down its because its with the language. I want to speak so bad.
I love you so much Mom! You talking about going to movies and going out to eat is making me super jealous. I want to go to Texas Roadhouse or Vennicias so bad. The food here is starting to taste the same. Maybe that is becasue i only have 3 options to choose from. Taco rice, Mabadofu, or Yakisoba. That is all we eat in our apartment. It drives me nuts but it does save me money. I want variety in my food. My comp cant see that. I have had the strongest desire for Steak and Mexican and Pizza. I want that food so bad.
I love you all so much. I hope that you get my letters that i sent to you. They are for Kelly and Janalyns kids. I also sent Bug a letter with my camera card in it. I am trying to take as many pictures as possible but my comp is against taking pictures. You can ask dad why i say that. I hope that everyone is doing well. When does school start for Bug? I hope that he enjoies football and does well. I do have nick keels email. it is:nicholas.i.keels@us.army.mil. Tell grandma i love her and that i appreciate her. I hope you guys have a good time at the party. i wish i could go. Anyway, I love and pray for everyone at home. I am glad to hear about kamas and all the success he is having. Such a answer to my prayers. I hear that justin has also gotten a job. I am grateful for that too. Thanks for praying for me to get the language. I really hope that my language skills will just explode this transfer. I love you all so much. I cant wait to see you all agian .Pleas stay safe. I hope taht you have a good fast week. I cant wait to read your emails next MONDAY! I LOVE YOU!!!!
Love your Son,
Kurt Van De Graaff
It sounds like you had a way busy but very fun week. My week was not as fun as yours though. I wish it was though. On tuesday, we went and did some posting. (putting flyers in peoples mailboxes) It sucked. August is by far the hottest month here in Japan. I can just stand outside and within 2 minutes i will be sweating as if i had been running for 10 minutes. Its very hot and super humid. so we went posting at like 2 in the afternoon. the hottest part of the day! i was drenched in sweat and i never got dry agian the whole day. it was pretty hard. We had a party with our members and 2 of our investigators but out investigators dropped out 30 min before our dinner appoitement. so we just had dinner at the members house. we had korean food and it was pretty good. it was a rough day though.
Wednesday, we had splits. I was here with Elder Lacayo. A brazilian. He was also the other zone leader. We had a lesson planned out but our investigator bailed out again and didnt call us. It sucked. We did have another lesson before english class though. Yet again another uneventful day and kinda rough.
Thursday we went down to do another Kisarazu Blitz! we had district meeting and lunch too. I was on streeting from 3-5 with Elder Welch and 5-7 was housing with Elder Wilson (DL). Streeting Sucked. We walked again in the hottest part of the day for 2 hours and didnt talk to one person. No one was on the streets. There is a reason for that. No one wants to be outside and melt. I walked like 4 miles in that time period. Housing was pretty good. We ended up talking and walking and he gave me some really good advice and leadership skills. but again, we walked like another 4 miles. all in all it wasnt a horrible day. I was able to stay positive but it was rough and way tiring. After that, i went on splits with Elder Madsen (my DL) we went to his area called Chousei. I had the best night sleep ever because their apartment has beds. It was amazing.
On friday we did nothing special. They have a very rural area as well and nobody was out. We had lunch with a less active and she just talked the entire time. I didnt understand anything she said. Not one thing. but that was friday. Nothing really exciting happend then.
Saturday was transfer calls. I am still in my same area. I didnt get transfered. I was alittle bummed about it. I really did wanted to get transfered. but oh well. I still have the same companion too. I kinda wanted a new comp. Elder MacCabe is the ZL and he is super uptight. He is on the computer all day long. there are things i have to be patient with him on. He loves to talk. he talks and repeats himself over and over and over again. It drives me nuts. He really beats around the bush too. but all in all we get along pretty well and this transfer should be good.
I hope that this transfer goes by faster than last transfer. Last transfer was definetaly easier than my 1st transfer. It went by really fast and i hope that it goes by faster. I hope that this week is better than last week too. The past 2 weeks have been hard. I have been trying really hard to keep positive though. I have made it a goal to just explode with the language this transfer. I really want to speak it. I have to put in the work to do so. Little by little things are making sense. I just cant speak. it drives me nuts. If i ever get down its because its with the language. I want to speak so bad.
I love you so much Mom! You talking about going to movies and going out to eat is making me super jealous. I want to go to Texas Roadhouse or Vennicias so bad. The food here is starting to taste the same. Maybe that is becasue i only have 3 options to choose from. Taco rice, Mabadofu, or Yakisoba. That is all we eat in our apartment. It drives me nuts but it does save me money. I want variety in my food. My comp cant see that. I have had the strongest desire for Steak and Mexican and Pizza. I want that food so bad.
I love you all so much. I hope that you get my letters that i sent to you. They are for Kelly and Janalyns kids. I also sent Bug a letter with my camera card in it. I am trying to take as many pictures as possible but my comp is against taking pictures. You can ask dad why i say that. I hope that everyone is doing well. When does school start for Bug? I hope that he enjoies football and does well. I do have nick keels email. it is:nicholas.i.keels@us.army.mil. Tell grandma i love her and that i appreciate her. I hope you guys have a good time at the party. i wish i could go. Anyway, I love and pray for everyone at home. I am glad to hear about kamas and all the success he is having. Such a answer to my prayers. I hear that justin has also gotten a job. I am grateful for that too. Thanks for praying for me to get the language. I really hope that my language skills will just explode this transfer. I love you all so much. I cant wait to see you all agian .Pleas stay safe. I hope taht you have a good fast week. I cant wait to read your emails next MONDAY! I LOVE YOU!!!!
Love your Son,
Kurt Van De Graaff
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
08 august 2011
Mom,
OH MY GOSH!!!!! What the heck is happening in Arizona? That is so unreal of what has happened! I really hope that everyone is ok! It kinda reminds me of my junior year. I was in a cast the entire year. I really hope that everyone is ok though. that is some super scary stuff that has happened. Man i am sure glad that none of them had any real bad injuries. It is kinda wierd that their whole family has now been to the hospital within the last 2 months. I hope that christiaan doesnt get sent home because of his injuries. I heard that in the MTC, that if you do anything to your legs and cant really walk, they send you home until you are better. I hope that everyone is ok. I will pray for them.
I am pleased to hear that you had a good time up at the cabin. i want to go so bad! The weather here in Narita is starting to get super hott and humid. Its supposed to be the worst time in the summer. Talking about weather, i dont have any winter clothes and i hear that it gets pretty dang cold. So i need you to send me some. I dont really know what i need but we will discuss it over the next 2 or 3 months.
My week was pretty good i quess. On tuesday me and my companion set a baptismal date for a guy from Nepal. HE is 19 and his name is Arun. He seems to be like the perfect investigator. He is just soaking up everything we tell him. he is Awesome. On saturday though we took him to a baptism and he told me he hated girls. so that sparks questions in my mind about him. If you know what i mean. I hope that he can make his baptismal date which is on 28 August 2011. It is coming up fast.
On wednesday, i finally had sushi for the first time since i have been in Japan. Sushi here is so good. It is actually peices of raw fish on top of rice. No seaweed, and all that other stuff. Just raw fish and rice. it was so good. But it was super expensive. It is a good thing a member took us and told us we could eat has much as we wanted. Each plate cost 105 yen. I had like 20 or 25 plates. My favorite wasnt actually fish at all. It was called a tortilla roll. It was a taco but they put it into a sushi style. It was so good. it had salsa, meat, tortilla, and quacamole. i loved it because it was Mexican food. I misss mexican food so much. I want it so bad. but ya sushi is pretty dang good here. But it would be the same in America too because all sushi is is raw fish and rice. so i mean it would be good regardless of where it is at. haha. thats my thoughts about it though. The actually California Roll had some sort of fish eggs all around it. it was pretty diffent but still good. IF you come to Japan i think you will like it.
Nothing much else has happened here. It has been a pretty slow week and pretty uneventful. I have kinda had to endure this week. Yesterday was fast sunday and i fasted fro justin- that he will get a job to support his family, Kamas- that he will have a good realtionship with Breann, and myself- that i will get the language quicker, have more faith in christ and in myslef, and to fast for my desires that i told you about a couple weeks ago. I love fast sundays so much. It is super hard for me to feel the spirit though because i dont understand the language yet. I really want to just speak now. The langauge has to be the only thing that gets me down. I feel like i am just a bystander. I cant understand any of the members or anyone i talk to. It really sucks. I hate it. sometimes i wish that i was sent to an english speaking mission it would make it so much easier. I know i will get it eventually but i want it now. i need to just be patient. please pray for me that i will get it faster. My settign apart blessing says i will learn it quickly. so i need to hav emore patience and more prayers. Yesterday was super hard cuz i all i wanted to do was to come home. All the sunday activities that we do at home just sounded so fun and i really just wanted to watch a movie, eat steak, and be with the family. I really wanted to come yesterday. I had no desire to do missionary work at all. But that has passed and today is a new day and a new week. I hope this week is a good, FAST week. Transfer calls are on either saturday or friday night. We dont know. I kinda want to be transfered but at the same time i dont want to. I really like it where i am but we do the same finding technique everyday, streeting. we dont do anything else and it gets on my nerves. It is also super hard for me becasue my comp is a zone leader. i am always traveling and missing my studies because of things he needs to do with the other zone leader. It is super hard sometimes. I think they need to put the zone leaders together. So i kinda hope that i get transfered.
NOt much else has happened in my week. Sounds like you have had a way hectic, scary week. It really is scarying me of everything that is going on in AZ. I hope nothing happens to you guys. I pray for all of your safety everyday. I really dont want anything to happen to you at all. I am trusting the Lord to take care of all of you! I love you so much Mom! I really appreciate everything you do for me. I havent recieved your letter yet, but i should be getting it today. I havent checked the mail yet. Thanks for sending me it.
I got chills when you told me about Kamas and all that he has acheived and gotten. That is so cool. I hope that he wins the Soldier of the State. that would be super tight. I love him and look up to him so much. I hope that he sends me a letter telling me about it. Is he dating that girl? i hope so. sounds like they would be a perfect match.
I love you mom! Have fun in Tennesse. You all make me jealous beacuse of all the things you are doing. Just wait til i come home and stump you all with my langauge abilities. I trust the Lord will take care of all you. Please dont do anything Stupid! I cant wiat till next week to read your emails and such. But until then, God be with YOu ALWAYS!!!!
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!
OH MY GOSH!!!!! What the heck is happening in Arizona? That is so unreal of what has happened! I really hope that everyone is ok! It kinda reminds me of my junior year. I was in a cast the entire year. I really hope that everyone is ok though. that is some super scary stuff that has happened. Man i am sure glad that none of them had any real bad injuries. It is kinda wierd that their whole family has now been to the hospital within the last 2 months. I hope that christiaan doesnt get sent home because of his injuries. I heard that in the MTC, that if you do anything to your legs and cant really walk, they send you home until you are better. I hope that everyone is ok. I will pray for them.
I am pleased to hear that you had a good time up at the cabin. i want to go so bad! The weather here in Narita is starting to get super hott and humid. Its supposed to be the worst time in the summer. Talking about weather, i dont have any winter clothes and i hear that it gets pretty dang cold. So i need you to send me some. I dont really know what i need but we will discuss it over the next 2 or 3 months.
My week was pretty good i quess. On tuesday me and my companion set a baptismal date for a guy from Nepal. HE is 19 and his name is Arun. He seems to be like the perfect investigator. He is just soaking up everything we tell him. he is Awesome. On saturday though we took him to a baptism and he told me he hated girls. so that sparks questions in my mind about him. If you know what i mean. I hope that he can make his baptismal date which is on 28 August 2011. It is coming up fast.
On wednesday, i finally had sushi for the first time since i have been in Japan. Sushi here is so good. It is actually peices of raw fish on top of rice. No seaweed, and all that other stuff. Just raw fish and rice. it was so good. But it was super expensive. It is a good thing a member took us and told us we could eat has much as we wanted. Each plate cost 105 yen. I had like 20 or 25 plates. My favorite wasnt actually fish at all. It was called a tortilla roll. It was a taco but they put it into a sushi style. It was so good. it had salsa, meat, tortilla, and quacamole. i loved it because it was Mexican food. I misss mexican food so much. I want it so bad. but ya sushi is pretty dang good here. But it would be the same in America too because all sushi is is raw fish and rice. so i mean it would be good regardless of where it is at. haha. thats my thoughts about it though. The actually California Roll had some sort of fish eggs all around it. it was pretty diffent but still good. IF you come to Japan i think you will like it.
Nothing much else has happened here. It has been a pretty slow week and pretty uneventful. I have kinda had to endure this week. Yesterday was fast sunday and i fasted fro justin- that he will get a job to support his family, Kamas- that he will have a good realtionship with Breann, and myself- that i will get the language quicker, have more faith in christ and in myslef, and to fast for my desires that i told you about a couple weeks ago. I love fast sundays so much. It is super hard for me to feel the spirit though because i dont understand the language yet. I really want to just speak now. The langauge has to be the only thing that gets me down. I feel like i am just a bystander. I cant understand any of the members or anyone i talk to. It really sucks. I hate it. sometimes i wish that i was sent to an english speaking mission it would make it so much easier. I know i will get it eventually but i want it now. i need to just be patient. please pray for me that i will get it faster. My settign apart blessing says i will learn it quickly. so i need to hav emore patience and more prayers. Yesterday was super hard cuz i all i wanted to do was to come home. All the sunday activities that we do at home just sounded so fun and i really just wanted to watch a movie, eat steak, and be with the family. I really wanted to come yesterday. I had no desire to do missionary work at all. But that has passed and today is a new day and a new week. I hope this week is a good, FAST week. Transfer calls are on either saturday or friday night. We dont know. I kinda want to be transfered but at the same time i dont want to. I really like it where i am but we do the same finding technique everyday, streeting. we dont do anything else and it gets on my nerves. It is also super hard for me becasue my comp is a zone leader. i am always traveling and missing my studies because of things he needs to do with the other zone leader. It is super hard sometimes. I think they need to put the zone leaders together. So i kinda hope that i get transfered.
NOt much else has happened in my week. Sounds like you have had a way hectic, scary week. It really is scarying me of everything that is going on in AZ. I hope nothing happens to you guys. I pray for all of your safety everyday. I really dont want anything to happen to you at all. I am trusting the Lord to take care of all of you! I love you so much Mom! I really appreciate everything you do for me. I havent recieved your letter yet, but i should be getting it today. I havent checked the mail yet. Thanks for sending me it.
I got chills when you told me about Kamas and all that he has acheived and gotten. That is so cool. I hope that he wins the Soldier of the State. that would be super tight. I love him and look up to him so much. I hope that he sends me a letter telling me about it. Is he dating that girl? i hope so. sounds like they would be a perfect match.
I love you mom! Have fun in Tennesse. You all make me jealous beacuse of all the things you are doing. Just wait til i come home and stump you all with my langauge abilities. I trust the Lord will take care of all you. Please dont do anything Stupid! I cant wiat till next week to read your emails and such. But until then, God be with YOu ALWAYS!!!!
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!
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