Sorry this email is so late. Today i saw Elder Chen and he really needed to have some fun as a missionary. Lets just say that last week was super hard for us. COuntless hours of contacting peopel and nothing came from it. Not even one phone number. SO today we met up with the district and went to another area and had all you can eat meat, and then played football. It was like being in america. it was super fun too
Dad thanks for your email. i am glad that you had such a great time with boo and all that. It sounds like it was really fun. Thanks for your details. TOdays email is actually going to be directed to mom and the things she told me.
SO, your whole story about the Kawamitsu's is way funny. SO i totally remember Aiki and i was wondering if i was ever going to meet him here in Japan. I remember that i used to be really good freinds with him and then they moved to Japan. Then in October you told me you found the mom on Facebook. I thought athat was super cool. Well i knew about Bless4 for a very long time. In my 4th transfer my comp. served in thier ward in Machida so he knew them. He was the one who set up the fireside. Well in November they did do the fireside but i didnt have any investigators so i couldnt go. Anyway, When i came here to Yamate, their was a preloaded band named the 'Kawamitsu Family". I listened to them and for some reason i really liked it alot. It is a mix of english and japanese, so i really like it because i can understnad. WEll, just this week when jenny shimai it all clicked. The band i have been listening to for the past 3 or 4 months has been Bless4 which is the family that used to live in our ward. IT IS SO FREAKING COOL!!!!! I cant even describe. I have known about Bless4 like my whole mission but not that i actually knew them 14 years ago. It is a very small world intend. I really hope that they get in contact with me after they get back. They live like 1 hour by train from where i am at. THe great thing is i am due for a transfer. I hope that i get transferd to Machida. That is where they live. I am so stoked about this. Their music is really good. Oh my gosh. I am so glad that you guys got in touch with them or they got in touch with you. Yes i want to do a fireside with them. I would love their phone number and their contact information. It would be really good i think. I really wnat to do it. I will contact them. My favorite song by them is called C.T.R. (SHine the Light of Christ).
I want to tell you about my investigator Suzuki. We meet with him after Pday last week. He told us why he started listening to the missionaries. Let you know that i stopped him. He told us that he saw that i was happy and that is why at first he stopped. He siad that if my previous comp would of stopped him he would of said no. Elder Crowther wasnt feelingt to good and wasnt happy. It had been reaining all week and we werent happy and didnt want to work in the rain. Well i was faking it trying my best to have fun and be happy. I felt that day to talk about Happiness. I have never talked about it/. Well i stopped Suzuki and started talking about happpiness. I asked him if he liked being happy. I then told him that when i see people happy i become happy. Stuff like that. Well he accpeted to hear what made us happy. Suzuki jsut said that He really felt my love for him and that is whjy he is a investigator. He told us that if i had left, he would of dropped and never come back to church. He told us that he really felt my love for him and that is why he started. He told us that he has felt more and more happiness by learning aobut this gospel and everything He is awesome. I was super grateful. I know that it was Gods work and everything. I am just happy that i cna be a tool for God in bringing his children back to him. I thought this was really cool and you would like to hear it.
So i was thinking that i need new music. Do you know the camera cards that i send to you. Can you download some music onto one and then send it to me. It has to be good music, but if it is on a camera card i can download it onto the computer here. It is way eazy for me. I really want like nature orientated stuff, like the birds that we used to listen to when we took naps. Peaceful stuff. If you can do this for me i woudl really like some. I really want you to do this. Just download it onto the camera card like pictures then send it to me. I love you. Your new pup sounds really nice. I would really like to see her. Pictures are a really good thing. I love getting them. So dont be shy to send some. Not much else to send over on this side of the world. Elder Chen speaks really good english. But we try to use both languages. But he can almost understand everything i say. He studied japanese for 3 years so he is fluent already. I really like him. I hope he is ok because last week was super hard. Oh, funny story. SO we went to the way bad area in our area. I was looking at it on our map and i just said to myself "that is a way bad place but the peopel deserve a chance" so we planned to go streeting there. Well before entering i told elder chen that it was HELL!!! WHore houses, pornography, hard hearted people, etc. Well elder chen got it hard. THe very first person we tried to stop called us "Bakayaro" and just started yelling at us. It is almost the worst thing that you can call somebody here in Japan. It is the equivalent to the worst thing in english. I looked at Elder Chen and said "Welcome to Hell'!!!! haha. I dont like going there. I htink once a transfer is good. Elder Chens email is eric6278@myldsmail.net. He speaks good english so no worries.
I love you mom and dad. I hope that you have a great week. I am so glad to hear aobut the Kawamitsu's and the reunioun with them. It really has made me feel great. I cant wait to get in contact with them. I am actually listening to htem rite now. haha. I can use your prayers reight now. I can feel the prescense of Satan in my life very strongly. SOrry this email isnt very much but it has been a pretty uneventful week. Being a trainer is super expensive too. i am becomeing poor. Just letting you know.
Well i gots to go. I love ya. I pray for the both of ya everyday and think about you often. I have been having alot of dreams about home lately and its driving me nuts. I cant wait to be back with all of you agian. Until then, have a great week and God be wtih you.
Called to serve in the Tokyo-Japan Mission
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
another fun email from elder kurt
So it was super good to get your email this week. Sounds like everything at home is doing super well. Sounds like you had a full week and had tons of fun. Its really good to hear about Nick and that he has finally sent in his papers. I think I am going to write him an email today. I have time so I can. I am excited. I am way jealous about you guys going to that one guys fireside and hearing him talk about his mission in Tonga. I am so jealous. That sounded super fun. I love that movie and I really wanted to go there.
So to celebrate my one year mark I had district meeting. But we also had a District Lunch and went and got all you can eat Yakiniku. It was super good. I think I ate the most out of everyone again and like usual but whatever. I had about 7 plates of meat stacked high. I am a true VAN DE GRAAFF!!!! It was a pretty fun time and I really enjoied myself. So a new suit here is about like 15000 yen. That converts into about 185 bucks. But I bet I can find one for cheaper. So you send what you think is right. Just remember that Japan is a much more expensive country than America. Things are going to be more expensive. Even the cheap things in America are going to be more expensive here. It is the way of life. But I really appreciate it a lot and could really use it.
So this week was a two way week again it sucked but at the same time it was a good week and I am glad it is over. The thing that sucked about it was it was raining all week. The sun didnt shine during the day once. That alwys makes things hard on an ARIZONA boy. My comp cursed me I think. I had a goal of getting up at 5:50 AM evyer morning and going running and he siad even in the rain, and guess what, every morning it rained. But I kept my word and I went running every morning at 5:50 even in the rain. Hahaha. Nothing too crayz happened this week until this weekend but I do want to tell you about a few things. So on Wednesday we were on our way to visit a less active member and stopping everybody we saw. Well I saw this man with a HUGE yellow ponytial and I had the thought right away not to stop him because he looked different. Well I stopped him anyways. He told us he didnt have any interest at first but I just kept talking with him like a friend. Somehow we got a 30 min intro lesson with him on the following friday. Well after stuffing my face in and having an epic district meeting, we took the coolest district picture, we met him, his name is Suzuki. He came and we started teaching him abou true happiness. Well I had the urge to ask about his belief in God. Sometimes we need to do that in every lesson because if they dont belive in God, teacing something else is really dumb. Anywho, the lesson turned out to be like 1 hour and 15 min. long because of Suzuki's guestions. It was great. He has got so much interest. He also came to church. I had to give him one of my shirts and ties but that was no problem. He showed up 30 min early and stayed until about 3:30. It was great. There was a member there that just clicked with him super well. In sunday school he took notes and everything. It was amazing. He is so prepared. We had anohter lesson with him yesterday and he was just asking amazing questions. His book of mormon was all marked up too. He is great.
After his lesson on friday night, for my hump day, I burned a shirt and a tie. It was fun but a bit difficult to get it started because it was windy and rainy outside. But I did it.
Saturday morning we had transfer calls. I am super nervous about this one. My comp went to a place called Urawa, Saitama and I am staying in good ol' Yamate. My new compainon is Elder Fujinaka. He is a Japanese from southern Japan. He came to Japan with me. He is super nice. I am companions with him for only 3 days though because I am getting a new companion on Wednesday. But I dont know who his name is or anything about him. Thats because he hasnt come to Japan yet.
Yup, you guessed it. I am becoming a TRAINER. I get a brand new missionary. I am super NERVOUS. I dont knw what I am going to do. I hope that I get a really cool one. I really miss my last comp. I really loved him a lot. We were great together. We were brothers not companions. If you can tell my brothers about this one. I could really use some advice. I have to teach this guy how to do everything. It is a huge resposibility. I hope I can please the Lord in this calling and be worthy enough to do this. I am way nervous. My japanese aint that great. I am going to need so many prayers.
Sunday was pretty interesting too. Suzuki came but so did a new guy. He was AMAZING!!!!! He isnt a member but from Malaysia. He had so many questions like where did I live before earth? Is God a person? Where do I go after I die? We talked for about 45 min about how he came to learn aobut God and Jesus Christ and how he is confused aobut it. We also talked about some Kanji things and the differences between some of them and stuff. It is super cool. For example, 船. This means Fune in japanese or ship in english. But the first kanji before the box means boat. The character above the box means 8. and the box means mouth. So think about that for a moment. A boat with 8 mouths. Noahs ark had 8 people on it. Its pretty cool stuff I think. But he told me to call him this week because he really wants to meet and talk. And I really want to meet him and talk with him too. He is super cool. Sunday both our baptisms got the Holy Ghost and it was awesome. The ward threw them a party after chruch. A welcome party. It was great.
So that has been pretty much my week. I am way nervous aobut this upcoming transfer but super excited also. I have a feeling it is going to be expensive also. I hope I can make a great relationship with him and work hard but have fun at the same time. I really want to have fun. Yesterday it was 12 March which means I have less than 11 months to go. That is weird. Time is going by so fast. I finished Alma in Japanese. It was way hard and took me 2 transfers. I should finish the BOM in Japanese in 1 or 2 transfers. Then I will start my study in Japanese. It is going to be way difficult. But I really want to try it. I think my Japanese will get a lot better. There is a book I want ot buy to study more japanese but it costs 70 bucks. Its way expensive. I am tryin to mouche it off a dying missionary.
All in all, I am in good health and livin. Japan is starting to warm up and the Cherry Blossom thing is right around the cornere. I am excited for that. Mothers day is also right around the corner. Like 1.5months away. General conference is right around the corner too. I am way excited. It is going to be a fast transfer I feel. I love you with all my heart. I hope that you have a great time in Florida. Cant wait to hear from ya until next week. Until then, God be with you always. . .
So to celebrate my one year mark I had district meeting. But we also had a District Lunch and went and got all you can eat Yakiniku. It was super good. I think I ate the most out of everyone again and like usual but whatever. I had about 7 plates of meat stacked high. I am a true VAN DE GRAAFF!!!! It was a pretty fun time and I really enjoied myself. So a new suit here is about like 15000 yen. That converts into about 185 bucks. But I bet I can find one for cheaper. So you send what you think is right. Just remember that Japan is a much more expensive country than America. Things are going to be more expensive. Even the cheap things in America are going to be more expensive here. It is the way of life. But I really appreciate it a lot and could really use it.
So this week was a two way week again it sucked but at the same time it was a good week and I am glad it is over. The thing that sucked about it was it was raining all week. The sun didnt shine during the day once. That alwys makes things hard on an ARIZONA boy. My comp cursed me I think. I had a goal of getting up at 5:50 AM evyer morning and going running and he siad even in the rain, and guess what, every morning it rained. But I kept my word and I went running every morning at 5:50 even in the rain. Hahaha. Nothing too crayz happened this week until this weekend but I do want to tell you about a few things. So on Wednesday we were on our way to visit a less active member and stopping everybody we saw. Well I saw this man with a HUGE yellow ponytial and I had the thought right away not to stop him because he looked different. Well I stopped him anyways. He told us he didnt have any interest at first but I just kept talking with him like a friend. Somehow we got a 30 min intro lesson with him on the following friday. Well after stuffing my face in and having an epic district meeting, we took the coolest district picture, we met him, his name is Suzuki. He came and we started teaching him abou true happiness. Well I had the urge to ask about his belief in God. Sometimes we need to do that in every lesson because if they dont belive in God, teacing something else is really dumb. Anywho, the lesson turned out to be like 1 hour and 15 min. long because of Suzuki's guestions. It was great. He has got so much interest. He also came to church. I had to give him one of my shirts and ties but that was no problem. He showed up 30 min early and stayed until about 3:30. It was great. There was a member there that just clicked with him super well. In sunday school he took notes and everything. It was amazing. He is so prepared. We had anohter lesson with him yesterday and he was just asking amazing questions. His book of mormon was all marked up too. He is great.
After his lesson on friday night, for my hump day, I burned a shirt and a tie. It was fun but a bit difficult to get it started because it was windy and rainy outside. But I did it.
Saturday morning we had transfer calls. I am super nervous about this one. My comp went to a place called Urawa, Saitama and I am staying in good ol' Yamate. My new compainon is Elder Fujinaka. He is a Japanese from southern Japan. He came to Japan with me. He is super nice. I am companions with him for only 3 days though because I am getting a new companion on Wednesday. But I dont know who his name is or anything about him. Thats because he hasnt come to Japan yet.
Yup, you guessed it. I am becoming a TRAINER. I get a brand new missionary. I am super NERVOUS. I dont knw what I am going to do. I hope that I get a really cool one. I really miss my last comp. I really loved him a lot. We were great together. We were brothers not companions. If you can tell my brothers about this one. I could really use some advice. I have to teach this guy how to do everything. It is a huge resposibility. I hope I can please the Lord in this calling and be worthy enough to do this. I am way nervous. My japanese aint that great. I am going to need so many prayers.
Sunday was pretty interesting too. Suzuki came but so did a new guy. He was AMAZING!!!!! He isnt a member but from Malaysia. He had so many questions like where did I live before earth? Is God a person? Where do I go after I die? We talked for about 45 min about how he came to learn aobut God and Jesus Christ and how he is confused aobut it. We also talked about some Kanji things and the differences between some of them and stuff. It is super cool. For example, 船. This means Fune in japanese or ship in english. But the first kanji before the box means boat. The character above the box means 8. and the box means mouth. So think about that for a moment. A boat with 8 mouths. Noahs ark had 8 people on it. Its pretty cool stuff I think. But he told me to call him this week because he really wants to meet and talk. And I really want to meet him and talk with him too. He is super cool. Sunday both our baptisms got the Holy Ghost and it was awesome. The ward threw them a party after chruch. A welcome party. It was great.
So that has been pretty much my week. I am way nervous aobut this upcoming transfer but super excited also. I have a feeling it is going to be expensive also. I hope I can make a great relationship with him and work hard but have fun at the same time. I really want to have fun. Yesterday it was 12 March which means I have less than 11 months to go. That is weird. Time is going by so fast. I finished Alma in Japanese. It was way hard and took me 2 transfers. I should finish the BOM in Japanese in 1 or 2 transfers. Then I will start my study in Japanese. It is going to be way difficult. But I really want to try it. I think my Japanese will get a lot better. There is a book I want ot buy to study more japanese but it costs 70 bucks. Its way expensive. I am tryin to mouche it off a dying missionary.
All in all, I am in good health and livin. Japan is starting to warm up and the Cherry Blossom thing is right around the cornere. I am excited for that. Mothers day is also right around the corner. Like 1.5months away. General conference is right around the corner too. I am way excited. It is going to be a fast transfer I feel. I love you with all my heart. I hope that you have a great time in Florida. Cant wait to hear from ya until next week. Until then, God be with you always. . .
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
19 March 2012
Dad was telling me that the rain was fallin but he didnt tell me about the thunder and stuff. Man i miss thunder. Here in Japan they really dont have to much. I love thunder and i will enjoi it when i get back. SOunds like the rain is a good thing over there. It is never really a good thing here. Japan doesnt really need the rain. It rains at least once a week. I am sick of the rain. I love the rain in the desert because it never happens and it is for a good cause. But like you said it is all about attitude. I think i am getting used to it. Or at least i hope so.
It is super good to hear baout your expierence in Florida. I am not going to comment all my comments because i have to many but i will say a few. I am really jealous of Bug. I hope that he really liked it. I want to go Parasailing so bad. That sounds so much fun. I bet he enjoied his time.Doing college night life and stuff like that. I bet he really liked it. It is good to hear about all the adventures that you guys had. But i will agree with you. I love doing stuff with the family alot more than just by myself. I feel bad for bug in that respect. It does suck being somewhere super fun and you are the only one there. It is like the gospel. Why go to heaven adn have eternal life alone when you can bring all your friends along for free? I like doing stuff with the family. We have the coolest family ever. I love our family so much. I miss all of you so much. Sometimes i wish i could see you more often or call you more often but i cant. I only have 10.5 months left so i think i can handle it.
So my week was pretty interesting. I had to say good bye to my last companion. It was liek saying good bye to a family member. I loved him so much. He is probably the best comp i have ever had. For the first couple of days, i really missed him. We talked, laughed, had the same interests and everything. It really was like being with family. I was paird with Elder Fujinaka for 3 days after that. It was good. Not much was said because i dont speak normal japanese. I only know church japanese. no normal stuff. so it was a bit hard but i still had fun with him. We went to china town and ya. Tuesday was pretty nerve racking. I knew that i was going to get something brand new that i didnt know the outcome to. It was like going to play a football game again. It was like you see in the movies before poepel go to war, it was quiet, everyone thinking and stuff like that. It was pretty nerve racking. On Wednesday i met my new comp. I was super excited to train. Get an american that has no clue about Japan. I get to teach him about all the cool foods and just everything that i like about Japan. SHare my excitemnt with him. THere was a elder from AZ that played Lacrosse for Hamilton that needed to be trained. I honestly htought i was going to get him. My new companion however is not American, He is not Japanese, He is not Canadian, or Mexican, or Australian, He is Taiwanese. Yup. THe only Chinses elder in Japan and i am training him. I am so scared. I dont know what to do. I dont speak Chinese or normal Japanese and he doesnt speak Englsih. He has been to japan before the mission so he know all about it, so that crushed my hopes of showing him all the cool things about Japan. But it is way cool that i get him. I think about htis calling. WHy me? I can only think of htis happeninig one time before. My 4th transfer i had a companion who trained a elder from Thailand. Same hting. But really!!! Why me? I am not very good at Japanese, i have had a super hard time on my mission, not alot of baptisms. But i htink about this calling. I am trianing a Chinese man. WHo knows after his mission he could be a big part in Chinese members. I have a huge responsiblity. I want to be the best trainer i can be. TOday he told me that he was havin a way hard time and that he wanted ot go home. Reminds me of me. THat is not what i wanted ot trian. SOmebody who is like me when i was a new missionary. I was super bad. I really hope that i can help him though. Japan is a super hard mission. He is now just seeing that. In Taiwan, there is a baptism almost every 2 weeks. I think that is what he thought a mission was going to be like. Everyone just happy to hear the gospel and willing to listen and be baptized. But Japanese are far from that. THey dont listen. If they dont want ot talk to you, they will put their hand in your face and say no. LITERALLY!! So i think that it hit him really hard that it is not like Taiwan and people are different. I really feel bad. I really am trying to love him and serve him and just train him by example. He has way good Japanese. He studied for 3 years before the mission. SO i dont need to teach him in that. I dont know though. I really need your guys help and prayers. I pray for him. He is like the main focus in my prayers. I will Endeavor to Persevere though and do my best. I really do love him. He is way cool.
His name is Elder Chen. He is 25 years old. He is a convert of 3 years. His parents are not members. SO it is going to be even hareder forhim because they wont give him advice like you guys gave me. SO if you could write him a letter showing your love for him becuase he is my brother now which means he is your son. He realy needs someone who can help him nad give him parently advice. I would really appreciate if you could write letters to him and stuff. He is a great person. I really look up to him alot. He has a super strong testimony. I can see that he wants to share it so bad.
THe rest of my week was way good We went to the temple on thursday as a zone to pray about goals and stuff. I did the session in Japanese. Oops. Worst descion ever. I didnt really understnad anything. But i was able to think alot about my goals and me being a trainer which was super good. It really reminded me of home and going to the temple with you and my brothers. I havent felt the spirit so strongly for a long time. I go almost every transfer but there is so many people that you really dont have time to think by yourself. It was a good thing and i really liked it. I stopped a Japanese mofia guy on the street. That was pretty interesting. He was super nice. Jennny took us to TGI fridays on Saturday which was a great blessin. It was raining all day and i didnt want to work in the rain. That was my first time going to TGI Fridays. I had the biggest burger i could get. It was huge.Probably Half a pound not in the Kurt Metric System. It was so good. THe best burger i have had in Japan. It was so nice of her to do that for us. SHe is an awesome member and i love her so much. On sunday our investigator, Suzuki brought his mom to church. That was really neat. Panda and Ini tuaght the Gospel Principles class and they taught really good. THat was amazing. Suzuki also commited ot be baptized on the 14 April. I know that he will make that too. He si an awesome investigator. ust goes ot show that if you work, the lord will bless.
Sorry avbout this email. It is all over the place and very hard to understand. I am way tired and so lost on what to do for Elder CHen. He told me he wanted to go home. I am super confused. I think i will have grey hair when i come home. I will just show him love and train him that way. I love you guys so very much. I hope that you cna come to Japan one day. You would love it i am positive. It is a great place even though the people are kinda closed to religion. I really need your prayers. SInce Elder Chen is already fluent in Japanese, he really just needs to be trained in how to do missionary work. I have been here in my area for 3 months already. When the transfer is over i will be here for 4.5 months. I think i will transfer, but that is a while anyways and i need to focus on now.
I love you so much. Thanks for your advice and help. YOu really are the best mom anyone could ask for. I love you so much and really do miss you. I cant wait to tak to you on mothers day. Only 1.5 months away. I am way excited. Well, i am super tired and really need a nap. I am going to need as much sleep as i can get cuz this transfer is going to be stressful, i cna feel it. I love ya lots. Oh, i did feel an earthquake on Wednesday but it said that it was from Chiba, Japan. I dont think i felt the one in Sendai. But earthquakes are super fun and i really wnat a big one. But i dont want people to die. I love you mom. Take care and know that you are always in my prayers. Stay classy. I cant wait to read from ya next week. God be with you always. I know he is.
It is super good to hear baout your expierence in Florida. I am not going to comment all my comments because i have to many but i will say a few. I am really jealous of Bug. I hope that he really liked it. I want to go Parasailing so bad. That sounds so much fun. I bet he enjoied his time.Doing college night life and stuff like that. I bet he really liked it. It is good to hear about all the adventures that you guys had. But i will agree with you. I love doing stuff with the family alot more than just by myself. I feel bad for bug in that respect. It does suck being somewhere super fun and you are the only one there. It is like the gospel. Why go to heaven adn have eternal life alone when you can bring all your friends along for free? I like doing stuff with the family. We have the coolest family ever. I love our family so much. I miss all of you so much. Sometimes i wish i could see you more often or call you more often but i cant. I only have 10.5 months left so i think i can handle it.
So my week was pretty interesting. I had to say good bye to my last companion. It was liek saying good bye to a family member. I loved him so much. He is probably the best comp i have ever had. For the first couple of days, i really missed him. We talked, laughed, had the same interests and everything. It really was like being with family. I was paird with Elder Fujinaka for 3 days after that. It was good. Not much was said because i dont speak normal japanese. I only know church japanese. no normal stuff. so it was a bit hard but i still had fun with him. We went to china town and ya. Tuesday was pretty nerve racking. I knew that i was going to get something brand new that i didnt know the outcome to. It was like going to play a football game again. It was like you see in the movies before poepel go to war, it was quiet, everyone thinking and stuff like that. It was pretty nerve racking. On Wednesday i met my new comp. I was super excited to train. Get an american that has no clue about Japan. I get to teach him about all the cool foods and just everything that i like about Japan. SHare my excitemnt with him. THere was a elder from AZ that played Lacrosse for Hamilton that needed to be trained. I honestly htought i was going to get him. My new companion however is not American, He is not Japanese, He is not Canadian, or Mexican, or Australian, He is Taiwanese. Yup. THe only Chinses elder in Japan and i am training him. I am so scared. I dont know what to do. I dont speak Chinese or normal Japanese and he doesnt speak Englsih. He has been to japan before the mission so he know all about it, so that crushed my hopes of showing him all the cool things about Japan. But it is way cool that i get him. I think about htis calling. WHy me? I can only think of htis happeninig one time before. My 4th transfer i had a companion who trained a elder from Thailand. Same hting. But really!!! Why me? I am not very good at Japanese, i have had a super hard time on my mission, not alot of baptisms. But i htink about this calling. I am trianing a Chinese man. WHo knows after his mission he could be a big part in Chinese members. I have a huge responsiblity. I want to be the best trainer i can be. TOday he told me that he was havin a way hard time and that he wanted ot go home. Reminds me of me. THat is not what i wanted ot trian. SOmebody who is like me when i was a new missionary. I was super bad. I really hope that i can help him though. Japan is a super hard mission. He is now just seeing that. In Taiwan, there is a baptism almost every 2 weeks. I think that is what he thought a mission was going to be like. Everyone just happy to hear the gospel and willing to listen and be baptized. But Japanese are far from that. THey dont listen. If they dont want ot talk to you, they will put their hand in your face and say no. LITERALLY!! So i think that it hit him really hard that it is not like Taiwan and people are different. I really feel bad. I really am trying to love him and serve him and just train him by example. He has way good Japanese. He studied for 3 years before the mission. SO i dont need to teach him in that. I dont know though. I really need your guys help and prayers. I pray for him. He is like the main focus in my prayers. I will Endeavor to Persevere though and do my best. I really do love him. He is way cool.
His name is Elder Chen. He is 25 years old. He is a convert of 3 years. His parents are not members. SO it is going to be even hareder forhim because they wont give him advice like you guys gave me. SO if you could write him a letter showing your love for him becuase he is my brother now which means he is your son. He realy needs someone who can help him nad give him parently advice. I would really appreciate if you could write letters to him and stuff. He is a great person. I really look up to him alot. He has a super strong testimony. I can see that he wants to share it so bad.
THe rest of my week was way good We went to the temple on thursday as a zone to pray about goals and stuff. I did the session in Japanese. Oops. Worst descion ever. I didnt really understnad anything. But i was able to think alot about my goals and me being a trainer which was super good. It really reminded me of home and going to the temple with you and my brothers. I havent felt the spirit so strongly for a long time. I go almost every transfer but there is so many people that you really dont have time to think by yourself. It was a good thing and i really liked it. I stopped a Japanese mofia guy on the street. That was pretty interesting. He was super nice. Jennny took us to TGI fridays on Saturday which was a great blessin. It was raining all day and i didnt want to work in the rain. That was my first time going to TGI Fridays. I had the biggest burger i could get. It was huge.Probably Half a pound not in the Kurt Metric System. It was so good. THe best burger i have had in Japan. It was so nice of her to do that for us. SHe is an awesome member and i love her so much. On sunday our investigator, Suzuki brought his mom to church. That was really neat. Panda and Ini tuaght the Gospel Principles class and they taught really good. THat was amazing. Suzuki also commited ot be baptized on the 14 April. I know that he will make that too. He si an awesome investigator. ust goes ot show that if you work, the lord will bless.
Sorry avbout this email. It is all over the place and very hard to understand. I am way tired and so lost on what to do for Elder CHen. He told me he wanted to go home. I am super confused. I think i will have grey hair when i come home. I will just show him love and train him that way. I love you guys so very much. I hope that you cna come to Japan one day. You would love it i am positive. It is a great place even though the people are kinda closed to religion. I really need your prayers. SInce Elder Chen is already fluent in Japanese, he really just needs to be trained in how to do missionary work. I have been here in my area for 3 months already. When the transfer is over i will be here for 4.5 months. I think i will transfer, but that is a while anyways and i need to focus on now.
I love you so much. Thanks for your advice and help. YOu really are the best mom anyone could ask for. I love you so much and really do miss you. I cant wait to tak to you on mothers day. Only 1.5 months away. I am way excited. Well, i am super tired and really need a nap. I am going to need as much sleep as i can get cuz this transfer is going to be stressful, i cna feel it. I love ya lots. Oh, i did feel an earthquake on Wednesday but it said that it was from Chiba, Japan. I dont think i felt the one in Sendai. But earthquakes are super fun and i really wnat a big one. But i dont want people to die. I love you mom. Take care and know that you are always in my prayers. Stay classy. I cant wait to read from ya next week. God be with you always. I know he is.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
06 march 2012
Sorry I was unable to get into my email! here is elder kurts email for the past week :)
SO i will answer your questions right now i quess. Yes! I do know Jenny Sato. She is AWESOME. She is in my ward right now actually. She lives maybe like 15 min away. She is actually chinese but is fluent in English. I think she is alot like you. SHe is really funny and awesome. You should talk to her sometimes. YOu will also find pictures of me on her facebook becasue everytime we go to her house for dinner, she always takes pictures.
So now i will tell you about the BIGGEST news in any email that i have ever sent home. On Sunday afternoon, at 1:30pm after church, me and my companion were able to bring 2 people into the waters of baptisms. So both of our investigators got baptized. Panda and Ini. It was awesome. Elder Crowther actually didnt baptize someone. I felt really bad for him while i was sitting on the stand next to Panda. I felt really bad. I baptized Panda and Ini was baptized by my freind from Narita. It was amazing. My first baptism in Japan. I will tell you the story of this week and then the baptisms.
So last Wednesday, we got up and it was snowing. And it snowed until like 3 in the afternoon. It sucked so bad. It was so cold. BUt i still went running. THere was no way that was going to hold me down. But at 3 we had an interview with Ini so she could get baptized. On the way there, i slipped on some metal in the snow and cut my knee. It was pretty deep and it is killing me right now. I jsut have been putting bandaids on it. It was pretty deep and the skin got bundled up so the scar is goign to look really cool. Well, Ini of course passed her interview with flying colors. So that was really cool.
Thursday night we had Panda's interview. I was a bit nervous with this one becasue he has a girlfriend and might of had a problem with the Law of Chastity. Well, he was doing well until the Law of Chastity. THe interviewer asked if he had felt forgiven of his sins and he said not really. That lead to asking why. Panda said becasue he felt he was too lazy and that was a sin. He is amazing. He also siad that he awas really close to his girlfreind. THat scared me a bit But in the end he said that their relationship has gotten stronger and he sees her more as a daughter of God now than ever before. That was the kicker. He passed. It was great day.
Friday was a swell day as well. We took a guy and did a church tour and he siad that he wanted to be baptized. He was a self referral. SO that was cool. We still have to set up a time to meet with him again. Friday night we went to Jennys house with Ini and the Ward mission leader for dinner. It was way BOMB. THe food was great and we just had a blast all night long. I havent had a night like that in a long time. FUn times. GOod pictures too.
Saturday was a good day too. We went to lunch with a investigator that we had to drop becasue he is advoiding us. I didnt like that but he is still my friend. We then cooked dinner with Panda and His girlfreind. Or should i say they cook us dinner. It was way good. Chinese food cooked by chinese peopel. DOesnt get better than that. We then had a lesson with Lili pandas girlfreind. We set a date with her for the 7 April. She is way solid i feel. That was a way fun night too.
Sunday was the baptisms. We sung Sunshine in my soul for opening him. THen had introductions, then a spiritual message and then the baptisms. Ini was first and i got to see it. It was way good. I then went and did Panda. Let me tell you about Panda. He is about 6'3" and weighs probably like 210lbs. He is a big boy. Well i did it in English because that is waht he wanted adn then i dunked him. But his knee came up out of the water so i had to do it again. The 2nd time it was really hard to bring him up. But i did it. It was great. I am so grateful. THank you for your prayers and everything. If you want to find them on facebook you can. for Ini. Its Yini Wu, and panda its Chan Tat Lok. THey are way cool pepole and my forever friends. I love them both. THeir conformations are next week. Elder Crowther is confirmiring panda. Its going to be great. I am way excited. If i stay in this area i cna go to the temple and do baptisms with the both fo them. That would be really fun.
Yesterday SUCKED!!! But i was happy. It was raining all day long. We went and visited a member since she had the flu and wasnt at church. We had a flower and everything for her. Well she wasnt home. So we went to go visit the other member who wasnt at church. So we walked in the rain to go visit them only to find out after a 1 hour walk in the rain that they are in Canada. That sucked. So we decided to go housing because streeting is horrible in the rain and i was looking forward ot housing. Well we got kicked out of the first apartment complex. So we went and did another complex right down the street and got kicked out of that one as well. Talk about our Luck right. IT was horrible. haha. It was raining, members were not home, got kicked out of apartments, and this whole time we have a flower. SO we deciede to go get a snack in china town. I got a mango. I was munchin down on this thing on a busy intersection. Well everybody was laughing at me and someone even took a picture. But i dont care. I was enjoing that mango because i had a hard day. I thought that was pretty funny. But i was haapy i had a good attitude through the day. It really makes a difference. It is super hard to have a good attitude when it rains. I hate the rain here. But it was good day.
TOday i went to the Temple and did a session. That was super good. I love the tmeple so much. It is one of my favorite places next to Mt. Graham. But we went at got all you can eat pizza (tabehodai) and some music that i used to listen to came on. That wasnt healthy. It kinda got me wanting to come home but i read some scriptures on the train ride home and i think i am ok now. President said that i should be ready for next treansfer. I think something really big is going to be happening. One of 2 things can happen. I can either go Zone Leader or i can Train. I dont know which one i am doin. Next tuesday you will find out. BUt i am for sure getting a new companion. I am going to miss Elder Crowther. I like him. I wil for sure hang with him after the mission.
WEll i love you all so much. I hope that everything is good at home. Please pray for me. I really could use them. I love you all. Sorry this isnt the best email ever but i am on short time. SO i got the main things that you need to hear. If i have more time later i will drop a few more lines. But for now this will suffice. I love yya all. I pray for ya everyday. God be with you always!!!!!
SO i will answer your questions right now i quess. Yes! I do know Jenny Sato. She is AWESOME. She is in my ward right now actually. She lives maybe like 15 min away. She is actually chinese but is fluent in English. I think she is alot like you. SHe is really funny and awesome. You should talk to her sometimes. YOu will also find pictures of me on her facebook becasue everytime we go to her house for dinner, she always takes pictures.
So now i will tell you about the BIGGEST news in any email that i have ever sent home. On Sunday afternoon, at 1:30pm after church, me and my companion were able to bring 2 people into the waters of baptisms. So both of our investigators got baptized. Panda and Ini. It was awesome. Elder Crowther actually didnt baptize someone. I felt really bad for him while i was sitting on the stand next to Panda. I felt really bad. I baptized Panda and Ini was baptized by my freind from Narita. It was amazing. My first baptism in Japan. I will tell you the story of this week and then the baptisms.
So last Wednesday, we got up and it was snowing. And it snowed until like 3 in the afternoon. It sucked so bad. It was so cold. BUt i still went running. THere was no way that was going to hold me down. But at 3 we had an interview with Ini so she could get baptized. On the way there, i slipped on some metal in the snow and cut my knee. It was pretty deep and it is killing me right now. I jsut have been putting bandaids on it. It was pretty deep and the skin got bundled up so the scar is goign to look really cool. Well, Ini of course passed her interview with flying colors. So that was really cool.
Thursday night we had Panda's interview. I was a bit nervous with this one becasue he has a girlfriend and might of had a problem with the Law of Chastity. Well, he was doing well until the Law of Chastity. THe interviewer asked if he had felt forgiven of his sins and he said not really. That lead to asking why. Panda said becasue he felt he was too lazy and that was a sin. He is amazing. He also siad that he awas really close to his girlfreind. THat scared me a bit But in the end he said that their relationship has gotten stronger and he sees her more as a daughter of God now than ever before. That was the kicker. He passed. It was great day.
Friday was a swell day as well. We took a guy and did a church tour and he siad that he wanted to be baptized. He was a self referral. SO that was cool. We still have to set up a time to meet with him again. Friday night we went to Jennys house with Ini and the Ward mission leader for dinner. It was way BOMB. THe food was great and we just had a blast all night long. I havent had a night like that in a long time. FUn times. GOod pictures too.
Saturday was a good day too. We went to lunch with a investigator that we had to drop becasue he is advoiding us. I didnt like that but he is still my friend. We then cooked dinner with Panda and His girlfreind. Or should i say they cook us dinner. It was way good. Chinese food cooked by chinese peopel. DOesnt get better than that. We then had a lesson with Lili pandas girlfreind. We set a date with her for the 7 April. She is way solid i feel. That was a way fun night too.
Sunday was the baptisms. We sung Sunshine in my soul for opening him. THen had introductions, then a spiritual message and then the baptisms. Ini was first and i got to see it. It was way good. I then went and did Panda. Let me tell you about Panda. He is about 6'3" and weighs probably like 210lbs. He is a big boy. Well i did it in English because that is waht he wanted adn then i dunked him. But his knee came up out of the water so i had to do it again. The 2nd time it was really hard to bring him up. But i did it. It was great. I am so grateful. THank you for your prayers and everything. If you want to find them on facebook you can. for Ini. Its Yini Wu, and panda its Chan Tat Lok. THey are way cool pepole and my forever friends. I love them both. THeir conformations are next week. Elder Crowther is confirmiring panda. Its going to be great. I am way excited. If i stay in this area i cna go to the temple and do baptisms with the both fo them. That would be really fun.
Yesterday SUCKED!!! But i was happy. It was raining all day long. We went and visited a member since she had the flu and wasnt at church. We had a flower and everything for her. Well she wasnt home. So we went to go visit the other member who wasnt at church. So we walked in the rain to go visit them only to find out after a 1 hour walk in the rain that they are in Canada. That sucked. So we decided to go housing because streeting is horrible in the rain and i was looking forward ot housing. Well we got kicked out of the first apartment complex. So we went and did another complex right down the street and got kicked out of that one as well. Talk about our Luck right. IT was horrible. haha. It was raining, members were not home, got kicked out of apartments, and this whole time we have a flower. SO we deciede to go get a snack in china town. I got a mango. I was munchin down on this thing on a busy intersection. Well everybody was laughing at me and someone even took a picture. But i dont care. I was enjoing that mango because i had a hard day. I thought that was pretty funny. But i was haapy i had a good attitude through the day. It really makes a difference. It is super hard to have a good attitude when it rains. I hate the rain here. But it was good day.
TOday i went to the Temple and did a session. That was super good. I love the tmeple so much. It is one of my favorite places next to Mt. Graham. But we went at got all you can eat pizza (tabehodai) and some music that i used to listen to came on. That wasnt healthy. It kinda got me wanting to come home but i read some scriptures on the train ride home and i think i am ok now. President said that i should be ready for next treansfer. I think something really big is going to be happening. One of 2 things can happen. I can either go Zone Leader or i can Train. I dont know which one i am doin. Next tuesday you will find out. BUt i am for sure getting a new companion. I am going to miss Elder Crowther. I like him. I wil for sure hang with him after the mission.
WEll i love you all so much. I hope that everything is good at home. Please pray for me. I really could use them. I love you all. Sorry this isnt the best email ever but i am on short time. SO i got the main things that you need to hear. If i have more time later i will drop a few more lines. But for now this will suffice. I love yya all. I pray for ya everyday. God be with you always!!!!!
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