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!!!!!!
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
26 July 2011
It is so good to read your emails and hear about your week and all the events that have taken place. thanks for keeping me updated. i love reading them and hearing your advice and such. My week suprisingly went by really fast! I am so grateful for that. ANds i enjoied it too. I loved this past week.
I am super happy for Kamas and his rank. i brag about him all the time here to other missionaries who are in the air force and such. I look up to Kamas so much. He is my bestfriend. I miss him alot. I am glad to hear about Bug and his choice to stay in football. i now coach is a retard but that is not why he should quit. i am glad that he will stick it out. just make sure that he has a positive attitude about it. It is cool to hear about where all my friends are going on there missions and such. I really want to know where Jake Packer is goign. i hope he comes here to tokyo. that would be so freaking awesome. Can you look his parents up on face book and ask them. His dads name is Lance Packer. That would be awesome! Thanks!!!
So last tuesday there was a huge typhoon and it was just pouring rain! and what did we do, we went streeting and housing. WE had no success until the last door we knocked on. it was a lady who had read the bible and she was intrested. she said she had to talk to her husband about it. but it made the day knowing that we had gotten a new investigator and maybe a family.
Wednesday was very intresting. I was really gettting on myself for constantly sending you and dad emails of how hard my mission is and that i am not enjoing it. so i got to thinking on how i could change that mind set. i pulled out one of your emails taht you sent me from my 1st transfer and noticed that you were talking about Elder Oaks talk on desires. so i read it. i came out with the desciion that i need to change my desires. so i prayfully thought about desires i can write down and work to achieve in order for me to enjoi my mission. here they are:
1) Want to do missionary work
2) Enjoi Missionary work
3)Gain Christs Love for the Japanese People
4) Japanese People Salvation
5) Learn Japanese Language
6) Patience
7) Have vision of what i can become and accomplish
8)Become the missionary God and mom want me to become and be
9) Serve with all my heart
these are the desires that i am going to make priorities to gain. i think that if i can aquire these desires, i will enjoi my mission so much more. as you can probably tell, all the desires kinda correalte to one another. if i love the japanese poeple, i will desrie their salvation and i will want to do the misisonary work to save them. that is just one exampel. so i thought that these were prettty dang good desires. i am prayer hard taht i might be reseptive to the spirtit so i can go adn do the things that i need to do to gain these. please pray that i will get the direction i need to gain these desires.
On thursday i went on spilts wiht a japanese elder named elder fukushima. he is super quite. We were in an area called Togane. Look it up on google or something. i really enjoied this day becasuse i was finally able to see some forest and some mountain. it was just an amazing day. even though there was a typhooon. like usual.
Friday i had a 3 zone conference. This is an epic day. and a super spiritual one too. I was thinking to myself about my desires and how i can accomplish them. so i was in deep thought about them. President was talking about the Spirit of Revelation. The desire i was thinking about at the time he said that was number 8. i have felt like i have not been the missionary you or God expect me to be and i dont know why. anywasys, when he saidd the Spirit of Revelation, i started thinking about it. A talk me and you had came to mind. it is about football. You told me that if i wasnt getting yelled at by the coach or getting advice from him, then i wasnt getting any better. the reason is becasuse if you arent getting yelled at, you arent on the field. if you arent on the field you arent getting reps. if you arent getting reps, you arent getting any better. I then thought about that saying but for the Lord. If the Lord isnt getting on my case or showing me my problems that i need to fix, how then can i become the missionary he wants me to be and become? It then hit me hard taht all the trials i have been going through have been revealed unto me by the Spirit of Revelation. SO then i got to thinking. well if all my trials are from the Lord and his Spirit, then i hvae had his spirit the entire time. and taht made me feel so flipping good. It made me think i have had the Spirit on my mission the whole time and that i have been successful becasue i have had his spirit. NOt only that, but if i have his spirit, i am the missionary you and God expect me to be. One who works through and listens to the spirit. I am so grateful that the Lord was able to reveal this unto me. i really am. i have been waitiung all week to tell you about this exprience. i wish i could tell you in person. it was amazing. On saturday i was reading in the Book of Mormon and 1 Corinthians. in the BOM 2 Nephi 3:5 and in 1 Corithians 4:5. The main point i got out of it was the lord brings the hidden things of darkness to light or The Spirit of Revelation. it was amazing. it really was. i am so happy i was able to learn that.
On saturday we gave a church tour to a Napal person., he said he wanted to be baptized and that he had 6 other friends that would probably want the same thing. it was awesome. I am seeing so many miracles and i am enjoing them. they really do make me happy thinking about them and how much the lord is blessing us. this week was super hard cuz all of our appointment fell through and we ahd to street and house in a typoon. no fun. but we are seeing so many miarlcles.
Sorry i am getting this email off on wednesday but monday all the libraries and stuff are closed and on tuesday we had a All mission Conference. WE got LAPTOPS!!! So we decided to wait til today to email when we had our own Laptop in our Apartment. Ya thats right. i am emailing you from a laptop in my apartment. the tokyo mission is the only mission in the world with laptops. kinda cool. they will help so much. they have skype so we can get ahold of people who live far away or cant meet with us because they work to much. I also get to skype home on Mothers Day and Christmas. YYYYYEEESSS!!!! isnt that awesome. you get to see and hear me. I get to skype you 2 a year. That is goign to be so freaking cool! my mission is so different thatn my brothers!
That is all that has happened here in Japan with me. as you can tell i am doing super good. i am happy and i am loving life. i really like my companion too. there is just a couple of things that could make life better. New music, a UKULELE, actual pictures of the family. . . you know stuff like that. I would really enjoi a ukulele. i was able to play one on thursday and descided i really wnat one. That is goign on my Christmas list. haha.
well i hope you enjoi this email over all the other ones that i have sent you. iam doing super good and cant wait to read your email next week. i love you so much mom. i look up to you so miuch. you are the best mom anyone could ask for. keep safe. i cant wait till next monday to read your email. Until then, God be with you always!!!!
Love your Son, your only Kurtiepie,
Elder Kurt Arie Van De Graaff
I am super happy for Kamas and his rank. i brag about him all the time here to other missionaries who are in the air force and such. I look up to Kamas so much. He is my bestfriend. I miss him alot. I am glad to hear about Bug and his choice to stay in football. i now coach is a retard but that is not why he should quit. i am glad that he will stick it out. just make sure that he has a positive attitude about it. It is cool to hear about where all my friends are going on there missions and such. I really want to know where Jake Packer is goign. i hope he comes here to tokyo. that would be so freaking awesome. Can you look his parents up on face book and ask them. His dads name is Lance Packer. That would be awesome! Thanks!!!
So last tuesday there was a huge typhoon and it was just pouring rain! and what did we do, we went streeting and housing. WE had no success until the last door we knocked on. it was a lady who had read the bible and she was intrested. she said she had to talk to her husband about it. but it made the day knowing that we had gotten a new investigator and maybe a family.
Wednesday was very intresting. I was really gettting on myself for constantly sending you and dad emails of how hard my mission is and that i am not enjoing it. so i got to thinking on how i could change that mind set. i pulled out one of your emails taht you sent me from my 1st transfer and noticed that you were talking about Elder Oaks talk on desires. so i read it. i came out with the desciion that i need to change my desires. so i prayfully thought about desires i can write down and work to achieve in order for me to enjoi my mission. here they are:
1) Want to do missionary work
2) Enjoi Missionary work
3)Gain Christs Love for the Japanese People
4) Japanese People Salvation
5) Learn Japanese Language
6) Patience
7) Have vision of what i can become and accomplish
8)Become the missionary God and mom want me to become and be
9) Serve with all my heart
these are the desires that i am going to make priorities to gain. i think that if i can aquire these desires, i will enjoi my mission so much more. as you can probably tell, all the desires kinda correalte to one another. if i love the japanese poeple, i will desrie their salvation and i will want to do the misisonary work to save them. that is just one exampel. so i thought that these were prettty dang good desires. i am prayer hard taht i might be reseptive to the spirtit so i can go adn do the things that i need to do to gain these. please pray that i will get the direction i need to gain these desires.
On thursday i went on spilts wiht a japanese elder named elder fukushima. he is super quite. We were in an area called Togane. Look it up on google or something. i really enjoied this day becasuse i was finally able to see some forest and some mountain. it was just an amazing day. even though there was a typhooon. like usual.
Friday i had a 3 zone conference. This is an epic day. and a super spiritual one too. I was thinking to myself about my desires and how i can accomplish them. so i was in deep thought about them. President was talking about the Spirit of Revelation. The desire i was thinking about at the time he said that was number 8. i have felt like i have not been the missionary you or God expect me to be and i dont know why. anywasys, when he saidd the Spirit of Revelation, i started thinking about it. A talk me and you had came to mind. it is about football. You told me that if i wasnt getting yelled at by the coach or getting advice from him, then i wasnt getting any better. the reason is becasuse if you arent getting yelled at, you arent on the field. if you arent on the field you arent getting reps. if you arent getting reps, you arent getting any better. I then thought about that saying but for the Lord. If the Lord isnt getting on my case or showing me my problems that i need to fix, how then can i become the missionary he wants me to be and become? It then hit me hard taht all the trials i have been going through have been revealed unto me by the Spirit of Revelation. SO then i got to thinking. well if all my trials are from the Lord and his Spirit, then i hvae had his spirit the entire time. and taht made me feel so flipping good. It made me think i have had the Spirit on my mission the whole time and that i have been successful becasue i have had his spirit. NOt only that, but if i have his spirit, i am the missionary you and God expect me to be. One who works through and listens to the spirit. I am so grateful that the Lord was able to reveal this unto me. i really am. i have been waitiung all week to tell you about this exprience. i wish i could tell you in person. it was amazing. On saturday i was reading in the Book of Mormon and 1 Corinthians. in the BOM 2 Nephi 3:5 and in 1 Corithians 4:5. The main point i got out of it was the lord brings the hidden things of darkness to light or The Spirit of Revelation. it was amazing. it really was. i am so happy i was able to learn that.
On saturday we gave a church tour to a Napal person., he said he wanted to be baptized and that he had 6 other friends that would probably want the same thing. it was awesome. I am seeing so many miracles and i am enjoing them. they really do make me happy thinking about them and how much the lord is blessing us. this week was super hard cuz all of our appointment fell through and we ahd to street and house in a typoon. no fun. but we are seeing so many miarlcles.
Sorry i am getting this email off on wednesday but monday all the libraries and stuff are closed and on tuesday we had a All mission Conference. WE got LAPTOPS!!! So we decided to wait til today to email when we had our own Laptop in our Apartment. Ya thats right. i am emailing you from a laptop in my apartment. the tokyo mission is the only mission in the world with laptops. kinda cool. they will help so much. they have skype so we can get ahold of people who live far away or cant meet with us because they work to much. I also get to skype home on Mothers Day and Christmas. YYYYYEEESSS!!!! isnt that awesome. you get to see and hear me. I get to skype you 2 a year. That is goign to be so freaking cool! my mission is so different thatn my brothers!
That is all that has happened here in Japan with me. as you can tell i am doing super good. i am happy and i am loving life. i really like my companion too. there is just a couple of things that could make life better. New music, a UKULELE, actual pictures of the family. . . you know stuff like that. I would really enjoi a ukulele. i was able to play one on thursday and descided i really wnat one. That is goign on my Christmas list. haha.
well i hope you enjoi this email over all the other ones that i have sent you. iam doing super good and cant wait to read your email next week. i love you so much mom. i look up to you so miuch. you are the best mom anyone could ask for. keep safe. i cant wait till next monday to read your email. Until then, God be with you always!!!!
Love your Son, your only Kurtiepie,
Elder Kurt Arie Van De Graaff
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
19 july 2011
I am so thrilled to hear that you had an amazing birthday! its no wonder why i have felt down this entire weekend! Man, from the sounds of it, you guys had a rocking time. i am so jealous. i want to go to mt. graham so freaking bad. i really miss that place alot. but i am gald that you had a amazing time up there and that the mountain actually opened up. that is great news to hear. im glad you enjoied the notes and stuff ffom my current bishop. he did that and i had no clue until he asked me to fill in your address but i couldnt remember it. so i just emialed it to dad and he forwarded it to you. i am stoked that you enjoied it.
so this week started off really good for me! really good! on wednesday all we did was go from appointments to appointments. super bussy! the first one we met with a kinda gator. he really inst progressing but we are trying. he has a smoking problem. we were bold and asked him for his smokes. he said no of course and told us he couldnt and didnt want to quit. he then started saying that we had never had to go thoruogh anything hard like quiting smoking. i go up and told him how i had lost wieght and that it was super hard. he couldnt believe that i could withhold myself from all teh junk food in america. he was amazed. at the end i told him that he could do it and that he really did want to quit. he siad i was right. we then asked him again for his cigarrettes and he gave them to us. and his lighter too. he commited to quit. but a day and a half later he started again and we havent been able to get ahold of him. so it was fun while it lasted.
Wednesday too we had a less active/ non member lesson. they are peruvian and the dad is a less active and the wife is nonmember. the father actually served a mission in north peru. we had a lesson with the mom. he went really good. we testified boldly about the atonement of christ. we got her thinking a lot. she is also a heavy smoker. we are seeing just bits and pieces of progress with her. nothing really special but we are trying. we meet with her everyweek.
on friday we met with a guy who has the strongest testimony ever. he wants to be baptized so bad but his wife wont let him have permission. so we talked with him about why the wife wont let him be baptized. he said because of the tithing and giving money to the church. we decided that we would fast with him on july 24 that his wifes heart will be softened. we also set a baptismal date. August 1. we are fasting that the wife will let him get baptized on that date. we are going to ask her permission on the 30 july. so please if you can fast with us that he will be able to get permission to be baptized on the 14 august. that would be graeat.
saturday was not the best day and i dont know why. we did a service project for a guy in the ward. his wife has breast cancer. he really appreciated it and so did i. it was the first time other than going to sendai that i got to do service. saturday was the longest day of my mission. it just took forever. i think cuz i was home sick. i knw it was your birthday and i was just thinking about that the entire time and how much fun i had been missing out on. it carried out to sunday as well.
yesterday i was super homesick. i just wanted ot go home so bad. i think some of the reason was was becasue we were in our apartment all day doing weekly planning. i hate being in the apartment all day. but i have gotten homesick so much the last couple of days. my japanese has tanked too. that doesnt make me feel good in the leeast. i didnt understand anything in church. so as of right now i am doing ok. i love emailing hoem and heraing about how everyone is doing. please continue to pray for me and that i waill get the desire to do missionary work. it is super hard for me. yesterday i just wanted to go back kto the mtc and finish my mission there being a missionary that works on computers and stuff like that. i dont know why i am not enjoing this work. i have had so many miracles. i dont know why. i am really praying hard that i will start finding joy. please continue to pray for me. i love you all so much. i kinda sucks to hear about curtis. i pray for him. i hope he comes around.
its good to hear about kamas. and kendi and the the rest of the family. thanks for the info on them. i dont have alot of time so i have to go now. but i sure love you more than anything. i really do wish that i could see you right now. taht would make things so much easier. My pdays have been officially moved to Monday! so i will NO LONGER have PDAY on TUESDAY!!! ON MONDAY!!! Please remember that. i cant wait to hear from you next week. i love you alot. i miss you alot too. the mission is by far the hardest thing i have done mentally. i didnt think it was goign to be this hard. i love you. keep safe and get dad in shape. God be with you always!!! i love you deeply.
Love your son, your kurtiepie.
Kurt Van De Graaff
so this week started off really good for me! really good! on wednesday all we did was go from appointments to appointments. super bussy! the first one we met with a kinda gator. he really inst progressing but we are trying. he has a smoking problem. we were bold and asked him for his smokes. he said no of course and told us he couldnt and didnt want to quit. he then started saying that we had never had to go thoruogh anything hard like quiting smoking. i go up and told him how i had lost wieght and that it was super hard. he couldnt believe that i could withhold myself from all teh junk food in america. he was amazed. at the end i told him that he could do it and that he really did want to quit. he siad i was right. we then asked him again for his cigarrettes and he gave them to us. and his lighter too. he commited to quit. but a day and a half later he started again and we havent been able to get ahold of him. so it was fun while it lasted.
Wednesday too we had a less active/ non member lesson. they are peruvian and the dad is a less active and the wife is nonmember. the father actually served a mission in north peru. we had a lesson with the mom. he went really good. we testified boldly about the atonement of christ. we got her thinking a lot. she is also a heavy smoker. we are seeing just bits and pieces of progress with her. nothing really special but we are trying. we meet with her everyweek.
on friday we met with a guy who has the strongest testimony ever. he wants to be baptized so bad but his wife wont let him have permission. so we talked with him about why the wife wont let him be baptized. he said because of the tithing and giving money to the church. we decided that we would fast with him on july 24 that his wifes heart will be softened. we also set a baptismal date. August 1. we are fasting that the wife will let him get baptized on that date. we are going to ask her permission on the 30 july. so please if you can fast with us that he will be able to get permission to be baptized on the 14 august. that would be graeat.
saturday was not the best day and i dont know why. we did a service project for a guy in the ward. his wife has breast cancer. he really appreciated it and so did i. it was the first time other than going to sendai that i got to do service. saturday was the longest day of my mission. it just took forever. i think cuz i was home sick. i knw it was your birthday and i was just thinking about that the entire time and how much fun i had been missing out on. it carried out to sunday as well.
yesterday i was super homesick. i just wanted ot go home so bad. i think some of the reason was was becasue we were in our apartment all day doing weekly planning. i hate being in the apartment all day. but i have gotten homesick so much the last couple of days. my japanese has tanked too. that doesnt make me feel good in the leeast. i didnt understand anything in church. so as of right now i am doing ok. i love emailing hoem and heraing about how everyone is doing. please continue to pray for me and that i waill get the desire to do missionary work. it is super hard for me. yesterday i just wanted to go back kto the mtc and finish my mission there being a missionary that works on computers and stuff like that. i dont know why i am not enjoing this work. i have had so many miracles. i dont know why. i am really praying hard that i will start finding joy. please continue to pray for me. i love you all so much. i kinda sucks to hear about curtis. i pray for him. i hope he comes around.
its good to hear about kamas. and kendi and the the rest of the family. thanks for the info on them. i dont have alot of time so i have to go now. but i sure love you more than anything. i really do wish that i could see you right now. taht would make things so much easier. My pdays have been officially moved to Monday! so i will NO LONGER have PDAY on TUESDAY!!! ON MONDAY!!! Please remember that. i cant wait to hear from you next week. i love you alot. i miss you alot too. the mission is by far the hardest thing i have done mentally. i didnt think it was goign to be this hard. i love you. keep safe and get dad in shape. God be with you always!!! i love you deeply.
Love your son, your kurtiepie.
Kurt Van De Graaff
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
12 july 2011
got your letter last night. it took 10 days for the letter to get to me. that is just ridiculous. thanks for the money, card, letteer, and beehive. i havent seen american money in over a month. it looked wierd and different but i really liked it. i am goign to try to get onto the military base here and spend it there and get some cheap good food. or at least that is what i am planning on doing. Yes i want you to upload my photos onto facebook.
thanks for the card. you didnt delete any of the pics tho. no biggy. i deleted them. but for future prefence. i want the card clean of pics when i get it back. i will be sending you another card today with your birthday card. it wont get to you on your birthday cuz i had to wait for my other card but i think you will like it. Happy Birthday.
So, this week nothing really special happend. I went out and housed and streeted alot. i also went to the dentist 2. my perminate retainer broke last monday so i had to get it fixed asap. President Albrecht set up the appointment and paid for it too. what an awesome guy. the dentist was a days trip away from where i lived tho so. it took up 2 days. Other than that nothing really amazing happened. I did feel and earthquake on sunday though. it was a 7.1. it was the first time i have felt an earthquake here in Japan. That was pretty fun. it didnt shake the building. it just raddled the windows. i didnt think it was a big one. it didnt feel like a big one but it was. OH, last night i had Costco Pizza!!! I love their pizza. not only that but pizza here sucks. but costco makes their pizza the same way the american costco does. it was so freaking good. i loved it. i had to watch how much i ate though. i was at a members house and they have 7 kids. so i had to control myself. but i wanted to eat it all. It was Supreme Pizza my favorite kind of pizza. SO GOOD!!
the language seems to be coming along a lot better than it did in my first area. i dont know why either. since my comp is a ZL i dont have time to study the language at all. but i ask tons of questions about what he says and what meanings are and things like that. I think i ask more questions than in my 1 area. Also i think the lord is blesssing me cuz he knows the intent of my heart. that always help. so i have good intentions all the time. haha. I dont like having a ZL comp. it is so difficult. some days i dont get study, food, or excersice all in the same day. it sucks so bad. i was telling dad about it but it should be a fun challenge and help me become a better missionary. Read my Patriartical Blessing and you will know what i am talking about. i am sure i have alot to learn from him. that's what i think. good leadership training.
I love you so much. i am sorry that my card to you wont get there probably until the end of Next week. but i am sending one to you. I love you and hope that you enjoi it. i think you will. I hope that you had a fun time up in seattle with your sisiters. What all did you guys do? dad was saying you hav ebeen away from home more than you have been at home this summer. i say you deserve it because all of the service you have given to other people. YOu are the best mom. i sure love you alot. I wish paul would of bought tickets for you guys to come to tokyo instead of seattle. that would of been so much more fun. and you might of been able to see me haha. but i hope you had a good time and that all was wellI love you so much mom. I am grateful for everything that you do for me. you are such a great example to me. i really look up to everything you do. i cant wait to see you and the rest of the family again. only less than 600 days. i was thinking today. Hey its july. My family goies to MT. Graham in July. and then i was like Dang it. I love Mt. Graham so much. i miss it alot. it is by far my favorite place in the world. it is so beautiful. i cant wait to go back and enjoi it. its something i am looking forward to alot.
Anyways. i hope you like this email and enjoi your week. i am looking forward to a great and happy week. thats what i wnat it to be. i cant wait til next week when i get to read an email from you. but until then, God Be With You always!!!!
Love YOur Son,
Elder Kurt Van De Graaff
thanks for the card. you didnt delete any of the pics tho. no biggy. i deleted them. but for future prefence. i want the card clean of pics when i get it back. i will be sending you another card today with your birthday card. it wont get to you on your birthday cuz i had to wait for my other card but i think you will like it. Happy Birthday.
So, this week nothing really special happend. I went out and housed and streeted alot. i also went to the dentist 2. my perminate retainer broke last monday so i had to get it fixed asap. President Albrecht set up the appointment and paid for it too. what an awesome guy. the dentist was a days trip away from where i lived tho so. it took up 2 days. Other than that nothing really amazing happened. I did feel and earthquake on sunday though. it was a 7.1. it was the first time i have felt an earthquake here in Japan. That was pretty fun. it didnt shake the building. it just raddled the windows. i didnt think it was a big one. it didnt feel like a big one but it was. OH, last night i had Costco Pizza!!! I love their pizza. not only that but pizza here sucks. but costco makes their pizza the same way the american costco does. it was so freaking good. i loved it. i had to watch how much i ate though. i was at a members house and they have 7 kids. so i had to control myself. but i wanted to eat it all. It was Supreme Pizza my favorite kind of pizza. SO GOOD!!
the language seems to be coming along a lot better than it did in my first area. i dont know why either. since my comp is a ZL i dont have time to study the language at all. but i ask tons of questions about what he says and what meanings are and things like that. I think i ask more questions than in my 1 area. Also i think the lord is blesssing me cuz he knows the intent of my heart. that always help. so i have good intentions all the time. haha. I dont like having a ZL comp. it is so difficult. some days i dont get study, food, or excersice all in the same day. it sucks so bad. i was telling dad about it but it should be a fun challenge and help me become a better missionary. Read my Patriartical Blessing and you will know what i am talking about. i am sure i have alot to learn from him. that's what i think. good leadership training.
I love you so much. i am sorry that my card to you wont get there probably until the end of Next week. but i am sending one to you. I love you and hope that you enjoi it. i think you will. I hope that you had a fun time up in seattle with your sisiters. What all did you guys do? dad was saying you hav ebeen away from home more than you have been at home this summer. i say you deserve it because all of the service you have given to other people. YOu are the best mom. i sure love you alot. I wish paul would of bought tickets for you guys to come to tokyo instead of seattle. that would of been so much more fun. and you might of been able to see me haha. but i hope you had a good time and that all was wellI love you so much mom. I am grateful for everything that you do for me. you are such a great example to me. i really look up to everything you do. i cant wait to see you and the rest of the family again. only less than 600 days. i was thinking today. Hey its july. My family goies to MT. Graham in July. and then i was like Dang it. I love Mt. Graham so much. i miss it alot. it is by far my favorite place in the world. it is so beautiful. i cant wait to go back and enjoi it. its something i am looking forward to alot.
Anyways. i hope you like this email and enjoi your week. i am looking forward to a great and happy week. thats what i wnat it to be. i cant wait til next week when i get to read an email from you. but until then, God Be With You always!!!!
Love YOur Son,
Elder Kurt Van De Graaff
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