25 July 2011

こんにちは！　Ｈｅｒｅ　ｗｅ　ｇｏ　ｗｅｅｋ　３　ｉｎ　Ｊａｐａｎ！　

 

Ok, so where do I start..... Let's start with Monday, because, well, that's when the last post ended.  So we did end up going to the Kumamoto Museum 「熊本博物館」 and it was awesome.  We went to their planetarium there and watched an hour long video on the Hayabusa probe.  Essentially they made a movie about the trials and tribulations of the Probe and its journey to extract materials from a nearby asteroid.  You may think I'm weird for saying this, but the music was great and the movie did a great job of making you feel for that little probe.  I have to say though, I didn't quite understand half of it, I haven't gotten so far in my Japanese Astronomy, but the visuals and the full ceiling view was awesome, a very nice experience, I highly recommend it to everyone.  You know, if you get the chance.

 

Later that day we had a meal appointment 「食事」 with the Yatsunami family.  Their son is the Ward mission leader, and, although their non-member friend couldn't attend, we had Yoshiaki (the one who got baptized Saturday) with us for the meal.  Speaking of the meal, it was some sort of pancake like thing, I'm still not entirely sure what it's called.... But in the "pancake" there was cabbage, squid, octopus, and various other vegetables and other goodies.  We ate it with Japanese mayonnaise on top mixed with okonomiyaki sauce and some sort of savory flakes.  It was super delicious and we got to take the left-overs home.  That served as our meals for the next day! 

 

Tuesday there was some sort of Leadership training, and since my companion is a trainer now, he goes to those meetings.  So I ended up having a nice exchange that day with De Freitas 長老 We ended up street contacting in the local shopping arcades, Shimotori 「しもとり」　and Kamitori 「かみとり」　I think it went really well, I was able to get several people's contact information and got to know people rather well.  It's very good that we have a college (大学)　here because we have so many young people that are just easier to talk to.  About dinner time we switched back and Clements and I had a good time contacting various members and tried to get some less active members.  We are focusing on referrals, lessons are just more fun with members there. 

 

Wednesday was interesting.  We started off by visiting the Semba family (they live up north by Yoshiaki, a good 30/40 minute bike ride up and down hills... we seem to be up there often as of late)  and Sister Semba (who is angelic with her bread/baking/and pizza!) introduced us to 3 of her friends, hopefully we'll be able to build relationships with them.  One of them is an Artist that makes various signs for houses and businesses, and apparently he used to be a boxer and was telling us about Mike Tyson and Frazier (sp).  He's a cool guy.  Oh, and did I tell you about our friend who left to go to bike to Tokyo to tell his brother that he is a son of God?  Well, His name is En, he's from China, and was baptized a little under a year ago, he's a way cool guy.  We went to go check up on him and learned that he had come back after 6 days.   Apparently the Heat and the need to constantly drink not just water, but to refuel his electrolytes ended up being more of a cost than he anticipated.  He returned with some gnarly sunburns and a great story.  He decided instead of buying a room, he would just sleep under trees, or outside of police stations.  It's worked out for the best though.  Hopefully he'll get a second chance. 

 

We also had a very nice Eikaiwa that day too, we focused on Hobbies and I got to know everyone a little bit better, and build relationships with a lot of the students there.  Almost all of our students are non-members, so it's a great way for us to meet and teach more people.  (Looking through my planner I've noticed that I've written 「食べるかなああ」　several times which basically translates to (maybe we'll eat).  It's harder to schedule that in than I had previously thought.  But it's all good, all we have to do is fry some random assorted vegetables, stir in some sort of meat and throw it on our rice and we're good.  Or sometimes our noodles, but it's whatever. 

 

Thursday we had our normal lesson with Itoh, he's "81 years old", and has been "living single for 10 years, very difficult." He also reminds me every time we are in a car together that "Japan is safest country on earth.  No terrorists."  He's a really nice guy, but his capacities just aren't what they used to be.  It's always an adventure when we have a lesson with him.  I think we've taught him how to pray about 5 times since I've been here, and 5 more before that.  Thursday is our main planning day for the next week, so that took a while,  but in the evening we had a practice lesson with the Semba family (back up north again) It was good, and she gave us an entire pizza!  Way to go Sister Semba!

 

Friday was good, we had various different lessons, including the mother of the mother of the mother of a priest in our ward.  She's 88 years old and her daughter and other friend helped us with this lesson.  It was a very nice experience, I hope she'll be able to see the blessing that the church has given to 3 generations of her children and maybe develop some interest.  Today was also our last lesson with Yoshiaki as an investigator.  We had to help him get ready for the baptism so we asked him to bring some white underwear for the baptism.  When he informed us he had none, we went to the local mall and had quite the experience buying a pair of white underwear.  3 18-19 year old males going into a mall for the sole purpose of purchasing underwear..... maybe a little odd.  But it was all good.  Also on our Friday night sports night at Church his mother attended and even participated.  I think that was the first church function she had attended.  This can mean good things. 

 

Saturday was the big day.  It started out with an English lesson up north (yes, again)  The lady had a very nice house, especially for Japan, and 3 bright yellow sports cars out front, and two other cars that apparently were too valuable to let get wet and were covered.  I don't think I've seen so many super nice cars in one place before.  She was way nice too, and her English was awesome.  But as good as that was, the afternoon was the best.  At the baptismal meeting His mother did a nice introduction of him and expressed her interest in seeing what exactly it was her son was getting in to.  All of the missionaries around the area sang 「にじが好きです」　"I like to look for rainbows" (a song about baptism) and the entire ceremony was nice. 

 

When it came time for the actual ordinance, we got into the font and realized that the water level was below our knees.  I looked over at Yoshiaki and just kind of laughed, I feel like even if I laid him flat it would be rough getting him fully immersed, much less with a broken right thumb.  We just kind of sat in the font while we filled it up some more; but by the time it was high enough we managed to get everybody settled down and it was very peaceful and nice.  His Testimony at the end was powerful, and it visibly moved his mother.  Is it bad that I'm excited that he cried a bit?  I think not. 

 

Well, that essentially brings us up to today.  We visited the castle (AWESOME) and pictures should be coming soon.  I got a very nice package from home the other day (yesterday) that I'm sure we'll still be using come time for transfers.  Also, this new camera is awesome.  Next time I'll expound a bit more on the castle.  But for now, it's time for us to go shopping for this week, and hopefully we'll have enough food this week. 

 

Always go and do cool things, and remember, you choose whether or not to be happy, so choose to be happy, because being sad sucks.

 

With all the love

エベレット長老
Elder Everett

18 July 2011

 Today the YMCA is closed, so Clements 長老　and I are e-mailing from the international center here.  We were planning on going to Kumamoto (熊本） castle today, however we have a typhoon coming in, so we figured being outside touring a castle wouldn't be the safest place....So instead Clements 長老　and I are going to go to the 熊本 museum today.  I'm excited for this one too, I really do enjoy museums and historical places much more than I used to.  I feel like I could spend a very long time in both places, just looking at the architecture and soaking in the history in those places.  This should be good.

Yoshiaki さん　is having his Baptism this Saturday!  As we were planning the バプテスマ会　（baptismal meeting) we asked him if there was anybody in the ward that he wanted to perform the baptism and the confirmation.  He chose my companion to confirm him, and decided that I should be the one to baptize him.  16 days into Japan I will baptize my first convert!  I don't even know if I can accurately express how I feel right now.  I am very proud of Yoshiaki さん　and his progression, and if at all possible, I hope that we can start teaching his Mother and brother as well.

It's really a weird feeling thinking that I've been in Japan for about 2 weeks now; sometimes it feels like it, but sometimes it feels like I just arrived.  If the MTC was a timey-wimey vortex, I don't even know what to call the mission.  Speaking of.... the washer in our apartment (yes we have a washer!) sounds like the Tardis whenever it runs, it's only a little distracting.  Oh, and as far as the apartment goes, I totally neglected to give a little run-through.  Ok, so we have 4 rooms in the apartment; one is where Clements 長老　sleeps and where we have all our clothes for the apartment.  That has a sliding wall that opens into the other room where Buckingham, De Fretas, and I sleep, which also functions as the study room for De Fretas and Buckingham 長老。　So, sleeping in Japan: we sleep on pads called ふとん　「futons」, that are just on the floor on our たたみ　「tatami」 mats.  Just outside of those rooms there is a balcony where we hang our ふとん　to air out, and have a nice little view of the next building.  Right in the middle of our apartment is our kitchen, we have two refrigerators (unique for apartments here, but necessary for the 4 living there) and a little table that we all sit around.  Along one wall we have a sink, and 2 burners for cooking, above that we have some cupboards, and below some storage space.  The kitchen is about 8' x 10' in total, including the eating space.  On the other side of the kitchen is Clements 長老　and my study room.  it's about 10' by 7' or so, and kinda stuffed with stuff.  Just across the hall from us we have the washing machine and dryer in a little room that is just big enough to fit the two, one above the other.  The shower room is one big tub and a movable shower head, and that's about it.  The restroom can fit a toilet, and maybe a person too.  We also have a little stand for all our normal hygiene needs, and it's all one person at a time, so with 4 people the morning routine can take a little longer than you would like.  

That's our apartment, it's nice and works for what we need.  

Oh man, I totally forgot to tell you the story of how I got my bicycle.  So Clements 長老　and I were going around on my 2nd day seeing if we could find a good bike for me to use (and boy have I used it)  The normal here is buying a brand called "giant" and so that was the plan.  I was trying to decide on which type and decided on one that was 42,000円　and was on my way to sign the paper for it when the guy was like "no no no, you don't want to buy that bike, you want to buy a 「trek」 bike, it's American." 

I tried to reassure him that really, I was fine (that one cost 55,000円） and I was not going to be able to pay that much.  He was like, "It's summer, we have a special sale, I'll give it to you for 47,000円" Pretty much at that point I was sold, because it really was a much nicer bike, but it was still a bit so I told him that I had just recently moved here, and that I would need money to eat, and that if I bought it for that much I wouldn't really be able to eat, but maybe if we did 4４,000円　that would be fine.  He looked at me and offered 44,500円。　Deal!  One, this was all in Japanese, so that was exciting, and two, I totally saved like $125 on that deal; and got insurance with it.  New skills I've learned in Japan, I can haggle better in Japanese than in English.

I suppose I should end this one on a little more spiritual note.  As we were studying this morning we read the doctrine of Christ and read a bit on happiness.  We decided this morning that if you want to be happy, then be happy.  It really can be as simple as that.  To do so, go serve someone around you and love them for all they do.  As you do so you will see life's little annoyances disappear as you do your best to spread a little bit of good wherever you go.

Good luck from Japan

エベレット長老

8 July 2011

[Editor's Note: Ben's departure was delayed by a couple of days because he broke his thumb on Saturday the 2nd and had to be cleared by the MTC doctor.  He was very disappointed not to be able to leave on the 4th with the others in his group, but he is in Japan now and ready to get to work!]

So, I don't really know how much time I have here, I'm sending this from the Mission Home before I go out to my first area in about.... an hour. 

So........ it's all good, I'm here in Japan now and the flight was fine.  It was interesting being on the flight, I was looking down the aisle and saw about 30 different movies going on, I just thought to myself "Huh, well, lets see what Ether has to say."  The flight wasn't bad at all, I got through most of the rest of The Book of Mormon and it was really good.  I was lucky to get a pair of seats to myself, so I got to spread out and do pretty much whatever for the 12 hours.  I met some really nice people at both airports; and I started to see exactly what kind of trust and respect people give missionaries.  There was this one girl flying to the Philippines to go back to her parents after visiting her aunt in Salt Lake, she was flying solo and got tagged as an unaccompanied minor.  Her aunt brought her over to me so that she would have at least one person on the flight that she would know so that she wouldn't be alone on her transcontinental flight.  People just trust missionaries I've found.

The extra two days was actually pretty nice. We had a devotional from Cree-L Kofford, emeritus 70. He focused on the importance of obedience and charity, and doing everything you can to have the spirit with you.  It really helped me realize that the Holy Ghost will always be a third companion here in the field and that I need to give him just as much time to testify as I do my comp.  Speaking of, my companion's name is Elder Clemments, he's from well, I forget, I haven't actually met him yet, that won't be until later today.  I got 2 new name-tags, a helmet, and a mission booklet here.  I just keep getting stuff......

It was interesting coming here, at the mission home I came just as the group of missionaries leaving today finished up the testimony meeting.  Last night was an interesting mix of 1 new missionary and about 15 missionaries finishing up, it was an odd sort of dynamic, but I'm way excited to be out serving.  My first area is called Kumomoto, we have 2 wards in the area, which is very rare here, I think it's 1 of only 2 or 3 areas that have multiple wards.  It's also the only area where we share an apartment with another set of missionaries. 

Well, the APs (assistant to the president) are waiting to interview me, and I don't want to take this computer from the secretary much longer.  Good luck everyone and remember, when you're packing to leave the country, don't go throwing exercise balls down the hallway or break your thumb on a brick wall.....

ganbatte ne (good luck) from Japan!!!

Everett 長老

Elder Benjamin Charles Everett
Japan Fukuoka MIssion
9-16 Hirao-josuimachi,
Chuo-ku,
Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka
810-0029

1 July 2011

So it is now July the first, which means that it is CANADA DAY, as my Canadian friend informed me this morning, but far more importantly, it's my last Friday update from the MTC!  It's a little sad because we didn't have the opportunity to go to the Temple this morning, but that's all right because I'M GOING TO JAPAN in 3 days.

 

So instead of having our P-day today we have this weird 'in-field orientation' thing all day long.  I'm not entirely sure what they plan on teaching us in 9.5 hours that they haven't about the mission field in the past 3 months, but maybe there'll be something there.  Our first teacher today was introducing himself, and says "I'm from a little town in Florida, none of you have heard of it, called Rockledge"  I was like, 'Wait a minute, hold up there, that's where I grew up!' at least in my head anyway.  We talked a bit afterwards, apparently he went to GEMS as well and used to hang out with the Cassidy's.... Who would have thought I would of run into somebody from Rockledge here at the MTC....The name was Christensen or ~son or however you spell it, by the way.

 

[Editor's Note: The Christensens were some of our best friends when we lived in Rockledge, but Ben was only 4 when we moved, so he doesn't remember his friend Tyler.]

 

On my last week we've done some interesting things.... most all of the classes have been almost entirely mission stories, and this week has literally flown past.  It's going to be really sad to say goodbye to all the friends I've made here, those going to Japan and those that aren't, but I am super stoked to head to the field.  The last couple of days on the hall we've had some interesting experiences.  A couple of the Kohai (younger group) found that you can use your video on your camera to simulate a first-person-shooter, and we made a short video of that.  For 10 minutes preparation, shooting, and one take, it's a pretty awesome video...one of these days I'll find out how to get it out.  Slightly more cryptically, just know that, for those of you headed to the MTC, there are many secret places here where things may or may not be hidden for one to find.  Beyond the 'narnia' holes that you are bound to find, take a while to see what depths of the MTC you might find......

 

 

I really don't know, what to say at this point.  The MTC has been great, the testimonies that I've heard from the General Authorities, the Apostles, and from all of those in my district that I get to hear every day, have been powerful and have strengthened my own.  The Gospel is an amazing thing, it changes people's lives and has been one of the greatest blessings I've had in my life.  Those of you that have been lucky enough to be a part of it, don't ever take it for granted, and those of you who have yet to experience it, give it a chance, because if there's a single thing I've learned in the past little bit, it's that being happy feels a whole lot better than not.  If you have any doubts or reservations, give it a try, that's the least you can do, and it won't hurt you at all.  Honestly, what is the worst that could happen?

 

For July 4th the MTC is having a special devotional on the 2nd, because apparently you can't do things on a Monday in Utah, and my Companion got selected to be the representitive holding the American Flag in the flag ceremony.  That and there will be bagpipers which I think made me a little more excited than being on the stands.  There's so many things that I wish I could tell you, but the time just isn't there....

 

I love all of you and wish you all the best.  Good luck in all that you do and be safe.  I'll be fleeing the country on July 4th, and won't be back for 2 years.  Good luck.

 

 

エベレット長老

24 Jun 2011

First I like to have a guest writer.  Elder Anderson is a missionary who has also had 6 years of Japanese experience.... let's see what it's like from his perspective.

 

or he'll write about whatever....

 

"I awoke at 3 AM, a cool spring morning. The wind brushed lightly against my face, while the sun painted my skin a cool golden brown. There are very few things that give me this much joy as a super action ninja TV star. Today is day 332 of filming my new action movie: Threat Level Midnight. I crawl from my tattered sleeping bag, rolling in the leaves that neighbor my humble tent. They crunch noisily under my red tennis shoes, almost crying for help. I revel in their misery. As a ninja, it's difficult for me to imagine anything but doing awesome ninja-esque moves on everything I see. The leaves are no exception. I jumped quickly into the air, twirling my body like a whirling tornado, the leaves rising into the air. I use my sweet, hot ninja legs to kick them into oblivion. I am pretty dang awesome, and even the leaves know it. They humbly return to the ground, touched by my presence. I flash a quaint grin, and continue with my day. I can't help but think to myself 'Yes, the MTC will be awesome.'"

 

In case you ever thought that I was the only one slightly off my rocker here.... I'm just a dime a dozen when it comes to the missionaries going to Japan. Well, maybe not, Elder Anderson and I are kinda different.....  Well, I don't have a whole ton of time today due to various reasons: we pretty much have all of the 12 apostles here and the first presidency because of all of the new mission presidents, so today is a special fireside at 4, and I want to be in the choir which starts at 3, which is like 5 minutes from now.

 

The temple was nice, kinda sad that it was my last time to go to the Provo Temple in 2 years, our next p-day will be almost entirely in-field orientation, so I don't actually know if I'll have time to write or not.  I do know that I will not be able to go to the Temple though.  Speaking of temples, Sonntag and a couple of other international elders went to the Salt Lake Temple today to do a session.  I was kinda jealous.  Sonntag got to go because he actually turned his papers in from Tokyo, so he counts as an international missionary. 

 

Everything here is doing pretty sweet, we've got to host new missionaries for the past 3 weeks so it's been really nice to see all of the new missionaries come and to be reminded of how I was only 10 weeks ago.  I've gotten to know everyone here very well and I am very grateful for all the opportunities I've had to change and affect the lives of those that I've met. 

 

I told you that we got new Japanese roommates right.... well, one was Korean, couldn't do Japanese only class and moved to be with our lower class and will be here for 9 weeks, the other roommate moved to another room so we lost both of our foreign roommates.  Sad day.  But it's all good, I go to Japan in 10 days.  Our flight plans are here and we get to go on a non-stop flight straight from Salt Lake to Tokyo.  So if you happen to be in Salt lake around 2:00pm on the 4th of July, look up, you might just see me fleeing the country on it's anniversary. 

 

Good luck everybody, and remember, you are all supposed to be great, so go be great

 

Elder Everett