OHAIYOU!!
Sunday.
Today I went to Music and the Spoken word before Relief Society. It made me miss Dad alot because it was the Fathers Day program. Then Sister Marriott of the YW General presidency spoke. It was on conversion and the role of the priesthood. In our devotional tonight, Stephen B. Allen spoke. He's the managing director of the missionary department. He was the one in charge of those old LDS Homefront Commercials. He had us watch a bunch of them and then applied each scenario to missionary work. My favorite was "when everything in and around you says "you can't", believe the part of you that says "I can." There were also alot about comparing yourselves to others. I guess that is an issue for alot of senkyosha here but for me...I guess I'm sort of just used to the rat race at Tech. After the devotional our district went to watch the Testaments in Nihongo. I didn't really understand anything...but...I think I'm making progress with the language.
Monday.
Today was sort of a normal day. Basically we have breakfast, kojin benkyo, Nihongo kasura, teach our kyudosha, lunch, gym, gengo benkyo, dinner, kasura again,and gengo benkyo. During PMG study time today though, my districtu wen into a random room and sang songs out of our new sanbikas (hymn books) that we all bought. Novices to hiragana, it didn't sound so great, but we are getting the hang of it.
Tuesday.
This morning was awesome. We have gym in the mornings on Tuesdays and all sorts of benkyo (study) time. So we get to sleep in til 6:30 and get a sack breakfast. After I realized how much I have not improved at volleyball since highschool, Christiansen-shimai (C Swags shimai) and I went to the soccer fields. Utah is so gorgeous. It is surrounded by mountains and the fields are rightnext to the Provo temple at the base of the canyon.
Wednesday.
I'm in Alma right now in my BOM study. Mom is right. So many wars. I'm still loving my district. During gengo bukyo today, the shimatachi and I all played jeopardy with Nihongo stuff. I got a new kyudosha today. Her name is Komeda-san. She's a 60 yr old Japanese lady. So kawaii des! (It's so cute!) I'm excited for tomorrow. We have service in the morning which means we don't have to be dressed til lunch....so sleeping in til 6:30 it is! I'm pumped!
Thursday.
Okay so I got your letters this week. They were all very exciting. Thanks for writing everyday. I wont get these in Nihon so they are super fun to get now.
Today we had this lesson with one of the sensei's who's' over the Korean and Nihongo districts. It was amazing. We were told not to use SYL (Speak your language) but to just tell our partner about the Sukui no Keikaku (Plan of Salvation). We did it 3 different times...by the end everyone was crying...it's just weird to think that some people don't have this message of happiness in their lives...like what is it like to truly feel that you have no purpose? If there is one thing I want to leave in the heart of every investigator I teach...its that God loves them. That there is someone to turn to when it feels like no one cares. I think every one deserves that message in their lives.
As for the MTC food. Something about it gives me gas. I don't understand it. I've lost like 7 lbs since I've been here...not much...but better than gaining I guess. Oh and for Sunday. I'm not sure if its the Mission President broadcast. We've been told its called the "Every Member a Missionary" Broadcast. Thomas S. Monson is speaking so...should be quite epic.
Friday.
Got my package. Is Davis jealous that you sent me red vines?
Today we taught our kyudosha Komeda-san again. If you wanna know how the Japanese is going...well I was teaching Plan of Salvation and I was trying to tell her that the Celestial Kingdom is like the sun etc.... Well my kyudosha wondered why she would want to go there. I was confused and then she said "Hatsuy ne? Kowaii desu" Which means "It is too hot there! That's scary" I don't know. I guess she though the sun would burn her. It was kind of funny. I couldn't help laughing.
In response to your many letters...I am so grateful for such an awesome family (kazoku) that writes me all the time! I'm glad the shimatachi in your ward aren't frumpy. It doesnt really surprise me. This place has turned into a fashion show. We have constant lectures on modesty because people keep pushing it. Anyways. I super appreciate Grandpa and Mamaw writing me. You know who else writes me ALL THE TIME besides Andrew?? Erica. Never fail. She sends me letters, dear elders, multiple emails. What a great friend huh??
Oh I almost forgot! A giant congratulations to the Miami Heat! Here's to being a fan during the good and bad times! Feels good to root for a winning team though!
I'm going to the temple today. We are gonna do sealings so I'm pretty stoked.
Anyways. I gotta go! AI SHITTE IMAS!
Later that day......
Nihongo seems to be getting harder. But I'm learning pretty fast. Heavenly Father has blessed me so much to be able to understand languages easily.
I just got back from the temple (shinden in Nihongo). We did sealings. It was so amazing. I was one of the kids. But I want more than anything to be married in the temple. I'd always known that families were forever...but today I just realized how real that is. The sealer let Snow-shimai and I go into the celestial room afterwards. I thought about how we always say "families first forever." I started crying. Because...that is just shijitsu des. (SO TRUE.) I love you more than anything and am so grateful for eternal families.
I love you. Ai shitte imas.
-Goose
Sunday.
Today I went to Music and the Spoken word before Relief Society. It made me miss Dad alot because it was the Fathers Day program. Then Sister Marriott of the YW General presidency spoke. It was on conversion and the role of the priesthood. In our devotional tonight, Stephen B. Allen spoke. He's the managing director of the missionary department. He was the one in charge of those old LDS Homefront Commercials. He had us watch a bunch of them and then applied each scenario to missionary work. My favorite was "when everything in and around you says "you can't", believe the part of you that says "I can." There were also alot about comparing yourselves to others. I guess that is an issue for alot of senkyosha here but for me...I guess I'm sort of just used to the rat race at Tech. After the devotional our district went to watch the Testaments in Nihongo. I didn't really understand anything...but...I think I'm making progress with the language.
Monday.
Today was sort of a normal day. Basically we have breakfast, kojin benkyo, Nihongo kasura, teach our kyudosha, lunch, gym, gengo benkyo, dinner, kasura again,and gengo benkyo. During PMG study time today though, my districtu wen into a random room and sang songs out of our new sanbikas (hymn books) that we all bought. Novices to hiragana, it didn't sound so great, but we are getting the hang of it.
Tuesday.
This morning was awesome. We have gym in the mornings on Tuesdays and all sorts of benkyo (study) time. So we get to sleep in til 6:30 and get a sack breakfast. After I realized how much I have not improved at volleyball since highschool, Christiansen-shimai (C Swags shimai) and I went to the soccer fields. Utah is so gorgeous. It is surrounded by mountains and the fields are rightnext to the Provo temple at the base of the canyon.
Wednesday.
I'm in Alma right now in my BOM study. Mom is right. So many wars. I'm still loving my district. During gengo bukyo today, the shimatachi and I all played jeopardy with Nihongo stuff. I got a new kyudosha today. Her name is Komeda-san. She's a 60 yr old Japanese lady. So kawaii des! (It's so cute!) I'm excited for tomorrow. We have service in the morning which means we don't have to be dressed til lunch....so sleeping in til 6:30 it is! I'm pumped!
Thursday.
Okay so I got your letters this week. They were all very exciting. Thanks for writing everyday. I wont get these in Nihon so they are super fun to get now.
Today we had this lesson with one of the sensei's who's' over the Korean and Nihongo districts. It was amazing. We were told not to use SYL (Speak your language) but to just tell our partner about the Sukui no Keikaku (Plan of Salvation). We did it 3 different times...by the end everyone was crying...it's just weird to think that some people don't have this message of happiness in their lives...like what is it like to truly feel that you have no purpose? If there is one thing I want to leave in the heart of every investigator I teach...its that God loves them. That there is someone to turn to when it feels like no one cares. I think every one deserves that message in their lives.
As for the MTC food. Something about it gives me gas. I don't understand it. I've lost like 7 lbs since I've been here...not much...but better than gaining I guess. Oh and for Sunday. I'm not sure if its the Mission President broadcast. We've been told its called the "Every Member a Missionary" Broadcast. Thomas S. Monson is speaking so...should be quite epic.
Friday.
Got my package. Is Davis jealous that you sent me red vines?
Today we taught our kyudosha Komeda-san again. If you wanna know how the Japanese is going...well I was teaching Plan of Salvation and I was trying to tell her that the Celestial Kingdom is like the sun etc.... Well my kyudosha wondered why she would want to go there. I was confused and then she said "Hatsuy ne? Kowaii desu" Which means "It is too hot there! That's scary" I don't know. I guess she though the sun would burn her. It was kind of funny. I couldn't help laughing.
In response to your many letters...I am so grateful for such an awesome family (kazoku) that writes me all the time! I'm glad the shimatachi in your ward aren't frumpy. It doesnt really surprise me. This place has turned into a fashion show. We have constant lectures on modesty because people keep pushing it. Anyways. I super appreciate Grandpa and Mamaw writing me. You know who else writes me ALL THE TIME besides Andrew?? Erica. Never fail. She sends me letters, dear elders, multiple emails. What a great friend huh??
Oh I almost forgot! A giant congratulations to the Miami Heat! Here's to being a fan during the good and bad times! Feels good to root for a winning team though!
I'm going to the temple today. We are gonna do sealings so I'm pretty stoked.
Anyways. I gotta go! AI SHITTE IMAS!
Later that day......
Nihongo seems to be getting harder. But I'm learning pretty fast. Heavenly Father has blessed me so much to be able to understand languages easily.
I just got back from the temple (shinden in Nihongo). We did sealings. It was so amazing. I was one of the kids. But I want more than anything to be married in the temple. I'd always known that families were forever...but today I just realized how real that is. The sealer let Snow-shimai and I go into the celestial room afterwards. I thought about how we always say "families first forever." I started crying. Because...that is just shijitsu des. (SO TRUE.) I love you more than anything and am so grateful for eternal families.
I love you. Ai shitte imas.
-Goose