Crowd of people? Carrying your bike? Just lift it over all of their heads #MuricaPerk #ImHuge ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... I don't always ask for directions on the train, but when I do, I end that conversation talking about God #Missionaried ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Biking for twenty minutes to buy chicken and beef for dirt cheap? Worth it!! #NoRoomInOurFreezerAnyMore ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... We just made Raspberry Jam from Scratch, put the hot stuff that wouldn't fit in the jar onto ice-cream and ate it all ... Love ... my ... life ... #FatKid ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... I don't always lead us around Tokyo but when I do ... we're early #LikeABoss ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Alright iPad, you think you can fix my spelling? #ChalngeAcceptprw #noSuggestions ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... We just ate $100 worth of sushi; you then took us to an Italian Restaurant and made us keep eating till we all want to die ... Of course we'll go to round 3 with you! ... #GoingToPukeAllOverYou ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... #NoImNot28 ... it's alright, you're like the 12th person to make that mistake ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... All we bought was potatoes and meat #GriffithsChoroWentShopping ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Curry for Lunch, Curry for Dinner; #HappyPDay ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Typhoon, worst one in 10 years? Please, my bike has missionary steroids, #DidNotEvenFallOver ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Oh, you sell Melonpan? yeah, I’ll buy them all, right now #TheRecipeTooPlease ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... #YouMightBeAMissionaryIf you don't hear about the giant wall of water which will hit the city where you live until next Monday; because you only get eMail on P-Days ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... New favorite conversation starter "I don’t speak Japanese and if I don’t learn I can’t go back to America, please help me" #ForeignerPower ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Whatever I just ate, exploded with little eggs all over my mouth #WhatDidIJustEat ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Is it wrong that I want to ask the local tattoo artist if he can run the face painting booth at our Halloween party, I think he would be pretty good ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Being a foot taller than everyone else in the whole country #GaijinNoMondai (Foregner problem) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Hitting your head on every door way cuz it’s made for people a foot shorter than you #GaijinNoMondai ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Having a hole in the ground for a toilet? #FirstWorldCountry more like #FirstWorldProblem ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Typhoon season #ComeAtMeMotherNature #Murica ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Cow Piss? Oh you mean Calpis #YesIllTakeAllOfThem

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

... criss cross crapple sauce ... Samurai Armor ... There is no place I'd rather be ...

Did you get the carry-on bag? Is it going to work?
     I received the carry-on bag, yes ... and yes, we are all eating the packing peanuts ... good call BTW they are delicious!!!

Are you practicing squatting on the floor for when you get to Japan?
     I haven’t started to squat, but I am stretching out my legs trying to practice kneeling and sitting "criss cross crapple sauce" as my district so lovingly calls it.

     Don’t you think mom should make peanut butter cookies next week in honor of you? (Question from Abi) 
I would love some peanut butter fingers made in my honor, preferably made on the day that I fly to Japan ... oh wait that is two days... maybe you should make two batches, one on each day in honor of me leaving the country for the first time EVER!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

     Apparently photo books are pretty big in japan and it wasn’t so much a suggestion that I take one ... so yeah … that might be nice to have shipped to me before I leave ... sorry about that ... my bad.

Quick thought of the day, tools. Tools are awesome. Grandpa gave me a toolbox and screwdrivers when I was younger that I never used. As I grew up others gave me tools and I added them to the dusty toolbox. Now I use that toolbox every other day, if not every day. I guess you can make this into a metaphor for stockpiling testimony or deciding in your youth about choices you will make when circumstances arise in the future. A child may not have certain temptations or challenges but if they learn the 'tools' while young they will be able to draw on them in the future. Anyway as stated, this could be a metaphor but really it's just a heads up that when you get back I'm getting you tools for presents from now on.
Nice metaphor, TeJay, and thank you in advance for the tools! I have had experiences which I had decided long ago what my actions would be, again, nice metaphor.

I have used many a personal experience while I have been here. At least I think that I shared a personal experience... the Japanese was.... well let’s just say interesting.

I am a little sad that y’all went rafting without me! We should definitely go when I get back for sure!!!!! It looked like so much fun!!!! The story of Sam getting mauled by her chair as she frantically tried to escape almost made me fall out of my chair ... yeah ... in a lab, full of teachers and missionaries, diligently studying, and I’m sitting here laughing! It was bad.

I just got the details for the flight; I leave the MTC on Monday the 5th of August at 1:00PM, my first flight is at 4:50PM out of Salt Lake. I leave Los Angeles at 7:00PM (PDT) ... I’m not sure how long, but there is a layover; we are flying Delta on all flights.

I keep getting hymns stuck in my head ... and there is a pirate song in the Japanese hymn book that I am trying to memorize ... kaizoku is pirate in Japanese!

Yesterday I ran five miles!!! At an 8 minute mile pace ... needless to say I was covered in sweat and totally gross; I almost died walking up the four flights of stairs to get the showers though ... I am so out of shape.

Thank you for teaching me to be so laid back! It’s so nice, this week I didn't follow the spirit and didn't ask what was in a certain cookie; I ingested a pecan and a couple of walnuts ... I then excused myself calmly and my companion and I went to our room where I not so quietly hurled for a good long while; I then went back to lunch … and kept on studying! So thank you for teaching me never to give up!!

Crystal, thanks for teaching me voice lessons, we got to sing in Sacrament as a district and there is no way I could have learned the song without those lessons I took that last couple of years.

I have wonderful nephews, I love it that Waylon called TeJay Uncle Thunder Pants and not me ... that’s awesome!

Last night we made Samurai Armor out of cardboard, see accompanying photos ... 
Mcknight Choro & Griffiths Choro

When we got our travel plans it destroyed our focus for the day; however, it made me realize how unprepared I am and I vow to work harder, I felt pretty good about that language, like TeJay said that I would ... and then one of the nihongin gave a talk in church … all I got was Jesus Christ, God, and I testify these things in the name of the Savior Jesus Christ. Amen ... it was very humbling to hear her speak ... I am now accepting the fact that I don’t think I actually learned very much Japanese here. 

I hope that all is well and that you are not missing me too much ... I am sad to say it, but there is no place that I would rather be then here ... well actually there is, Japan; but I mean on a mission!!!!!!!

Thursday, July 18, 2013

3-1-1 for Carry-Ons - Prepare for Take-off

Special Note:  Trent was informed he would need to live out of his carry-on bag for two to three days upon arrival in Tokyo.  His checked luggage would be sent directly to his apartment and not be with him during his initial two day training.  This resulted in questions about what, and how much, would be allowed and/or not allowed as carry-on.  The following was our response:

Trent,
At the bottom of this eMail are the details for carry-on items ... everything else should be packed in your checked luggage.

Special note about flying: the air will be thin (low pressure) and very dry. For best results, you will want to untie your shoes and really loosen them up so your feet can swell, it is normal and they won't swell up that much, but if you don't they will begin to hurt and go numb (they fall asleep and they will tingle). DO NOT wear your contact lenses, your eye's will dry out and it will be more than 16 hours before you would likely take them out to give your eyes a rest. This will cause significant eye irritation ... you won't go blind, but they will be more than tired after the trip.

When you travel to Japan, if you don't wear your contact lens, wear your glasses and then you can pack your lens fluid in your checked luggage. Plan to use shampoo to shave with, then you can pack your shaving cream in your checked luggage.

We will send you a 1 quart zip-lock baggie, it will have 5 small containers, and all will meet the requirement of 3.4 ounce or smaller; use them for shampoo, conditioner, face wash, toothpaste, hair gel, eye drops, and anything else you might need below (including contact lens fluid if you like). Place the zip lock baggie in one of the side pockets of your carry-on bag; it should keep it isolated from everything else in case it leaks.

Let us know if this does not answer your concerns,
Love, Dad
                                     
3-1-1 for Carry-ons

3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by volume); 1 quart-sized, clear plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3.4 ounce (100ml) container size is a security measure.

Be prepared. Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. Practicing 3-1-1 will ensure a faster and easier checkpoint experience.

3-1-1 is for short trips. If in doubt, put your liquids in checked luggage.

Declare larger liquids. Medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding 3.4 ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint. Officers may need to open these items to conduct additional screening.


Tuesday, July 16, 2013

... the line for dinner ... that was rough ... I am learning to Japan speak pretty good ... we fabreezed it

How was the 4th of July?
      The fourth was sweet, we got to stay up and watch the fireworks from the west side of campus, and we also got to watch 17 Miracles during a fireside ... we also got a little crazy and stayed up until like 11:15 ... it was INSANE! We also got ice cream bars ... which isn't that cool because I usually have like three at every meal ... but still they were higher quality than normal.

How was fast Sunday at the MTC?
      Fast Sunday wasn't to bad at all actually, the worst part was the line for dinner ... that was rough.

What time do you go on those temple walks on Sundays???
      Apparently it is highly discouraged to meet missionaries while they are on their temple walks ... nice try though :-)
Back:  Berrett Shimai, Kelson Shimai, Palmer Shimai, Wilson Shimai, Edwards Shimai, Hubner Shimai
Front:  McKnight Choro, Griffiths Choro, Scott Choro, Justesen Choro, Killpack Choro, Barnes Choro
What is your Elder Japanese name?
      Everyone asks me and I don’t know. I will get my katakana tag later, probably a week before I leave, other than that I think that it is going to be Gurifittsu Choro, but I am not really sure yet.

A couple weeks ago I gave one of the sisters in my district a blessing ... it was pretty ridiculously awesome. Yeah, being a servant of the Lord is probably the most satisfying thing I have ever done before.

We finished our fundamentals of Japanese book, and now we're just reviewing it, and learning on our own. I am excited to get to Japan so that I can buy the next level of the grammar book.  I feel as though I am learning to Japan speak pretty good; but I feel as though it is mostly the Lord doing the talking and I'm just making silly sounds that the nihongin can't understand at all. But alas 'tis not me that doeth the speaking but my God ... so that is good.

Father and Mother of Mine: I'm so glad that you guys taught me how to work before I came here. Several people that I know are constantly complaining about studying for 16 hours a day, and I'm all like, this is a normal day at college for me; except I eat healthier.

The story for this week is that I was made District Leader ... so yeah, that's going to be interesting.  I'm not very thrilled, even though I have often sought out leadership positions in the past, this one doesn't seem that great ... that was sarcasm if you couldn't tell by the dryness of the ink on the screen. I think that it will definitely be a trial for me, but the lessons that I learn will hopefully make me a better person.  I feel as though I am learning a lot.

TeJay and Crystal thank you for the letter, the main thing that I got out of it was to stop looking forward and enjoy the moment ... its sad to say, but that has been a common theme this week. We got a "lecture" from one of our teachers about it yesterday; our district is having a hard time dealing with the MTC; we aren't taking advantage of this time to prepare. Thank you, it was VERY motivational, and exactly what I needed to hear.

Sam, thank you for the pictures ... I'm sitting here with my companion in a dead silent computer lab, filled with missionaries trying not to laugh my head off at "your family has been dead in this car for weeks, we febrezed it" 

Is Abi still sleeping my bed? I hope that she is not moving into my room? Is it still a shrine to me? Have you erased my last message from the white board yet? Do you all cherish my hand writing whenever y'all walk by it? I hope that it is the latter.

Here are two pictures of my district!!!! One on the fourth and one on our temple walk; my doryo is the one that has glasses.

My District on the 4th of July, my Companion is 2nd from the left, with glasses
My District in front of the Temple on a Sunday Temple Walk
Back:  Wilson Shimai, Edwards Shimai, Hubner Shimai,
Berrett Shimai, Kelson Shimai, Palmer Shimai
Front:  McKnight Choro, Griffiths Choro, Turley Choro,
Justesen Choro, Barnes Choro, Killpack Choro

Note: Picture which Sam sent to Trenton, which made him laugh, was the following quote:
Smells fresh.
Like a tropical island.
Ok; now take off the blindfold!
Your family's been dead in this car for a week!
We Febrezed it!