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

Monday, January 27, 2014

DD 5.15 ... my first snow ...

We haven’t heard much lately; do you still try to sit criss cross crapple sauce style; have you mastered it yet? We want a picture ...
I will try to take a picture ... but I’ve actually gotten better ... it’s still terrible, but not as bad.

Do you often find yourself eating on the floor?
Only at one of our investigator’s homes ... and he’s like 70; so when we sit down, he goes like old school Japanese on us and just laughs when we try to get up ... it hurts my pride more than anything.

What ever happened to Brother Whipple, how is his leg, is he back on his feet and has he got his sea legs back underneath him??
He’s good. Still got both legs and his boat!

So we read on McAllister Shimai's blog that she was transferred last week. Who is the new shimai in the district?
There are two new Shimaies. Reusser Shimai (the sister training leader) and Takita Shimai ... she is from Orem, Utah, but fluent in Japanese.

Is it still warm there? Coat weather? Boot weather? Glove weather? Jacket weather?
I’m wearing a sweater and quite warm right now.

How is the new zone leader that you live with?
Tuttle Choro is way chill. He is from California, he is a surfer and a skateboarder ... nuff said right? He’s awesome.

Will you get one iPad mini per companionship?
I think that we will all get one ... maybe, I’ll let you know next week

What is happening within your district, any new commitments for baptism, how is the Zone Leadership doing, are they leading by example, is the Relief Society putting the priesthood to shame, by that I mean have the Shimai’s teach more lessons than the Choro’s?
There are a couple baptismal dates. the ZL’s have a solid one for the ninth, but if his parents are HANTAI, (fun word for dad,) then that won’t happen, he still hasn’t told them about the church yet so we really don’t know what is going down. The Shimaies also have a date for the ninth that I get to interview next week. Should be fun ... the entire interview will be in Japanese  ... yeah ... potential problems. We have a date for the 23rd of February, but we haven’t been able to contact him recently ... but we also have some other people that are doing well. The Shimaies also have a couple people from China who are really humble and getting ready to make dates! Wahoo!!!

When TeJay was in Hong Kong, all his training was done in English instead of Cantonese; your mission's grasp of the language seems to be better, do you use Japanese during District Meetings, Zone Meetings, etc.?
For trainings and stuff the foreigners use English except for like role plays and stuff ... well sometimes. We do them in English first and then in Japanese so the new missionaries can learn the idea first and then the language. But whenever a Japanese missionary does a training they do it in Japanese ... and someone translates for everyone else ... sometimes the person who is translating is me and then it’s rough ... but we pull through.

So I’ve heard about the Olympics from Sam, but what are everyone else’s thoughts on them? Do you think that they will be really exciting this year? Or just kind of boring? I mean they are in Russia? So ... they're gonna be cold, really cold, but they are the Winter Olympics, so maybe that’ll be good? Thoughts?

Mom & Dad! Happy Anniversary!!!!!!!!!! I forgot to tell you last week ... Okay, I remembered this week on Wednesday ... someone in the ward had an anniversary or something and I thought of you guys!!! 35 years! That so impressive right!!!! You have four really great kids and one just amazing child (Me) and I’m sure that you love us all equally ... but congratulations on accomplishing so much in your life!!!

Sam: I’m jealous of your box car racing skills. I hope that I will be able to give it a try when I get back (challenge extended: Keep the box till then) and then we will see who the champion really is!!!! Sorry that you have too many inhalers that are all so cool, I’m a little jealous, I haven’t used one in like 7 months ... and this morning I went sprinting with Asato Choro ... and yeah, he’s short and Japanese, but his legs are so fast, I almost died ... it was terrible, but really great! We did like 2.5ish miles (I think in like 13 minutes).

Abi! Will you rent me a puppy? I cannot think of a practical reason for such a business but it does make sense that it is in a college town ... especially Logan, go us! I get it, business gets really big around finals week or when grades are coming out! I’m not sure how I feel about it ... it’s like borrowing cuteness ... anyways, bummer that USU lost their Basketball game to 7th ranked San Diego State, but awesome that we were so close!!! You gotta love it!!! I’m glad that you went running and that you were able to fix the DVD case with superglue, remember when I fixed my red shoes with superglue from Lees ... that was sweet!

Things here are going well. One of our investigators, Brother M, the 70 year old, is struggling, we taught him about the gospel of Christ, and he got it … all except baptism ... and then when we tried to explain it to him … well, its still a work in progress.

The NW district here is sweet, they are all way great and working way hard, Tuttle Choro is the new zone leader, and it’s his first time so it’s pretty good I think. It’s weird being district leader when I’m one of the younger people in my district, there are two sisters from my doki and then Nielson Shimai and Legge Shimai, and then the zone leaders, and a transfer eight Reusser Shimai.  It’s all good though, tomorrow we have the Elder Whiting conference; he’s a Seventy. Should be a fine learning experience; I’m excited!

Hmmm, this week we started focusing on this guy, Brother O again, his first lesson was my first day in Chiba, so I’ve known him a while, but we finally got him to commit to be baptized if he gets an answer from God ... yeah, he may or may not be expecting a Joseph Smith style vision, but hopefully we can work with that. We also set a baptismal date with a guy named Brother Y this week ... and now we can’t get a hold of him ... bummer, but we’re gambaruing.

Something that I’ve learned a lot of recently is that in the Gospel, and in missionary work, I don’t think that I’ll ever feel good enough. I know that God will help me and I’ll be able to do whatever he asks me to do, but I still will never feel completely up to the challenge that He has given me, I know it’s just because I want it done perfectly by myself, and that that is never going to happen ... it’s been very humbling recently ... and a little frustrating ...

On the other hand, I’m doing missionary work, thanks to God and His power. I am well aware of the gift of tongues in my life and I am so grateful for it; everyday! I know that there is no way I should be able to talk to anyone in this country, it's especially apparent when the Holy Ghost doesn’t want me to understand someone and just leaves me on my own ... then it’s really rough ... but it’s nice to have God on my side!

I love you all and hope that y’all had a great week! If you get sad, remember Abi can rent you a puppy to play with for a bit.
I know that I got a little more snow than you guys did ...
... so just feel sorry for me riding my bike through the blizzard that is my life
PS. Dad, I feel good about your talk, should be a hit ... its new, its kinda like lecture #53 about accountability or lecture #88 on the symbolism of the temple that we all head so much growing up. I think that it will be really great!!! Good Luck! It was interesting to see the insights that you drew out, and yeah, it really made me think a lot about missionary work and how we are like little Eternal Families here on earth ... little mini versions of God's big family ... is it okay if I use some of it in lessons and such? I hope so, I'm more letting you know that I'm going to rather than asking permission ...
you know lecture #23!!

Note: Dad sent the following text in his last letter to Trenton:
I really like the symbolism of a Father and Mother coming together, anywhere around the world, rich or poor, and they can create a family where mom and dad have God Like Power within their own family … yes there are some who go crazy which results in some children having a really warped perspective on the world, but for most of the world, we create these families and we are all trying to shower our children with love, support, encouragement to live a life that is better than their own … doesn’t that sound a lot like our Heavenly Parents and what they would do for us … the symbolism is rich as we realize what we would do for our children, is exactly what our Heavenly Parents would do for us. For you specifically, your two years away is not altogether different symbolically than when we left our Heavenly Father for a short period of time with the hopes of returning once again to them … now compare that to you leaving us, we communicate through eMail, with one or two visions via Skype, which wasn’t possible even 10 years ago with TeJay, we pray that you return with honor, we long for a glorious reunion where we can once again embrace each other, we even expect to see an older brother or sisters waiting with open arms to welcome your return … sound familiar to another plan that you teach to your investigators?
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Monday, January 20, 2014

DD 4.65 ... today was Transfer Calls ... I'll be staying in Chiba ... that makes 5 transfers in Chiba ...

How are your teeth? General health?
Well my teeth are good, the Transformers tooth brush helped a lot. As far as my general health goes: I think that I just ate some bad mabudofou and it all just came through... it was sketch.

Who gave you the huge chocolate(?) Santa?
It was Asato Choro's, I just took a picture with it.

Are you getting transferred? If so, where?
Nope, still here in Chiba, for the fifth time! Dunbar Choro is leaving and that's it. I don't know about the Shimai in my district yet, at least one is leaving though.

Do you have holes in your socks? Holes in your shoes?
nope and nope.

Do you ride your bike to the train station and park it there? Or do you ride your bike to places? Which one more?
Usually we just ride places. Sometimes though we leave our bikes at the church and then train station it.

If you are transferred, do you get to bear your testimony in church before you leave?
I actually got to last Sunday ... it was rough. Details on that in a minute.

Any crazy things to eat this week? Loved the pounded rice story.
So one day we were almost out of spaghetti sauce, but we had like three cans of cream of mushroom soup ... so we mixed the four cans together and ate them over noodles ... it wasn't super great.

Do you wear the same pair of shoes every day or do you switch off every other day?
I try to switch every day.

Can you print stuff out, like a talk we send or our emails?
We can at convenience stores if we need to.

Is your journal filled up? need another one?
I am almost half way through ... I only really get to write in it on P-Day now.

Have you heard much about the Olympics? Do you think you will be able to watch any of them? (they start Feb 7th)
I have not heard anything, I don't think that we will be able to watch any of them.

Was the pile of bedding on your floor in the picture your futons and blankets? Where were the sheets? Are the blankets homemade? It was a big pile!
Yep that's our beds, we use sheets and everything! Don't worry mom.

How is your belt holding up? Need a new one? getting worn out?
Its perfect!

Do you tell any of your companions about your nut allergy? where your e pen is?
Yes, I told all of them ... why wouldn't I have?

Have you had the flu or a cold?
Nope, I'm still indestructible ... and yeah, just knocked on wood.

So this week was pretty good. Nielson Choro and I were unexpectedly asked to bear our testimony in church so of course we freaked out about that ... a lot. The Japanese is fine, I'm just really uncomfortable talking in front of people, and Elder Nielson is fine with talking in front of people, just not the Japanese. It was interesting ... but we pulled through.

Today was transfer calls ... I'll be staying in Chiba as District Leader. I know that I'm still here because I'm not done helping someone yet and I think it might be Brother O. I met him my first day here in Chiba ... I need to baptize him this transfer or bust! WHOO!!! We got him to pray every day last time which is awesome!!! I also really like being District Leader, and I don't feel like I have learned all I need to from it quite yet so I'm quite content to stay for another transfer.

So Willdens Shimai's Grandma died this week, they kinda saw it coming, but it was still a little sudden, so she asked me to give her a blessing of comfort on Sunday. It was good, I love being a tool in the hands of God, but there is something about being talked through by God to really make you feel like you need to do better. It is always humbling.

Mom: it sounded like Dad wrote the first half of you letter, lol. It was good though. Thanks for the info. I did get Grandmas letter, please tell her thank you for me!

I can't believe that I forgot to mention it earlier ... the fudge was in a rough state when it arrived, the butter had oozed out and was all over the inside of the bag ... but other than that it was quite delicious. (And frankly the healthiest thing that I've eaten since I've been here I think)

Sam: Wud up? About the life decisions and stuff: imma tell you what I tell my investigators ... pray ... and when that doesn't work, fast. Also, ask us for help and advice on what you should do. The parentals may be old and not the funnest kids on the block sometimes, but they do love you more than anyone else on earth right now, and I'd bet that they are more then willing to help you make a pro and con list.

ABI::: STORMMAGEDDON THE DARK LORD OF ALL!!!! remember when you found out that Stomrageddon was a baby? That was funny ... also remember when Sam stuck fifteen Cheetos in her mouth at Aunt Lynne's birthday party ... that was fantastic. Sorry that this week has been stressful. If it makes you feel any better this week I'm starting a diet of chocolate and speaking Japanese. Whoever speaks the most Japanese out of me and my comp gets two doughnuts on P-Day instead of one ... I really need to win ... but at the same time, I have rice cheeks way bad ... and I need to not win. Tough call.

So this week was pretty good not much really happened ... imma send y'all some pictures of the district in a bit ... I think that the pictures speak better than words ... and I'll attach some clips of my life ...

This is my District
Back: 
Asato Choro, Nielson Choro, Dunbar Choro, and me
Front: Legge Shimai, Willden Shimai, McAllister Shimai, Dunn Shimai
Thank you for all of the praying that you do for us here in Japan ... especially me! Thank you all again!

Brother O & me. I know my eyes are really serial killery here
This is a family which Dumbar Choro and I found today ...
PS. The Kitchen Aid story was hilarious!!! I can just see mom covered in flour, and then days later holding the phone up to the mixer ... I almost fell out of my chair laughing.
(Here is the story Sam sent to Trenton about the Kitchen Aid:
So we told you we got a new mixer right? it's huge and red and super pretty.
Day 1: Mom and Dad realize that it doesn't fit underneath the counters on the bar except over by the sink so we have to change our cooking cupboard.
Day 2: mom tries to cook with it while holding Porter. He lunges forward and yanks the lever, flour and cocoa go EVERYWHERE. The entire counter is covered in flour. Mom comes up to me and says: I think I'll just blow dry this up into a nice little neat pile ... I'm not sure why she thought a blow dryer would put it into a pile instead of blowing it around the whole room ...
Day 3: There is clanging whenever mom turns on the mixer and it's making her CRAZY. I come home and she is on the phone with the mixer people. 
Mom: There is a clanging on my mixer. I think it's defective.
Silence.
Mom: yeah, it's a clanging like ... well, just listen. Then she turns on the mixer and holds the phone up to it for like 30 seconds. Then picks back up the phone.
Mom: Did you hear that?

10 minutes later she hangs up: It's defective. I knew it. We can trade it for a new one.)
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Tuesday, January 14, 2014

DD 4.56 ...blah blah going to mars blah blah rice blah love blah blah bye ...

Are you in charge of the cell phone in your companionship?
Yes, and nothing is more stressful than answering a number that I don’t know ... did I mention that Japanese is NOT my native language?

Do you ever wear your P-Day clothes? Are they wearing out? Did you take a hoodie or jacket to wear with them in the cold?
I have my lifeguard hoodie, so I’m quite warm, but I don’t really wear anything else that much, I sleep in all the shirts, but the pants are rarely used.

How often do you have District Meetings?
Every week

What would a report on your District to the Zone Leaders sound like?
We all tried to find today ... oh hey, someone found someone ... they were a Jehovah’s Witness and tried to convert us all ... we actually found some today. The sisters are way pumped ... we are all so tired!!! Stuff like that.

How often are you preparing training presentations? What was your topic for the presentation in Zone Conference?
I have to train every week in District Meeting, and I just trained in Zone Meeting.

How did your presentation in zone conference go?
It went well; it was me and the other DL together, so that was really good. We trained on finding solid new people and doing solid lessons.

When is your Zone Conference, how often do you have them?
Once a month

Did you enjoy a new tasting experience this week? How about Nielson Choro, did you introduce him to a new tasting sensation?
I ATE THE CHOCOLATE FROM MY PACKAGE THAT CAME ON TUESDAY!!!!! OH YE OF LITTLE FAITH!!!!! I also had some mochi ... which is just pounded rice ... I also made some yesterday.

Time for a train story ... what have you seen ... have you ever boarded a wrong train ... come on share an adventure.
I have not gotten lost yet actually!! Today we were close, but we just couldn’t find the line that we were supposed to ride, we wandered around for like 5 minutes ... but then we found it!!!! Found it like a bear!!!

We really need a picture of you and your companion ... please ... we'll send fudge again ... we'll send it the day after we get a picture ... pretty please ... just send photos, Dad!!!
I’ll work on it

How was your T-Day ... did you see any of your old companions?
Yes, all of them. They are all doing really good. It was really nice to go to the temple!!

Did you take your temple bag with you? Clothes? I can't remember … :(
I took some white pants and a shirt, but everything else we get to use there.

So my package totally came the day after y’all gave up hope ... whud up wid dat? Hmmmmm ... bam; I had faith and my candy came!!!! It was beautiful!!!! Thank you all so much!!!! ... it may be all gone by now, but it was very delicious!!!

This week not much happened, this guy we met with asked me how many years I had been in Japan ... when I said for 5 months he didn’t believe me and insisted that I must have studied Japanese before I came out, or that I was lying to him ... it was very awkward ... but it was pretty cool too.

Zone meeting was good, have I mentioned that I don’t like talking in front of people, and that it scares me to death to trying to teach people? Other than that it was pretty good though, we did a lot of stuff and I feel like it went well.

This week we found the K San family. They are so great, they keep following up with us about coming to church and wanting to meet with us, it’s so great!! We are hoping that they are going to be baptized in February, we did a church tour, and when they walked into the chapel, they just said (well they said it in Japanese) "Whoooaaa, this is deep." and then the wife cried because of the spirits awesome power; and they were pretty psyched to be baptized ... good week.

We also got a referral form the sisters here in Chiba, he is a little crazy, he’s an author, and says that he has made some really cool medical discoveries ... but they are not certified by the government ... it doesn't stop him from selling his miracle potion for like ¥60,000 per bottle. He also said something about a Dutch Company sending people to Mars to live ... and that because we were men of God he is willing to do anything for us, so if I want to go, he is willing to sponsor me ... yes, I did think about it. 

This week was really good, on Monday, so yesterday we went with the ward and some investigators to make mochi ... pretty much, we cooked rice, soaked rice, and filled a granite pot full of rice and SMASHED IT WITH A HAMMER!!!!!!! And then we ate it ... it was quite satisfying ... other than that it was a pretty slow week.

Sorry to hear there are so many health issues in the ward … not good. I will keep them in my prayers, pretty cool having the ward unite their faith though.

The temple was really great, its always so comforting to be in the Lord’s house ... there is literally nothing better, and no place where it is easier to feel God’s love for everyone there … I always leave feeling like I’m not quite good enough, but still knowing that its okay as long as I’m trying to get better … its quite confusing actually.

So the first week in February we are getting iPad minis … should be pretty sweet!!!! I’ll let you know what goes down there!

Not much else to say, love you all and thank you all for all that you do!!!!

Elder Griueptifokdd
Sorry for my spelling, Sam
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Challenge Extended family ... challenge extended
Me & Nielson Choro!!!!
We had a party on P-Day for President Budge's birthday on the 29th
... okay, we had some soda and some chocolate!

Sunday, January 12, 2014

DD 4.54 ... Thank-you for everything ...

Dear Bishop Dumont (And The Riverton 14th Ward)

I just wanted to say thank you for all that you have done for me, not just over the last holiday season, but over the last 19 years of life. The ward I am currently serving in is really wonderful, and reminds me a lot fo the good old home ward back in Riverton. You were all so nice and encouraging to me growing up, and I would not be where I am today if it were not for all of you.

Things here are good. Missionary Work has pretty much the same principles were ever you go, lots of faith and lots of tenacity. I hope that everyone there is taking adantage of the wonderful opportunities around them every day to help strengthen the Lord's kingdom here on earth. Members all over the world are talking about when the big jump is missionary work is going to happen, and how amazing it is going to be. I testify to you all that that time is now and this Work is so amazing! I would not trade the last seven months for anything in the world!

I just wanted to say thank you for the strength and encouragement that I still am able to feel even though I am on the other side of the world. It is easy to know that this is God's work because of the love and support that I can feel every where I go.

Thank you all for the letters and cards over the last weeks. I love and pray for you all!

Elder Griffiths

Monday, January 6, 2014

DD 4.45 ... on the first we read the Book of Mormon all day ...


So, tell us about running into the truck with your bike. Were you hurt? How did you run into it? How is your bike? What kind of truck?
I was fine, and it was a moving truck... not like in motion, but a large truck full of packages and such.

Question from TeJay ... Did you learn about the Tim Tam Slam over the Christmas holidays? What do you think?
It was amazing... but I learned about it my first transfer....we taught my trainee about it though.

Take time and tell us about your most memorable event within your District this past week?
The Shimai in my district found like 4 people in one day after weeks of nothing but doors slammed in their faces ... pretty awesome!

How many brand new missionaries in your district are in their first transfer?
There are two new missionaries: Legge Shimai and Nielson Choro

How is your companion doing with his language development, what has been his biggest wahoo moment since he arrived in Japan?
He’s doing pretty good, talking to the ward members is pretty big for him.

You have received 5000 Yen in Christmas money from members of the ward ... we have deposited it into your account ... what do you need, can you use an extra 5000 Yen, what do you plan to buy with the extra cash?
I don’t know yet. That’s so nice of them!! Thank them for that ... I think that I’m going to buy a rain coat with it ... maybe. I can’t decide for sure because I miss being wet from swimming and the rain is nice.

Did you get letters from the Priests, and did any of them include any questions? Do you need to provide a response here so we can pass it on to them?
Brother S asked me what I wish I would have done before I left. I think that a weekly split with the missionaries would have been really helpful. If the Bishop could set it up and have 2 priests go out every week I think that would be great—I am sure the Elders would really appreciate it too.

How are your language skills, are you able to testify in Sacrament Meeting about a tender mercy in your life?
I have borne my testimony in sacrament meeting once ... I’ve been in the same ward and there are always a lot of people that want to go up so there is not much time. I can teach, just not super well, but I can talk to people ... well kinda. =) It turns out Japanese is hard. Who knew?

For the last time, did you get the last Christmas package? if not, we will give up. :)
Not yet, but I have FAITH BEYOND MEASURE THAT MY CANDY WILL COME!!!!!! The Mission got a lot of packages, so it may have been sent to the wrong missionary. Hopefully they will send it back and I’ll get it soon!! (Family note: We do not have this same faith. He might still get it, but we are wildly doubtful)

Are you sleeping any better?
meh

How is never being alone? ;) Love it as much as you thought you would?
It’s pretty nice actually ... I do look forward to the time when I will drive up to Logan by myself though; when I return.

This week was pretty good. The home ward sent me a Christmas card ... well Brother F did. It was awesome! Tell him Thanks!

We also found a Chinese family this week. We knocked and said that we were the Mormons; the woman just said "Hai, Dozo" and opened the door or us to come in. Turns out it was really awkward … we were not really able to talk about the gospel at all, but we referred her to the sisters and she is coming to eikaiwa so we’re calling it a win. (Note: her husband was there, don’t worry I’m keeping all the rules of the land.)

In District meeting I gave some training ... it was OK, but I really hate having to prepare stuff. Now I also have to do something in Zone meeting; so yeah, a lot of public speaking!!!

On the 31st (New Year's Eve) we just cleaned all day and then on the first we read the Book of Mormon all day, it was really great!! I loved it!

The ward here in Chiba is really great; we went to dinner like every day during shogatsu. We ate so much food, and the ward gave us so much stuff!!! It was really great!!!!!

Mom and Dad: the mixer broke? What are you going to do? I think getting a red one would be a good choice, but I don’t know ... I’ll have to try it out when I get home and see how it is!

Sam: That Elder Holland quote is awesome!!!! And you met an Olympian ... that’s pretty cool. Also, I heard that you like to run ... Temple Run that is ... what happened to the old "Trenton stop that dumb game" Sam that I love so much? hmmmmm?

Abi: I’m glad that Clyde is going well for you ... I miss him so much sometimes ... but then I remember that you are driving him and his biggest problem is not going 76 mph for the next two years ... :p he’s fine. He really is a stallion ... just be careful in the snow.

Love you all and thank you so much for all that you have done for me. This week I didn't really do very much so not much to write about, sorry! One more thought though:

Alma 26:22 is all about knowing stuff, and then Mormon 9:18-22 is really good if you ever doubt God ... well it’s not good, it just calls you out on your faith like none other. Anyway, I’m off to do the work of the living and loving God and do miracles in his name! Wish me luck!!!!
Love ya, Bye!!
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