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, September 29, 2014

DD 10.66 ... this week was fun ... because I like bears ...

You sent us a picture of you in a leather jacket. did you buy the jacket? or just borrowing it?
Found it in my apartment.

Why was temple T-Day this week instead of last week?
Today we went to the temple!!

Can you run yet? Leg bothering you at all??
I'm still taking it easy, but it's better!!

Any changes to your district this transfer?
Miyaki Shimai and Savage Shimai ... See picture below.
Back:  Savage Shimai, Warren Shimai, Griffiths Choro, Phillips Choro, Sabat Choro,
Chun Choro, Turley Choro; Front:  Miyaki Shimai, Wharton Shimai, Winegar Choro
Is there any kite flying going on at the parks in your area?
I haven't seen any ...

Do you wash all the produce before you eat it?? like grapes??
I do ... others don't ...

Did you hear about the volcano erupting? Could you hear or see or smell it when it erupted??
Heard about it. Didn't feel it or get affected by it at all though ...

So, how is the language coming for you? Do you still study it? How well does your companion speak?
He's ma ma, really good, transfer six, but he's ma ma. I wouldn't say that I'm good, but a lot of others do. People always ask me how many years I've stayed in Japan and are mind blown when I say only one ... Sooo yeah.

Who do you hear from on a regular basis? Have your heard from Ben?
Ben occasionally, this week yeah. Some other missionaries and some other peeps I've picked up along he way!

Is the new movie "Meet the Mormons" talked about at all in Japan? Here we are all encouraged to go and see it. 
Seen some stuff on FB, but I have heard nothing.

Does the vacuum belong to your apartment? or do you share?
Apartment

Did the sisters get to watch the General Women's Meeting??
I don't think so.

Do you want more Christmas pictures? Did we send you any with you, Sam and Abi at temple square seeing the lights?
I'm good, me with the lights might be good in SLC if there are some.

How are your investigators doing? Any new ones? Old ones still hanging in there?
Meh, we want three baptisms this transfer, and I think that we can do it, it'll just take some work. Which we decided we are going to put in yesterday!

Need anything we should send in the next package?
Mmmmm ... fudge was really good ... like amazing good ... and it travels quite well!!

Hey, stay away from spewing lava and volcanic ash. Let us know if you need anything when we send your package.

Father... Sorry that you had such a rough week. That sounds no good. Sorry. I actually had a random memory come up today in the temple. Do you remember when we went through the temple together my first time. I just want to say thank you for being so amazing and such a good example to me through out all the years. I really do look, up to you and mom so much!!

Mom I'm so glad to hear that we are finally getting cement!! I'll miss parking on the dirt when I get back, but it'll be a nice change. The house has changed so much since I left ... did you do it in purpose cuz you knew I would break all the nice things? Thanks for Grandma's eMail!! It's awesome!! That's such a cool miracle!!

Spencer!! Congrats on being blessed this week!! Someone give him a soft fist bump for me OK?

Axton!! Happy late birthday, sorry that I'm late by two days, I hope that it was great! When I get back we'll go and eat a whole bucket of ice cream in honor of you!! Sounds like a plan right?

Smashed, thanks for the missionary moment! You get her baptized!! Also, I like the way you've trained mom ... just don't undo the training that I did to get her to make me food ... it took a long time .. your life sounds so interesting ... I don't even know what to think ...

Storm ... you failed ... ?!?!? ... Congrats!!! Now you can improve and never do it again! Isn't that so cool! I'm so proud of you for learning so much so fast!! 

I did not feel the volcano, I'm totally fine ... But if I do end up jumping over lava in my mission, that would be way sweet!! Like Robin Hood and little John, jumpin fences, dodging trees, tryin to get away ... sounds kinda fun ... especially if I'm on my bike. Sounds pretty epic to me!!

This week was fun, we ate out a lot, and because our church is so far by train I was a little tight on money ... and by tight I mean I'm uncomfortable ... I have like two hundred left over total ... but still ... a little tight. Yeah, I like having money.
This transfer was fun, this coming transfer should be good, Miyaki Shimai and Savage Shimai are leavin. And a Nihongo and another Shimai are coming in. They seem pretty great, but I don't really know either of them yet, so who knows. I'm sad that my district is breaking up, I feel like we were really unified this transfer and did some amazing things!!

A girl named Sister J got baptized and confirmed this week! She's so great!! Anyways, she's way solid, comes to church and all sorts of activities and what not.

That's pretty much the week. I'm very tired, we woke up really early this morning to go to the temple ... so yeah ...

This week was interesting ... we met with some cool people and found like three new contacts that we're going to meet with this week, it was fun. Sabat Choro and I had a talk and he really wants to improve on a lot of things, and I do to, so we're going to go to work this transfer. We're going to see baptisms. This week I've been trying to think more about others and how I can better serve them. I decided that what it really comes down to always thinking about what Christ would do in any situation. He is our example, not only the way to get to heaven, but in everything. Obviously he wasn't in every situation that we're in, but we should know enough about his characteristics and what he acts like to guess what he would do in any situation, and then do our best to follow it. 
Because I like Bears ...
I love you all and am so grateful for all that you do for me!!
Love, Griffiths Choro
9780 8261

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Volcano Eruption envelops over 200 hikers with ash and rocks

On Saturday, Japan’s Mount Ontake volcano erupted, releasing an enormous cloud that thundered down the mountain, enveloping over 200 hikers in thick ash and rocks. According to the Nagano Prefecture Police, 36 people are presumed dead, with twelve having been recovered and identified, and 24 still on the mountain.
Climbers descend Mt. Ontake to flee as the volcanic mountain erupts
A dozen more bodies were found near the summit of Mount Ontake on Wednesday, bringing the death toll from Saturday’s eruption in central Japan rose to 48.
This picture taken on the 28th shows rescue workers and Self Defence Force soldiers
searching for survivors among ash covered mountain cottages on the top of Mount Ontake
The Japan Meteorological Agency has declared the Volcanic Alert Level for the mountain to 3, meaning that people are instructed not to approach the volcano under any circumstances, as another eruption could take place within the next week. Mount Ontake is Japan’s second tallest mountain (after Mount Fuji) at 10,060 feet.

CNN reports:
Authorities estimated there were 200 to 250 hikers in the area at the time of the eruption. Most of them were reported to have managed to make the long trek down the mountain.


This picture taken on the 28th shows mountain cottages
and a Shinto shrine covered with volcanic ash

Volcanic gases billow from the peak crater of Mount Ontake Tuesday afternoon


Sources:
www.salon.com
globalnews.ca
www.jma.go.jp

Monday, September 22, 2014

DD 10.55 ... never eat old grapes ... I just did and regretted it like ten minutes later ...

We hope you are well, no more leg stuff going on?
It's fine, still hurts a little to kneel, but it's getting better!!

A train coming into Abiko Station
How is your leg doing this week?? Can you ride your bike, run??
All is well, running is a little stretch, but biking is fine and so is stretching it, so that's good, walking is also fine!!


Is next week your temple p-day? Oops, Is this week your temple P-Day? OK, why isn't it temple P-Day? Don't tell Dad he was wrong!! If its not temple P-Day, does that mean transfers are off by a week?
It's next week! Thanks for emailing me early though!!

Is there a washer and dryer in your apt now?
Just a washer.

Look what I found in our vacuum
Do you remember, did you (and the girls) hike Timp right before you left on your mission?
I think so ... I don't remember.

Did you get your package yet? Was your surprise inside?
Yes, and yes, ... don't know how to hackie sac though ... wish me luck learning ...

Do you have anyone to teach right now?
A couple people, we're working on finding some more.

When do you need the pictures of family Christmas traditions? Now? or before Halloween? How much time do we have? We were thinking of nativity pictures or temple square pictures?
Whenever. I just want to show em to people and say this is what I do for Christmas with my family, what about you? Why do you do that? We do ours to celebrate the birth of the Savior, do you know about him? He's amazing!! Testify and commit!!

Any good food this week?
More chicken and ramen ... nothing to exciting!!

When is your companion's birthday?
June 14th

Are you close to Costco with this transfer??
Not really ...

How is your new ward? Do they have a choir for you to sing in?
I don't think so, it's good though!!

What was your topic in last weeks district meeting?
We didn't have one ... or the week before, zone conference and zone meeting. This week however, were talking about the faith to find and what not; also a little bit about what we talked about at conferences and how we can improve more! Also a little testimony thing might go down.

Did you hear anything about the Ogden Temple dedication from the mission office or anyone else?Nope ... not a word.

Have you thought of going to the temple on Halloween night? Do they celebrate Halloween in Japan?
Yes they do, crazy like!!

Do you have to stay inside with the doors locked and the blinds closed?
We go door to door and get investigators rather than candy ... it's like shooting fish in a barrel.
It's just a spider ... like Godzilla is just a lizard ...
Do you have a limit on the amount of time you can spend on the phone with the missionaries in your district?
No, but I have to call the zone leaders by like ten each night, and I have to talk to three different companionships. So it's a little tight sometimes.

Dad ... thanks for the highlights of the temple dedication. It was really great! made me feel like I was there. As for making me feel homesick ... it's pretty hard to do ... it's not that I don't like you guys, it's just that I know I have to see you all in eight months and that I'll never get this chance again ... so it's not like I'm spending time missing my family when there's work to do ... sorry, I really do like you guys ... but you'll still be there ... time keeps going by faster
and faster!! It's no good!!!!

Mom ... you really need to put things about pie at the end of your letters ... I just kept going back to figure out what it was ... it sounds soooooooo gooooooooddd!!! We must make and devour when I return. This week sounds pretty busy, but I'm glad that you're finally getting cement ... that's a nice random gift this time of year!! I will miss our ghetto hole in the...parking way?  What is that called? I don't even know ... have fun!!

Smasjakfkkkdjdke ... loved the picture ... I still have the picture of me with a gallon of milk and a bowl of cookies that I show people on my camera sometimes ... whenever anyone asks what kind of person I was before my mission I just show them that ... and then laugh with them ... they always look at me and wonder why I'm not fat too!! You also seem to keep running into the most awkward men ever ... write all these things down so that I can learn from all of their mistakes when I get back okay?

Storm ... miracle of miracles is right!! Brittany's accident sounds way sketchy!!  Cool to that she's alive and what not though!! That's amazing!! Tell her I said hi!!  Sounds like timp was fun ... like a level three ... maybe if I come back, we'll get it back up to a level one of awesomeness cuz I'll be there!!! Love it!! I love climbing stuff!! Whoo!!! Ps, loved the picture of sam and mom, ridiculous!! Absolutely!!

So this week was pretty good. We met with our old friend Brother Y and
his son and they both have interest in the church!! Were still meeting them. I feel like they're more sakaguchi kyoudais investigators then they are ours ... which is good right!!

We also met a guy named Brother S this week. He's way chill we blew his mind though. We was all like bro there be a God who loves and cares for you ... he even has a plan for you to be happy!  Then my homeboy S ... he be all like ... what!! Man that's way legit!! I gotta hop on boards with their plan of his ... so were meeting him again and going to try to set a baptismal date ... he's like 37 and single, he said that he's gotta find a wife to help him pay off the house that he just bought ... he's way funny, he has lizards ... AND really likes bugs ... it's not weird or anything, but I'm not sure how much I like lizards ... Other than that, he's way boss. He is a nurse at like three different places and works all the time which is rough.

Other than that, this week we weren't really able to meet with to many people. We found a new guy named Brother K who seems pretty solid. He's having a rough time and wants to find peace and the strength to do what he needs to do for his family and what not ... which is pretty much exactly what we talk about all day, so he should be pretty good.

So spiritual thought for this week. We've been talking a lot about obedience recently ... it's been pretty interesting. I decided that when we are obedient and we truly love God and do what he says out of love, then we usually think that new rules that are kinda weird are fun, and we try to like make a game out of it to help us get used to it ... but on the other hand, if we haven't been obedient, or if we only do what God says out of fear, then when he says something that we aren't quite ready to accept, then we just get really frustrated like our freedom has been attacked rather than an opportunity for us to receive more blessings has been given to us.  Its very interesting when you think about it. The question I've been thinking about recently is do I do what I do out of a love of God and Christ, or out of a fear of what will happen if I don't. Obviously we all want to do things out of love, but sometimes we do them out of fear, it's kinda lame, but I think that we can all improve.

So, invitation to you all is week is find something that you do out of fear and try to change it to do it out of love instead ... might be hard. But if we can find just one thing and actually change it, think of how happy at would end up being?!?!? I think pretty happy!!

Anyways, I gotta jet, love you all!!
Griffiths Choro!!
9651 8081

Monday, September 15, 2014

DD 10.45 ... got this from one of the Shimai investigator ...

So how is your leg? Is it still red? Is it swollen?
It hurts to kneel, but other than that it's totally fine.

What did the Dr. say was wrong with it?
Just bruised it pretty bad.

What did he give you to put on it? a antibiotic? or a anti itch?
Magic drugs that fix anything ... it's all written in Japanese.

Can you ride your bike again? Can you walk? Can you run?
Can't run quite yet ... well, don't want to risk it, but I can walk fine.

What did the title of your last week's email mean: "come here and I'll bite your legs off"??  We are so confused!
In Monty Python there is this guy which doesn't have any legs ... it was a joke that I didn't have any legs ...

Have you ever heard of the Abiko house?? It is a weird looking house in Abiko, and it is eluding dad's detective sleuthing skills!
Haven't seen it yet ... I will house it though! I'll search for it!!

What should we as members of the church do to help the missionaries, what do you like to have done for you?
Meet with their people!! Especially at church, introduce yourself to them and go get more ward members to come and meet them too!!! Best thing ever!

Have you had any tender mercies that you have recognized in Abiko, can you share one with us?
There were a lot in Kawagoe for sure, so far in Abiko. This week a member offered to drive our investigator to church!! Since he's ninety-three it was a really great offer and he totally came!! More on this later.

Do you share your testimony with the members of your district in your nightly phone calls? What happens when they share theirs with you?
Mah ... I have like three to five minutes every night, so not to much time to share testimonies, but we usually throw palms thing down at district meeting.

When was the last time you talked to Budge Kaichou, what words of wisdom did he offer you?
This week we had zone conference, he taught us how to communicate ... Just like the communication class that I took in college, except he made us put our heart into it so we weren't manipulative like I may have been in college!!

How often do you go on splits with the ZL's, who are they and where do they live?
They live in Mabashi, I go with them once a transfer.

Do you want us to email you earlier than Sunday Night ... are we gumming up the works by emailing you on Sunday Evening ... we will make mom start earlier ... as if she were the problem?
Meh, which ever is good. What ever works best for you!!

Look what I made!!
Father!!  Thank for the update on Ben's blog ... I'm glad that you got your gate finally, I remember giving you the card that was good for one fence gate ... sorry that it took so long to cash in on it. The Abiko house seems way cool ... I may or may not house it ... I'll send you some pics when I find it. As for your spiel on being a  leader ... I watched a talk all about a current bush a couple transfers back. I'm very accepting of where I'm at right now. I am noticing certain things, all the time, that show me that I am right where I'm
suppose to be. Thanks though! It always helps!!


Mother. Your grandchildren sound so great!! Thanks again for taking care of grandma! She's such a champ!! School sounds fun, I like the theme, making sure that everyone knows that they matter ... reminds me a lot of the gospel. I'll try to use that in dendo this week!?, Thanks!!

Smash. Cool race shirt!! I'll definitely do it with you next year ... and by with you, I mean a long ways ahead of you!! Abi told me that you think that you'll be able to keep up with me for the first little bit when I get back ... Mwahahahahahaha!! So, you should know that playing poker with candy is always a bad idea. I would lose so fast ... not cuz I bet, just cuz I'd eat it all ...

Storm ... oreos and peanut butter ... I ate that all through college ... it was so good!! Love it! Sounds like, you're adjusting to life with the parents well. I hope that things continue to go as such!! Bubble ball sounds way fun ... I really wanna play when I get back too!!

So this week was way sweet!! We taught a man named Brother Y. He has been meeting with us for a while now, and so we invited him to church.  He said that he might come but it was kinda sketchy ... then on Sunday morning in DCS a member told us that he got a call from the member that helped us teach and that he was coming!! It was way sweet!! They introduced him to all the elderly people in the ward and it was so great!! They're all like best friends now!!

This week was a little sad too ... one of the Sister's investigators named Sister J, from China, she's still going to get baptized, but can't come to church until she does and then can't for a couple weeks afterwards also ... way sad, and then Sister A, a girl who read the whole Book of Mormon in a week  won't be able to come to church, or meet with the sisters, or anything for a while, we are way worried about her.

Other than that this week was pretty good, we're all working way hard to get in really good with the ward and do all the things that they need us to do.

Lastly, spiritual thought.
I learned this week that we all need hope. Hope to accomplish our goals, if we start without hope that we will be able to accomplish it, then we definitely won't! Hope is what saves our souls, hope is what drives us on, hope is what helps us do the things that otherwise would be impossible!! I love hope, and I hope and pray, that you all have hope in your lives too!! I gotta jet this week, we are a little short on time, but I hope that the best happens this week and that you all have new hope in you life, love and pray for you all everyday!!
Griffons Choro

9555 8056

Monday, September 8, 2014

DD 10.35 ... come back here! And I'll bite your legs off!! ...

How many people do you have coming to english class? just one? (we saw a pic on FaceBook)
Like 30 I just take picture with one at a time ...

Did your companion go to college before his mission? what is his major?
He didn't go to school yet. He wants to be a medical software engineer right now though. 

Do you cook a lot less now you don't live w/ Chef Choro?
Mah mah.

How is the weather? Monsoon season over yet?
Right in the lotions middle of it!!

Ever use your rain coat?
Sometimes ...

Any investigators new this week?
Not yet.

Did you get your package yet ... oh wait, mom hasn't sent it yet ... so do you want a package? (Mom is not the slacker here, dad is trying to send shoes!)

Yes!! More on this later.

What are three words which Abigale should use in her Kindergarten Class this week?

Hippopotamus, polar bear, and bubbles ...

Do you ride your bike like a bear ... please provide an example ...

Like a panda bear ... always with my arms folded or straight in the air for when I go down big hills.
Main thing I love about Asia ... they have pandas
they're just so dang cute!!
Who are the missionaries in your District? Where are they from?
Phillips Choro from Utah, Sabat Choro form Wyoming, Turley Choro from Arizona, Savage Shimai from I don't know, Wharton Shimai from Cali, Miyaki Shimai from Hawaii, and Warren Shimai from Cali ... In the pic dad wants, it's from the top of he stairs to the bottom.

Tell us about the time you looked down at your socks and noticed that they didn't match?

All my socks are black ... they always match.

What was something funny that happened this week? 

Probably when Turley Choro tried to take pills using honey instead of water ... That was pretty funny.

The magical flavor of Gyoza ... have you found a good source for it, or do you prefer fatty ramen?

I love everything!! My comp is allergic to Gyoza cuz he can't eat pork, so right now it's just straight up ramen ... And it's so good!!

Father! I loved all the pictures ... especially the new font ... you're right, I did need the PDF to understand it. All of them really made my day. I too enjoyed getting thrown up in the air ...

Mother. Feel really good about the fridge on the front lawn with the "Free" sign ... I love the ghettoness of it all. It sounds like you had a pretty fun week though!!! I'm so glad that the sisters were able to come by. They probably know by now that older families in the ward, it's not that you don't have any mission fire, it's just everyone that you know, you have probably already shared the gospel with ... and how many new friends do you make each year? Some, but not enough to make a huge teaching pool from right? I hope they do well though!!

Jandee!! Waylon is such a boss!! And I love that you used the word "naughty" to describe Axton ... feeding a cat ... Jayli sounds pretty chill. I'll have to teach her lots of good English ... and maybe some Japanese when I get back, should be fun!! For biking ... I recommend learning how to shift ... and then for a day or two leave your bike in the hardest gear, and after that, when you shift it out, it seems so much easier!!

Smashed potted plants. I respect you ... not as much as I respect K though ... that is straight up boss!! That's so awesome!! Thanks to the quote, it was very inspirational. Also the moments about mom, made my day ... pretty funny.

Stormmaghekmfkepqjvdjsldkhfhahdlflfjshsjcldjdkqlfjdmxkfhfkslfmrjepsmfjrieprturjekcjfjrpwjghtiepwjgjdmdkwkgh,sirhgkwdhajifhgufmehttjdjdjeoejdjdjsjfhdjalfhksjfjwuepworhfndms. School sounds like it's a blast. I recommend going on splits with the Shimai ... They're pretty hard core ... maybe go and teach with them!! It's way fun! I really wanna go help out all he elders when I get back ... I know, sounds way lame right ... But it's way nice having a member that wants to go help you out all the time! Challenge, be that member all the time! If you're lacking the motivation go read the Book of Mormon some more!!

So this week I jacked up my knee! On Monday it kinda started to hurt, but by Tuesday morning I could barely walk. I took like ten Motrin that day. The swelling has gone down, I'm working with a doctor in my ward and Budge Shimai. My knee has gone down, it hurts a little bit, but the part below it, my calf was bright red, and swollen and hurt to the touch. It's not terrible, but it's a little concerning. I'm hoping that it's just sore ... I ran a whole bunch. But I'm working with the doctor and he gave me some cream to put on it and what not. Hopefully it should be good!! I'm not too worried about it.

My shoes ... I sent some pics to sam ... I'm really fine with them ... might be nice to have brand new shows when I get home ... I might be able to find some really really cheap ones here that would last the rest of my time ... like 12 bucks cheap, lemme know what you think!!

So this week was pretty low key, just built some kankei with the ward. It was good. Did some finding. I think that I'm finally realizing what I should be doing at church and how. Should be working with the ward. I learned like five members names and their jobs and I am actually friends with them now I think.

Speaking of members. The S. family, they lived by Centennial Park around 2001ish. Sisters, Brother, do you remember them at all? Their daughter wants to go back to Utah for college in a couple years. Do you remember any of em! I'm friends with the dad on Facebook and he commented on one of my pictures. They are so cool! I really like them.

Spirit bomb!!!
This week I learned the value of prayer. There were times where my leg hurt pretty bad, or times when I was just so tired or just so frustrated that it seemed like I couldn't go on. I wanted to give up so bad, I just wanted to throw in the towel and say I as done for the day and go straight back to sleep, but in those instances where I felt like I needed to keep going, but didn't see how I could I just said a simple prayer. And asked God for help and everything seemed to become alright. I was able to pull trough the next little bit, or deal with whatever happened until it seems less big of a deal. It was truly amazing. It's so nice to feel the influence of prayer on my life and to know that I have a personal relationship with my Heavenly Father. And that he hears me and listens to me and wants to help me so much that in high every instant that me let him in, the instant that I open that door, he rushes in as fast as he can.... Which is pretty fast.

Thanks for all the support you all have given me!! Love you all so much!!
Griffiths Choro

PS. We met a less active, we were chilling at the Eki and this guy comes and talked to us. He's a less active!? He hasn't been to church in like twenty years! But he still keeps all the commandments except for working on Sundays. Hence the not coming to church. He still reads the Book of Mormon and what not, way cool!!! We're going to visit him and it's going to be awesome!!
Way cool miracle


That's all!! iPadから送信
9405 7910

Monday, September 1, 2014

DD 10.25 ... How? ... I'm just so barreled!!! ...

You started off your last e-mail with the subject line of "so many bug bites ..." but you never explained. Did you get bit by bugs??? How many? We've spent a whole week wondering ...
There are mosquitoes here ... There weren't any in Kawagoe ... So it's just different!

Did you use any of the world's biggest aloe vera plant to soothe your bug bites? Loved that picture!
LoL, nope, if you touch it, it might just eat you alive!

How is the running going? do you run every day? Are you supposed to exercise for a certain amount of time each morning? Is exercise in your daily schedule?
Great!! Monday Wednesday and Friday, and whenever our peeps wanna go with us, so Saturday afternoon too!! We get thirtyish minutes each morning, and mostly just do push-ups and what not, so it's a nice change ...

What holiday is matsuri? How do they celebrate? Probably dumb question! Sorry.
Mwahahahahah, matsuri is Japanese for festival, and we have like two a week I swear!!

Did dad find your apartment? Can we get some pictures of the view from your apartment ... in the day light? Not that we didn't appreciate the night time view!!
Well ... let's just say that dad is really creepy, he even got our door right ... I don't even know how ... we're all impressed though. You'll have to teach me how one of these days ...

How is the brother you met housing? Are you teaching him?
We're trying to, he's really busy with work and stuff all the time!!

How is your watch holding up? Steamy on the inside?
My running watch ... fine, it's a beast!

How are your dress pants holding up? do you wash them often?
Yes, like twice a transfer, they're way nice, still hold a crease!!

How is your health? anything bothering you?
My shoulder a little bit, but I started stretching it, and it feels way better!!

Do you ever do presentations in young men's?
Not really ... we teach Gospel Principles each week ... in Japanese ... it's fun!!

Are there very many youth in the ward you are in now?
Meh, we go to seminary and there are five people there ... one sleeps all the time though.

Do you go to any church functions other than the 3 hour block on Sunday?
Sometimes ... if we have people going, or there are less actives, or new
members are going and they need the support!

Are there stairs in the building they are putting an elevator in?
Yes ... but there are some really old people, the elevator will be a blessing to them.

Elder Bednar talked at Education Week, he encouraged us to get involved in 5 areas of social media; is the missionary program being expanded, have you heard any thing? Or are you just using facebook?
I haven't heard anything yet!

Do you have a two week supply of food and water in your new apartment? Are you prepared for an emergency if one should occur? At least you don't have to worry about falling off the top bunk!
A picture is worth a thousand words ...
Yes, I also read President Monsoon's warning and made sure that we are prepared.

Do you have a full sized refrigerator in your apt? Mini one? Not one? Where do you keep all your beef?
I tried to eat this in Kawagoe ... but failed ...
It's decent ... we mostly buy chicken these days, beef is too expensive!

 Are any of your new roomies good cooks?
Elder Phillips is way good. He's always bustin out rib rub and what not!!

Delicious fatty ramen that I've had 3 times this week!!!
So good, but so bad for you!!
How are the missionaries in your district doing? Any investigators?
One named Sister A read the whole Book of Mormon in a week and said that
Christ's words touched her heart ... she's pretty solid for the 27th of September!!

My District, we gave our Bishop a Heart attack!!
Front: Griffiths Choro; Back:  
Turley Choro, Sabat Choro, Phillips Choro, Savage Shimai, Wharton Shimai, Miyaki Shimai, and Warren Shimai
Father, yes, you found my apartment ... it's kinda creepy how accurate you are every time, I love it, but it just blows my mind!! That's depressing about Tennessee I'm just heart broken that we (USU) lost to Tennessee ... it really is fun to write Tennessee. I feel good about the amount of missionaries in my home ward. I feel like shimai are always way more hardcore than Choros!!

Mommy dearest ... I'm so glad that you have such a good relationship with the missionaries in our ward ... they probably are creepin on your whole page in their member book ... I'd make them Italian chicken? Maybe tacos? Jk, not tacos, I just suggested those because I can't have em here. Italian chicken is really good.... Maybe give them stir fry and have them eat it with chopsticks!!! Yay!! Foreign country!! The only real suggestion that I have is when they leave, offer to help them with anything they need help with. Whether it's a role playing lesson, or a member present or how they can get in better with the ward ... if you think you know anyone who would want to hear more about church at school then maybe talk to them about how to invite them.

Tejay!! and Crystal!!! and children and dogs of various ages!!! Congratulations!!! I'm so excited to meet Spencer!! Dibs on tending
him when he's old enough to be with me!! We're going to have so much fun!! And TeJay ... as long as by help you with your sprinkling system, you mean dig a lot of holes in the middle of the day, I'm totally there!! I need to get tan and back in shape real quick when I get back!!! I look forward to helping you and the kiddies out!  Don't worry about the length of time between letters, I totally get that y'all are crazy busy!!!

Jandee!! I may, or may not, have seen some pictures of Waylon on Facebook ... and he looks way hardcore with vet wrap all over his face!! How did you guys make him so boss? I need to do the same thing to my kids!

Smash ... why did you go to Vegas? When did this happen? Also, how did Octoberfest get canceled again? I can't wrap my mind around it not being there when I get back! You have to be wrong!?! I will run it again, and I will get some free hot dogs when I win this coming year!!!!! Also I love that you turned a man into a shaved head man ... Very funny!! Made my day!

Strombkdkmskdklskxjslcjslslncnxbsmxjskcjdjalmc I'm glad school is going well it seems, I'm mean your super stressed, so you must be doing something right!!! It sounds like you're doing totally fine though!!! I'm glad that my letter was so touching... Sam told me that she was going to win, so I went deep down into this new found heart that I have and wrote that beautifully crafted letter!! Anyways!!

So today we went to zone P-Day and played quidditch ... On scale of one to
ten thousand it's definitely over nine thousand!! It was so much fun!! We're so playing it at every family reunion forever!! Loved it!! Also we had pizza from America!!! Whoo!!
Sabat Choro, Griffiths Choro
So this week we don't have a whole lot of time, so a quick spiritual note and then I'll send a bunch of pictures to sam with some stuff and she'll forward 'em to everyone!!

So my whole life, I've never been the best at anything. Like, I've been pretty good at some stuff, but I've never been the best at anything. It's always been kinda frustrating, but I realized this week, with me and my life, nothing will probably ever come easy to me, I'll probably struggle through a lot of stuff, but God always helps me in the small ways, just enough so that I can do it, not that I'm the best, but that I will be able to do it. When I first realized that I was a little angry, like God didn't want me to be the best at anything and that he only wanted me to have to work more than other people and not be as good as them. But then I realized that he always helps me to succeed, I just need to work for it first. It's like D&C 9, we need to do our best first and then God will tell us if were right or wrong and what not. Or he'll help us with the rest of the stuff that we need to do!!
Look what I found here ...
Anyways, thanks for all you do for me! I love you all so much!!
Griffiths Choro
9293 7893