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, June 22, 2015

Father's Day; 2015

Dear Dad,
A Final Blog Post ... Happy Father's Day

The last two years have been the most fun I have had in my life thus far. There have been the best of times and the worst of times but through it all I've learned so much. I feel like the thing that I’ve learned the most is that God really is our loving Heavenly Father. He is not some vague entity or a thousand different spirits that try to manipulate our lives. But He is our father, and He loves us. He knows who we are and He cares about all that we do. 

Through the good times, it as though I was rejoicing with the Lord every step of the way. I don’t think that I will ever forget the joy that we felt, miracles that we witnessed, and the light that seemed to spark in the eyes of others. Through the hard times when desire was low, when there wasn’t much cause for rejoicing I will always remember how much my faith was strengthened, how much I learned to rely on prayer, and how much the Lord provided for us.

I am so grateful to all the people that helped me out, the constant flow of letters encouragement, the endless prayers, the never ceasing love that I have felt from all my friends and family. I will never forget how much everyone else has done for me, because I know that I never could have done it myself.
Embracing the lawn after two years of no grass.
Mom retired my name tag the night I was released ... with it I retire my title of Elder & Choro ...  I realize that I’m no longer a missionary and there is no point in living in the past, no sense of not moving on. From here on, I’m going to focus on the future. I know what I want: Eternal Life in the Celestial Kingdom and I know what I have to do to get it.

Thanks for all you do dad. Thanks for always correcting my spelling and writing the blog post. Thanks for the great example that you are to all of us, thanks for all that you have taught over the years. I remember the scout camps and over-nighters, the merit badges and all the “lectures” that you have given us over the years. Thanks for being the world’s best dad, thanks for always taking care of us and making sure that we were doing great! You’re the best … and frankly because of that you have the best kids. We’re all so great because you’re so great! Thanks for all you do dad! I love you!!!!

Love, Trent

Friday, June 12, 2015

Flight Home ... I arrived 2 hours before I left ... #JapanTokyoMissionBenefits

26 Missionaries leave Tokyo on the 12th of June ...
... leaving a big hole in the Mission
... but they can't leave without having some fun with the President ...
 
Delta Air Lines DL 166
Departure  12 June 04:35 PM  Tokyo Narita Intl
Arrival  12 June 09:31 AM  Seattle Tacoma Intl
Duration  08:56 (Non stop)
Class  Economy (T)  Baggage allowance  2PC
Equipment  BOEING 777-200/300
Meal  Dinner
Track my flight:  https://flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL166


Delta Air Lines DL 346
Departure  12 June 11:30 AM  Seattle Tacoma Intl
Arrival  12 June 02:30 PM  Salt Lake City Intl
Duration  02:00 (Non stop)
Class  Economy (T)  Baggage allowance  2PC
Equipment  BOEING 737-800 (WINGLETS)



Meeting with Stake President
Friday 12 June 2015 @ 4:30 PM
Speaking in Sacrament Meeting
When:
Sunday 14 June 2015 @ 11:00 AM
Address:
1454 West 13200 South
Riverton, Utah 84065
(East of the Cemetery)

Monday, June 8, 2015

DD 16.65 ... My Last Letter ...

Did you get your last package?
Got it!

If your package doesn't arrive in time, can you have Budge Kaichou route it to another missionary in the Tokyo area? If so who do you want it to go to?
Already got it!

How did your baptism go? Who gave the talks?
It was great!!

Did you take pictures?
Of course.

Do you have enough church clothes for church on Sunday, or do we need to buy you more?
I think I should be okay, and if not, we can wash some I'll bring home! And then dry them in the dryer!

Did you bear your testimony one last time in Narita?
Like seven times ... they kept asking me at every chance they could!

Any problems with Dad's countdown pictures? Are they making your comp trunky?
No, they all laugh.

When you go to the temple, do you use the English Headsets or do you go native Japanese?
We watch it in English and all the other languages have headsets.

Any requests for your welcome home meal?? Everyone is staying for dinner to talk with you!!
Those burrito things that dad makes, and peanut butter fingers?

Did you buy any thing to bring home?
Not yet, but I got a lot of stuff given to me.

Can we help you with anything??
Let me know what I can leave here!

Are you flying home with other missionaries? or do you know yet?
I would assume so.

One last question I had about the Japanese Hymnal, are the numbers in your hymn the same as in the English hymnal? In other words is hymn number 94, Come Ye Thankful People? I hope so, because that will be the rest hymn that will be sung next week. Hymn 159, Now the Day is Over ... now that one really threw me for a loop, that is not a hymn I expected that you would call out as a favorite ... so are we talking about the same songs?
94 is Abide with Me; 'Tis Eventide
And 159 is Hope of Israel ... I guess they are different ... oops.


I don't think I have time to write you all back this week!
Griffiths Choro, Lin Choro, Frank-San
My week!
Tuesday, temple and we set a baptismal date with S-San for the second of August!! I'll try to take a picture with him tomorrow! And then we taught Kz-San that night.

Wednesday! We taught Kx-San and Y-San all sorts of good stuff, it was crazy!

Thursday! We went and visited Nk Ky-San who has an ingrown toe nail, don't worry, I clipped mine last week.  He couldn't come to church, then we taught M-San, my friend from when I was in Togane, then we met with K-San ... and he said, I have a question about the Book of Mormon, opened to Second Nephi ... and then I started to cry.
Harrision Choro, Lin Choro, Griffiths Choro, Morishita Choro
Friday.  We met M-San on Friday, then went to the area where the other elders left half way through and then I got asked to do the thought with like ten seconds to prep ... Interesting. But it was okay.

Saturday! We had eikaiwa and then we went to Chinese night ... I didn't understand anything.  Then in our way back we found a way cool guy named R-
San for the elders in Tokyo, he's from Constantinople we think ... way sweet!!

Then Sunday came! K-San got baptized, and the Shimai investigator M-San got baptized too! And we had the Yo-San couple come and Ya-San come and see it as well! It was way sweet!! They both bore testimony at the end, and it was so good! They're both so solid it's crazy! And then I was asked to bear my testimony because I didn't in Sacrament Meeting because I had to go pick up Y-San and what not, so that was a nice little surprise as well. Then we went to the Saito family home and had a dinner and a little bye bye party for me. It was fun, apparently I rock at bunny bunny. I cleaned everyone out.
Back:  Brother M-San, Harrison Choro
Front:  K-San, Morishita Choro, Lin Choro, Griffiths Choro, Brother and Sister S-San, Ik-San
That's the week pretty much!
Dad, I finally went and saw Hachiko in Shibuya
Harrison Choro, Morishita Choro, Hachiko, Griffiths Choro, Lin Choro
List of things I want to chuck:
The outer shell of my  Mack coat
Most of my white shirts ... they're all trashed
My thermals?
My sweaters?
All the medicine that you sent me ... that I never used ...
Some of my slacks
One pair of my church shoes
My running shoes
My sheets? And old pillow case! Someone sent me a new one!

I'll see you on Friday!!!

Some people keep emailing me about when and where I will be speaking ... what's the churches address and what time does it start? I have no idea.
14 June 2015 @ 11:00
1454 W 13200 S
Riverton, Utah 84065
13245 12480

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

DD 16.56 ... 台湾人だから言えないです ...

A few questions about going to the Grocery Store/Market:
Do you go to the grocery store or to the Market?
From this week on, we're going to a supermarket.

How often do you, as Missionaries, go shopping for food?
Once a week, on pDay.

Do members have a pantry and refrigerator and go shopping once a week like we do?
Some of them do, but a lot of their homes are just too small and they can't.

How much of an impact did the Earthquake on Saturday have on you in Narita?
We felt it ... and we're like, ooh, this ones pretty big, but not really.

Did you hear about Elder L. Tom Perry, he passed away on Saturday?
Yes, they announced it in church on Sunday.

Mom's complaining about how hot it is, we haven't even hit 90 yet, it looks like you have cooler weather than we have in Utah, how does it feel to you?
Crazy hot ... not to mention we're out riding our bikes all day.

We got a very complementary letter from your Mission President ... lots of good things to say, we'll save it for you. What did you use to bribe him to say such nice things about you?
I gave him baptisms.

Is your baptism still on for Sunday? Does that conflict with fast and testimony meeting?
Yes!!! Got interviewed and everything. It won't be that much of a problem, but just a little bit. There's another member getting baptized as well that day too! Sister M.

Do you have any wards in Japan that have Sacrament Meeting at the end of the 3 hour block or do they all meet for Sacrament Meeting during the 1st hour?
Right now Narita does, but that will change in July ... I heard the change will be world wide.

How is the sister that you are teaching by phone doing? Still reading the book of mormon?
Good, went up and visited her yesterday, she's totally golden.

Are you able to read and view dad's picture e-mails?? Space potatoes!!!
I saw ... and I almost cried.
Potatoes after a winter in the basement ...
What is your favorite hymn when sung in Japanese?
94

Do you have a favorite hymn that you would like to sing as the intermediate hymn??
94 ... or 159 ... can we sing both ... it's all good?

Father! What happened in the basement? I can't even handle looking at it ... I am getting all the pictures that you send me ... one of my roommates finds them funny ... he's also American ... everyone else is just very confused. Thanks for the info about Sunday. I'll try to start thinking of some stuff to talk about and what not!

Mother! Seriously though, what happened to the potatoes? I was in shock when I saw them. But, I can tell exactly how excited you are about me coming home by how short your emails are getting. Sounds great getting my phone back, I don't know who keeps calling me though ... I'll call them all back in a week and see what's up.

Tejay! I'm willing to guess that we could turn it into a huge zip line if we wake up early enough in the morning!! That's way rough having to let someone go at work.  I hope that I never have to do that. Just be careful that you don't be too cautious finding someone new or you might never find someone. Good luck!!

Sam ... Here's the plan, when I get back on Friday, I'll take some of that powder stuff, I'm assuming corn starch and some flour ... put it in my mouth, hold a lighter up and breathe out fire, then put it on Facebook and tell everyone that I'm back and my home coming is on the 14th and what not ... sounds good right? Good to know that me coming home now has some perks, cuz I really don't wanna come back.

Stormed the Castle. Good to hear that you cleaned house and made dinner ... that's sounds so grown up like! Very sad that no one even came home though ... that's tough. That's hilarious that you're so sad about school ending, remember at the beginning of the year when you were freaking out all the time? I do, and I wasn't even there ... think of how next year will be?

This week was pretty good.
Tuesday. We visited our recent convert and friend. Brother Nk-San. He's doing good. Tired and old, but he's still pretty genki. I forgot to text him back after asking him how he wanted to improve ... apparently since I'm such a young buck I'm not supposed to ask people that. He scolded me for using impolite Japanese, well, friendly Japanese, and then said that I was the type of person that could forgive people ... he then proceeded to make fun of me ... you'll be pleased to hear that I've grown, rather than pointing out broken protocols, flaws, or try and defend myself, I simply apologized, and told him that I was in the wrong and that I would try to improve ... and that all I wanted was the best for him ... Crazy.

Wednesday. We had interviews with Budge Kaichou, since it wasn't our last one, we got to talk about normal stuff instead of trunky business like everyone else. It was nice. Lots of good advice for dealing with our investigators.

Thursday. We went over to the Bishop's house with everyone, pictures on facebook, one of the assistants came with the other elders, and gave a boss lesson on everything church! It was way sweet! And there was so much food!!!
     
Bishop & Griffiths Choro  Lin ChoroLin Choro
     
Morishita Choro  Harrison Choro  We made Soba
Friday! We went and blitzed Yachiyo. And Free Choro and I found a kid, we didn't get his number or anything, but he and his family used to go to a Catholic Church in Narita, but it's too far for them so they're looking for a new church near by ... they live right by ours ... his name Ik-San ... Stop!!! ... right now, as you read this email ... now say a little prayer for him and his family that they'll come to church this week.

Saturday. We had the talent show, I'll try to send some videos, but I don't know if I will be able to!

Sunday! Sorted things out for K-San's baptism. And then he threw down on everyone, he helped the shimai teach, then the other choros teach, then he pretty much set a baptismal date for them with Sister M ... it was pretty cool to see.

Monday, we went back to Kashimajingu, and Y-San.  She believes everything we say, but she is easily confused ... for example, she thought Christ was a terrible person because he crucified someone, then she wanted to know why he was so bad if he was crucified ... then we had to explain everything ... again ... maybe my language skills aren't as good as I thought ... it's good though, she's got a gift for grandma she wants me to bring home with me; she is so nice.


t-Day - Pictures with companions; current and former
Lin Choro & Griffiths Choro - Narita

Griffiths Choro & Williams - Chiba

Griffiths Choro & Yoshino Choro - Kawagoe
Then we have this morning, we're meeting S-San tonight with the dendou shunin, and we're gonna try to set a baptismal date with him, so it should be fun to see what's happens!!

My Declaration:
I carry no white flags.
I will not stop, slow down, or give up,
Because I know that He wouldn't either.

Notes for my Talk:
Hello everyone!
We as humans, are born, and live and we'll all die. But right now, I want everyone to imagine for just a moment that it's the year SEIREKI four thousand and fifty. Do you think that you, your name, will still be remembered? Will people still talk about your life and all that you did? Will people look up to your example?
  • But the year four thousand is two thousand years from now. And two thousand years ago, someone lived, and someone died, just like all of us. But people still talk about him, almost everyone on the entire planet has heard his name. That person is Jesus Christ.
  • Christ has several roles that make him pretty memorable:  he was a prophet, he set up his church, and taught people all about gods plan.
  • He showed everyone how to get to eternal life. He showed us all what we need to do to be eternally happy.
  • Next, he was the son of God. He performed miracle after miracle. Healed the sick, caused he blind to see, the lame to walk.
  • Lastly, he preformed the atonement was killed on the cross and rose from the dead.
  • He lives today ... through the atonement ... gift.
  • When I think about how Christ has an influence on me today,私たちにはできないと思うようなことをキリストを通してできます
  • Share mosiah 24:8-15
  • Christ will save us from any situation, from the worst of the worst, to the small things, like me talking in front of people.
  • All we have to do is have faith.
Testify that Christ lives today and helps us.

So this week we made declarations about our personal beliefs ... and I had to talk in church. See them above --^ ... my talk is what I looked at, and yeah, I know, I'm turning into Dad ... but it was good!

Love you all! You're the best!!
Elder Griffiths
13160 12383

Saturday, May 30, 2015

8.5 Earthquake gives Tokyo little Buzz

A magnitude-8.5 earthquake struck off the Ogasawara Islands south of Tokyo on Saturday evening, jolting wide parts of the Kanto region and causing moderate tremors in many parts of the archipelago, the Meteorological Agency said.

No tsunami warning was issued by the agency, and no serious injuries or major damage were immediately reported in the Ogasawara chain by local authorities.

In Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, a woman in her 70s sustained a minor injury when dishes fell on top of her head at home. In Minato Ward, Tokyo, a building elevator stopped suddenly, trapping people inside.
Quake took a toll on liquor section at supermarket in Saitama
The quake, which measured upper-5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7, occurred at 8:24 p.m. at a depth of 590 km (370 miles) below the seabed west of the Ogasawara chain, the agency said. Given the depth of the epicenter, slow lateral vibrations continued for about a minute.

The Otemachi district in central Tokyo registered an intensity of 4 on the Japanese scale, and many areas in neighboring Kanagawa Prefecture were rocked more violently, according to data released by the agency. The town of Ninomiya, facing Sagami Bay, registered upper-5.

On Chichijima Island in the Ogasawara chain, communities experienced powerful jolts. NHK quoted Yoshiyuki Sasamoto, who runs a local inn, as saying things started to fall from shelves as the tremors continued.

Following the quake, the government quickly set up an emergency task force at the prime minister’s office to assess the situation.

Tokyo Electric Power Co. said no damage had been reported at its Fukushima No. 1 and No. 2 nuclear power stations.

But a power outage briefly affected a combined 600 households in Adachi Ward, Tokyo, and the city of Fujimino, Saitama Prefecture, Tepco reported.

Central Japan Railway Co. and East Japan Railway Co. suspended operations on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line.

In Tokyo, the Yamanote Line and other rail routes were halted for safety checks. NHK footage showed many people stranded at major hub stations, including Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro.
Crowds of commuters formed around some of the busier stations as trains stopped
“The number of quakes seems to be rising these days, and I’m worried,” said a 34-year-old office worker stuck at Tokyo Station.

A college student who gave up waiting in a long line at a bus stop outside Shibuya Station said he had no choice but to spend the night at a friend’s apartment.

The Tokaido shinkansen and some other lines later resumed operation after safety was confirmed.

Haneda airport in Tokyo temporarily closed its runways for safety checks but resumed services within an hour.

US reports earthquake as a 7.8

Monday, May 25, 2015

DD 16.45 ... お父さんホラ!聖餐会を通訳しましたよー!!! ...

How was your week?
Pretty good ...

How is the Thai lady from Kamisu doing? Are you teaching her?
Yep, she's read First Nephi 31 and said that she wants to get the spirit ... we think she means baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost, but we can only teach her over the phone for now, so it's really hard,

Can you teach her if you have to ride the train for 90 minutes to get there?
Yeah, we call her and her dad ...

How did the blitz in Oyumino go? Did it yield any new investigators?
Good, a couple of people!

How far away is Oyumino?
Like an hour and twenty minutes south of Chine Eki, at Kamatori station ... if dad wants to find it: (鎌取駅).

How is your "five baptisms in a month challenge" going?
Good, last month we had four!

Did you do anything fun this pDay? sightseeing?
Super sized ramen!!!
So much garlic and ramen today,
it was so garlicky, that I couldn't even finish it. It burned so much!!
Which would you choose to do over again, your last two weeks? or your first two weeks??
First two weeks, I would change so much.

What was the big gathering at the church that we saw on FaceBook?? so glad you have it back!!
We had a SA BBQ with the stake ... so much meat!!!

Did you learn any new Japanese words this week?
送別パーティとか人種別主義者とかナンデヤネンとか色々学んでいますよ。心配しないでね!

Were any new and delicious foods eaten or prepared this week?
We're going to cook squid for the first time, and I had a baby one earlier in the week.
Baby Squid
If there was a possibility of working (at a job where they actually pay you) this summer, would you like to do so??
Of course!! I don't even care what I would be doing! Sign me up as soon as I get home please!!


Father ... I translated sacrament meeting into english a couple weeks ago, and I would say that I understand like duty percent of what they said ... but translating is crazy hard, so I might be off. It depends on what we're talking about. In lessons I've been told that my Japanese is almost perfect ... but when we get talking about math or school or other things then I get shaky, but still understandable.

Mother! In Japan daily, no, they don't do anything like Memorial Day for their past people or soldiers. They just  remember all their ancestors and what not, it's kinda cool; they all have like little shrines in their houses ... I hate to phrase it this way since it sounds religious, but it's kind of like a glorified scrapbook, pictures and what not, and then stuff to make it look fancy.

Sam ... we shall eat all that we can eat when I get home ... we went to all you can eat pancakes last week, but it took like ten minutes for them to grill us two, and they were way small, so we had to leave, and we had only eaten like nine each ... very sad ... but surprisingly Delicious! Sounds like your life is fine and what not! The cabin-house thing sounds good, I'm dying to know what you and Abi are doing in that picture though, I honestly have no idea ...

Storm ... my companion told me he thinks you're crazy for giving that guy your phone number ... but, if you do get married, he would probably explode something at your wedding ... which would be way sweet! Imagine an exploding cake!!  I can't think of anything better!!!

So this week,
Tuesday. Went in splits with Morishita Choro!! It was way sweet, we taught Tk-San and threw down on the great apostasy ... pretty much we read Jesus the Christ with him, and then he was like ... well your church just rocks doesn't it? And we was all like yes, it kinda does! Then we taught Ok-San and got three Dr. Peppers from Sister T ... Which I carried home on my bike! And then drank all of them! It was soo good!

Wednesday! We had eikaiwa and what not.

Thursday. We met with F-San and with K-San! F-San is good. He's wants to get baptized, but is struggling a bit with the word of wisdom. K-San is good, he is just ready to get in the font ...

Friday, we went and played ping pong and had a way sweet lesson at FHE.

Saturday. Eikaiwa and the BBQ, ate so much meat.
Sunday, only K-San came to church ... tt was the first time in a long time that we didn't have a lot of people coming. Also it was Yuuyas Choro's farewell, and it was way boss, like all of the youth who are less active came to hear him speak. Even the stake presidents daughter came all the way from Tokyo to hear him, it was so good! He's such a boss, and he's going to Sapporo ... so he'll be one of the Frozen Chosen; it should be so good, he's so amazing!!

Anyway, this week was good. The thing that I feel as though I have learned the most, isn't really this week, but over the course of my whole mission ... everyone is all trying to be more like Christ. Sometimes, I look back and realize how unChristlike I was, and I just feel bad.  The church really is a like a giant hospital and we're all sick and just trying to get better. As a missionary, I feel like I'm just another patient who is trying to help a lot of other people who are no worse than I am.

Well, that's about all the time I have this week, so I have to jet, but love you all, and if you have any other questions let me know! I'll send pictures later!

Love you all! Elder Griffiths!
13033 12246

Monday, May 18, 2015

DD 16.35 ... ヤッホータイ人を見つけたんだいよ!!!

We still want a selfie of you and your companion. Can we have one?
Lin Choro, Griffiths Choro, in Kamisu
What kind of food did you eat last week which was indigenous to Taiwan?
... none yet ... we will get on it.

Still waiting on a picture of you sitting Criss Cross Crapple Sauce ... by now you should be a pro ... are we going to get one?
I'll try ... 

How are your investigators doing? old and new?
Great!!

Did you buy anything yet to bring back from Japan? a sword? a suit? a Japanese tea set? a kimono?
Not yet, I have a ramen bowl! And spoon! Also a bunch of Chinese charms from different people!

How hot is it there? any rain?
So hot, and typhoons like once a week.

Is your baptism still a go?
Yes!

Did you talk in church today? We couldn't remember when you were speaking!
I did, and will again in two weeks,

Did you get to listen to Elder and Sister Bednar's face2face broadcast??
Nope.

How are your feet doing? Any problems?
They're tired and sore ... but that's about it.

Is your bike doing well? Holding together?
Better than me actually. I'm tired, but she still runs like a stallion.

Do you ever encounter pets in the houses of the people you teach? Dogs or cats or birds?
S-San has two dogs ... and F-San has a bird.

If so, are you allergic?
To the dogs, yes ... it is pretty bad ... the bird, totally fine.

So this week.
Monday. We talked to you all, played basketball, and taught a bunch of people about the gospel.
The Zone at Zone p-Day
Tuesday. We went to Kamisu!!! It took us an hour and a half by train to get to Kashimajingu Station where we hit it hard. There used to be a branch out in Kamisu, but there wasn't enough priesthood holders, so they shut it down ... so we went out wanting to find people to come to church the following Sunday.  Once a month they have a sacrament meeting out there. So we prayed and we went!  We found a Thai lady that used to have a Book of Mormon and wanted to come to church! She's in her fifties ... she wants to introduce me to her cousin in Washington, and she wants to give grandma a gift through me ... she's way nice ...
A way cool shine thing we found about samurai!!
Wednesday. We called our friend I-San, and it turns out that he really wants to come to church and everything, but he has a problem with his legs, and because they hurt so bad and he needs surgery, he can't come.  We're going to try to keep working with him, but he has trouble focusing because the pain is so bad ... but we'll keep calling him! And he's way funny ...

Thursday. We met with K-San and trained him so he'll help us teach all of our investigators about word of wisdom issues. Then that night we met with K-San and the other Choro's investigator M-San ... pretty much, K-San testified for us and taught for us ... he's pretty solid ...
Brother F-San, Morishita Choro, Harrison Choro, Lin Choro, Brother Tk-San, Griffiths Choro
Friday. We went to zone meeting and then did a blitz in Oyumino ... also, we got Facebook back!!! Wahoo!! Then I got wrecked by Lin Choro in pinging ... turns out the stereotypical Asian is truly good at everything ...

Saturday. I got wrenched by Lin Choro in tennis as well ... we also taught a different K-San, and his dad isn't doing so well, which is really sad, he can't even stand up or anything. It's way sad.

Sunday, I went to Kamisu, and Lin Choro held down the fort here in Narita and gave a talk. Y-San, the Thai Jin we found on Tuesday, brought her dad to church as well!! It was great!! The members there welcomed them so well! Pretty much all of church was geared towards them ... pretty much a lesson with like ten members present ... pretty sweet!
Me after a long day at church ...
And then today we're fasting for the stake to see five baptisms in a month, so it's gonna be a sweet day!!!

Father! I just want to let you know that all of you wrote about the same thing this week, SAM's marathon ... and Abi's car ... good to hear that you can still draw parallels from the real world and relate them to me, always comforting!!

Mom!  ...  it's good to know that Clyde is still going strong ... ironic isn't it ... everyone said that he would be the first to die, but here he is, championing it up. If Abi needs him, she can take him ... and I know, I can't believe I'm saying this either, but my bike should be good enough for me for a while when I get back.

Finisher! That's so cool that you did it!! When I get home, give me a year ... probably less, and then lets do it again! I mean you have already done one ... in less than five hours? You said miles, but I assume you meant hours. And so now you can just tell me what to do and how to run it ... I mean I guess you already did it ... Step one: Start running ... and there is no step two ...

Stormed on Abi! Sorry to hear about Jetson! That's no good! When does school end!?! Are you gonna come hang out with me all the time? I feel like I might be kind of bored ... for a while! Come over all the time ... maybe I'll take my bike up to your apartment ... by the way, I really miss my mountain bike ... it's still hanging up in the garage, right? I'm so excited to have my shocks back again!

As for being spiritually uplifted, this week I've been thinking a lot about being Christlike. We all have goals and we all want to be spiritually powerful, but in the end, we all really just want to be more Christlike. I was reading some of Jesus the Christ this morning before study started and I found the following quote, "Have you some besetting weakness, some sinful indulgence that you have vainly tried to overcome? Like the malignant demon that Christ rebuked in the boy, your sin may be of a kind that goeth out only through prayer and fasting."

The scripture that it refers to is where Christ casts out the demon that the apostles tried to, but weren't able to. And then it goes on to talk about faith ... the comparison between effective faith and a grain of mustard seed is one of quality rather than of quantity; it connotes living, virile faith, like unto the seed, however small, from which a great plant may spring, in contrast with a lifeless, artificial imitation, however prominent or demonstrative.

What really stuck out to me in both of these paragraphs was the fact that we all have the same weakness in the end; we, the whole human race, are not perfectly Christlike. Some are closer than others, but we all essentially have the same disease, which can only be conquered by not only having faith, but working our faith. Working faith that's the size of a mustard seed, if it's living, virile faith, can have the power to move mountains, to cast out the strongest of demons from our lives, and help each and everyone of us, become more like Christ. So how do we do that? Through fasting and prayer is what Christ said to His disciples on that day at the base of the mount. He had fasted and prayed, and they had not. With both fasting and with prayer, the more we put into it, the more we can receive. The more we work our prayers, and fasting, the more our strength will grow, and in the end, the more Christlike we can become.
Harrison Choro, Morishita Choro, Griffiths Choro, Lin Choro
Choro's before church waiting for everyone to come ... we were too early ...
So all in all, that's what I did this week..
Love you all! Elder Griffiths!!
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Sunday, May 10, 2015

DD 16.24 ... Mother's Day ...

Funny story ... ok, not that funny ... we used the same time schedule from Christmas for Mother's day
(10:30 am on Monday Japan Time, 6:30 pm on Sunday Utah Time)
... it turns out we forgot to adjust for Daylight Savings Time ... call starts at 6:30, NOT ...
... Around 6:45, Trenton was in BIG TROUBLE ...
... around 6:50, Elder Griffiths still had 40 minutes before he would even try to call ... Dad's Bad.



We got this idea for a family picture from the Paxman's ... Thanks.
New news from Japan ... aparently the missionaries in Tokyo have been asked NOT to flash the "peace sign" while being photographed ... I think Sam is just expressing appreciation for two parentals in her life today, not just for Mom on this Mother's day.

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

#TimeForMom: Make a Mother's Day Happy


Starting Friday join us to see how much time we can give back to moms within 48 hours. Share your moments using #TimeForMom and they will count the hours you are giving to make a mother’s day happy.

Monday, May 4, 2015

DD 16.15 ... オイース!!...

So really fast, the rules changed, and we are allowed to read emails whenever ... thus, I would like an apple crisp recipe as soon as you get this email, please, ... we have apples that are about to go bad ...

Did you do anything for your birthday?
Went to dinner and then to lunch today!! The dinner was with a member at their home, Sabbath day was all good.
Happy Birthday Griffiths Choro
Where is your new companion from? City and country?
Pingtung City ... Taiwan

Does he speak Cantonese or Mandarin?
Mandarin, Taiwanese, English and Japanese, no one uses Cantonese except in Hong Kong.

Will you send us a picture of you and your new comp?
Clockwise from Left:
Harrison Choro, Lin Choro, Morishita Choro, Griffiths Choro
How big is your district?
Seven.

How is your makeshift bike holding up?
Great!, it's crazy fast!

Have you thought of buying a few extra links for your bike chain?
I don't need the last three gears ... I never go below five.

For next week's mothers day, is the call still on?? See dad's email for info!
Sounds good!!!!

How are you doing health wise? feeling OK?
I'm tired this week, but good!!

Did you do anything fun for pDay?
Went to Indian Curry!!

What was your greatest adventure this week?
... teaching S-San today.

Try any new foods?
We're going to eat Taiwanese food this week.
Griffiths Choro, Morishita Choro, Harrison Choro, Lin Choro
How are your investigators doing? 
K-San, he's doing good, he's still looking good for the seventh, I just want to make sure that he's in it to win it, not just to try it out, I want to find out if he really believes or not. I don't want to just baptize him only to have him fall away. He's doing good though, it's progress!!!

S-San, we met with him just now with the Stake President ... and now he's starting to pray about baptism as well ... it was way sweet!!! He'll need a little time, he has some things he needs to figure out, but he's doing good for the time being!

F-San, he's kind of interesting, we're working with the Bishop and his mom to find out what we can/should do ...  but he does really want to get baptized, so we call it a win for now.
Look what we found on Saturday Night
Street Music ... it's so cool (@ 41 Seconds)

Father!! Thanks for the birthday wish and the advice about last areas! Thanks for all the letters too!!! One or two youth speakers ... I'll let you decide. I can go long and prove a good point, or short and powerful ... I once taught all five lessons and set a baptismal date in under a hour ... so it's whatever...

Mother!! I love it that the number two reason you love me is that I don't eat your cereal ... good to know ... I scored lots of good points there, sweet!!! Thanks for the letter and the video! It means a lot that u guys did a video and sent it ... I know how much you love to make videos of yourself.

TeJay!! Thanks for letter and advice! Your kids are adorable! And I'm so excited to play with them when I get home!! Porter is so big and Spencer is so cute!!! Thanks for the pictures! too!
Jandee! Thanks for the pictures! And I'm way excited to go swimming with the boys when I get back ... if I can remember how to do it. I'm really out of shape. Thanks for the birthday wish!

Sam!! Good luck on your marathon, thanks for the knowledge that turning twenty is super lame, glad I'm out of that phase! Good to know! I'm so excited to run your half marathon with you!!

Storm! I almost died when I saw your scarf!! It's so classy! Thanks for the videos and what not, it was way sweet!! Also it was good to know that school is going well ... even if it's long!

So this week I have no time. Like five minutes left ... just wanted to say that I love you and and that it was a great year! It doesn't really feel like I turned twenty-one, but then again, it doesn't really feel like I turned twenty yet either ... I honestly just feel older than everyone else here ... by like eight transfers ... it's crazy!!!

This week we've been thinking a lot about ward mission plans and what it takes to have a good one, and I decided  that it needs a lot of personal testimony. If you don't know that it's true, than you can't share it with those around you.

Anyways, need to go, I'll try to send some pictures too!!
Love, Elder Griffiths
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