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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Last night we made Samurai Armor out of cardboard, see accompanying photos ... 

Mcknight Choro & Griffiths Choro

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

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

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

How was the 4th of July?

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

How was fast Sunday at the MTC?

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

What time do you go on those temple walks on Sundays???

      Apparently it is highly discouraged to meet missionaries while they are on their temple walks ... nice try though :-)

Back:  Berrett Shimai, Kelson Shimai, Palmer Shimai, Wilson Shimai, Edwards Shimai, Hubner Shimai
Front:  McKnight Choro, Griffiths Choro, Scott Choro, Justesen Choro, Killpack Choro, Barnes Choro

What is your Elder Japanese name?

      Everyone asks me and I don’t know. I will get my katakana tag later, probably a week before I leave, other than that I think that it is going to be Gurifittsu Choro, but I am not really sure yet.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My District on the 4th of July, my Companion is 2nd from the left, with glasses

My District in front of the Temple on a Sunday Temple Walk
Back:  Wilson Shimai, Edwards Shimai, Hubner Shimai,
Berrett Shimai, Kelson Shimai, Palmer Shimai
Front:  McKnight Choro, Griffiths Choro, Turley Choro,
Justesen Choro, Barnes Choro, Killpack Choro

Note: Picture which Sam sent to Trenton, which made him laugh, was the following quote:

Smells fresh.
Like a tropical island.

Ok; now take off the blindfold!
Your family's been dead in this car for a week!
We Febrezed it!

... in the broadcast ... shenanigans ...

Things are going well here, I was in the broadcast thingy on Sunday, it was pretty cool. if you go to lds.org, I believe that it is the cover photo/ video thing. Its like the world wide leadership conference, maybe Hastening the Work of Salvation (Click here for the Video The Work of Salvation). Anyway, at 1 hour, 53 minutes and 39 seconds there is a nice shot of my companion (Elder Quinton Mcknight) and I (also at 0:02:34). I will be wearing a blue and red stripped tie, if any one cares ...

I have gained twenty pounds since I got here (3 weeks earlier), but have had to start wearing my belt on a tighter loop ... I am so confused with this matter. Need less to say I have found out where they serve the doughnuts for breakfast and my eating habits have returned to normal. No more heavy dense food for me!!! back to the sugary crud!! oh the deliciousness that is my life.

TeJay and Crystal your son is adorable! I am so excited to babysit him when I get home and am considered to be a responsible adult. I am so excited to see him grow up over the next two years though.  I have cravings to be immature, but everyone here is all about the learning.  I am glad that he can ... for lack of a better word, scoot across the floor and has become some what mobile. When he is a bit older I would love to see him riding SyutSing (TeJay's dog) like the majestic stallion that she is.  Thank you for going to Hong Kong and learning tones. Whenever I feel intimidated by Japanese, I just remember that you learned tones ... sevenish of them; I realize I should really buck up and learn this. Thank you for that.

JanDee, I am glad to hear that I am setting an example to Waylon and Axton and simply look forward to the day when they will do the same for my children!

The plague has struck the MTC a couple weeks ago and my immune system, being as awesome as it was, fought it off entirely ... then, the all clear was given, and then my dear branch president decided to give us all hugs ... three hours later I threw up all over the bathroom ... it was a delightful treat to clean up at 1 in the morning.

I was totally fine after a day and am back to my old shenanigans, such a great word. We found some exercise bands and made some dodge balls out of tape, and well being the engineer that I am, and having the maturity of a three year old ... now we get to play extreme dodge ball every night ... its pretty great. 

Sam and A..... B....... CUMULONIMBUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope that all is well on the home front, sorry that it is so hot ... oh waaaaait just think of next summer when I am in Japan and it will be humid ... mwahahahaha I win. 

I miss you guys a lot, but I'm glad to know that everyone is doing okay with out me! Oh I almost forgot, if you could refer to me as Uncle Awesome around the grandchildren that would be great; because I mean what is more awesome than sharing the gospel? Nothing ... except maybe eating a few doughnuts whilst doing it.

Elder Griffiths

ps. also I got a Pokemon sticker for the back of my name tag ... we called it blending in with the culture.

Have you been able to go to the temple yet?

      we went every Tuesday until now ... it will be closed until we leave.

How is your wart doing? Did it ever fall off? (please wear shower shoes)

      Warty is gone!!!!! Sad to say that I miss him a little bit.

729 Days 23 Hours 30 Minutes 0 Seconds Left @ 1:30 on the 5th of June 2013

Trenton actually became a missionary on June 4, 2013 @ 9:15 PM.  He was set apart by President John Arens in the High Council room of the Riverton Utah Stake Center.

We arrived at the MTC in Provo at 12:54 and was leaving the MTC by 12:58.  Official Countdown begins on June 5, 2013 @ 1:00 PM :-)

The last picture we took 5 June 2013