DD 1.15 ... I'm totally in Japan ... Watanabe Choro

I don't know if y’all realize this, but I’m totally in Japan!!!!!!!!!!

Its way great here, but first things first, the scripture case was too small, I will be fine though, I was able to get my scriptures here all right, and hopefully I will be able to buy a case at the hundred yen store, rather than getting an 80 dollar package with a case which might not work.

Second, the flight was alright. I sat between two sisters from my zone, one from my district, so that was good. It was weird not having a companion for 11 hours, but it was alright! I was in the very center of the plane so no window, but I did have a glass panel under my feet to see beneath me. Tell you what, Japan airlines are way SWEET!!!!!! Suteki desu yo ne!!!! As we would say here ...

We got in around eleven thirty, but by the time we got to the church, where the elders slept, it was like one in the morning. We slept on futons that night; they are way comfy turns out!

We spent a day in training, and then the next day we met out trainers and left to go to our new areas. Saying goodbye to my district wasn't that hard, because we didn't really get to say good bye, it all went so fast!

It is way hot here; my trainer is a Nihonjin ... that means that he is Japanese ... his English is pretty good, for being in Japan his whole life. It’s rough sometimes, but I feel as though it will help me out in the long run. I already understand a lot more than I did before.

I didn't get a bike yet, because my debit card does NOT work in Japan, any advice? Thanks, there are two other elders in my apartment, another Nihonjin, and another one from Australia, but he has been here 18 months, so he’s way good at the Japan speak. It’s been rough, but I love it here!!!

The first day with my trainer, we just went to a ghetto little convenience store for lunch, we had to hurry, because we had a lesson that night right when we got back. It was interesting, it was like bread with chocolate on it ... I know right, but it was way good!!! That lesson went well, I helped teach a little bit, but it still went well, we actually met with that same guy again today. The next day we taught six lessons ... unheard of right! My companion is way good!!!! He is amazing!!!! He is so hard working, his name is Watanabe Choro, he’s so little and adorable and ASIAN!!!!!

Griffiths Choro & Watanabe Choro

The food here is way good, although it is doing funny things to my insides, mostly its ramen and curry, but not hot curry, its more sweet though. It makes my pooh orange ... I know, I’m a little concerned. I hope that I will get more used to it as I eat more of it, but I really don’t know yet.

My toilet is normal, in my apartment and at the church, but today actually I really had to go, like way bad, so we stopped at the Inage train station, and I used the toilet there ... now imagine how flexible I am, or am not; and remember that my friend has been telling me for weeks that japan is a first world country ... so in I go, and lo and behold ... I see a hole in the ground ... not just any hole tough, this thing is high tech, I’m talking automatic flush with like a jet tube that shoots your pooh down when you done, but still, it’s a hole in the ground ... so yeah ... this is gonna be interesting! I survived though, and more importantly, so did my pants ... wahoo!!!! Never again! I will hold it till we get to the church or back home! Is this what you mean by, think of it as an adventure; it was fun though. I need to get a picture to send to you ... it’s pretty cool actually, new life goal - be able to use those things effectively.

This week the weather hasn't been too bad, its bloody hot, but my native companion sweats more than I do, so I think that I’m doing alright. Its soooooooooo humid here, we got off the plane and it was like "this tunnel is really hot," and then we realized that it was the whole country!!! It’s pretty nice tough, shaving is nice! I like that heat, it feels good. We sleep on futons at night, they are way comfy and the sheets you sent me are great!! I love them!!! In the mornings, we just work out in the room, I have not been running yet, but maybe I will go someday.

I love Budge Kaichou (President Budge, the Mission President), he so chill, and so great! They are way nice people!!!! I am currently serving in Chiba area inside of Chiba zone! Its great here! My companion and his old companion had a baptism yesterday (for me) so I got to have one on my first week, here! It was great, and because the elder that baptized him is my old companions trainer I got to see my MTC doryo too! It was great!

I hear that if you want to ship anything here, you should use amazon! I am good for now though, I can get everything at the shopping center here, its massive!!

Natto

Bad story time: so walnuts are way expensive, so I figured I was pretty safe, I mean who spends 600 Yen for a couple ounces, no one! That is ridiculous, but apparently this sister really loves the missionaries, so I took a bite of a delicious cookie, it was small and my reaction wasn't that bad at all, but still, I was humbled by the Lord!

I think that I might get to eat Natto this week sometime; that will be fun. Natto is the fermented beans ... thing, it looks like snot in a can with giant boogers in it ... yeah ... oshie des ne?

Onto my family, I am sorry that y’all are starting school this week; that is hard always. I am jealous of the hot air balloon festival, and the running, that sounds way sweet;

I am also excited to check out said blog, I think that I will look just once (he can’t get to it, blogger.com is blocked). Can you tell how many people have looked at it? I think that that would be cool, have dad work on applying a counting program to see how many hits my life gets. Also feel free to put anything from my letters in it, anything you guys hear from around the world can also go in it. I hope that all is going well.

I love it here though; everyone is great and loves the missionaries! I think that coming home will be harder than coming out though; but I have two years until that happens.

DD 1.15 ... rejected for exceeding ...

Ouch!!! My Debit card does not work in Japan ... I am not sure what to do.  I used it in the MTC, I think I did ... and it worked fine. I am unable to purchase a bike because I have insufficient cash ... I don't know what to do. I pushed the English button, put my card in, and hit the withdrawal button; the ATM said my card was not accepted and gave it back to me.

Your card has already been activated to work in Japan.

Here is what appears to have happened:

You Selected English

You Inserted your Card

You Entered your Pin Number

You Selected Withdrawal

You Entered in a very big number, likely exceeding 50,000 Yen (a little over $500.00 US)

Your transaction was rejected for exceeding the withdrawal limit of $500.00

US Dollars within a 24 hour window.

Try withdrawing around 45,000 Yen ... with the current exchange rate this will translate to about $465.31 ... it should work.  If this fails ... try accessing 10,000 Yen.

I read an article that indicates most 7-11's in Japan have international ATM's and have a very good exchange rate which works with most international ATM cards ... you may want to try at one of 7-11 stores in your neighborhood. Please let us know the result of your quest for cash :-)

The good news is, the credit union reported that you made a request and that it was declined around 1:34 PM on the 12th of August (Japan time). Is this consistent with your experience. This tells me that your card is working, the down side, is that it may take two days to get enough money to buy your bike.

Elder Griffiths to work with Elder Watanabe ... in an area called Chiba ...

Dear Brother and Sister Griffiths:

Your son arrived in the Japan Tokyo Mission on August 6, 2013 in good spirits and ready to commence his proselyting assignment. We had a wonderful time with him.

Elder Griffiths has been assigned to work with Elder Watanabe, and they will serve in an area called Chiba. Your son can receive his mail at the following address:

Elder Griffiths
Japan Tokyo Mission
4-25-12 Nishi Ochiai
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo-to 161-0031, Japan

Enclosed is a picture of your son with Sister Budge and me, along with a picture of him with his companion. We have also included a map showing the locations of the various areas in the mission. You can use it as a personal record of his assignments.

By the time you receive this letter, Elder Griffiths should be adjusted to his new proselyting area. The positive sustaining support he gets from you at home will be a great blessing to him. May the Lord bless you and your family as you share in your son's mission experience.

Sincerely,

President L. Todd Budge

Sister Budge, Elder Griffiths, President Budge

Elder Griffiths & Elder Watanabe

Japan Tokyo Mission

We just want to send you a quick note to let you know that your missionary arrived safely in Japan last evening. President and Sister Budge met them at the airport, fed them, visited shortly, and then sent them all to bed for a much needed rest.

Today they will receive training and will soon meet their new companions who have been chosen to train them. Thank you for entrusting your missionary to us in the great Japan Tokyo Mission. We so appreciate all you have done to get these missionaries to this point in their lives!

Sister Harrison

Japan Tokyo Mission Secretary

This is the largest group of missionaries the mission has ever received.

There are 14 elders and 20 sisters! They used every futon they had!

These are the newest missionaries, along with their trainers.

This group represents more than half of the missionaries in the mission!

Chasing the Sun ...

Trenton left the MTC on Monday the 5th of August around 1:00 PM.  He called home and spent an hour talking to the family and then flew to Los Angels.  He then boarded Delta flight 637 for Tokyo.  He left around 8:15 PM (7:15 PM-PDT) and arrived in Japan a little before 7:30 AM (Tuesday, Aug 6th @ 10:30 PM JT) on the 6th.  This image of his flight path was taken around 2:00 AM on the morning of the 6th in Riverton.  

On this day, Trenton started his flight as the sun was setting and chased the sun all the way to Japan, we believe the sun finally went down about half way through the 11+ hour flight, call it a 6 hour sunset.