Week 5

Konnichiwa from Utah!

So this past week it feels like we had a tonne of stuff happen.  I'll start with probably the freakiest thing that happened to me since I've been at the MTC.  So It was about 12:30 at night and we were all sleeping.  When all of a sudden I awoke to the horrible sound of metal screeching against metal.  I sleep on the bottom bunk.  So my first thought was that the top bed was falling on me!  So I immediately put my hands and feet up to hold up the bed and I started screaming frantically.  This because I had just woken up.  So then I told my companion to get off the bed so that I could get out.  But he told me he was just thinking what a weirdo, what are you thinking.  This is because since I've been here there have been multiple occasions where I've slept-talked.  So anyways he didn't get off and after a minute or so I put my hands and feet down thinking it would be fine because until then I hadn't actually seen anything.  As soon as I put them down though, the corner of his bed began tipping towards my head!!  So I immediately started holding it up again and I told my companion to get off the bed again.  He asked me if I was awake like 3 times after that.  Then I quickly moved to the floor and I told my companion so.  He was appalled because he didn't think anything was happening.  So he's like whatever and he rolled over at which point the corner of his bed dipped!  After a "You've gotta be kidding" he climbed out of bed and we turned on the light to see what had happened.  It turns out that (the theory is that in my sleep) I kicked up the top frame and lifted it out of it's bracket.  The only reason it didn't actually fall on me was because one corner of the frame caught on the bracket.  I'll send you pictures so you understand what I mean.  So we ended up taking both of our mattresses off the bed and just sleeping on the floor.  We fixed the bed the next morning and life went back to normal haha. 

 

So the next exciting point of the week was that for the Sunday evening devotional one of the Sisters in our district was asked to say the closing prayer which resulted in the 8 elders in our district being asked to be the ushers for the meeting!  It was so cool.  I got to wear an "usher" button and show people where to sit and I got to stand facing about 2100 missionaries.  Then we got terrific seats for a hilarious devotional.

 

The final point of my week definitely worth mentioning is that for our Tuesday evening devotional last week we had a terrific speaker.  Me and my companion went early to get good seats.  So we're sitting waiting and one of the head ushers got up to the mic and said "If  one of the brethren enter please stand."  Moments later we were all standing.  We had Russell M. Nelson of the quorum of the 12 come and speak to us!  It was truly an incredible experience.  So that concludes my week.

I was wondering how that making of that picture album is coming along too mom?  Whenever someone brings in a picture album it's like missionary TV haha. 

Thanks for the package and the camera!  I really appreciate both of them.  I miss you all and am keeping you in my prayers.

 

Elder Keith

Week 4

Mina-san Konnichiwa

 

Watashi wa genki desu.  So this week was fairly typical as far as MTC life goes.  We had class, we ate, we slept.  But the weeks go by incredibly fast.  I've been out 4 weeks already!  It's insane.  The one thing that did change this week though was that my companion and I were asked to say the Sacrament Prayer on Sunday.  In Japanese.  It was an incredible and humbling experience.  Both of us were practicing like crazy beforehand.  One of the things I love about the MTC is the amount of inspired people I get to spend my time around.  All the terrific firesides and such.  It really is awesome. 

 

So every week we have what's called a task.  And that's where we go to a building and do some contacting in Nihongo (Japanese) and then we teach a lesson.  Up until now the lessons have all been in English.  And this week the lesson's in English too but next week we're going to have to teach in Nihongo as well.  For 35 mins!!!  It really doesn't feel like I'm learning Japanese all that fast but there again I guess everyone in the class feels the same way.  With an exception or two.  But I love it and I know that I can do it.  Just like in the Sunday School lesson my companion and I gave on Sunday, I have hope :)  I hope you're all well.  Arigato gozaimasu for everything you've done for me. :)

 

Elder Keith

Week 3

Happy Turkey Day to every one back home!!  We haven't had thanksgiving yet so I can't really say what it's going to be like.  !!!!!   It got down to -1?  NICE!  Oh how I miss the coldness of Canada.  It's started to get a little bit more brisk down here but I would still walk around in a short sleeve given the choice.  When we wake up in the morning I'm the only one who's not cold!  You're still setting my place for me? =D  Well I'm there in spirit.  So this week I got called down to church travel services because they needed my passport and a passport picture (I did need one, go figure) but they were able to take one there.  Then on the way back my companion and I got the idea to tell people when we got back that I was being sent home.  Heh heh.  So we did just that and they all got the look as if to say "wait, what?" I was only able to hold it for about 3 seconds before I snickered.  So I have to say that the Provo Temple is incredible.  I'm so lucky to get to to go every Tuesday.  It has also come to my attention that missionaries coming to Provo from international places (yes Canada counts) on the last Friday before they leave get to go to the Salt Lake City Temple and do a session!!  I'm so excited for that but it's still a while away yet.  One of the guys in my room mentioned that we're like 3% done our mission!  And it's true.  It seems like a small amount but time is just flying by.  The days seem super long but the weeks are tremendously short.  If I was going English speaking I would be in the field by now.  The Japanese has decided that it will come to me about as quickly as a snail.  Sometimes that snail takes steroids and is able to run up a hill but others times it just decides no that hill is too hard.  So it's coming.  It's probably coming more than I realize but it doesn't feel like it.  Especially since we have some native Japanese Elders here for a couple weeks.  They don't speak very much English so speaking to them in Japanese is sometimes the only way.  Which at times makes me feel not so smart.  But I have confidence.  Well I am out of time for the week unfortunately.  Kazoku o kansha shite imasu! Love and miss you all :)

Week 2

Konnichi wa kazoku,

Life is going really well here at the MTC.  How about those sessions of Conference eh?  They were so good.  I'm sure you priesthood holders were looking for me in the Priesthood choir that sang at the Priesthood session but unfortunately I didn't happen to be there.  The missionaries who were chosen to sing were picked before we even got to the MTC.  It was still incredible to hear them though.  So the Japanese is coming.  Slowly but surely it's coming.  I can definitely see why I need 12 weeks here in the MTC.  Well technically it's really only 10 and a half.  But for sure I need it.  Yesterday we had some Japanese Elders come to the MTC.  They all got called to Japan.  And at most they only speak a word or two of English.  It's really cool to hear them speak too!  They speak really fast and I find I am able to pick out some of the words.  As it turns out their rooms are just a few doors down from mine.  So last night I was able to just go up and speak to them.  And some of the Senpai (the senior elders called to japan) were able to speak to them no problem.  I was wearing my red 'Sugoi' shirt and it turns out that sugoi is japanese for like good or sweet.  It really gave me confidence just talking to them and hearing them speak.  I want to say thanks for all the letters and to keep them coming.  A note about letters too.  Only yesterday (Monday) did I receive letters that had been sent on the 24-26 of September.  So that means that written mail takes about a week and a half to get here. This also leaves me in doubt as to whether you have gotten the letters I sent yet.  I appreciate everything that comes my way though (especially the treat box mom ;)  just kidding).  It really helps me with the homesickness which I am not as immune to as I thought.  I miss you all terribly, but I know that this is where I'm supposed to be.  I don't let it interfere with my learning though.  In fact it's easier when I'm learning because I'm so busy I don't have time to be homesick, but General Conference was almost like a break ha ha.  In any case, I am well and I hope that all of you are doing well too!  You're in my thoughts and in my prayers. 

Keith Choro

(Elder Keith)

MTC Day 1

My P-day is on Tuesday.  So Tuesdays are the days that I'll write emails and letters, but the letters might yet take a while to get back to Canada.   I ended up getting a towel from the bookstore here.  Using one of my spare pillowcases for the first couple of days really wasn't working out for me ha ha.   I have been receiving  letters from dearelder.com. And I have to say, keep them coming.  Mail time is full of anticipation every day.  The first day I think that I got like 3 dearelder letters.    Holy smokes time flies.  Not during the day,  the days feel really long.  But looking back on the day at night it feels like it flew.  My typical schedule is I wake up and shower and stuff, then we go to class for 45 mins for a little bit of MDT (missionary directed time).  After which we go to breakfast.  After breakfast every second day we have gym usually, (every other day it's in the evening).  And then class for usually about 2 hours.  (3 if there's no gym).  then we go to lunch and then head back to class.  but this class lasts for 4-5 hours.  It's funny because it really doesn't feel that long because we all become so absorbed in the Japanese and Gospel stuff that we're learning.  Then after that class we go to dinner.  After dinner (which usually finishes around 615ish) we go back to class until 9.  At 9 we plan for the next day and then head back to our rooms, where we prepare for bed and all that stuff.  Then by 1030 it's lights out and we're up at 630 the next day. And the cycle repeats.  Then spaced throughout the week we have devotionals and service projects and group meetings and whatnot.  Tell everyone that my letters for them are in the mail, or at least they will be by the end of today.  Miss you all :)

 

Elder Keith