Week 64

Hey Mom,

Waaaaooww.  Davin's being set apart as a missionary!!  That's like...  whaaa... I'm so not ready for that.  That's so soon! 

Yeah I remember that day for me.  -phew-  It seems like it was so long ago.  And I feel like I've grown so much since then.  You got to see all the Lybberts then huh?  That's way cool!  And this coming Thursday (well Wednesday for you) you'll get to see me!!  Yeah I saw pictures of Stage and Marty.  And I turned green with jealous rage haha.  I'm totally doing something rad with my facial hair when I get back too!  Maybe not right away but... And then if I go to BYU... the no beard policy... hmmm...  Well we'll see where life goes when that time frame hits.  Wait Thomas is the youngest at 14!!!  =O  whoaaaaaaa!!! My generation of Keiths is all growing up.  Ariana in Utah, Collin at Algonquin...  Yikes!  

Heh heh yeah we did a gift switch kinda thing too mission wide.  I wound up with a hat that kindergartens/1st/2nd year students will wear.  So I traded my companion for a sound maker and keychain thing.  xD  Bahaha.  And someone else wound up with a brain teaser that I bought.  Haha.  Much fun indeed it was. 

And no worries at all.  My package was perfect!  I loved it an it was awesome.  It made quite a gag at the dinner appointment last night too.  Our name in Japanese キース (kiisu) sounds very much like the Japanese キス (kisu) which means to kiss. heh heh heh.  and then there's the whole, missionaries don't kiss thing.  xD

The work is coming along well.  We've been finding a lot of investigators recently.  Hopefully they all continue to progress.  Our accommodations?  Uhhh well, we have a 4 room apartment... a bathroom, a washing machine... a fridge...a couple desks.  Enough futons to be comfortable.  Yeah the accommodations are pretty good I would say.  xD 

A green Christmas?!  Whoa!!  So it means that I'm not missing my white Christmas after all.  Cool beans!

Well this will be my last email before Christmas... Wooo time flies.  Take care til we talk in like 3-4 days!!! 

Love you to bits. 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 63

こんにちはfrom the land of the rising sun

So I guess to start out.  Life is going very awesome for me.  But it's also one of those heart-tugging times for missionaries.  We start to think about family just a little more.  But it's also weird to think that this is more than likely going to be my last Christmas in Japan... :'(  But that being said, I really miss you guys.  Like it's not something I think about very often.  Not very often at all to be honest, but that's because we're so busy that we don't have time.  Like this week for example.  Didn't have time to take Pday until today.  But you know?  it's just kinda there.  I love hearing about everything and how everyone's doing.  Living vicariously through letters.  But it's good that Christmas only happens once a year.  xD heh heh heh.  It's funny too because I can like vividly picture what 's happening and how it's happening and where it's happening.  The tone of voice used to make jokes I hear about.  I can picture/hear an email being read. It's way cool. 

So my new missionary is doing awesome as well.  His confidence and his Japanese are getting better at an incredible rate.  Sometimes we have differences of opinion on certain matters.  Like he's just outta high school this year so there's still some subtle things that I pick up on that haven't quite matured just yet.  So I'm trying to figure out how best to deal with them, whether they be things that I'm not particular on or things that I need to correct.  (o^-^o) I never did like stepping on people's toes.  But being 'the resource' is way cool actually.  I don't really mind it.  It's kinda like a  "Here's how you're doing and how far you've come Elder Keith" check.  All the questions he asks, the problems with the language, just everything, is the same!  That and we have a LOT in common he has 3 younger siblings (all sisters mind you xD) his hometown is 750 people. His life was sports.  He knew the same amount of Japanese as me going in to the MTC.  He sleep talks (ALOT.  actually a lot more than me if you can believe it.  but I currently sleep talk in Japanese... and English... in the same sentence... xD)  But it's like every time we talk we find something else that we have in common.  He's an awesome guy.

 

Aw man that comment from Thomas too.  ehh.  =D  if that doesn't make me trunky... haha.  But yeah things are doing way awesome.  And I'm so glad that I'm still able to be a part of Adam's life too.  Because like before my mission we got really close.  We stayed up late one night in my room just talking.  It doesn't really hit you how much you miss and love everyone until you're away from them for this long.  But don't worry.  I'm not like homesick or anything.  But just having come to learn a lot more about love on my mission has been a tremendous blessing for me.  If I had to come home now I would already be a changed person.  And I have more changing to do yet!  xD 

Wow can Adam ever sleep too!  At least things are overall progressing right? 

Yeah President Albrecht is a pretty awesome guy.  And even if he wasn't the members here in Japan just love the missionaries.  Or at least they love me by the end of my first 6 weeks there.  xD  Like recently our bishop said to us, "During the winter, be careful.  Like take breaks and go warm yourselves.  Be careful not to catch a cold.  Don't dendo (proselyte) too hard."  ... Sometimes the Japanese people are a little bit oversensitive/careful with health-related things but still.  I can feel their love.  And I also have a family from Tama, my first area, that told me to call them if I ever get a companion that bullies me.  And I saw them like 2 weeks ago and they said the same thing.

But anyways, at the risk of this becoming a chapter book, I will end here.  Just know that I'm happy.  I think I'm healthy (I'll have to double check that haha).  And I'm worthy.  Yeah Japan and missionary life is soooo awesome!  Love you guys.

Take care.

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 62

Ai suru ryoushin,

 

This letter does find me well.  It's actually not very often that I'm not well.  I am definitely doing better than Ben Glowa what with his Giardia and all.  Bummer!!!   The sporadic rash/eczema patches are mostly going away.  I've started thinking that some of them may be coming from the laundry detergent that I've been using so I've been cutting back on the amount that I use.  But go see a doctor?  In Japan?  ... only if I absolutely have to... xD  =P

 

You had Christmas dinner ah yes, the reminiscence of it.  I look forward to when we'll have one of them big dinners when I'm home.  Yeah those are always fun!  How are the missionaries there by the way?  Are they fun or boring?  Well they better be having fun those lucky bums get to eat at my house. 

 

You guys are losing your snow?  That's a bummer.  It can't decide whether or not to get cold or stay hot here.  It fluctuates so much. 

And don't worry about the Christmas package being imaginative or not.  I'll be happy to get anything you want to send me. 

These past few weeks have been really good and really fun for me. The only thing is that recently, (maybe it's because it's the Christmas season, maybe things got busier,  maybe a lot of things) but sometimes, even though I'm with a companion 24/7, I feel like I'm alone. I feel like there's a million things to do and that I'm the one that's gotta do them all.  Maybe that's a feeling that all trainers get at some point.  But sometimes I feel that I've been spending all my time helping other people, my companions, my investigators, the members, but when the time comes, I don't feel like there's anyone to help me. To be honest it's kinda discouraging sometimes. But the thing that keeps me going is talking about it to people I know I can trust. One of them being my mission president. The other one (besides you guys) is God. Before my mission when I would go to say my personal prayers, I would look at the clock before and after (and I'm not saying do this) and see how long my prayer was. Before my mission it was often hard for me to pray. If I said a prayer that lasted 10 minutes that was huge. But then since coming on my mission I've really learned to rely on the Lord. I've recognized the importance of prayer and the peace and help that it can bring into our lives. There was one time when I was feeling a little discouraged, a couple months ago, and I went and prayed. I just literally prayed about everything I was worried about all the things that I was thankful for. I just, for one of the first times in my life, poured out my heart to Him. Now I didn't time it or anything but based on the things that were happening in the apartment at the time I realized that I had been praying for at least 40 minutes. It felt so good too. I just wanted to share that experience that I had with you. 

 

It's amazing to see the growth in myself that I can recognize.  That was a very spiritual moment for me.  But there's too many to name.  Most of the time it's realizing that something that I did had a far bigger impact then I originally thought it did.  I'll think about the funniest moment and get back to you.  Remind me ok?

 

The investigators are...coming.  Sometimes I think a little slowly but we're doing our best and working with them to help them see the truth of our message. 

 

Thanks for the love and support that you have for me.  It's really awesome for me to feel this!  I love you so much.  Words don't adequately express it you know?  And the thing that I feel I've come to understand a lot more is what love is and how to love someone.  Ask me about it sometime because I"m kinda outta time now.  Heh heh.  Love you.

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

 

PS:  How's Ben doing?  Is his new job going well for him?

Week 61

Konnichiwa!!

 

Yes I did enjoy my American thanksgiving.  It was much fun and very filling.  And I forgot how much leftovers Americans/Canadians are used to making and having.  They probably didn't mention that they gave us just about all their leftovers huh?  Well they did.  And let me say there is a LOT!  Yeah they were awesome people to be able to eat with.  The one daughter, the brunette, said something, by accident, that made it look like she had an anti-Canadian opinion, which in turn was the source of much laughter from myself and everyone else.  Heh heh, my companion just finished emailing and he said that Brother Madsen was telling his family that there was much giggling from the two girls that were there. Bahahaha.  It was kinda weird to be around English people to be a little honest.  Like I could understand everything they were saying and they understood me perfectly, and just the mannerisms and whatnot. Not something I'm used to at all.  It's been a very long time since I've had an American meal like that.  Nothing but good to say about me?  Aww great!  xD  Heh heh yeah my companion does have that look that every new missionary has.  I totally remember having that exact same air about me when I was that young too.  It's weird because it's like the magicalness of everything has kinda died off now.  But nowadays as we enter winter season, I catch a smell or an atmosphere that totally brings me back to when I was a new missionary too. 

The missionary work is going good.  We're really working to do the best that we can.  Sometimes it feels kinda slow and sometimes people not replying to us is a little bit frustrating but it's all good.  Yeah right now we've got about 6 investigators.  But we have 4 lessons set up with people who are not investigators over the next 2 days.  So maybe that number will go up!  Definitely in a ward right now.  I think the noisy child/baby population is higher here than anywhere else I've been so far.  There's about 80-90 people in total I think.  No I am no longer a district leader.  Doesn't mean I won't be one ever again but right now President needs me to be just a trainer.  Yeah I live in a... city?  It's call Fuchu-shi the 'shi' meaning city I think.  But there's a lotta people and it's not very countryside so yeah, I live in a city.

Yeah, we've got interviews on the 7th so, I will ask President then about calling the weekend before.  Shouldn't be a problem. And so, do you guys have a Skype account too?  Because you might just need that xD...  If for whatever reason we aren't able to do it before then almost certainly we would do it after.  But I don't think that there would be a reason not to do it before.

 

YOU HAD SNOW!!!!  I WANT SNOW!!!!  haha that is one of the things that Japan is severely lacking is some good solid snowfall.  Like It's starting to get a little bit chilly out nowadays but like nothing compared to what you guys are seeing.

And yeah I remember Sam Richards.  Quite well actually.  That was actually really shocking to hear.  I was never like close with her or anything but I remember her from gr 8 and then I sat next to her in Math in gr 9.  Does anyone know how or why?  Like I know that she didn't exactly have an easy life but it never seemed to me that she was like suicidal or anything like that.  That's so sad.  That's one of the reasons I'm so glad to have this gospel as an anchor.  Gives me hope for things to come and hope in our Saviour.  This gospel's really terrific you know?

 

Well give everyone my yoroshiku (pronounced yo-ro-sh-koo) which means my greeting/say hi for me, when you go to the gatherings and such.  Hope you guys have a wonderful, awesome, subarashii, fantastic Christmas season.  Lots of love to you from me your son,

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 60

Dearest Parentals xD,

Actually mom you did spell konnichiwa right.  Yes I am doing terrifically well.  Me and my *ahem* new missionary xD.  We're not really supposed to use the word 'bean.'  But that's ok, I never told you that.  But yeah our district leader also asked us to make a special effort not to say it because there are like 4 missionaries (out of 10) in our district who are brand spankin new. 

Yeah I'll tuck that question away and get back to you.  And I'll try and get that next memory card off to you before too long.  It's got a lot of good stuff in it.  xD 

Heh heh.  Giving long talks heh heh.  I remember way back when I used to go with Dad to give talks.  I remember that back in those days my talks were a collection of quotes and passages and excerpts.  I remember one in particular where I was sharing something about parables... and I went on and on... Tim Lahache came and told me after "I didn't know if you were gonna stop (then he chuckled).  But yeah.  Good times good times.  But in any case, you're not alone on the long-winded part mom. xD 

Haha, I think Thomas has discovered what going to other wards is like.  It's way fun haha.  I must say about my current ward too!  There are many young kids... and the chapel isn't as big as usual.  But I love the people here.  It's just that sometimes sacrament meetings are a little bit more noisy than normal. 

Maybe before planning for Florida, plan and save to come pick me up?  kana? (that means like 'i wonder' kinda thing.  like maybe?)  I don't know all the ins and outs of picking up and stuff like that like if everyone can come or stuff.  Because I definitely want to come back with everyone and if you two are the only ones who can come to pick me up from my mission then I want to go back with the boys.  Or everyone doesn't matter to me ^_^  I just want you all to see Japan with me.  Because for sure I'm coming back to Japan.  Not sure for what reason yet. (work?kana?) but yeah Japan's kinda become a part of me. 

 

Do I get many letters.  In a one word answer, No.  Haha.  I get like 1 every 3-6 weeks from Dawson, but usually I get a couple a transfer.  So yeah, no.  Not alot.

But yeah I'm genki and awesome.  Thanks for everything.  I love you.

Hope your week goes awesome!!

Elder Keith

キース長老

ps: We've really started a big 'last push' in our mission recently.  Which is why we are so busy.  We set the goal to get 60 baptisms in our companionship this transfer to help towards the mission goal of 300 by the years end.  We are currently sitting at around ~130 I think.  So yeah that's kinda what kinda environment we've got right now.  Everyone's supercharged, and working hard.  And we are no exception.  Love you guys!

Week 59

Hey Mom and Dad,

So yes things are looking rather good for me right now.  Save we became/will become busier than we have ever been before!  Our mission goal was to have 300 baptisms by the end of the year, and because of the earthquake we suffered a little bit of a setback. Unfortunately.  We are currently sitting at just over 100 but we've all committed to get that goal.  And so, as a result, myself and my NEW companion, have set a goal to try and get 60 baptisms here in Fuchu.  So we're going to be VERY busy.

Speaking of new companions... yes he is here.  His name is Elder Hosier and he is from Alamo Nevada.  And life's been one big adventure since.  Our first week has been way good.  We're way similar.  And I mean way similar.  He reminds me a lot of colin actually.  Not his personality but the way he looks.  It's weird. And cool.  In a funny sorta way.  Yeah I remember being that new.  Being with him takes me right back.  It's hard to think that almost a year has gone by since I first came to Japan and as experiencing the same thing that he's going through now.  Yeah I kinda recorded my first impression of  Japan.  Well like I recorded what we did and how I felt, and then reading those entries makes me remember the stuff that I didn't write down.  It's incredible.  I've actually gone back a few times and read what it was like for me.  It's funny to see the change in myself, how my emotions slowed down and my thinking changed etc.  And my taste buds.  I realize some of the things I like now, I didn't like back then.  And Derek's getting ready to go on his mission!  That's awesome.  I think he's ready to go on a misson xD.  You guys had an area seventy come to your stake conference?  Way cool!  I got to see one at the last stake conference that I went to.  You're getting snowflakes!!!  No fair!  I haven't even started wearing a suit jacket on a regular basis yet.  It's still super warm out. 

And yeah Dad would have to have one in my honour wouldn't he (a slurpee).   -_-'  hahaha.  well get the good kind!  xD but the thing they do have in japan that I haven't seen anywhere else is melon flavour.  like green honeydew melon in anything you can think of.  melon soda, melon pan (bread) , melon slurpees, it's wayyy dang good.  ahhhhhhmmmmmm.  maybe just a big bag of hershey kisses.  I want the kisses to give to people because in japanese my name is read 'ki-su'  which is very close to the japanese word for kiss which is kisu.  (the [-] elongates the sound. But yeah things are going way good with me on this end.  How's everyone else doing?

Love you

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 58

こんにちは！！(konnnichiwa)

Yes this letter finds me in terrific shape!!  I've stopped chafing (finally) xD.  Mentally doing awesome.  Spiritually...maybe like soaring is a good word for it.  So my favourite thing about my mission so far... Probably the chance to study every day and really have my life focused on the gospel.  But then there's going back for Mai's baptism.  Coming back to the honbu (mission home) after coming back from Nagoya.  I LOVE the food.  I love the people.  The culture.  The respect that everyone has for each other.  The cheapness of certain snacks. The language. 

I think the biggest adjustment would probably have to be living with other people's quirks.  Every new companion I have has something different.  Some way they like to do things etc.  And it's just something that I've had to make an adjustment to.  They don't start fights but it's really opened my eyes more as to the diversity that there really is in the world. 

Have I done any sleep walking or talking?  Yes.  My zone leader was with me on splits and I remember him telling me that the night before I told him he was on the wrong side of the road... heh heh heh.

What do I dislike most?  Probably the serious lack of slurpee machines despite the unrivaled number of 7/11's.  There are more 7/11's here than anywhere else I've ever seen.  Even Florida.  But in my almost year here, I've only seen 1 slurpee machine. 

Do I dream in Japanese?  Occasionally.  Not very often.  And I think there was one that I had where in the dream it was Japanese, but I still didn't understand it.

Did I get transferred?  No. But my companion did.  He was a great guy.  And my new companion is... not...yet...in... Japan...

Yes that means what you might think it means.  Elder Keith is going to be training a brand new missionary.  Aaaaaaaaahhhhh!!

I'm nervous but excited.  I'll let you know how it goes.  They get here on Tuesday and we meet them on Wednesday.  So that means yes I don't even know who it is yet.  I'll find out the same time that my new companion does.  And then we'll be off xD.  So yes.  Next big adventure!  Heh heh heh.  WHOOOOOOO!

The boys are getting tall.  Wow.  Dang.  I thought that I would have a little bit longer before I was the shortest of us all.  Well "us" being the boys. 

The highlight of my week?  Receiving transfer calls. I've actually really wanted to train for a little bit now.  Then we also got to have a terrific dinner with a potential investigator family that is absolutely in love with us.  And we feel the same love for them.  It was so awesome.

It really make me feel good, and happy to hear that everyone is doing awesome!  It really sounds like things have gotten like awesomely better since I left.  Not that things were bad.  They weren't.  But things just sound so great now.  I'm excited to come home.  But not excited to leave the mission xD.  If that makes sense.  Japan's just become a part of me you know?

Well that's my shpeel for the week.  I'll let you know how things go with my bean(greenie) next week.  Love you so much!

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 57

Heyy! 

 

Yeah my week has been pretty busy.  There's pretty much always something we can be doing as missionaries.  So yesterday I got to go a WWII museum with one of our investigators.  It's called Yasukuni shrine and it was pretty cool I guess.  They had a lot of stuff that was like 'legit.'  Like swords, guns, artillery, uniforms etc.  It's actually a really controversial place because the ashes of the war dead are there and the Japanese usually pray to their war dead.  But it's controversial because among the Japanese war dead are some internationally recognized war criminals.  So when the Prime Minister goes to pray there, countries like China and Korea get really offended.  But we were fine. 

Our companionship is going really well.  We get along terrifically.  The only thing is that we get transfer calls this weekend and since my companion has been here for 4 transfers (the equivalent of 6 months) there is like a 99.99% chance that he will be transferring out.  Which will leave me and I have a really big suspicion that President Albrecht is going to ask me to train next transfer.  We had a big group last transfer and I think we have a big group coming this transfer too, and a new rule in place says that trainers and new missionaries stay together for 2 transfers, that gives me a very high possibility of training.

The work is progressing... yes.  It doesn't feel very fast right now but I think that this transfer my focus wasn't supposed to be entirely on investigators.  Which may sound strange because that's the image most people have about missionaries and missionary work but this is the case only the majority of the time.  Not quite all the time.

Naaahhhh.  My rash is doing better thanks.  It's clearing up as the colder weather comes in and as I remember to put that cream on it.  heh heh heh. xD Yeah I now know well the effects that sweaty shirts have on a guy.  My torso was chafing really badly, all summer and only a few days ago has started clearing up... heh heh heh...  xD  ahhh life.  ups and downs eh?

So yeah it's been a rather interesting turn of events recently for me xD.  But life is going way awesome.  I'll let you know how transfers go next week when I email but for now I'm outta time.  Thank you so much.  Love you bunches!

 

Elder Keith

キ ー ス 長 老

(ki i su choh roh)

Week 56

Hey!!!!!!!

So I'm kinda running low on time today.  We thought it would be a good idea to go and see a 'trick art museum'  it was way awesome!  I'll send you some of the pictures when I myself get them.  My camera died so I had other people take pictures of me xD.  Ahahahaha. 

So to answer some questions:

Well I guess it's not that black suits are not allowed but if you wear all black (white shirt, but black everything else, tie included) that is what they wear only to funerals.  Yeah it's a cultural thing and so I think they put an over-emphasis on it just to be careful and make sure that some people don't accidentally offend anyone.

The new suit that I bought was 16,000￥ Which is $210.  But it came with 2 pair of pants and it's machine washable.  And I was in drastic need of a new suit.  It didn't click when I first arrived that I should save one suit to only wear Sundays and conferences and such, so I alternated days throughout all last winter.  And let's just say neither of them is the cleanest thing in the world.  I may actually not even have one of them at the moment...  heh heh heh... some things never change huh?

Yeah putting money in my account would be awesome, all though there is one thing I kinda wanna request... Could you get me a big package of hershey kisses?  We can't really find those here in Japan.  If there's anything else then you can put money into my account but other than that... xD

The adjustment to Fuchu is going well.  It gets easier with every passing day.  It's very tokai (city) compared to slightly inaka (country) Kofu.  But it's going well.  I was so busy that I had absolutely no time to worry about anything else then what was I was doing.  I was coordinating the missionary end of things for a SA activity that happened here in Fuchu.  I had to coordinate and get 30 missionaries into this area on the same day at the same time.  I have never spent so much time on the phone in my life!  But was it ever fun xD.  Well I didn't think so like 5 days ago but looking back it wasn't that bad!  But it was way good for both the missionaries and SA's alike so I feel good about it.

Ahhh russets were they called?  Naru hodo (I see).  Well we were just given a lot of apples  (like 38) from one of the other elders whose parents have connections.  Good thing too because apples here go for like $150 EACH!  Yeah right.  Our problem now is to find people to give them to because we can't eat them all ourselves.

So the ward is like 80-90ish people

Do we have any investigators?  Yes but they're not doing so well right now.  Not quite sure what they want from meeting with us.

Large city

Things are going well as district leader.  Everyone in my district is soooo awesome!

We all meet together usually at least twice a week.  Once for district meeting and once for an investigator sports night.  oh and one of the elders in my district is Canadian.  His name is Elder Roberts and he's from Cardston.  He actually knew Dawson for a couple months before they came to Ontario.  How awesome is that?

The weather is gradually getting cooler. -finally-.  but yeah we won't see snow until like February probably. =( I've realized I really miss snow!

Well there was a huge typhoon the other day.  Typhoon Roke.  I was in the middle of that bad boy xD.  But beyond that it hasn't been too bad.  In Kofu though I actually did bike through a typhoon (a different one) to go see an investigator.  That was wet!  xD

So yeah that's what's up with me.  I'm doing well for the most part.

Still working on battling some rashes that developed due to excessive sweaty shirt and skin contact during the summer but yeah. I'm good!  Don't even worry about it!  xD  Glad to hear that everyone is doing well in and with everything.  And thanks for Thiago's address.  That made me happy.

 

Thank you for everything.  Love you so much.

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

 

Week 55

Konnichiwa!

 

Yes all in Japan is going rather well.  Yep working hard, yep enjoying spreading the gospel!  Being district leader is still going well indeed.  No complaints whatsoever.  Well I have like no time anymore to write in my journal but I do enjoy calling everyone every night to talk.  xD 

That's great that Brother Pelletier is doing better.  That's gotta be a hard thing, a 6 bypass heart surgery.  what does that even mean anyway?  Yeah I can picture Sandy really working to do his best as branch president.  That's right Davin leaves on his mission way soon too!  Waaaahhh.  Speaking of missions.  I know he's just barely started walking again but how is Ben in regards to mission prep?  He's got like less than a year then he's eligible to go right? 

One of the things that I realized that I have to do a lot of as district leader is coordinating.  I have to plan out when district meetings happen and then I have to go and do splits.  It seems like all the coordinating of rides and people going places and stuff that I did before my mission was just preparing me haha.  In regards to that talk at general conference too, it's way fun to look back and see how far I've come.  I recently went on a split with a missionary who was on his 2nd transfer (like 2.5 months out) and when we went streeting (tracting) he would say as much as he could and then he would look to me and I would take over.  I can remember when that would happen to me and I would look at my companion and wait for him to take over.  It is very rarely that that happens to me now.  I'm nowhere near fluent but it's not very hard for me to convey the ideas that I want to express.

So tell me another story from your mission dad, I'm curious as to what a non-Japanese mission is like.  Because basically all missionaries who come to Japan have this image that missionary work in your own language is easy.  I'm wondering if that's actually the case or not.

So yeah this week, we really didn't have too much happening.  It feels like things are getting busier but we'll see whether it's actually the case or not. 

I had the chance to go to an American base today too!  My companion's parents are in the military, and so we went and picked up a bunch of stuff.  It was sooooooooo weird to go there.  Like you have absolutely no idea.  My eyes were SO wide the entire time.  Like, it made me way uncomfortable.  It was so weird.  

But yeah that's what's up with me this past week.  What kind of things do you guys want to hear about Japan/me/anything?

Let me know!

Thanks so much, you guys are absolutely terrific.  Love you Mom and Dad!

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 54

こんにちは！(Konnichiwa!)

 

Yes all is well in my end of the world! 

Ahhh, the KFG Keith Family Gathering, or in this case, the Keith Family Gourgefest! How I miss those days and those feasts and how I look forward to them upon my return home!  Rolling out to the car, oh yes.

Nope no thanksgiving celebration here.  I had one sister send me an email (it was a coordination email about a mission prep activity that I'm kinda like organizing (at least from the missionary side) so don't worry I don't break rules. xD) and at the end of it she said, "oh yeah happy Canadian thanksgiving.  So that was the extent of my thankgivingness. xD  There again I do spend all of my time giving thanks and giving people the gospel so I don't feel bad haha.  Some of the National Holidays... O-shogastu (new year-->This is a HUGE holiday here in Japan).  Golden week --> a string of holidays that gives everyone like a week off.  Christmas(although it's not as big).  and yeah that for the most part is it.

My new area is good I guess.  I like a lot of the people already.  The rest I just don't know yet.  My new companion is a way nice guy too!  I think though that since my 5th transfer (I'm on 8 now) that President Albrecht has been putting me with certain companions for certain reasons.  More on that to come in a later letter.  I love being DL too actually.  I just love to have so much interaction with so many missionaries.  It helps me create friendships with them that could otherwise be a little harder.  Yeah it's more work but I do feel up to the challenge.  And we had a district leader conference the other day, and in it I resolved not only to be a district leader but to be THE district leader.  I want to be the one that people talk about and remember, I want to be the one that changes peoples lives.  And so I do my best! 

Yeah I really miss the Leulu's (Vonnie and her husband Roma) too.  And their 2 kids Edyson and Alejandra.

They have a special place in my heart.

 

Do I need anything?  Not really.  I actually just bought a new suit.  xD  It was a pretty good price and very stylish xD.  So yeah no I'm doing good.  Although maybe some more socks, like the ones you sent last time... Yoroshiku onegai shimasu (I desire you to be nice to me-  very common Japanese phrase)

 

Yes conference was terrific!  I loved every bit of it.  And it went by far too fast.  I remember when I was young I couldn't wait for it to be over, and now I am startled when I realize that there's only 1 speaker left.  Funny how people change eh?  And yeah President Monson is a bucket of laughs. heh heh.

 

So you know how we used to talk about touching people's lives.  Who was I supposed to touch.  Well until now I've realized some of the people that I came here to help.  I wanted to share it with you. 

-a SPAM container wrapped in paper with pictures and messages written by 2 little girls from Seto ward.  They are Maho and Shio.

-a letter from a boy named Sam from Tama he wrote me and I received the letter while I was in Kofu.

-a postcard from Koji and Aya. Aya was less active in Seto and Koji her boyfriend.  Through our visits, they got married and he was baptized. 

-a picture in a glass frame from Kazushi from my last night in Tama

-some money given to me by Vonnie, I couldn't refuse it because she said in their culture it's rude to refuse a gift. They gave me the money because they didn't have time to get a gift.  Roma then leaned in and told me that it was so good to have me do FHE with them.  He said it was great to have all of us present but that I was the one that helped them strengthen their testimonies the most.

-some email excerpts (from 2 letters) from a woman named Sharmeen that I had the privilege of finding and teaching while I was in Kofu:

"So happy to read of all the great things going on in your life.  You have been a blessing to me."

"Today is my birthday, October 10th and thank you for being one of the best gifts I've received in my 37 years of living.  Big hug, Sharmeen :)"

That might sound kinda weird unless you know this woman.  She is so full of love and when we found her she was actually going through a harder time in life and we were able to help her out. 

It's things and gifts like these that make any little bit of suffering that I have to endure as a missionary worth it.  I don't think this is all the people that I have been able to help but, but these are the ones that I know for sure.  I have made friends here that have become friends for life.  This mission has been a truly wonderful experience for me. Thank you for guiding me to it.  Love you so much!

 

Your Son

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 53

Heyyyyyyy,

 

Yes... I am... over... the... hill... *sniffle.*  I'm not ready to be done yet.  But it's going well.  I love being a missionary.  I love the help that I have the ability to give people right now. 

 

No I haven't seen conference yet.  We will see it this coming Saturday and Sunday.  And I'm super excited for it.  It's like one of the highlights of the year for missionaries.  Yeah I know the Japanese speaker that's being talked about.  Yamashita meaning 山下 'under a mountain.'  President Albrecht watched conference and he was telling us a little bit about it.  I'm super excited.

 

To be honest I love being DL soooooo much because it puts me in a position to help the people in my district.  And one of the requirements is that I call everyone every night.  So my journal time at night dies but I get to make a stronger friendship with those in my district and if they need it I can help them.  And you know me I love talking on the phone xD.  Just kidding.  Yeah we have sisters in the district too and they're both Japanese, so when I call them I basically can't speak English.  But it's no problem for me now.  While my Japanese is not perfect I can basically get the point that I'm trying to make across.  It's truly remarkable how the Lord helps us do what we think (or once thought) impossible.  Well the 4 cents are much appreciated.  I will remember them.  Yeah I've gotta take time now too and get used to a new companion again.  So I'm gonna apply those to my own companionship too.

 

So yeah that's basically the what's up for me here in Japan,  I thought I would include some pictures too, you can pick which ones for the calendar but to make up for the length this time I included some pictures.  A quick preview of the memory card to come ;)  Thanks so much for everything.  Your support has really helped me through the hard times on my mission.  Take care.  Love you sooo much.

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 52

Hey Mom and Dad,

 

So here's the news.  I did not survive transfers.  They shipped me out of my beloved Kofu.  And I was/am very sad.  I know that there are people there who's lives I touched.  Friends I've made that will be friends a long time.  To be honest I really did not want to leave.  It had really become a home to me.  But now I am in a place called Fuchu.  And as luck would have it, it is right beside Tama, my first area.  Even though it's right beside it's actually in a completely different stake.  It's also my first time (besides the earthquake) leaving Machida stake.  My stake is now called Musashino.  My new companion is Elder Graham.  He's from Nevada and he is on his 6th transfer.  He's a way nice guy and he's really laid back.  And as luck would again have it, they decided to make me District Leader. xD Oh no!!  Journal time automatically dies because now I have to call people at night.  But yeah so that's the scoop on transfers. 

And Mom what is this hump day you speak of?  I've only been out for a couple months...  not 12... ok... maybe 12... yikes...

But thank you

 

Nope no colour change here yet but it is starting to get a little bit cooler.  But for me not quite fast enough.  My body reacted rather weirdly to the heat this summer.  Mostly because it was so hot, so I sweat a lot.  But then also because it's so humid the sweat did not evaporate and so there were some days where I spent the better portion of the afternoon wearing a wet shirt.  Especially when it's wet with sweat it becomes really not fun.

 

Am I still tremendously busy?  Well yes and no.  Yes because I became district leader and no because there are not as many appointments as we had in my previous area but my goal is to make that change!  My investigators in Fuchu have actually not been met by me yet.  But my investigators in Kofu are doing terrific.  There's a good chance that in the coming weeks that Roma and Yvonne will be baptized which means that I can go back to Kofu.  So I have a lot of hope for those in Kofu and I know that I will develop it for those here in Fuchu.

 

How do I feel after having been out for a year.  I feel terrific.  I feel awesome.  I love the change that I can see comparing to pre-mission.  I love the type of person that I'm choosing to become.  Do I see growth and progress in myself?  Absolutely.  It's really amazing to see firsthand what effects leading a truly gospel-centered life can have on an individual.  I also feel that I'm able to see the Lord's hand in a lot more. 

 

Yeah I remember what it felt like arriving in Japan for the first time.  It's quite an incredible change.  I used to be so scared.  So afraid to even try talking to people for fear of messing up.  Now I feel like I could be out on my own and just go and talk to people and make friends and stuff like that.  I remember  how nervous I was travelling into ottawa and intercity by bus by myself.  Now I don't relish coming home and finding out that Canada has nowhere near as good a railway system as Japan.  I could honestly go anywhere in Japan.  By myself.  And probably be ok.  Either it's that easy or I'm that confident xD.  Probably the former heh heh.  Do I feel well seasoned... Yes. xD  I used to think transfer 8 was when you became old.   (I'm transfer 8 now!) 

 

So yes that is the deal with me.  Please email and let me know as soon as Ben's surgery is done.  I want to know that he's ok and that it went well.

 

So that is all what's going on in the life of Elder Keith.  It's been exciting to say the least!!  Thanks for your support.  I've realized that my personal purpose, besides my missionary purpose is to help people in almost anyway that I can.  And if that includes being a good example for someone back home by being out here, I'm all over it.  I love it because I too feel like I'm being that light, and not just for those who don't know about the gospel.  And it is honestly the best time of my life so far!  I love you and pray for you.  Thank you for everything.

 

Elder Keith

 

PS  oh mom would you please email me your cinnamon roll recipe this week.  There's a base close by so we can get all the ingredients.  That would be muchly appreciated.  Thank you!!!

Week 51

Hey!!!

Ok so yes. How am I doing? I am doing terrifically.  Well actually I am currently terrified.  I am terrified because we have transfer calls coming up this weekend and I really really really don't want to be transferred.  I have really come to love Kofu.  My companion and I get along great most of the time and we are sooo busy we hardly have any time.  Like literally for the past 3 weeks we have not had an open night.  I think that all that pre-mission planning of events (when to go to whose house and so on) was in preparation for me having to move all these different appointments around.  So... items of interest in the work.  Well we have a man by the name of Yoda who we found about 5-6weeks ago.  We met him on the street.  He started coming to church and lately my companion has been teaching him with a member before church while I go to our missionary coordination meeting.  He has a baptismal date set for October 8th.  He's doing really well.  We've also been teaching someone that I found way back in July during a kubarikai (a flyer pass-out ...session(?)).  She's so awesome and smart!  She's from Alabama and doesn't hardly speak a lick of Japanese, which is why we, the elders are teaching her, because both of the sisters in the area are currently Japanese.  It's such a  blessing being able to teach people and watch them progress in the gospel. 

Yes I am happy.  Healthy?  Well let's hope so haha.  I think I need to eat more vegetables... heh heh heh.  So also I think that one of our investigators is going to add you on facebook!  Her name is Yvonne Vaigafa.  She and her husband are from New Zealand.  And we had poutine with them the other day and they loved it.  She wanted to thank you for it.  I also gave them a pack and they said that it was terrific. So thank you again for that.  And the picture of me with the long hair and sunglasses, when I show people NO ONE EVEN RECOGNIZES ME!!!!  xD  It's hilarious.  Thank you

Sounds like everyone at home is having just a great time.  So I don't actually have too much more time to write now,  but I'm so glad to hear that everyone is doing well.

By the way, you know how we used to talk about whose life I was supposed to touch while here in Japan.  I don't think it was just 1 person...  I received a letter this past week from a couple I met in Nagoya (she was a member, he wasn't, they got married and he got baptized after I left) and then I got a letter from a kid in my ward in Tama.  And I have a couple other things from people that kinda let me know that however brief, I had an impact on their life and that I have friends in every place that I've been.  It's a truly remarkable experience to be a missionary.  Thanks for everything.  I'll be getting an SD shortly and then mailing the one I have now home soon.  Hope you all are doing well.  Love you!!

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 50

お父さん！お母さん！

お元気ですか？ええ、皆はすごく忙しいですね？私も最近けっこ忙しかったんです。あいている時間はあまりないね。やっぱり、宣教師のことはそうです！

Translation:

How are you doing?  Wow it seems like everyone's really busy eh?  I, too, have been really busy recently.  We have like no free time.  Of course missionary work is like that!

Settlers of Catan.  Wow I haven't played that in like a year!  I haven't played any board game in like a year!  In our mission the only time we'd be allowed to do that is with investigators.  And to be honest, Japanese people in general aren't the biggest fans of board games.

Seminary has started in the Keith household!  That's awesome!  I wish that I had focused a lot more on Seminary when I was back that age.  Oh well.  What's done is done.  Not too much more I can do about it now right?  

Yeah we're in bed at like 1030 but me and my companion usually end up talking until like 11 (wanpaku[rebellious] yes I know but xD) it's all good.  We're still up at 630 and then we work out and then we eat and our day starts!!  Way fun!  

That makes me so happy to hear about the spirituality boost.  Being around the gospel every day and having everything gospel centered and such, it's currently kinda hard for me to imagine me not doing this kinda stuff.  Like studying every day and talking to people about the gospel.

I'll make sure to keep Brother Pelletier in my prayers. 

I did have somewhat of a request actually.  Transfers are coming up and I was wondering if you could get me that stuff on Toronto for that one sister in my ward.  If you send some to me when you get this then that would be most appreciated! 

Package isn't quite here yet but I get the feeling it will be soon. 

Thanks for everything.  I really appreciate your support! 

Love you

Week 49

Heyyyy!!

 

Elder Garcia... why does that sound so familiar?!  Was I in the MTC with him by any chance?  Maybe.  No offense but that would just be far too weird.  Seeing any of you guys while I'm on my mission.  (Elder Garcia is serving in the Canada Montreal Mission, Ty is referring to the fact that Elder Garcia grew up in the Montreal area and his parents still live there.  He sees them at Stake Conferences etc.)  But the funny thing is that President Albrecht isn't a stricty pants on family visiting.  My last companion saw his mom at the temple, and that wasn't the first time.  I've heard many times about people going to visit grandparents and such who live in Japan.  But as much I wanna see you, let's save everything for the post-mission tour that will happen.  =D  

Speaking of letters, I did get your letter Mom, but I've been like really really pressed for time recently (yes even on Pday) and so when I get the time I will write you one back.  And thank you for sending that package.  I really appreciate it and I know that when I share it with a particular investigator family that they will be just as happy.

Wow that must be so weird having all those little kids around xD.   I wonder how many more will be there before I come home heh heh heh.  We were talking about family get-togethers recently, me and my companion.  Heh heh not a good idea for me.  For the most part I am able to not feel homesick in the slightest, but talking like that... xD.  Let's just say it's a feeling I don't experience very often. 

We've been sooo busy recently.  Like none of our nights this week are open.  I will get this letter written quick before we go to a family named the Ramos's to share a spiritual message with them.  Tomorrow we meet with a woman named Sharmeen, Wednesday is Eikaiwa (english class), thursday we're planning to have a FHE (which are you guys doing that by chance?) with our New Zealand Family, Friday we meet with a guy named Saeed, Saturday we have our weekly pingpong activity, then Sunday night we're helping out with an evening sacrament meeting that's happening here.  Then next Monday we'll probably have an appointment because one guy wanted to meet tonight but we were busy so maybe next week?  

The wind down from summer and the start into school is always a bummer.  But get this, once you become a missionary, you don't even have to worry about it because every day is an adventure.  Heck one day I almost got run down on my bike by a scantily clad woman riding a motorized scooter.  But thanks to my lightning quick reflexes... xD  Let's see what else.  I biked through a typhoon (no joke) to go see an investigator.  xD 

So at the risk of this becoming a chapter book I will end here and say thank you for everything.  I really really appreciate all you do for me.  And those pictures from  the canoe trip.  Holy darn smokes...

 

Heh heh.  Love you

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 48

Hey  Parents!

 

First off, Mom I hope you had a TERRIFIC AWESOME Birthday!  Darn shame I couldn't be there to celebrate.

 

So I just thought that I would let you guys know how my week was.  This past week was incredibly awesome for me and Elder Shiozawa.  Recently we've been teaching a family by the name of Leulu.  They are a family of 4 from New Zealand.  They are actually Samoan but they lived in New Zealand.  They were found a few weeks ago by one of the members here and they came to church one Sunday.  They don't really speak Japanese at all so I did my best to translate for them during sacrament meeting.  Then we started doing weekly family home evening with them.  Now it's to the point where we've taught them quite a bit (lessons 1-3 and the WoW).  On Saturday we asked them to be baptized and their answer was YES!!  We set, as a goal, the 24th of September for them to be baptized and they agreed.  So now we're working with them to the extent that we're able (which usually turns out to be once a week) and they love us.  And we love them because they're such a terrific family and they're so much fun to be around.  They have a 9 month old girl and a 3 year old boy.  And they are both sooooo rambunctuous.  So things are going extremely well with them.

 

Then a little over a month ago while I was passing out flyers for our English class I met a woman named Sharmeen.  She is from Alabama and she's been teaching English in Japan for a little over 8 years now.  She started meeting with us because she wanted to understand why she felt so much positive energy from us.  We've taught her twice now and she really has been prepared to hear the Gospel at this time.  It's been soooooo cool to finally be teaching someone who wants to hear the message that we have to share and is willing to put forth the effort to see for themselvs whether or not this message is true. 

 

So until next time I hope you guys have a great week.  Give everyone my love.  Especially you two.  Thank you soo much! 

 

Elder Keith

キース長老 

Week 47

Heyyy!!

The countdown back to school has started already?!  Yikes.  Things go by sooooooo  dang fast.  Today may or may not be my 11 month mark.  Holy smokes.

The work is going really well.  We are teaching a guy from Iran, a family from New Zealand, and a woman from Alabama.  And they all speak English!  Heh heh.  Those are not our only investigators but they are some.  And it is soooo easy to teach in English.  xD  That's why they sent me to a Japanese mission haha.

I have not baptized anyone myself yet.  But since I've come on my mission there have been 3 people who have received baptism that I have taught.  2 of them I know I had a direct influence on.  It's so awesome to see people find the gospel and make choices that will bring them eternal happiness!

Interesting foods:  I eat raw egg all the time.  I have tried Goma dressing (sesame seed dressing).  Maguro (raw tuna on sushi). Ika (squid, raw on sushi). Natto (fermented soybeans).  And that's just a couple. xD  I do have bean paste with bread pretty frequently. It's really good.

I catch flies with choptsticks nowadays!  Well not really but a lot of times I actually prefer chopsticks to spoon, fork, and knife.  

My apartment is way cool.  It's 2 floors!  And the stairs are wicked steep.  And we're working on getting it clean.

Oh and before I go. I did have 1 well 2 requests actually.  The first one is could you find a picture of me from when I was in high school and had long hair?  And send it to me?  I would appreciate that.  And then I was wondering if you could express send me another packet of poutine sauce.  I was talking about it with one of our investigators and he really wants to try it.  And we've got 5 weeks left in the transfer and there's a good chance that I may not be here next time.  So if you could do that I would be most appreciative.  Thank you so much.  Love you and miss you guys!!

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 46

Hey Mom and Dad!!

 

So basically Kofu has not gotten any cooler.  And we had transfer calls!!!!  Well everyone in the zone did.  Except for Kofu!!  That's right me and my current companion Elder Shiozawa who also happened to be in the same room as me in the MTC both survived transfers and we'll be in Kofu another 6 weeks.  And both of the sisters stayed too.  Me and a sister named sister Tanaka have been in kofu for 3 transfers xD.  And we were in the same district back when I was in Tama.  xD.    And President Albrecht was saying that there's a good chance that we'll be staying longer in our areas so after this transfer I may or may not be in Kofu.  4 transfers is pretty normal to be in an area.  And more than 2 transfers with the same companion is rare.  So after this transfer... well it's a wait and see for who goes and who stays because we'll almost certainly be split up.  But we're both certain that we're both gonna have some kind of responsibility next transfer.  Which leads to the next point.  I am no longer district leader.  I kinda thought that it was gonna be temporary anyways.  It was fun while it lasted.  I enjoyed calling people every night.  Yeah the responsibility was kinda enjoyable but it's gonna be nice to just to go back and be a regular missionary.  But while I was District Leader, we had the sisters, who were both japanese who spoke mostly only Japanese. Well one speaks pretty decent english and the other about 2 words.  So yeah.  But being honest there were only a couple times where I had a hard time getting my point across.  Because while japanese is still hard, it's very rare that I'm not able to say what I want.  And that may seem prideful but I feel like I've been doing really well.

 

I love the Japanese food.  It, for the most part, is way dang good.  I wonder about how I'm going to find all the stuff that I like after my mission.  What do I like most about Japan?  Well it's kinda hard to pick one thing.  One thing I do really like though is the train system that they have here.  It's so readily accessible, so widely used and, you can basically get anywhere you wanna go by train.  What do I like about serving a mission?  I love talking to people I love helping people and I love the change that I've seen in myself.  It's so much fun.  I honestly am having the best time of my life.  I miss you guys like crazy but I just love Japan and being a missionary so  dang much.  It's gonna be hard to come home xD. Thank you for all your support.  Say hi to anyone who asks about me.  Especially Brother Larson if you get the chance.  But I have places to go.  Souls to save.  So until next week I bid you 気をつけて下さい。 (take care).  Love and miss you.

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 45

Heyyyy,,,

 

Thank you muchly for the whats up back in Canada.  xD  Davin's going on his mission.  As if.  That's sooo weird.  Yeah, the sisters in my doki hit their year mark last transfer.  It's wayyy weird.  Good thing I'm nowhere close to halfway, ha..ha..ha......(nervous laugh).

I'm glad you got my letter.  I just kinda figured that everyone in Hawkesbury was kinda waiting for a letter or something haha. 

 

Grandpa's gone to windsor?  ...  whoa...  the house must be totally different right?  ... weird haha. 

 

So yeah besides that, all's well here in Kofu.  We get transfer calls this Saturday.  Oh yeah and last week on Wednesday, we found out that our district leader was being transferred to the mission home because he's becoming the new commissarian.  And therefore they decided to make me district leader til the end of the transfer.  xD  ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.  Responsibility nooooooooooo.  But it's ok.  I kinda like it.  The only thing is that now I have to make calls to everyone in the distict every night so my personal journal writing time and such completely nakunarus (that means passed away).  In any case.  Yeah this transfer, we kinda expect someone to leave but it really could be just about anyone.  But yeah we've got places to go and people to see today so give everyone my love.  Thanks for your letters I really appreciate them.  =D

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 44

Heyyy,

So this week has been really really busy for me.  It's funny you think that it would be because of the laptop and stuff but we hardly used it at all this week.  We had like no time at all.  Yeah don't worry Dad, I'll stay away from the games.  It's actually not even the slightest temptation for me.  Nor is doing anything else 'illegal'.  In fact I would have been perfectly fine had we not even had computers.  I means it's good in some ways and for a lot of people it will be really effective, but I was just kinda like 'mahhh whatever xD'. 

Yes I was able to go back to Tama and see Mai get baptized.  It was amazing.  It meant getting up at like 4:30 so we could get on a train at 5:30 (the earliest one) and just barely make it in time.  It was one of the best experiences in my mission. 

I've also sent you a letter addressed to the Hawkesbury branch and I was wondering if you could put it on the bulletin board.  That would be much appreciated.

AHHHH everybody is growing up sooo fast.  Ben and Ariana are going to the YSA ward?  That's weird!  And Thomas is apparently wicked tall now?  I'm guessing that Adam's probably over 6' now then. xD  I'm such a shorty hahahahaha. 

So actually I have something by way of request too.  There's a member in my ward right now who's planning on, at some point attending TOCAD (Toronto college of art and design) and so she's really interested in what Canada's like.  I was wondering if you could send me pictures of Canada, and/or Toronto and stuff.  That would be very much appreciated. 

It's funny to see how much a mission changes you.  Like before my mission, service projects were not fun and I felt less than over-enthusiastic about doing them.  Now I actively seek out ways to help the members of my ward.  Like the other day, we went and cut a lawn.  Before that we helped move furniture and then sort receipts.  And then for the first time in my mission (in a really long time actually) I kept little kids occupied.  (Background:  We have an evening Sacrament meeting for those members that work during the day and have no choice.)  So, we've been attending this and recently a less-active, that the sisters have been working with, has started coming and she's been bringing her 3 kids.  Then one of the others members brings her 2 kids.  And so afterward (the service is only about 30 mins) after we were done clean-up and everything, I went to give one of the kids a hi-five, and he ran away from me!  So then I proceeded to chase 4 young boys around and have them squealing and screaming and running away.  It was sooooo much fun.  I was sooo tuckered out by the end though.  I never knew that kids had that much energy.  I'm gonna need to start working out a lot more if I'm gonna ever think of having kids, who will almost certainly be rambunctious.  But yeah so my week went by fast.  And this next week too we have something almost every day.  And this transfer has only 2 weeks left and that makes me sad because my companion is terrific and we're working really hard but the possibility is very big that President will not keep us together next transfer.  We both think that we're gonna start getting younger missionaries as companions now xD.  Ahhh mission life.  I really do love it.  It's soo terrifically fun.  I really am having the time of my life.  Thanks for helping me get here!!  Love you both soooooo much!

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 43

Dear Everyone,

 

So a couple of changes in our mission...  One our Pday is being changed to Monday...  So maybe nowadays you'll have to write me a day earlier.

お願いします

o-negai shimasu.

(please)

 

Oh and also our mission decided to do a test project for the entire world.  Every companionship in our mission is being given a laptop computer for their apartment.  We can do email. Go on lds.org and then we also get to do skype with members and stuff, and on Christmas and Mothers Day I can do skype with you guys!!!  How cool will that be.  Well I am going now and hope to hear from you in an hour or so but if not, ta-ta till next week.  Love you all!

 

Elder Keith

 

"Preach the Gospel at all times and, if necessary, use words."  =D

Week 42

Just this past Saturday I was able to return to Tama for a baptism!  When I first got to Japan, my first day in the field.  I had a lesson with a girl named Mai.  I taught her basically the entire time I was in Tama.  And I watched her grow in testimony as we went.  On Saturday I was able to return and watch her be baptized.  It was such an incredible experience.  It was truly a joy for me to be able to do that.
Also this past week we had begun having lessons with someone who was an investigator a couple years back.  When we had our first lesson with him he told us that he wanted to be baptized.  We went and saw him yesterday and found out that his parents also want to be baptized.  They want to be baptized all together and we set their date for the 31st of this month.  We're now working with the shimai to make sure that they all know and understand everything that they need to in order to be baptized.
It's a good thing that we have the Lord on our side in this here missionary work stuff.  Without Him, this stuff would be pretty dang hard.

In other news...It has not gotten any colder hear.  Nor do I think it will any time soon.  

But this transfer is soooo awesomely fun so far.  It feels incredible to be working as hard as I can and not taking extra time for things that don't help people progress towards eternal life. 

I do believe that I have found a new hobby too!!  Killing Roaches!!

I found out to that if you spray them with dish soap enough they will die. 

And not 10 minutes ago I totally punted a cockroach!!  It was in the bathroom at the church and we tried to get it with dish soap but it ran out the door, so i tried to kick it back into the bathroom but instead it exploded.  xD  I picked up like 3-4 pieces xD

Dang roaches heh heh. 

Love you all.

Elder Keith

Week 41

Watashi wa anata no musuko desu.  Heh heh, figure that one out =D.  I am doing awesome.  I think I may have lost a kilo tho!  I sweat sooooo stinking much.  Like it's ridiculous.  Yes it is still flipping hot here.  And I'm told that it's only going to get hotter.  Although the rainy season is coming to an end so it should get less humid but it's still mega hot.  Like hotter than I've seen.  It's definitely like more than 35 every single day.   The bike riding is going well.  Our companionship is going terrific.  Especially when comparatively speaking.  It's like just chilling with your best friend for like 6 weeks.  But we're super focused and super hard working.  And we've been seeing miracles because of it.  One of the miracles is that Mai an investigator from Tama is getting baptized this saturday.  It's awesome.  I'm super stoked.
Hopefully everything goes well for everyone this summer. That's great that dekiru kagiri (that means to the extent that you can) you are talking about me to everyone.  That's what missionary work, this gospel is all about.  Even the small stuff counts though we may not realize it at first.  Yeah I get a really great feeling about this transfer.  It's been tonnes of hardworking fun so far.  And if this continues I know that we will be blessed.

Well I wish you all the best and leave you with my love.  Looking forward to hearing from you next week.=D  Love you!!

 

Elder Keith

 

hey so i guess this is a video of us.

http://youtu.be/PS_7vAvXFOM

 

Week 40

Heyyyy  =D

So basically over the past couple of days we have had many things happen.  All have been good for once.  So on Friday night we received transfer calls.  I'm staying in Kofu, which is great because I love it here.  And the wards LOVES the missionaries.  So much!!!!  Then they told me that I was getting a doki companion.  His name is Elder Shiozawa and we were in the same room together at the MTC.  It was/is/will be terrifically awesome because we became like best friends in the MTC and it continued in the field and now, we're companions!  He is a 4th generation Japanese, but he was born and raised in America so we had basically the same skill level in the MTC.  But now I'm area senior (we're co-senior companions) and for the first time on my mission who is not miles ahead of me in Japanese.   So I kinda get the feeling that this will be a hard transfer.  But boy will it ever be fun!!   We're actually down to just 1 companionship now.  The church has like 120 people but it covers an entire ken (province).  Mount Fuji was terrific fun!!  It actually took us like 8 hours to get to the top though because my former companion was really trudging along.  It was so magnificent and it was soooo high.  Unfortunately I really didn't use enough sunscreen (typical me right?) and wound up with a pretty pink burn, mostly on my neck and hands.  then it took us 4 hours down because we took a different route.  Actually it was just the missionaries from Kofu and the ward that went.  It was soooo much fun and I took lots of pictures and stuff so you'll probably be able to get a feel for it when you get them.  This past week Kofu was the hottest place in Japan with a blazing 38C.  And as a missionary I know we're not supposed to go swimming but it's not hard when the humidity is like 1000%.  No lie it's way humid here.  We're in a basin surrounded by mountains...  oh dear.  And we've recently found a couple big roaches in the apartment...  oh no.  But besides those couple minor things everything is terrific right now.  I love my area and my companion and I love missionary work.  I now have a companion that doesn't have trouble with motivation and will work.  Yeah it will be awesome.

Dear goodness, today marks 7 months in Japan!  Time goes by too fast sometimes and too slow at others.    So yeah that's how things are with me right now in Kofu.  Thanks for all your support and everything.  

Love you. 

愛していますよ！

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 39

Hey Mom and Dad,　

 

はい靴を受けました。どうもありがとうございます。あなたたちは素晴らしい両親です！

the translation is:

Yes I received the shoes.  Thank you very much.  You are wonderful parents!

 

Yeah I got a way lotta stuff planned and coming up for me this week.   Today P Day, tomorrow English class, Thursday we're having a music night xD, Friday we have a dinner appointment and splits, and then Saturday we're gonna climb mount Fuji and then get transfer calls =O. 

As may be seen in the above Japanese sentence yes I did get both of the parcels. It's way great thank you.  And it's good that you sent them from America because I heard from the office couple that the Canadian post office is on strike.  They can't send anything to Canada.  But yes everything fits fine, and I am tickled with everything.  

Waaa everyone is growing up!!  Be sure to take lots of pictures please.  

Yes we do have a couple of investigators right now.  They are a little frustrating at times but we're doing our best. 

And as for the companionship... we had something happen this week.  One of the Elders in the other companionship actually returned home.  Not due to worthiness or anything bad but he did go home.  So as a result for this last week of the transfer, we are a 3-man companionship.  I must say that was the saddest day of my mission.  The elder who went home was in my MTC doki.  He was super nice and really helped me out at the beginning of the transfer especially.  And since transfer calls are on Saturday (while we climb Fuji actually) and we are super busy until then I just need to relax.  This transfer definitely taught me a LOT about patience.  So yeah that's the news on the Kofu Elders.

And that's all the time I have for this week.  

Love you both.  thank you again for the packages.

You're in my prayers

 

Elder Keith

Week 38

So.  It feels like there's actually a lot I wanna say this week.
I just found out the place I'm at closes in 10 mins so I gotta be quick.

The mountain climbing went well.  It wasn't that big.  It was kinda like a sissy mountain, (only 600m high)  but next Saturday I get to go climb Mount Fuji!!  Mount Fuji eats Rockies for breakfast.  No joke.  The hike will be like +9h.  Yahhooooo!!!! Google it!!

The main religion is for sure Buddhist.  (ah bukkyo desu!  is what they always say.  Meaning I'm Buddhist.)

 I love Japan and being on a mission has honestly been the best choice I've made to date.

Love you.

Elder Keith

Week 37

Hey Parents xD,

 

My birthday was terrific! 

 

Yeah you would eat a cake in my name and think of me when eating it wouldn't you xD  and the cinnamon rolls too?!  ahhhhhh I'm totally green with jealous rage xD.  

I'm outta time right now because we're actually gonna go climb a mountain!!  xD

 

love you. take care

Week 36

Heyyyyyyy

Thank you for the birthday wishes.  ahhhhhh I'm gonna be 20!!!!! legally an adult in Japan.  Once again I get to be an adult.  xD  heh heh yeah young padawan indeed.  My first 2 decades of life are finishing!!!  ahahahahahaha.  The relief work in Sendai was a little anti-climactic.   We went to this one house that was in the middle of a suburb and shoveled some dirt that had become bad.  Then after that we went with another group and did the same thing in a small field.  It was anticlimactic because it didn't really feel like we were doing any special kind of service.  It didn't even really hit home that we were in Sendai until we started seeing the wreckage. After the service we all went to look at one suburb that was completely destroyed.  Let me tell you being in a disaster area, in the area where the destruction is, is really quite an experience all on it's own.  Not comparable to anything.  The destruction was immense.  It was scary to think about it at all.  It was a terrific experience and I'm super glad that we were able to go and see it. 

Yes this gospel is most definitely true.  The more I study it the more I understand.  The more I come to realize that there is no way that anything on this earth could exist without God.  Being able to study this gospel for +1h every day and then having the chance to have it as the central focus of my speech, my thoughts, is really a blessing.  I've only been gone for ...(8months?)  a little while and already I wonder how I'm going to get along after my mission when I won't be required to talk to everyone I meet about the gospel or have to live by missionary standards...it'll be sooooo weird.  But right now, I'm just drinking in this opportunity.  Heck I see the couple missionaries that I work with and I'm excited for when I serve that kinda mission.  Because it will happen.  But until that time...  Thank you both so very much.  Without this gospel and your guidance I would really be a different person and definitely not for the better.  Thank you.  Love you both so very much.  Take care

 

Elder Keith

 

Week 35

Hey,

I don't have much time so here's whats going (gone) down.  I have been transferred to a place called Kofu.  It covers the entire Yamanashi ken (prefecture).  My companion is named Elder Kuroki (black tree).  We are again in a 4 man and one of the other elders is from my doki.  It's been raining like the devil here.  xD

 

We go to Sendai mission on Thursday night, then we are giving service as part of the relief effort all of Friday.  I'm so excited but it's going to be a long bus ride.  I'll let you know how it all went next week.

 

Oh and I got the Easter package.  Thank  you very much <3

Love you.  I'll write more in the letter I'll write later today.

 

byyyeeee

 

Elder Keith

Week34

 So Mom, to answer your questions,  do we have solid investigators right now?  Well that depends on your definition of solid.  We have Kazushi who is still reluctant to talk about baptism.  We have Mai, who wants to be baptized but her parents are against it right now.  Then we have someone named Ishii-san (san meaning Mr or Mrs) who will probably be baptized at the end of June gurai(around).  Am I doing as much member work as I would like?  Well I would like to work with them more but we have plans to do so, so I'm happy.   Yep still streeting and housing lots.  And yes it is rare for me to speak in English nowadays.  Well with my companion at least.  Doesn't mean I'm good at Japanese but, I do try xD. 

And Dad, I do not know if I am to be transferred yet or not.  We usually get transfer calls last Saturday but because all the missionaries are coming back and they transfer on a different day, we get calls tomorrow morning and then the actual transfer will be on Friday.  I'm pretty likely to transfer too.  This will be finishing my 3rd in Tama and with the sudden influx of missionaries...  Can't say.  Yes Sachiko means happy child.  The Kanji is 幸子 The first one meaning happiness and the second one meaning child.  That's right Thiago comes back soon.  Is there anyway for me to get his mailing address.  I really want to write him.  And for personal study (I actually start 45mins-1hr early because I like my scriptures xD) I read a chapter or 2 from the BOM and then a bunch of pages from the Bible (my goal is to finish it all by years end), I'm in Psalms right now.  Then after that I read from Jesus the Christ, and then either the conference edition of the Liahona, or my journal from the MTC.  It's way weird/cool to see how much I've changed even since the MTC.   

So last quick thing to share that will shock you.  I think that this past week is the first time in my entire life that I've enjoyed doing dishes.  I did them multiple times this week.  Elder Furugen always cooks and so I've taken it upon myself to do as much service for him as I can.  This didn't come unprompted though.  In Nagoya, in the 4 man, I was able to get out of doing the dishes at all (we had no gloves, and my eczema is very sensitive to soap) but that kinda put me into a sense of complacency.  Then one day something I did bothered Elder Furugen (with good reason) and he told me so.  So since then I have resolved to do as much service for him as possible and it's really gone a long way towards helping us grow stronger as a companionship.  I've decided that, that is going to be how I try and treat all my companions from here on out.  I mean I was nice to all my previous companions but Elder Furugen is the first one who I've wanted to go out of my way to serve.  But yeah this week I enjoyed doing the dishes and didn't need to be asked xD.  Well once you pick yourselves up off the floor just know that I love you and wish you well.  Til next week

愛しているよ

Elder Keith

キース長老

PS Dad do you speak Japanese better than me?  if i write in Kanji will you understand it.

この文章が分かりますか？

Week 34

Howdy Do!

 

I am doing well.  Rain is taihen!  It makes my feet wet.  Every day.  Well we had 2 sunny days this week but it's not so much been balmy as it has been rainy.  Well at least Adam was able to have fun while his, albeit short, rugby career lasted.  Yeah no more rugby for a while. He's gotta still be there when I get back.  So today I had the chance to go to the Tokyo Temple!  It was way awesome!!  I was able to put both Adam and Grandma's names on the prayer roll.  It was so cool to be able to go back to the Tokyo Temple.  Life is treating me well aside from the rain.  Just for right now unsure as to whether I will be in Tama much longer because unless I'm mistaken we have just about all the rest of the Tokyo missionaries returning.  All the areas in the zone except for Tama and the Shimai (sisters) apartments are turning into 4 man.  So it should be way fun.  I just hope that I stay.  For one more transfer and then I wouldn't mind going to a different area. Good luck with the seminary.

 

Dad since when do you have perfect Japanese?  And kanji at that.  I had to look it up because I didn't know a bunch of them.  As for how they measure rooms, I don't have the foggiest.  We do have a room called the tatami room with tatami mats but all the rest of our rooms have hardwood.  And since room sizes don't concern me beyond "do i have enough room" I don't know.  Yes power is either 120V or 240V.  And it is either 50 or 60Hz.  Heh heh.   Pest issues.  Right now?  No but I hear that some apartments do get roaches.  Well I wish you luck with the fox and the business.

 

Besides that things are for the most part the same around here.  so yeah that's how things are for me in Toyko right now.  Thanks for everything.  Love you.

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 33

 I am so glad that I chose to come on a mission .  It gave me the turn-around that I needed.  My life was sloping towards the lazy side heh heh.  And now if I sit and do nothing for more than like 10-15mins I feel like a wanpaku (rebel) missionary.  I have no doubt there will be blessings.

I'm excited to see how much everyone has changed when I come back.  That's right Thomas is 14 this year!  O_O  He's going to his first dance!!  And Adam will be 16.. he'll go on his first date...  and Ben... is already 18...  AHHHHHHH

Mom... I'm turning 20 in like a month!!!!! .... ... ... ...  I'm so old... ... ...

wow.  and you're................... still as young as ever ;D  

All that aside yeah I think I have settled back into Tama quite nicely.  I spoke in Sacrament meeting for like 3-4 minutes, without notes and all in Japanese!  =D  I just have to hope that I slip past tranfers on the 22nd. 

 

So that's life in Japan.  Sure do love and miss you. 

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 32 They took me out of Tokyo but they could never really take Tokyo out of me.

Ok where to start... So first off, Yes I am back in Tokyo.  Back in Tama to be exact.  And I have the same companion that I did when I left, Elder Furugen.  It's way awesome.  When I got the call I accidentally yelled for joy into the phone.  But I'm still 5 comps in 4 transfers.  And with the regular transfers only 3 weeks away and the fact this will be finishing my 3rd transfer in Tama, I'm not sure whether or not I will survive it.  But I am soo happy to be back.  I will try my best to describe what it was like coming back to the mission home.  It was like coming home.  It felt so right and the happiness that I felt was really unlike anything that I've experienced before.  There were a lot from my doki  too which made coming back all the better.  The Nagoya experience was good and I really applied myself there.  I made many friends in the area that I was very sad to leave.  But the feeling of coming home (to Tokyo) was completely overwhelming.  It's kinda like they took me out of Tokyo but they could never really take Tokyo out of me.  And I think that's a statement that may hold true for the rest of my life.  So now I get to pick up where I left off with investigators and members except that this time there is going to be a lot more member work being done by me and my companion.  When we got to out apartment there was a bunch of food on the table and a note basically saying welcome back.  The only bad thing was, that the power was cut for a while and our freezer had some veggies in it... and now... it has more than a few spots that are a nice shade of blue and the rankness that it smelled when it was opened...  heh heh...  aw man.  So coming back from Nagoya I actually got to take the shinkansen!  That's what the bullet train is called here in Japan.  It was like an airplane on the ground it was soo fast.

Yeah the weather is quite nice here too although it has been really rainy recently.  Major taihen, especially because my shoes have holes in the bottom...  Which is maybe one thing I want for my birthday.  A pair of shoes that are like 10.5-11 and slip on.  No laces please. I really hate to ask like that but I don't think they carry my size in abundance here in Japan.  So thanks a tonnes.  Can't wait to talk to you all.  Love you lots!  You're in my prayers.

Elder Keith

Week 31 "I'm Going Home!!!!!!! Well I should clarify that... I'm going back to Toyko!!!! I'm so stoked"

We got word today that next week, half of the Tokyo missionaries will be returning to Tokyo, and then it will only be a matter of time before the rest of the Tokyo missionaries go back.

Yeah I've been waiting to return to Tokyo for quite some time now.  I'm glad you and mom are ok with it because if you weren't we would have had to have a serious sit down talk.  (Note from Elder Keith's mom - We received a call from Salt Lake on Saturday asking us if we were okay with Ty going back to Tokyo, they want to send him out in the first wave on May 2nd.)

Well on my continent, Easter was forgotten.  Not by everyone but just by the missionaries in my apartment.  I leaned over to one member in Sacrament and asked (in Japanese) It's Easter today isn't it?  and he's like "yepp, I forgot too" 

Besides that, things are going well for me.  Not too much has changed, except that we have a bean (greenie) in our apartment now.  It makes me realize how far I've come when I can explain some grammar principles and help him with language tips.  

I am working hard, and enjoying my time like you wouldn't believe.  My current companion is my favourite to this day!  He is way funny but also the hardest working out of all my previous companions.  So I will continue to do my best. 

Oh yeah and one last thing.  IT HAILED TODAY!  as if right?  -sigh-  not fun to bike it... but such is missionary life. 

love you,

Elder Keith

Week 30

So things are going well for me here in Seto.  Way big news though.  It turns out this transfer isn't a super transfer anymore.  It just became a 7 week transfer and the next one a 5 week transfer.  The crazy thing is because of the whole Tokyo being closed situation, all that would have been Tokyo missionaries have nowhere to go.  I found out that they split them up between the missions we have here still.  And because they sent a bunch of missionaries home early (due to earthquake not other reasons) there are no missionaries (save 1) who are going home this transfer.  The thing is... there are 22 new missionaries coming to Nagoya.  Nagoya mission has almost doubled in size.  There were ~80 missionaries in Nagoya when I first arrived.  Then we brought ~40 and then with 22 more... So which leads me to the point I was originally trying to get to.  I have a new companion.  But I'm staying in Seto.  My companion Elder Kutney is now going to be training.  And my new companion is a guy named Elder Shitami (prounounced shtami).  He is from Hokkaido Japan.  Yeah it's gonna be way cool to see what a new missionary is like because it feels like so long since I was one.  So that's the big news about transfers. 

We did end up going to the park today but because it's monday, all the attractions were closed.  Which meant that we couldn't actually go into Totoro's house and we couldn't go and get something to eat.  Instead of spending all day there we came back early and went and had sushi.  Wayyy good.  But we did spend the morning playing soccer and on the way back it came to my attention that my arms have a rather pink hue.  Since when do I burn?!

To answer some questions,  Japan Rocks!  We've really planned out our Eikaiwa (english class) super good because at first there was absolutely no structure, just vague guidelines, but we got that all fixed up and then we are planning to start getting consistent activities going because that's something we feel will really help the church.  The language still isn't easy but I feel like I know more with every passing week.  Yes I am still in a yonnin (4man) and yes I am working hard.  Although it didn't feel like it at first because we are doing more member work now, which means less proselyting, it felt like I wasn't working as hard but... It's still good.

The other day I was on splits with Elder Shitami, and we went housing.  We housed into this one woman (it was late like ~730) and she said, "konnichiwa" when she saw my companion and then she saw me and said "hello."  After I picked my jaw up off the floor I said  "Eigo dekimasuka?" Meaning "you speak English?"  and she replied yes.  I then spent the next 15 minutes(my companion doesn't speak hardly any English) telling her about who we are and why we're here.  She was way impressed.  She told me she was really into Bible study and accepted my invitation to come to church.  I also gave her 2 Book of Mormons.  One in English and one in Japanese.  It was wayyy awesome.  I also got her phone number.  She didn't come to church but she said she might not be able to because her daughter was sick.  So some time this week we're going to go back. 

That's pretty much life in Japan.  My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you.

愛している---->Ai shite iru (a-ee  shtay  eeru)  I love you

キース長老

Elder Keith

Week 29

Yeah Spring!!  which means that we as missionaries can ditch our suit jackets.  It gets way hot here in the summer from what I hear.  Like 35 C on a consistent basis.  How will I survive?   Conference was amazing!  I really enjoyed hearing President Monson speak as well Elders Scott, and Holland.  I kinda got that the theme of this conference was "get married."  Very applicable to me I know.  NOT!!  xD  So there's a chance that I will not be emailing next week because we're planning to go spend the entire day at an awesome park nearby.  So if I don't reply next week don't be overly surprised.  Onegaishimasu. (that's a really polite please)  Thanks mom I look forward to getting those recipes.  We use them to build relations with members.  =D  Well love you both but I must be off.  Things to do =D  love you

Elder Keith

キース長老