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