He died that we might live.

Coming on a mission has been one of the best decisions that I have made in my entire life.  I have changed so much.  It's funny to see the things that I never thought would change too. 

As missionaries we have the chance to truly live a Christ-centered life.  Before my mission, I didn't really understand what that meant.  Since coming on my mission, I've had about 700 days where I have an hour a day allotted to personal study. I've spent all my time studying the gospel and then trying to share with people just how awesome this gospel really is.  Coming on a mission has solidified the things that I learned when I was younger and gave me a strong determination to never fall away. 

Another thing that coming on my mission has taught me is what love is.  What love is and how to live.  Before my mission, I thought I knew.  And to an extent I did.  But coming on a mission and being around the fanastic selfless examples of other missionaries and my mission presidents, made me realize that I did indeed have a lot to learn.  I wanted to be like that.  I wanted to be one of the ones who people would talk about as being someone who really loved people. I guess only time will tell as to whether I was successful or not.  I have however discovered how to love.  I realized that it is through sacrifice, through service, through giving up of ourselves for the others, that helps us to develop love for others.  The Saviour demonstrated this love for us when he completed the Atonement.  And I will say that while my mission has been the best experience that I've ever had, it has not all been easy.  One such experience was actually just recently.  We were doing a joint lesson with the sisters.  We each (the 4 of us and the family of 4= 8 cups total) had a cup with water in it.  Because the water was clean, it symbolized our hearts when we were born.  But then as we go on we unfortunately sin and our water becomes dirty.  Everyone added things to their cups like salt and pepper, soy sauce, mayonnaise, sauce used in cooking meat.  Everyone's cup became rather dirty and not looking very clean.  It was then I realized that the only way to clean the cups was to drink the mixtures that each person concocted.  8 cups of pain later, I set the last cup down.  It was not a very pleasant experience.  I was even suffering the next morning and throughout part of the day.  I drank a bitter cup and I suffered, so that everyone could have clean cups.  But the Saviour drank the bitter cup, and he suffered for each one of us so that we could be clean and eventually return to live with Him.  As I was drinking the cups, the sister said something that struck me.  She said, 'If I had known, I wouldn't have put what I did in.'  It made me think.  If we knew how much the Saviour was truly going to suffer for us, how much he did,  would we have put more in the cup that He would have to drink?  My appreciation for all that the Saviour did has deepened tremendously.

My testimony has also grown to heights I never thought before my mission.

Jesus Christ, came to this earth.  He is the Son of God, the only sinless Being to have ever walked the earth, and as such, he was the only one capable of fulfilling the Atonement, the greatest act of love known to humankind.  He died for you and for me.  He died that we might live.  That he is our Saviour and Redeemer, that he loves us beyond measure, no matter who we are, I testify in His holy name, even Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Looking forward to seeing you

Love you

Elder Keith

23 days and counting!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

MY FLIGHT PLANS CAME ON FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

Yeah that's pretty much what went through my head when I got it.

It's gonna be weird.  I dunno if you've got my plans or not but for me:

 

I leave from Narita Airport at 3 in the afternoon.  I arrive in detroit at 1 in the afternoon (wait arriving before I leave... xD)

Then I have an 8 hour layover.  My next plane leaves at 9 at night and I arrive sometime around 11...  so...

I dunno how your guy's works but I have an 11 hour flight first off.  and I thought, hmmm getting there at 1pm... not bad.  but then I realized that I will still be on Japan time... which means like 2 in the morning for me...  which probably means that my 8 over layover will be spent sleeping.  then my last 1.5 hour plane ride will be spent dendoing (proselyting) the person next to me.  Then I'll be wide awake for the car ride home and most of the rest of the night.  Probably... 

well that's the end of that thought process.

I just can't think about it otherwise it messes with my head.  It's so weird to think that my 2 years is up.  This coming Saturday I hit my 2 year mark...  Well if I remember correctly then yes it probably feels exactly the same way that it did when I left for my mission. 

Yes things are moving quickly.  Actually the first 2 transfers were the slowest.  And since then every transfer has gotten successively faster to the point that I'm like.... 'Wait whaaaattt? Where did the time go?  When did Sierra get her drivers license? When did mom get grey hair (chuckle)?  When did adam turn 17?  Where did my mission go?'  Far too fast.

But yeah not too too much new that happened this past week.  This coming week though I have a lot. On Wednesday I have an interview with President Budge because my temple recommend expired.  Then I also have an interview with Elder Koichi Aoyagi of the 1st quorum of the 70...  I don't know why... I'll let you know more next week. 

But yeah should be good. =D

 

Thanks for the news and everything.  You all are in my prayers every day.  Love you

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

 

And give gradma great big hug for me please =D.  Remind her that we still have a lunch date set for the week that I get back.  And tell her that I love her and miss her.  And the same thing to grandpa.  Thank you so much.

I apologize that I have not added more pictures from Elder Keith's mission. I am not that techie and I just discovered how to add pictures!! I will see if I can find some more to post. --Michele

Week 101 + or -

Hey, (and mom it's choro.  pronounced chohroh.  xD (big hug))

 

So.  Those young ones seem to be quite a handful now don't they?  Gonna be weird coming home huh? Well it would be weird anyway (no offense).  

 

Your story made me laugh too mom.  I can just picture the look of shock and almost hear their thoughts as they drive up into the yard.  That is definitely not something that you want to have happen as a missionary.  It's not something that we really have in Japan, one because no one really has that big a house/that much land, and then unless people are at the beach they usually don't wear bikinis.  xD  No, they content themselves wearing short skirts instead.  And it's not a seasonal thing either.  (-_-;)

That's way cool though.  It's become so incredible to me.  To hear how people met the missionaries and then became converted to the gospel. 

...heehee... you fell in love with the missionaries.  xD  But I guess it's not overly surprising because we are pretty drop-dead handsome guys.  And the Japanese people are absolutely in love with my eyebrows.  (-_-;) Just yesterday at church our dendo shunin (ward mission leader) told me that his daughter said that 'Elder Keith's eyebrows are cute.'  ....  uhhhh  thanks?...... but yeah then we ended up going over to that family's house for dinner, and the mom said that sometimes her and the daughter (like 15) sometimes talk about us missionaries.  And then she said that they were saying that when they talk to me, it's ok at the start, but then instead of looking at my eyes they end up looking at my eyebrows...  -sigh-  but it's all good. 

 

So now a couple things you can put on the blog. 

1.(for anyone intending to write me a letter)  Don't worry about writing me snail mail paper letters anymore.  I've only got a little bit of time left and odds are good that I won't have time to write anyone back,  and even if I do get time, I'll probably not write back on the grounds that I'll just come and say thanks once I get back.

 

2.  So I think that the scars have healed enough to say that about 3 weeks back I fell from my bike.  (^_^;)  But this time it wasn't because I was being reckless.

We had just come from a teaching appointment with the sisters and were headed back to the church for our weekly ping pong activity (which I can proudly say that I started) and I was going down a hill pretty fast.  And since there was another hill coming up I decided that I wanted to get more speed and go up the hill better, so I switched gears.  But my bike, the good ol' green hornet, needed the chain to be oiled.  Pretty badly.  And after suffering almost 2 years of excruciating abuse at the hands of Elder Keith (he learned how to bunny hop a bike, among countless other things) it was probably fed up.  So the chain came off but because I was still pedaling hard, when it came off and all my weight was on my one foot, that caused me to unbalanace past the point of recovery.  The sister who was behind me in our line of bikes said that I flew.  I don't really know how it happened.  I do know that I became well acquainted with road rash.  Probably the worst case that I've ever had in my life.  Wasn't fun.  I got 2 spots on my right hand, one on each of the upper side of my arms.  a small one on my knee, a bruised shoulder and a small one on my left hand, besides the 3 or so on the knuckles of my right hand.  So I got back up on my bike and raced to church (5 mins away) and started washing out my injuries.  The sisters pulled out the first aid kits while my companion pulled out his grammar book and started studying.  Then one of the sisters had what's called essential oils.  They're supposed to be good for healing and stuff.  So they used that and I've just been working carefully since then.  They're healed to the point now, that I don't really need to worry anymore but yeah.  It was fun.  Painful but fun.

 

(If you check the mission blog that I sent, the picture of us around the table eating, I tried to hide it, but I'm sure if you look closely you can see that I have bandages on and stuff)

 

3.  We had a record the other day.  5 big roaches in one day.  1 got away but we found him the next day.  He died.  I haven't kept track but we must be up over 60 roaches since I got here now.  Excluding the babies that is.  Well that's what happens when the woman below you doesn't throw out her trash.  Like her door is jammed and when she does get it open she has to climb on top of 2 feet of trash to get in.  And I'm not exaggerating at all.

 

4.  We gave service at a kinda like day-care where mentally handicapped people go.  It was kinda weird.  Kinda funny. Kinda terrifying all at the same time.  But everyone was way nice.  It was way fun.  So we're going back there again next week. 

 

So yeah that's been the scoop on me this past week.  And this coming week is equally as busy!  xD  Well actually this week is more busy but that's life. 

 

Thanks so much.  Love you =D

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Shashin!!

Week 100+??

こんにちは

 

STAGE IS GETTING MARRIED!!!!! Holy smokes haha.  Well who am I to talk, I'm not looking on being married too quick.  xD  Typically Japanese people don't get married until like they're 25 at least.  It's not uncommon to find unmarried 30 year olds.  Even within the church.  (-_-;)  Not that I'm thinking about marrying a Japanese person, but being around them for so long I can see the benefits of not rushing the whole marriage thing.  But I have had countless other Elders tell me that since I'm going to BYU, I will be married within 3 months.  But my goal is to go to BYU and stay unmarried for as long as possible.  xD  Bahahahaha.  But seriously I heard the divorce rate in Utah was like 50%.  I'm kinda yadda to divorce. 

So Grandma is in a nursing home.  That's good that she'll be getting 24hr care. =D  We've still got a date to have lunch when I come home.  So Auntie Diane is moving to PEI.  That's good that she'll be with her grandkids.

So Ben's still set on moving out to BC huh?  Hm wonder when I'll see him next huh?  Is his place doing up and well?  It's still pretty rare for me to hear from Ben xD. 

Oh and about BYU... I checked the email that you sent and it said that we would receive an answer at the latest, 4 weeks after the application deadline.  The deadline is october.  So we might not know about me going to BYU til after I've been home for a couple weeks.  But oh well. 

Wait! April got married too!  Ara!!! (That's japanese btw)  That must mean that Adam is home from his mission (her boyfriends name was adam) unless she married someone else... xD 

Are things settling down with my companion?  nnnnnnn kinda?  yeah I guess.  not really. sorta...  I'm working on him xD.

Is he wearing missionary clothes when studying.  Not really.  xD 

Yeah I love my ward.  It's absolutely awesome.  I've just made such good friends with everyone.  It's gonna be really hard to leave.

Oh and I'm thinking about something that I want to do with you guys.  And I don't know if it's your idea of a vacation or whatever or not but I was planning on taking at least one day and doing some dendo (missionary work--> streeting, passing out chirashis, housing)  Just so that you are aware ;)

So yeah that's my plan.

And life has kinda entered the surreal phase for me again.  I have some friends, some of my doki going home tomorrow.  And everything's changing just as I enter my final 6 weeks on my mission.  It's so weird to think that it's coming to a close.  I think that 16 transfers was just right for me too.  I mean extending would have been terrific.  But from the looks of it, President Budge is keeping people together longer than 2 transfers and if I were to do another one with Elder Pronk (save something changes) I would not have the most happy time I think.  But I think that by the end I will be ready.  Not ready to leave Japan and the Japanese people mind you, I don't know if I will ever be ready for that.  So yeah. 

Well thats me for this week. Thanks for everything!!!! =D

Love you!!!

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

 

Week 99

Konnichiwaaaaaaaaaaaa,

 

Sounds like life kinda slowed way down and then picked up again.  But that's just the way things are now isn't it?

So important things first...  I don't actually have my passport... nor my passport number...  You're probably going to have to get in touch with Sister Galbraith about that.  She's the one who takes care of everyone's passport...  (^_^;)  That's why when you asked me about my name on my passport the first time, I couldn't give you a definite answer (^_^;)  heh heh heh, *typical Elder Keith sheepish grin*

It gets really cool at night where you are?  Awww lucky.  It gets cool at night where we are too...  *if we use the AC*... I haven't actually slept under my blankets for a couple weeks now because it's way too hot, even wth the air conditioning.

So things are coming.  My companion was told by the mission president that he does indeed have to wear missionary clothes when studying... xD  He's not overly happy with that.  Nor with the whole 100% obedience thing.  Like not that he's breaking rules left and right, but he told me he doesn't agree with the whole, being 100% obedient thing.  So I'm trying to help him be obedient anyways.

Yeah you are definitely going to be amazed at the change in me I think.  Not that it's unexpected, but just that it's so different.  Like I look back on my life beforehand, now I wasn't a bad kid of course, but I was a kid.  And like you said, now I'm not a kid anymore.  I still enjoy doing kids stuff, but the maturity I see in me (especially in stark contrast to my new companion) makes me realize how far I've come.

Thanks for your testimony.  On my mission I've really come to see what a joy it is to be an eternal family and what that really means.

So now a couple questions that I ask members all the time, but I never thought to ask before my mission.

Mom- How did you end up meeting the missionaries and ultimately, what made you decide to want to be baptized?

Dad- What generation are you?  Was it Grandma and Grandpa Keith who first converted, or does it go farther back? And how did you come to know that the church is true?

Well of course, as is typical of Elder Keith, I've got loads more to say, but my time today is short.  This has been a pretty busy week.  So I'll close here. Thanks for everything.  I love you both so much!

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 98

 

こんにちは！

 

The drought is over!!!  Yahooo.  xD  That makes me happy.  It's kinda funny because I didn't really know to what extent it had an effect on life or anything.

And yes your email finds me well.  I don't know about hail or hardy, but I can't complain about my health.  At the moment anyways.  Well I guess I do sweat like a beast, even just walking to the store 6 minutes away, my shirt becomes soaked and I become stinky!  xD

It's amazing the things that you can find out when you're on your mission.  Things that your mother would tan your hide for doing!  xD  Like mixing bleach with a whitener (I think it's a whitener anyways) to get out those tough stains (I'm pretty sure it says don't mix, but it works REALLY well!), and there's also doing your own dental work with a thumb tack (those hard to reach places are pretty hard to reach but it does get the job done), and then seeing how many days you last while all your socks are in the wash (I've been reusing for about 3 days now. Just haven't had time) and then the one that's exclusive to Japanese missions, Eating Eggs Raw!  I eat raw eggs about probably 4 out of the 7 days of the week.  At least.  And with the ok on eating raw eggs also comes the ok on eating raw cookie dough!!  Woohooo!!!

So this past week we had my last all-mission conference.  It was way awesome.  We received a bunch of good trainings.  But then at the end all of the missionaries who are returning in August or October got to get up and bear their final testimonies.  I managed to make mine all the way through without crying.  But at the end it was pretty hard, my voice was just a shaking and my eyes were glistening.  It's weird to think that my mission is coming to a close.  I don't feel near ready to be ending.  We were talking (the 4 of us in our apartment) about how weird we're going to be when we go back.  Bowing and using weird exclamations/verbal confirmations.  Gonna be weird I tell you.  Nor will I be able to speak adequate English.  Being around people who speak Japanese and English, I can throw a Japanese word in that is easier than the English one, or use a word in Japanese that doesn't really have an English translation.  *shudder*  Yepp I'm gonna be weird.

This past transfer, we've been giving out Book of Mormons like mad!  Like we probably had 20 or so when we started the transfer and now we're down to 4! 

Yeah, we didn't have anything super duper awesome happen this week unfortunately.  xD  But there's just some days that you get like that huh?  Oh well. 

皆さんを本当に愛しています。いつも私のことをサポートしてくださって私を励ましてくださっていることに心から感謝しています。

また、分かち合っているメッセージが神様はご自分の子供の皆さんを本当に愛しておられることを知っています。

私たちと話したくて私たちを祝福することを望んでおられます。

この証をすべてイエスキリストのみ名によって分かち合います。

 

愛しています！

 

 Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 97

Hey,

 

So the tickets are booked are they then huh?  (>_<)  heh heh.

So we're not gonna stay at the temple then... hm ok.  That's ok.  An apartment sounds better anyways haha.

But we will be going to the temple, it's way awesome.

So yeah I've got an idea of a couple things that I'm thinking of doing, but to be honest we may have to do the planning of what to do when you get here because I don't want to think about it xD.  Like I wouldn't mind but I want to stay focused.

That being said, I will probably have some stuff already planned xD.

Yeah I remember Elder Campbell.  A swell ol chap he was.  xD  The thing that originally puzzled me was how you got in touch with his mom... xD

The missionary work is progressing, but slowly.  We've got one solid investigator right now.  He's 19 and we read the Book of Mormon with him every week and he comes to church when he can.  He's a way good kid and super awesome but he wants to wait until he's 20 to be baptized.  His birthday is in July... (-_-;)   And besides that we're just working on finding new investigators.  And at the same time I need to help my companion adjust to mission life.  *or more so adjust him to mission life (-_-;)*  but xD  heh heh heh yeah...

And thanks for all the help and everything with the application and stuff for BYU.  So now all that's left to do is wait huh?

Yepp life was occaisionally changed by an individual.

One of those individuals name was Jesus Christ. (^_^)

 

This friday we have an all mission conference...

This friday I'll be bearing my testimony...

NUFF SAID!  xD  Haha

 

So I'm emailing today because we decided to go to the zoo as a zone and it was closed yesterday so we went today.

 

Thanks for everything.  It means a lot to me.  =D

 

Love you

 

Elder Keith

 

PS: to everyone who hasn't written me in the past little while.  Just because I'm coming home soon doesn't mean it's ok to not write me xD.  $B

Week 96

Hey,

 

Tell Grandma a Happy Birthday and give her a Big Hug for me when you see her next if you would.  And let her know that she is in my prayers.  Thank you. 

.

That's a bummer about the drought conditions too.  Looks like I picked the right time to be on my mission then huh?  xD  Sorry I don't mean to make light of a probably serious situation. 

So things with Elder Pronk are going well for the most part.  I think totally adjusting to the lifestyle of  a  missionary is a little bit of a change for him.  But he's doing well.  Yeah things are going pretty well if I do say so myself. 

 

So a couple things that happened this week.  One of them was that we went to go visit this family named the Ohyama's.  Way nice people.  They asked me when I was in the MTC.  When I told them it was in September of 2010 they said that they were there at the same time.  Then I realized... I had been reading in my journal not too long ago and we had this thing called the TRC where missionaries go and teach volunteers a lesson.  My companion and I one time had a Japanese woman named Ohyama-san (-san meaning mr or mrs).  Then when I asked if they had volunteered and they replied yes, I put 2 and 2 together and realized that it was the exact same Sister Ohyama that I taught almost 2 years ago.  It was so awesome.

 

Then the other awesome thing that happened this week.  Before now I never really considered how much influence 1 person could have in a big group of people.  So with our new mission president comes our new theme.  "Shall we not be united in so great a cause..."  So a while back I heard that our mission was going to be having 2 big half mission conferences as opposed to one full mission conference.  I was way bummed about it.  It didn't make sense with our mission theme in my head and at the same time I wanted to hear some people in my doki bear testimony and I wanted some people to hear me bear mine.  They wouldn't have if we still had the 2 half conferences.  So in my letter I wrote to President Budge and explained what I thought about having one conference and being in harmony with the mission theme and I also wrote my reason about bearing testimony.  The next day I had a reply from him.  He said thanks for the suggestion and that he would consider it.  So seeing his reply made me feel really good.  Not because I thought it was going to happen but because he took the time to consider my feelings.  When I read his response, I worked on just accepting the fact that my testimony would be heard by some and that a half conference would do.  A couple days later (ago) we heard the news that the 2 conferences would become one, a full mission conference. I was ecstatic.  But I figured that there were probably many people who asked for the same thing.  Then, today, the zone leaders (who are in the same apartment as us) came out, one of them said, 'Elder Keith you were mentioned in the conference call this morning!'  I asked about what and he said that President Budge mentioned me in connection to the 2 conferences becoming one.  I had never considered that my one letter my one thought, my one drop in the bucket would end up creating a wave.  1 person really can have an influence on what happens.  Even if they feel that they can't.  That was kinda my awe moment this week.  Yeah!  =D

 

And about extending too.  I think that I'm going to just keep my date for October.  I really would have liked to extend.  But I just think that at the same time, that time before school starting and everything, being around Adam and Thomas, and Grandma, not to mention my dearest parents of course heh heh.  xD.  But I've already promised myself that this will not be my last time in Japan.  I've grown to love this country too much to let it go.  But yeah you can go ahead and book the flights.  My finish date is the 9th and so if we could do a post-mission tour until the 19th would that be ok?  I think that would be sufficient time to go everywhere and do everything.  Thanks so much!

 

So because this has once again, zannen nagara (meaning unfortunately) become a chapter book, I will close.  Thank you for the upates and everything. Love you to bits and pieces!  And all those bits and pieces are put together and held there through the glue of the gospel!  (Just came up with that myself just now.)  xD  Love you

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 95

愛する両親へ、

 

こんにちは。メールしてくださってありがとうございます。本当に私は二人からメールを読むときはとても嬉しいです。たまたまメールを読む時にトランキな気持ちを少し感じます。だけどこの残りの二月半でぜひメールしてください。

But yeah not, just a little  ;)

 

So with the bank...  yeah not quite sorted out yet.  Soon though.  We've been in touch with the Honbu and we're in the process of getting things straightened out.  Haven't quite been able to call yet because we don't know the number for the operator here in Japan.  (-_-;)  The honbu had a couple of suggestions but all them didn't work.  So we're probably gonna go there tomorrow or something and see what can be done.  Yeah haven't quite taken anything out yet.

 

So about my new companion.  His name in Morgen Pronk.  He's from Calgary.  He's got a family of 7, he's the middle child.  He's currently 19.  Turned so on April 1st.   Before his mission he was way into snowboarding and longboarding.  AND he did parkour (free running).  He pretty much has no fear when it comes to stuff like that.  Like standing backflip, corkscrew, then he jumped on the stage and did a backflip with a full twist off of it. Then we were in a park and he climbed up a shade tree they had (like 10 feet) and then proceeded to do a backflip off of it.  It was so cool to watch.  However he's still very green.  Still just kinda picking up on everything that it means to be a missionary and stuff like that.  He's got a way awesome desire, to learn the language and be a great missionary but yeah.  Is this what it's like to be a parent?  xD  The thing with me is I have a hard time having the 'hard talks' or telling someone they're doing something wrong.  Soo.... yeah.  But I love him.  Way nice guy, way fun to be around.  I've been with him just a little under a week so I don't really know too much more about him at this point.

Does it remind me of when I was brand new?  Absolutely.

So about extending.  I'll probably have to get back to you on that.  Probably later on today.  I have prayed about it but I'm not quite sure yet.  On the one hand I really really want to because I know that this opportunity probably will not happen again.  At least for another 40 or so years.  And even then It'll be a couples mission... xD.  I really really want to extend.  But then there's some days when I feel that by the time the time comes, I'll be ready. 

I'll think about it and pray about it some more today and write you again tonight to see if anything has changed.  But in between now and then I want to ask, how is grandma doing?  If I were to extend, I would be getting home in  like november.  probably near the 13 is when I would end, then the post-mission tour would put us home probably around 20th or so...  

Yeah I just don't know.  I feel pretty strongly about both options...

 

I know you don't want to influence me, and ultimately it will be my decision, but what do you think?

Your advice would help greatly.

 

So yeah besides that, there's not too much happening in Inage.  Life goes on good =D

Thanks so much for your letters and support.  Love you!!

 

Elder Keith

Week 94 or there abouts!

Hey Mom and Dad,

ﾂ

So...ﾂ A drought huh?ﾂ Yikes.ﾂ That's pretty legit.ﾂ We don't get droughts here.ﾂ The moisture in the air is enough to prevent that.ﾂ Level 2 out of 3 huh?ﾂ eeehhhhhh!ﾂ Sounds like we're having pretty similar summers though.ﾂ Granted mine is probably more humid, but yours is probably hotter right now. xD

Well I gotta say that I'm getting better at killing those roaches too!ﾂ In fact, I'm so good that I go to other people's houses and kill them.ﾂ We had a dinner appointment on Sunday (our second of the transfer) and during it, a big roach ran out on the floor.ﾂ So I went and got their dishsoap and trashed the bug(ger).ﾂ Then as I was about to put it in the trash can that the mom was holding.ﾂ She yelled at me!ﾂ Something to the effect of, "DON'T BRING THAT HERE!!!"ﾂ Or something.ﾂ I wasn't really sure.ﾂ So I paused rather confused.ﾂ Then she apologized profusely and said "I'll do anything."ﾂ She was really greatful that I killed the roach, but she just hates bugs and so... yeah.ﾂ Then they ended up giving us half a watermelon, and the rest of the food that was left at dinner (which was a lot).ﾂ So yeah that was fun.ﾂ

And I'm training.ﾂ We had transfer calls this past weekend andﾂI was called to be a trainer once again.ﾂ And I gotta say that makes me way happy.ﾂ I'm staying in Inage.ﾂ And training.ﾂ And I'm told that there's a Canadian in the group that's coming!ﾂ Keep your fingers crossed.ﾂ We go and get our new missionaries tomorrow.ﾂ

Did I doﾂa lot of streeting?ﾂ Not really.ﾂ I did a lot of walking around though.ﾂ (-_-;)ﾂ The size of Inage?ﾂ uhhhhh maybe like..... ummm I dunno maybe like 600 000 or 700 000 people?ﾂ It's pretty big.ﾂ And we have a university really close too which has a lot of international students.

So yeah tomorrow I get to go pick up my new companion.ﾂ And we were told that there are no Japanese missionaries in the group coming in.ﾂ So that means almost certainly I'll get a foreign companion and odds are good that he won't know a thing about Japan.

I'm totemo (very) excited!ﾂ

Thanks for all your letters and pictures!

Love you!!

ﾂ

Elder Keith

繧ｭ繝ｼ繧ｹ髟ｷ閠・br>

Week 93

Hail to the Bat Villa from the Roach Haven.

(-_-;)  Yep those roaches just a keep coming.  We're down to like one every other day kinda thing.   But yeah roaches in bed and baby roaches under the microwave and in the sink and ay caramba!  Did you know that the song "La Cucaracha" is all about a cockroach?  That's actually the title of the song too.  "The cockroach" in Spanish or Portuguese, I don't remember which.

My week?  Well.  Things are going good with my companion.  Kinda gotta take on a day by day basis sometimes.  We got a new mission president.  That's cool I guess.  We have a conference this coming Friday with him.  Seems like he's still getting settled and into the hang of it right now.

Oh and we got to go the temple again today.  That was way cool. 

So me and my companion were walking around and this guy calls out to us from behind.  He's bikes up to us and says (and this is all in Japanese by the way) "Hey do you know where Shinkenmigawa station is?"  We did and we kinda tried to explain it to him using landmarks but he didn't know any of them.  But we realized that asking for directions was not his main reason in stopping us.  Because as soon as we kinda finished he basically forgot about it.  But his next question was rather startling "Can you burp?"  Yeah imagine the look of confusion and surprise on my face too.  So he's like "You know like swallow air and make yourself burp kinda thing?  Can you do that for me?"  So we're kinda like "Uhhhhh yeah.... sure....."  So I do one and then he turns and gets my companion to do one.  Then He turns back to me and has me do it again.  Then again back to Elder Drummond.  So then he turns to me and say "How about 10x?"  I say "No that kinda makes me sick you know?"  Then he's like "ok just like 3-4x more?"  I was still kinda hesitant so he's like "ok just like 1 or 2 more."  Then he reaches out and touches my throat.  I stepped back a bit and asked him not to do that.  It wasn't threatening, just really weird.  Then he's like "It's becoming all the rage in school right now and I wanna learn how to do it, but I can't do it.  Will you do it again?  A big one?"  So I do one last one.  My companion doesn't.  Then he looks at our badges and says, "Oh yeah and I have interest in Christianity too."  So I pull out my phone and trade numbers with the guy.  Then  he thanks us and jumps on his bike riding back the way he came.   ... (?_?)  Figure that one out.  So then he texts us and we end up meeting with him again on Friday last week.   And our meeting went much the same as the first time.  With the burping and stuff.  We ended up giving him a Book of Mormon and talking for a little bit, then we had to go.  So he's kinda like a new investigator.  Kinda but at the same time not quite.  But yeah that was definitely a first for me in Japan.  ... In anywhere for that matter. 

Great huh?  Funny the stuff that happens.

Love you =D

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 92

Hey Mom (and Dad),

 

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!!  Haha, yeah my celebration was sending a text that said Happy Canada Day to the other Canadian elder in the mission.  You played dominoes with the missionaries?!  Awesome.  Yeah somtimes that's me at another member's house.  Not quite yet in this ward ... =(  but hopefully sometime soon.  Depends on the outcome of this transfer.  We've only got 2 more weeks left.  ...  ;D (^_^;)  haha.  naw we'll see. 

They're going to Young Men's camp?!  That's so awesome.  I want to go when I get back.  Maa dekitara ne?  That means if I can.

That's right no Primary right?  Hm..  Yikes.  Get those Elders some referrals!!  xD

Our investigators... well we have one who's doing terrific.  Then we have others who were doing well and then they stopped making contact with us....  =( 

The gaijin are mostly American but there is one from Australia.

The four man is going well.

So we officially have a new Mission President now.  And no one, save the assistants pretty much, have seen hide nor hair of him.  haha.

And our conference isn't scheduled until not this Friday but the next Friday.  So yeah we'll see what happens.  Everyone's all kinda nervous and jumpy about the changes that are gonna happen.  I'll let you know when I know.    We'll wait and see haha.

Thanks for a great letter. Love you tonnes.

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 91

Hey,

 

So first things first. I'm better.  Way better.  Like the sickness only turned out to last a couple days.  Thankfully.  I had the other Elders in our apartment help and they gave me a priesthood blessing.  And I want to also thank you all for your prayers.  I'm like pretty darn sure I wouldn't have gotten better as fast were it not for the added help.  Thank you.

 

So for the what's up with me this past week.  We had a pretty busy week.  We had a grand total of 8 lessons.  It was way cool.  And we had 2 people come to church.  It was awesome.  But there are so many gaijin (foreigners) in this ward.  Like off the top of my head I can count 4 families.  And one of the families had 9 kids.  9!!!!!!  (O_O)

But it's awesome.

 

And today we went to Costco!  Yeah, we hust happened to be there at the same time as a member and they used their card to get us on.  It was way awesome.  But Costco is so darn expensive.  At least here it is.  xD

 

But yeah life in a 4-man apartment is pretty fun.  Sometimes pretty crazy.  Sometimes pretty messy.  But it is way fun.

 

So yeah that was me this past week.

 

どうもありがとうございます。お疲れ様でした。

愛しています。

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

So just what I forgot last time.

President Albrecht goes home this weekend. Next will be President Budge.

My third mission president. Weird.

Oh and next month, which is next transfer. I will be bearing my dying testimony at the next big mission taikai (conference)

...

-sigh-

love you

Elder Keith

Week 90

こんにちは、

Hey Everyone konnichiwa,

 

Thanks for all your letters this week.

 

Responding for me is a little hard right now because I guess you could say that I'm sick.

I woke up on Saturday morning feeling like I had a lump in my throat.

It hurt to swallow.  Sunday came and things didn't get better. 

Now Monday's here and I still feel way below the weather.

 

Hurts a bit more than before to swallow.  I called the mission doctor and mission mom.

Doctor said that because it's just a couple days in right now, we're not sure if there's anything that can be done.

So now I have to gargle with salt water and take ibuprofen.

Eating's not very fun at the moment.

 

Besides my throat I don't feel bad at all.  Well it is really hot here, and since we're still in the 'rainy season' it's really humid.

I'll send you all replies when I get the chance.

In the meantime if you could just remember me in you prayers then I would be most greatful.

Thanks so much for everything you all do in my behalf. And I'm sorry if I forget things (>.<)

Love you all so much.

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 89

Hey Mom,

 

Almost 21...  yepp.  I'm getting old.  A teenager when I left huh?  gee...  yepper.  And now for the statement that will scare you so bad that your hair will turn salt and pepper colour (hee hee hee I'm so funny)

Others who are the same age as your son are now MARRIED!  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Heh heh.  Weird. 

Thanks for passing along the birthday wish from Mary and tell her thank you for me.

Wow the Andersons are moving out too.  Hawkesbury just won't be the same will it.

So quick thing about BYU before I forget.  President Albrecht told me that it's a first come first serve basis, so like I know that the deadline is in October, but does it look like it will be done soon.

Sorry my thoughts are pretty scattered right now.  Just gotta get all the things I wanted to say out, then I'll get the other stuff.

Could I get you to send me a picture of the skydiving?  That would be awesome thanks.

Dad mentioned that you haven't sent the package yet.  That's totally cool and don't worry about sending me the Canada stuff just yet.  I don't want to have to carry it around if I transfer... ( I barely made it with my 2 suitcases last transfer).

eeeehhhhttooooo......

Oh yeah, but would you mind sending me a stick of deoderant?  They don't have any here... it's a pain. 

And then this new apartment is way cool to live  in but in the 7 days I've been here we've seen and killed 6 roaches.  One every day since the first day.  And we have a different way of getting them here.  We use big elastics.  Did you know that if you hit a roach with a powerful enough shot that they will explode?  Like and I mean explode.  Pieces everywhere.  Way fun but way annoying too.  We think it's because the woman below us doesn't throw any trash in her house away.  But in any case, it gives us all a rush of adrenaline as we hurry to kill it.

The four man apartment is good.  It's way fun.  It's helping me to have fun again after having 4.5 months of not so fun.

Church for us, because we're in the other ward, starts at 1 in the afternoon.  It's weird.  My new companion has been out just over a year.  It's cool because he was actually a district leader in my zone the transfer before last, so I knew him well.  We're both Pokemon nerds so we get along great.  We actually went to a Pokemon specialty store today haha.  It was funny.

New investigators?  Not quite.  I'm still getting used to the area and stuff.  We found a couple of cool people with potential but no solids yet.

Spiritual experiences... well the stake has been fasting for us as missionaries recently.  And the things that we've been seeing from it.  Like we talked to this one guy from Costa Rica who said that he had no interest.  Then like 5 minutes later he came back and asked me our stance on gay marriage and I had the chance to testify about how God has ordained from the foundation of the world for marriage to be between a man and a woman.  It was the first time that I've ever testified about that here in Japan.  It was kinda cool actually.

So yeah thanks for everything.  Give everyone my love =D

本当にお母さんを心から愛しています

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 88

Hey Mom,

 

So to start out.  I was transferred.  I am now in a place called Inage.  It could possibly be my last area...  .................   !!!

But yeah my companion is a guy named Elder Drummond.  He's from Utah and he's way cool.  Kinda into the nerdy stuff like Final Fantasy and Pokemon like me.  He was in my zone 2 transfers ago so I already know him and he's way cool.  We're also in a 4 man.  The other 2 are Elder McGahan (from Utah) and Elder Ribeiro (from Brazil).  They're both the zone leaders.  I went back to being a normal co-senior companion.  And it's awesome!!!  I have so much time at night now!  Like no extra calls to make.  Probably spend some time and catch up on my journal and stuff.  I enjoyed being a zone leader and would not hesitate if I was asked to serve as such again but right now the break, the slight relaxation is kinda nice.

I was way sad to leave Kawagoe.  I know I will miss it very much but we will be going back there when you and dad come to pick me up in October.  My week has been pretty good.  Pretty sad to leave Kawagoe and all my friends though. 

But yeah things are just going terrific for me.  I'm all good and am set for possibly one of the funnest transfers of my mission.

So yeah that's life here for me.  =D

Thanks so much for everything.  Love you!!!

 

Elder Keith

 

PS  in other news.  My mission president goes home at the end of the month.  and we will be getting a new one, President Budge, starting from July 1st.  Am I excited?  Not really.  I love President Albrecht!! But I'm anxious to see what kinda things President Budge brings in.  じゃあね！

This came from Elder Keith's Mission President:

Dear Parents of Japan Tokyo Missionaries:

     In less than a month, we will finish our 3-year mission assignment 

of presiding over the Tokyo Japan Mission.  President Todd and Lori 

Budge will take our place.  They are a wonderful couple whom we know 

well.  He is a former stake president in Tokyo and the former CEO of 

the Star Bank in Japan.  Their daughter served with us during our first 

year here and was an outstanding missionary. We support them completely 

and know their call was inspired.  They will be great mentors and leaders 

to your missionaries.

    The three years we have served have been interesting to say the 

least.  As you know, after being here for a year and 3 months, there was 

a major earthquake, tsunami and nuclear reactor meltdown that led to all 

the missionaries being evacuated from this and the Sendai mission.  We 

didn't know if or when they would return.  The day we said goodbye to 

the missionaries to send them to the other Japan missions was 

probably the saddest day in our lives.  The two days we were able to 

bring them back were probably the happiest days of our lives.

    We have absolutely loved serving with your missionary.  The 

missionaries in this mission are extremely hard working and 

consecrated.  They are doing their best to learn this difficult language 

and to help the people of Japan, mostly non-Christians, understand that 

they have a loving Heavenly Father and that He sacrificed His Son so we 

could return safely to Him.  The missionaries serving here are extremely 

obedient.  It is obvious that they come from great homes where they have 

been taught the Gospel.  The best days of our mission are the days we 

spend in the presence of your missionaries, either training them, serving 

with them, or listening to their testimonies.

    We want you to know that our responsibility for these great 

missionaries is not over when their missions end.  We hope to have 

life-long relationships with each missionary.  We hope that when they 

need a letter of recommendation, help solving a problem or just want to 

visit, they will call on us.  Your sons and daughters have enriched our 

lives.  They have made these three years a wonderful experience for us.  

May the Lord bless them as they serve, and may He bless you at home for the 

sacrifices you are making to support them.  We love the missionaries 

as our own children.  We will truly miss them when our service here 

is ended and we have to return to America.  May God's choicest blessings 

be with you always.

President and Sister Albrecht

Week 87

Konnichiwa everyone,

 

So my time today is VERY limited. We went to the temple.  And then we went bowling.

 

So I am left with not very much time haha.  Well transfers are this coming Saturday, and President kinda hinted that I'm going to be transferred.  ...Aw man.

I love this ward and don't want to leave.  But everything has it's time. 

 

So cool things that happened this past week...

 

ummm...  We had an eclipse!  That was pretty cool.  (*maybe I said that last week...*)

 

uhhhhh.  Well this next thing wasn't really this week.  But when I first got to the area we had 1 investigator (who actually moved the first week of the second transfer) and very few PI's.  But now that I'm about to leave, we have like 3 solid investigators with very many PI's.  And I have a LOT of super terrific friends here. 

 

Thank for all your letters this week.  I had time to read them but this week, individual responses are kinda kitsui. (That kinda means like tough or hard or not doable... xD)

 

But in any case.  I will let you know the what's up with transfers and all next week.

 

Love you all so much.

 

Sorry for the weird email haha.

 

Take care eh!

 

Elder Keith

Week 86

Yeah it was way awesome to skype with you too!  It's weird to think that that was the last time that I"ll be calling before I see you again...  (o_O) 

That's so cool that you got to meet someone from New Zealand.  Those people are always so genki (uhh in good spirits?) and their accent is way sweet.  And she was 82?  phew. 

Would somebody mind pushing the pause button on life.  I want it to slow down for a little bit.  My image of having everything exactly the way I left it when I came home, has decided that things would be more fun if it jumped into a blender!  Jenika's walking Holy smokes.  Wait... I haven't even met her yet... oh shoot.  

Sorry to always be so flip floppy on what I talk about haha.  I'm always bouncing around and stuff but....

YOSHI!!  (An exclamation of excitement/ yes!  in Japanese).

Haha that fox is still there.  I remember when it first moved in.  I always thought it was a person screaming or something.  Hehe I can totally see dad saying he's gonna shoot the fox.  That fox better watch out because the last time dad said that about... (ol' sparky never did come home...) hahahahahahahaha.  I'm so funny haha.  just kidding.

Ok so just quick.

About the homsestay thing.

Yes someone from Japan would come and live with you for probably about 2 weeks.  Yes it would be someone I knew.  More than probably a church member.  I wouldn't offer to anyone else. Well the person who I'm waiting for a response from is only 18 right now, so it wouldn't be just a place to land.  They would just come and live life with you guys.  Probably just whatever is happening that week just take them along.  Like you could plan to go somewhere or do something if you want but if there's nothing that's ok too.  The main purpose of  homestaying is for people to learn English, so just the talking and helping them would probably be most important.  I'll let you know more about it/any expectations or anything like that after I talk with the family some more.

But yeah thanks for the update and everything.  Sounds like life's just keepin going huh?  Love you bunches.

Take care til next week!

 

Elder Keith

Week 85

We skyped with Elder Keith this week.  It was wonderful to see and talk to him!!   :-)

Week 84

Hey Mom,

 

Yeah I have had a most excellent week and you?  Mine was extremely busy.  And boy do I ever mean busy.  But it was awesome.  Things are still moving at light speed too.  President Cannon gave a fireside?  That would have been interesting to hear. Mission Presidents always give some of the greatest firesides. Some of things that we did this week...  Well Tuesday we went on splits. Wednesday we had our English class.  Then Thursday (what an awesome day) we had the chance to go with a new member for the first time to the temple.  He was going to do baptisms for the dead. So we got into our baptismal clothes (my first time wearing a onesie xD) and then we were sitting waiting when one of our ward members who was organizing it, came up and said, Elder Shimamoto (my companion) go switch off for the guy doing the baptisms.  So then he went and switched with the guy and finished baptizing the people that were in the one line.  But after the first baptism they asked me to go and be one of the witnesses.  So I did.  Then after the one line was done, they're like 'Ok, Elder Keith it's your turn.  Go get baptized by your companion.'  So I did.  And then we switched.  I baptized my companion for about 5 names and then I baptized the remaining 5 or 6 people, one of whom was the new convert, another of whom was a deacon in the ward who was being baptized for his maternal and paternal grandfathers.  It was such an awesome experience.  And it was all in JAPANESE!!!!  Then after that, we hurried up and made it in time to take part in a session. It was a super awesome experience but man I was so worn out by the end of it. Had a bit of a headache the rest of the day actually.  But yeah that was awesome. 

This past week was what they call Golden week here in Japan.  It's a string of holidays that give most people almost  the entire week off. 

But for us we still worked haha.  Saturday started out looking white (no activities), then within the first 20 minutes after study, we no longer had any time to go proselyting, we had to go right from appointment to activity to appointment.  Everything just worked out so awesome.  Then we had 3 people come to church on Sunday.  2 of whom we had just  met in the past couple weeks.  It was such an awesome day.  But way super busy.  We've been soooo busy the past few weeks.  And the busyness will probably stay until at least the end of the transfer.

And yeah I am grandpa status now.  Actually pretty much everyone in the zone makes fun of me for it too.  xD  I'm not even the oldest one anymore but still all the 'You're so old!' comments are directed my way.  But it's fun.  But it does however continue to remind me that I don't have much time left... xD

So yeah that's pretty much what a missionary's life is.  Streeting, housing, lesson's with investigators, district meeting once a week.  Conferences every so often.  We talk to people we don't know just about everyday.  It's really rare to see the same person more than once without an appointment. 

And what do you think about that someone homestaying during the summer proposal of mine?  haha.

But yeah thanks so much for everything, and all you emails. =D

So we'll plan to do skype next week right?  Monday morning at 8 for me which means... Sunday night at 6? for you? 

The weather's getting hotter over here too.  Oh No!  Summer kills!  Haha.

But yeah that's the whats up from me this week. =D

 

Love you!

 

Elder Keith

Week 83

Hey Mom,

 

So.  I don't have a lot of time today because we ended up going with the ward to do a picnic and we just got back, and then we're back outta the house in like another 30 mins.

So let's see how many questions I can get through...

Ok so.

Yes you get to skype with me on mothers day.

Let's plan to do it on your sunday night (my monday morning) whatever my 8 in the morning is for you, let's plan for that.

SD card?  Yes please.  I probably won't send the other card home, but just bring it back when I come home because it's not that far...

package?  Well poutine sauce is always welcome.  maybe some more eczema cream wouldn't hurt... xD

Yeah my week has had a lot going on.  And it looks like it will only slow down slightly next week.  haha.

today picnic, tomorrow splits, wednesday english class (yes we're still doing it, no I don't think I will stop during my mission, 2 weeks ago we had 20 people, last week we had like 10 people.) thursday we go to the temple with a new member, friday I think we have an activity with an investigator, then saturday maybe we can do regular dendo... sunday is church.  xD  Doesn't stop.  but that's good.

it's actually a golden week this week.  a string of holidays in a row that give most japanese people the entire week off.

but not missionaries haha.

 

Yeah it's scary to think of how old people are getting so fast!  It's gonna be weird to come home.  But it will be way fun.

 

By the way, I was thinking about maybe doing a Japan trip with adam, thomas, and ben (if he can) in november because if we wait til the next summer it will never get done.  I'll be in school, they'll start getting jobs etc.  I'd rather do it earlier.  I haven't thought of funds yet.  And I also found out it's ok if you bring your family to pick you up.  But yeah let me know what you think.  And I realized, this next time will be the last time that we talk on skype with me as a missionary... scary. 

Thanks for everything!!

Love you

 

Elder Keith

Week 82

Hey Everyone,

 

So we had transfer just this past weekend and as luck would have it my companion and I are going to stay together for another one.  Still me and Elder Shimamoto cruising around out here in Kawagoe.  Things have gotten way good recently though.  We have had 2 different referrals from other missionaries areas and both of these guys are incredible!  They're so much fun to be around and they're way great!  I'm so glad that I get to stay in Kawagoe too!  It's probably been one of my favourite areas so far!  It will be hard to leave here.  Well I hope that you all are doing well, keeping busy and having fun.

Just wanted you to know that I'm keeping you in my thoughts and my prayers.  Love you all so much.

愛しています！！

本当に伝道は一番楽しいこと’だよ！本当にこの福音が真実であることを知っています。

私たちは家族として永遠に住むことが出来るので非常に嬉しいです！

私は皆さんに心から感謝しています！

どうもありがとうございます！

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 81

Hey Mom,

So my release date is October 9.  That's what I wrote down.  I was thinking that we could tour the mission for like a week or something.  So as a plan, we tour the mission from Oct 9-15 and then fly home on the 16.  does that sound good to you?  =D

My week has been pretty good.  We've been pretty busy and we've been seeing a lot of miracles.  Mostly in the form of other areas investigators living in our area and them transferring them to us.  We've had some great lessons so far and we've got more coming up.  The only thing is that this coming Saturday we get transfer calls and I kinda get the feeling that I'm going even though I've only been here for like 3 months.  But I love this ward to bits, and wouldn't be sad if I finished my mission here.

Empower hour huh?  Sounds like fun haha.  If you enjoy the muscular screaming the next day.  Haha.  I had a day like that a few weeks back.  We went and played football and rugby at a park and the next day my muscles were so sore.  Like I didn't know I had those muscles. haha.

My favourite Japanese food?  Well I have lots. Okonomiyaki, sushi, yakiniku, gyudon, aisu kuriimu (ice cream haha), natto (fermented soybeans) (yeah I actually like those now haha).  My least favourite Japanese food is probably wasabi.  Lots of bike riding?  kinda?   Did the eczema clear up?  ... next question.  So a cool missionary experience that I had this week has been:  Well my companion and I were on our way to a dinner appointment when I stopped this guy.  Turns out that he goes to Montreal every so often for his business.  It was way awesome because he was way friendly.  He said he wants to come and see the church sometime, so we'll see what comes of it.  It's not every day you find someone way sweet like him.

Sounds like things are just keeping going huh? Hehe Way great.

By the way the ACT went well I think.  I did really good on the English and and then math, but then science and reading were kinda sketchy because the time limit was way short.  then I think I did good on the essay.  so now we wait 3-8 weeks and then I'll get my marks.  so yupp.  thanks for all the coordinating that came from your end.  I really appreciate it!  But now I must go. 

Love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder |<eith

Week 80

Heyyy,

 

So I don't have oodles of time this week but...

Sounds like Easter went way well over there.  Yeah the Japanese people don't really celebrate Easter.  Well the Christians do obviously. But the rest of them don't.  Like even within the church the only thing they really do is like an egg painting activity and maybe they'll do an egg hunt too.  But for the most part they don't really do much as a family. Yeah we were able to get together with Mike, as you probably know by now.  It was way awesome!!  Did it make me trunky?  No not really.  It just kinda reminded me that the future is coming up way faster than it's supposed to. 

And now I have LOTS of KISSES  wooooooohhooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =D

Conference was absolutely incredible.  I went in there with questions.  And during the conference I didn't really feel like I was getting any answers.  Then after the conference I went over my notes and started highlighting the things that I wrote down that pertained to certain questions. It was then that I realized how many answers I was getting.  One of my questions was about extending my mission or not.  Like I got an email asking me to confirm my release date.  And I got to thinking that if I went home the early one, then I would have a better chance of getting into a job if I didn't make it into school.  So then I got to thinking that if I didn't make it into school, and I stayed until October, then I wouldn't really know what I would be doing.  When I went over the notes that I had taken, one of the things Dieter F Uchtdorf said in the Priesthood session was "Sometimes we need to walk into the darkness, having faith that the Lord will put solid ground beneath our feet."  Or something to that effect.  And then I realized that I am supposed to stay til October.  If I don't make it into school (and even if I do) that's kinda my 'darkness' the part of life that's coming up that I'm not really sure about.  But yeah it was way cool to recognize the answer to one of my questions like that.

And yeah I LOVE conference.  It's so awesome.  I've really come to appreciate it a lot more since coming on a mission too. I think all missionaries do that.

The work is progressing way good.  We actually have someone awesome that we're teaching (in like 30 mins haha) he's reading, he's praying, I'm pretty darn sure that he wants to get baptized.  It's going way awesome.  And yeah I'm still a zone leader. We have transfer calls in a couple weeks and we're really not sure what will happen.  There's a good chance that my companion and I will stay together, but on the other hand, who knows.  We really can't tell.

And I definitely agree on getting spiritual nourishment every day.  It's one of the key things that we ask our investigators to do.

You can do it!!!  =D

Yeah that's pretty much what's happened to me this past time stretch haha. 

Take care.  Love you.

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 79

Mumsy dearest,

So march was like that huh?  Well for us, march just kinda puttered in then up and stormed out.  The temperature went up a bit.  I'm now wearing short sleeves under my suit jacket.  It's not that warm yet but it's not that cold.  (It never was that cold come to think of it...)  It rained pretty heavy the other day.  And wind like you wouldn't believe, me and my companion were out dendoing and then we got a text from the mission home saying that because there were areas of the mission that had received gale warnings, we had to return to our apartments.  The worst had already passed for us though haha. 

I'm so stoked for Conference.  It's always so fun to watch.  As missionaries it's one of the times that we look forward to the most.  And we get them all bam-bam-bam.  Like it starts at 12 on saturday, then it's 12-2, 3-5, and 6-8.  So instead of 2 hrs between sessions, we only have 1.  Just enough time to grab some munchies and say hi to a couple members before we get to go back and be spiritually saturated.

So yeah I'm excited.

How am I doing?  Well terrific is probably a good way to describe it.  We had a couple splits this week and had terrific days on both.  The one day, my temporary companion and I were able to give a Book of Mormon to the first person that we talked to.  Then the next split, we were planning and we had pretty much got the day planned out.  Then I suggested that we go and visit a member.  So we did and it turns out that the member wasn't home.  So then we started going to look for somewhere to eat.  Then one guy we stopped, my companion invited to come eat with us.  So he did!!!!!  We went and had gyudon. (meat on rice).  And it was way good.  When we were talking that night, I was telling him of how I remember my first split with my zone leader and how I thought it was awesome how he seemed to be way led by the Spirit.  Then the other missionary was like "Well you did the same thing.  If you hadn't suggested we go and visit that member then we would have missed that guy and missed out on a new friend."  Didn't quite hit me until then.
As for investigators.  Yeah we have a couple that we're working with.  One of them has a baptismal date, and he's looking pretty good. Then just yesterday I had an investigator of Elder Roberts (the other Canadian) call me because he actually lives in our area, so we made plans to meet and we'll probably start teaching him real soon.  Things are looking way good. They were kinda slow getting started though.  It didn't really help though that last transfer my enthusiasm was super low.  Not to blame it all on my former companion, but he was the reason for a lot of it...

And we get to go have dinner, (or lunch) with Uncle Mike tomorrow!  Way awesome.

But yeah, so that's me! 

Yeah my mission is awesome! 

Thanks =D

Love you

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 78

こんにちは！！

konnichiwa

Warm weather huh?  Well you can keep it all over there.  I missed out on any really cold weather.  So now the weather is getting warmer and this time I'm prepared for summer.  Or at least I know what to do so that I don't die again haha.  Last summer was literally murder.  Like it was 36-37C every day with no breaks.  And holy smokes is it ever humid here in Japan. Like I would wipe the sweat from my arms and then 5 mins later have to wipe it again.  And I sweat from right below my knees too... (-_;) 

Well as for my ending date.  I'm not sure if I'm going to extend or not.  Like for right now it pretty much depends on whether I get in BYU or not.  By the way, when did you apply for me to start?  Like the winter semester when I get home or...?  It doesn't really matter which one to me, but I figure that it's something that I should be aware of.  How long was I thinking of touring for?  .... uhhhhhh.....   ^_^  I dunno.  Maybe like 10 days or something.  2 Sundays I think would be good.  But not necessarily 2 weeks.  I almost think we would run out of things to do.  ... Naaah it'd be really hard to run out of things to do haha.  But yeah maybe 10 days or so.  But like because it's still 6 months away, I think it's kinda early to plan flights.  But there again... hmmm.  Oh yeah we'll be here for General conference I think... haha.  *sidetracked haha*

And the ecclesiastical letter... I'll ask him more about that when I see him next.

So what's been happening in my mission the past week?  Well we had some pretty awesome stuff happen.  We had a guy come to English class suddenly, and he's way awesome.  He's hearing the lessons, he's progressing way good.  Then we have another guy who we were just able to set a baptismal date with.  Then English class is fantastic fun.  I'm the one who runs the game at the end (besides teaching the advanced class) and the member who teaches the beginner class has complemented me on how fun eikaiwa is now. 

In other news.  You know the game "hot hands"? (heh heh)  Well I found out that it's not a good idea to play that game with the pavement.  It's really good at that game.  Nuff said.  haha.  I'm ok.  Don't worry. =D ;)

So something spiritual that happened to me this week.  Well this week I went to a district meeting that was way awesome.  In it the missionaries who were presenting taught about faith and attitude and love.  What is faith? was one of the questions.  Then there are 2 attitudes: happy, and grudging.  And finally was find someone to share, the love that God has for us, with. It was probably one of the more powerful district meetings that I've been in. 

What interesting thing about Japan... uhhh.  well... what would you define interesting haha.  I've been here for a year and 3 and a half months, so the things that are interesting to you would become normal for me.  haha. 

Yeah president Albrecht only has a transfer and a half left after this one.

Being zone leader is pretty cool I guess haha.  My companion rocks!  He's so bold!  And the area is way awesome!  If this was my last area and I was here until October I don't think I would mind.  That's how cool this place is.  It's way awesome.  But I think I have one more area left after this one. We'll see.  But we have 6 missionaries going home and 19 coming next transfer so I get the feeling that I might be called as a trainer again.  We'll see. 

Thomas is taller than Adam... Adam was almost as tall as me when I left.  I know we joked about me being the shortest one when I got back, but I didn't really think it would actually happen until now.  He's probably taller than me isn't he?

I'm way excited to see what the family room will look like to.  If it's not done by the time I get back (which I expect that it will be) then I'm all in for helping. 

Well yeah that's me this past week.  Hope that you guys and everyone are doing terrific.  You're in my prayers. 毎日.  Thanks so much for everything.  Love you!!!

本当に愛しています！！！

どうもありがとうございます。

Week 77

Hey,

 

So I don't actually have a lot of time today unfortunately. We decided to go play again.  And then we went to the biggest mall in all of Asia or something like that.  It was pretty big.  It's called Koshigaya Laketown.

 

But I had a quick couple of things that are kinda important.  So the first is that I got my death letter...  (The letter that has the information that I need to write down in order to come home.  As well as a don't get trunky letter).

So I need the code of the ottawa airport... I don't know if you know what that is but... I need it haha.  So as for right now too, my return date will be October 9, 2012.  But if I don't get into BYU, I'm going to consider extending.  So at the bottom it says

"Will your parents be coming to Japan to pick you up?"  I feel very strongly inclined to put 'yes.'  My thoughts are this.  Maybe have you, Mom and Dad, come and pick me up.  We'll do a tour and then come home and stuff.  And then we'll plan for me to take a trip back to Japan for the summer of 2013 with Ben (if he can make it), Adam, and Thomas.  I can double check and see if they can do families or not but, in the event they can't...  Or would it be better to plan a trip to Japan for all of us for the summer of 2013?  Or the Winter break of 2012?  I'm good with whatever.  But basically I want to come back and I want to show you guys how cool Japan is!

So yeah.  If you could let me know ASAP with this stuff...  because the mission home kinda wants this stuff back ASAP haha. 

 

Sorry that's pretty much all the time that I have for today.  Ask me those questions again and I'll be sure to write more next week :)

Thanks so much.  Sorry for all the hassle.  Love you!

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 76

Dearest Everyone,

 

This week, we are running a little low on time because we decided to go and check out a 'museum of modern science.'  Pretty much intended for people much younger than us.  So not overly a waste, but if we hadn't've gone it wouldn't have been that bad. 

Oh good you got the package.  At first I heard that it was gonna take like 1-3 months to get there.  But you got it all good and everything.  Ok good.  Heh heh yeah I thought the ninja masks were pretty clever. And Mom, you got a kimono?!  I didn't know what it was!  Haha.  And actually no the lady who gave it to me was in Fuchu.  But I can maybe see if I can get their address somehow if you want.  And what would I suggest... (^_^;)  eeehhhhhhhhtooooooooo...  I don't even know.  haha.

You're going to the temple!  That's way awesome.  I was able to go to the temple just shortly ago. 

And as for transfers, I survived transfers.  But my companion did not.  Elder Sakae transferred out.  And so I stay in Kawagoe and my new companion is a guy named Elder Shimamoto!  He is from Hiroshima.  That makes 5 Japanese companions!!  Wooooo.  It's funny because my new companion was my old companion's previous companion.  And they were together for 3 transfers.  My new companion is absolutely terrific.  As soon as I knew he was my companion, I felt way happy.  Like I just got the feeling that it was going to be a good transfer.

And yep, still a zone leader.  But there were a couple of transfers in the zone this time which results in....... a VERY young zone.  I may or may not happen to be the oldest one with 12 transfers (everything is measured in transfers as a missionary).  My companion is 9 and then there's 1 missionary who's 10 and the rest are under 10.  So I'm definitely feeling my mission age...  Yikes.  And man what I would give to trade spots with any one of those missionaries. 

Mondo meals?  Well I had that one that one time.  Haha, the rest weren't so much big as they were homemade steak and homemade french fries (they just deserved a picture). 

Wow sounds like March break is gonna be rough on everyone!  xD  Haha.  My week is:

Monday-Transfers

Tuesday- Pday

Wednesday- Zone conference prep and Eikaiwa

Thursday- Zone conference/district meeting

Friday- Zone leader council

Saturday- Meal appointment with the bishop

Sunday- Church, PEC

Monday-Shokuji (meal appointment) with the dendo shunin (ward mission leader).

Yeah should be way fun

Oh and by the way, just a heads up for the day of reckoning...

I'm up to 3 sets of 40 push-ups every morning!!!!  Haha!!!! 

Are we finding a lot of investigators?  Well not particularly, but that's gonna change really soon.  But aside from that the work is going well.  Or so I feel.

So in my BoM reading this week one thing I learned was,

from Jaob 4.  I read verse 6.  And then I thought, wow, that level of faith would be way sweet.  What did they do?  Well I looked and all they did was "search the prophets" (search the scriptures) and then "have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy" (listened to the prophets and believe in the revelations received from them.  It was then that I realized that this was not something applicable only to them in their time.  The things that they did are just as easily done by us.  So is that level of faith attainable?  Yes. We are only limited by ourselves.

And then I also liked verse 7!  Weaknesses.  Haha yeah this verse pretty much speaks for itself.  So that's one thing that I learned this week.

So yeah.  That's life for me.  It flippin rocks right now!  Like I'm on an up!  I feel way genkier now than I have in the past 6 weeks.  WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.  楽しみにしています！

Sorry but my time's up for today.  Love you all so much!  Take care ok!!

愛しています！！

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 75

Hey!!

Yeah we have had some pretty radtastic people come and speak to us.  It was really inspiring.  And I got to shake their hands!!!  Yeah it seemed like some of the stuff he was saying, was being said just to me!  I took a LOT of notes haha.

Well, this week has been good for the most part.  The one thing that kinda happened was that we had a run in with a drunk guy.  Nothing really bad, but he just kept going on and on about random senseless stuff.  And then my companion and I just had very different ways that we thought to deal with it.  And that didn't result overly well.  But I came to learn more particularly (once again haha) turning to Heavenly Father for comfort.  And it really did help.  In my morning study too, from the Book of Mormon, I've been seeing, A LOT, of just how merciful the Lord is to His children.  How much he loves them and how much he wants to help them.  And I've put His promise to the test.  All we need to do is ask for comfort, sincerely seek it, to receive it.

This is the last week of the transfer.  And I must say that it has been a growing transfer once again.  There've been a lot of fun times, but Elder Sakae, is definitely the only person like him I've ever met and I think I will ever meet.  But I'm learning so much from him.  But if we're not together next transfer, I don't think I would be heartbroken.  And then other days I can think of it being way good.  But yeah... we'll see.  Whatever the Lord has in store for me...

And yeah I did get an email from Uncle Mike too.  That's way awesome!!  President Albrecht lets us meet up with family who come to Japan for business like that.  So I'll for sure be able to meet and do lunch with him.

Being a zone leader isn't so bad.  I'm not acutually as busy as I thought I was going to be.  Like there are busy times.  Like ridiculously busy times, but for the most part I just do the same thing as always. I'm almost close to caught up on my journal haha.

Snow?  Yeah actually we did have a day of snow.  It was way sweet.  WE had like 5cm!!!!  And it stayed for like a day!  Haha.  Started into spring?  Yeah kinda?  Like I doubt we're going to be seeing anymore snow, and the weather should theoretically get a lot warmer from here on out.  Anything funny happen?  Well over-crowded trains are ALWAYS funny.  Heh heh heh.  Had that one today.

Spiritual?  Well the afterwards of the drunk guy was really spiritual for me.  Not too much besides that haha.

I'm glad Adam and Thomas want to go on missions.  It's the best choice they will ever make.

And the spot on my skin?  Well the one spot went down, the other one stayed the same, the other one went down slightly, the other got a tad bit worse, the other itches every night (but only at night...weird right?), and the other one stays pretty constant.  So yeah overall getting better!  Haha.  I've stopped using the laundry soap I had, and I'm using the cortisone, fairly regularly so I think that it should get better from here on out.

Yeah I'll let you know if there's anything I need.  So all those same questions back to you. (minus the skin ones haha).

Love you so much!

Take care eh?

Elder Keith

キース長老

And my doki shimai (the sisters from my MTC district) all go home next week!  AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

That means I'm getting old!

Week 74

EEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

Holy smacker doodle!  That's a lot of hullaballoo happening.  Wow, here I was expecting to leave as things were nice and peaceful and come back and have things be relatively the same, save people have changed a little and stuff like that.  Yet while I'm gone, the world says "Hey! Let's do a backflip!" I guess things are starting to happen.  Like I knew stuff was gonna change but holy smokes.

 One thing that I learned in the Elder Oaks conference was that, well I already knew it but the way he explained it made it way more clear to me, when we go to church to take the sacrament, in the prayer are the words "That we may always have his Spirit to be with us."  He told us a story about a man who went inactive for many many years.  His wife and children were still active but he was not.  Then one day he began making decisions that affected his family, saying that he was getting revelation to do so.  Elder Oaks then said in a powerful voice. "If you don't partake of the sacrament, then you will not have the spirit to be with you.  And at that time you can receive revelation, BUT IT WILL NOT BE FROM GOD."  I was like  woooooaaaaaahhhhhhhh. 

A couple years ago... heh heh.  Funny to think that I've already spent all of 2011 in Japan.  Can't say "Last year when I was home..." anymore haha. 

A picture of my potato cannon?  On a memory card somewhere...?  Or the computer?... Haha I have no clue. 

And Ben getting a job like that.  Wow.  I think that would be ichiban besuto (the best thing) for him would be to be able to get a room.  But wow, Ben moving out.  Life keeps going huh?

And the Elder Oaks conference was incredible.  He's so awesome and he said a lot of things that I needed to hear.  We also got to hear President Hallstrom speak.  And we got to go up and shake their hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Told him my name and where I'm from, I did.  Haha, and then during his talk he said "Wasn't there a missionary from Canada here (there were actually 2 of us, and we just happened to be sitting right next to each other) and we raised our hands and he looked at us and smiled "Oh yes. There you are."  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It was sooooooo awesome!!!  But yeah it was the best.

So yeah that's the insights of Elder Keith on everything.  Haha.  Keep me posted on this whirlwind ok?  Wonder what life will be like when the weather's calm haha.  Love you tonnes!

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 73

Konbanwa (Good evening)

 

My week has been pretty darn good.  WE GET TO GO AND HAVE A CONFERENCE WITH ELDER OAKS TOMORROW!!!!!!! AND WE GET TO SHAKE HIS HAND!!!!!!!!!!!!WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

The conference went way good.  Until the end.  Well like the end wasn't bad but we thought to have a testimony part of it, and no one save like 2 were willing to bear their testimonies... so that was kinda bumpy but the rest was good. 

And I got the calendar thanks!  It's awesome haha. 

 

Annnnnnnndddd I was wondering if you could send me a picture of me with my potato cannon.... if that's possilbe.  The rugby ones are awesome. 

 

Thanks so much.  Love from me in Japan, to you in Canada!!!

 

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 72

Konnichiwa!

Ahhh they're closing the Hawkesbury area huh?  That's a way bummer.  But to be honest the work was kinda slow in Hawkesbury.  The thing is, when the work like that gets hard in an area like Hawkesbury, the solution isn't more tracting.  It's member work.   The thing is that members don't realize who of their friends are being prepared to hear the gospel.  It's either that the missionaries weren't asking, or the members just weren't willing to invite their friends.  Like even me before my mission I was like that.  Especially being at work in the new environment and stuff.  If I was then, who I am now, I would have invited so many more people to hear the gospel. 

Haha, there's my rant for the week.

No one really knows what a mission is like, or even really understands why they go until they get there and are doing it.  Like at first, I came on my mission, I knew I wanted to come and that it would be a great experience, but I had no idea why.  I looked at dendo as more of something I was supposed to do then something I wanted to do.  I've come to love the gospel, love the people, and it's become an experience that I wouldn't trade for anything. 

Well the coat has an inner jacket, kinda like a spring jacket, and an outer one.  Either one can be worn individually.  And together they will be super warm.  I don't think it will ever get that cold though... And then once winter's over I'll either give it away or leave it in the apartment for some other missionary down the road haha. 

No progress with the English person quite yet.  And actually the work is a little slow in the area.  Unfortunately.  But we're gonna be doing our best to change that.  We didn't have too much chance to do that last week because we were so busy preparing for zone conference (we had to give training) and Stake Presidents Meeting (yeah we participate in that too).

Settled into being zone leader?  Yeah I guess so.   Haha.

So yeah that's what's been happening recently in my life.  Fun stuff.  And we get to go have a conference with Elder Oaks and Elder Hallstrom next Tuesday!  WAHOOOO!!!!!!  But yeah life is awesome. Japanese is fun.  Missionary work rocks my socks.  And because it was so close to Valentines, I got so much chocolate from so many different females at church on Sunday.  After you pick yourself up off the floor, just know that there's nothing sketchy about it.  The girls/RS were giving chocolate to all the brothers.  And then of course everyone loves the missionaries.  At least here they do.  Haha that's no lie.  My new ward is sooooo awesome!  

Thanks for everything!!  You guys mean the world to me!  Love you

Elder Keith

キース長老

Week 71

Hey!!!!!!

My first week as a zone leader?  Well it's going pretty well.  I find myself a lot busier nowadays.  I have to spend more time doing other things than proselyting sometimes.  Like, now I have to prepare trainings and such.  And it being a whitewash, or flush as it's called there, adds a nice twist to the challenge.  Yeah not throwing anything at me at all.  They're throwing ME!!  haha. 

Well I'm here in Japan on Feb 6, 2012 and it's still ok to hang up your clothes outside without having to worry about them freezing at all.

It's not very often that I have the chance to use English any more either haha.  Like in all my other wards there has been at least one member who was an American, or an English companion, or other English elders in the apartment.  But not in this area.  My companion understands a lot of English but I do my best not to speak it.  My only other chance than that is when we have Eikaiwa once a week.

And 3 semesters until Adam's done... yikes.  That's like... wow.  And not to mention the time I'm coming home at, but there's a slight possibility that I might probably maybe be able to potentially make it home before that.   Maybe.

And finding time for my journal... Well time gets made.  Every now and again. haha.  I'm actually doing my best to catch up right now.  I'm still like a little over a month behind haha.  (embarassed face).

And well even if the stuff's not done by the time that I get back, I'll be there to help haha. 

17 Miracles?  No I don't think so...  Is it new?  If so then for sure not.

Something interesting that I've done this week.  Well I got to move into a new apartment and discover that anything I could almost ever want is here.  Like food out the wazoo.  Bread as far as the eye can see.  A sweet coat from Missionary Mall that's in super good condition and looks to have been worth probably about $170+.  Yeah life gets pretty good as a missionary.

A spiritual high moment for me?  Probably when Elder Sakae and I were planning for an upcoming zone conference.  We were discussing what we could do and throwing out ideas and with the theme that we chose, when an idea felt right, we both knew it.  And the ideas that began coming fit perfectly into our theme.  It was awesome.  That and we housed (did door to door) into someone who spoke English so I had to take over.  And she has interest!!!  It's awesome. 

And unfortunately I'm outta time.  But I want you know that I send my love.  Thank for everything.心より愛しているよ。(google translate that ;))

Love you

Elder Keith

キース長老