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