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