6/15/09 Letter

Dearest Darlingest Momzie and Family,

"I'm here and safe! These buttons (on the computer) are so small and close together and there are so many different letters on them its so CONFUSING!!! And I can't find the apostrophe button! It seems like it's been a really long time since I last sent a letter. Let me start off by saying Japan is really beautiful to anyone's surprise... my first impression was that, it smells really good! I had never smelled Japan before, it smells quite different.

Everything is super clean! There are vending machines on every corner (without Dr. Pepper, but I suppose that's a good thing.) and as I'm looking around getting worked up about being in a foreign country, the stupid grin on my face fades as I realize, "I'm in a foreign country". Looking around I realize I can't read a thing, everything is written in Kanji, I can't speak to anyone, I've suddenly forgotten how, and then the overwhelming prospect sets in of realizing, it starts."

"With hysterical tears I said goodbye to Elder Palmer and the rest of my doki (People I arrived with) and met my new companion Elder Hardy.　Then they sent us away to the very edge of Japan to the beautiful city, Takayama. This place is immersed in the very heart and soul of Japanese culture. Beautiful houses surround the mountains, handsome steps into the forest lead to Jinjas (Buddhist shrines) and the town clock plays really pretty songs when the hour changes."

"I went to Kanizawa last week because my doryo needed to attend District Leader Conference, and I bought a really good looking chocolate cake. Tasting it I thought, oh man this is weak... They apparently don't use as much sugar as Americans."

"Right now its the rainy season down here and of course, I forgot to buy a kappa, so Mom, if you could get onto the missionary mall and buy/send one for me, that would be wonderful, Ive been getting drenched. My companion is way awesome, he's a good teacher. This week Ive done everything, door approaches, street contacting, its all really scary and I'm totally uncomfortable doing it, so please pray that Ill suck up the courage to get over it."

"The church is really small, and we have to remove our shoes and wear these slippers which make my feet super hot a sweaty. But the church members are awesome, they all look the same to me, but they're awesome people. Can I speak to any of them? Heck no... but what did they have me do? I introduced myself at the pulpit, I failed at everything I just know it. They all LAUGHED. It was pretty funny though, I had notes to the side to rely on."

"So I'm still confused about who are less actives and investigators but I DO know that Mizaguchi Shimai from the ward has been having her parents down so that we could teach them the discussions. Her father is not hantai (Opposed to the ｃｈｕｒｃｈ) but set in his ways (as is EVERY OTHER MALE IN THIS COUNTRY!). Her mother is a really cute tiny lady. She always forgets the previous lessons but shes doing good with the help of her daughter. When asked a question she would say "Yesuu" for me so I could understand, and at the end of the lesson when we were leaving, as she hobbled off gradually to the kitchen she said "Sank you ferii much." Mizaguchi Shimai was proud to report that shes been saying her prayers everynight. She should be baptized soon. Our goal is to get three baptisms this transfer."

"Right now I'm a little depressed because the people here just don't want to listen to and they don't want to talk to us. They are so rude. They see these foreigners walking down the street in slow motion, wind blowing in their hair, holding up BOMs and assume, "They are here to destroy our culture." One man I stopped on the street didn't want to talk to me because I was ENGLISH. I TOTALLY understood THAT. So I'm really struggling to find hope out here. And courage. And the language. And a kappa. I hope we'll start seeing some improvement. I've been praying so I know it will come , just a matter of time. Perhaps I am meant to see this first."

"Well I love you all... I hope your all doing alright. Enough about me, I want to hear from you! Send emails おねがいします！ Can't wait till then."

-Elder ぼろくす

5/12/09 Letter

"Hey everyone! Wow what acrazy week it's been! Full of frustration and lots of blessings. This week our new Kohii came in. They all seem really nice, I haven't had time to talk to much of them. I've been so busy! But one of the new Kohii, Elder Purcell from Saint George Utah, was born in Japan and had worked there for a couple months before getting his mission call. So he joined the Sempai group, and he became My new companion! That's right I'm a trio now. When I heard of it I wasn't too excited, but he's a great and I've come to find that me and Elder Palmer have been an answer to his prayers. He's really cool, loves music, and we immediately bonded when he knew who Dolores O'Riordan was. The start to a perfect friendship."

"Our District has been struggling A LOT. Our teacher has asked me Elder Palmer to help the other companionships because we're the only ones not struggling anymore. One elder in particular is on the verge of going home! Elder Palmer was appointed the new District Leader and he has replaced Elder Lazenby... Terrible news, really terrible :] Elder Palmer is a great DL and he's always been an awesome missionary. I've learned a lot from him."

"This past week I injured my foot playing soccer at Taikukan (Gym). I extended my leg to kick the ball, on the super wet grass, and slipped. I fell down on my opposite foot, folding it in half as my whole body smushed it. It hurt but it wasn't terrible. I didn't have to go to the doctors for it. I'm glad to hear that Uncle John is doing better, I can't believe they fixed him up ship shape. I hope he'll make a full recovery."

"Thank you thank you THANK YOU Auntie Linda for writing me this week! Expect a handwritten letter soon. My Japanese is really good, especially now that we have Kohii to compare it to, haha. I still remain the youngest missionary here though, incredibly. All my Kohii are older than me!"

"I am accompanying on the piano for this weeks Sunday Session, my first time! I'm a little nervous but I've learned you fail the first time to do better the next, so I could care less whether I fail or not. My classes are great my Kohii are awesome and I only have four more weeks left in this place and then it will be goodbye MTC, hello Japan!! I'm so excited for this work!"

"I can't wait to get out there and really start doing something in sharing this gospel. I've been striving to be a really good examlpe to my Kohii. My sempai were great examples to me, I hope I can amount to them in the eyes of my Kohii. This trio is doing excellent, we are teaching lesson two this week in Japanese!"

Matta Ne!

-Elder Kylan

Response 4/28/09

"Sorry Ki... Like I said I had no time whatsoever but I took the time to hand write you one instead! I can't believe Heather quit her job!!! I'm so excited for her to start nursing though that will be so great for her!"

"Mom gave me a huge package last week full of candy. I've been eating healthy around here so I kinda left the package lying around all week until our Sempai (The elders and sisters who were more advanced than us) left on Monday morning... I was feeling really upset that day because I missed all of them... naturally the candy helped :] So I stuffed my fat tear soaked face with the entire stash pretty much. Mom really knows doesn't she? :D "

"When am I going to get these letters from your girls? I've learned that as a missionary, it doesn't matter who you get mail from... if it's a girl it's good. I would love to get letters... course I would just send you a big one to read in front of everyone."

"I'm doing great. My Nihongo is subarashii, it really exploded this week. My sensei were quick to comment that. I think I know enough to get by at this point. The food has gotten better and just my general experience. It will take some adjusting due to the fact that my sempai have left but I'm sure I'll make it through. Next week my Kohii come in and then I'll be a Sempai. CRAZY!!! I'm halfway there and then look out Japan!"

Love you Sis.

-Elder Ky

4/14/09 Letter

"Hey everyone!! Sorry I didn't get a letter out last week. I had no time after I got through everyone's e-mails. Nothing has changed since you last heard from me. The language is going amazing I'm so excited, I'm actually starting to speak Japanese!! Just don't ask me to teach you anything yet. Sorry everyone I have to keep it short. My companion and I are doing great. Gym time has become salvation in this world of doves, peace, and gospel. It's so refreshing to get time to spend with everyone, and just having fun messing around the gym."

"My district is great we're having so much fun. We're "The District" everyone wishes they could be as posh as us. Our district is ahead of everyone else as far as the language. It feels so cool, not that I'm comparing myself to the other missionaries. :]"

"Sorry to keep it short everyone. I need Tomsen Reed's address, kudasai! I hope to hear from you all soon."

Much love,

-Elder Brox

4/7/09 Response

Kylan didn't write a family letter last week (shame on him) but he did manage to write me a few lines in response to my letter to him.

"Hey Ki! I'm so glad to hear from you!! Out of that whole letter the thing I'm most proud to hear is that Nate is doing so wonderfully with his piano!! I'm so proud of him, and so jealous too!! I'm relieved to hear Drew is still a baby monster, sounds like he hasn't shnged much for which I'm grateful. On the other hand It's so depressing to hear Sara is getting bigger :[[!! I don't want her to grow anymore!! And Jace seems well advanced for the kids in his class... would you really make him repeat another year? Haha jk jk. I'm glad the family is doing great!"

"I happen to need Tyler's address mission and e-mail. I wrote four of my friends last week and not one of them have responded yet, so I would be delighted to get letters from your Young Women. Sorry this is short but I am very humbled to hear that Andy and your ward missionaries are really getting the work done out there. My compainion... Matt Palmer from Salt Lake City, he is also going to Nagoya so I'll have someone to talk to on the long flight there. Sorry I have to cut ya short sis, I'll pray for you everday".

Love,

-Elder Brox

3/31/09 Letter

"Wow it's been a whole week already... I'm excited to have made it through to my first P-Day. It feels good to finally get to relax from the hectic demands of the MTC... Everyone here has said that the first couple of days in the MTC were going to be the worst. The first day did in fact end up being super long, but it was enjoyable to my surprise. The following days were great as well. I have yet to have a bad day here at the MTC. I'm definitely staying positive. I'm not even think about home yet."

"I've been making a lot of friends here! I know half the Koreans and all of the Japanese Elders. Elder Palmer is the equivalent of a local celebrity here in Utah... he knows just about everyone, which is good for me because it also gives me an opportunity to meet new people as well... He's a great "doryo" or companion. I couldn't imagine myself with another Elder in our district. He loves to sing, so when we get the chance we book a room for me to practice piano, and he sings along with the hymns."

"President Bird is hilarious... he's such an amazing leader. His counselor Elder Gammett is also very good hearted... he dotes on me. When introducing myself to Elder Miller the first counselor, I told him to remember "Foxy Broxy" and he would remember my name... he told me that wasn't appropriate."

"Apart from that all of the people here are great. I love 'em. All of the "sempai" or advanced missionaries in my district are all friendly and helpful as well. The food is decent. It's... food. I don't really have any other alternatives. People are gaining pounds like crazy around here! We've all bet that Elder Palmer gains the most pounds for the duration of our stay."

"The language is coming... sometimes it's frustrating but I'm not letting that get me down. My teacher's Porter sensei and Payne sensei are really good... the exception being that they move really fast. I've recently started taking extra lessons from the tutor, Wilkes kyodai (brother), who gives Palmer choro (Elder) and I one on one time and he teaches us at a slower pace. Palmer and I are the only ones in the district who haven't studied Japanese in school so it's harder for us to grasp the concepts. Nonetheless, we're on the same page as the other elders. They're not much better than us. I've memorized the Hiragana alphabet and have started working on Katakana with my companion. Our district is great we're all bonding and having a great time."

"I know you're missing me,... at least you better not be! I love you guys more than you will ever know. I'm expecting my letters to get more and more incoherent as the mission progresses so I apologize in advance :]"

Love always,

-Brox Choro