Nice to go "home" to Furukawa

Hey family! Whats up? So lets report on another week! So we started off the week with heading to Furukawa which I was way excited for. I felt like a little kid looking out the window of the train as it came into sight. We had some extra time that night so we tried to visit an old investigator too but didn't work out cause they weren't home. It was a new experience for sure. Biking down the road and knowing exactly where to go and who we were visiting and such. Also some sweet vindication visiting some of these people that I tried so hard to get lessons with and coming back a year later to tell them they couldn't escape! Also visited to members which was way cool and definitely makes you feel loved when they see you and they just freak out with excitement. Apparently I was loved back there. Although I didn't get a chance to meet "T"-shimai (The baptism right after I left). But it was fun. The visiting authority was an adventure. Was a lot more running around than with the presiding bishop because there were a lot more moving parts; none of the least of which was making sure we were going to have lunch prepared by the relief society. But it was a good meeting. He is orginally a Korean guy so that was too bad but its a lot different having your area president come visit because he knows a lot more about us and what we go through so that was cool. Actually one of the better feelings I had about a general authority coming. The highlight because it was just hilarious and none of the Japanese elders understood it because it was in fast crazy English but we had a question and answer portion and so one of the elders wanted him to explain the vision of Eikaiwa since the area presidency changed it. So he goes through on how it hasn't really changed which was weird because it has. Then president, trying to help, adds. "I think what he is asking is since we don't share a spiritual message and don't pray..." to which he gets cut off "NO! We pray! We are a church and we will pray if you use our building."Ha. It became quite the thing. But anyway, it all ended well. This next transfer is ridiculous with missionaries coming. The onslaught of sister comes about June. So yeah So have a good week. Talk to you later.

Excited for Splits in Furukawa

Hey family. What up? So busy week this week......well kinda. Lets see. I felt like there was a lot I left out of last weeks email but I cant really remember what. We had a baptism here this last Saturday. "N". He's from Canada and is fluent in French, English, and basically fluent in Japanese. Been in Japan for 6 years and makes apps for a living(Hence I never talk with him because I know I couldn't focus at that point). But it went well. Lots of people came to the baptism including "S"-san the self-referral from around Christmas that we passed to Izumi. It was nice to see him and he seems to be doing well with going to church and all that jazz. Also was interesting because they said the baptism prayer and he was confirmed in English which I'm not sure they ever got permission except from me. Ha. But it was for Nicolas more than it is for the members so I was all for it. He gets the priesthood next week. Ok so mother you can't get mad at this comment but it made me laugh because it shocked me at the bluntness. So after the baptism president came to watch and he walks up to me and says, "....Elder Carter.....come by the honbu someday and we can get you some new white shirts......this one has seen better days." Ha. Now don't be sending me white shirts mother! There are about a billion and a half cheaper and better ways to get them here but it was way funny. It got better because I think he felt guilty after for saying it because he kept coming up to me after and saying things like, "Its just cause you are working so hard in it." "You're strong, you know I don't have anything against you" etc. I didn't really care. I told him I would take them to get dry cleaned and he seemed to agree that that would probably be good enough. Good stuff. Then this week we have the Ringwood choro conference. Elder Ringwood is our Area president so we are pretty excited about it. Its not a mission conference but still. Half the mission will come to our meeting. Its going to end up being a lot of prep by us but oh well. The poor Relief society is making 70 meals. What else. Tonight we are going to Furukawa for splits tomorrow. I'm way excited to work there again. I may just plan it myself. I think N choro is excited too because its always fun to work with someone that has been in the area before because they have a lot of crazy ties and can work with members but also are only there for a day so they can be bold. Yep, way excited. Other than that not a whole lot going on. As for my language skills being "as like it is my native language" I'm basically convinced that the fulfillment of that prophesy is that I just won't be able to speak English either. Still not good at this language. Abby knows the word "place" thats impressive. Baby A bosses the dog around, just a matter of time. Hope you all have a good week.

"Losting"

Hello family. I feel like this week was a busy week so lets see if I can find stuff to write about. Ok so I totally forgot to tell you about Bishop D. Well there is not a whole lot to talk about but yeah. He gave a nice little talk on temples and prophets at the member meeting. The poor AP got roped into translating the Japanese into English for the Americans there. Then the missionary meeting was nice. The bulk of the talking was by president and he didn't even talk that long. Elder Y and Bishop D didn't even talk. They just walked up together and said, "Lets do question and answer". Then lets see. Tuesday was our zone leader council activity the day before the actual zone leader council which occurred to me is actually not a church thing. So they have been trying to have us avoid the simple robotic things so we have done LA stuff, straight training, riding a subway, etc. So this time it was something called "Losting" which I would like to point out I invented. Basically the idea was that they would drive us around the city then at random places tell us to get out and then we have to get home by talking to people. Anyway so they start dividing everyone up for the splits of the activity and everyone gets matched up and I don't have a partner.....strange. Then the assistant looks at me and says,"And Elder Carter with be with President" ha ha ha. Funny. Except he was serious. Like I want to do splits with president!? Ha. So we drop everyone off and then we head out from the church as he is leaning over and saying stuff like, "I'm going to do nothing" "I'm just a junior companion" etc. This doesn't help. Just adds to the stress. So we walk down the street and I think, "Well might as well say 'Good evening' to everyone" so I start to do that and thats still not getting me anywhere then I see a lady walking two little pugs. Well I can work with that. So they try to attack me which is perfect. I call them cute and what lady can resist you when you compliment her dogs so I pet them and ask her where she is walking to and she answers with "You are people from that church over there" "Yep" "My friend is an alcoholic and I told him to go there(Side note she used a very condescending way of saying 'go' which I thought was funny when I learned this friend was not related to her and was like 50)" "Oh really? Did he?" "No" --insert more talking-- "Well can we meet your friend sometime?" "Sure....what are you doing right now?" "....going with you to your friends house." So we did. Met the man. He just restarted his life by moving across japan and started living with this lady (I think its some kinda boarding house thing because she lives with a lot of non-related people) anyway. We were in the middle of praying with them when another man walks in. Score! Anther investigator....not. Even president gave up on him as he started cursing us for being part of a religion that has a commandment against what we eat or drink. So near the end she tells president "Tell him he has to go to church (again condescending)" "I think better that 'Go!' is 'Come with me to church?' (this conversation makes so much more sense in Japanese)" So she agreed to it. Then president looks at me and says, "And elder carter will come here on Sunday and take you to church" Ha. So we did. Didn't go to my own ward but went with them to church which was cool. Anyway. Long right! So therefore I don't have time to write much more so you will get more next week. I think. This next week doesn't have a whole lot of events. Talk to you next week.

Lost in Kamisugi

Hm lets see what we have done this week. So this week we had two splits which are always half fun and half stressful. So Tuesday I did splits with a new district leader which is always a stressful position. We tried a few new things to see if we could get a new way to find investigators but for the most part it didn't quite work. I didn't want to give up too fast so we went to a different library to try and give a Book of Mormon but again it didn't work but this time we at least got them to consider changing the old version of the Book of Mormon for the new Book of Mormon. (I learned the Book of Mormon has been translated like 7 times in Japanese this week). Also we were able to set up a dinner with an LA boy to come to the young mens presidents house with another youth boy. Worked out awesome and way grateful for how much the members helped. It really only took two phone calls and like 10 minutes to get it all set up. Then splits with H choro in Kamisugi which was fun but I have never been so lost in my life. But we had a lot of fun together. He's way funny and we have some things in common so that was fun to talk about. Also the wind was way crazy. Maybe the strongest of my mission. Other than that not a whole lot happened this week to be honest. We were able to meet with O-san once this week but that was on splits and I wasn't there and apparently O-choro tried to get him to change his schedule to be able to come to church next week and he yelled at O-choro. Really not a whole lot to say about this last week. Just meh. Ha. What else. This week is zone leader council so again a busy week. Then I'm probably going to be doing a baptism interview this week with a Canadian so that will be interesting.....and in English. So whatever. Well I hope you all have a magical week. Talk to you later.

Transfers take a lot of work

Ok so how did this week go. Pretty good week. Way busy week with all these people coming and going with transfers. We kinda of take the babysitter role and dealing with the mission at times like this is kinda hard because they have this whole, "Only absolutely need to know information about transfers will be told to people" which kinda messes with us because people come to us for answers and we don't know and the assistants aren't perfect so trying to tell them where we are having problems is a pain and all this jazz. I have never called the assistants so much in my life. We even had 3 of them for most of the week. The one new one and they kept Shinno choro on board until he left. Finally Wednesday night when everything fell apart I'd had enough, I have never used the phrase "As a zone leader do...." and there is a grammar in Japanese of doing something without permission I used that more than I have ever in my life. Speaking of S choro you want to hear the funniest thing ever. So we have the mission home cook in our ward so S choro went home Friday morning and Sunday morning this sister comes running up to me. "Elder Carter guess what!?" "What!?" S choro is getting married on March 20th!" Ha. I lost it. I knew he had a woman and that she had been making wedding plans. But yeah. Less than a month after his mission he will be married. Even better is that is only the second fastest in the history of our mission. Last year apparently there was a sister that got married in 2 weeks. He has the record for a Japanese missionary though. Other than that lets see what we did this week. We met with O-san twice this week which was good. He is still a little ways from baptism but hopefully we can keep working with him. We were able to go to a baptism in the adjoigning ward with him so that was good for him. We also had a sports activity on Saturday which I'm still sore from. Ha. Way out of shape but it was fun. Nice to see you were able to take up my slack with Lyssas birthday. I'm not sure how I feel about you having her take these mind tests but oh well. Other than that not a whole lot exciting. This week we have the second counselor of the presiding bishopric come so we have two meetings with him. One with the member and one for the missionaries so those are always fun. I think that basically covers it. Have a magical week. Love you all.

Earthquake safety training

Hello peeps. Lets see what kind of random information I can tell you this week. To be honest not a whole lot exciting happened this week. No real big meetings, no crazy big miracles, etc. Just plugging along. So as I already told you. No transfer for me or for my companion. The zone has a good amount of transfers going on which is hilarious to see the form they give us. Two page packed excel sheet of where people are going when and why. Ha. You thought my christmas light map was cryptic you should see these things. Anyway. We got fed twice this week which was good I guess. Its been awhile it feels like since we have been fed. We also had interviews this week with president which are always terrifying and a half but I think I passed and that he wont beat me too hard. He told me a little about the future transfers and how many people are going to be coming in. Its pretty impressive. Lots and lots of shimai. About double and the difference is mainly made up of american sisters. I got your package. Still haven't finished eating all the crap I got on Christmas so I think its going to be impossible to eat all this food ever. Just a random thing maybe father will like because hes into this city stuff. So in the recent earthquake trying to check everyones safety was a pain in the rear. The phones wouldn't connect so they found a new way. So in Japan if you called 171 you can leave a message for someone using their phone number and then they can call into this number and hear the message. This message thing apparently doesn't go down in disasters and from pay phones (Yes there are pay phones here) it is sure to work (Land line) So we wanted to test it. Kinda funny because we were all sitting there and get a email from the assistants. "Earthquake!!!!!" Ha. Took about an hour to confirm everyones "Safety" but it worked out. Pretty interesting. Did splits with H choro Saturday. That was fun. Don't work with other americans as much so I tried to use that to our advantage of being able to get people to pity us. So we went to the library and tried to get them to take our book of mormon for the library. They didn't take it because it is a religion book. They have Book of Mormons in the other libraries in the area. They all report to the same people. I talked to President about you guys and the grandchild that you hype up and leave to his parents. Ha. He just nodded and said, "Its the best" Ha. Anyway. Maybe next week we will have something more exciting. Until then....

Alma O. Taylor

Receiving the Alma O. Taylor pin

Zone leader council

Hey family. Again a day with no time but we will do our best to get the information out. So yeah you people have to go and spoil my surprise with the Alma O. Taylor pin. (Editors note: This pin is awarded when an Elder or Sister reads the Book of Mormon in their non-native language) And you have more information about that man then I do so I'm kinda excited to read his life story later. All we really know about him was he was a cool missionary in Japan and yeah. .....that he has a pin? So yeah. That was a surprise. And just for the record the Japanese elder in the pictures with me read the Book of Mormon in English so thats why he got the pin. Just saying. Ha. Which is actually super cool for them because they are able to read the actual words that Joseph Smith wrote. So that was cool. Then we had as you also already know riding the subway for an hour and a half. Just riding it back and forth was kinda fun. I like the subway and we did splits with the other zone leaders for it and who was my comp? C choro! ha. Its was fun to work together again. Didn't have a whole lot of success but it was educational. So yeah. What else. From there zone leader council which is stressful but I'm growing to actually really like. I like to be in the guts of stuff and its really cool. Really have that feeling that you are part of something huge as you sit around a table with 12 young kids and a 60s/70s year old man and discuss the salvation of a good couple million people. No big deal. ;-) Funny thing is no one ever fights. Everything is based on opinion yet no real disagreements, disagreements but no hurt feelings or feeling like people aren't listening to you. Cool stuff. Then from there zone training meeting which went well I think. We even had the recent convert come and share his testimony with everyone to keep everyones sprits high. Was pretty funny. We tried to end but he said he wanted to say one more thing. So of course we say he can. And he starts telling us to cheer up because what we are sharing is the best. Be happy, God will help you. Ha. The man is basically still wet from the font and he teaches the thing we need to remember. Humbling but awesome. From there we did our usual weekly stuff. Then yesterday we were able to teach the person that S choro and I found spiritually housing and we have another appointment this week. That was a month and a half without a new investigator. Sigh. Good. Anyway. All good stuff. What else. Had the sister missionaries over? They ask for referrals? They help you fulfill your missionary responsibilities? If not they failed! Hahahahahahaha. Yes I'm evil and the missionaries will probably never want me to invite them over because I will grill them. But yeah. Austria and Idaho......thats interesting. People think its funny that I have no recollection of missionaries. Sometimes the bishop would have them stand up at church. I saw them serving hot chocolate at the institute at USU. I think we invited them over when dad was bishop. Thats about it. This week was not transfers next week is because this transfer is longer. But yeah. O choro is probably gone. Scary to have to run this place after him. Hope all is well with you peeps. Thanks for working out the schooling. I still would like to at least stay somewhat in the loop. Have a wonder week.