Tuesday, Sept. 9th

konichiwa!! week two is under way! it seems like i have been here for a lot longer than that though! its weird to think if i was going english speaking i would be leaving next week in stead i am going to be here for another 10 weeks!! ha ha but i love it here so i will get over it. so as i said before there still isn't a minute to spare! always either working on ni hongo or am studying the scriptures.. its such a blessing to be hear, i try to read Elder Bruce McConkie (don't know if that spelling is right)quote on missionary work titled "How great is my calling" i have not read it once without feeling the spirit! it gets me excited. well japanese contiues to get more confusing, ha ha but i just roll with it. i use to get discouraged but i am no longer able to. I am too blessed to have anything to complain about right now! I have never been a part of something so significant in my life. well on tuesday Elder Cook came! he was great, i am hoping that tonight we will have another apostle come talk to us!! but some things elder cook said were:
Study preach my gospel, he played a major part in writing the 'preach my gospel' and said that he could not take credit for what was written, he said "it is almost as if this book was written by the other side of the veil."
he said to teach around commitments.
through missionaries examples we can strengthen the church and demonstrate how to serve the lord.
be aware
BE BOLD
we taught our first discussion this week in the rc and it didn't go like we planned but it showed us what are weaknesses were, and i'm ready for this week!!
Usually the best part of the day is when we have gym time!!! I love playing hoops here, its really the only thing we get to do for exercise. well the competition here is good. the one tall red head kid who played for pg, that graduated the same year as i did is here, we usually play together and do work! there are a couple others who played at uvu and snow college so its a lot of fun! i pull my weight though.
so our japanese district is on the same floor as the korean district, and we are both on the same schedules for everything, dinner, gym, and any meetings. So there is an un-spoken rivalry between the Korean zones and the Japanese zones. its pretty funny. well this went on for a while, until one Saturday night, about 2 months ago, the koreans challenged the japanese to a sing off! called to serve. where both zones go head to head and sing the first verse in their native languages, and the second verse in English, what ever zone is the loudest wins! it is one of the most intense things i have ever been a part of!! the hole 5 floors of our building comes to watch us, they all have cameras and what not to record this! its is crazy! usually the japanese win, but its hard to tell cause each side is so loud... if you guys ever send me the camera i can show you.. which brings me to my list of things i need:
the camera, with two memory cards. the older missionaries told me to do this cause that way i can send you one card and you can upload pictures and all that, and while im waiting to get the other card back i can still be taking pictures... make sense? i thought it was a really good idea.
I need shirts and a hoodie!! i didnt think i would be having gym 5 times a week so i go through a lot of them, just buy me those costco white shirts i use to get, size large, mom knows the ones.
For a sweatshirt send me the brown/golden colored jordan one, its in my stuff in bags i hid in the storage room in the basement. KEeep sending me letters! i love getting them, dear elder is the fastest way, it came before the other letters you sent. cookies are awesome everyone loved them, send more!!! love you all tons, ran out of time got to go i will check this in a couple of hours so write back soon if you have any questions!!
Love elder lawler