More and More Japanese

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

This is our second to last P-Day at the MTC! Also, we get our travel plans tomorrow! It doesn't feel real at all, it's so weird.

Spiritual Stuff:

In choir on Sunday we sang the song "Consider the Lilies," which was absolutely beautiful, so I stole it for this week's "spiritual stuff" lol. I highly recommend actually going and listening to it, though.

Consider the lilies of the field,
How they grow, how they grow.
Consider the birds in the sky,
How they fly, how they fly.

He clothes the lilies of the field.
He feeds the birds in the sky.
And He will feed those who trust Him,
And guide them with His eye.

Consider the sheep of His fold,
How they follow where He leads.
Though the path may wind across the mountains,
He knows the meadows where they feed.

He clothes the lilies of the field.
He feeds the birds in the sky,
And He will feed those who trust Him,
And guide them with His eye.

Consider the sweet, tender children
Who must suffer on this earth.
The pains of all of them He carried
From the day of His birth.

He clothes the lilies of the field,
He feeds the lambs in His fold,
And He will heal those who trust Him,
And make their hearts as gold.

He clothes the lilies of the field,
He feeds the lambs in His fold,
And He will heal those who trust Him,
And make their hearts as gold.

Daily Life/Fun Stories:

Our new 同僚 (douryou= companion), Yamashita姉妹 is amazing and also doesn't speak English! Well, she knows a couple words, but that's it. It's been super helpful because now we have to speak in Japanese instead of automatically going to English all the time. She'll be going to the Sapporo mission, but we're glad to have her while we can! Also, this group of 日本人 (nihonjin= japanese people) is the one we fly to 日本 (nihon= japan).

Last Wednesday, Olson姉妹 and I did our first skype TRC, which means we skyped a member of the church who is Japanese and lives in Japan. Our person ended up being a 21 year old who is friends with a sister currently serving in Gilbert, who Olson姉妹 is friends with, and she also goes to the same ward that my Japanese professor's parents live in! She said that he had actually just left Japan after visiting. So many connections within the Japanese church world, it's crazy and so much fun. Also, because she lives where she lives, she's in the Tokyo South mission! She goes on her own mission in October, but she hopes we get transferred to her area before then so we can meet her in person! We can't wait.

We're getting into the summer rush here at the MTC and on Sunday was told that there are currently 2100 missionaries here. That's more than a 700 person increase from the 1300 when we got here because we've had a lot of people leave over the past 7-ish weeks. Thankfully, the 640 missionary intake is 2 days after we leave so we don't have to deal with the craziness that will bring in.

The 長老たち (chouroutachi= elders) have started to try and translate English sayings directly into Japanese, which has led to many teachers shaking their heads at us and many days full of hunched-over-unable-to-breathe laughter. For example, you know that part in Star Wars where Darth Sidious says, "Do it!" in that really creepy voice of his? Well, they started imitating that for some reason and then out of nowhere Walkenhorst長老, in the best Darth Sidious voice I've ever heard, says "します!" None of us could breathe for about 2 full minutes we were laughing so hard. It literally just means to do/do/will do, but for some reason it was the funniest thing ever. Probably because the voice was spot on.

All of the teachers have some crazy stories. For example, one taught a lady who had 9 dogs. In Tokyo. And another almost got chased by a wild boar. And there's more to each of those stories, but this email is already way too long lol, so let me know if you want to know some details.

Something our district has started doing on Saturdays after zone games is a little something called "the hot seat." It basically means that for 15 minutes one person is on "the hot seat" and we can ask them any question we want. It's both great for getting to know people as people and also knowing some pretty hilarious stuff about them. For example, one 長老's worst date ever involved him spending 30 minutes in the bathroom while at a restaurant, her then getting impatient, and then after they leave him throwing up in the middle of the street. Yeah.

Every Sunday after the evening devotional we all go see "Sunday Films," and this week we decided to see the movie "Testaments." Except, we decided to watch it in 日本語 (nihongo= japanese). Best decision ever. It was a blast, and even though we didn't understand everything they were saying, it was enough that the bad people's voices 100% sounded like anime villains.

About the Pictures:

• Our new 同僚! (douryou= companion)
• Some of our district with the new 日本人長老たち (nihonjin chouroutachi= Japanese elders). If anyone remembers Elder Kawamura who served in Rochester, his younger brother is in the middle on the left.
• A little taste of home I found in the MTC store! Though I have to admit, my first thought was, "where's the root beer?!"
• Ice cream party!
• We love studying outside when the sun isn't slowly roasting us.

New Companion!

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

こんにちは!

After this week, we only have 2 full weeks left! To be more specific, we have 19 days left and we're not counting down the hours and looking forward at all...

Spiritual Stuff:

During our Tuesday Devotional last night, Sister Kathleen Andersen and Elder Wilford W. Andersen of the Seventy spoke. I particularly liked that Sister Andersen spoke about the fact that Satan puts negative thoughts into our heads. Whether they're about other people or ourselves, all he wants to do is drag us down. It's important, both as a person and a missionary, to recognize where those negative thoughts come from and to focus on the more positive things in life. In particular, as missionaries learning a new language and training to go to a foreign country, it's very easy for us to be hard on ouselves about the language and the teaching. However, our district has decided to find something we did right when all we can think about is how we messed up. I encourage everybody reading this email to do the same in their lives in whatever aspect they find difficult, whether that be interacting with other people, work, school, whatever. It'll make each day a much better day.

Daily Life/Fun Stories:

Last Thursday, aka the Fourth of July, we got to stay up late to watch BYU's Stadium of Fire show from one of the buildings. We were all dead the next morning but it was fun. On Sunday, Olson姉妹 and I got assigned as Sister Training Leaders (STL's)for our zone, and almost immediately took up a bunch of responsibilities, including helping a 姉妹 (shimai= sister) who has to get collarbone surgery and another who had to see a cardiologist. That whole issue required being driven to Spanish Fork with her because her companion had already left. Thankfully nothing was wrong and she left yesterday morning, but we all thought the driver was going to make it so none of us ever got to go to 日本 (Nihon= Japan). Halfway through the drive she told us she had ADHD and we were like, "we should have known." On Monday, Olson姉妹 and I taught our first lesson with a native speaker 求道者 (kyuudousha= investigator), and it was so much fun. It went way better than expected, and we understood almost everything she said! Also, she understood almost everything we said! It was a huge confidence booster. Last week, my family got a dog while I was gone! I personally have always wanted one but the answer was always "no" because of allergies, wood floors, etc... Well, apparently he's hypoallergenic and they stopped caring about the floors and his name is Pepper and he's the size of our bunnies (see pic). And I can't meet him for a year and a half *cries*. This morning we helped clean the Provo Temple for 3 hours, which meant that Olson姉妹 and I detailed lockers. As in, the average pace is 2 lockers in 4 hours. We used Q-tips and toothpicks. Perfect for an OCD person! Later today Olson姉妹 and I are getting another companion. We'll be in a trio with a 日本人姉妹 (nihonjin shimai= japanese sister) just like we were with Ikeda姉妹 at the beginning, except this time we'll go with her when she leaves for Japan! We haven't seen her yet, but her luggage has been moved in and we can't wait to meet Yamashita姉妹!

About the Pictures:

• Olson姉妹 and I with our STL binder.
• Face masks!
• The most recent batch of 日本人宣教師 (nihonjin senkyoushi= japanese missionaries) that left on Monday, enjoying chocolate chip cookies on the Fourth of July.
• What happens if we study in the classroom.
• So this happened. Olson姉妹 and I were just in the corner dying of laughter. Needless to say, he doesn't normally part his hair down the middle. Also, he totally went in to teach our teacher like that.
• Fourth of July selfie!

• Can't believe my family got another bunny without me lol. He fits right in.

愛してます!

-スナ一姉妹

(Sister Snarr)

Looking Forward

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Update: for some things like email to letter converters, ordering food, and maybe mailing some things, they require the unit number, which is 146. I'll still get anything that's sent, but they always correct it. Also, my departure date is JUL29, not JUL30, for any mail.

Spiritual Stuff:

One of the things I love about the MTC is that we all greet each other in the language we will be speaking on our missions, whether that be English, Spanish, Malay, Japanese, etc. You'll have a full conversation with someone and neither of you will be speaking the same language, let alone understanding the other person. It's a lot of fun, and also brings a sense of unity to the MTC. While we might all be here for different amounts of time, be heading to different places around the world, be learning different languages, we're all here for the same reason. We all love Christ and His church, and we want to share the joy we've found in it with the people of the world.

Daily Life/Fun Stories:

Saturday was June 29th, and because we got here May 29th and will be leaving July 29th, that means we hit our halfway mark! It's actually super surreal, because it feels like we've been here forever and also that we just got here and will just stay here forever, not actually going to Japan. However, the last couple of days we've been really thinking about what it'll be like when we get there. For example, we get there at the beginning of August, which is the dead of summer... So that's going to be fun on bikes. Also, while we get there after the rainy season, we're just in time for typhoon season, about which our teachers have a lot of stories. For example, biking through typhoons, leaky windows, watching people get thrown off their bike by the wind, being pushed up a hill on their bikes by the wind... But they all say it's super fun (biking in a typhoon), so I'm looking forward to it. On Monday our 先輩 (senpai= upperclassman but used in more contexts), who were our leaders since we got here and who we've gotten really close to, are leaving for Japan. It's especially sad because none of them are going to Tokyo South. They split up the 6 missions in Japan as to when they come into the MTC, so the ones we get closest to are always not actually going to the same area. For example, Tokyo South, Nagoya, and Sapporo missionaries come in and then three weeks later Tokyo North, Fukuoka, and Kobe come in. We're going to try and keep in touch though. The 後輩 (kouhai= underclassman but used in more contexts) have opened up a lot more, and it's cool because there are a bunch from the Philippines and New Zealand. The people from the Philippines are learning Japanese through English, which is not their first language, and it's pretty awesome. Also, one of the new sisters from the Philippines is at least 4 inches shorter than me, which is very unusual but also awesome. Olson姉妹 and I have made friends with a bunch elders going to/from Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji because their classrooms are on the same floor. It's really funny because somehow they knew how to say, "Die!" in 日本語, and that was it. They started saying it to us and we were super confused as to why at first, but they just think it's funny. They asked how to say "I have to go," so we taught them, and then they started saying "Die, I have to go" every time we see them. So if you know me, you know that I don't really tan. And yet, somehow, I'm already starting to get a watch tan, which is just fantastic. I've always wanted a super pale piece of skin that shows when I take off my watch (not). Ok, story time: Olson姉妹 got her mom to send her a ton of face masks (see pic), and we decided to ask the 長老たち (chouroutachi= elders) if hypothetically we had some of those korean face masks right that second if they would do them. Hypothetically. Collins長老 was super down to do it, while Walkenhorst長老 was hesitant. We passed them out, and didn't really expect them to do them, but they did! (See pic below). We died laughing over the fact that they actually did them and their super serious expressions.

About the Pictures:

• A double rainbow over the mountain!
• We love our 日本 flag.

• Elder Kartchner, who ate literally 7 plates of taquitos (and then that cookie).
• Our district's 長老たち.
• We almost always study outside (until it gets into the 90's and we go inside because the UV forecast is 'Extreme')
• Olson姉妹 and I with our 長老たち先輩 after zone games, all wearing our mission shirts (that literally nobody looks good in).
• The face masks. If you look closely, the ones where there's only one is where the 長老たち took one and did it.

Close Encounters

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

こんにちは! 元気ですか? This past week was kind of insane as the MTC experienced a 500+ missionary influx, as well as 164 mission presidents in training. And along with the mission presidents came some people very high up in the church... (see below for details).

Spiritual Stuff:

During the devotional on Sunday (see below to find out who spoke), the speaker started talking about 2 Nephi 31 and I almost laughed. I may have mentioned this in an earlier email, but I've been going back to that chapter again and again over the past few weeks. Almost every verse is highlighted/underlined in multiple colors. I can't even begin to talk about the whole chapter because there's just so much, but I only just realized on Sunday that I've been going to the chapter that talks about the Doctrine of Christ, which is specifically listed in our missionary purpose. Go read it for yourself, but I'll just say that I think the reason I've been so drawn to it is because I subconsciously recognized its importance to my purpose at this point in my life. It was a pretty cool experience, realizing that.

Daily Life/Fun Stories:

Our district has just recently realized how lucky the Japanese groups are with our weekly service. Every district has some form of service, which could be anything from hosting new missionaries to cleaning toilets. All we have to do is take down Sunday devotional and set up Tuesday devotional, which is actually really fun once you know what you're doing. Also, there are perks like what happened to my friend/先輩. We were taking down the stage (it's in the gym so they have to bring one in), and she discovered that the speaker had left his cup behind... We convinced her to take it because she's from Australia and when else would she have to chance to steal Elder Holland's cup lol. We were all dying. Oh yeah, and not only was Elder Holland here for the past couple days, but so were the Quorum of the 12 and the First Presidency, even if at the devotional President Eyring and President Nelson weren't there. Which means there were several sightings, close encounters, and actual encounters. We saw Elder Uchtdorf twice, President Nelson once, and Elder Christofferson came and talked to some of our 後輩 (underclassmen, sort of), so we went over and joined them. He ended up taking a picture with two of the 姉妹たち from the Philippines, they were so excited. Also, that same friend/先輩 who took Elder Holland's cup (and her companion) got to see President Nelson and be only a couple feet away from him, which was amazing for her. The 日本人長老たち (Japanese elders) got to shake hands with several of them, and Elder Stevenson spoke to them in Japanese. Plus more sightings and encounters. And speaking of sightings and encounteres, I've run into a bunch more people I know here, some whose classrooms are near mine, some who live on the same floor, and some who I just see now and then. It's been pretty fun. The other night at dinner, we were sitting with the 日本人長老たち and one of them suddenly started saying, "暑い, 暑い!" (hot, hot!) while holding his mouth and drinking water. Turns out one of the 日本人姉妹たち (Japanese sisters) who went to BYU-HI had told him that hot sauce was good on salad. We all felt really bad for him but at the same time we were all dying laughing. He made some of the other 日本人長老たち try it and then they were all in pain lol. Also, the food the last few days has been unprecedentedly good. Apparently they were catering the mission presidents and so just decided to cater for everyone else instead. For example, we got Aloha Plate, Subway, Taco Bell, and Chick-fil-a, along with other meals that were just so much better than what we've been having. Almost forgot about this, but because everyone knew that apostles were coming, basically everyone at the MTC tried to join the choir. They ended up having to turn people away because we literally filled the bleachers. It ended up being a choir of 1000 people who sang at the Sunday devotional. Apparently, though, it's not the biggest they've every had. Class has been getting better and better as those who started off with zero experience have worked their way up to sort of understanding what's going on. We just laugh way too much, especially when people make mistakes or pronounce something wrong. Oh, and those who mess up laugh too, we're not laughing AT them lol, we're laughing WITH them. Random funny story: the same night that one 日本人長老 ate the salad with hot sauce, another 日本人長老 asked Olson if her hair was real. Meaning, he wanted to know if her curls were real. All of the 日本人長老たち were super surprised when they found out that both of us have natural curls.

About the Pictures:

• Olson姉妹 and I with the new 日本人姉妹たち (Japanese sisters), one of whom (Sato姉妹) is really good friends with Ikeda姉妹, our Japanese companion who left last week.
• My district plus the new 日本人 district and 2 of our leaders.
• Spontaneous picture when we noticed the Japan flag was up. It's pretty bad, but whatever.
• Yet another picture of the Provo Temple! Today was the last day we can go in because they're closing it for cleaning, but we'll probably do more temple walks.
• The day they catered Chick-fil-a, which happens to be Olson姉妹's absolute favorite.

じゃあまたね! 愛してます!

Sister Snarr