10/30/2011

Hello family,

Hey, thanks for all the emails you guys! Pleasure to hear from you all of you guys.

 

Anyways, thanks for making me feel even more gross talking about signing up for school Dad. I'll be sure to pray and figure out what exactly I want to do with my life. The first semester will probably be a bunch of general education classes...but who knows? Lets see, I still want to continue my major with PDBio but I do want to throw in Japanese and Spanish. Maybe I'll take psychology or chemistry...NO! NO! NO!!! I shall not think about it until it is absolutely necessary! Remind me again sometime around the middle of November so I don't become lazy.

So, I'm extremely distracted...again. I swear, its so hard to email over here in Kobe because there are always things going on over here. Ugh, time also goes so fast over here in God's door. Can you believe that this transfer is already over?! Well...next week that is, but this transfer has literally been the fastest transfer ever. I'm going to be on transfer 11 next week! Seriously, I can't even remember what had happened this last transfer because things have been so hectic. Oh well, I guess that's life. I bet its the leadership positions that is draining all of my time! All the meetings, training, companion exchanges and emergencies are time bandits. Way effective and needed , but time bandits none the less. Hopefully, for my last few transfers I can go and settle down in some way inaka area helping out. But, I don't need to care about those things because I need to fulfill my responsibility in the area that the Lord sent me to now.

I don't know, this transfer had been really interesting for me. I mean, granted we did see success, but I still feel like this transfer was more for me to learn an important lesson. These last few weeks have been such an eye opener for me. With a combination of the Elder Ringwood mission tour, President's interviews and other important factors, I've found myself pondering rather deeply of how missionary work really affects people in an eternal perspective. Missionaries, members and investigators are all effected by the work that is done in the world right now. I mean, my life definitely has changed! I've realized that there are things I still need to learn and apply before my time is up; so many things. It was a good wake up call for me!

Well, there's only one computer...and my companion is whining so I'll let him email now. This week has been great, our beloved office elders finally saw a baptism this past day!!! Awesome huh? His name's Yamada and he is the BOSS. Literally, they boss.

Anywho, Love you bunch!

Elder Saito

10/23/2011

Family!

Hey, hey, hey! It`s a beautiful day! How are all of you guys? Thanks for all of the emails you guys. Oh and special thanks to a mother who thinks her son is incapable of keeping all of his shirts! Its totally not my fault, how was I supposed to know that my pen would explode in the washing machine and make all of my white shirts have dark mysterious spots on them? Well, I`ll be anticipating the arrival of my shirts thank you very much. Oh, and if at all possible, will you send like...two garment bottoms? That would be much appreciated.

Well, you`ll probably have to remind me all of the steps I need to take to send all that stuff back to Obachan, cause I`ll forget for sure. ごめん

Uh, so let me see...this past week went by unbelievably fast. Probably because we barely had time to go out and dendo because we had all of these meetings and interviews we had to attend. But all in all, it was a wonderful week. We had a little adventure this past Wednesday because I needed to go to Okayama to translate for Elder Ringwood conference. He`s a new Area Seventy of Asia North and he was doing a mission tour for us. Man, it was so insane. So first, Elder Burns told me that I would be translating for that conference earlier last week ...and then he later told me I wasn`t because PBO had supposedly set up a professional translator to come and do the job for us. So...I forgot all about it and went out to work. Then about a day before the conference, Elder Burns came up to me and told me that I was in fact translating because there was a mistake with the PBO and it turned out that the translator wasn`t coming. SO...I hopped into a car with Elder Burns, took a 2 hour car ride to Okayama and translated for 5 hours straight again. It was terrible, why you ask? Because we accidentally forgot to bring the translating microphone and headphones! 最悪だった！Just imagine this...I`m sitting in the chapel with 9 Japanese people surrounding me and I`m trying to yell under my voice because I couldn`t hear what he was talking about over my own voice. Yeah...that lasted for about 5 hours. Hopefully the poor Japanese missionaries actually got something out of the conference! But, the conference was amazing! Elder Ringwood taught exactly what the mission needed to hear at this time.

Sorry if the last paragraph made very little sense. I`m kind of distracted right now...some guy just called us and told us that he wants to come to church and bring two of his friends, then right after that another guy called us and told us that he wants to come to Eikaiwa. (English Conversation) Well, the is proof that the Lord blesses you after struggling to translate for 5 hours! bahaha

Yeah, this week was very...

Well, just got another call from the same guy. I guess now we`re going over to his house later today to teach his wife and his best friend! Crazy that all of this is happening right now, this never happens in Japan! Well, like President Zinke said, "if you build it, they will come." If we keep working hard the Lord will trust us enough that we won`t even have to go out and "find" the elect because they`ll start coming to us! YES!

Anyways, gotta go and look up where this guy lives so gotta cut this one short. ごめんね！This week was just full of miracles! Hopefully, we can continue seeing miracles everyday! Thanks for everything you guys! Love ya!

Mucho Amor,

Elder Saito

10/16/2011

ういいいいす！

家族元気か？

Goodness gracious this week went flying buy didn`t it?! Thanks for all the emails by the way, its good to hear from all of ya again! So, things have been crazy just as usual. Seriously, this week consisted of me running around doing companion exchanges with elders in my zone...and the rest of it was sort of a blur.

Well, first off before I start anything, I should probably answer a few of your questions.

Question 1: Yes`m, I did find myself a comfortable suit...from the mission home.

Reason: So, all of the suits at Aoyama (popular suit store in Japan) and Haruyama (another popular suit store) where way too expensive! Like 150 ish. And all the suits that were on sale for 50-70 were all way too small for me! Actually, the waist fit me almost perfectly but my shoulders where waaaayyyyy too big to fit in those suits. Curse you American shoulders, there is no way I could fit in Japan. I cant even tell you how many times I`ve hit my head on door frames...but that's a different story. Plus, Japan is all about the "slim fit, cool biz" fashion...and all the suits that would fit me were far too expensive. I`ll probably just end up buying one at the end of my mission so I can look fly...ha, who am I kidding, I have no fashion sense.

So, I justified myself by rummaging through the mission home`s closet of unwanted apparel and goods on a kokan with my beloved Okinawan, Elder Gushiken. And to my surprise, I was able to find a suit that comfortably fits my awkwardly shaped body...according to Japanese standards that is. Thanks to a kind, generous elder who left behind a perfectly fine suit, I have a suit that will probably last me the rest of the winter! Ya! This suit is so thick though, I swear its bullet proof but whatever, beggars can`t be choosers.

Yeah, so that is how I resolved my lack of wearable suits problem. I do have another suit, Elder Wiser`s old one that is, but its alas, it is too small for my shoulders. Maybe I should just all together stop working out in the mornings, I think that would resolve my problems.

Question 2: Yes`m, I do need you guys to send me more long sleeve shirts.

I, for some odd reason, only can find two at this moment so it would be much appreciated. Oh, and you don`t need to buy me bigger ones or anything. 15 1/2 is still perfect for me. I really haven`t gotten that big, its just my fantastic gut that packs on the pounds. And as for other things...please don`t send anymore clothes or things that I can`t just leave at the end of my mission. My suitcase was a billion pounds last time I transferred and my suitcase actually kind of ripped because it was so compact. So...things like healthy nutritious fruit or protein bars could be useful? I don`t know, surprise me. Oh and pictures of coarse, there is nothing more that I love than pictures.

Question 3: Yes`m, the Yakuza actually live right in our neighborhood.

The Yamaguchi-so`s base is actually right next the the park that we go to every morning. Its a pretty big mansion with this huge gate and there are occasionally black vans with tinted windows parked in front of it. We`ve actually greeted a few of the Yakuza members while dendoing. Rumor has it that they`re really nice to missionaries just as long as you don`t do anything stupid around them. Rumor also has it that they`ll kidnap you with their black vans, tie you to a chair and threaten to kill you unless you deny Jesus Christ. (actual occurrence in Uwajima two years ago) There`s actually a smaller base that`s way close to the church as well...it has these high walls with cameras everywhere. Isn`t it so comforting knowing that the biggest Yakuza base in the Kansai region only three minutes away from the church? I find it quite amusing.

Anyways, I gotta go now. P-days are getting shorter and shorter since there are so many activities going on around us. Life is good in Kobe, it really is. Still trying to figure out specifically what direction the Lord wants us to go with this zone and this area. I shall seek revelation this week! Elder Ringwood, an area seventy, is actually visiting us this week so I shall inquire for inspiration from his wise words of wisdom. Oh yeah, I was supposed to translate the conference but...Elder Ringwood was smart and brought a professional translator from Tokyo with him. What eve!

Have an awesome week family!!! I love you so much!!!

Love,

Elder Saito

10/9/2011

Hey family,

First of all...RICHARD! THAT BETTER NOT BE MY KEY HOLDER YOU GOT STRAPPED AROUND YOUR NECK SON! I saw the pictures, I saw the proof, I`ll get you back if that is the case.

Haha well anyways, how are all of you this fine Monday afternoon? (or whatever time it may be over yonder) I actually got the letter this week! Its great because I now get mail a lot faster then I used to because I`m in the honbu and I don`t have to wait for the office elders to send it off to me anymore. Huzzah! Thanks so much, I really appreciated hearing from all of you. I especially enjoyed the wonderful drawings done by the Grandview 16th ward primary of me getting devoured by sharks. I loved it all, I need to hurry up and write them all back.

Can I just tell you that Kobe is just amazing? I swear, its a circus everyday and it always feels like we`re always running around having to do errands and shtuff but somehow we still get work done. I know for sure that the Lord provides a way for missionaries to fulfill their purpose just as long as they forget themselves and put their shoulder to the wheel! Its amazing to look back and see how much success the Lord had granted for us to see in the past few weeks. I mean, we went from having next to nothing at the beginning of the transfer to a nice pool of investigators and two people working towards baptism. And the crazy part is that Elder Meyer and I only had a limited amount of time to go out and dendo. I tell you, this is the Lord`s work for sure. There is no way a 19 to 21 year old pair of kids (from America) can accomplish things like this. Its so great, I love it. The only downfall of Kobe is that...time literally gets sucked into a blackhole. Ok, so this is a rundown of a usual day for me. I wake up, then a blur of spreading the gospel and running around...then I go to sleep. I mean, I`ve already starting my third week of the transfer but I feel like I just barely transferred in! GAH!!! What is happening to my mission? Thats why I was hesitant at first to transfer out of Takamatsu because I knew my mission would jump into warp speed! Bleah, but I can`t complain. The Lord gave me this specific two year period to work with all of my heart, mind and strength so I can`t be wasting time worrying about my time dwindling away.

Anyway, life is good, and so was conference! I`m sure that everyone can agree that this month`s conference was flat out amazing, correct? Correct. Gotta love it, everyone`s talks were very inspirational and actually very bold/direct. I think its just what all of us needed to hear. Oh my goodness, I can`t believe they`re going to be making another temple over there in Provo! That's two temples in lesson then a mile radius...they should`ve just saved the money and made a temple over here in Kobe instead...I joke, I joke. That's so great though, nothing better then the house of the Lord being built in divers parts of the world. Anywho, what were all of your favorite talks? I loved them all, but the talks centered on missionary work seemed to have left the biggest impression on me. I mean, what can I say? I`m out here doing the exact thing that they are talking about! I loved our Japanese representative, Elder Yamashita`s talk about the work as well. It really dawned on me that the work I am doing right now can effective so many lives later on in this life. I mean, where would Elder Yamashita have been if there wasn`t missionary work in Japan? Better question, where would our whole family be if there weren`t angels spreading the goodnews in Japan? Its soooo goooodddd. I also loved Elder Waddell`s talk! Ah, there`s no way I`d write about all my favorite talks because there would be too much to write about and I am waaaayyyy to lazy to do so. So, I`ll just gather all of the parts I thought the Lord was trying to telling me.

1. Enjoy and work hard on the mission.

2. Work with the Spirit.

3. "Its better to look up."

4. Get married. Have a bajillion kids. Love my wife. (bahaha you hear that Selena and Richard?!)

Anyways, conference was GREEEAAATTTT! Well, gonna go and by myself a nice cheap suit now. Good ole suit jacket season is now in and I only have one suit left (All of them have be successfully destroyed by me) The depressing part about it is the suit I`m wearing right now doesn`t even belong to me. I picked it off of Elder Wiser`s "dead" body. Hopefully, Sir Prince of the God`s Door (神戸) Burns Choro can give me a ride on his golden Chariot of the Higher Priesthood (a Honda van) over to a cheap suit outlet. Well, I love all you guys! Work hard this week okay?

Mucho Amor,
Elder Saito

10/2/2011

 

HEY!!!

So, I`m sorry that this email is extremely late and will probably be relatively short, just had an intense lesson with some investigator and it took up a bit of our P-day time, but I just need to tell you that I is alive. Things just have been so busy since I came into Kobe, but I guess thats just what happens when you come into a tokai area and have to start with almost nothing. I know so very little about this area! All I can pretty much do is tell you how to get from Sannomia to the mission home. Well, I guess thats pretty much all you need because there are SO many people swarming the streets of Sannomia. You could pretty much street there the whole day without a problem. But, with a lot of people there tends to be a lot of...interesting people. Its great though, it makes streeting so much more interesting. Oh, the joys of white washing an area, its an adventure everyday.

Anyways, Elder Meyer and I have quite a responsiblity on our hands. President sat us down earlier today and expressed how he wants us to make Kobe, and this is his own word, "explode". As in, find and baptize all of the elect that the Lord has prepared for the Saints in Kobe. President envisions Kobe becoming the "city upon a hill", the "lighthouse" of the mission since this is the "Kobe Japan Mission." And to finish his great statement, he looked up at us, smiled and warmly told us "yoroshiku, I trust in you two Elders."

Well, I now know what is needed to be done with my time in Kobe. That is to simply, find and baptize the elect.

I don`t know, I`m not as nervous as I thought I would be. I just figured that the Lord has already realized a long time ago that I`m just a twenty year old kid from Provo, Utah who has absolutely no idea what he`s doing and He will help me accordingly. All I know is that if I continue to work hard and just trust that the Lord will cover for me, I think that we`ll be just fine. Plus, I have a whole General Conference prepared for me to receive guidance for my new area...so yeah!

Anywho, life is so good right now! I`m living in KOBE! Whats better than that?

Alrighty, I`m going to go bounce now. Gotta find the sheep of the Lord`s fold! LOVE YOU GUYS! Hope you guys have an awesome week!

Mucho amor,

Elder Saito