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

Transfer time!

 

Hey Family,

Well, I`m not too sure on where to even start on this email...the last few days have been incredibly busy and insane. Oh, and I did indeed receive my transfer call. BUT, before I go off blurting about my life, how are all of you guys doing?

Can you guys believe that its almost October already? And you all know what October means...that's right, General Conference!!! YEAH! You`d probably have to be a missionary to understand the fullness of how amazing the big GC is. (Actually no, I lie. Everybody knows that conference is incredible) Es good, es good. I actually just figured out yesterday that conference is coming up in the next few weeks. Twas joyous news to mine ears. But, I was way surprised when I realized that its already coming up. Who would`ve thought that half a year had already passed since I last watched General Conference with Spohr in my beloved Takamatsu. Oh time, how dare you do this to me.

Anyways, other than that this past week has been awesome. Guess what Dad? We found a half Peruvian and Japanese investigator housing this last week and I was able to teach him the Restoration in my sadly broken Spanish! Bahaha hoorah for 5 years of Spanish I had to pull out of my brain on the spot! I probably didn`t make that much sense but whatever, he seemed to be listening pretty well and we felt the Spirit...so that's all that matters! I need to brush up on my good ole Spanish though. My brain is functioning in Japanese-mode most of the time so it was really hard for me to switch from Japanese to English then English to Spanish. But whatever, I fulfilled my purpose as a missionary by teaching this brother about the Evangelio de Jesucristo! Oh man, Spanish...

Well anywho, I`ll tell you about my transfer calls. I`m going to be....staying in Takamatsu for another 6 months!!! Ah, I joke. Well, this past transfer call seriously blew my mind away. The call came early in the morning from my beloved Elder Burns. We talked a little bit about Takamatsu and how amazing of an area it is...and then he was quick to inform me that this next transfer I`ll be sleeping in the bunk bed right above him, in KOBE!!! I`M GOING TO KOBE!!! BAHAHA. Can you believe it? I`m going to be serving as the zone leader for Kobe area and I get to stay in the mission home with my beloved Elder Burns! I know right, crazy! Well, my next companion is going to be Elder Meyer. Which is awesome because he`s actually the bean of my second companion, Elder Rahn, so we already have the "connection." So, the story goes like this. The old Kobe zone leader area used to be in Amagasaki, but President Zinke felt that the Kobe area really needed solid missionaries to boost up the area...and for some crazy reason happened to be Elder Meyer and myself. I`m so excited! I feel honored that the Lord trusts Elder Meyer and I enough to work in that area of the vineyard! I can`t wait to tear Kobe up!

Ah, but there are so many things just running through my head right now. I feel like I`m going to explode! Its such a mixed feeling...I`m so excited to head over to Kobe but at the same time I think I`m going to become depressed thinking about how I`m leaving Takamatsu. You guys don`t understand, this area has literally become my home over the past few months! I don`t even remember how outside the Rock feels like anymore. I mean, I love the area, I love the people, I love everything about it and now I`m leaving it. It was so sad because we had our last lesson with Brother Hamada before the transfer calls and in his prayer he asked "Lord, this may be a personal issue, but would you please let Elder Saito stay for a little bit longer?" Ah! Do you see how I`m so torn leaving this area?! Man, I almost teared up after that prayer because I felt the Spirit so strongly. I`m going to miss Takamatsu so much. I was so blessed to have the opportunity to work here. I can`t explain in words how much growth I`ve seen in myself and how much I`ve learned about the Savior and His Atonement. I love the members, all my recent converts and my investigators...but life moves on. I did what I needed to accomplish in Takamatsu and now the Lord needs me working in another part of His vineyard. So you know, just as Nephi would say, I will go and I will do. Don`t get me wrong, this is going to be a new chapter in my life and its way exciting! But I will never forget Takamatsu, I will cherish all of the great memories I`ve had serving in this area. And I will continue praying for the people I love in this area. Now, I`ll leave it up to my son, Elder Lythgoe and the Lord to see more and more miracle in this area! I mean, we still have amazing investigators who I have no doubt will be baptized in the coming weeks so I have no worries.

Anyways, time is running short. I need to start packing all the goods I`ve collected in good old Takamatsu. Hopefully my suitcase doesn`t explode! Oh and for the suit, I`m planning to buy one in Kobe so no worries. I only have one and a half suits right now and suit dendo season is coming up soon so...

Well, I love you guys so much! Thanks for everything you guys do for me! Can`t wait to hear back from you guys!

MUCHO LOVE,

Elder Saito

9/18/2011

 

Hey Family,

Hey, I love you guys. Shoot, looking at those pictures just blows my mind to think that two of my old companions are already home...and they were in my house just a few days ago. Ah...awkward. But I love those guys so much! Its amazes me to think that four of my companions are already home and one of them is going home in a week, and it seems that they`re all gathering in Utah. Can I just tell you that the Mormon world is soooooo small? So, I received a letter from my friend earlier this week and she told me that she met the late Trevor Paul Wiser (companion #4). Turns out he`s rooming with one of her friends! I have a feeling that once I go back to BYU I`ll probably have a some sort of connection with probably half of the campus. Party everyday!

Anyways, thanks for the pictures by the way! Its good to see you guys are doing well. So, I heard somewhere down the grapevine that BYU did terrible against Utah? Schweeet! Maybe I`ll actually have a chance to make the team now! haha I joke. I`m way too old and out of shape to be playing that sport anymore. Literally, I`m old. The last two transfers have made me feel like a grandpa...probably because I`m working with such a young missionaries. Darn youth, why do you have to go and make me feel so old. I seriously cannot believe that the transfer will be over in a week...I know I say in every email, but WHY IS TIME GOING BY SO QUICKLY?! I`m going to be on transfer ten next week. TEN! You don`t understand, thats double digits. Ah, but I need to stop thinking about it so much. I need to live for right now. I mean, this is a chapter of my life that I can`t rewrite and there`s no way I`m going to go and waste it by constantly dreading the end. Its interesting because Elder Lythgoe and I always have these sorts of conversations for our pillow talks...I should try to start falling asleep earlier.

Well, I just need to tell you that this week was amazing! Awesome service project with the branch, great lesson with our beloved Seventhday Adventist from Africa, and just sweet people in general. I love Takamatsu so much. This area has literally become my other home. I can walk through it blindfolded and probably find my way around. The branch is now my family, all of my investigators are now my friends and all the locals are...well, locals. The thought of potentially transferring out of here next week actually scares me a bit...but at the same time, I feel that it would be good for me. Either way, I`ll be excited! Plus, in the end its not up to me, its the Lord`s choice. I firmly believe that the Lord knows me best and knows exactly where I need to go for me to be an effective tool in His hands. I just need to always remember that I`m nothing without Him and I need humble myself and accept whatever the will of the Lord is. Whether I`ll be here in Takamatsu or somewhere else in a week, my purpose won`t change you know? Ah, I just love this work. I`m not going to lie, there are a few days and experiences that have been hard on me, but all of it disappears when I realize that I`m doing the Lords work in the part of the vineyard that I love. Everyday, I get to go out and serve my brothers and sisters who need this gospel. Tell me, whats greater than that?

Well, anyways this week I also had a great opportunity to serve with my beloved branch. We went to an old rest home somewhere up in the mountains and cleaned that place spot-less! I`ll tell ya, simple acts of service is one of the best ways to feel the spirit. Plus, being able to work with the branch really helped us build a better relationship with them. Its always a good feeling when you know the members trust you and want you to teach their beloved ones. I love it! One of our members, who is amazing by the way, wants us to begin teaching her daughter. I can`t wait! Teaching people is so much fun. Oh yeah, and Yokoyama from last week. He is a stud! Came to church yesterday and stayed there for five hours! Yeah.

Anywho, time is running short. I just wanna tell you that I love you guys! Thanks so much for everything you guys do. Really, I appreciate it! I wouldn`t be out here if it wasn`t for you guys, familia. Okay, well I gotta go now! HAVE AN AWESOME WEEK!!!

頑張るぞ!!!　ファイト!!!

Mucho love,

Elder Saito

9/11/2011

ういいいいいす！

愛する同胞よ、

Hey family! Happy/merry one decade anniversary of 9/11! I don`t know if its a subject to be happy or merry about but whatever, I`m in Japan. My companion and I were awestruck when we realized that its already been a decade since 9/11. AH! We just got Pino (way delicious ice cream) from a member! YESSSSSS! Anyways. Yes, so a whole decade has passed by. I feel that coming on a mission has made me age 30x faster than an average human being will. Its a very awkward feeling...I mean I was reading my journal entries from a year ago. A WHOLE YEAR AGO! It feels like just like yesterday I was getting dropped off at the MTC and embarking on this journey. Anyways, being disgustingly old makes me want to work even harder with the time I have left. 頑張るぞ!!!

Well, I`m glad all of you guys are doing awesome. I`m also surprised how quickly my mail reached you guys! Well, I guess I did send them out to you guys over a week ago so it would make sense that they got to you. I don`t know, all the days just kind of blend together nowadays. Can you guys believe that this transfer is almost over already? I swear I just barely started my second transfer with my son...and now its two weeks away from the transfer ending. I wonder whats going to happen to me this next transfer? There is potential for me to either transfer out or stay another one here. I`ve now come to the point in my mission where either way, I`ll just be happy that I still have the chance to serve. I mean, honestly when it all comes down, it doesn`t matter where you are because our purpose doesn`t change. There are still the Lord`s elect scattered in every area and our purpose is to find them and bring them back to fold. I also need to do my part of keeping those who have already come into the fold not to wander off! Ah, missionary life is so fun.

Speaking of fun, we were able to go over to Okayama earlier this week and receive awesome training from President Zinke and the beloved Assistants. Goodness, Burns 長老 is one monster of an AP! I is so proud of him. Anyways, it was a great experience because I had a chance to bear my testimony in front of a good amount of new missionaries whom I`ve never met. Its odd to think that I`m one of the "veterans" of the mission now...but I`m glad I got to feel the Spirit strongly while talking to these younger missionaries. Need to make the younger generation even better missionaries than we are! And after my testimony I spent rest of the training translating for one Japanese missionary...for almost six hours. So, essential I got very little out of the actual training because I was exhausted from translating but Elder Lythgoe seemed to have gotten a lot out of it so I`m glad.

We also had a great experience earlier this week as well. We actually didn`t have that much dendo time this week because we were so busy running around to appointments and lessons. Concerned that we wouldn`t be able to find anyone this week, we had an opportunity to get down and give a sincere prayer on Thursday after one of our planing sessions. I`m telling you, the power of prayer is...just outstanding. I just had a good feeling that everything will be okay in the end after I ended the prayer. So after the prayer we headed out to our dinner appointment at an all you can eat with our beloved single adult, Shinno kyoudai (yes ladies, he is single). The appointment actually went a bit longer then we had planned so we only had about 45 min left in our day to travel home. Before we began to head home we were able to give a quick prayer, pleading with the Lord that He`d guide us to someone on the way home. And lo and behold, the first person we tried contacting stopped and listened to us! I had such a great feeling testifying about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon to him and it was amazing because he`d read the Bible before so he was able to accept what we were saying. We committed him to come to church...and he did! I love this guy, he really has been prepared by the Lord and now we have him working towards baptism. It may seem like a small experience, but I`m telling you, the Lord is really in this work. He works through small, almost seemingly insignificant means to bring to pass great things. YEAH MISSION!

haha anyways, it was a way awesome week. I`m lovin` it over here! I hope all of you guys have an awesome week! Can`t wait to hear back from you guys!!!

Mucho love,

Elder Saito