Mountains!

 ヤッホー皆さん！

This week was pretty good. I got to go on exchanges down to Alpine. The mission apartment there is called "the shack" and it fits the description haha. But the cool thing is that Alpine is right by the mountains! It was so nice to see those again, I wasn't sure if they still existed haha. Some of the mountain roads we drove on took me right back to Utah; it was green and everything. Quite the sight to behold I must say.

I also got to talk to Iwaasa chourou on zoom which might've been a better sight than those mountains haha. I sure do miss the MTC not gonna lie. But Texas has been great, the members are really trying to fatten me up, so I've had to take that 6:30-7:00 exercise seriously.

I invite you all to make plans to listen to general conference. The opportunity to hear the voices of the apostles and other leaders is so important, especially as thing around us continue to go crazy. I also invite you to prepare some questions, that you can have answered by them! It will make Conference so much more valuable for you.

ありがとう皆さん、またね！

日本語が話せる人々、心配事が必要ではありません、太くなりません。

Semi old timey town

The head of this really impressive birthday cake a member made for her kid

Nicolas response to mom's email: Investigators are all doing fairly well. The lady that's getting baptized is really cool, she's been teaching her students stuff about Japan since I got here. One day, This cute little girl and boy saw us when we went to visit her, and we talked to them, so she told them about us and how we were the ones that help put the animals up and stuff. Then the other day she showed us a video of her class and the little girl told everybody that "the elders" are the ones that help her, and so she was like "what do they look like?" And a bunch of the students threw in random answers that were pretty funny. But then she asked the little girl that saw us and she said "they look Japanese" so that was funny. But yeah she's way cool, everyone else has been doing fine, we found a couple more people to teach this week too.

How much more prepared can you get?

 どうも皆さん！

Well this week was definitely another long one, but it wasn't half bad. Still just studying a lot, and all that. Not really what I was thinking it would be like. We did some crazy stuff at the goat farm last week... we thought we were gonna have to help birth a lamb! But luckily that didn't happen, maybe this week haha. We did have to work with the other end of the circle of life, and that was interesting. My stomach is definitely a little too weak for some of that stuff, but I held it in and it was an interesting experience.

We also had a crazy first lesson. We set up a meeting with these two people, and they didn't answer when we got there, but as we were driving away they called us! So we went back and talked with them. The guy has been on dialysis for 6 years, and when we called he thought we were scam number and ignored it, but the spirit told him to call back so he did! We taught them about the plan of salvation and they agreed with everything we taught! They even brought up baptism! We didn't have to say anything about it, they brought it up themselves. I've never met anyone so prepared for the Gospel.

Thank you for all the emails, and for reading mine!

The Lady with a baptism date is a preschool teacher and we help her set up her classroom with all these animals. So cool.

 These weeds are everywhere and they're massive thorns, like toothpick size

This is some really old chocolate syrup? Apparently it's pretty vintage haha

Longest. Week. Ever.

 こんにちは皆さん！I'm in Texas, and it is FLAT. I heard it would be, but wow, its crazy. My area is down south, in oil country, so you look out at the hundreds of pump jacks, and sometimes little flare things, it looks cool at night. It's definitely uncomfortable being able to see everything just... open, but I'm getting used to it.

This will be a long one haha.

 I'm in this place called Pecos that's secluded from the rest of the mission which is interesting. It's a pretty small town. And there are 3 main people we are teaching, one who has a baptism date, who's this wild lady that speaks like 7 languages. And two that basically would be baptized already, but can't due to some circumstances that have to be sorted out. But seriously this one guy dropped hard drugs in like 10 days and has some of the strongest faith I've ever seen. And this other lady speaks 0 English, but comes to church every week and has her boyfriend explain what they talked about afterward. Such faithful people, I pray that things will work out for them to be able to continue on this path. Oh! And the very first person I talked to in line at the SLC airport? Went to Japan on his mission a long time ago. So I got to use some right off the bat haha. Lots of tender mercies throughout the week. 

Besides studying and online finding, and sometimes teaching, we did some service. Painting a lady's house, and helping this guy on his goat farm, which apparently we do every Saturday? Pretty fun, but some of that stuff was... not quite my thing.

Sorry for the lengthy email, I hope you're all well! 

またね皆さん！

Lubbock Temple

Holding a goat on a windy day

 In response to mom's email:

 Nicolas: It's soooooo flat here, I might be able to see Utah from here. I don't think I need anything, just garments I guess. I'm in a car area right now, so no bike for me... yet. Ok cool, it feels like I've been out for so long, this week was the longest week ever. But so far I haven't really used much money at all. 

But yeah, my week was very very long. The first day we went to the temple then the mission office, then us three Japanese missionaries spent the night with the AP's, and the next day went back to the mission office for orientation. It was a ton of information and I didn't want to split up from the other two chouroutachi. We are all about the same height, and that height is a bit... short, especially compared to the AP's and most of the elders we'd met, so we really felt like fresh meat. One of the APs did cross country at AF and he reminds me of Logan so much, it's uncanny. Pretty funny stuff. Anyway yeah we got split up, Iwaasa chourou is in Roswell, Burton Chourou is in Lubbock, and I'm in Pecos. Yeah you thought Lubbock was small, Pecos is tiny. It's way down south, separated from everywhere, so it's just me and my companion all the time, in a fairly big apartment. We drove down and stayed the night at some elder's place that was kinda dirty, then finally went to our place the next day. It's nice, and it was nice to get unpacked. The work is just so different then I wanted it to be. We don't go out at all, besides if we contact someone online and set up a meeting. It's just not what I was expecting, so I lost the comfort of home, Japan, my MTC friends, and my expectations. So the first few days were rough. . . .  But whatever, my comapnion's close with the people here, and we have some people we're teaching that are super tight with him. I'll be honest, Texans. Not my type of people. I knew they wouldn't be, but it's hard to gain the charity I need for them. I would much prefer teaching people without Christian background. No word from Japan, but hopefully on the 21st we'll get something, we'll see. I've been able to study a lot of Japanese, which has been good, because Elder Turner is wanting to become fluent in Spanish this transfer.

That's pretty much everything. Just teaching some interesting people, and spending a lot of time in the apartment.

Mom: Keep the faith. Look for what the Lord is teaching you through this experience; as long as you do so, it will get better. As President Hinckley's dad told him, "Forget yourself and go to work." You have such a great attitude and the ability to get along with anyone and that is going to serve you well throughout your mission. Just choose to be happy no matter what. I know you can. I love you.

Nicolas:Thanks, no I know that's what I need to do, thanks for the reminder. As I start getting into the work I know itll get easier, but for now while I'm still trying to get used to it and learn, it's hard. Again, I should have news on the 21st so after that date I'll know if my chance of going to Japan is still unknown, or is coming closer at least. We'll see. I love you too. I'll talk to you next week.

Is it . . . Really over?

 どうもみなさん！

Well this week was quite an experience. Having our last lessons with all those pleasant people was hard, I mean, I barely knew them, and it was over zoom, yet it was sad to say bye. However! Nothing could've prepared me for the last MTC class we had. Whew, pressing that "leave meeting" button was one of the hardest things I've ever done.

That MTC experience was incredible, and as much as I want to get out there, I almost can't believe or don't want to believe that it's over! My district and teachers were all a delight; can't imagine a better group of lads and wise teachers in the world.

I can't wait to feel like Alma when he saw the sons of Mosiah, if I ever get to see them all again.

Even this last week I learned more than I ever have in my life... which honestly sounds a little embarrassing, but alas tis true. I encourage you all to study Christ's life in the New Testament. As you do and strive to learn more about him, and furthermore strive to apply his attributes to your life, you will begin to see more clearly, and your faith will deepen.

ジョーンズ長老

(Just gotta cite my sources on that invitation so you folks can get started on that https://youtu.be/lTf9jjVJD3Q )

Meet my District (it's a long one)

 Well, I can't believe it's already week 8. Only a week and a half left before I actually start, pretty crazy. Still don't even have my flight plans yet haha. Everyone but us Lubbock Texas guys have theirs. This week was pretty normal if I remember right, but I'm thinking I'll make this a long one haha, so I guess I can talk about my district and senseitachi.

So we've got two teachers, Weir shimai(sister) and Blackley kyoudai(brother). Weir shimai went to Tokyo on her mission and is now finishing up college and getting married in May which is cool. She's super nice and jokes/plays games with us sometimes which is always a hoot. Blackley kyoudai went to Sapporo, and is now just doing college; he's already married I think. He is way funny and always jokes around and tells stories. He gets off topic a lot, but that's the best part haha. They've both taught us so much about being senyoushi and nihongo. I'm definitely gonna miss them, and hopefully will be able to keep in touch.

My district is way fun, I've talked a little about my companions Burton chourou and Helms chourou, from Ogden and Idaho respectively, and have both progressed in nihongo so much since the start, our district is full of pretty advanced people, but they didn't have that headstart that we did, but getting to help and watch them grow has been pretty fun.

Richards chourou and Hill chourou are another companionship, from Salt Lake and Memphis. Richards chourou is half Japanese and is crazy good at pronunciation, Hill chourou is a pretty funny guy, who does most of the chatting for us. He's the third one who didn't have much of a headstart of Japanese like most of us, but he's picked it up alright too

The last companionship is Tano chourou and Iwaasa chourou. From Hawaii and Washington. They're both half Japanese as well, and are both pretty good to say the least. Tano chourou is basically bilingual at this point, and Iwaasa chourou is a super good student, which has helped his teaching skills and nihongo skills. They're both super fun guys.

I'll definitely miss them, and I hate talking about next Saturday since that's our last class. I'm glad we only met our senpaitachi once, so I wasn't too attached to them. We also haven't met our kouhai, so that's good haha. Honestly just thinking about these next weeks isn't a great feeling. I want to serve, and I'm excited but it's also a lot of new stuff all at once, now if that new stuff was Japan I'm sure I'd be much more excited, but that's besides the point, I've waited my whole life to go there; what's (hopefully) a couple more months. 

However this feeling of leaving home is definitely not new, it's one everyone who's lived has had, and eventually we'll get to go home. I invite you all to prepare yourselves now so that you can look forward to that day! Life will be chaotic, we may be stressed and worried, but so long as we follow Christ, we can simply do our part in preparing the way for the Lord to come.

またねみなさん！

My first mission planner

 Well everyone, something pretty cool happened today. I finished my first mission planner. Pretty big stuff haha. Anyway, this week was pretty much normal, I cant think of anything super interesting honestly. Everyday the spirit is strong, but no super big moments this week. Oh! Now I remember, We're officially MTC grandpas now, in a breakout room during a workshop, this girl was like "so how long have you guys been in?" And I went first with my 6 weeks and 3 to go, and they all just went quiet and looked at me before each saying "I'm on my 2nd week and leaving next week." That was a fun moment, but seriously, where is the time going??

I was reading the story of the anti-nephi-lehies this week, that is one of the most powerful stories in the book of mormon, showing the faith and trust in the Lorrd that comes from true conversion to Christ. Even those of us who were born in the church need to go through the process of true conversion. Through that we will be able to obtain Faith, Hope, and Charity.

またねみなさん！

がんばった、けど。。。

 ヤッホーみなさん！This week was actually rather splendid, besides the wild fact that it was our 6th week! This MTC has been going by a little too fast for my liking. Most people I started with are outta here! Whew, what a crazy world.

Well we had a couple Japanese lessons that didn't go all too great this week, but one was exceptionally humbling... I understood just about nothing he said haha. Pretty embarrassing experience, but it had to happen eventually!

Also it was Iwaasa Chourous birthday and he made us all these sick T-shirts and mailed them to us! Can't emphasize enough how bodacious this elder is.

That was about it for this week, other than that just grinding away, studying a bunch.

I would encourage each of you to ponder how knowing you have a Heavenly Father has affected your life, how it helps you. And study it, build your testimony of your Father. Through this testimony you will feel his love more abundantly, and feel closer to him. I know He lives and loves us all.

Thanks for all your emails, they mean a lot! And here's a picture of that sweet shirt and meeko because he wouldn't move when I was making my bed haha