Monday, September 28, 2015

Playing Rock Paper Scissors in the morning with Elder Mukai


Barbecued pork and rice with misu soup! My favorite!


Setting up futons!


Even the greatest of Cowboys have there studies in the morning.


Transfers, Elder Leach, and Apartment closings.

Hello, readers! 


My week has been jam packed! With all of the business of transfer week! Also a quick apology for not writing on Saturday, we were busy closing an apartment so we had to move our Preparation day to Monday. 


Saturday 

Elder Moua and I woke up early and began working out the transfer emails. Thankfully Elder Moua insisted on finishing that so I just hung out in the office and studied and wrote in my journal. Thank goodness I had time for it! Also this next transfer I will be staying in the office, but I will be receiving Elder Leach as my new companion! He is a wiz at excel so that makes my life a lot easier! After we went to sushi for lunch! It was deliciousou as the Spanish say. Then Elder Bates and I went to the boxing store again to buy gloves. Ka-pow! Now we won't tear our skin apart when we work out. Then it was off to emails and napping, my favorite part of p-day! As Elder Bates and I were chillin' in the office Sister Wada came in asking if we could take her to Sister Yamashita asap. So I grabbed Elder Mukai and we went over, dropped her off and came back. Well it turns out she needed a blessing so we grabbed Elder Bates and went back. It was an intense experience! Figuring out things with the ambulance and switching back and forth between languages. Thankfully we figured everything out. However we had to stay in the office that night in case we needed to pick them up for, the hospital. So I worked on putting up the roster. It turns out that she was going to have an emergency operation on her that night so we wouldn't need to pick her up. It was a crazy day. 


Sunday

We awoke had our normal day, then went to DCS to discuss investigators. Since Elder Naganuma and Elder Moua were leaving they spoke in sacrament along with the other missionaries in the area. Church was overall really good, we were able to have some really good conversations. After church I wasn't hungry so I slept then we went out to have a dendo blitz with the YSA. Elder Pratt and I were companions, he is the bomb, he got to the mission at the beginning of last transfer, but is super awesome and willing. We also had Kitahara Kyodai who is a recent return missionary. We had a great time talking to as many people as possible. We really felt like accomplished missionaries. Then ask we came back we were discussing how it went and all of the sudden a car pulled up and a lot of little blonde heads came running out! It was the Shilligs from my ward back home! It was awesome seeing them! I enjoyed hearing about the his mission here when I was back at home through his eyes, however now that I have lived it, it has made a lot more sense. Totally awesome miracle. Then we had an awesome roast for dinner, followed by weekly planning as an apartment for transfer week, or "hey let's see if we can survive week." 


Monday (preparation) 

We began Monday with the normal routine. We helped missionaries with the their iPads, and pulled out all the iPad's we would need for the following week. We also fixed a missionaries iPad who happened to break the iPad by downloading the newest version of iOS. After the hectic day we ate dinner, then went out to go dendo around by housing. It was great, we had a few good conversations but nothing really fruitful. 


Tuesday (more preparation and arrival) 

We awoke and had the normal routine, then began preparation into overdrive. Since Sister Yamashita was sick we had to help cook, and get upstairs ready, not to mention setting up the futons up in the church. Sister Wada assigned me the big task of baking bread and cookies, along with having all the tables set. We also did her a favor by taking apart her mixer which broke a while back and ordered new parts online for her. Then around 7 things started getting crazy again, finishing up baking and getting everything ready. Testing out the culture training videos, and making sure he portal was working correctly. Then at 8 Elder Ford and I ran to the bus stop to meet the new missionaries, I mean we booked it, but we made it just in time. We helped the new missionaries take their bags to the Honbu and eat. I shared the raspberry jam and blackberry jelly my parents sent for my birthday with everyone. Well President Wada has a new favorite jam haha. The training were good, then we relaxed a little with president Wada before retiring to bed. 


Wednesday (trainings)

We awoke ran, and got ready which took forever because of the new missionaries using the showers here too. But then we had breakfast which was oishi! After there were numerous trainings, I woke up with a really sore neck so I layer down until lunch. Then went up to go help. One of the people helping is an executive for a prosthetic company here in Japan! Well I was a kid in a candy store asking him about his company. Then we went out and dendoed with the new missionaries. I worked with the only nehonjen in the group! It was fun, he is actually really special because his visa hasn't come in he is is stuck here up until he leaves. His assigned mission is Salt Lake City. So we worked and passed out a Book of Mormon. It was fulfilling. Then for spinner we took the missionaries out to eat in the surrounding area. I wanted ramen so I took 6 missionaries with me and we went to ramen! It was delicious and the new missionaries agreed. Sadly there was one missionary a little prideful about finishing first,  but I let him know you aren't finished until you drink the soup too (mind you the soup is about 80% fat) , I did too just to not put my shoe in my mouth. It was pretty darn funny. Then when we got back to the church the missionary said he wasn't feeling so good, I assured him he'd be fine and we went to Eakaiwa! It was a blast! I love it when new missionaries help us teach! Then we went upstairs in the mission home to help plan with others. 


Thursday (trainings and Elder Leach)

When we woke up in the morning I was hurriedly greeted by two of the new Elders telling me that the missionary who drank the soup last night got sick and puked as he had diarrhea! It was hilarious! Pour elder. But when he came out he decided to walk to the park instead of run, I lead that group which was fun because I could talk to the new missionaries. It is weird being older than all of them, this is the first group that is like that for me. At breakfast we learned some interesting news. elder and sister Yamashita would be gone for about 5 weeks and Elder and Sister Adamson would be leaving for a family emergency until February! So that means Elder Leach is going to be the new financial secretary of the mission and Elder Ford and I are the secretaries in the mission! Then around 10 Elder Moua left, it was hard saying goodbye to him, he is such a great missionary to be around. Then Elder Mukai and I went to the sisters apartment in the car to pick up Sister Fuggles bags, only that was scary because of Elder Mukai almost hitting a car, old woman, and a wall in a matter of 5 minutes in that order. Then we went to get Elder Leaches things. Then we broke the news to him, he laughed but didn't really believe me. After lunch we had our training, it was fun, we tried to make it interesting for everyone, I think it worked. After we had a planning session together for the upcoming week, and had to keep the missionaries out from upstairs just in case because of the returning missionaries having dinner. 


Friday 

We had breakfast with the returning missionaries and enjoyed our time talking to them. I had to say goodbye to another former companion, Elder Coggins! It was sad seeing him go. I hope he has a great time in Alabama. Then we worked on clearing iPads, and getting the futons returned to the company which kind of scared us since we wearing entirely aware that they were coming. Around dinner time sister Wada called us upstairs for leftovers! She had us eat at the kitchen table because we were being fed like family. It was a way heart warming meal especially after all the exhaustion. Even the Wada's som Takuto joined us, he is way smart, but kid of shy, really nice though. Then Sister Wada told us about the time when President was called to be the Mission President it was such an intriguing story. After we ran to district meeting and had a great discussion about everything in the district. Elder Jennings and I are now together in the same district once again! 


Saturday

So you'd think after a long week like this I could just take a nice relaxing p-day. And that would be where you are wrong. We didn't. Instead we were busy little bees again. A sister got really sick and required a blessing which was a great experience, then we helped her to get to the hospital with sister Wada, then Elder Leach, Elder Mukai and I went to Hibarigaoka to close an apartment, which consisted of taking all of the junk out of it and calling a company to take it away, it took forever! For dinner we went to a pork restaurant which was super delicious. Then we came home around 7 and we went to try and find people. We reached our goal, but still no one new to teach. 


Sunday

We had the normal Sunday routine. During gospel principles we had a really good lesson about marriage. Then during lunch I put skyline packets in the crockpot and let them sit for dinner. During that time we had weekly planning. We were discussing investigators and I found one named Falhad who is from Iran. Now we tried visiting him once and sadly we couldn't find the address, when I brought it up to the assistants they said he is in jail and we wouldn't be able to get ahold of him. I then had the feeling we should call him anyways. So Elder Leach did, and guess who picked up! He did! He old us he wanted to talk to us later since he was busy. So we went back to planning. About an hour and a half later he called again, asking us if we were at the Honbu. Yes came the reply then he hung up. About 3 minutes later he called again saying he was outside. Uhh what? So we ran outside, and there he was a huge buff Iranian, with the kindest smile you could see. He talked to us as if we were best friends, it turns out he is now a refugee and has a lot of time! So we are going to start teaching him! He even invited himself to church. After that experience we went to Joseys to talk with him and even gave him a PMG! He was so surprised and excited to learn  and read more. It was awesome to see how willing the Lord is to bless His servants when they are working hard. 


Well that was my crazy week! Email to y'all on Saturday! 


Big Hearts! 


Elder Dunn



Friday, September 18, 2015

The district signed it, and along with them using various pictures found of me, then the poem, and back.












My mits, haaaiiiiiiyaaa



The front of the card the Sisters made!



Can you believe this is downtown Tokyo?



A park next to the temple!


An intense Investigator, the PBO & Temple, another trip to Tama

Hello people of earth, 


My week in the land of the rising sun has been great!


Saturday

After our normal morning routine we went out to lunch with one of our investigators, the sisters, and Sister Nakamura. We went to shakeys, the closest thing you can get to American pizza in Japan, even if the substitute their tomato sauce for mayo sometimes. We have had some concerns with this particular investigator and the sisters since he had an unusual interest in them. We gave him the benefit of the doubt and went, the meal was okay, it was kind of long, but that is okay, because I had a ball with Sister Nakamura, she is probably 4'11" and a little rounded for her age, she old enough to be my great grandmother and is just so genki. She talked and talked, it was a great way to practice Japanese! After one of the most interesting meals I have ever been to we went to go buy groceries, only there was a giant matsuri (festival) down sun road. When I say big I mean huge, Buddhist priests in traditional garb singing chants, men dressed up like samurai warriors, men on horses, and woman in masks! It was a big culture shock, even for Elder Ford who is half! Sadly I forgot my iPad at the Honbu, so I don't have any pictures to share. We then emailed, while Elder Mukai played the piano. Then came back changed quickly and went to a Stake Priesthood Meeting. It was so hot, someone turned up the temperatures to 27! I was sweeting bullets! It was a good way to end our night though. 


Sunday

We awoke and went to a great DCS, it was one of the better ones I have been to. Then we had Sacrament meeting, the same investigator who we ate pizza with the day before came, but only because Sister Fuggle was speaking in church. President and Sister Wada also visited which was great! They really give a good insight as to what we do as missionaries. Sacrament meeting was great, but all our investigator was doing was pointing out the flaws in speakers. It was kind of annoying, actually it was annoying. He left after Sacrament then Elder Moua and I worked like busy bees to set up for the third hour. Which needed some audio visual equipment set up. I am getting pretty good at plunging things in haha! After church we came back, and planned for the week, then we're busy running around to get a new key indicator puller working all the while I made cookies for a less active. Then we headed in that direction. We tried to meet with a man we have been able to talk to for a few weeks now, except, he had no interest. It was kind of heart breaking but we had an another appointment so there was no reason to get too down. At Joseys apartment we talked to him, I really like Josey, he has a great heart. He is around our age and is a fashion model for a big company. His brother Shoma is also a model. It was good to talk to him about serving a mission. We are working hard to help him become a great member again. 


Monday 

After our morning rituals we went to the office. I found out that one of the former missionaries in the mission helped us with one of the issues with the app, so that was great. We then joked around to see if we could release the app in a commercial like event that Apple does. However after realizing that a man with a British Accent is hard to find in Tokyo we hashed the plan. We had Sister Fuggle beta test it with an apartment she had visited. Which was great, we got a lot of needed feedback. We kept working through the afternoon and into the evening, then one of our investigators called, you know the one we went to eat pizza and came to church, well Elder Moua was scared of talking to him so I figured, "hey, I can do all things through Christ the Lord who strengthens me." So with Philippians in my head I answered the phone. To which this man told me to find him a job because Mormons have a good network of people, he wasn't to excited to hear that our program is for self reliance and people looking for jobs, not people upset because they didn't receive a 40% raise. Then we went on about various other "issues" he had. Lastly though he mentioned one of the sisters as "my (insert sisters last name)" putting a lot of grotesque emphasis on it. Poor man didn't know what coming for him. I treat the sister missionaries like I treat my little sister and so if some middle aged man talked like that about my sister they would find out why she calls be brother bear. I proceeded to use a lot more boldness then I am accustomed to, in telling him the error of his ways. When you deprive someone by the means of the spirit there is a different majesty about you had you not and only been by the power of man alone. After the intense conversation we talked to president about it and he said that we need to be a little more blunt with him to get through. After a dinner of sandwhiches we left to go dendo. We housed a few places and none of them had sincere interest which was kind of hard, but it's okay. 


Tuesday

We awoke early for a run then got dressed ran to the station and began making our way to the temple. At Hiro-o station we were going out of the ticket gate and saw a group of Americans (granted in Hiro-o the population of gaijin is like 40%). However they were senior missionaries with their daughter and family! It was fun to talk to them, and it turns out we had talked on the phone before because he is in charge of technology in the area office. He then invited us to take the back way to the temple. We said sure why not. So he took us right to the area office also known as the Presiding Bishoprics Office! Wow! It was amazing! We walked right through then we're led to the ally way. And they informed us that the temple was right down the street, what a great way to get there! Since we had some extra time we walked in this beautiful park near the temple, which all the pictures of the temple are taken from, and trust me they have to photoshop about a million power lines out. But I got a great picture from the tree line in the park, it is hard to believe it is in Japan! The temple was peaceful and needed! Afterwards we came home and since our P-day was wrecked on Saturday we had some extra time. So we went out shopping. Elder Moua wanted to look for a few things and I wanted some boxing mits! So we went to a local dojo and asked them, they seemed really puzzled at the sight of an American and a loasian asking where to buy mits. Thankfully we found a place and I bought some mits! Ka-pow! After we went to dendo near bishops house! We visited but only Sister Hasagawa was home so we talked to her and their daughters before trying to talk to more people. Sadly nothing big but we were able to get out which was great. 


Wednesday

Since I bought the mits you better bet your buckets we used them, however Elder Bates knocked a big old chunk of skin, we decided to wait till we buy gloves... Staff meeting was completely in Japanese for once which was a change, but it worked I understood what was going on. Afterwards the man turning into a leper because of skin loss and I went to Sizzlers to have lunch. It was Delicious (that is a big D delicious not a small d) and a great way to eat some good old American food...well nachos at least. Then we came home and I used iMovie to create the new culture videos, featuring the one and only Elder Bates. That took most of my time, then I had to work on breaking into an awol missionaries iPad, for president. Took some time. Eakaiwa was fun, we had a spelling bee which as a food time. 


Thursday

After a normal routine we skipped eating lunch at home and went to Tama! We ate at the indo curry restaurant there! It was delicious! Then to D2 to buy some tools for the mission thank heavens they allow us to ship them here. Then we came home in the rain...we have bad timing when we take trips. We took the monorail on the way home and Elder Moua fell asleep on a woman thinking it was Elder Ford, it was pretty dang funny when he woke up. After getting home I changed into slippers and we went over for district meeting, it was a great meeting, a lot was able to be discussed. Afterwards we went to ippudo! For ramen, it was a filling day, literally! At the end of dinner the Sisters started singing happy birthday, which confused me a lot because my birthday was three weeks ago, then they gave me a way nice card, for my birthday, filled with pictures I have taken around the office! It was way kind and hilarious! Then Elder Moua and I went to go find people, we met some really prepared people and hope to meet them again, but we shall see. 


Friday

We awoke got ready, and then took the car to the zone blitz in Kunitachi! We had a great learning session with president Wada, then we went out for lunch. Afterwards, we met with our various companions to go and find people. First I was with Elder Uemura who is a boss! The first man we found we talked to for an hour about the gospel! Talk about a prepared person, he just wanted to know more! It was neat! Then I was with Elder Kerr passing out flyers, however I am not the biggest fan of it so I sat with an older man who was drinking coffee, we had a good talk, he was really nice and even invited himself to Eakaiwa! Then I passed out more chirashi, and i met Bookie! He is awesome! We started talking and became fast friends. We took a picture and he went on his way. We had to go home to catch up on a bunch of work, then when we got home I had a message waiting for me from my new friend! We have been messaging each other back and forth! It turns out he met missionaries 40 years ago! Talk about a long time in the making! We then worked on various office chores to finish out our day. 


Well everyone, this week has been quick, and next week will be insane so if my email make little to no sense I am apologizing a week in advance! 


Big Hearts, 


Elder Dunn



Friday, September 11, 2015

Elder Naganuma understands what it means to bury your nose in a book.





A trip with Sister Wada, a new investigator, and A Typhoon!

Hello,

This week has been really busy!

Saturday
Elder bates and I awoke to an exhausting run! Then we had some of that
good ole study time followed by some cleaning of the apartment. Then
Sister Wada called us asking if we were going to the base, and would
you imagine that we were! She offered to drive us because she needed a
mixer, so it was pretty convenient. We drove to the base which was
great because it gave us time to write emails. After getting to the
commissary we ate lunch at Subway! Real, Subway! Oh man was that good.
Then we shopped around for various goods. We were over looking at the
blenders, and we were getting some funny looks from a couple of
people...which was a little strange. I am sure we were a stance sight
indeed, 4 white young men dressed in white shirts and ties on a base.
We have to take our name tags off when we go in. They then came up to
us and asked if we were missionaries, then they introduced themselves
as members of the Yokota ward! Imagine that! Then Sister Wada saw one
of her old friends from Utah there shopping so they had a mini
reunion. We ended up dot getting the blender because it wasn't big
enough, but that is okay. At the commissary we bought tons of
groceries! We will be good on American snacks and goodies for a while
that is for sure! Afterwards, we got in the car and headed home. When
we got back, we unpacked, and got ready to go out and dendo. But first
we did the mail check (best part of the day). And wouldn't you believe
i, there was a package there for me! It took me by total surprise. A
member of my stake back in Ohio moved to Okinawa and sent me a box
full of cookies! What a neat tender mercy!! Filled with cookies we
went out to visit a less active. Sadly they weren't home so that left
us to housing, we ended up walking in the giant park. There we met two
young men who we were able to talk to for a little bit and place two
Book of Mormon's. Then we came back, so Elder Naganuma could get some
of his district leader responsibilities finished. During that time I
worked on the apartment app. The nice day long break gave me enough
time to relax myself and focus more on my work. I am so close with
that app, all I have left is to code the collapsible table content,
background color for the table, the fancy Flat-ui buttons in (just
kidding, I checked the app and they work), and to translate the entire
app into Japanese.

Sunday
Since it was Sunday we didn't work out which gave me time to write in
my journal. Then we got ready, put the chicken wings in the crockpot
and went over to the church for DCS. The meeting was good, nothing
extraordinary. Then Sacrament meeting, Josey and I had been messaging
back and forth all week, making sure he was going to be able to come.
However at 10:15 he still wasn't there, so I said a quick prayer. Then
the door opened and he walked right in with his brother! Whoa! Talk
about a miracle! After Sacrament meeting he planned to leave however
he ended up staying for the whole second hour too! After that neat
experience at church we came back to the office, did some work, then
went to the back to do weekly planning! I'll tell you what it is so
hard on fast Sunday's to plan. After finishing we ate chicken wings!
Oh man were they delicious! We also made some clam chowder as well!
Talk about a meal! After we got ready to go out and meet with a man,
so since it was raining we took jackets, and hopped on the bikes. I
have learned to become really comfortable riding my bike next to cars
and along heavy traffic.that was something that horrified me at the
beginning of my mission. After arriving at the mans apartment complex
we tried to contact him however his wife came out and said they were
eating dinner, so we said, okay see you in a little bit. Now up until
this point it hadn't been raining very hard at all. So we went to
another house to visit. Then it began to rain, then pour, and I mean
pour. Within seconds we were completely soaked. So we decided to do
some pity dendo and house. So we knocked on some doors just dripping
wet, to the point where when I spoke I was spitting the water running
down my face. Sadly, it didn't work at all, no one answered the door.
We decided to visit a less active nearby, we went to the apartment
complex and found the door, asked them if they were home, then what
followed next got really interesting. The woman who answered said she
didn't know who we were, then in the background we began to hear a
mans voice yelling at the woman to get off the intercom. So the
intercom shut off quickly and abruptly. Confused, Elders Moua and
Mukai looked at me, I looked at them and we all were confused. So what
did we do? Knocked again! They came to the intercom again and this
time we asked if they were members, they said no and hung up the
phone. We then grabbed the list out matched the kanjis, and wouldn't
you know they are members. With eternal salvation hanging in the
balance we rung a third time to have a man answer the intercom asking
us what we wanted, so we told him. To which his response was that he
was Buddhist (which is what we get 99/100). Since he obviously had no
interest we left him a message and went to the next floor. Where Elder
Mukai freaked out as soon as he saw the door. Now, lemme explain a
little about Elder Mukai, he is about 5' 6" Japanese man, speaks
fluent English (to the point they let him serve on a military base),
and has really really bad exama, or the skin disease that makes you
itch all the time, and because of it he is always scratching his neck
and arms, so his clothes always look really mess. He looks pretty sad,
but he is probably my favorite Japanese missionary. Now that we have a
mental picture lets go back. Elder Mukai jumps and says in English
"oh, man! That is the yakuza, yabeeeeeee". Lemme translate this, the
yakuza is the Japanese mafia, who is pretty dang powerful in Tokyo,
and yabeeeeeee is basically the equivalent of shoot, or dang. Since
there are no curse words in Japanese it isn't bad to say at all, it is
just slang. I turned to him and said, well I'm a foreigner so I can
pretend I don't know. So I knocked on the door, sadly a woman answered
and didn't have any interest. Afterwards Elder Mukai asked why I would
do something crazy like that, and my response was simple, "everyone
needs Christ in their life". I have learned that principal a lot
recently. Then we continued walking in the rain being more soaked,
back to our bikes, only before we left we all felt the need to go
knock on the mans house one more time. So we did, and he answered!! He
said he wasn't interested, which was fine, so we talked a little bit
about our message and ended up teaching him the restoration and prayed
with him. Another cool experience! It made the whole night completely
worth it. Then we biked home in the rain, completely soaked. Then
changed, and answered missed phone calls.

Monday
Ran. Studied. Ate Sandwich. Took Nap. Office work; worked hard. Fixed
a lot of css in the apartment app. Looks pretty, wow. During the time
we were working Sister Yamashita (the office secretary) felt really
sick so sister Wada went to the store to buy groceries, only when she
was unloading some cranberry juice she dropped it breaking the bottle,
so we had to hurry and clean in before it rained again. Had dinner,
sand which, I think yes. Delicious. After dinner is where the real
stuff began happening. We had a lesson with a man named Rick. He is
full Japanese however he is really fluent in speaking English from
serving in the military! It was a great visit, we were able to talk a
lot to him, and get to know a lot about his experiences and his life
aspirations! Elder Moua and I had a great time teaching and setting up
a return appointment with him. We hope to see him progress a lot.

Tuesday
Since elder bates had to head to a zone conference early, we just had
a good push-up contest. Then went and got ready. Had a great study.
Then began a long day of office work, we had various different
projects to get done so we were busy getting those all finished. I
have learned a lot about balance recently since being in the office,
if you focus too much on the office work, you put off the other work,
which in many ways is more important, being helping and inviting
others to come unto christ. It turned into a pretty rainy day. At
night we had some dendo time so we went out housing. We didn't find
anyone special, but I know we will be blessed for the effort later in
the week.

Wednesday
We awoke and ran, in the rain, or should I say Typhoon! Talk about a
wet and adventurous run! There was no one out, but it was a wonderful
experience. Then after personal study we had staff meeting. During
staff meeting we got a call from the Odawara Elders, they informed us
that they were being evacuated because of the typhoon. So we had to
look up the location, which turned the office into a swirl of phone
calls, thankfully we were able to get everything worked out. After the
stressful meeting (however enjoyable) we went to shakeys, it is kind
of tradition now. Then we came back to the office and got ready for an
adventure of a lifetime. We needed to go to Tama to look at tool kits
for the mission then to machida to replace a missionaries iPad. It
was a great trip. However it was so wet! We were soaked from walking
in the typhoon, but Elder Moua and I got a lot of worked figured out.
It was a trip down memory lane for me. All my old areas, it was too
bad we didn't have time to visit members! We got home in the knock of
time to go to eaikaiwa! It was a fun time, we did one on one
conversations with our students. I enjoyed it a lot, our students are
all fluent in English so that makes for a great time when we crack
jokes. After eaikaiwa we enjoyed the rest of our evening by helping
missionaries with iPad issues around the mission. I am officially used
to getting ready for bed at 10:25.

Thursday
Elder Moua and I planned to go running since Elder Bates and I
couldn't. Well Elder Moua wasn't feeling well so I went over to shake
him to wake him up and I thought he said, go back to bed I don't feel
well. So I did, and woke up at 6:15. But in actuality he said, go ask
elder ford...I don't know how I confused the two but I did. Thursday
was a rough long day of office work, I usually am running between two
computers back and forth fixing different issues. Then for dinner
Elder Ford and I watched the new twelve step recovery from addiction
videos that the Church has but out recently, they are really good, but
I don't recommend watching them with your kids. It shifted my
paradigms a little, it was moving. Then we went to ping pong night!
One of my highlights to smash ping pong balls and president Wadas too!
We had a few good rallies, he is pretty good though! Afterwards we had
a good night of planning.

Friday
We awoke to be excited for a great run. Following a great personal
study, we went upstairs to talk to the missionaries finishing their
missions soon what needs to happens before they are to leave. It was a
weird and sad meeting. However after our part we were asked to leave.
Then the real fun began. Elder Mukai asked if I would go with him to
the garbage center to drop off some trash. When I asked why they
needed me to go they said they needed a gaijin to act like he didn't
know what was going on so they would take the trash, they are so
funny. So I went on the trip. The trash center is seriously something
straight out of Toy Story 3! It was so cool! Then we came home and
went to sushi, yum! Then we came back and Elder Leach, Elder Ford and
I worked on a new Eakaiwa statistics checker. It was fun but
exhaustive. After a long day in the office. Elder Naganuma, Elder Moua
and I went out to drop off a note for Rick, then went housing in the
area. It was a great time to be a normal missionary! We talked to a
lot of people and invited a lot. We were able to talk to a sweet woman
about having the sisters come back, it turns out she had read some of
the Book of Mormon and had some questions. Then we found 2 other men
who had great interest and we were able to invite them and exchange
contact info with them. Then Rick called asking if we wanted to go to
Denny's (in japan it is a lot different). We sat in there and found a
lot of information about him and some being a few red flags. So that
was an interesting way to end the night.

In case you were wondering, yes we had an earthquake this morning. It
was a 5.4, and it woke us up, but we are all fine :)!

Have a great week!

Love you all!

Elder Dunn

Saturday, September 5, 2015

So narrow a we hardly fit.






Down a cool alleyway in Tokyo!





A surprise from sister Wada at FHE!





A typical look at a rainy day in Japan.





A birthday in Japan, the apartment app(still), and less running.

Hello all wonderful people!

Thank you for all the wonderful birthday wishes, cards, emails,
thoughts! どもありがとうございました!

Saturday
Awoke.ran.studied.cleaned.napped. Woke up at 3. Transcribed a few
hymns for the Japanese hymn book app! That can get a little
exhausting. Then emailed home. Followed by grocery shopping. Made the
decision to try and live off of peanut butter and jelly for a week.
がんばろう!Ate dinner, mabudofu, yum, delicious. Office work pilled up,
work, work, work. Made a video for the Adamson ふふ. Fixed outlook
account emails. Finished the day by cleaning.

Sunday
Woke up, got ready, went to DCS. I had probably my biggest slip up in
Japanese yet. They were asking about people coming to church that day,
and I remembered the woman I talked to on Monday while kubariing. Only
instead of saying I found a woman, I said girlfriend. I got konojou
and josei mixed up..well everyone thought it was pretty funny. But I
definitely won't be making that mistake anytime soon! Sacrament
meeting was good, and Sunday school was as well, I am enjoying
participating more and more in class. I have noticed my understanding
is almost all there (and if I don't understand the word, I can get
enough of the context to get the idea), but my speaking is pretty sad
still. I have really enjoyed reading in Japanese more and more. At
first it was really hard, but now I am recognizing more and more
kanji. The third hour was combined. It was a good lesson. Then we had
choir practice where we sung 152 choose the right (the only song we
have sung in choir). Lunch followed by a quick nap. Then we grabbed
bikes and went on an adventure to go to the Portuguese lady's house.
She wasn't home sadly so we housed the surrounding area. We then went
to a less actives house! Josey, it is shomas brother! But missionaries
haven't been able to get ahold of him for a while! It was an awesome
miracle! We found one man that invited us back the next week! That was
exciting, other than that it was just raining so it made for a wet day
of dendo. We came home, ate dinner, then finished up the video and
helped the assistants with weekly statistics.

Monday
Well I am one more year older. Hard to believe last year at this time
I was in America! After a great morning run. I was just getting out of
the shower when elder Moua yelled that I had an important phone call
so I needed to answer it right then. Confused I grabbed my towel and
answered the phone. It was President and Sister Wada! They sang happy
birthday to me and thanked me for the work I do in the office. It was
a nice call, however I would have liked to be a little dryer, and
maybe not wearing a towel when answering. We ate and had studies.
During companionship study I opened the packages and letters that were
sent. Since everyone else in the apartment had either fallen asleep
mid study or on a conference call. I took advantage of the few minutes
I had and opened my presents. I loved reading the cards from friends
and family! They were so much fun to read :) and I appreciated all of
them! I don't know how my parents knew but they nailed exactly what I
wanted, raspberry jam, and peanuts! That was such a great surprise!
After opening presents we finished studies. We went upstairs after
studies and showcased the video to the Adamson's, it was a great
video. Then I napped during lunch, followed by a long day of office
work. Trying to get that app working, I am getting closer and closer,
it is just finicky. Around 4 we went out for dinner at ippudo ramen!
Yum! They have one in New York so if any of you are ever over there
you should go! I o-susume it! Then back to the office for more work.
Around 6, people started showing up for FHE at the Wadas. Misu Kyodai
from Hachioji somehow remembered it was my birthday and brought me
chocolate! It was so kind of him! FHE was great, we learned about
prayer. Then we hard dessert, I tried to hide in the kitchen and do
the dishes afterwards but sister Wada found me and surprised me by
telling me I missed something in the living room. I walked in and
everyone surprised me by singing to me then one of the little kids
that came presented me with an ice cream Sunday with a candle on it!
It was way kind! It made for a great night. Most people there thought
I turned 20-23! Looks like my age will still be jacked up. I made the
realization that I have officially spent more of my adult life in
Japan than in America at this point. Wow. Overall it was an wonderful
birthday :)!

Tuesday
In the morning we went to Hachioji (my last area)! We had a training
about Facebook with all the new missionaries and trainers! It was a
great relaxed meeting! After the meeting we went to Go Go Curry! Talk
about natsukashi!! It was so fanningly delicious! Afterwards we came
home and began various office work. Me getting that app into a working
manner, it was exhausting, but I am making progress slowly but surely.
For dinner we stayed in and I ate a sandwich. Afterwards we had so
much work we had to stay in and finish it :(. It was exhausting.

Wednesday
We awoke and didn't go running because of the rain. Then we had staff
meeting upstairs in the Wadas living room. It took forever! Literally,
it was a 4 hour meeting which turned into elder Bates and I signing
that we wanted to go to shakers for lunch way bad! So we went! They
play old basketball reruns and have cardboard thin "American" pizza so
how could you go wrong? After fill our bodies with all you can eat
tuna and corn pizza. We went back to the office. Then sister Hart
showed up with her iPad. She jacked it up pretty bad, the screen was
all pixilated so we switched hers out and worked on getting things all
finalized for our apps. Then for dinner I took a nap. Afterwards we
got ready for eikaiwa, and the had a lesson with Yamane-San. He likes
to correct our Japanese a lot which can be frustrating, but it is nice
to know you are saying things right. We had a good lesson, we have an
uphill battle though. It's okay though he has a strong desire to
improve and learn. Eikaiwa was great we taught puns! It is so funny
watching them read the puns, realizing they don't understand them,
then it totally hits them at once and they laugh! Too great!

Thursday
We decided not to go running...well Elder Bates wasn't here so I took
a rest. Then we had studies. Afterwards we worked on our various
projects. Then we skyped Elder Berube...well now Brother Berube about
the apartment app. He helped us with debugger tools, and got the app
working pretty quick. He spent three hours helping us, which was way
nice of him. We continued working on getting things ready to be
finished. Afterwards we went out to dinner! We went to this skemen
shop! It was pretty good. It is like ramen only the noodles and soup
is separate. After we had sports night! It was fun, playing around the
world, and one-on-one. It was a blast. I think I will miss not having
ping pong in America.

Friday
We awoke to a run!! We actually had a new PR! Afterwards we had
studies! For language study I translated the app into Japanese! It is
slow progress but I am checking it as I go. After a good onion soup
for lunch. We went to work. I worked on the CSS of the app, going back
and forth over and over. But we got somewhere...slowly. We had a short
district meeting, then had more work. After our busy day we went out
to a traditional Japanese restaurant for dinner. It was pretty
delicious, tonkatsudon and soba noodles. Then we went to McDonald's to
get dessert..ice cream! We had the feeling to visit a specific person
so after we grabbed bikes and biked for an hour to visit a less
actives house. Upon arrival we knocked and a woman answered the door
to tell us that the place was a girls dorm! It wasn't were the less
active male lived...plus we had to bike home an hour so we hopped on
the bikes and booked it to make it home on time.

Ya'll have a good week now, ya here? I'll catch ya'll next week!

Big Hearts!

Elder Dunn