Friday, August 26, 2011
26 August 2011
Konnichi wa watashi no kazoku to watashi no tomodachitachi! (Good afternoon my family and my friends!)
This week was a pretty good week, we got our new Kohai (the new Missionaries going to Japan) and they are all an interesting bunch of people, we haven't really gotten to know them very well as of yet, but I am hoping to at least learn some of their names ( there are 42 of them O_O there were only 26 of us XD ) so there are a LOT of newbies here XD it's pretty exciting! I leave the MTC in exactly 1 month from today :O This is insaneeeeee lol, it feels like a dream here, time goes by super slowly it feels like, but then all of the sudden it's a week later and you can remember the previous week like it was just Yesterday, it's really weird XD. I'm so excited to hear about Steven and Brooke's baby! You gotta let me know if it's a boy or a girl, but my guess is it'll be a lil babygirl ^_^ we've been studying lots and lots, and we've been teaching entirely in japanese now, it's crazyness, I can understand more than I can speak at the moment, but I'm learning, and the process is really exciting.
Over the past two weeks we all had to come up with an investigator profile that we wanted to take on, and once we had that, we teach each other in Japanese, and it's been a really unique experience seeing how the other companionships teach, and it has made me all the more grateful for having been able to get Adams Chourou as my companion, we may be polar opposites in our interests, but when we teach, we teach together, and compliment each other. It's weird seeing the other companionships' teaching methods... Let's just leave it at that XD getting to go to the Temple every P-day a major blessing, because it gets me really happy for the rest of the day, and helps me forget that we have another class after Dinner (our P-day isn't the full day, the first half is our P-day/Temple time, and then after dinner at 4:40 we have class and have to jump back into learning stuff XD )
Speaking of which, this week has been kinda crazy, because we've had a bunch of different teachers, I'll explain why: Our Teacher, Nielson Sensei, went to Japan for two weeks, during that time, we had a Sub, Andrus Sensei. When Nielson Sensei got back, he had an email telling him he was teaching a different class, and that we now have a new teacher, Peterson Sensei. Now, our other Sensei, Gremmert Sensei, is also on a 1 week vacation due to his brother coming home from his mission, so he scheduled us to have Hansen Sensei sub for his shifts for the week. As it turns out, she didn't realize she couldn't take all of his shifts, and asked another Sensei to take the ones she couldn't do, so now we have another Sub for our sub XD . so in total, we've had 6 senseis in on week.... O_O (so far my favorite Senseis are Gremmert and Peterson).
Another thing that I have come to realize while I have been here at the MTC is that I really think we have the best District, the 8 of us are more like a family than just companionships, whereas the other Districts don't really get along very well with each other. (It's kind of funny, but not really, because our District was given the title "the Reject District" and yet we are all closer than any of the others, and are probably the best ones at Japanese so far, and it's because we help each other learn when we are struggling rather than letting them try and swim it alone) So I have come to be very very Grateful for the people in our District (if you don't remember their names, it's me, Adams, Johnson, Murray, Fry, Clark, Stott, and Mano). Thank you Mary Dad and Meleah for writing to me this week, I really needed those letters, even if all you can do is send something through DearElder.com, it's much appreciated, any letters, emails, or DearElders make me the happiest camper here XD
So Write me pleeeezzzzzzz :D I love you all and want to hear from you badly! ^_^ I hope you are all taking care of yourselves, because I am praying for you daily! Don't forget your frekkled Elder! P.S. Mom I'm working on deciphering that handkerchief you sent me, I didn't realize it was a note until this week XD so I'm going to work on deciphering it, and then I will try to reply in a letter I write to you in Quickscript mmkay? I love you! Keep in touch Mina san! (everyone) I miss you and I love you, and I am looking forward to being reunited with you all in due time ^_^ Muah!
Elder Brandon Anthony Hernandez (Hed-doo-nahn-dez-oooh choo roo)
Friday, August 19, 2011
Friday, August 19th 2011
Hey Everyone!!! (Mina san Ohaiyou!!!)
I hope you are all Genki! (good/Healthy) things have been going great over here, I Saw Jimmy Marshall, I saw Justin Wait, and we're planning to take a picture of the three of us together at the map! that's going to be fun ^_^ Elder Adams and I quite possibly have the most opposite personalities you can find, and yet we are able to work together really well (Much to the surprise of our Sensei who was like "I've seen companionships like yours, but they usually blow up! Congratulations!")
Life at the MTC feels like every day is actually one reaallly long day that's just puncuated with sleep XD
it's kind of strange, so far the only thing breaking that monotony is getting letters and stuffles ^_^ so thank you all for the awesome notes! I miss you all terribly, but it's more of a dull ache right now, I look forward to seeing you again, but that'll come in time, so I'm good ^_^
Oh! Here is a poem I wrote:
Fear and sorrow have no place,
I make it through this daily race,
I try to find and even my pace,
and try to learn from Jesus' grace.
Daily time and memories flow,
I miss the ones I've come to know,
I feel the pain and sorrow so,
I know now which way I should go.
The people need me, where am I?
I'm learning slowly, but I'll not cry,
I no longer need to wonder why,
I know now that it's Do, Not try.
I'll lay my burdens by his side,
and learn to help others let go of pride,
I feel the warmth that grows inside,
this feeling of peace forever reside.
XD
Service Yesterday wasn't Toilets (YESSSSS) so it was a lot more enjoyable this time around. (P.S. sorry I talk about toilets often XD I don't try to lol, they just happen to be everywhere O___O )
Elder Adams and I have picked up some new investigators (fake ones, it's our other classmates) and now we have to teach four people rather than the 2 we have been teaching so far, so we're getting even more pounded by Japanese XD it's super intense, were it not for a P-day, I'd likely go insane XD
It's super fun here though, despite the fact that it feels like an eternity, and I've been meeting a bunch of Silly Elders who I am able to relate to well, and we used to play Volleyball together (except that half of them left for their ACTUAL missions, so now we can't play Volleyball together <_< ) so now, at Gym, we all Play some really epic and intense games of!!!!!!!!! 4 Square :O Can yoo Beleeb eht??? hahah, yeah... it's fun stuff ^_^ A Mission is definitely an experience worth having, because it's crazy awesome, and cool, and we haven't even gotten to the good stuff yet :O
BUT! Today marked the Halfway point! I'm Halfway to flying to Japan!!! AHHHHHH The MTC is nearly over! It's crazy, because people arrive here, (Like Jimmy) and if they are going to English speaking missions, they only stay for 3 weeks, so every Wednesday when the newbies arrive, they leave, and We're still here O_O
I feel so ancient right now XD
Thank you to momma, Grpa Felix/Pam, Grma Nancy for the packages! I'm munching on hot Cheetos and chocolate goodness!!!
I've written to peeples, but have only gotten replies from Mary, Dad, and Momma. If you can't write me (like paper letters) just use something called DearElder.com because I get to read what you wrote me, they print it the same day you write it and give it to me that same day after Dinner at 4:40, but after that, I don't get it until the next day, so make sure to send them out before then pleeeeeeze
I love Hearing from you, and want to know what's happening in your lives!!!
Thanks for being there for me! I need all the Lovels I can get!
I love you guys, and I hope that you remember your lil Frekkled Elder!
Herunandezu Chourou (the Us make the Os Longer, so it sounds kinda like Chooooo Rooooo, or Choo-Roo, which is how it's pronounced)
I hope you are all Genki! (good/Healthy) things have been going great over here, I Saw Jimmy Marshall, I saw Justin Wait, and we're planning to take a picture of the three of us together at the map! that's going to be fun ^_^ Elder Adams and I quite possibly have the most opposite personalities you can find, and yet we are able to work together really well (Much to the surprise of our Sensei who was like "I've seen companionships like yours, but they usually blow up! Congratulations!")
Life at the MTC feels like every day is actually one reaallly long day that's just puncuated with sleep XD
it's kind of strange, so far the only thing breaking that monotony is getting letters and stuffles ^_^ so thank you all for the awesome notes! I miss you all terribly, but it's more of a dull ache right now, I look forward to seeing you again, but that'll come in time, so I'm good ^_^
Oh! Here is a poem I wrote:
Fear and sorrow have no place,
I make it through this daily race,
I try to find and even my pace,
and try to learn from Jesus' grace.
Daily time and memories flow,
I miss the ones I've come to know,
I feel the pain and sorrow so,
I know now which way I should go.
The people need me, where am I?
I'm learning slowly, but I'll not cry,
I no longer need to wonder why,
I know now that it's Do, Not try.
I'll lay my burdens by his side,
and learn to help others let go of pride,
I feel the warmth that grows inside,
this feeling of peace forever reside.
XD
Service Yesterday wasn't Toilets (YESSSSS) so it was a lot more enjoyable this time around. (P.S. sorry I talk about toilets often XD I don't try to lol, they just happen to be everywhere O___O )
Elder Adams and I have picked up some new investigators (fake ones, it's our other classmates) and now we have to teach four people rather than the 2 we have been teaching so far, so we're getting even more pounded by Japanese XD it's super intense, were it not for a P-day, I'd likely go insane XD
It's super fun here though, despite the fact that it feels like an eternity, and I've been meeting a bunch of Silly Elders who I am able to relate to well, and we used to play Volleyball together (except that half of them left for their ACTUAL missions, so now we can't play Volleyball together <_< ) so now, at Gym, we all Play some really epic and intense games of!!!!!!!!! 4 Square :O Can yoo Beleeb eht??? hahah, yeah... it's fun stuff ^_^ A Mission is definitely an experience worth having, because it's crazy awesome, and cool, and we haven't even gotten to the good stuff yet :O
BUT! Today marked the Halfway point! I'm Halfway to flying to Japan!!! AHHHHHH The MTC is nearly over! It's crazy, because people arrive here, (Like Jimmy) and if they are going to English speaking missions, they only stay for 3 weeks, so every Wednesday when the newbies arrive, they leave, and We're still here O_O
I feel so ancient right now XD
Thank you to momma, Grpa Felix/Pam, Grma Nancy for the packages! I'm munching on hot Cheetos and chocolate goodness!!!
I've written to peeples, but have only gotten replies from Mary, Dad, and Momma. If you can't write me (like paper letters) just use something called DearElder.com because I get to read what you wrote me, they print it the same day you write it and give it to me that same day after Dinner at 4:40, but after that, I don't get it until the next day, so make sure to send them out before then pleeeeeeze
I love Hearing from you, and want to know what's happening in your lives!!!
Thanks for being there for me! I need all the Lovels I can get!
I love you guys, and I hope that you remember your lil Frekkled Elder!
Herunandezu Chourou (the Us make the Os Longer, so it sounds kinda like Chooooo Rooooo, or Choo-Roo, which is how it's pronounced)
Friday, August 12, 2011
August 12th, 2011
Note:
O____O = big round eyes
XD = extreme happy face
:D and D: = big smile
^_^ = raised eyebrows
>_> = surprise and/or "can you believe that???"
<3 = a sideways image of a heart = "I love you"
Hello everyone I love and miss :D I hope you are alllll doing fan-stinkin-tastic! lol XD it's been an interesting week for sure. Yesterday the 11th, we had service projects to do, and I got Toilets again (we've gone to service things 4 times in all and I got toilets 3 of 4 because no one else wants to do them XD ) and each time I've gone, there has been at least one toilets that is realllly bad XD well, Yesterday, on the 3rd floor of the building I was doing toilets in, there was a locked stall, and we got it opened, and inside it there was a mound of Toilet paper and nastyness in it... So I looked at my companion, and we were like O___O so we went downstairs to ask what we should do, because it was really bad XD and the guy was like... You are going to have to either find a way to flush it, or scoop it out >_> so I grabbed an extra pair of Rubber gloves and a huge trash bag and a toilet plunger, and went back up to the toilet, scooped some out (at this time there were like five other guys who were watching and laughing and gagging) and then, as soon as I got the first little bit out, the smell nearly knocked me off my feet XD so I ended up using the plunger to plunge it all down and then flushed it.............. Toilets are no longer my friends XD. It's weird too, everytime we go, and I have toilets, it's ALWAYS ME that gets that one toilet that's super clogged XD. Naze?!?!?!? XD anyways, now that everyone is grossed out, how are you all doing?? XD I got mom's letter by mail, with the new pictures and the cool flute sculpture that she did! That was epic!!! :D I also got letters from Mary (seperate), and a letter from troy included in Momma's packet, and I got dad's DearElder.com thing (They print the Emails out, and we get them at dinner time to read :D ) so if you don't want to have to keep doing letters and want them to reach me daily, use that site, it's awesome ^_^ since there are quite a few people who are going to get this email forwarded, I'll ask some general questions for all of you to answer :D :D :D
1. what was the best movie that came out recently in your opinion?
2. how are you??
3. do you know how much I miss you???
4. do you know how much I love hearing from you? cuz that's kinda impossible for me to answer ^_^
5. any new developments going on in your life?
6. If you work, how has it been treating you, and if it's being a meany, I'll beat it up frawr yoo!!! :D
7. if you have been injured, tell me what happened D: and if you'll be alright!
8. when I come home, what's the first thing you want to do with me?
9. Guess what?
10. I love you I win!!!!!!!! XD okay that's not a question, and it's also non-debatable :P
we've been teaching a lot more often, and we're learning more and more Japanese every day, it's amazing how much you can learn when you want to express your thoughts and feelings to someone you care for. I'm feeling more confident in my teaching ability, and I know I can't credit myself for that. This is one of the best experiences of my life so far, and I've been making friends who are like me here, I have pictures, and I'll be getting them printed out at the Bookstore soon, I have to figure out how it works first, but expect some peekchures soooon :D I love you all, Friends and family alike! I cannot wait to see you all again, and talk about how we've all grown and all that jazz! It's going to be super fantastic, and It's keeping me motivated to do my best so that I can return with Honour and no Regrets. you are always on my mind, and I feel your love with me constantly like a blanket. Thank you so much for all that you have done in my life, thank you for the examples you have all been to me, you've helped me to understand why serving others is so worthwhile, and I will forever be grateful <3
your little frekkled Elder/chourou
Brandon Anthony Hernandez
O____O = big round eyes
XD = extreme happy face
:D and D: = big smile
^_^ = raised eyebrows
>_> = surprise and/or "can you believe that???"
<3 = a sideways image of a heart = "I love you"
Hello everyone I love and miss :D I hope you are alllll doing fan-stinkin-tastic! lol XD it's been an interesting week for sure. Yesterday the 11th, we had service projects to do, and I got Toilets again (we've gone to service things 4 times in all and I got toilets 3 of 4 because no one else wants to do them XD ) and each time I've gone, there has been at least one toilets that is realllly bad XD well, Yesterday, on the 3rd floor of the building I was doing toilets in, there was a locked stall, and we got it opened, and inside it there was a mound of Toilet paper and nastyness in it... So I looked at my companion, and we were like O___O so we went downstairs to ask what we should do, because it was really bad XD and the guy was like... You are going to have to either find a way to flush it, or scoop it out >_> so I grabbed an extra pair of Rubber gloves and a huge trash bag and a toilet plunger, and went back up to the toilet, scooped some out (at this time there were like five other guys who were watching and laughing and gagging) and then, as soon as I got the first little bit out, the smell nearly knocked me off my feet XD so I ended up using the plunger to plunge it all down and then flushed it.............. Toilets are no longer my friends XD. It's weird too, everytime we go, and I have toilets, it's ALWAYS ME that gets that one toilet that's super clogged XD. Naze?!?!?!? XD anyways, now that everyone is grossed out, how are you all doing?? XD I got mom's letter by mail, with the new pictures and the cool flute sculpture that she did! That was epic!!! :D I also got letters from Mary (seperate), and a letter from troy included in Momma's packet, and I got dad's DearElder.com thing (They print the Emails out, and we get them at dinner time to read :D ) so if you don't want to have to keep doing letters and want them to reach me daily, use that site, it's awesome ^_^ since there are quite a few people who are going to get this email forwarded, I'll ask some general questions for all of you to answer :D :D :D
1. what was the best movie that came out recently in your opinion?
2. how are you??
3. do you know how much I miss you???
4. do you know how much I love hearing from you? cuz that's kinda impossible for me to answer ^_^
5. any new developments going on in your life?
6. If you work, how has it been treating you, and if it's being a meany, I'll beat it up frawr yoo!!! :D
7. if you have been injured, tell me what happened D: and if you'll be alright!
8. when I come home, what's the first thing you want to do with me?
9. Guess what?
10. I love you I win!!!!!!!! XD okay that's not a question, and it's also non-debatable :P
we've been teaching a lot more often, and we're learning more and more Japanese every day, it's amazing how much you can learn when you want to express your thoughts and feelings to someone you care for. I'm feeling more confident in my teaching ability, and I know I can't credit myself for that. This is one of the best experiences of my life so far, and I've been making friends who are like me here, I have pictures, and I'll be getting them printed out at the Bookstore soon, I have to figure out how it works first, but expect some peekchures soooon :D I love you all, Friends and family alike! I cannot wait to see you all again, and talk about how we've all grown and all that jazz! It's going to be super fantastic, and It's keeping me motivated to do my best so that I can return with Honour and no Regrets. you are always on my mind, and I feel your love with me constantly like a blanket. Thank you so much for all that you have done in my life, thank you for the examples you have all been to me, you've helped me to understand why serving others is so worthwhile, and I will forever be grateful <3
your little frekkled Elder/chourou
Brandon Anthony Hernandez
Friday, August 5, 2011
August 5th, 2011
Hey everybody!!!! :D I'ts your little Frekkled Elder by the Name of Hernandez :D
I hope you are all having a blast back home! I'm having a lot of fun out here, The Language is still hard, but we're teaching entirely in it now, and it's pretty intense, not gonna lie XD
Thanks for sending me pictures of mom's awesome drawings!!! :O I'm so stoked to see the finished project, because from what I saw it already looks like a finished book! Go Momma!!! :D Congrats Brittany on the awesome new arrangement, I hope that you will be able to enjoy staying at that lady's place as a live in dog sitter, it sounds like fun :D
we've been learning more and more and more Japanese everyday, and I've been reading My Scriptures daily, and praying more than I ever have before XD it's really humbling coming into the MTC, because no matter how much you knew before, there is always more to learn, and many many more ways to grow.
My Companion and my other two roommates always have a little get to know each other ritual before we go to sleep, we each tell stuff we did/have done/anything about home, and then we go to sleep ^_^ it's really fun, and I think it's a fantastic way to get to know someone, especially my other roomies, because they are both kind of quiet XD
So tell me more about home!!! Ahhh I miss you guys XD I heard you got to hang out with Tim and Chelsea and Katlyn again, that's super cool :D :D :D I'm REALLY glad that you guys have been keeping them close, because I've been missing them as well, it's CRAZYY XD
I never thought I'd say this, but I kinda miss coming downstairs and being asked to clean XD it was always a surprise, and now that it's not there, it makes me feel like Im not home yet >_>
Thanks Dad for getting me Alex's Address, today I'm going to be writing Letters, and stuff, so you may not get them for a couple of days. Oh yeah! We're on a new schedule, and it's super duper intense, we now have to teach everyday, in Japanese, NO English, whereas before we only taught on Saturdays O.o so now we are getting Immersed in the language and I find that it's really helping me to learn the language better. My teachers are great, they're both really funny guys, and are helpful when we need assistance. Oh, I got to sing with the Choir and I was Bass. Sweeeet!!!
My Companion Elder Adams is still the District leader, and will be until we've been here for half the time we are here, so that's still cool being able to get the mail with him, and know right away if I have any awesome packages from you all :D
My snoring isn't as bad as it was before (now that I am no longer feeling under the weather, so we're all good in that department :D ) thanks for all the Ear plugs XD We've ended up using them for Personal study time so that we don't have distractions ^_^ anywho, I hope you are all living it up in Babylon :P cuz I'm totally living it up in Zion ;D hahah XD
I got to go to the Temple today, and last Friday, and it's been really awesome to go to the Provo Temple, it's not the Temple I prefer, because I am forever going to love the San Diego Temple ;3 but! It is the House of the Lord, and it is Amazing ^_^ We get to eat at the cafeteria there as well :O I didn't even know that there was a cafeteria in the Temple :O it totally blew my mind XD
ok, Now I really do need to go, my Companion and I are going to get changed into normal clothes (we're still in Church attire) and I'm going to start writing the many letters now. I love you alllllll!!!!!!!! Don't forget your Frekkled Elder kay? :D Love you! Muah Muah Muah Muah! :D
Hernandez Choro ("choo roo") :D
I hope you are all having a blast back home! I'm having a lot of fun out here, The Language is still hard, but we're teaching entirely in it now, and it's pretty intense, not gonna lie XD
Thanks for sending me pictures of mom's awesome drawings!!! :O I'm so stoked to see the finished project, because from what I saw it already looks like a finished book! Go Momma!!! :D Congrats Brittany on the awesome new arrangement, I hope that you will be able to enjoy staying at that lady's place as a live in dog sitter, it sounds like fun :D
we've been learning more and more and more Japanese everyday, and I've been reading My Scriptures daily, and praying more than I ever have before XD it's really humbling coming into the MTC, because no matter how much you knew before, there is always more to learn, and many many more ways to grow.
My Companion and my other two roommates always have a little get to know each other ritual before we go to sleep, we each tell stuff we did/have done/anything about home, and then we go to sleep ^_^ it's really fun, and I think it's a fantastic way to get to know someone, especially my other roomies, because they are both kind of quiet XD
So tell me more about home!!! Ahhh I miss you guys XD I heard you got to hang out with Tim and Chelsea and Katlyn again, that's super cool :D :D :D I'm REALLY glad that you guys have been keeping them close, because I've been missing them as well, it's CRAZYY XD
I never thought I'd say this, but I kinda miss coming downstairs and being asked to clean XD it was always a surprise, and now that it's not there, it makes me feel like Im not home yet >_>
Thanks Dad for getting me Alex's Address, today I'm going to be writing Letters, and stuff, so you may not get them for a couple of days. Oh yeah! We're on a new schedule, and it's super duper intense, we now have to teach everyday, in Japanese, NO English, whereas before we only taught on Saturdays O.o so now we are getting Immersed in the language and I find that it's really helping me to learn the language better. My teachers are great, they're both really funny guys, and are helpful when we need assistance. Oh, I got to sing with the Choir and I was Bass. Sweeeet!!!
My Companion Elder Adams is still the District leader, and will be until we've been here for half the time we are here, so that's still cool being able to get the mail with him, and know right away if I have any awesome packages from you all :D
My snoring isn't as bad as it was before (now that I am no longer feeling under the weather, so we're all good in that department :D ) thanks for all the Ear plugs XD We've ended up using them for Personal study time so that we don't have distractions ^_^ anywho, I hope you are all living it up in Babylon :P cuz I'm totally living it up in Zion ;D hahah XD
I got to go to the Temple today, and last Friday, and it's been really awesome to go to the Provo Temple, it's not the Temple I prefer, because I am forever going to love the San Diego Temple ;3 but! It is the House of the Lord, and it is Amazing ^_^ We get to eat at the cafeteria there as well :O I didn't even know that there was a cafeteria in the Temple :O it totally blew my mind XD
ok, Now I really do need to go, my Companion and I are going to get changed into normal clothes (we're still in Church attire) and I'm going to start writing the many letters now. I love you alllllll!!!!!!!! Don't forget your Frekkled Elder kay? :D Love you! Muah Muah Muah Muah! :D
Hernandez Choro ("choo roo") :D
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