Sunday, July 29, 2012

July 29, 2012

So, I heard about the Shooting that had happened at the Batman movie opening in Colorado (from one of our english students). He said the guy was shooting a "machine gun," killed twelve, and injured a bunch, and then later on when the police found him he told them he was the Joker and offered up no resistance... Scary Stuff...

I hope the family is doing Great-- I heard from mom that you guys had fun with Grandma Nancy Glad to hear it!

I am way Jazzed for Scott and the new  Job! What is it that they have him doing?

I am Praying for you all everyday.

And as for Jackson, NO WAY.... He's already six months.... WHAT???? Where did all that time go????? ): I will be home and he'll already be a year and a half! that's nuts! Blaaaahhhh.... Oh well XD I can't wait to see him for the first time in person :D

Ok so this week was pretty Awesome. The highlight of my week happened just Yesterday (Sunday) and I will get to it in a sec.  So first, Tuesday -- AWESOME day -- We went with the little kids (that we volunteer for at the daycare place) on a field trip, and we got to participate in events and stuff, and we all made these handkerchiefs that we dyed and put cool stuff on (I forgot to snap a photo of it, but I will do that this week and send it your way :D )  and then we saw these huge beetles and got to hold them and stuff. Super fun!

lol, my Companion said something funny when he saw Brittany's picture in my album:
Koch Chourou: Brittany, You've definitely got some Moco latte in ya.
Me: You mean Hispanic?
Koch: THAT'S the Politically correct word I was looking for... Hispanic
 
Fun stuff XD
 
We played some basketball with some Japanese kids and an investigator on Wednesday and had some fun there. though the investigator injured her leg while playing. 

On Thursday we had a really cool lesson with our Investigator named Miwa, the thing about her is, the only way we get her at home is through revelation, because she still hasn't given us her real address, we go to her Son in law's house and find her there. 

Friday we had a family home evening with two of our investigators, but one is twelve and has a hard time focusing for long periods of time, and her dad likes to talk.... and his Japanese is super hard to understand XD but he was saying cool stuff like how he really respects us for being so young and coming out to serve, and how he despises those rich old men who say they believe in God but hoard their wealth and send their youth to go to war, and how it's the youth dying who truly believe. Cool stuff! 

Saturday was awesome, we had kids English class, and then we went to a festival with a member, and that was fun. The Japanese people really seem to like us Foreigners, They kept giving us free food and stuff, and even a group of 12 year old boys came over and gave me and my companion some hot dogs, but skipped over the two Japanese Missionaries who were sitting between us...

Finally, Sunday! A truly awesome day! I love Japan. On Sunday our ward mission-leader's wife gave a talk wearing a Kimono. It was awesome! then later that night we had a family home evening with two Brazilian members, but before we went there we decided to plan what we would say and what scriptures we would share, and I kept flipping to one specific scripture: Alma 36:27. It really struck me.  So we went to their place, talked and taught for a while, and then Brother Araujo started talking about his past--it was really intense--and I said, I have a scripture for you Right here, Right now -- and shared it with him.  It really affected him, and he got emotional and highlighted one line, and then asked if he could take a picture of us. Super spiritual experience and it was totally awesome (the word of the day is "Awesome").
 
Here is the text of Alma 36:27: "And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me." 

Anywho! I love you all, The Church is true, and We really do receive revelation. 
 
Elder Hernandez
Hiru chourou
蛭長老
July 20, 2012
 
Hello everyone!
 
I made it to my One year mark!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH I have twelve months left in Japan XD this is weird lol. To celebrate, when I was on a Companion exchange with Elder Augusto this week, He brought along A member named Arisawa. This guy is amazing.... He has a website that you should check out (arisawagroup.co.jp) anyway, He and Augusto took me to a store, and while I was looking around they came back and found me, and had a bag with something in it, and after the day was over, Arisawa Dropped us back off at the apartment he handed me the bag and said Congratulations on one year and drove off. He got me a Yuukata ( A man's Kimono thing ) if you checked his website, you'll notice Diamonds. He sells them.... XD

Ok so my week:

Other than the awesome Gift from the second counsilor of Takaoka's ward, this week was pretty normal, we had our final district meeting together, (Because Elder Augusto and Sister Shaver are both going home.) and then on Sunday we had church, but left early so we could go to Takaoka's Baptism. Had the baptism, and then we stayed for a farewell lunch party/ congratulations baptism party with Takaoka. Then we went we them for the day, and some members took us all around and we took pictures and stuff and had a farewell Dinner parrty as well with them, stayed the night in Takaoka, and then helped elder Augusto get all his stuff together to leave. and now we have his companion with us. Then at ten today, we had transfer calls, and all three of us got some big news.

This was my guess for what was going to happen this transfer:

for Me: Transfer and become senior again
for Finlinson: stay in Toyama and become senior
For Iwata (Augusto's companion, and he was one of the Japanese Elders who came with me to Japan): Staying in Takaoka and getting a Brazillian companion.

What's REALLY Happening:

 me:
I'm transferring!!! XD I was right! lol I am going to a place called Fukuroi to follow up train an Elder Koch (Pronounced Cook). So today is going to be fulll of phone calls and packing for tomorrow when I have to leave Toyama. I am both sad and happy about this, seeing as the Cockroach problem here hasn't changed.

Elder Finlinson:
He's staying and becoming senior companion, not only that but he's also becoming a trainer

Elder Iwata:
He's staying In Takaoka, but he's getting Three companions, so they're going Yonnin (Four Person)

Crazy stuff huh?

Sooooo yeahhhh.... This is going to be interesting XD I get to go get used to another Companion! This will be my Sixteenth companion in one year of mission life XD Most Missionaries end their missions having had around 8-10 companions in all lol. I feel special XD

Due to having to pack I gotta go sooner than normal, so I love you!!! Live it up for me in good old California!

Elder Hernandez
Hiru Chourou
蛭長老