Some Details

Letter from Brandon today:

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Konnichiwaaaaaa :D I finished watching Conference Yesterday. For me it's Monday and it's only 3:10pm whereas for you it's 11pm on Sunday. weird right? I live in the futureeee hahaha.
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 I'm so glad to hear that you got to see everyone last week (note: last Sunday all our kids came to visit us, so Brandon is commenting on that)!! I hope Scott gets better fast.
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Happpppy Almost Birthday Dad!! AHHHHHH I just realized I will be missing two of your birthdays >_> that's really saddening. Blah Oh well ^_^ Oh, and I'm so proud of Brittany on her weight loss and toning! glad to hear she is back to looking like she did in High School! Way to go Brittle! :D

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I still can't believe I will have another Nephew, and I wont get to see him!! Arghhhh!!!! Hahahha.
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As for proselyting, we are allowed to go door to door at specific places near our church building, and it's called Pivot, and we mark the places we go on a map so that we don't waste time going to houses that reject us, and have a map for those that were willing to listen to more.  I only had time to send pictures from the mtc before the computer here kicked me off for having too much activity (Google was the one actually) I'm doing okay with money, it'll be a little tight this month because of the bike purchase, but I will manage. Next month will be better because I wont have the bike expense. Studying is going well, The Portuguese is easier to learn than the Japanese because it's more like English, so that's fine, and the Japanese is still tough, but it's better than it was last week.  It's one thing to learn something, and a completely different thing to use it and hear it spoken. 
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Japan is one of my favorite places still! The place I am kinda reminds me of New York though - it's weird that way. 
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We have a couple of people that we teach, but it's not everyday that we get to teach them. mostly we go out to eat with them, talk for a while and then have to leave. we get rejected often, but never by our investigators, like we haven't had any of our investigators reject us yet, but going door to door in the assigned area, we get Kekko'd often (Kekko means We're okay and don't want to talk to you, what they do is Cross their arms and say Kekko desu, and you have to leave them be).
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This week we had a great week, we had two of our investigators come to General Conference (one of them is a family, the Mom, Jeana; the Dad, Cezar; and the 5 year old girl, Jennifer, and they all speak Spanish and Portuguese).  The other investigator is a Japanese Girl named Yukina. We've been teaching them and talking to them all a lot recently, so we are hoping that they'll be able to commit to hearing more and more, and eventually getting baptized. They are awesome people, and they have a lot of questions they want answered, so I am studying like crazy to try and keep up.

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One of the fun things we get to do every week is teach something called Eikaiwa, which means English Class. We only have three or four students who actually come, but they are fun to teach. We teach them English by reading the Book of Mormon with them and explaining what the words mean. That's always a fun class to teach.
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I am doing well out here in Japan, Duarte Chourou ("Elder Duarte" my companion - Chourou means "Elder.") is awesome, he's super nice, and he's a reallly hard worker. In fact, he's super nice all the time. I can't wait to build this area up with him! Before He got me as a companion he had a real dud for a companion, and he was kinda depressed the first couple of days I was with him, and then when he found out that I was ready and able to get up and work, he got super genki (Happy) and now we've been having a blast together.
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Japan is Craaazzyyyyy cool!!!  The people here are really nice, and, since my companion and I are both Foreigners, everyone stares at us, or tries to say stuff in English and we respond in Japanese -- it's fun!
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I'm going to try and write some letters today, but we still have to clean the Apartment, so you may get a half page letter depending on how much time we have after we clean, hahahah.  I sowwy....but anywho! I love you guys, and I look forward to seeing how you've all grown when I come back!

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If you want to write letters:

Elder Hernandez Japan Nagoya Mission

Aichiken Nagoya-Shi

Meitoku Itakadai 1-304

465-0028

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Your Freckled Elder -- Who is going to come home speaking fluent Portuguese and Japanese and Spanish,

Elder Hernandez

Hernandez Chourou

ヘル長老 <---- That's what my name will look like on my Name tag here :D

(My japanese Katakana name here is Heru Chourou)

17 September 2011

Ohaiyou Gozaimasu Mina San ^_^

Today, is obviously my P day. However! Today was my Last Normal P day for a while.

We got our Travel plans Yesterday, and this next Friday is our in-field-training thingy, so I don't really know how that day is going to play out. I don't exactly know when I will be able to call yet, but I do know that it will be on the 26 for sure, I'll be flying from Utah to Detroit, then from Detroit to Nagoya Japan, and I will arrive on the 27th of September (it's a looonng Two Flights XD ) (that and there are time differences that I don't feel like computing :P) but suffice it to say, The 26th is going to be a great day ^_^

I'll be Waking up at 5:00Am to go to the Travel office, whereas those going to Tokyo (Half of my District) will be leaving the MTC at 10:00Am. It's supah Crazeh (super crazy).

This Week has been great so far, I got myself another New Companion, an Elder Lee, He's Korean, He speaks Korean, he Speaks English, and he took 4 years of Japanese in School, so he has a bit more experience with the language than most of us in the room. Along with my new companion, we also got two other additions to our class, an Elder Clark, and an Elder Hodson. (it's kinda confusing, we now have 2 Elder Clarks XD and both of their first names start with a T XD )

They are cool, but they keep to themselves mostly, so it kinda gets quiet when they are around. That and they are hardly ever in class... But anywho, life has now turned into a perpetual state of consistant exhaustion -- I'm Tired ALL the time -- it's crazyyyyy. Taking a nap sounds heavenly, but I refuse to do it lol, there's too much to do and too much to learn to go to bed.

We are all super stoked about getting the Travel plans, because it means we are ACTUALLY Getting out of the MTC!!! Don't get me wrong, it's great here, but I am more excited about Japan than being here :P

So, I heard from Daddy-o that you guys had a MAJOR blackout caused by some random electric guy who accidentally flipped a switch and shut down a large area :O That's intense! I'm glad you were more prepared than most, because that would have been really tough.

Instead of it being Super hot (which it had been for the first month I was here) it has started to get a bit colder, and now we are having to wear Jackets every now and then XD I wish I could give you some of teh Cold!! XD Gomennasai <(^_^<) <Gambate Kudasai)

My companion, Elder Lee is cool in another way, He Loves Kanji Just like I do! and Learning Kanji is reall important to becoming fluent in Japanese, because if you can understand the Kanji that make up a word, you can understand all the different meanings hidden in the words themselves :D it's quite exciting ^_^

Oh! Dad, if there's a chance, could you send me a new watch please, my old one died on me out here, and I have been having to rely on others to tell me the time, it's annoying... Also, Thank you mom for the 11 Dear Elders XD I got them all Yesterday, it was crazy

The only thing I am having trouble with is figuring out what order to put them in (because when the print out the Dear Elder letters, it's just one huge letter, that continues into the next letter ) (which is why I got 11 letters, they had to split it up, and now I don't know which one's which XD )  but from what I have read, it sounds like you've gotten really far on the Play/Story that you are doing. That's really awesome :D Good Job Momma! (P.S. Haha = Mom in Japanese) How about the Candyman Clown? Did you send out pictures to a publisher or anything yet? I hope so, cuz I wanna see it get publisheddddd

I'm glad you all had fun at Omar and Chrissy's Wedding :D That's so cool that they got married! And that's so cool that Jesse's whole family was together for the first time in a long while, that must have been great to see. So Congrats Omar!

Oh, and Dad, I'll be running slow when I get home, I don't run often, so when I do I try to enjoy being outside XD I'm not entirely sure where my New Address is just yet, but when I do find out, I will for sure let you know so that you can send stuffles ^_^ I also have to figure out how the whole International postage stamps work...

Life here at the MTC is the Usual, tons of study, not enough sleep, and weird foods XD its funny. I have Ten days left here! Just a little bit longer and I'm in Japan Guys! How cool is that?? Cool right? Ne? Ne? hahah.

My companion and I like to go study in the Nihonjin Room (The Native Japanese people that came to the MTC a couple weeks ago) and we are actually able to hold conversation with them -- It's super cool, and it totally boosts my confidence in the Language.

So tell me more guys! How are you feeling? Are you Staying Genki? (Happy/Healthy) Yooo Better bee, cuz cuz cuz -- Yeah

I hope you know that I am thinking of you all, even if you only hear from me once a week! I love you all,

Herunandezu Chourou.

P.S. I love you I win!
P.S.S. it's Saturday the 17th at 3:13 in Japan right now XD

14 September 2011

Here's a note we received from Brandon today:

I met Matthew Bates Yesterday! ^_^ that was pretty cool,

After mom told me to keep an eye out for a Bates, I looked and lo and behold, there was a Bates,

and I stopped and was like... Elder Bates? he was like yeah? and I was like, what's your first name?

he Said, Matthew. And I was like... We might be related O.o and he was like, oh! you're the Hernandez

I was told about XD hahah, it was pretty funny ^_^ I didn't get to talk to him long, but I met him and

talked to him :D Also! I got a new Companion today, (this makes four companions in my time

here XD ) He's really cool, He's Korean, and is part of the Excelerated course for Japanese

( He already knew Japanese, and since he came with our Kohai, He got put into a different class, 

and learned how to teach) and now, him and Two other Elders came in ( an Elder Clark - we 

now have two elder Clarks- and an Elder Hoddson ) so my new companion ( Elder Lee is his name)

moved into our room last night, and we taught our first lesson together today, he's really good at

the Japanese, but still has to learn some of the Vocabulary for the Church language XD (because 

there are a lot of words they never learned in regards to religious stuff) 

anyways, Just a quick update from me :D

From:	Dave Hernandez <deputy.hernandez@gmail.com>
Reply to:	benson brooke <mybrookie@hotmail.com>, Brittany Hernandez <SportsChick07@gmail.com>, Chelsea and Tim <akideam@gmail.com>, Linda Hernandez <lyndercynder@gmail.com>, Mary Gerrity <mary.gerrity@ymail.com>, Scott Hernandez <superscott597@gmail.com>, Steven <superstevolds@gmail.com>, Pam Hernandez <Pam.Hernandez@selectdata.com>, Dad <f82540@gmail.com>, Gloria Cellphone <ghorowitz19@yahoo.com>, HELMUT MAYR <hnmayr@verizon.net>
To:	benson brooke <mybrookie@hotmail.com>, Brittany Hernandez <SportsChick07@gmail.com>, Chelsea and Tim <akideam@gmail.com>, Linda Hernandez <lyndercynder@gmail.com>, Mary Gerrity <mary.gerrity@ymail.com>, Scott Hernandez <superscott597@gmail.com>, Steven <superstevolds@gmail.com>, Pam Hernandez <Pam.Hernandez@selectdata.com>, Dad <f82540@gmail.com>, Gloria Cellphone <ghorowitz19@yahoo.com>, HELMUT MAYR <hnmayr@verizon.net>
Date:	Sep 14, 2011 11:38 AM
Subject:	Update from Brandon

09 September 2011

Mina San!! Konnichiwa!!! :D
THis week has been quite interesting, still in the process of getting used to teaching with two other people, but so far, it has been a fantastic experience. We each have something new and interesting to bring to the companionship, and each day is an adventure :D

We got one of our fake investigators to commit to baptism on the 24th of this month XD it was pretty awesome ^_^ Oh, and we each also received a short letter from Adams Chourou, so that was cool, he said he's seen three doctors already, and that some people are being supportive, and some aren't so the ones who are being supportive are who he is holding on to.

A Shout out to Titi Gloria/Grandma Delia, Thank you for the Picture book! I really needed that! I love you guys! so anyway, We've been teaching a lot recently, since we only have three companionships, so it's double duty for some days. Today, All of us going to Nagoya got a Letter from our awesome Mission President Scott O. Baird, which was basically encouraging us to keep going, we are almost there :D (We only have less than 3 weeks!!!! :O )

so Tell me what's been happening back home! When is Brooke Due by the way? Mary also said there was some sort of Black out in Our area? What happened? also, how is work and school going for everyone?

I've been studying hard, and I'm getting better and better everyday, This language is awesome, and since we got the Native Japanese speakers just this week, we've been able to hear and speak the way actual Japanese people speak, it is amazing :D I can't wait to have full conversations with the awesome people in Japan ^_^ it's fun, and I'm so stoked on life right now XD

We get our Travel plans sometime next week, and then we are outta here on the 26th! Murray Chourou has a running countdown XD I can't stand countdowns lol, it just makes it feel longer XD anywho, I love you all, I can't wait to hear from you!

I'm studying like a Hamster Running on a treadmill going downhill XD lol, I love you!!!!

Take care okay? Cuz I am taking great care over here ^_^

Your Frekkled Chourou,
Herunandezu Chourou

Friday, 02 September 2011

Mina San, Konnichiwa!!!! ("respectful greetings to all!!!!)

I hope you all had a great week! This week was rough for me, but it's not getting me down.
I got an awesome package from Mom and some Dear Elders as well, and Awesome letters from Mary, and a pack of letters from Chelsea, and a Letter from Brittany and some Dear Elders as well, so thank you for making this week Bearable you guys! ^_^

I really needed those letters to help me through that experience (for those who don't know, My Companion had to go home for Medical reasons, so now I have two companions, but it's just not the same...) I'm staying positive though, because I know that he is where he is needed, and I know he'll be looked after. So now I go teach with the two Elders (Johnson and Clark) that are in my room, and we actually had a great lesson together, so I'm not worried about how the lessons will go, it's just weird being in a group of three all the time... I kinda drift from companionship to companionship now, so it's weird not having that stability anymore.

OH Real quick, we got to Hear Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Speak on Sunday :O It was AWESOME.  And then, the next day my companion left, so it was crazy timing...

HOWEVER! We Leave for JaPAn ThiS MoNTh @@@@@@!@!!@!@!@!@!@!@@ AHHHHHH This is sooo exciting XD We get the Japanese Elders and sisters on Monday (They come from Japan and will be with us for three weeks, and they help us sempai learn the language by talking to us in fluent Japanese ^_^ ) and then the next week we get our Travel plans, and then on the 26th we ship out :D

Aparrently we get to call home for one of those times, like for our layover flight, so I'll get back to you on the specifics, but just know that I will be able to call soon, so if you can, have everyone be by the phone that day XD that would be awesome! :D And like I said, I will be getting more info on the details asap :D

I love you all, and I wanna hear from all of you! Gotta go do some Laundry now, so I will talk to you next week, I love you, I miss you, I cant <-- Scratch that Can Wait to hug you all and be able to say I did a job well done ^_^

Stay strong everyone, you are in my prayers, and on my mind. Be safe, be happy, stay fantastic, and I will talk to you all laterz otay?

Muah!
Hernandez Chourou

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 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)

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

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

29 July 2011

29 July 2011

Hey Fam! It is I! Hernandez Choro!!!!
I hope you are all having a blast ^_^ I got all your letters, and packages and stuffs, and it totally made my day XD Thanks you guys! Mom, that White Board thingy is awesome O_O I'm glad you all had a fun time at the Comic-Con! I hope Dad was able to go the the panels he wanted to see for the first time :D That's so awesome!

so tell me allllll about what you guys have been up to! I know I wont be able to read it until Next Friday, but still :D I AM able to read all emails sent to me, I am ONLY allowed to send emails back to family >_> it's lame, but I'm trying to make Obedience my quest ^_^

How are Steven and Brooke and Aidan and the Baby on the way?? Is her tummy getting bigger yet? :D I'm so excited for that, you have no Ideaaaa.

This week was pretty good, had it's emotional ups and downs, but I'm not staying down! I have many many awesome letters from all of you, and it's keeping me going :D It's hard (okay maybe not) to believe that I have been here for nearly 2 and a half weeks now O_O

On Tuesday it'll be 3 full weeks since I arrived at the MTC! CUHraZY :O I cahnnut Behleeb eht!

currently I am chillin in the Laundry room with my Doryo (companion) doing Laundry and writing to you fantastic Kiddies :D

The Language is STILL Hard, but it's beginning to make even more sense than it was before, so I'm starting to feel a little less freaked out about having to start teaching and TALKING only in Japanese starting Next week!!!!

My Doryo is still cool, he's just a little rough around the Edges (he was the big guy on Campus, so it's kind of carried over into his Mission life) and he knows EVERYONE O_O (he's from Salem Utah, so I shouldn't be too surprized XD)

I'll be writing you all letters today, I'll try to send them all in one package, so I will have Daddy-O send them out to who I need them to go to ^_^

I hope you are all keeping happy and Healthy, and know that I have been keeping you in my prayers always <3  -- without all of your support I would have crumbled already. It's a hard life, but it's an enjoyable one :D

I'm reallllly glad that you guys have been trying to spend time with Mary, that makes me Uber happy to know that she isn't being abandoned <3 and I heard she passed her Drivers test!! That's so awesome!!! :D :D :D

Oh, Yesterday I got my TDAP Shot, and paid them in cash, (it was $43) with the money we put aside for that, and my arm is killing me O_o why does it feel like a train hit my arm???? XD

Just know that I miss you all, and that I love you all, and that I wish I could see you all, and and and yeah :D

I don't know how I'm going to send you pictures, I may end up having to send you my SD card, and then have you upload the pictures, and then send the card back to me UNCHANGED (I.E. nothing deleted please).

How are Tim and Chelsea doing? have you been able to see them lately? OH and if there is anyway, can you PLEASE get me Alex's address, I don't have his, and I don't think he has mine either, and I've been missing him pretty bad as well, and would love to be able to write to him :D Thanks in advance :D once again, the food here is pretty crazy XD in Mary's own words "what did they do, put Laxatives in there??" Lawlzzz hahaha.

I love you all!!!! Muah Muah Muah! :D

Your Frekkled Choro,
Brandon Hernandez :D