March 25, 2013 - Week 2

Pictures of Nago

 

 

So, I always start these letters and don't answer your questions. So, first of all, I bought a bike. It's really nice but hard to take care of because of the humiditiy. I'm working on it though. I love the foood........was that even a question. Haha, honestly, it's better than anything ESPECIALLY the MTC.

 

So, big news this week. We went to zone meeting this week. There was two big announcements. The first was this: There are now 112 missionaries in the Fukuoka mission. By November, there will be over 240 missionaries. Yeah, so the whole meeting was about how we ALL need to prepare to be trainers. That totally freaked me out. What the HECK! They said it will be about 3 transfers and all of us will probably be trainers. I have got to get this language down!

 

The other announcement was that we are now free to email friends. The area seventy made a huge announcement. So, no. I'm not breaking rules. You could probably find out on the internet or something. I would really appreciate some email addresses of my friends. That would be super nice.

 

Elder Gandy and I were in the top 10 in contacting numbers in the mission for this week. It was nuts! However, finding is super hard. The residents of Nago are either leaving or have lived here for years. We only have three investigators right now and now of them have baptismal dates anymore. Also, fun fact, my bishop made the receipes for all the Teriyaki Stix. He cooked lunch for us after church once. He's the bomb.

 

Nago has lots of "interesting people." We run into them daily. The biggest one is actaully a celebrity on Okinawa. He rides around Okinawa on a motorcycle and sits under bridges waving pom poms. He has a helemet with hundreds of flowers on it. You could probably google him because everyone knows him.

 

Yes, it was easy to find a picture of him on Google...

 

 

We went and talked to him. He was super nice. He told us that he doesn't believe in religion and he wants to start a religion of natural science. He says he plans to live to one hundred million years old so that he can prove that there is no God. Other than that, he was super nice and he says he loves talking to missionaries because then he gets to speak English.

 

That was tons of fun though. I'm really sad about Elder Wirthlin. I really miss him.....but there is a good chance that I could be his trainer. That would be a miracle. Also, it's super rainy here. Luckly, I have a SICK rain suit. Thank you so much for sending that. It's been a life saver. The rain is HEAVY. It is also super sudden. in two seconds, you can be baptized in rain and not know it.

 

Anyway, that's all for this week.

 

Me and Brother Brinley, my MTC teacher

 

Love,

Elder Low

March 18, 2013 - First Week in Japan

Hello!

It's nuts over here! I'm don't really know how to begin. I really have had so much traveling the last week that there isn't a TON to report on. Let me begin.

So, I left on Monday morning to the airport and called mom and dad. It was so crazy to hear your voices. I really loved it. Then we got on the plane and left for Seattle. Everyone in my group is so cool! I love my Doki. :)

We landed in Seattle and we were there for a few hours. I had the chance to speak to a few Japanese people with Elder Otani (one of the Native Japanese Elders). It was so fun. I still have lots to learn, but I felt like I was understanding a lot of the Japanese being spoken. We also had our first meal that wasn't MTC food! It was tasted SOOoooo good. I was in heaven.

Then, we had our ten hour plane ride all the way over to Japan. It was kinda hard to not turn on a movie. The guy next to me was only watching movies with vampires.....hahaha, he was watching Abraham Lincoln Vampire Slayer and Breaking Dawn Part Two. I thought it was funny....cuz he was like....50 or something. It was kinda awkard sitting by him. He also really didn't want to let me out of the row to go to the bathroom, but eventually he let me go. Otherwise, it was a pretty good flight.

When we landed in Tokyo, I was so so so happy. Everyone else was exhausted, but I was too excited. I remember landing in that airport 6 years ago. I was having trouble sitting still. THEN we found out that our flight was delayed because there was a Typhoon and we couldn't fly to Fukuoka quite yet. Haha, yeah, so we spent another two hours in Tokyo.

We finally left for Fukuoka and I slept the entire flight. We landed at about 11:30. It was really late. The APs and the President and his wife were waiting there for us. They took us back to the Honbu. Man, that was the coolest thing EVER. We were sleeping underneath the Fukuoka Temple. It was also a really nice house. The president is one of the nicest people. His wife is way cool too. She had me and some other Elders do some chores around the house the next day......It was actually way fun. I miss homey chores.

So, now I'm in Nago and my companions name is Elder Gandy. He's really nice. and yes......it's pretty hot. But it's pretty. My big worry though: People in Nago have a heavy heavy dialect.....Yeah. The Native missionaries have trouble understanding them. That scene in "The Best Two Years" where Elder Calhoon says "That's not the language they taught me in the MTC"....yeah. That's me right now. IT IS SOOO HARD! They also talk super fast and have a heavy accent. It kinda sounds like spanish. I feel really dumb.

Anyway, I don't have tons of time. I love you all and I will send more pictures soon.

Love,

Elder Randy Kazuhiro Low

March 5, 2013 - Last week in MTC

Here's what happened over here. We got a new group of Natives last monday. They are so awesome. We only speak Japanese to them and they are hilarious.

 

With the natives

 

The Japanese is coming along. I really hope that by the time we leave the MTC we'll be able to speak. Jon says he has been taught by Watanabe shimai a couple times. She's really cool. She's a really good speaker. Her Japanese is really good. For my TRC, I got to teach Brother Brinley. It was so so awesome. He's been one of my best friends here. He's a great teacher and he's taught me so much. Also, yesterday was the last time my teacher Tingey Shimai was teaching. It was really sad. She is one of two teachers that served in the Fukuoka mission. She was also a really good Progressing investigator. It was so fun to teach her. Except, I think i'd rather teach real people. Haha. I'm so excited to go.

 

The District with Sister Tingey

We leave on Monday, and we fly to Seattle.

President Mills came and talked to all the Japanese missionaries about how they need to change their expectations of the mission. We all think that we're going to get no baptisms and that the Japanese people won't listen. He told us all that we were wrong and that we need to fix our expectations. It was really powerful and now I'm super super excited to leave.

Make sure Clint knows that I wish him a happy birthday. Twelve is a big number. I'm sure he'll still be passing the sacrament when I come home because there won't be a lot of deacons.

I hope mom's school is going well!

So, yeah. Elder Wirthlin hurt his leg. Really bad. He has four more weeks here. He's so disappointed. I'm so disappointed. He keeps telling himself that he leaves on Monday, but the doctor says he has to wait for another four weeks.

Anyway, I'm sorry this letter is short. I'm short on time. I love you all. I'm doing great. I can't wait to get out of here.

Love,

Elder Randy Kazuhiro Low

February 26, 2013

Crazy week this week. First, Mom bumped shoulders with a bank robber?? I wish she was there when he robbed the bank. She totally would have saved the day. ;) Sounds intense. I'm just glad nobody got hurt.

Saturday was Elder Dolbin's birthday. It was awesome. I got up early and made his bed....haha, He didn't want to make a huge deal out of it, but we all had cake and it was a fun time. BUT! Later that day, we were planning for TRC with our teacher brother Taylor. We were all kinda sleepy because we were doing weekly planning and at this point, we don't really know what we want to learn for Japanese. There isn't much the teachers can teach us as a group anymore. Most of the stuff they are teaching, we can find ourselves in a grammar dictionary. So, we were all kinda quiet. Brother Taylor got kinda frustrated and decided to have us all stand up to wake us up a little....It didn't.....but we woke up after a few seconds. As I stood up, I looked across the room at Elder Rowell. I told you that he has had a couple of medical problems. As he stood up, I watched his eyes roll to the back of his head.I thought he was just tired, but then he fell backward and hit his head on the desk and then hit his head on the wall....pretty hard I might add. Elder Hutchison describes it as the Desk-Wall combo. It was really really bad hit. It gets worse though. We all started walking over to see if he was alright....and then he started having a seizure. All the sisters in the room started screaming. Brother Taylor and Elder Hutchison ran to him and checked his pulse and what not. Unfortunately, when someone has a seizure, you can only let them go. There isn't much you can do. I ran to the wall and called the front desk. It was the scariest thing of the week. The security team came and took him off campus to the ER. He's ok now.

After that, Elder Dolbin and I went to TRC where we taught Watanabe Shimai. She is the mother of a sister in our branch. She brought her son with her who spoke very little Japanese. It was so much fun. SOOOO much fun. i loved it. At the end of the lesson, we asked if her son knew how to pray in japanese. He did not.....so....we taught him. Haha, why not. We do it with our investigators. It was so fun. Then she asked if we wanted her to send a picture of us to our mothers. Haha, of course we aren't going to decline. So, she did. She was so awesome.

 

 

On Wednesday, earlier this week, I got to Host for new missionaries. THAT was a blast. You can probably imagine how much fun I had. I just remember how difficult it was for me on the first day and ever since then, I wanted to be a host so that I could help new missionaries with the same problems I had. There was a lot of tears and screaming. Haha, it was so so sad. It was always scary when I walked up to a car and watched 8 or 9 people get out. Two missionaries coming to the MTC and lots of tears. I guess I was lucky. Anyway, I was Hosting an Elder who was going to Philidelphia spanish speaking. When I walked him to his classroom, I ran into brother Weist. Jake and Jon probably know him really well. He was my temple prep teacher. Probably, one of my best friends in the singles ward. He's just an awesome guy and he gave me loads of advice for my mission. He wasn't allowed to speak English in the classroom so he pulled me out in the hall and we had a quick conversation. Haha, he's such an awesome guy. It was great!

Yesterday, as District Leader, I thought it would be a good idea to get the district working hard on Japanese. Sooo, we decided to have an English Fast. Zero English all day. It was so great. I'm shocked at how much we've learned....however, I know that when I land in Japan, i'll be shocked at how little I know. I don't know. Right now, it feels great. We spoke Japanese all day. It was really difficult, but it was really good.

I'm doing great dad. You don't need to worry about me. I'm kinda nervous to get into Japan, but I'm sick of the MTC. It's getting a little old. I'm so so excited to get into the field. I'm just worried about the priests in the ward. I don't think they know what they are missing out on. This mission is the best. It makes us all work hard, trust the lord, become responsible, and learn to love each other. Since i've been here, i've been falling in love with the hymn "Love One Another". Haha, it's great. I feel so great. I hope I come home satisfied with how I served. I'm doing everything I can to make sure I fufill that wish of mine.

How is Sam and Clint? I'd love to hear from them. Clint's birthday is coming up here. That's exciting! going to be a deacon. :)

How are Brad and Zack? I miss them tons. I miss Brad making fun of me for eating too much ramen and then proceeding to borrow a couple packs of it because.....well....they are the best. :) I hope Zack and Jon watch the voice together when it starts up again. Haha, I'm sure that there will be lots of fun conversations about the voice. I hope that the ward is doing great as well.

I'd also love to hear about mom's school. It's so much fun to hear about.

Anway, I'm out of time. I love you all!

Love,

Elder Randy Kazuhiro Low

February 12, 2013

So, this week was kinda long. Not a ton to report, but enough to fill up my time.

We taught our progressing investigator yesterday. He name is Shimomura shimai (actually Tingey Sensei). It was the best lesson we had taught in a long time. The Japanese was going way well, and the spirit was so so strong. We are trying to get her to ask her parents if they will let her get baptized. When she said the prayer at the end of the lesson, she started crying and begging Heavenly Father that her father's heart would be softened. It was really awesome.

With Sister Uryu, Jon's friend from Machida.

I saw Jon (who volunteers at the MTC) on Saturday. I really wanted to talk to him, but I knew that I would have to say goodbye again....and I really didn't want to do that. I felt really bad. But I miss him tons. I miss all my brothers. I'd love to hear from Sam and Clint. Also, I'm writing a letter to Jake and Jon today, cuz I don't think they get my emails all the time.

The older missionaries left for Japan today. That makes my group the oldest Japanese missionaries. It just makes me want to leave more. The food is getting worse and worse the more I eat it. I want to teach real people! It's crazy. I'm not really getting home sick....but sick of home. As in, sick of Provo. Yeah, sometimes, I feel a little heartache when I think of home and my friends, but as I continue to stay busy, it doesn't hurt so bad. I just have to work hard pray lots....but yeah. I am tired of the MTC. I'm ready to get into the field.

The MTC is packed. So packed, that the lines for food go out of the cafeteria. I hate how crowded it gets. Also, people take off their jackets and leave them on chairs while they go get their food. Then, when the other missionaries get their food, we have nowhere to sit. Arguments have started in the cafeteria about people moving coats because their is nowhere to sit. It's crazy. I hate the cafeteria. It's noisy and crowded and everyone is mad. It's a scary place.

Another Group of Davis High missionaries.

Anyway, I'm out of time again. I miss you all and I'm too excited to get out into the field.

Love,
Elder Randy Kazuhiro Low

February 5, 2013

I have lots to say and not much times so here it goes.

First, I sent a picture of our branch snowman. The zone leaders put me on splits with Elder Pollister in the front. He's from Hawaii and had never seen snow before he came here. I've never seen someone get so excited about snow. It was so fun to see him light up. He was in heaven.

Also last P-day, something crazy happened. My district's service assignment is to clean up after devotionals.....kinda like what I did at UVU. We usually get back pretty late. The branch president just tells us to get to bed as quickly as we can. Dolbin Choro and I had gotten back around 10:12 and were heading to our rooms on the third floor. The snow was pretty wet that day. While we were running up the stairs, he slipped. We both laughed. He felt dumb and got up and kept walking. All of the sudden, I got a really sick feeling and looked down at his shoe. It was covered in blood. I freaked out. He pulled his pant leg up and there was blood everywhere. It was a lot of blood. I ran to the bathroom (which was a few steps away) to get some paper towels. On my way there I ran right past the branch president. He looked confused so I just yelled that Elder Dolbin had slipped. I got some paper towels and a first aid kit. The branch president said that he thought it looked ok and that we could handle it. He was right. We cleaned it up and bandaged it.

Everything was fine, but for some reason, both of us still had this sick feeling in our stomaches. I told him we should go see Elder Wirthlin because he was an EMT. We went up there and showed him the cut. He said it looked fine. We thought maybe it wasn't a big deal. Then Elder Wirthlin asked if he had hit his face when he fell. The answer was no...he just slipped. Elder Wirthlin all of the sudden got really serious. He pointed at Elder Dolbin's face at said, "You have Raccoon eyes. They only happen when the body has severe trauma." We looked and sure enough, there was bruising under his eyes. We couldn't figure it out. We cleaned the cut. It was pretty deep, but it was ok. Then things got crazy. Elder Dolbin in a matter of seconds turned white. He looked at me and said, "Elder Low! I'm going to pass out!" and he dropped. Elder Chung (one of the Elders in the room and our new zone leader) and I caught him before he hit the ground. We all got super scared. Then, the branch president walked in. He said he felt the need to come back and saw that Elder Dolbin had just passed out. He told Elder Wirthlin and I to go get help.

We ran to the front desk and got a security guard. He got there, started playing with Elder Dolbin's leg and it started bleeding like crazy.

Around midnight, we had cleaned his leg up again. He asked me to give a blessing. Elder Chung and I gave the blessing (with oil) and Elder Dolbin went to the doctor the next morning. He's ok. He apparently had cut all the way to the bone so his body was freaking out. He's fine now though.

That's the biggest thing that happened this week. I got a new teacher. Her name is sister Tingey and she served in Fukuoka. She's very nice.

I'm trying my best. Good news is Elder Dolbin and I are learning tons. I love the rest of my branch and the work is HUGE!

So, Elder Mikkola on the right from Finland and his companion Elder Lazorro from Brazil. Lazorro Choro has been here for 15 weeks. The MTC lost his visa. He's incredible.

This MTC is too full. There are too many people at meals. Everyone is always late.

Anyway, I'm out of time. I love you all and miss you.

Hope to make you proud.
Love,

Elder Randy Kazuhiro Low

January 29, 2013

So, before I start, thank you for the package and for setting up that blog.

So, weather. Elder Dolbin said that his mom wrote him and said that there has been 128 car accidents in SLC. On that day when it was super slippery, there were three broken arms in the MTC because of the Ice. Almost everybody fell down. Haha, luckily Dolbin Choro and I didn't. We walked outside and watched people falling over everywhere. Haha, he looked and me and started laughing. We basically crawled to class. It rained the night before and the it froze. It was scary. I didn't get hurt though. Don't worry.

The language is a freaking BEAST. It's so so hard. Every day I feel like I'm learning so much and that I'll be speaking in no time....and then a couple hours pass and I feel like an idiot that can't speak. I am very grateful for my background. Elder Dolbin and I are doing really well with the language. He took 6 years of Japanese before he came here and we're speaking and SYL'ing all the time. It's great. I'm so happy that my companion is here to serve and knows what he's doing.

I got a dear elder from Jon....but it all came as 19873 99018273989 127273782 912983 912793871........And I can't read it at all. Hahaha, so i'm sorry that I can't reply. Also, everyone in Wirthlin choro's district came to me saying they met him. I was super jealous. Haha, that's so cool that he was there though. When my companion and I did TRC, we taught two natives and they were so so cool. They were both from Tokyo and had served in Sapporo. It was so fun. We just had a conversation in Japanese and talked about how things were going. I love this language. Even though It's brutal. It's so fun.

Now, Sam!
Happy birthday. I'm so excited that you are becoming a teacher. You get to go to church early and set up the sacrament. I really would love to hear from you. I don't know if Dad told you....but saying goodbye to you was the hardest thing I did all day. It was hard. I hope you have an awesome birthday.

Jacob,
I'm sorry I didn't send a card or something. I hope you had a great birthday as well. Are you dating someone? I'd love to hear about her. If either of you (Jon or you) get married while i'm gone, I'd at least like to know what she's like. Keep me updated and I hope your birthday was awesome. Tell Brad and Nat and Zack that I love them and miss them. Also, tell the ward that I send my love.

Our District lost Brother Brinley. He started teaching in a new District which makes me really sad. He really was the best teacher. The new district to get him is really really lucky. I' m so jealous of them. The most spiritual moments of my mission have all come because of him. And that includes Elder Holland coming.

He had us read Moses 7 when God is with Enoch talking about the Earth and how they do not love their god. He told us to let that scripture drive us. Do everything for God. And if that isn't enough drive, do it for Brother Brinley. It was awesome. I got way pumped and wanted to leave the MTC and start teaching.

I got headbutted in foursquare yesterday. My jaw keeps cracking. My head aches. I took a pill and hopefully it's ok.

I'm running out of time. I wish I could tell you more. Just know that I'm loving it out here. I miss everyone and I wish I was with you....but this is too much fun. It's so so exciting. I hope you got my letter to the priests. I hope they are preparing to serve. It's a great time to be a missionary.

I love you all.

Love,
Elder Randy Kazuhiro Low