28 November 2016

28 November 2016 

Well. Still no investigators yet. We've been doing lots of looking and inviting but I guess we just haven't found those prepared people yet. It's funny with the ridiculous amount of people that there are we have multiple times run into people who had met missionaries before. To myself I jokingly think "Uhh don't you think this is maybe a sign that you should care more about the gospel?" Especially since they are SO superstitious. I've heard some hilarious but also really sad stories of people who quit taking discussions because "Every time I pray, a siren goes off" and they think THAT is a sign. Haha. Some people think very differently, that's all I can say. It's also kind of frustrating how many people we've run into that have all the right questions. A lot of people think exactly what we know, that many church's have truth but none of them have all of it. But then they couldn't care less to listen to our message. Haha, we just tell them what we can and give them our information hoping that they'll make the right decision. 

Speaking of decisions, I did decide to write an email this week... so yeah. 

We're moving apartments tomorrow. I might actually finally buy a bike this week. I've been told some funny stories about buying a bike in Japan. It's got a process much like buying a car in America I guess. Lots of paper work and insurance stuff. I'm not really looking forward to biking everywhere but it'll be nice to get places we can't usually go because those train prices really add up. 

I found out that our mission president, Warnick kaichō (President), knows more kanji than the average Japanese person and can speak and understand old Japanese. President

Warnick is the Japanese professor at BYU.

We got to go to a Japanese doctors office because everyone in our apartment is sick. Two of them have bronchitis; my companion had chest pain. Also, it snowed the whole day long! It was great. Looong train ride though. I still keep seeing Lacrosse players. Haven't really had the chance to talk to any of them. Also, there is this huge martial arts building near us and there are people coming from there with Yumi, a Japanese long bow, and the kendo version of a Naginata, a Japanese polearm. I want to go learn some stuff... 

Apparently there was a pretty big earthquake the other night. Which I slept through the entire thing. I wonder when I'll get to experience an earthquake while I'm conscious. Anyways, there was talk about evacuating some of the Tōkyō area because their nuclear reactor isn't exactly stable, and hasn't been for quite a while. Haha. Japan doesn't feel real sometimes.

I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving. We didn't do anything except some dendo. Although, we did have a thanksgiving dinner yesterday thanks to Draper Chōrō's mom. That was fun. Also, this new Christmas program is going to be fun to try and use for dendo. Yay for Christmas.

Hmm, I don't have much else to say... It's getting pretty cold here though and it's gonna be a struggle getting out there in the cold haha. 

I forgot to tell you, it was the first time it's snowed in Yokohama

before December in 54 years.

The earthquake that was here was 4 something. I thought you weren't
worried about my safety anymore.. I'm in Japan it's fine. 

Kouhoku Ward, Yokohama

Yup. Finally here. It's as great as I remember it of course. It's
really hard. I can't really talk to anyone at all. We're in Yokohama
in the Kouhoku ward. We're both new to this area so we are just
looking for people to teach. I've seen like four or five people with
lacrosse sticks so far which I thought was really funny. I did talk to the lacrosse stick people. The first one I saw was our
first day when we were running to a park. Our mission home is in the
same city as studio ghibli by the way.
Draper Chōrō is completely fluent. He is insanely good at Japanese, and not just speaking, he can read really well. Which is not normal for missionaries as far as I know. Everyone is super impressed by his Japanese skills.

I did get to go through Shibuya on the way to our area, so that was fun. I didn't get a picture though. I figured it wouldn't be appropriate because it's outside our mission area. It was cool to see it though. Shibuya is the busiest crossing in the world. It's a huge shopping district.

The apartment is supposed to be for two. We were supposed to be moving into a new apartment but they lost it the day they went to sign so we're going to be moving later this month to a different four person apartment. The cardboard boxes are our table.

There is an elder in my district who can do the mask salesman
laugh and he can play a ton of Zelda songs on the piano SUPER SUPER
well.

I love the Japanese people though. And happy Japanese people are probably the best people in the whole world. It was funny to go to sacrament meeting and see that it's pretty much exactly the same thing. You still have the loud children with parents trying to keep them calm, the funny old people, stuff like that. It's great. 

21 November 2016

Peter sent the last batch of pictures from his MTC time - he doesn't usually give information about the pictures, like who the heck the people are that are in them.  Hopefully when he gets home he will remember who they were . . . :)

Nice, rebels.

Arrival: Photos and Map

17 November 2016

Dear Brother and Sister Jones,

Your son arrived in the Japan Tokyo South Mission in good spirits and ready to commence his proselyting assignment. We had a wonderful time with him.

Elder Jones has been assigned to work with Elder Draper and they are serving in an area called Kohoku. Your son can receive his mail at the following address (Mission Home address):

Elder Peter Garrett Jones

Japan Tokyo South Mission

1-7-7 Kichijoji, Higashi-cho

Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-0002

Japan

Attached are pictures of your son with Sister Warnick and me, of himself, his companion, and group pictures of the new missionaries and trainers. We have also included a map showing the locations of the various areas in the mission. You can use it as a personal record of his assignments.

Elder Jones is now adjusting to his new proselyting area. The positive sustaining support he gets from you at home will be a great blessing to him. May the Lord bless you and your family as you share in your son’s mission experience.

Sincerely,

President J Paul Warnick

Safe Arrival Photo

15 November 2016

Dear Parents,

This is a quick note to let you know that your missionary arrived safely in Japan on Tuesday afternoon, November 15, 2016.

President and Sister Warnick will soon have dinner with the missionaries, visit shortly, and then send them to bed for a much needed rest.

Wednesday is orientation and training day. On Thursday they will meet their new companion/trainer. In the afternoon they will be off to their new area. We will take additional pictures Thursday and send them to you as soon as we get them all ready.

Our Mission’s preparation day is Monday. This is the day missionaries can email family and friends. However, when missionaries have a temple day, normally one Tuesday every six week transfer period, this becomes their preparation day. So, expect an email either Monday or Tuesday each week.

Thank you for entrusting your missionary to us in the Japan Tokyo South Mission. We so appreciate all you have done to get your missionary ready for this experience!

Sincerely,

Sister Loftus

Japan Tokyo South Mission Secretary

Airport arrival

Bus ride to the mission home