Dear Family,
First I'd like to just mention that any photos of me and friends (any friends) would be great. Also with any family members. I already brought some of the family so it's not as important. People just want to see them and I imagine companions in the field will as well. So I'll be sending about 18 pictures home today.
New missionaries come tomorrow. It will be exciting. When the natives come in 3 weeks we will have over 100. It's the most that they have ever had going to Japan. It's ridiculous. Also it's sad that they recently closed a mission in Japan but it had something to do with one of the missions doing really well on baptisms. It will be tough being the older missionaries now. We actually aren't allowed to speak English at all tomorrow except to people that only speak English and the new missionaries. We don't speak English at all in class or at meals when we are with our districts. We've done it for half a day already and it was tough. The language is going all right. It's still killing me though but I'm getting through it. The Lord is helping me.
I love packages but I think I will need to be the one that starts sending stuff home and it's not worth the money because I might need stuff in Japan and that will be the most expensive. Also I will be having some big purchases once I get there like my bike which my sensei said will be more like 500 dollars for a good one. I'm hoping to get one off of a missionary. Also I might need to buy about a $150 electronic dictionary. We will see. So just don't worry about packages. I also need to start sending tons of letters and journals home. I'm filling up journals fast. I think I will be fine on weight though going over to Japan. I had to move dorms today with my whole zone because the incoming districts are so big. It's super nice because we are in the nicest dorms now and we have better showers and stuff. My suite cases weren't too full at all. If you ever do send a package by the way protein would be cool. I'm gaining too much weight just eating fats and starches. The protein would fill me up and I workout a lot too. I'm not as tired lately by the way and I'm still running and talking singular. I can now run 3 miles in 21.5 minutes. It's not great but it is good for me.
I feel so stupid learning the language sometimes. I couldn't go in the class room a couple of days ago because there was a smaller lecture going on that I didn't need to be a part of because it was on older stuff and so I decided to learn colors. I was out walking around our floor and someone would point at an object and I'd say the color. I feel like they could make a children's book called, "Tyler Learns Colors" It would be like a 2nd grade level Japanese book. Those kids would laugh at me and tell me how slow I am to say the words. Anyway, I've totally got orenji and pinku down.
I hear that there is a website that's called missionary moms or something and the mom's in our mission/zone/district can write to each other and send pictures and stuff. I'm not actually sure. This is kind of a weird story but it made me feel good. There is a sensei over one of our districts that I've never really met but I went in to go to the bathroom just before me. I was at the urinal and he was in the stall and we had a whole conversation in Japanese. Yes it was very weird if that's what you were just thinking. I felt pretty good though. It's a bummer that we don't have culture study on Sundays (like Dad had when he was in the MTC), but I do love the fireside talks.
Good job on the debate thing Dad. It sounds like you are getting good support. It sounds like BYU and the US are doing well. I guess a Mormon auzzie (that's how elder stachowski told me to spell it) woman won in snow boarding or something. The headline in Elder Stachowski's hometown was "No sex No drugs No alcohol." I thought it was funny but then again I'm a missionary. Grandma and Grandpa Hooton sound like they are doing well. They sound busy though. Speaking of Hootons. I don't know if I said that but our name in Japanese is written AND pronounced Futon. It's literally Fu to N. Everyone keeps on laughing at me when I go to teach lessons and there are native Japanese people there.
I did receive a package from Alec's mom. So did Jacob fix that speaker in the truck or not? Is the rest of it consistently working right? Please tell me the truth. My lesson in Japanese went all right last week. She kept asking hard questions that were didn't prepare for and she snuck us a couple hints in English so the camera couldn't see. Yes I now know 3 written languages. One is romagi which is just English letters but the pronunciations are different and it doesn't have all the letters. I know the other two now. I can read the romaji faster but my senseis stopped using it so I am forced to read in it now. The 2nd one is used for foreign words, so like most of the book of Mormon names and then just random words every so often. The last one is the Chinese characters and a Japanese person will punch you in the face if you call them a Chinese character but I haven't learned any of them yet, but I need to.
My haircut is nice. it's really short but it's how a like it. I like the long sleeve shirt it helps. It will start to warm up soon so I'm okay. I just used the debit card and it works. I'm doing fine on money. I don’t spend that much at all. I don't have a departure date yet. We will receive travel plans like 10 days before we leave. I'm not longer a senior companion. We switch at six weeks. My companion was also called as District Leader so I get the wondrous job of checking the mail. It’s so exciting. Things are going well. This week flew by. The TRC (our lessons) are like tests and they make the week go by faster. I'm still just chugging away at the language but now I'm already starting to think in Japanese. Boy, it's tough.
I hope everyone has a good week. I'll be praying for you. I know that this is exactly where I need to be and I love that I'm learning Japanese and I will be able to love and teach the people of Japan. I'm really excited and I know that I'm taking part in a good work. I'm already 1/16 done. It's flying by..right :). Katie might not think so though. I love you all.
Elder Tyler Hooton
(I will try to send pictures off today)
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
February 16, 2010
Dear Family,
Things are going well. I have to give my first full lesson this Thursday in nihongo dake (Japanese only). It will be intense. Jacob it's like those skits you have to do in Spanish class for your finals....but for 35 minutes. Oh, and someone's soul is on the line. Also for 15 minutes before I have to PRETEND like I'm eating and we have to talk about what we are eating. I'm learning another written language. I started yesterday. I'm almost done. I'm amazed at how fast I’m doing it. Its 46 characters and then I have to know how they are modified with quotations and a degree mark. So on day 30 of the MTC I discovered for myself that Japanese has a comma. Someone probably could have mentioned that before since it resets the subject. There are soooo many gaps in our knowledge that we just aren't informed of.
So just to show that I'm still a brilliant inventor I would like to share an idea that I came up with this week. It's a shirt that doesn't change colors when it gets wet. What application does this have you may ask? Well those guys at the gym that have severe pit sweat. No one would know. Brilliant.
So my Sensei can say the first vision in 18 seconds. It's ridiculous. We asked him to do it that fast. He wasn't reading either. It was from memory. I will try to print off some pictures this week and send them around. Our sempai left yesterday morning (the transfer before us) and it really sad. We are the only ones left. It's a lot of responsibility now. Especially since we have to be the sempai when the new elders and sisters come. I did a Where's Waldo thing with me. I'm in tons of pictures in the back. I like making a game out of it.
I saw the Christensens (Kert our former Bishop) this week. They have probably told you by now. He was here for a conference. They dropped by to see his father. It blew my mind to see them in line at lunch. I didn't even know what to do. It felt so weird. I'm doing well. Time seems to be going fast and the language is coming all right.
One quick story. We thought this elder looked like Elder boss and he didn't believe us and it was at dinner so I couldn't take out m camera. My companion and I were going into a bathroom and I saw this elder walking out and so I told my companion that I would wait outside. This elder was also waiting for his companion. SO I took out my camera and turned it on and then turned the flash off. He looked at me so I turned it to viewing pictures. Then this REALLY inappropriately dressed girl walked by with her boyfriend. She was there for the devotional I guess. They were visitors. So then I saw them talking and I was like here is my chance. So the elder looked away and I turned it back to taking pictures but I didn't realize that it turned my flash back on....along with my redeye flash. So it double flashed and I stood there looking really stupid...I got the picture though.
One other funny story to end it is that Elder Stachowski dropped a book on my head during the middle of the night. It wasn't even physically possible how it bounced off the dresser and then landed on my head. I am going to go.
Have a great week. I'm so happy about how things are going at home. Things that I have specifically prayed for have happened. EVERYTHING I’ve prayed for has happened.
Love you all. Have a great week.
Things are going well. I have to give my first full lesson this Thursday in nihongo dake (Japanese only). It will be intense. Jacob it's like those skits you have to do in Spanish class for your finals....but for 35 minutes. Oh, and someone's soul is on the line. Also for 15 minutes before I have to PRETEND like I'm eating and we have to talk about what we are eating. I'm learning another written language. I started yesterday. I'm almost done. I'm amazed at how fast I’m doing it. Its 46 characters and then I have to know how they are modified with quotations and a degree mark. So on day 30 of the MTC I discovered for myself that Japanese has a comma. Someone probably could have mentioned that before since it resets the subject. There are soooo many gaps in our knowledge that we just aren't informed of.
So just to show that I'm still a brilliant inventor I would like to share an idea that I came up with this week. It's a shirt that doesn't change colors when it gets wet. What application does this have you may ask? Well those guys at the gym that have severe pit sweat. No one would know. Brilliant.
So my Sensei can say the first vision in 18 seconds. It's ridiculous. We asked him to do it that fast. He wasn't reading either. It was from memory. I will try to print off some pictures this week and send them around. Our sempai left yesterday morning (the transfer before us) and it really sad. We are the only ones left. It's a lot of responsibility now. Especially since we have to be the sempai when the new elders and sisters come. I did a Where's Waldo thing with me. I'm in tons of pictures in the back. I like making a game out of it.
I saw the Christensens (Kert our former Bishop) this week. They have probably told you by now. He was here for a conference. They dropped by to see his father. It blew my mind to see them in line at lunch. I didn't even know what to do. It felt so weird. I'm doing well. Time seems to be going fast and the language is coming all right.
One quick story. We thought this elder looked like Elder boss and he didn't believe us and it was at dinner so I couldn't take out m camera. My companion and I were going into a bathroom and I saw this elder walking out and so I told my companion that I would wait outside. This elder was also waiting for his companion. SO I took out my camera and turned it on and then turned the flash off. He looked at me so I turned it to viewing pictures. Then this REALLY inappropriately dressed girl walked by with her boyfriend. She was there for the devotional I guess. They were visitors. So then I saw them talking and I was like here is my chance. So the elder looked away and I turned it back to taking pictures but I didn't realize that it turned my flash back on....along with my redeye flash. So it double flashed and I stood there looking really stupid...I got the picture though.
One other funny story to end it is that Elder Stachowski dropped a book on my head during the middle of the night. It wasn't even physically possible how it bounced off the dresser and then landed on my head. I am going to go.
Have a great week. I'm so happy about how things are going at home. Things that I have specifically prayed for have happened. EVERYTHING I’ve prayed for has happened.
Love you all. Have a great week.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
February 9, 2010
Dear Family,
This week had a lot of spiritual experience. I think I forgot to mention this but within two hours of arriving at the MTC we got to hear from Elder Holland who just walked into our meeting and then sat up on the stand and said some closing words. I also forgot to tell you last week that the Nihonjin came. They are the natives. It was really exciting when we got to try and talk with them. I could understand a pleasant 10 percent maybe. I am content with my language learning though. It's not discouraging to me. The toughest thing is just focusing. I've seen the Lord's hand in my life this last week. I've made a lot of progress and had a lot of questions answered.
So one thing that I’ve learned, which should solve a family problem is how to pronounce sodoku. Each "o" makes and "oh" sound. Someone might owe someone else money now. So what happened with the FIB stock? Did those meetings go well? How's the family wide exercising going? I'd like to let everyone know that an Elder walked into my room this week and commented on how perfect my feet were. I didn't even say anything. He said it all on this own. It sucks that you have been getting that much snow. I'm sure it will clear up soon and then snow again right after that. Is the Nissan doing well? I should have brought a coat. I don't have anything to wear on P-days. It’s freezing while I'm waiting in line for food (it's outside.) Can you send me a catalog for a Japanese CTR ring? I think I’d really like that. Or you can just pick out the coolest one. It'd be crazy if they had one like that one I had before I lost it. Like I said in my other letter, Mr. Macs is a good place. I don't know if I said this but congrats on getting money to work mom. I'm proud of you. I hope work is going well.
I wonder if it was like this when you were here Dad but the Korean missionaries are like oppressed. They aren't allowed to talk in anything but the most polite form and they can't say certain things to us and they get in trouble if they use Romanized writing. They are our only friends really. Japanese and Korean missionaries seem to stick together. Our whole Japanese Zone sits together at every meal. We are part of a club or something. We also get special seats at firesides. It seems that going to Japan runs in families. I'm glad grandpa went because I'd feel left out otherwise. Everyone that is here had a really close relative go to Japan. I was talking to someone at the temple and his three sons all went. Most of the Elders in my district had a brother or other relative serve in Japan.
Katie, thank you so much for the letter. I love them. I love your drawings. Your story about Ryan was pretty funny too. My Sundays are good. They are long though and I wish we could focus on spiritual things. They don't assign talks but every member of the zone has to prepare a talk in Japanese and we are called on at random to give them. So it's stressful in the mornings because we find out the topics in the mornings. I feel like we should be focusing on spiritual, doctrinal stuff instead of language stuff. Fast Sundays are ridiculous. Dinner has all 2,500 missionaries in there. Other than that, every Sunday has all three meals. If you send more food, send Sunchips and chewy granola bars. Also what's the verdict on that BYU-I devotional testimony?
Not a lot of good stories this week. I'll work on it. Most of the things I think are funny probably aren't funny to people that haven't been in the same three buildings every day for the last month. My testimony has grown a lot. I now know that the more exact we are with our prayers the more exact we will receive blessings. If we had to say general things in our prayers then we will get general blessings. So be specific in your prayers and I can promise that you will see a change. I hope everyone has a great week. I love letters. Tell grandma and Grandpa Hooton that I am rooming with Elder Curtis.
I love you all.
Tyler.
This week had a lot of spiritual experience. I think I forgot to mention this but within two hours of arriving at the MTC we got to hear from Elder Holland who just walked into our meeting and then sat up on the stand and said some closing words. I also forgot to tell you last week that the Nihonjin came. They are the natives. It was really exciting when we got to try and talk with them. I could understand a pleasant 10 percent maybe. I am content with my language learning though. It's not discouraging to me. The toughest thing is just focusing. I've seen the Lord's hand in my life this last week. I've made a lot of progress and had a lot of questions answered.
So one thing that I’ve learned, which should solve a family problem is how to pronounce sodoku. Each "o" makes and "oh" sound. Someone might owe someone else money now. So what happened with the FIB stock? Did those meetings go well? How's the family wide exercising going? I'd like to let everyone know that an Elder walked into my room this week and commented on how perfect my feet were. I didn't even say anything. He said it all on this own. It sucks that you have been getting that much snow. I'm sure it will clear up soon and then snow again right after that. Is the Nissan doing well? I should have brought a coat. I don't have anything to wear on P-days. It’s freezing while I'm waiting in line for food (it's outside.) Can you send me a catalog for a Japanese CTR ring? I think I’d really like that. Or you can just pick out the coolest one. It'd be crazy if they had one like that one I had before I lost it. Like I said in my other letter, Mr. Macs is a good place. I don't know if I said this but congrats on getting money to work mom. I'm proud of you. I hope work is going well.
I wonder if it was like this when you were here Dad but the Korean missionaries are like oppressed. They aren't allowed to talk in anything but the most polite form and they can't say certain things to us and they get in trouble if they use Romanized writing. They are our only friends really. Japanese and Korean missionaries seem to stick together. Our whole Japanese Zone sits together at every meal. We are part of a club or something. We also get special seats at firesides. It seems that going to Japan runs in families. I'm glad grandpa went because I'd feel left out otherwise. Everyone that is here had a really close relative go to Japan. I was talking to someone at the temple and his three sons all went. Most of the Elders in my district had a brother or other relative serve in Japan.
Katie, thank you so much for the letter. I love them. I love your drawings. Your story about Ryan was pretty funny too. My Sundays are good. They are long though and I wish we could focus on spiritual things. They don't assign talks but every member of the zone has to prepare a talk in Japanese and we are called on at random to give them. So it's stressful in the mornings because we find out the topics in the mornings. I feel like we should be focusing on spiritual, doctrinal stuff instead of language stuff. Fast Sundays are ridiculous. Dinner has all 2,500 missionaries in there. Other than that, every Sunday has all three meals. If you send more food, send Sunchips and chewy granola bars. Also what's the verdict on that BYU-I devotional testimony?
Not a lot of good stories this week. I'll work on it. Most of the things I think are funny probably aren't funny to people that haven't been in the same three buildings every day for the last month. My testimony has grown a lot. I now know that the more exact we are with our prayers the more exact we will receive blessings. If we had to say general things in our prayers then we will get general blessings. So be specific in your prayers and I can promise that you will see a change. I hope everyone has a great week. I love letters. Tell grandma and Grandpa Hooton that I am rooming with Elder Curtis.
I love you all.
Tyler.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
January 26, 2010
Dear Family,
So this week went better. I had a better experience this last week. We had some really good inspiring speakers. My district has 12 missionaries. My zone has over 50. It's the most they have ever had. Tell Jacob that there is a guy in my district that is like the guy from Scrubs that his dad owns the hospital and also the guy from the Rundown put together. It's funny that his name is Elder Boss too. The Japanese or Nihongo, is going well. I'm still not great at all but I'm progressing consistently. I would send you pictures but I don't have a lot of time because I forgot my email address which is very much me. My doctrine study is going well. So far I've memorized a scripture everyday. I do like the food here. My companion is great. He is awesome at Japanese and we work well together because he has a hard time talking on the spot during the lessons. Luckily that's the only thing that I can do well. The sleep schedule is killing me. I rarely get to bed before eleven because of my prayers going so long and then me just not being able to sleep. I started getting sick on Sunday and it's a back and forth fight. It makes it super difficult to stay focused and motivated when I'm so sick. My whole district is sick. Since we are here for three months I guess everyone gets sick at least twice. My whole district is essentially sick. It's not fun. I'm sorry that I don't have any great stories this week or anything. I will try to write them down or something. It kills me that both of my senseis (teachers) got engaged in the last two weeks. It hurts deep down. I think, "Jerks" They are cool though and I am really starting to like them. I feel like we have a genuine relationship. They make me excited to go to Japan. I think I will really start to be super happy when I get to Japan and won't be as confined. Dad I'm glad the working out is going well. Keep it up. It makes me super excited that when I get back we can lift together and stuff. I'm felt so bad after I heard about Jacob at the last tournament. It killed me. How's the stereo in the truck? Did he fix it like how I told him? Why isn't the phone working for Katie? I'm sure it's not broken. Thanks everyone for the emails. They were all great. I really enjoyed them. Dad thanks for your diligence in writing. Tell Grandma and Grandpa thanks too. I really enjoyed that. Way to go mom and fixing MS money. That's awesome! How is the computer working? It's very relieving that my GPA is a 3.96 now. That helps a lot. The Brendon Bellows story was so funny. I laughed out loud when I read it. It's cool that BYU won. Thanks for everyone's support. I am making it through. My testimony has become strengthened quite a bit. I'm excited to learn Japanese. Just to confound these annoying elders next to me that are not representing the Lord very well. It floors me how immature and sacrilegious some Elders here act. Well I've got to take care of my laundry. I will probably even have higher spirits later today after I go to the temple. Thanks again everyone. I love the letters. I'm sorry if I missed any questions. I will try to be better organized next time. I'm getting better at least...I think.
Ai, Hooton Choro
So this week went better. I had a better experience this last week. We had some really good inspiring speakers. My district has 12 missionaries. My zone has over 50. It's the most they have ever had. Tell Jacob that there is a guy in my district that is like the guy from Scrubs that his dad owns the hospital and also the guy from the Rundown put together. It's funny that his name is Elder Boss too. The Japanese or Nihongo, is going well. I'm still not great at all but I'm progressing consistently. I would send you pictures but I don't have a lot of time because I forgot my email address which is very much me. My doctrine study is going well. So far I've memorized a scripture everyday. I do like the food here. My companion is great. He is awesome at Japanese and we work well together because he has a hard time talking on the spot during the lessons. Luckily that's the only thing that I can do well. The sleep schedule is killing me. I rarely get to bed before eleven because of my prayers going so long and then me just not being able to sleep. I started getting sick on Sunday and it's a back and forth fight. It makes it super difficult to stay focused and motivated when I'm so sick. My whole district is sick. Since we are here for three months I guess everyone gets sick at least twice. My whole district is essentially sick. It's not fun. I'm sorry that I don't have any great stories this week or anything. I will try to write them down or something. It kills me that both of my senseis (teachers) got engaged in the last two weeks. It hurts deep down. I think, "Jerks" They are cool though and I am really starting to like them. I feel like we have a genuine relationship. They make me excited to go to Japan. I think I will really start to be super happy when I get to Japan and won't be as confined. Dad I'm glad the working out is going well. Keep it up. It makes me super excited that when I get back we can lift together and stuff. I'm felt so bad after I heard about Jacob at the last tournament. It killed me. How's the stereo in the truck? Did he fix it like how I told him? Why isn't the phone working for Katie? I'm sure it's not broken. Thanks everyone for the emails. They were all great. I really enjoyed them. Dad thanks for your diligence in writing. Tell Grandma and Grandpa thanks too. I really enjoyed that. Way to go mom and fixing MS money. That's awesome! How is the computer working? It's very relieving that my GPA is a 3.96 now. That helps a lot. The Brendon Bellows story was so funny. I laughed out loud when I read it. It's cool that BYU won. Thanks for everyone's support. I am making it through. My testimony has become strengthened quite a bit. I'm excited to learn Japanese. Just to confound these annoying elders next to me that are not representing the Lord very well. It floors me how immature and sacrilegious some Elders here act. Well I've got to take care of my laundry. I will probably even have higher spirits later today after I go to the temple. Thanks again everyone. I love the letters. I'm sorry if I missed any questions. I will try to be better organized next time. I'm getting better at least...I think.
Ai, Hooton Choro
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)