One quick note:
Once Tyler leaves on March 29th he will no longer be able to recieve dearelders. Please see the address below. I will post any new address we get.
Hey everyone,
First thanks G&G Hooton for the great DearElder letters. I really appreciate it. I love to read them. They are so wonderful. This was a rough week but not bad. My district had some contention. Our new teacher angered some people. He talks to us like we are five and doesn't plan out his lessons and so there was some contention with him. People were also angry about so many things.
Jacob, in order to prepare for your mission I have some advice. 1). be in awkward situations. 2). try dealing with stress. Don't live a life without stress. You will fall apart like some people here. 3). Learn how to just DO something. Don't wait and around and procrastinate it. Do it right now. (Suggestion: Before you go to sleep tonight, write you're older brother a DearElder. I'm not saying I feel neglected but it would be a good exercise). Also, read your scriptures every night. Just count to three and then go and do it!) 4). Learn how to deal with annoying people. The world is laced with them. Nothing you can do about it but try to understand how they feel and who they are and try to love them as Christ loves them. This advice can go for everyone. I'm not saying I've mastered these things. In fact, that’s why I've written them. I've seem myself and others struggle with these.
I heard elder Oaks talked at Stanford or something. How did that go? It's great by BYU won. Stupid Kansas State though. I feel like I've been betrayed by them. Mom I don't have my passport. They will give to me the morning that I leave (bad idea?...I think so). If you could send me a calling card I feel like that would take away from stress. This is also a weird request but it's for a good cause. Can you send some more of those TimTam things too? I can't think of anything else I need, but if you think of anything, send it. I will be fine on weight I think.
The Japanese is coming well. I can communicate on my own with some of the Japanese. It will be incredibly tough when I get there but it's okay. Sorry to everyone that isn't family. This letter is really lame. I am going to try to write Grandpa Miller a letter in Japanese and send it home since he might be there over the break. Katie I love you and will try to write you a letter. Bye Everyone have a great week.
Love Tyler
Tyler’s Travel Itinerary:
Leave SLC on Delta airlines flight 990 at 8:25 am on March 29th. Arrive in San Francisco at 9:46 am.
Leave San Francisco on Japan Airlines flight 1 at 1:20PM. Arrive in Tokyo Narita, Japan at 4:35 pm on March 30th.
Leave Tokyo on flight 53 at 6:25pm on the 30th and arrive in Nagoya, Japan at 7:45pm.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
March 16, 2010
Dear Family,
This week went well. I'm sad to hear that Jacob isn't doing too great. I hope you feel better. I loved grandma and grandpa's DearElders this week. Thank you. It was incredibly sweet of you. Katie I can't thank you enough for the letter that you sent me. I don't know if I will be able to respond to it this week because I’m so busy today but it was my favorite letter in the world. It truly is the cutest thing I've ever seen (yeah you heard me WALL-E that's right).
I'm sleeping well. I am pretty tired all the time though just because of the huge workload that we have. The language is going well. I had a full conversation with a native missionary yesterday. I completed my task well and my sensei asked the missionary questions to see if I did everything right and he said yes. I then talked to him for a while and his best friend went to Montana for fly fishing. I told him that my chichi and I did that all the time. Luckily you sent that picture of me with the tiny fish because I said my fish were always so small. It was in Utah but we'll just keep that one to ourselves.
I am still trying to stay in shape so I can missionary longer and harder than anyway in my zone. Elder Larkin (the auzzie that I’ve mentioned) pushes me pretty hard. It’s a nice release of tension and gives me more endurance. I'm still at 185 lbs though which is 15 pounds more than when I arrived. I think it's a lot of muscle though. My legs and arms are much bigger. Everyday I don't want to run Elder Larkin in his deep auzzie voice says, "Come on Futon Choro, we need to become better than any mortal women deserves but fit for an eternal companion." Let me tell you....inspiring words. lol.
I see how it is Jason. I'm going to start to learn Portuguese and you decided to drop it for Spanish? Quincy and I will just talk. That's sick about your research (sick as in awesome). Will you be doing it by yourself? Your competitions stories were really funny. I laughed pretty hard. I thought the only people over the age of 18 that played four square were missionaries in the MTC. I guess I was wrong.
Monica and Quincy your emails are great. Monica your primary ideas were what we can on Japanese Kampeki (perfect). I hope law school decisions are going well. Quincy's internship sounds perfect for him. I'd love to do it too. Thanks everyway for the descriptions of things that I won't be able to experience for two years (just kidding it's totally fine). I'm learning well on how to not be distracted by things. I am focusing a lot better. I had to give a lesson this last Sunday on diligence so I tried to apply it to my life a lot more. I gave a certain food that had been sent to me by a beloved family member away as a prize to the most diligent person during the lesson. It may or may not be spreadable and it had lost its use after I had all my brownies. I think I'm good on clothes by the way.
The work is going well. I'm learning a lot. I feel like my language ability is greatly increasing with the Lord's help. I'm so stoked to go to Japan. I will probably find out my flight plans on Friday. I will only be able to email back on next Tuesday. I will have to try and organize when I can call you. I hope I have a long layover somewhere so I can't have some time. I don't want to make it too big of a deal though. I don't want it to become stressful for anyone (me included).
I found out some incredible news this week. Shelby Lubbers my good friend has been secretly going to church in her college ward and has taken all of the discussions. The only thing that is holding her back isn't that her parents don't fully support her. It's sad but I think (know) that it will also be a big problem I run into in Japan. I'm so incredibly happy though. I’m even more happy that my family is doing so well. I love that everyone is trying to become closer to the Lord. I pray for it every night. It motivates me so much and gives me more to work for when I get to Japan. Things are going well for me. I have down points during the week but I'm so stoked to leave soon. Love you all. Bye.
Elder Hooton
This week went well. I'm sad to hear that Jacob isn't doing too great. I hope you feel better. I loved grandma and grandpa's DearElders this week. Thank you. It was incredibly sweet of you. Katie I can't thank you enough for the letter that you sent me. I don't know if I will be able to respond to it this week because I’m so busy today but it was my favorite letter in the world. It truly is the cutest thing I've ever seen (yeah you heard me WALL-E that's right).
I'm sleeping well. I am pretty tired all the time though just because of the huge workload that we have. The language is going well. I had a full conversation with a native missionary yesterday. I completed my task well and my sensei asked the missionary questions to see if I did everything right and he said yes. I then talked to him for a while and his best friend went to Montana for fly fishing. I told him that my chichi and I did that all the time. Luckily you sent that picture of me with the tiny fish because I said my fish were always so small. It was in Utah but we'll just keep that one to ourselves.
I am still trying to stay in shape so I can missionary longer and harder than anyway in my zone. Elder Larkin (the auzzie that I’ve mentioned) pushes me pretty hard. It’s a nice release of tension and gives me more endurance. I'm still at 185 lbs though which is 15 pounds more than when I arrived. I think it's a lot of muscle though. My legs and arms are much bigger. Everyday I don't want to run Elder Larkin in his deep auzzie voice says, "Come on Futon Choro, we need to become better than any mortal women deserves but fit for an eternal companion." Let me tell you....inspiring words. lol.
I see how it is Jason. I'm going to start to learn Portuguese and you decided to drop it for Spanish? Quincy and I will just talk. That's sick about your research (sick as in awesome). Will you be doing it by yourself? Your competitions stories were really funny. I laughed pretty hard. I thought the only people over the age of 18 that played four square were missionaries in the MTC. I guess I was wrong.
Monica and Quincy your emails are great. Monica your primary ideas were what we can on Japanese Kampeki (perfect). I hope law school decisions are going well. Quincy's internship sounds perfect for him. I'd love to do it too. Thanks everyway for the descriptions of things that I won't be able to experience for two years (just kidding it's totally fine). I'm learning well on how to not be distracted by things. I am focusing a lot better. I had to give a lesson this last Sunday on diligence so I tried to apply it to my life a lot more. I gave a certain food that had been sent to me by a beloved family member away as a prize to the most diligent person during the lesson. It may or may not be spreadable and it had lost its use after I had all my brownies. I think I'm good on clothes by the way.
The work is going well. I'm learning a lot. I feel like my language ability is greatly increasing with the Lord's help. I'm so stoked to go to Japan. I will probably find out my flight plans on Friday. I will only be able to email back on next Tuesday. I will have to try and organize when I can call you. I hope I have a long layover somewhere so I can't have some time. I don't want to make it too big of a deal though. I don't want it to become stressful for anyone (me included).
I found out some incredible news this week. Shelby Lubbers my good friend has been secretly going to church in her college ward and has taken all of the discussions. The only thing that is holding her back isn't that her parents don't fully support her. It's sad but I think (know) that it will also be a big problem I run into in Japan. I'm so incredibly happy though. I’m even more happy that my family is doing so well. I love that everyone is trying to become closer to the Lord. I pray for it every night. It motivates me so much and gives me more to work for when I get to Japan. Things are going well for me. I have down points during the week but I'm so stoked to leave soon. Love you all. Bye.
Elder Hooton
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
March 9, 2010
Dear Family,
Well I'm using a gmail interface now which means I can fit in more email addresses so I hope I got everyone's right. There is a rumor that they are trying out laptops for missionaries in Japan. We were told by a teacher that just got back. That'd be so cool. They say you can communicate with investigators easier through email in Japan. It sounds like they are trying to be more efficient. It makes sense but I'm sure it will be abused in someway by missionaries. Sad.
I am going to change my emails so they aren't so boring. To answer most questions I think I'm just going to write letters so and try to make these emails more exciting by telling more stories or something.
First, thank you Grandma and Grandpa Hooton for the DearElders they are great. Thanks always to the family for being so great with answering all my requests for pictures and stuff like that. Dad I love the things that you've sent me to ponder from stake conference and the stuff that Lyle sent you. I appreciate it along with your DearElder letter everyday. It helps a lot. Jason thanks for your letters. I can never pass up on a good fiberone story. Dad that's super exciting about New York and debate. I'm glad the whole debate thing is going well.
So things are going well with my companion except for the fact that he has freaked out a couple of times over stupid things like one of our teachers teaching us the Japanese phrase for dang. Like when you drop something. He says as missionaries we shouldn't be saying it. Even though my native teacher who is super up on missionary appearance said it was fine. My companion like threw a fit. We get along really well though.
My favorite meal here is probably the Sloppy Joes. I don't know though. It's hit and miss here. I did have seven pieces of cake for dinner last night by the way. Yeah I'm fat. I'm on 13 pounds gained right now and that was after I fasted.
So here is the coolest fact of anything that I've heard since I got here and this might appeal to Jason and Quincy. Because Nagoya has so many car factories there was a huge Brazilian immigration to Japan. They say that most missionaries that go to Nagoya pick up a lot of Portuguese and that some are set apart to learn the language. I would love learning it so much. I may be a little behind with Japanese but I'm not afraid of doing more. I figure with the Lord's help I can do anything so why not accept more responsibility.
The new transfer of missionaries scare me. One left the second day. One has three Tattoos and finally shaved his huge chops yesterday. He seems nice though. Also, all of them look like they can bench 300 pounds and snap me in half. They aren't very friendly either. We keep offering to help them and they are like borderline mean when they turn us down. We are a little weirded out by it. It's kind of funny how tightly wound we all are here. We all speak Japanese in our sleep because it's all we think about all day. I feel like a part of a Jason Bourne movie. We are all trained so hard that we have dreams about it. I feel like if someone tried to rigorously wake me from my sleep I would suddenly wake up and grab the Book of Mormon next to my bed and try to give it to them (just like they grab their guns in movies when they wake up....oh my jokes are getting worse...it hurts me a little).
Hey! We can shake hands now in the MTC. I don't know how I feel about it though. I know how Dad feels about it. So I had an interesting experience last night. There is this Elder in my district that always has to go to the bathroom. So we went to start a teaching activity and he had to go. So my sensei tells us to just follow him and his companion and act like we are contacting them in their house. So we knocked on the bathroom door and did the whole exercise. So I shared a spiritual though in a men’s bathroom for the first time in my life. Maybe it will come in handy in Japan.
Real quick, I want to share a thought with all of you. Alma 43:24-25. I would encourage you to read it. It shows to me that God gives us blessings but we have to make our own extra preparations just like Moroni had to. He did things that the Lord didn't mention. It means to me that we have to try as hard as we can even when we receive advice from prophets and the Lord. Quincy may have read this in his Middle East class but there is a quote from Mohammad where a man says to him, "If I tie up my mule, am I not trusting in Allah?" Mohammad replies, "First tie up your mule and then trust in Allah". I think that we need to show the Lord how much things mean to us by continually trying to fix our own problems and ask for his help while we do it. It was just a thought. I'm not trying to condemn anyone. I just thought I could apply it to my life.
So I love you all. I hope you have a good week. Send suggestions on how my emails and letters could be better. Yours are all great. I love you all.
Love, Elder Hooton
Well I'm using a gmail interface now which means I can fit in more email addresses so I hope I got everyone's right. There is a rumor that they are trying out laptops for missionaries in Japan. We were told by a teacher that just got back. That'd be so cool. They say you can communicate with investigators easier through email in Japan. It sounds like they are trying to be more efficient. It makes sense but I'm sure it will be abused in someway by missionaries. Sad.
I am going to change my emails so they aren't so boring. To answer most questions I think I'm just going to write letters so and try to make these emails more exciting by telling more stories or something.
First, thank you Grandma and Grandpa Hooton for the DearElders they are great. Thanks always to the family for being so great with answering all my requests for pictures and stuff like that. Dad I love the things that you've sent me to ponder from stake conference and the stuff that Lyle sent you. I appreciate it along with your DearElder letter everyday. It helps a lot. Jason thanks for your letters. I can never pass up on a good fiberone story. Dad that's super exciting about New York and debate. I'm glad the whole debate thing is going well.
So things are going well with my companion except for the fact that he has freaked out a couple of times over stupid things like one of our teachers teaching us the Japanese phrase for dang. Like when you drop something. He says as missionaries we shouldn't be saying it. Even though my native teacher who is super up on missionary appearance said it was fine. My companion like threw a fit. We get along really well though.
My favorite meal here is probably the Sloppy Joes. I don't know though. It's hit and miss here. I did have seven pieces of cake for dinner last night by the way. Yeah I'm fat. I'm on 13 pounds gained right now and that was after I fasted.
So here is the coolest fact of anything that I've heard since I got here and this might appeal to Jason and Quincy. Because Nagoya has so many car factories there was a huge Brazilian immigration to Japan. They say that most missionaries that go to Nagoya pick up a lot of Portuguese and that some are set apart to learn the language. I would love learning it so much. I may be a little behind with Japanese but I'm not afraid of doing more. I figure with the Lord's help I can do anything so why not accept more responsibility.
The new transfer of missionaries scare me. One left the second day. One has three Tattoos and finally shaved his huge chops yesterday. He seems nice though. Also, all of them look like they can bench 300 pounds and snap me in half. They aren't very friendly either. We keep offering to help them and they are like borderline mean when they turn us down. We are a little weirded out by it. It's kind of funny how tightly wound we all are here. We all speak Japanese in our sleep because it's all we think about all day. I feel like a part of a Jason Bourne movie. We are all trained so hard that we have dreams about it. I feel like if someone tried to rigorously wake me from my sleep I would suddenly wake up and grab the Book of Mormon next to my bed and try to give it to them (just like they grab their guns in movies when they wake up....oh my jokes are getting worse...it hurts me a little).
Hey! We can shake hands now in the MTC. I don't know how I feel about it though. I know how Dad feels about it. So I had an interesting experience last night. There is this Elder in my district that always has to go to the bathroom. So we went to start a teaching activity and he had to go. So my sensei tells us to just follow him and his companion and act like we are contacting them in their house. So we knocked on the bathroom door and did the whole exercise. So I shared a spiritual though in a men’s bathroom for the first time in my life. Maybe it will come in handy in Japan.
Real quick, I want to share a thought with all of you. Alma 43:24-25. I would encourage you to read it. It shows to me that God gives us blessings but we have to make our own extra preparations just like Moroni had to. He did things that the Lord didn't mention. It means to me that we have to try as hard as we can even when we receive advice from prophets and the Lord. Quincy may have read this in his Middle East class but there is a quote from Mohammad where a man says to him, "If I tie up my mule, am I not trusting in Allah?" Mohammad replies, "First tie up your mule and then trust in Allah". I think that we need to show the Lord how much things mean to us by continually trying to fix our own problems and ask for his help while we do it. It was just a thought. I'm not trying to condemn anyone. I just thought I could apply it to my life.
So I love you all. I hope you have a good week. Send suggestions on how my emails and letters could be better. Yours are all great. I love you all.
Love, Elder Hooton
March 2, 2010
Dear Family,
Things are going well. The language is still coming at a steady pace. My lesson went well this week. There were some awkward silences during the lesson and my companion kept forgetting words that I knew but I couldn't figure out what words he was looking for. It was sort of frustrating because the volunteer we've had the last two weeks is really mean and asks really mean questions that she knows are difficult to explain even in English. We've only been here 6 weeks. Oh well, it's all good.
Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Hooton. I appreciate your letters. They are fun to read. I'm glad things are going well. To answer Katie's questions I can only take pictures on P-days and Sundays. There has been some contention in our district over it. The mission presidency has asked us to delete all videos that we had on our cameras and some Elders didn't want to and some Elders tried to be forceful about it which sort of blew my mind. I think people need to make decisions for themselves but still be obedient. I've taken care of mine. I just wish Elders would stop making contention in our district.
I got to play knockout (basketball) in gym the other day with a one armed Elder. It was quite weird (somehow that's the best story I have this week). I am back down to 180 lbs. now. I am running 3 miles a day too. To put Katie's worries to rest, I will still be stronger than Jacob when I get back. I lift everyday too. My tall auzzie friend here is pushing me pretty hard. My arms are quite a bit stronger. I decided to finally stop eating so much when I found I had gained 17 lbs. Someone threw a chocolate kiss at me and it hit my stomach and I didn't feel it. I had a huge gut. My district thought it was hilarious how fast I could gain weight.
Congrats to Monica and Quincy on more law schools and the awesome Duke Scholarship. Thanks for the letters Quincy and Monica. I appreciate them a lot. I loved the comments on the architecture. Thomas Jefferson had it going on architecturally. Way to go Jason and Carey on scoring some free housing. That's what I'm talking about. Thanks for the “you know what's” in your letters Jason. Also thanks Mom for the other “you know what’s.” Jason, I left your DearElder letter that you sent me back in my room. I found it quite hilarious though. I loved the Fiberone stories. It brought me back to the good old days. Real quick on the devotional thing, it's not a big deal but if Abby or Stephanie have notes on all of them then it's just the one where a wife talks first and I don't remember what the husband talked about. Sorry. It just might not exist.
I think its cool the Monica and Quincy are living with Grandpa Miller. I have a lot more respect for him because he learned this language. It's incredible how complex it is. If I put an "e" after the verb but before the coupla or politifer, then it makes it poetential. If I put an "ese" then it makes it "made or allow" which is dependent upon the particle that were used previously, but sometimes you just have to guess. I had to give a praying in our zone conference when the new elders came. I'm not going to lie...it's the best pray I've ever heard. (I'm just kidding. I didn't practice it a lot though and it went well).
Jacob thanks for the letter. I'm sorry about debate, that's tough. I hope things are going well for you. I'm excited to be home for the end of your senior year. I'll try to respond more to your letter. Please send photos of all my friends, not just my really close ones. Don’t take my truck in. I just wanted that one speaker disconnected. It needed to be. It’s not broken as long as the one speaker was disconnected. I am doing really well this week. I’m excited to go. I’m staying focused and everything. I’m being obedient with everything as well. I pray for everyone a lot. I’ll talk to you next week. Everyone have a great week. I love you all.
Elder Hooton
Things are going well. The language is still coming at a steady pace. My lesson went well this week. There were some awkward silences during the lesson and my companion kept forgetting words that I knew but I couldn't figure out what words he was looking for. It was sort of frustrating because the volunteer we've had the last two weeks is really mean and asks really mean questions that she knows are difficult to explain even in English. We've only been here 6 weeks. Oh well, it's all good.
Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Hooton. I appreciate your letters. They are fun to read. I'm glad things are going well. To answer Katie's questions I can only take pictures on P-days and Sundays. There has been some contention in our district over it. The mission presidency has asked us to delete all videos that we had on our cameras and some Elders didn't want to and some Elders tried to be forceful about it which sort of blew my mind. I think people need to make decisions for themselves but still be obedient. I've taken care of mine. I just wish Elders would stop making contention in our district.
I got to play knockout (basketball) in gym the other day with a one armed Elder. It was quite weird (somehow that's the best story I have this week). I am back down to 180 lbs. now. I am running 3 miles a day too. To put Katie's worries to rest, I will still be stronger than Jacob when I get back. I lift everyday too. My tall auzzie friend here is pushing me pretty hard. My arms are quite a bit stronger. I decided to finally stop eating so much when I found I had gained 17 lbs. Someone threw a chocolate kiss at me and it hit my stomach and I didn't feel it. I had a huge gut. My district thought it was hilarious how fast I could gain weight.
Congrats to Monica and Quincy on more law schools and the awesome Duke Scholarship. Thanks for the letters Quincy and Monica. I appreciate them a lot. I loved the comments on the architecture. Thomas Jefferson had it going on architecturally. Way to go Jason and Carey on scoring some free housing. That's what I'm talking about. Thanks for the “you know what's” in your letters Jason. Also thanks Mom for the other “you know what’s.” Jason, I left your DearElder letter that you sent me back in my room. I found it quite hilarious though. I loved the Fiberone stories. It brought me back to the good old days. Real quick on the devotional thing, it's not a big deal but if Abby or Stephanie have notes on all of them then it's just the one where a wife talks first and I don't remember what the husband talked about. Sorry. It just might not exist.
I think its cool the Monica and Quincy are living with Grandpa Miller. I have a lot more respect for him because he learned this language. It's incredible how complex it is. If I put an "e" after the verb but before the coupla or politifer, then it makes it poetential. If I put an "ese" then it makes it "made or allow" which is dependent upon the particle that were used previously, but sometimes you just have to guess. I had to give a praying in our zone conference when the new elders came. I'm not going to lie...it's the best pray I've ever heard. (I'm just kidding. I didn't practice it a lot though and it went well).
Jacob thanks for the letter. I'm sorry about debate, that's tough. I hope things are going well for you. I'm excited to be home for the end of your senior year. I'll try to respond more to your letter. Please send photos of all my friends, not just my really close ones. Don’t take my truck in. I just wanted that one speaker disconnected. It needed to be. It’s not broken as long as the one speaker was disconnected. I am doing really well this week. I’m excited to go. I’m staying focused and everything. I’m being obedient with everything as well. I pray for everyone a lot. I’ll talk to you next week. Everyone have a great week. I love you all.
Elder Hooton
Thursday, February 25, 2010
February 24, 2010
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)
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)
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.
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