Christmas!

Hello Mom!

By the time that you get this email we will have already talked face to face!!! That is so exciting. I wanted to use my new keyboard so that’s why I am writing this when I am. Also by now you already know that I opened all of my presents... I figured since we don’t really get a Christmas here I should just open them now. Sorry. I kind of felt bad after, but either way I thought it would be fine. I thought it was funny after like everything was opened, I got to the SD card adapter, which works great, and it says "Open this one early" and I was all like "Dang. Was I not supposed to open them all early? So sorry about that.

So far this week has been going really good. Yesterday we had Interviews with President Wada. It was great! I love interviews. He said because I seemed to be doing fine he didn't need to talk with my about anything so we just talked. He told me that Ishikawa Choro and I should switch off every other day with Japanese and English. Right now we just kind of speak the two languages in one big messy ball all day. So I think if we were to switch off every day, that would be good. Especially because then we would hear the other language and speak it plenty, whereas now we mainly only speak it and not so much hear it because our conversations are usually he says something in English and I respond in Japanese.

I am now writing this on Sunday so a lot has happened since the last time I wrote!

We spoke all Japanese the other day. It was way fun!  It was way hard though. I think me and him fight more than my 2 other companions. I think one of the things in Japanese culture that bothers me the most is how they throw away trash. They like take the time to clean out every drop of ketchup from the cap and bottle and take off the labels and lids and put them all in separate trash cans. I'm like "JUST THROW IT AWAY!" Haha but other than that nothing really bothers me.

So Christmas! Christmas we didn’t do anything. We had a dinner planned but she got sick and canceled. So we didn’t get a meal, but we have our mission wide party on the 30th. I’m so excited!!!

We have 1 progressing investigator right now. His name is  岡村 which is pronounced Oka Mura. Hill Village is the translation. He really likes pamphlets. He had a Jehovah Witness pamphlet and loved it. But when we gave him ours he took it, but when we gave him our flyer that says who we are, he refused. That was weird. Then he said that he wanted to look up our religion on the internet. Our first instinct was like "NOOOOOOO!!!" But he did it anyways. By our next visit he already knew about Polygamy, the law of chastity, word of wisdom, tithing, pioneers... From that he now figures he knows everything there is to know about our church. He, as of right now, is only interested in the historical side of our religion.

Last PDay after I emailed, I went to the hair cut place with Ishikawa Choro so he could get his haircut. As we sat there waiting, a small African boy came in and seemed kind of lost. He obviously didn’t speak Japanese. After he paid for his haircut he stood next to me. I asked him if he spoke English. He said yes and that he was from Tanzania Africa and he moved here 5 months ago to study. He is 10 years old. His name is Precious. And let me tell you, he is precious. He was like the coolest kid I have ever met! We talked for about 10 minutes about his life. I wasn’t sure how much I could do missionary work with him because of his age. I think I would have been fine, but I get nervous around young people because I never know if I can dendo (missionary work) them or not. But I just left him a small note that said who I was and my phone number and how awesome of a kid he was. Then we left.

President Wada told us that if we ever have any extra time, he wants us to be handing out flyers for Eikaiwa. So we did that on Christmas night around 7. An hour before Ishikawa Choro called his family. It was way cold. It is always so weird to see white people haha. There is a thing called Gaijin Fear that goes around here. Gaijin means foreigner and there just aren't as many foreigners as you would think would be in Japan. So whenever you see one it’s like, do I speak English or Japanese? Or do they speak English at all? Or you end up just making eye contact with some unseen connection of Gaijin Power haha. Anyways we met a guy from California! It was awkward at first but then we started talking with him for about 15 minutes! It was so fun speaking English to an American who wasn’t a missionary!  He was way nice and we told him a lot about what our church is. He has always seen LDS people in California but never really knew what we did. And then this Sunday there was a return missionary visiting with his dad. He bore his testimony in church and I translated it into English for his dad! It was my first time being an interpreter but it was soooo fun and it made me realize how much I really know!

You asked what I got from Amazon. I got a heater blanket, a Bluetooth apple keyboard, a flash light. I can’t remember exactly what came from Amazon and what came from home. But anyways I got some ties, for me and for elder Ishikawa, and lots of candy, and an ipad case, and everything else.  The ipad case and keyboard and heater blanket all work wonderfully I love them! Thank you so much! I know that was way
expensive to buy and on top of that to send!

Yesterday we met a man through his window. He was talking to us face to face. I thought he was standing. He was squatting on trash and he was still face to face with us! His entire apartment was filled with trash from the floor to my chest! It was quite gross. But he is a loved son of God and we are planning on visiting him again.

Recently I restarted the Book of Mormon. In the MTC, Elder Bednar said on a video to take a regular Book of Mormon and read it cover to cover with a single question in mind to study for. Then take a couple minutes when you are all done and write a one paragraph summary about what you learned. So I am doing that with the question "How can I become a Leader?" I am in 1 Nephi 10 right now. I started 4 days ago. I have literally learned more from the Book of Mormon than I ever have before. At first I was apprehensive about doing it because I had some fear I guess that if I studied only one topic I would miss out on other important information because I was so focused on the one topic. But I have found that when your mind is so preoccupied in good thoughts, or even a single thought, that it is impossible to not learn something else. In D&C 138, President Joseph Fielding Smith said that he was pondering about the atoning sacrifice of Christ. Then his mind was reverted to the writings of Peter... and his mind was quickenedand he gave forth this awesome revelation. D&C 50:24 says "That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brigheter until the perfect day." When we focus on good things, wewill always be led to other good and better things. The world is full of dark and sad and miserable things. When those things enter ourlives, let us not let Satan drag us down to the level of the world. He seeketh that all men may be miserable like unto himself. Let usinstead "stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God"(Job 37:14). We have so much to be grateful for. Don't let trials get inthe way of seeing Gods tender mercies. Trials make us strong, but only if we let them. Only if we endure them well and look towards a brighter future.

I love you all so so much!

Japan is expensive!

Hey there Mother!

Just to start off, I am going to plan on doing my face time call on my 25th at 10 am. So that will be your 24th at 7 pm. Ah wait a second. Shimatta. That will be your Christmas Eve. How about I call the 24th and that will be your 23rd? Will that work??? I can do anytime the 24 or 25 or 26. But if I do the 26th or 25th, that will be your Christmas Eve and day and I don't know if you want to do that. Will the 24th be ok? My 24th your 23rd at my 10am and your 7 pm.

Ishikawa Choro is awesome!!! He is very obedient. I love it. He is a really hard worker.  If we get home like 5 minutes too early, we go and house the neighbor hood till the very last second. No joke though this week has definitely been the hardest week of my mission so far. He speaks English but not a ton. I speak Japanese, but not very much. I have been struggling a lot this week but I have also learned more this week than in my whole mission so far I think. My Japanese has already improved A TON just from having him as my companion. Although I still can’t say everything, obviously, I can say a lot and we have pretty good conversations. I can understand his Japanese pretty well, but there are always going to be people you can’t understand. It is even like that in English. 

I forgot to tell you, but last week we had a taco party! I made a ton of tortillas and they were great! I have really come to love cooking. Actually while I'm waiting for the rice to get done cooking and then I’ll make Chahan, as I am writing this. Yesterday morning I made crepes. They don't have nutella here but they have Nutcao, which literally exactly like nutella. I now know how to make tortillas, ramen, crepes, okonomiyaki, yakisoba, shabushabu, yakiniku, chahan, gyoza, and sushi! Their cereal here is ridiculous!!!! It is seriously like half of one box of cereal and it is like 800¥ That’s like 8 dollars!!!! I could literally eat a whole bag in one day, but I don’t because it is so expensive. The trains here are way expensive. They eat money faster than anything here. Some interesting facts about my mission. We have the most people in our mission than any other mission here in Japan. We are the smallest mission geographically in Japan and among the smallest in the world. We are absolutely one of the most expensive missions in the world. That’s it right now. 

Before I forget, I have been meaning to tell you this since the first week at the MTC. But I keep forgetting. Some Elder or Sister at the MTC stole my really nice Jesus The Christ. (or he lost it, he loses a lot of things) I’m over it by now  but I just keep forgetting to tell you. Also in your next package can you send me the little floss threader things to get behind m retainer? Thank you!

Some interesting things about the Japanese that i have learned so far. they WILL NOT step in the genkan without shoes on. The genkan is like a tiny area that is lower than the rest of the house and they put their shoes there and put slippers on to go in the house. And they will not for any reason set foot in the genkan without shoes on. And they will not for any reason walk in the house with shoes on. They don’t cross their legs like us. Well like how most of the men sit in church. They think that it is rude to have the soles of your shoes pointing at another person. But you can sit how the girls sit in America. So I have kind of gotten used to that. It is way hard to get used to though. You can’t have your chopsticks pointing at anybody. That’s rude. When you walk in any restaurant or store they all say Irashaimase like 50 times. But you don’t respond. It basically just means that they acknowledge your existence haha.

 I have not yet received your packages. I have the first one you sent of course, and the Sessions sent me the most perfectly organized package I have ever seen in my whole life. I love it! It hasn’t rained in a long time so I’m glad. On transfer day it started to rain but didn’t last long. We were late to the train and Elder Jesperson just barely barely got on the train. We didn’t even get to say goodbye. Elder Laird missed it and had to wait for the next one. It was way intense. 

Elder Ishikawa is pretty strict Japanese as in he follows the culture to the Tee. Oh I forgot to tell you in my list of Japanese culture things. They sort their trash like into burnables, glass, plastic, pet plastic (bottles without the labels on it. labels are pastic) and cans. And they follow it exactly. They wash every bottle out before they throw it away. It is way intense. He is from Aichi. It is in the Nagoya mission.  

Ya I’ll speak Japanese to you! I will prepare something to say so it isn’t all awkward like "what do you want me to say" also maybe think of things you want me to say and I will try my best!

I love what Tripp said about agua hahaha. That is way funny. Water in Japense is Mizu. Tell him I said that. And to say I want water it is Mizu ga hoshii des.

Write back so we can figure out the Face time stuff! Love You!!!

Merry Christmas!!! Or as the Japanese say. " meri kurisumasu"

Elder Draper

HE CAN SEE THE MOON!

Hello there Mother! (This is the kanji for Mom=母）Its pronounced "haha"

Alright so this week was pretty great!

First of all I would like to point out that I can indeed see the moon. America DOESN’T always have it. But it does rain a lot here so maybe they have a deal that whenever it rains here, the Japanese people wouldn’t be able to see it anyway so they lend it over to America. (we were teasing him when he left about never seeing the moon because we seem to be able to see it, night or day) 

This week, despite my last week’s email, my stomach has be crazy!  But it’s ok I don’t base how well my week was based on my stomach. But I swear my day is just made up of making one stop at a 711 to the next! 711 is like the most popular conbini( convient store) in Japan. Literally like one every block. They have the best chocolate bar ever! Well not just 711, but it’s called Black Thunder and there is one that is called Big thunder. And they have this ice cream that is covered in rice fondant kind of stuff called mochi. It is way way way good. So were going to have add a little Japanese flare to the ice cream truck when i get back. People will go crazy for it!

I’ve made crepes 3 times I think now. I still love crepes.  Today were going to have a taco rice party! Just the Elders are coming over and we make a lot of rice and put taco toppings on it! It is delicious. I am going to try to make the tortillas today! 

We went to Musashimurayama (武蔵村山）city hall to find some service opportunities. We stood in there for like 2 minutes just deciding on which desk was the right one hahaha. They aren’t like American buildings. They don’t have a front desk where you can be directed to other desks. So we just walked around the whole time acting like we knew what was going on. Everybody was staring at us. Then we took a number. We went to the wrong desk. They pointed us over to a desk that had a tiny tiny tiny sign that said "Information corner". We walked past it like 3 times and didn’t see it. But ya, they don’t have front desks, they have tiny information desks way in the corner! We haven't found many good service opportunities still. I think one option was to teach Japanese to foreigners, that would be so fun! But we don’t know if we can do that. We want the kind of service where they are all like "Go chop down that tree with your bare hands" but instead they are all like "You can play board games with old people, as long as you're a level 5 or higher in...." haha no joke that was an option. But we can’t play board games. 

I will talk to my new companion when I get him and see if that time will be ok to Facetime. Oh ya I don’t think I have written about my transfer call yet! I am staying in Fussa and my new companion is Elder Ishikawa!!!! He is Japanese!!!! President Wada told me that this will help me learn Japanese fast. I’m way way excited. I think I get him on like Thursday. I have met him like 2 times but I don’t know him at all really. I’m going to make sure he only speaks Japanese to me!

 I loved the pictures of Tripp and Krue too. (they are on Santa’s lap)

Oh ya how are those tree things? Mountain Home cracks me up. (I told him they added more “trees” to the underpass. I was told to keep him updated on the trees going up)

Yes you can like and share and do whatever you want on my Facebook posts!  I just can’t really do anything on there, besides like pictures and post spiritual things. But hey I love it because I can see a little bit of what’s going on at home!

That’s too bad about Licorice. Also I can just see Edgar.  I remembered back to when she knocked over the tree and everything. (We had to put a cat down, and Edgar the other cat has been crazy lately!)

Well this week was awesome! Japan has been kind of steady weather wise. We biked like 12 miles yesterday in the rain to a Pilipino ladies house and ate there. I thought it was cool because I thought of Tanner in the Philippines hearing the same things that I heard in that ladies house!  

(We also found out he plays the piano for Priesthood and Gospel Doctrine.)

I love you all!!! Thank you for your testimonies!!

Elder Draper

Tokyo Japan Temple

Hey!  

I did get the videos and pictures. It looks so fun there! The snow was crazy! I shouldn’t be expecting any snow here the whole time I’m here. It gets way cold but it still just rains. It hasn’t rained in a while though so were all thankful for that.

That crèche group sounds way fun! I bet it was awesome especially with the Love Abiding Church members rockin the place!

How was the youth choir? I wanted “My What Child is This” music the other day because I couldn’t remember how to play it. I have been practicing the music that Audrey sent me in the MTC.  The songs are way fun to play and I can’t wait to be able to play them. There is a talent show tomorrow and I’m playing my song and then I’m playing I Am a Child of God for Sister Matsuo and an eikawa student. 

I’m so excited to get my Christmas gift! I know it is really expensive to send anything here so please never feel like I NEED you to send me anything. 

No I haven’t been sick at all! It’s a miracle! (Anyone that knows Haydon knows that he gets sick a lot!) The food here is fantastic so that helps. But the first day of my mission I couldn't even eat a cup of rice with some noodles on top. But it’s rude not to finish every last grain of rice, so with that first day in perspective, I have improved a ton! I can eat like a whole meal and a cup of rice now! Haha and we had spaghetti at a member’s home and there was more spaghetti on my plate than I have ever had before, (he doesn’t like spaghetti ) and on top of that we had just had the gyouza party for lunch! But I was determined to finish my food. I did, but it was literally the most stuffed I have ever been. I hate doing that but its rude not to eat the food. And we always cook Japanese food. Yaki soba, Mabo chan, Cha han, udon, gyoza, okonomiyaki, and a lot of other things. To be honest I don’t think that all of those things are inherently Japanese but we eat them a lot! Along with crepe. I love crepes. Can you send me a tortilla recipe? We can’t find any here so we want to make them.

Tell grandma thanks for me! I’ll make sure to buy a kimono or something. 

Brother Okabe is his name! He is doing really good! He loves church! We don’t have any with baptismal dates yet but we have Tsutomu San that we are teaching. We have been housing an entire area in nishi tachikawa. We have been working pretty solidly on it for about 2 weeks.  We are going back tomorrow to visit 3 people we found. One guy loves the Jehovah witness pamphlet he got a while back. The Jehovah's witnesses are everywhere here! They look a lot like us except that they are all native. Everybody thinks that we are them. 

We don't have very many actual service projects here. Elder laird and I went to Akishima city hall a while back to find service opportunities but they were all like teaching English and helping elderly people. But we'll find some! I can't believe that I get my transfer call this week! Time is seriously already flying by.

So this week we have been just focusing a lot on that housing area. I finally got my face book done so I’m pretty excited to start using that! Right now I am in a McDonalds in Ebisu. We were on one of those trains that need the conductors to shove people into the train haha. I saw that super famous cross walk I shinjuku. I just barely saw it from the train but it was huge! I recorded the big cross walk.

I just got back from the temple in the heart of Tokyo and it was awesome! The temple is actually a lot like the Provo temple in a lot of ways. Then we went to shibuya and saw the world famous crossing. Its ridiculous how many people are crossing! And it wasn’t even a busy time! But ya the trains here going to shibuya in the morning are way way way packed. 

This week I have been trying to focus on being more charitable and thinking less of myself. I’m noticing that I am more aware of others needs as I pay more attention to them and less about how I respond. The power of the Holy Ghost is real and amazing and we can’t do anything without it! Especially missionary work. It is vain for anybody to teach without the Holy Ghost. I have already felt its power so strong in my life and I just want to share that with everybody.

I love you!

Elder Draper