Hello from Tokorozawa!
I was transferred to Tokorozawa
and it is much smaller than like Tachikawa where I lived. Well relatively
small. It's small for a Tokyo city but it's still probably like twice as big as
Boise haha. But I transferred at 11:30 in the morning leaving from Nishikunitachi
to Musashi Kosugi. It's about a 45 minute train ride. In Japan, in order to
take a bike on a train, you need to put it in a bike bag. And carry it. So I
had my backpack, my carry on, my side bag, my emergency bag, and my bike on my
right shoulder. I go into the front car of the train because there is a section
where there are no chairs so it's easy to put all of the stuff down. SO I did
that. Then I get off at Musashi Kosugi. I know I need to get on the train at
platform 4. So I start following the signs that lead me to Platform 4. I can
read all the kanji, and they don't say what they should have said. But I
couldn't see a different platform 4 so I kept walking. It took me like 10
minutes to get to 4 and then when I get there I really had a feeling that it
wasn't the right train. I had before hand knew that I had 11 minutes to get to
my next train. I asked a guy for directions and he pointed me in the right
direction. Then I finally got back to the right platform but I had far missed
my train. So I put all of my stuff leaning against a sign and asked a guy if I
could borrow his phone to call the assistants to the presidents. I saw him
using his phone, and then when I asked him he said that it was dead. I was like
"I just saw you using it!"But I said that in my head. So then I
finally found some pay phones and I walked over to them and started calling the
assistants. They didn't answer. I called Sister Wada. She didn't answer. I
called her again and some of the office staff answered, but then I ran out of
minutes. So I called back and they didn't answer. And then I finally got ahold
of Elder Richardson on the same number! I told him that I think I could figure
my way around, but that I needed him to call Elder Kaesler and tell him I would
be late. I prayed. And then I headed for the head of the platform to catch the
first car for easy bike access. The train that I was planning on getting on
wasn't a full train and stopped about 100 yards in front of me. I started
walking as fast as I could to the train but I missed that one too. Then I asked
a train conductor and he told me to get on the next next train and to get off
at takemukaihara. So I did that. I'm like way out of the mission by now haha.
That train took me like way past shibuya and then I got off there and asked
another train conductor and he told me to get on the next next train because
that was a rapid. Which means it is faster. Then I rode that train for a good
40 minutes and finally got to Kotesashi Station which was where I met elder
Kaesler, Elder Uemura and Elder Molen. So my transfer time was supposed to be 2
hours, which was already long, and it turned out to be 4 hours. They waited at
the station for 2 hours for me! haha it was a crazy 4 hours. My Shoulder hurt
like crazy because I've had a bike, and like 4 bags on. So ya that was
transferring! It was almost completely out of faith. I would pray before every
train just about that it would be the right train. Even though the conductors
told me it would be, I wasn't sure, but I eventually got to my destination and
I was calm the whole time even though I was just wandering all around Tokyo not
really knowing where I was going. But I was calm, because of prayer.
Elder Kaesler is really nice and
Elder Molen and Elder Uemura are both really awesome too. It's nice to be in an
apartment with 4 people instead of just 2. My apartment is much bigger here. It
has one tatami room, a nice kitchen, a nice dinner table, a dryer, a nice
fridge and toaster and microwave, and 2 study rooms, and a nice shower. I live
on the 4th floor and apparently on a clear day I can see Fuji really clearly
from our balcony!
I'm glad you ate sushi with Audrey
and Sheila! I haven't eaten sushi in a couple weeks, I should do that soon. Did
you get any crazy stuff? No joke, IOU is very similar to actual Japanese
sushi.
This week was very long. I guess
it probably has something to do with just getting lost and adjusting to the new
apartment and city and everything.
We have already met with 2
investigators they have here. One reads the Book of Mormon like more than any
MEMBER I have ever seen and he is just an investigator! But he is mainly
studying it for intellectual reasons. We could totally feel the spirit in the
room as we testified and taught the doctrine from the Book of Mormon but he
would just set it aside and go onto his next question. He is a really nice guy
though.
I haven't seen the Facebook post.
I'll go check it after this probably. But Where is Tanner getting transferred
to? Does he take a boat or a plane? We just ride trains. Didn't Cole
already get his call?
To answer your questions about the
trains, yes I rode alone, yes I carried my bike the whole time with my side
back, carry on, backpack, emergency bag, and and extra bag. My big luggage gets
shipped and meets me at my area.
hahahahahahahahaha oh Tripp. Where
did he even come up with that? How is his bike riding going? How is Krue? (I
told Tripp he was such a good batter at baseball, his response was “I’m a good
batter, but I’m a much better mitter”!!)
When I left Eikaiwa for the last
time, everybody was so nice to me. They were all really sad I was leaving.
Tsubasa and Hikaru's mom shinobu gave me a Daruma tie! IT's way cool! Daruma is
this weird statue thing they have and they paint an eye on it one year and then
another eye the next, and the third year, they burn it. But my tie is covered
with little Daruma!
I have been in Tokorozawa for 3
days but it feels like a couple weeks already. But I am so excited to work
here. The youth are really cool and active and just fun fun kids. There are
like 4 returned missionaries.
(This was to Mark) Hey I
finished my first mission journal! There are so many people on their missions
who don't write in their journals. It's actually rare to find people who write
every day. So far I haven't missed a single day in Japan. In President
Woodruff's Teachings of the Presidents book he talks about Journals and how
they are of far more worth than gold. I'm glad you taught me to write in my
journal. I'm going to be able to treasure these memories forever.
Yesterday I taught an advanced English conversation class and they were
all asking me questions about Idaho haha. They have no idea what a moose or an
elk is. Wolves are extinct over here too! I told them that an elk is a big deer
and a moose is a big elk hahaha. That’s the easiest way I could explain it.
Also I told them all the ways you can cook a potato. They thought that was
pretty cool too.
We are still continuing our search
for the prepared out there. It's hard because at a first glance, none of them
seem prepared, but we have the promise that everybody is being prepared to some
degree. We just need to talk to everyone and be an example in everything we do
so that we can seek out those who are prepared to receive the gospel.
Missionary work is an act of faith. Anybody can walk around and wear a name
badge, but it takes faith and authority to preach the gospel to the world. Take
advantage of the missionaries. They need work. Invite them over, get to know them,
find people for them, do all you can to help in bringing people unto Christ, I
know that as you do so, you will find more joy in the simple things in life.
You will be more satisfied with what you have because you won't be thinking
about yourself as much, you will be thinking about how you can help others
around you.
I love you all so much!
Elder Draper
ドレーパー長老
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