Week #64

I do indeed have a p-day, we would die of starvation if we didn't, and we are low on food stuffs.
As for the long arduous wait since we last spoke, a few mannish things happened the movie was great I enjoyed it immensely and I'm know my costume for next Halloween, I’ll have to grow my hair out a bit, and lose the extra weight but I'm on the right track for the second one, (went for a 30 min run this morning) and I have a goal to be able to see my abs before the end of my mission.
We then had a junkai(splits) with the zone leaders, on Friday and I was with the Japanese one named nakabe chourou. We didn't have bikes that day and we had plans to go to a faraway mnt. My legs hurt that day but it was still way fun, he is one of the most fun nihonjin missionaries i know. It was strait dendo o Saturday and then we had church and a dinner at a member’s house, way good food and company.
As for plans today we are mostly taking it as a rest and then doing more fun things next week,
Sorry if it’s short today its only been four days though.
We found some new investigators on the junkai too; I’ll tell you more about them soon.

Anyway ruv u rots
Stay strong stay faithful stay diligent JKS
Connor

Week #62

It’s less that I was down and more that I was a little distracted I think… I had fun.
Anyway on the week, so this week was long but fun but short but yeah know, were in a bit of a slump as far as investigators at the moment, talking to allot of people but no one really wants to go beyond the initial contact, but what can you do? It’s just not the right time yet I think so we'll keep working our hardest to find them that are prepared.
one of the cool messages that came from the conference we had, was that everyone is in their own levels of preparation, not just prepped or not prepped, heavenly father knows their path and is leading them somewhere, I feel like it’s a lesson currently to help make that principle stick, we may not meet anyone for a while who is at the point where they will hear the lessons, but I feel it a privilege to be part of any of their way closer to Christ, learning this principle is helping my mission as a whole to be happier.
My comp is struggling with the fact of us not finding many people ready for the lessons, but I feel as I remember it I stay happy through all of the waiting,
One brighter topics we are going to start meeting again some previous investigators of earlier missionaries, and I'm excited for that, I’ll tell you more about them when I know more myself.

My comp and I have taken to running every morning now and it seemed like weight was starting to come off again last week, and my knee is taking it allot better than before, no soreness, and I can run nonstop for a few miles I think now, more related to boredom or lack of time being too tired now, it’s great.
Not a lot of chances to draw this week but I’ll try and do some today, and send some next week.
Speaking of next week, p-day is on Christmas, the 24th for you, and I’ll be open to skype, I'm thinking around 9 or 10ish 5 or 6 at night for you, and my account is still the same, if there is any problems ill email that morning, before that time.

as for other cool things this week, the ward is giving us all kinds of cool stuff and one sister heard that I wanted to find out about getting shoes here in japan and on Sunday I found out that she had got me a pare somehow!. I was way surprised.
As to why I needed them, my breaks died on me again, and my foot became my break destroying the sole of the shoe, I ended up trading my bike for my 1st comps bike and am riding that now.
Any way I got to go now I’ll tell you more about that stuff more next week
Love you so much, stay strong stay faithful, stay diligent JKS
Connor

Week #61

as for this week/last week​... in this day and age, there came a new beginning, a new face, a new transfer, like the spring time after a long harsh winter, accept that it's still really cold, but like the spring after a long winter, new opportunities arise, and in the midst of the new time of new beginnings stand Kemp and Lee, two 19 year old heros, standing for truth and justice!

da   dadadadaaaa da da   dadadadaaaa da da   dadadadadaaaaa!!!!!!

As you can see from that astounding introduction its a new transfer, my new comp is Elder Lee, around my same transfer and in age, he's a lot more of a lets go out and do all the den-does type of worker, in contrast to my last comp. So because of that, starting from when he got here till now its been good hard work every day,the first part of last week was the wrap up of the end of the transfer, and therefore lots of last minute stuffs for my comp who was returning home, the Thursday was waiting waiting waiting, with the zone leaders until 8 that night for my comp to show up, and fun thing when he did, he didn't know i was waiting at the main station for him so he went straight for the connecting train line to my area, so i made a mad dash to get a ticket and find the train, thankfully i found him before anything too drastic took place.

safe to say we got back in good sorts on Thursday evening with no surprises accepted how cold it was, its been dropping in temperature here and that mixed with humidity is killer, 

and from that day onward we have been working hard daily to really get some good people going here, we have a few people were working with and allot of potentials that we are looking to turn into active investigators, but no one super solid at the moment, and then on Monday we had a mission wide conference, besides Okinawa,*(poor islanders), were we heard from bro Heaton pez. of the MTC, it was way good and we got to see allot of old faces. including my mission family consisting of my trainer who is my dad and my two little brothers, all of whom are Japanese, i didn't know i was Japanese but the evidence speaks for its self, i am the first born of an all Japanese family.

and all that fun happened in Fukuoka, then we took the shink, back home for some dindin, and a bit of dendo,

but that's been the highlights of my week so far.

as for pick up stuff when i asked the mission prez. about it last time he just told me not to worry about it until i get death calls six months out form the end but I'm sure you can talk to him. 

sorry my time is gone, 

love ya 

stay strong stay faithful; stay diligent,JKS

Week #60

Samantha,

Nobody knows about Christmas origins unless they're christian here, and most people find more importance on new years. I think that's from Buddhist culture, but it's fun with the ward and it's cool sometimes to tell people about what Christmas means.

Dad,

No worries about the emails I'm doing it on Tuesday for transfer calls day, so I got everything!

As for my week, we had a few lessons, and as for highlights we had a fun 3 hour lesson with our new investigator Asai San, and we got to visit a resting investigator as well and have dinner with an ekaiwa (english class) student, at her restaurant! Waaaaaay good! You would have loved it, dad, there was plenty of funny chicken parts, raw horse meat, bacon wrapped stuff, 3 cheese jalapeño poppers, etc. It was great! We also had ward conference with a way good lunch afterwards, courtesy of the ward!

Its been getting a little colder every day here, especially today, and that mixed with rain makes for some cold days! We might get snow here soon.

Lots of fun chances to draw and stuff and we and got some good places to find art supplies for cheap here so that’s useful.

Anyway, not much else as far as other news, stay strong, stay faithful, stay diligent, JKS

love you. 

Week #59

no mail Dad!?!?!?? I'm hurt, but I'm sure you busy saving some one or something, so its ok

Any way so a little about this week, as far as highlights, i got to sit in on an entirely Portuguese lesson, we almost had lunch with some leaders from another religion, and i drew more pics, oh and a new investigator.

 

As for whatever else we slept on roll out mats, ate pineapple marinated chicken went to a buffet, sang songs and den-do. yay! missionary work. we are approaching the end of my tenth transfer and my comps last, andC hristmas yaaa!,

I finally got some language study system going again so I'm happy with that, and things are going good here, sorry its not so long.

 

And that school looks cool have you had a chance to look at the web site are all? If you do, tell me what you think.

 

Any way love ya,

Stay strong, Stay faithful, Stay diligent, JKS

Connor

Mom,

We're actually doing thanksgiving today as a zone, basically a big lunch, that should be fun.

If I was to ask for some things for Christmas it would be, fluffy warm socks new garments of the next size down, and maybe a new rain suit they're expensive here, and my usual Turkey meat stick we always get. Other than that, I'm doing great.

It's crazy to see all or should I say, hear about all the young guys I knew going on their missions there will be a lot that changed when I get back.

I did get the suit, and I'll send some!

love ya

Week #58

I’ve been asking people and comps here and there about information, on schools, I know that BYU Utah has a way good program but that is super competitive and a little cut throat I don’t know much about BYU-I though, the two other that looked like they had potential were the U of U, and one in Washington called DigiPen that’s a business college for the production and entertainment arts, all looked like the same price range, DigiPen was more directed towards hands on stuff I think though, that’s where my comp wants to go.

I’ll send pics of the suit next week, I’m picking it up today.

As far as things in my area, we are working with a few different people, mainly a Japanese lady, Chinese lady and a Philippino lady,  I’m definitely getting to use more english which is funny because that’s usually what you would expect from, Okinawa really, not Hiroshima as much, it’s getting colder every day here, heading towards a good Hiroshima winter, and I’m betting I’m going to finish off in Okinawa in the summer, just to complete the pattern of weather extremes in all my areas, but we’ll see.

I’ve had a little drawing opportunity lately, and more in the concept art side of things too, thankfully, my comp had a way good book idea and he is actually a very good writer and he wants to also pursue entertainment arts, so I’m drawing concepts for his story based on his descriptions, I’ll send pics.

Japanese is also going along good as ever, not really any noticeable difficulties that won’t be fixed with time and continued effort, it’s cool to say that I’m technically bilingual, but I’ll keep up the best efforts to never stop improving.

ja, hawaii ni yoku tanoshinde kudasai,

shinkoteki ni, kinben ni, tsuyoku tsuzukenasai, J.K.S.

love you all, I keep it up till the end, which is still like 10 months off but my comp dies this transfer so it just makes me think ahead, but either way, ganbarimasu.

Connor Kemp Chourou

Week #57

A question or two for you, Dad,

First, as off topic as it may sound I’m trying to be responsible and get it done quickly, plans for after the mission it’s still a-ways-away but I just want everyone to be on the same page of course before I go into anything big. 

As far as majors, general schooling is a good start, I’d love to go into the concept are field now but that can change fast I’m sure so, that’s a good place to start! I’m not too good at planing this or knowing what is the right way but, I figure I’ll try to work before that or during it to help pay for that stuff. I would like to know what you think about it.

And for a here and now topic, we found a store here that might have my size in a suit, they ordered it to check but it’s around the same price as that ones we got at the missionary store but without the shipping price! Nothing for sure right now but I’ll tell you if it works out, it looked like it was around $280 on the price tag but tell me what you think.

Love you and sorry about this stuff all of the sudden it’s just been on my mind a little and it would stay there if I didn’t say something and only the black suit jacket is wearable right now, so I wear it with my slacks and if I keep losing wight than its going to be too big pretty quickly. 

Anyway I love you dad, I don’t know how I would survive without your help out here!!

sorry for the trouble,

Connor

PS. So we went to the suit place and they have a suit that will fit well, the winter is a bit expensive at $380, but they’re ordering a summer style which is only $240, and with it only going to be cold for a while longer, and me having a coat, I’m thinking that would be the better choice. Again tell me what you think and I can get it on p-day or whenever, thanks!

Week #55

To answer two of your beginning questions, yes we had a good typhoon here! It hit us pretty good and it fell right on Saturday and Sunday, so no conference, and not next weekend either, all the missionaries in the zone will gather on Thursday and watch all of it from 9 am to 8 pm. I'm half exited-half terrified. And I was referring to when you pick me up, and we visit a bunch of cool places and speak I Japanese for you and stuff, but theres still 10 months to discuss about that.

In other news I finally got a new camera, and I'm way happy with it! I’d send a picture of it but most cameras don't have that feature yet… The typhoon kept us cooped up in the apartment for two days,so lots of study time I guess!

We taught a few lessons this week, but with Friday through Sunday taken by the typhoon, those being our most productive days, it was not a super eventful week.

The transfer is coming to a speedy end, I’ll soon be on transfer 10, and an old man, my year in Japan passed on the 10th without me noticing until the 12th, and before I know it I’ll be seeing all of you over Skype, its going waaaaaaaaay too fast I still feel like a first transfer, despite that I know I've grown a lot, it’s hard to notice sometimes.

I hope mom had a fun drive, and golfing was fun, we'll just have to have a sushi and donut party when we get back, cuz I make sushi all the time now, it’s super easy!

Anyway, stay strong, stay diligent stay, stay faithful, JKS

love ya,

Kemp Chourou

Week #54

I’ll be exited to see Conference! I’ll see it this coming weekend, because they have to translate all of it first, but I'm exited and our investigators will get to see too! So I'm exited for them!!

It was a fun time in Germany, kind of wish I’d let you guys get me lederhosen, it might have been fun! It’s ok, though, we will have another great time when we visit Japan, right, so we can just get a katana, then. I should finally be able to get the camera today, we will see, so just bare with me.

We’ve been seeing the blessings of the Lord so much lately! New investigators weekly, and two investigators actively going to church! I'm way happy for them.

language is going well, not so much a barrier but I catch things I didn’t understand all the time, just vocabulary based really, so I’ll keep at it.

Another typhoon was supposed to come today but it looks like it missed, blessings of the Lord, I presume!

I'm happy to hear that every one is doing well and moving forward, love you so much,

stay strong stay faithful stay diligent, JKS

Kemp Chourou

Week #53

Thanks for the update I love hearing how you guys are doing, with all the emails this week it's evident all the crazy stuff thats gone down in the last year or so, I can definitely say that I've grown but its hard to tell sometimes, all the kids I knew back home are going on missions, sounds like a crazy but beautiful time I'll be exited to see them when were all back!

We have seen a lot of great things this week; 3 new investigators and others progressing, my time in Shuri has been made worth the effort! The Lord is truly blessing us and I can't but do my best to pay back a small bit with my effort.

Weather's been a little cooler here which is way nice when your biking every were for hours, Japanese is mostly a back ground thing mostly cuz I can speak a lot and get most, but I'm still trying my best to learn, no substitute for the hard work, we are having a zone p-day to day so thats exiting, and a bid training this week as well, I'll tell you how those go.

We had two investigators at church this week and there doing way good! I'm exited for them!

I'm happy that you are all doing so well send me pics of any thing or any one you can and I'll do the same as soon as I can,

Love you guys and miss you but not too much, I'll see you at Christmas

stay strong stay faithful stay diligent. j.k.s.

Week #51

Have fun with the diet, we don't have a printer so I cant read as much as I’d like but send me just of the food you eat for it and I can figure things out.

So this week’s been crazy and has the prospect of more craziness to come, I'm not transferring, nor is my comp. but the other two missionaries in our area did and no one came to replace them, that’s right Shuri became two man, so we took on the rest of the area, their investigators, less actives, etc. its a lot of sorting and stuff visiting a lot of people and reading a lot of records not a lot of time to draw anymore, but we’re still having a good time.

Time will tell how this transfer will unfold.

Fun things this week:

My bike gear shifter broke and was stuck on the highest gear, great work out.

Our investigators who's been on vacation finally got back will soon start lessons again.

With the two other Elders gone our beds just got way softer with 4 mats instead of 2.

Went on junki (splits with our Japanese DL (happens every Saturday now) was fun.

 Got bike gears fixed, better than a good work out.

Anyway those are more or less the interesting things that happened!

Sorry it’s short but I'm out of time.

Love you guys, stay strong stay faithful stay diligent, J.K.S.

Kemp Chourou

Week #50

So I guess the truth has to come out soon… a little while back my camera battery stopped holding a charge so there’s that problem… I'm looking for a chance to find a replacement but I’ll probably have to talk to the senior couple about finding a place that we can. Shuri doesn't have much in the way of stores, I heard that mom had a bit of an accident with some garden shears, well you know what that means Dad you have to do all the things I would do for her, in my absence; breakfast in bed, shoulder rubs, and taking Sunny out for her. I know you will do the right thing!

I have had some chance to draw mostly anime stuff cuz I just got some reference from another Elder who is way jozu (skilled) and that’s fun in my free time. The futon just so you know is what you would expect 2 inch thick fabric thing I have two of them it’s a bit softer than the living room floor back at home, but I'm happy enough with it.

As far as District and Zone Leaders, I live with the District Leader in the four man apartment and this transfer I've gone on 5 or so exchanges with them and the district leader of the next area over. I'm basically buds with the district leaders one’s my same transfer and the other one lower Splits with the zone leaders was a good learning experience those guys are super jozu, and we found the best view point in Shuri, I’d send pics, but…well..ya…

That’s mostly it for me right now, today is transfer calls and I've been here for 4 transfers we'll see if I'm going on for five.

stay strong stay faithful stay diligent, J.K.S.

love you guys

Kemp Chourou

week #49

It's good to hear that your all doing well seems like Emily's home coming has made some good excitement to mix things up a bit, I wish I could be there for it, but I'm also exactly were I want and need to be, shuri aria is doing really good right now we have allot of great people coming out of the cement works,(cuz everything made out of cement here) and the days are going by all too fast , I still feel like a 5th transfer and I'm quickly approaching my 9th, it’s like watching the shuri life of my lst comp. in myself, the year mark the year in japan is coming up in October, this all goes by in a flash.

Our investigators are progressing well and were finding new prepped people all the time.

One interesting thing that happened was when we were at a cross walk my comp started talking to a guy standing there then we here an "ahhhhhhhhh! from our right our investigator hiroko san comes riding up on the side walk on her motor scooter and starts telling us about the fish heads in the front basket that she got from work, and how they will make a tasty soup, (she is a great cook), and how we should come over Monday and eat fish soup, so that might happen today. She's fun, 70 years old and way genki( healthy energetic).but ya fun experience.

I've had a little drawing opportunity lately, not too much but ya, language is going as good as ever, I'm noticing patterns in my learning with it too that are interesting.

Any way that’s all I can think of to say right now sorry,

Love you guys, stay strong stay faithful stay diligent, J.K.S. 

Kemp chourou

week #48

Yeah, it will be fun to do a mission report when I get back, I teach so many that don't have the background knowledge, that are weighed down by the apostasy of their fathers, and worship their ancestors, and whatever else, that it’s harder for me to teach those who are Christian. 

Here is a little fact about Japan, some 100 years ago Christianity was introduced to Japan and took on well, like 90% of the population became Christian then the government, fearing the possible uprising because of the strong faith, squelched the problem, forces thousands to renounce there faith and killed those that didn't or drove them out. They brain-washed the people with bad images of Christianity, well that was then. Most of that generation’s stuff has faded, but there was still almost no acceptance of Christians when it was allowed back in, most people in Japan are Buddhist or a sect there-of, all in Okinawa are Senzo Suhai, which is ancestor worship, or an idea there-of, but most have that more as a culture and because there family was that, and don't do much other than say they’re Buddhist of Senzo Suhai, but they are still kind of stubborn mostly cuz of the family thing. Not to say that there aren't those who accepted or want to learn I've seen too many people accepted the Gospel to say that, but it’s definitely different here. Most of the time we teach Christianity as a whole, the first lesson is The Restoration and it’s more like the 7th lesson we teach. we rarely teach a full lesson as it is in the PMG, but they are definitely opening more and more here. We as missionaries just have to make sure were going at their pace rather than our pace. Anyway that’s my little rant on the matter.

I love these people I really do! This is the best and most fulfilling time of my life, no I didn't think I’d be taking on one of the hardest academic challenges of my life thus far, but it helps that I want to learn Japanese and have a purpose for it. On that note its coming along good I constantly have to change my study methods to keep me interested enough to improve, I'm at the point that I can do enough to be comfortable and so it’s really easy to fall into disinterest without the immediate need so I’ll keep doing what I'm doing.

Anyway as far as my week went we had a few splits happen in Shuri so lots of sleep overs, had interviews with President, and some training from the AP's that was all a lot of fun. Weather’s been futsu, hot humid and rainy then blaring sun, that's just fun in Okinawa for you.

thanks always for all that you do and the example you are to me, I love you and miss you but not too much…

stay strong stay faithful stay diligent , J.K.S. the choice is always your’s.

ja, mata kondo

Kemp Chourou

Week #47

I wish I could aspire to the level of Nephi but i don't think I'm quite as good at following the spirit or at visions or obedience all things i want to work on, excepting the visions cuz that's not really my choice, but you know what I mean...

But any way its time for the rest of the story I suppose. Now where was I, oh ya so we're back for dinner near the same time as the other two missionaries we live with, and guess who is the cook of the apartment, meeeeeee! Yaaa, so I start making something, I don't usually know what until the end, but usually rice or pasta with a mix of veggies meat or tofu and sauce and there's a hundred different variations that can be done there. After eating my fantastically amateur meal it's time to head out again. Now the following evening can take a number of turns but know for now it involves dendo, ;)  but ya we get back on the bikes and go have some more fun in the jungle, maybe we have a lesson, or something, and then around 8:45 its time to get back with some streeting along the way back in at 8:58 or so. Then we do something, what, you may ask, well you will have to find out next time on Dragon Ball Z... i mean my dendo life.

   

Ya, this week was good we found a new investigator name Shou and will meet this Saturday, and we're working with a lot of people to get them up and running as investigators!

 

It's weird to think that I'm over humpday now it passed like nothing and I feel like I need more time to do things!  The days are just getting shorter from here, but I'll give it all I've got for this last year and do all I can for Japan.

Pray for these people, the prepared ones are here, pray that they will find us or that we will find them we will do the same here, it's just a matter of timing we just have to be ready when they are and when the Lord is, so always being ready is the only effective way, dakara gambarimasu (because of that I'll do my best)

Any way, love you guys so much, have fun with your new daughter but don't let her get all wamp. tell her to follow the schedule and just fill it with service like cleaning my room or something like that. 

but as always stay strong stay diligent stay faithful stay diligent, J.K.S.

Elder Kemp

Week #46

And now the rest of the story, so after lathering on the sunscreen we file out the door slipping on our shoes at the genkan cuz you don't wear you shoes inside in Japan, then while still by the door to our fourth floor apartment, we pray to our one true Father in Heaven to allow us a successful dendo experience and safety as we go.

Prepped, planed, studied and protected we get to the bikes and get out there heading for any number of different people; less actives, members, investigators, potential investigators,etc. or maybe just dendo of an area of houses. Talking to every male as we go cuz were not allowed to street contact woman, most say no, in the form of a raised hand in the sumimasen gesture (excuse me). But occasionally running into those prepared people,asking questions, kamisama nitsuite kangaita koto ga arimasu ka, have you ever thought about God, jinse no mokateki wa nanda to omoimasu ka, what do you think the purpose of life is, and many other things, and then the time roles around to 4:45 and its time to get back for dinner, I'll tell you what I made next time when I tell the rest of the story.

This week's been another fun one the start of a new transfer, new comp. and new goals. The transfer looks promising! We have two new solid investigators and our progressing investigators now has a baptism date! He's really doing great.

I wouldn't say my Japanese is so good that I don't have to think, but, I can say most of what I want without too much effort, so that's going well enough! I'll keep on studying hard every day though!

My comp is great, his name is elder Shriver, I'm actually older than him not by much but that's weird! He's doing great as well, way hard worker.

Any way I hope you all have fun with the beach front prop. and the new barbi, throw some shrimp on there for me pops.

I'll be able to enjoy it this time next year, also way weird and way too close.

Love you guys and all that you do,

stay string, stay faithful, stay diligent, J.K.S.

Elder Kemp