Another week in good old Muroran. So last P Day we went on an adventure to find some Japanese ninja slipper shoes. At the old Japane themed park we went to, all the ninja performer guys had these sweet shoes on, and we went out and found ourselves a pair. We also went to this Udon (noodle) place that Elder Knighton and I had gone to with a member months ago. The 3 of us had split a "family deal", just a big bucket of 6 peoples worth of noodles. Elder Knighton and I had always wanted to go back and try and do it all by ourselves, but never had the chance. Well Elder Spurling and I walk in and I order it. The girl asks "for the 2 of you?" with a look that says she thinks it would be a bit much for the 2 of us. "Nope just me" I say. She looked way surprised, and after a few minutes of the employees making sure I knew what I was ordering, and me telling them its all good, I sat down with a bucket of steaming udon. One hour and several brief moments of considering quitting later, I slurped the last noodle down. Challenge accepted and crushed! I felt like I had a carb brick in me, and was not hungry for the next 24 hours or so, but it was awesome.

Today we went with a member and this family to a resort and introduced Elder Spurling to the once in a lifetime experience of saoking naked with a bunch of Japanese guys. He handled it rather well Id say. We had a grand time. Transfer calls are this week, and Ive been here for 6 months, so Im very likely out of here, So Im just trying to get my goodbyes in and have prepped to pack. This area has really grown on me, alot of amazing memories were made here. I will definately miss it. Anyways, Ill let you know where I am next week. take it easy!

 

The (not much longer) Man of Muroran,

Elder Andrew Kade Jones 

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

Well this week was quite a week. Wednesday we had the District Leader and his companion come out on splits, I was with his comp, Elder Fukushima, didnt have anything too crazy happen. The next day they left, and an hour later the APs (Assistants to the President) showed up for another day of splits. I again was with a Japanese guy, Elder Sakihara, and we had Mihara kuns baptismal interview. They went into another room and walked out about 15 mins later, which seemed too fast. I asked how it went, Elder Sakihara goes "yeah the first 10 minutes were just "get-to-know-you" questions and stuff, and the interview was just the questions I had to ask. I didnt need anything else, I could just see it in his eyes that he believes it. This kid was prepared!" Thats our Mihara.

So on Saturday, June 15th, the program started at 5pm. It was kind of a bummer with support, only the people that had to be there were there. But he didnt notice, had a big smile the whole time. He asked that I do the dunkage, so we both stepped into the font together all dressed in white, and I dunked him one and done, gave him a big wet hug. We gave him a new tie each and a new set of scriptures, with our testimonies written inside, and a pocket size hymn book. He was way stoked. Say hello to Brother Takumi Mihara! 

Other than that not much has happened, its been really humid and hot lately, not the mist fun weather, but it hasnt been raining too much so Ill take that. Transfer calls are next week, Elder Spurling and I are just making this last week together count. Catch you next week!

Your man in Japan,

Elder Andrew K Jones

--

If I remember right, last week I told you about the old period park with ninjas and stuff, so you know about that. Well the rest of this week was not bad. A member of the ward is moving, from an apartment into a real house, so we went to hep with that this week. She is married and has 3 kids, but her 2 oldest were in school and her husband has been gone for over a month on a business trip to Tokyo. There were a few other women from the church and 2 mover guys, with these dinky little "moving" trucks. I wish these people could see a full size u-haul truck! Anyways, we helped get everything out of the apartment, then helped get everything out at the new house just a few blocks away. We started at 10am by the way, in the middle of our morning study, and she lives a 30 min bike ride away. So we work until about 1230, and we only get 2 hours of service time a week, so we decided to take the 30 mins out of our lunch time, thinking we would be feed something. 

Well she has this couch she didnt want, and a member there said she would take it, and asked if we could meet the movers at her house to unload it. "Well we have an appointment at 2, so that makes it tight since we have to-" then she cut me off with "oh well that should be just enough time for you to bike to my house, unload it, then leave!". We couldnt really say no, so agreed we would meet the movers at the gas station by her house in 30 mins. And when were all leaving, the lady we helped move goes "oh mover guys (who of course are getting payed) thanks for working so hard! Here, have a boxed lunch and drink I bought for you!" What do we get?  "oh missionaries, thanks". Ummm... youre welcome. So we hop on, bike back 35 mins and get to the gas station, wait 10 mins, then call the member who was getting the couch. "Oh youre waiting for the movers?" she asked. "They just came straight here and unloaded it". Oh. Ok. So then we head off to get going with the rest of our day. Didnt have time for lunch that day. Well that was my rant about that. 

I got to experience a Japanese dentist this week, I had a spot on the gums of my front lower teeth that was swollen and painful. The dentist tried to speak to me in broken English the whole time while I talked to him in Japanese; some people just always assume you dont know whats up. Im not really sure what they did in my mouth since they put a towel over my eyes, but I think Ill be alright. 

Our college kid, Mihara, is doing great. He gets interviewed this week and is scheduled to get baptized on Saturday. He has progressed so much since we met him, hopefully he will go on a mission and share this message that has blessed his life so much. 

Today was fun, we went to an aquarium with some members, saw a sea lion show and a penguin parade and all kids of crazy fish. We kept saying "Oh these fish are interesting!", and the Japanese people kept saying "Oh that fish looks tasty!" You gotta love em. Have a great week! 

Elder Andrew Kade Jones

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.