AP

Well, another overcast rainy week in Obihiro. It will be snow before we know it! Well last P-Day the 4 of us in the apartment headed off to soak at the hot springs since one of the other missionaries has never been. And boy did he love it! The next day we headed off to the next area over, only a brief 3 hrs away by train, for our last splits of the transfer. The 2 missionaries we were with are an interesting pair theyre probably 2 of the quieter missionaries here. We normally are all talking and laughing with other missionaries and staying up a little late playing cards or just chatting. Yeah, not these two. After planning one writes in his journal and the other goes into another room and sings hmyns to himself. once it hits 10:30 they are both out. It was the earliest Ive gone to bed in a long time. Nothing else really happened until Saturday, which was the ward Halloween Party. There were alot of people there, many of whom were non members or less active, so it was a great chance to talk to alot of people. All the missionaries went pretty full on with their costumes: the sisters were minnie mouse, a little elementary school kid, and a thug; a pair of elders were Kumamo (a famous character bear) and Waldo from "Wheres Waldo?"; The other companionship in the apt were Harry Potter and a construction worker; and Elder Watanabe and I were a skateboarder (with a cardboard skateboard) and a ninja, respectively. I thought my costume came together pretty good, and apparently every one else did because I got 1st prize in the costume contest! I was in all black, with my split toe ninja shoes, a face mask, and a sword and nunchuks. It was way legit! Sunday another Elder and I went with a member down to a small branch in a little fishing town 2 hrs south of us. 2 Elders go down there 2x a month to help out, since the members consist of only 4 sisters. It was a beautiful drive down, it is definately fall here. It was nice to see the beach after a while without it. Every time the missionaries come those sisters whip out a meal, and man were we spoiled. We came back and finished the day. It was Sunday night, which means we hear the past week`s numbers from all the missionaries in our zone, and then report them to the APs (Assistants to the President, the 2 top guys who pretty much run everything along with Pres. Evans). I finished my report and thought I could finally eat dinner when I was told I was also getting my transfer call, and it only happens on Sunday night if...youre the next AP! Yep, I am replacing the other guy, and will spend my last 3 transfers being the busiest I might ever be in my life...? I did not see it coming at all, as the Elder Im replacing was only in the position for 2 transfers and you normally do 4. So from 900pm last night I had about 15 hrs to be completely packed and on a bus ALONE on my way to Sapporo...So its crazy right now. Yeah, still not sure what to say, and thinking about it makes my stomach hurt.... So wish me luck. Elder Andrew Kade Jones

Well the Obihiro Missionary Bowling Team is a go! We went bowling again this last P Day, this time with a less active member and her daughter. And Im not any better than the last time! That night we had 10 elders cramming up the apartment for Tuesdays Zone Conference, with 24 missionaries and 6 people from Sapporo there. Lots of good workshops and training and testimonies. Tuesday night we were down to 8 elders. Wednesday morning woke up to pouring rain. yeahhhhh. The 4 elders that had stayed the night and the 3 sisters all got on their bus to head back to their areas. We were going on splits with the other companionship in the apartment. Listened to the weather report that morning, all day was a 90% chance of rain/snow and a high of 6.C....Maybe we should just do our weekly planning instead? Right before we leave the apartment the rain begins turning into big slushy snow. With all my winter stuff still packed away and no time, we threw on our rain gear and hoped for the best. It was NOT the best. Before we knew it there was a few inches of snow, but it was still somewhat warm so alot of puddles and slush. In no time my gloves and shoes were soaking wet and freezing cold, and my waterproof rain gear stopped being waterproof a good year ago. We considered heading home and exchanging a different day, but decided this was a day that would call for a little extra blind valor and unnecessary manhood. So we stormed the storm and weathered the weather. We spent a good amount of time in a close-by store a few times between going out and visiting the people/places we had planned to go to, trying to get feeling back into my hands and feet while walking around and doing what we call "shizen dendou", which pretty much means contacting people and sharing the message without them realizing it. Its quite easy if youre a white guy. I just walk up next to people, find something in Japanese and ask them what it means, and then just talk about how im studying japanese and living here for 2 years and talk to people alot and just keep dropping hints until they ask "so, what are you doing here in Japan?" I thought youd never ask my friend! We finally all get back to the apt, worn out and cold and soaked to every bone. Oh, and sometime in the afternoon it tuened back into rain, which just turned any snow into slush. Good times! Oh, the best part, those 7 missionaries that had left in the morning? They took their bus to this town about 1.5 hrs from their destination where you have to change buses, only to find out that all the buses going there had been cancelled! Long story short, they spent a good 6 hrs in the train station of this tiny farming town in the middle of nowhere, only to take the bus back to Obihiro. They left our apartment at 9AM and walked back in around 9pm. We had another rowdy night with the 8 of us and saw them out again the next morning. Oh, and Thursday? Perfectly clear, sunny, warm day. Werent even any puddles left! You would never have guessed that the day before it had snowed or even rained! Well, it was at least an adventure. Other than that its been pretty normal. The best part of the week was Sunday night. Well some time a week ago Elder Watanabe asked me if there was any american food I missed, and I came up with burritos. It turns out he has a recipe for tortillas, and a few conversations led us to decide to have a Burrito Party! So we spent this week getting prepped and had an apartment fiesta Sunday night! Adios Amigo! Elder Andrew Kade Jones PS - Tried Bear meat - gamey life buffalo

Well, Im back in Obihiro, its been quite a crazy week. Weve ben gone more than here, thats for sure. Tuesday we made the 7 hr trip out to Abashiri, my last area, to begin the Work-with-Everyone marathon of this transfer. I spent all day Wednesday with Elder Roopinia, a way fun kid from Tahiti. We got stuck with the "just go find people plan". We walked around all day, mostly no one seemed to be home, and those that were seemed not very interested. We did get a few appointments and a lesson however, and met this way nice mom who had met with missionaries on and off for several years. Thursday we made our way back, went and met with a mom who we had made an appt with the week before, she was way nice and really interested in God and families and all, has 2 cute daughters, one a 4 yr old who is as open as a kid can be, right off the bat told me their grandma died recently and that she is wearing cute panties, to which her 2 yr old sister replied "not as cute as mine!". Reminded me of al my crazy little cousins. Friday we were in Obihiro. Saturday we took a 6 hr trip out to Nemuro, the farthest east city in Japan, and probably the smallest in area in the mission. On the way there our train hit a bear that was crossing the tracks in the dark. After taking time to make sure there was no carcass blocking the trucks, our conductor called it good and moved on. Welcome to Hokkaido! The Nemuro Elders have an investigator who can only meet on Sundays who needed a baptism interview. So we got to spend Sunday with the branch of about 15 people, which was a big change from the 100+ we have in Obihiro. That day I was on splits with Elder Morgan, who got here about 3 weeks ago. We had a swell time. This morning we took the 550am train back so we would have time to get some things done. So yeah, that was about it. Hope your week was just as good! Elder Andrew Kade Jones