Saturday, April 30, 2011
April 29, 2011 -email
WOW! Hello family!
This week has been long with no P-day until today...
Yesterday I ran into Elder Clawson and he said he had something for me from my mom. He reached into his shirt pocket and gave me a dollar bill that was folded into a 'V' shape and had a sticky note wrapped around it that said "Buggy Buggy". I'm still pondering the meaning of it all. He looked so happy to be here.
Then, this morning we were hurrying to make it to the temple and as I was crossing the street I saw a couple of joggers on the other side of the road. One of them had a maroon hoodie on with a yellow football logo and I thought it was odd how similar it looked to the hoodies Cam had made up for the football players when he was on the team. I kept staring at it as I got closer and realized it was indeed a West Side sweatshirt. (This keyboard is so terrible... pardon all my spelling errors please!) Anyway, I wondered who it could be and then they called out my name... It was my own Aunt Ann and Aunt Amy! We were in such a mad rush I didn't even have time to think of things to say to them besides hello and just shock at the chances of us running into each other... I didn't even catch the reason as to why they were in Provo. Now I assume it must be for Women's Conference. It would have been crazy if you had been with them Mom... I was a little sad that I hadn't seen you too but only for a few seconds because then I decided it would probably just make us both cry or something. I love you though! I hope you have fun with your sisters this weekend! Crazy that you are just a few blocks away right now.
So the group of Japan-bound missionaries that is ahead of my group all made it to Japan and are doing work there! Also, Parts of the Tokyo and Sendai missions are opening back up and missionaries are back (according to the church website). Anyway, with every group of missionaries that comes to the MTC for 12 weeks, they are joined for their last 3 weeks by a group of missionaries that are from Japan and are serving in Japan. So, the Japan-native missionaries who will be flying back with my group will be here next week and then will fly back to Japan with us. We found out yesterday that there are 12 Elders and 16 Sisters! The group ahead of us only had 4 or 5 sisters. My companion, as Coordinating Sister is in charge of orienting all the new Japan-bound sisters when they arrive so she will have a lot to do when the 16 Sisters get here. Her job is to keep in touch with the Branch Presidency and sort of serve as a mini relief society president for all of us. My job is to accompany her to the Branch presidency meetings and to pick the music for sacrament meeting. It's a pretty 'cushy' calling (as mom would refer to it).
Also, last Tuesday Elder Richard G. Scott graced us all with his presence and delivered a fabulous devotional. It was great to see and hear him. Naturally, we were all a little shocked this past Tuesday when Elder Dallin H. Oaks and his wife walked into the Fireside room. Wow. Lots of good stuff. I love hearing from Elder Oaks, and especially from his wife (who apparently served in Sendai, Japan).
I have received TONS of mail this week - lots of letters and things from people in the community. Also, I got a letter from my mission president that just said that we are expected to arrive in Japan on a Tuesday and we will stay in the mission home for some meetings and to receive our area assignments the next day. All seems to be going normally. Also, the letter had a sticky note on it from Sister Hobbs, Mrs. Grimms Mom. Remind me again what the Hobb's are doing there...?
Not much time left... so I'll hurry:
Mom - I really want to know how your combined lesson went on Sunday...
Phone password: I was pretty sure it was 5289 but it could be 5170... let me know if those don't work.
Is the FIFA world cup really in Japan this fall?
Push that blue Honda off a cliff for me please. I will definitely learn Japanese better if I know it's not burdening the Waite premises with its parasitic actions towards the family finances.
Also, I am so excited about Amy Hurrens call. I have been having dreams about her and I being here together. Could you send me her home address?
One more thing: I ran into a Sister Weight here who has lived in Indiana and knows the Mark Waite Family there. We talked about Josiah and what a great guy he is
N\LOVWE!!
This week has been long with no P-day until today...
Yesterday I ran into Elder Clawson and he said he had something for me from my mom. He reached into his shirt pocket and gave me a dollar bill that was folded into a 'V' shape and had a sticky note wrapped around it that said "Buggy Buggy". I'm still pondering the meaning of it all. He looked so happy to be here.
Then, this morning we were hurrying to make it to the temple and as I was crossing the street I saw a couple of joggers on the other side of the road. One of them had a maroon hoodie on with a yellow football logo and I thought it was odd how similar it looked to the hoodies Cam had made up for the football players when he was on the team. I kept staring at it as I got closer and realized it was indeed a West Side sweatshirt. (This keyboard is so terrible... pardon all my spelling errors please!) Anyway, I wondered who it could be and then they called out my name... It was my own Aunt Ann and Aunt Amy! We were in such a mad rush I didn't even have time to think of things to say to them besides hello and just shock at the chances of us running into each other... I didn't even catch the reason as to why they were in Provo. Now I assume it must be for Women's Conference. It would have been crazy if you had been with them Mom... I was a little sad that I hadn't seen you too but only for a few seconds because then I decided it would probably just make us both cry or something. I love you though! I hope you have fun with your sisters this weekend! Crazy that you are just a few blocks away right now.
So the group of Japan-bound missionaries that is ahead of my group all made it to Japan and are doing work there! Also, Parts of the Tokyo and Sendai missions are opening back up and missionaries are back (according to the church website). Anyway, with every group of missionaries that comes to the MTC for 12 weeks, they are joined for their last 3 weeks by a group of missionaries that are from Japan and are serving in Japan. So, the Japan-native missionaries who will be flying back with my group will be here next week and then will fly back to Japan with us. We found out yesterday that there are 12 Elders and 16 Sisters! The group ahead of us only had 4 or 5 sisters. My companion, as Coordinating Sister is in charge of orienting all the new Japan-bound sisters when they arrive so she will have a lot to do when the 16 Sisters get here. Her job is to keep in touch with the Branch Presidency and sort of serve as a mini relief society president for all of us. My job is to accompany her to the Branch presidency meetings and to pick the music for sacrament meeting. It's a pretty 'cushy' calling (as mom would refer to it).
Also, last Tuesday Elder Richard G. Scott graced us all with his presence and delivered a fabulous devotional. It was great to see and hear him. Naturally, we were all a little shocked this past Tuesday when Elder Dallin H. Oaks and his wife walked into the Fireside room. Wow. Lots of good stuff. I love hearing from Elder Oaks, and especially from his wife (who apparently served in Sendai, Japan).
I have received TONS of mail this week - lots of letters and things from people in the community. Also, I got a letter from my mission president that just said that we are expected to arrive in Japan on a Tuesday and we will stay in the mission home for some meetings and to receive our area assignments the next day. All seems to be going normally. Also, the letter had a sticky note on it from Sister Hobbs, Mrs. Grimms Mom. Remind me again what the Hobb's are doing there...?
Not much time left... so I'll hurry:
Mom - I really want to know how your combined lesson went on Sunday...
Phone password: I was pretty sure it was 5289 but it could be 5170... let me know if those don't work.
Is the FIFA world cup really in Japan this fall?
Push that blue Honda off a cliff for me please. I will definitely learn Japanese better if I know it's not burdening the Waite premises with its parasitic actions towards the family finances.
Also, I am so excited about Amy Hurrens call. I have been having dreams about her and I being here together. Could you send me her home address?
One more thing: I ran into a Sister Weight here who has lived in Indiana and knows the Mark Waite Family there. We talked about Josiah and what a great guy he is
N\LOVWE!!
April 19, 2011 -email
Dear Kazoku-
I hear all is normal (chaotic) at the house of Waite. That's good to know. Reports from Dad only confirm my belief that we will never be people of sanity, and I sometimes question your reports of being 'blessed' for having missionaries right now... : ) Overall it can be concluded that the blue Honda is more trouble than it's worth! But, I'm glad to hear that the suburban is finally off the basketball court. I think I may actually learn Japanese faster knowing that.
How is Cam doing? Any news on his investigators? Is there any way that his e-mails could be forwarded to me? And could someone tell me his e-mail address so I can write him myself? I sent a letter to him last week but I sent it to the address of his house... do we know if that is a trustworthy mailing address or should I just send things to the mission home address? I really want to hear from that guy.
Life at the incomparable compound has been abnormally exciting this week! Our Sempai (the missionary group just ahead of us that's bound for Japan) left yesterday morning. It feels good to know that they are all going to Japan still.
Also, I met my mission president this week! One morning Sister Derricott and I had just finished climbing all 96 stairs and were about to head into our classroom when our teacher introduced us to a man with the last name of Albrecht... I did a double-take at his tag and realized it was President Albrecht. He chatted with us for only about a minute and then had to go. Later that morning though he was back in the building and he gathered up all the Tokyo-bound missionaries (including those in the group ahead of us who have been "permanently re-assigned" elsewhere), and just talked to us for about 10 minutes and let us ask him questions. His home is in Orem and he came back from Tokyo for about a week and a half to see family because he doesn't have anything to do in Tokyo since all his missionaries are gone.
Everything he said was very very positive - the best things I've heard about Tokyo since I've been here. I've often wondered what Tokyo is really like right now because reports are all so varied. Some make it sound like there's a lot of permanent damage and others just say there is a lot of mess that will need to be cleaned up. Anyway, my impression of what's actually happening over there keeps changing and his report of things was more positive than anything I've ever heard. He said he feels safer in Tokyo right now than he ever would in Seattle (no offence Seattle...). He said that chances were high that those of us coming in May would be coming directly to Tokyo. We asked more about that and he said, "Tokyo is completely safe for missionaries, it's just a matter of making sure that everyone else realizes that”. I would say there's almost a 100% chance that you who are coming in May will come directly to Tokyo, and that those of you who have been "permanently reassigned" will be coming to Tokyo shortly.
He also said that if things go on the same track they have been lately, that the Tokyo mission will be the first mission to use laptops. Apparently he has been really pushing for them because it's such a useful way to communicate with investigators and members - especially in Japan because most people go to work before we are out proselyting, and don't come home until after we are already in bed. Anyway, it felt good to see and talk to him and hear a first-hand report of how things are across the pond. He will be the mission president there until next summer.
Also, we got a new district leader and zone leaders this week - an exciting change, and my companion Sister Derricott was called to be Coordinating Sister. As her companion, that automatically makes me Music coordinator.
Got to go! Wow, my e-mail time is dwindling! I will try to squeeze in everything.
I hear all is normal (chaotic) at the house of Waite. That's good to know. Reports from Dad only confirm my belief that we will never be people of sanity, and I sometimes question your reports of being 'blessed' for having missionaries right now... : ) Overall it can be concluded that the blue Honda is more trouble than it's worth! But, I'm glad to hear that the suburban is finally off the basketball court. I think I may actually learn Japanese faster knowing that.
How is Cam doing? Any news on his investigators? Is there any way that his e-mails could be forwarded to me? And could someone tell me his e-mail address so I can write him myself? I sent a letter to him last week but I sent it to the address of his house... do we know if that is a trustworthy mailing address or should I just send things to the mission home address? I really want to hear from that guy.
Life at the incomparable compound has been abnormally exciting this week! Our Sempai (the missionary group just ahead of us that's bound for Japan) left yesterday morning. It feels good to know that they are all going to Japan still.
Also, I met my mission president this week! One morning Sister Derricott and I had just finished climbing all 96 stairs and were about to head into our classroom when our teacher introduced us to a man with the last name of Albrecht... I did a double-take at his tag and realized it was President Albrecht. He chatted with us for only about a minute and then had to go. Later that morning though he was back in the building and he gathered up all the Tokyo-bound missionaries (including those in the group ahead of us who have been "permanently re-assigned" elsewhere), and just talked to us for about 10 minutes and let us ask him questions. His home is in Orem and he came back from Tokyo for about a week and a half to see family because he doesn't have anything to do in Tokyo since all his missionaries are gone.
Everything he said was very very positive - the best things I've heard about Tokyo since I've been here. I've often wondered what Tokyo is really like right now because reports are all so varied. Some make it sound like there's a lot of permanent damage and others just say there is a lot of mess that will need to be cleaned up. Anyway, my impression of what's actually happening over there keeps changing and his report of things was more positive than anything I've ever heard. He said he feels safer in Tokyo right now than he ever would in Seattle (no offence Seattle...). He said that chances were high that those of us coming in May would be coming directly to Tokyo. We asked more about that and he said, "Tokyo is completely safe for missionaries, it's just a matter of making sure that everyone else realizes that”. I would say there's almost a 100% chance that you who are coming in May will come directly to Tokyo, and that those of you who have been "permanently reassigned" will be coming to Tokyo shortly.
He also said that if things go on the same track they have been lately, that the Tokyo mission will be the first mission to use laptops. Apparently he has been really pushing for them because it's such a useful way to communicate with investigators and members - especially in Japan because most people go to work before we are out proselyting, and don't come home until after we are already in bed. Anyway, it felt good to see and talk to him and hear a first-hand report of how things are across the pond. He will be the mission president there until next summer.
Also, we got a new district leader and zone leaders this week - an exciting change, and my companion Sister Derricott was called to be Coordinating Sister. As her companion, that automatically makes me Music coordinator.
Got to go! Wow, my e-mail time is dwindling! I will try to squeeze in everything.
April 12, 2011 -email
Flammy-
Thanks for ALL the letters and e-mails! I'm trying to send this to Cam too, but the e-mail address I'm putting in for him is just a guess (camden.waite@myldsmail.net ) so if that's wrong could you forward this to him. Also, I've written him 3 times but only once did I remember to put on the extra postage required, so who knows if anything will ever get there. I used his house address... do we know if that's a good address to use?
Well, life at the incomparable compound continues! I'm so glad to see that Hallsie had a Happy Birthday! Her cake looks fantastic, Mooze. And Belle is adorable - I hope she sticks around so I can meet her when I get home. Dad dear-eldered me about her and I was unusually excited about it. That night I had a dream that I had acquired 5 baby kittens and was taking care of them here in the MTC... not really the same as having a dog at home.
Hallie- Dad told me about your object lesson last week for FHE - that's a great idea. Are all the feathers picked up yet in the basement, or are some of those 'lies' still floating around?
That's great that Sariah is going to college - tell her I wish her the best in her decision! And keep me posted on what she ends up doing if you can.
I think the password to my cell-phone is still 5289. Good luck with that.
Finally: THE HIKE! How exciting! Please do expose as many details as possible about who and when and where and how it will all be taking place. I'm a little jealous. But not really because guess what? When you are all on the hike I will be in JAPAN! I think it's a reasonable trade-off. And.... CONGRATS to Sadie Christine for making the cut this year. Good luck Sadie! Where will Janie be staying for all of this? And who else is on the short-list of people vying (<-- Spelling?) for a spot on the adventure? I can't wait to hear about it.
Thanks for all your many many many prayers and letters. They make a difference I can feel. Time is flying by and I understand now how people say that a mission is like living 4 life-times: things will come up that I need to resolve or work on that in normal life would take me at least a week to really understand and do something about, but here I work on it and resolve the matter in a matter of hours or just a day... it's weird. Kind of feels super-human, which I guess it really is because I definitely can't do that on my own. Anyway, it's astounding how blessed I am.
I love you all!
-Waite Shimai
PS- Will someone go on a jog for me around Clifton? ...kidding.
Thanks for ALL the letters and e-mails! I'm trying to send this to Cam too, but the e-mail address I'm putting in for him is just a guess (camden.waite@myldsmail.net ) so if that's wrong could you forward this to him. Also, I've written him 3 times but only once did I remember to put on the extra postage required, so who knows if anything will ever get there. I used his house address... do we know if that's a good address to use?
Well, life at the incomparable compound continues! I'm so glad to see that Hallsie had a Happy Birthday! Her cake looks fantastic, Mooze. And Belle is adorable - I hope she sticks around so I can meet her when I get home. Dad dear-eldered me about her and I was unusually excited about it. That night I had a dream that I had acquired 5 baby kittens and was taking care of them here in the MTC... not really the same as having a dog at home.
Hallie- Dad told me about your object lesson last week for FHE - that's a great idea. Are all the feathers picked up yet in the basement, or are some of those 'lies' still floating around?
That's great that Sariah is going to college - tell her I wish her the best in her decision! And keep me posted on what she ends up doing if you can.
I think the password to my cell-phone is still 5289. Good luck with that.
Finally: THE HIKE! How exciting! Please do expose as many details as possible about who and when and where and how it will all be taking place. I'm a little jealous. But not really because guess what? When you are all on the hike I will be in JAPAN! I think it's a reasonable trade-off. And.... CONGRATS to Sadie Christine for making the cut this year. Good luck Sadie! Where will Janie be staying for all of this? And who else is on the short-list of people vying (<-- Spelling?) for a spot on the adventure? I can't wait to hear about it.
Thanks for all your many many many prayers and letters. They make a difference I can feel. Time is flying by and I understand now how people say that a mission is like living 4 life-times: things will come up that I need to resolve or work on that in normal life would take me at least a week to really understand and do something about, but here I work on it and resolve the matter in a matter of hours or just a day... it's weird. Kind of feels super-human, which I guess it really is because I definitely can't do that on my own. Anyway, it's astounding how blessed I am.
I love you all!
-Waite Shimai
PS- Will someone go on a jog for me around Clifton? ...kidding.
April 5, 2011 -email
Kazoku (family),
Wow - what a crazy time you've been having since I left! I love getting news about all you tell me - the weather, conditions in Japan, family gatherings, sports, local hooplah... I love it all.
Conference was indeed fabulous. Elders Oaks and Uchtdorf are ALWAYS 2 of my favorites. I also loved Elder Scott's talk too - it's so interesting to sometimes just hear stories about people and their families.
Dad- DO NOT look for my dictionary. I don't want it with me - I'm trying to figure out how much I can leave before flying to Japan.
I hope Cam is doing well. Could you forward me his e-mail this week, along with his e-mail address? I'd like to send a message to that guy. And what was the comment he made about missionaries and/or the apostles being the celebrities of the church??? Also, I've been praying for him to have a 'white Sunday'... is that missionary lingo? I have no idea what that means.
Today marks off the first month of my mission... time is flying by! Life at the 'incomparable' MTC continues. One day this week when I went to the gym to exercise, after doing a couple laps around the track I went to the stretching area to do some leg exercises. I was huffing and puffing along, and I looked behind me and 4 of the little Sisters from Japan were following me. We were a sight. I decided to give them more than they bargained for and led them through a fairly intense routine. They don't speak English a lot which made the whole thing sort of odd. : )
HAPPY BIRTHDAY this Sunday to HALLIE! I love you Hallsie and will be thinking all about you on that day! You'll be 6 right?
Mom, how was the Young Women's broadcast? You did end up taking the youth down on a trip right? All of us Sisters here were able to watch it this weekend while be Elders went to priesthood meeting. I kept thinking of you and all of your Young Women. It was a really good meeting I thought.
Dad- I don't mind that you thumbed through my sketchbook... it contains some of my very favorite things. I never put anything in there with the intent of having someone else lay eyes on it though, so don't judge all of the weird things I have. And recently I went through it and scribbled out a lot of the pages I no longer refer to because I was planning on transferring it all to a new book - so that's why some of the pages have colored pencil all over. I'm glad you liked that quote; it is pretty powerful. The story is that it was written by a man in Rwanda who was put in jail and told he would be released when he denied Christ/his religion (or something like that). He wrote that message after that I think. I heard the quote in a class at BYUI and jotted down a few of the phrases and then googled it later. I did eventually find the quote and a little bit of the story behind it but there wasn't a lot of information.
Also, you should know that my 2 favorite pages in my sketchbook remain the '100 things I learned from my mother/father".
Got to go!! I love you all!
-Love Waite Shimai
Wow - what a crazy time you've been having since I left! I love getting news about all you tell me - the weather, conditions in Japan, family gatherings, sports, local hooplah... I love it all.
Conference was indeed fabulous. Elders Oaks and Uchtdorf are ALWAYS 2 of my favorites. I also loved Elder Scott's talk too - it's so interesting to sometimes just hear stories about people and their families.
Dad- DO NOT look for my dictionary. I don't want it with me - I'm trying to figure out how much I can leave before flying to Japan.
I hope Cam is doing well. Could you forward me his e-mail this week, along with his e-mail address? I'd like to send a message to that guy. And what was the comment he made about missionaries and/or the apostles being the celebrities of the church??? Also, I've been praying for him to have a 'white Sunday'... is that missionary lingo? I have no idea what that means.
Today marks off the first month of my mission... time is flying by! Life at the 'incomparable' MTC continues. One day this week when I went to the gym to exercise, after doing a couple laps around the track I went to the stretching area to do some leg exercises. I was huffing and puffing along, and I looked behind me and 4 of the little Sisters from Japan were following me. We were a sight. I decided to give them more than they bargained for and led them through a fairly intense routine. They don't speak English a lot which made the whole thing sort of odd. : )
HAPPY BIRTHDAY this Sunday to HALLIE! I love you Hallsie and will be thinking all about you on that day! You'll be 6 right?
Mom, how was the Young Women's broadcast? You did end up taking the youth down on a trip right? All of us Sisters here were able to watch it this weekend while be Elders went to priesthood meeting. I kept thinking of you and all of your Young Women. It was a really good meeting I thought.
Dad- I don't mind that you thumbed through my sketchbook... it contains some of my very favorite things. I never put anything in there with the intent of having someone else lay eyes on it though, so don't judge all of the weird things I have. And recently I went through it and scribbled out a lot of the pages I no longer refer to because I was planning on transferring it all to a new book - so that's why some of the pages have colored pencil all over. I'm glad you liked that quote; it is pretty powerful. The story is that it was written by a man in Rwanda who was put in jail and told he would be released when he denied Christ/his religion (or something like that). He wrote that message after that I think. I heard the quote in a class at BYUI and jotted down a few of the phrases and then googled it later. I did eventually find the quote and a little bit of the story behind it but there wasn't a lot of information.
Also, you should know that my 2 favorite pages in my sketchbook remain the '100 things I learned from my mother/father".
Got to go!! I love you all!
-Love Waite Shimai
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