Kunitachi

QUESTION: What ever happened to those Colonel Sanders statues that used to be in all the KFC restaurants 20 years ago? 

ANSWER: They were transported to Japan, where they now valiantly welcome Japanese KFC chicken lovers.

Now here is Elder Mumford's e-mail from 7/26/09:

Dear Everyone,

Well, its been only 4 days since the last email, but a lot has happened.

Ive been getting used to Kunitachi recently, and I got to meet all the ward on Sunday.  They are probably one of the nicest wards I've ever had the privelage of serving in.

Just to update, our investigators here;

1. Ooishi, Reina.  She is amazing.  She started meeting with the missionaries once a week, and yesterday she came to church for the first time.  She works at a hospital from Saturday afternoon until 10:00 am on Sunday morning, but somehow she still managed to come to church at our invitation.  She was super tired, but had a good time.

2. Ko.  I havent met him yet, so I really dont know much about him.  Just that he can be baptized whenever he wants, but just needs to decide.

So, if you could keep these people in your prayers, Im sure it will bless their lives.

My companion, Zenon Stasevskas is from Sao Paulo.  He speaks perfect english as well, so no problems there.  He is extremely hard working, and still has that new-missionary energy boost.  It makes me feel old because I get tired a lot faster, but its good because every day we are working super hard.

As far as news goes, nothing immediately pressing.  Its just been good, long days so far.  The rain FINALLY stopped for good, so now we can actually have summer.  This is good because, as much as I love the rain as a normal person, as a missionary it just messes things up because people are just so much less likely to listen to you when its raining.

VIDEO:

VIDEO: Press 'PLAY" to view.

(A rain soaked Elder Mumford)

We went to the Tachikawa Fireworks Festival.  I'd never heard about it before, but apparently its a pretty big deal around here.  There were several thousands of people in Kimonos out on blankets all around the city waiting to see the fireworks. (I got videos! :)  Its every year on July 25.

(Poster from the Tachikawa fireworks festival.)

Well, that just about sums up our adventures in the last few days. Oh one more fun thing, the missionaries here get to water the plants at the church everyday.  Kind of fun :).

Alright, I hope everyone has fun!

Good luck wherever you are!

-Elder Martin Mumford,

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We're Not In Shibuya Any More!

"Hey Elder, I don't think we are in Shibuya any more" (Elder Mumford was transferred  from Shibuya, where there are people EVERYWHERE, to Kunitachi, a quite residential  suburb of Tokyo.

And now, here's Elder Mumford's e-mail dated July 22, 2009:

Dear Everyone,

I'm emailing from KUNITACHI.  Yesterday I moved all the stuff from Shibuya and moved into the apartment here.  Its quite a change.  Mu companion is Elder Staveskas (everyone just says Stavi) From Brazil.

Speaking of Brazil, where and when did Dad serve his mission?  Elder Stavi is curious.

Anyways, Kunitachi is a pleasant little area out in the countryside.  A big change from Shibuya.  All yesterday I kept thinking how quiet and peaceful it was.  Its nearly 70% neighborhood/residential areas, which is really nice.  Tons of houses and apartments, which means that lots of people actually LIVE here instead of just work here.

Shibuya was a little difficult as far as that went, because no one actually lived there, just worked and partied there.  Here its nice.  Its a small area, from one end to the other takes about 1 1/2 hours by bike, but there are still several hundred thousand people living here, so we have our work cut out for us.

Yesterday we knocked on the doors of this creepy little village down by our apartment.  It turned out there was a lot of old angry people that lived there :(  However we did meet someone who sounds like he might want to meet us again.  His name is Banba (way cool name).  He voulenteers in Africa every year, and studies various religions.  Should be fun!

We're kind of sad to split up the Shibuya 4-man dream team, but Im sure everyone who is there now is having fun.  Elder Haight actually went to Kawasaki, the area I was in before Shibuya, so I got to tell him a lot about it before he left.  Kunitachi is actually really close to Kawasaki, its on the same train line.

Anyways, there isnt really much time for this email either;  The Kunitachi email place is only 30 minutes as well, but next time Ill write out my email on paper first so I can fit in a good long email when I get here.

The package should be coming soon, I sent it on Tuesday and I took the fastest option they had for packages.  (its by plane, not boat), so you should get it soon, maybe by Saturday.

I still need to send a few more things for everyones birthday that didnt quite make it into the package.  You can look forward to that as well.

Anyways, sorry for the brief email (as always), Ill be sure to have a lot of adventurous stories about Kunitachi next week.  I think we are emailing on Monday next week, so be ready for that.  I know its been rather confusing what with the p-day changing and transfers messing up the regular schedule, but from now on emails will be consistently on monday... unless something else happens.

Hm... right now Im looking out the window and the clouds have thickened into a bit of a storm.  Not good, because we are biking today and I didnt bring any rain gear.  Well, I think were going to get a bit wet then :)

Well, good luck, have fun!

-Love,

Elder Martin Mumford

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This Just In....

On July 20th, Elder Mumford sent this brief e-mail:

Hey, I transfered!

Im going to Kunitachi with Elder Stavi.

I cant email right now, and I dont know when my next email will be.

Just thought I'd give you the heads up!

-Love you,

Elder Mumford.

Welcome Home President and Sister Hill!

(President and Sister Hill just returned from 3 years of service as president of the Japan Tokyo Mission.  They were well loved by all the missionaries, and we honor them for their sacrifice, dedication and leadership.)

Hello, it's Karen here, aka: Missionary Mom.  We happened to be in Utah this past week for a family party, when the Hill's reported their mission in Sacrament Meeting.  We felt fortunate to be able to attend, and hear from this wonderful couple, who Martin respected greatly!  

Also in attendance was Btother and Sister Morris, the parents of Martin's current companion, Elder Elliot Morris.  It was a privlidge to meet them and their wonderful family.

(Bruce Mumford, Karen Mumford, Cathy Morris, Mark Morris)

I also had a chance to visit briefly with Martin's first trainer and companion, Elder Cook, who completed his service in December 2008.  It wasn't hard to spot him... I just looked for the tallest person in the building!

(Elder Benjamin Cook, with Karen Mumford)

I also chatted a bit with Elder Frank, Martin's follow-up trainer and 2nd companion, who completed his service in April 2009.   It was so fun to meet in person, these amazing young men, whom we have come to know so well through Martin's letters, pictures, and video clips.  

(Elder Anthony Frank with Karen Mumford)

Can you believe we also ran into Elder Jacob Meline, from our home ward in Camas, Washington.  Elder Meline also served fathfully in the Japan, Tokyo Mission, completing his service in March, 2009.

(Karen Mumford with Jacob Meline)

Earlier that week, Bruce was able to re-connect with Mike and Debbie Evans.  Mike was one of Bruce's best friends from high shcool, and Mike's wife Debbie, is the sister of his other best friend in high shcool.  Bruce had lost touch with Mike and had not seen him in 25 years.  I recently became aquatinted  with Debbie through the missionary mom's group, since we both have a son currently serving in the Japan, Tokyo Mission, and as we chatted, we soon discovered the connection.  Martin and their son Nathan have yet to meet each other in the mission, but we hope they will have an opportunity to do so soon.  The Evans' also attended the Hill's Sacrament Meeting Report.

(Bruce and Karen Mumford, with Debbie and Mike Evans in Utah)

BEFORE: (Here is Mike and Bruce during one of the last times they would see each other for 25 years.

 Mike is on the far left, and Bruce is on the far right.)

AFTER: (And here is Mike and Bruce now.  Who knew 25 years ago, that they would both end up having a son serve in the Japan, Tokyo mission.)

Happy New P-Day

(While these beautiful girls were busy taking pictures of the Tokyo LDS Temple, Martin was busy taking pictures of the beautiful girls!)

Dear Everyone,

Well, not much has really happened since last Thursday :p

As far as postage, I may very well have to take out another 100 today.  Im still putting everything in the box and sorting all the pictures and things, so Ill try to get it sent by this Friday at the latest (sorry, it will probably arrive after masidon's and possibly after mom's birthday.  I might just throw in Mallory's things too and ship it off before the end of July).

Dont worry too much about money, Im still doing great on the mission money alone, haven't really needed to use personal money much.  Dad would be proud how Im managing my finances and such.

Well, things have started to pick up again in missionary work.  We are meeting some cool people, namely...

1. Takamori - he is still stuggling with smoking.  Its the only thing holding him back.

2. Kamada - still trying to find out if its true.

and that's just about it.

Also 1 more, just recently,

3. Mizusawa - interested in learning about other religions, has trouble understanding the Book of Mormon (why Nephi killed Laban... etc).

Not really that much happened so far.  However one fun story,

So apparently every Sunday at Yoyogi park they have this giant 50's dancing competition, with all these greasy guys in jeans and leather coats dancing around.  So funny, I got some pictures.

Well, thats about it.  You're going to enjoy the big load of pictures coming up soon.  Theres quite a lot of videos too.

Hope everyone is doing well, good luck and dont forget to have fun!

-Love,

Elder Mumford

TtoOKkyYOo, JjaAPpaANn

愛してるよ from an e-mail dated July 8, 2009

Dear Everyone,

This has been a notable week for me, namely because I am no longer a teenager, but am now officially an adult!  Yay!

Thank you everyone for that incredible birthday package.  I almost didnt get it, because the post office tried to deliver it TWICE in 3 days when we werent home, but I finally got it last night!

It is so good to hear from everyone, and the american food was so beautiful.  I pulled out the bricks of cheese and everyone in the apartment was in tears.  This is a big deal.  We'll definitely be making that pizza soon.  Also the peanut butter was a super rare treat.  Thank you for the incredible gifts, they made our day (and probably our month too).

So another week goes by and Im a year older.  Im still the same old me.  It was a good week full of experiences though.  Some of the highlights;

(Martin's New Mission President- Steve and LeAnn Albrecht, former associate dean of the Marriott School of Business)

1.  We got to meet President and Sister Albrecht!  They introduced themselves to us and explained some of the new changes.  One is, P-day is now going to be on Monday instead of Thursday (in effect starting next week).  Which means that This next monday Ill be sending the next email, so dont be surprised.

They are extremely nice, very spiritual and have strong plans for the mission.  This is going to be an excellent finishing year of my mission with them.

2.  We met a guy on the street who was going to propose to his girlfriend that day.  Way cool!

3.  We got a Laotian Book Of Mormon, for that one guy we met last week, the secretary to the ambassador of Laos.  Its HUGE, takes up the whole desk, and has a coloring-book-esque picture section.  Very cool.  If we get in contact with him again well have to give it to him.

(The missionaries are able to obtain Books of Mormon, in any of 106  languages.)

Information on Investigators;

- Kamada - interested in the gospel, wants to know more is reading/praying a little to find out.  He'll continue to learn and hopefully get answers to his questions via the spirit, but what he needs is to come to church on Sundays.  His part-time job is right durring church so he can never come.  Perhaps just pray that an opportunity to come might happen soon

- Takamori - He is so nice.  He loves the gospel, tries so hard to do everything.  The hard thing is quitting cigarrettes.  Maybe pray that he might have the strength to quit.  It is so hard for him.

And beyond that there's not really anyone else we're working with too much.

Some funny stories from Shibuya;

1.  There was a man inside this little red wheeled robot capsule thing, that was playing music and rolling around the sidewalks.  Wierd.  I got videos.

2.  Elder Haight and Morris are big on movies, so over this 5 weeks together they have prepared a list of 300 movies that they recommend.  Insane.

Im sure there's more but I seem to have forgotten.  Ill have to write them down when I think of them on my new cool 'hand-tatoo to-do list'.  Its really handy.  Anyways,

Hope everyone is enjoying it up wherever you may be!  Have fun, good luck!

-Thank you!

-Love,

Elder Mumford

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Happy 4th Of July!

(Elder Mumford Says: "Peace Out Everybody!")

Here's Elder Mumford's e-mail dated July 2, 2009

Dear Everyone,

Another crazy week, some highlights;

1. We picked up Elder Imai (he just entered the JMTC), but he got to spend 4 days with us in Shibuya while he was waiting to get in!  It was lots of fun :)

2.  Michael Jackson died?  Thats weird.  We heard about it from some guy on the train, so we didnt believe it at first, but then everyone kept telling us the same.  Wow.

3.  Some advertising person called us.  He said that his company has this stage in the middle of a train station where people preform.  He wants to give us several hours on the stage to do whatever we want!  Way nice! :)

4.  As for visiting NHK Studio Park, its actually not open right now (I think).  They closed it off to people because there is a huge mob protesting outside.  I cant figure out what theyre protesting, but they all look really angry.  We will try to visit it another day, when the angry mob is gone.

(The tallest building in Japan- The Landmark Building.)

Anyways, Shibuya is as amazing as ever.  Im sorry this is going to be a short one, because nothing out of the ordinary happened this week.

But, Im doing well here.  All 4 of us get along really well and are having lots of fun.  Its definitely harder to talk to people here than other places Ive been in though.  Biking is out of the picture, because there are so many people on the streets that your bike doesnt even fit sometimes.  In Yokosuka and Kawasaki, if we stopped 3 people, usually at least one of them would listen to us for a while, but here you get lucky if 1 out of 10 even stops for you, let alone listen.  Every single person is busy.

By far the most common response is 'Im in a hurry', because seriously, everyone is.  Every single person here is rushing to get to work or get somewhere else and they dont have time to talk.  Most people dont even have 1 minute to spare, so recently we've been asking people if they have just 10 seconds to listen.  Most of the time they dont, but sometimes people will listen.  Then we give a REALLY quick 10-second message and hand them a flyer or something, then they look at their watch and say 'Oh, 10 seconds is up, bye'.

Its ultra-fast paced.  Kind of scary and Im still adjusting.  Its so hard just to get people to stop at all, sometimes its frustrating.  We'll keep trying.

(Elder Mumford came across this giant robot spider that gets up and walks around.  However, it was "sleeping" at the time he snapped this picture.)

We also have some of the anti-mormon sentiment from the Americans/Gaijin here.  We get yelled at sometimes, which surprisingly is a first for me.  In all the other areas, people know absolutely 0 about christianity, let alone our church, so there are no angry people telling us to go home.  But here we get it occasionally.  It really makes me appreciate the missionaries in America, Europe, and pretty much the rest of the entire world who already start out with a bad image of us.  At least here you have sort of a clean slate.

(Visiting The Shrine of a Million Dogs)

Well sorry for my rant, it was a little negative, but it feels good to let it out. :)  Thats basically our situation now, finding anyone who will listen.  Well keep on keeping on.

Thanks everyone for the support!  Have a happy 4th of July!

Elder Martin D Mumford

-T-o--k---y----o-----J----a---p--a-n-