Once again, I'm emailing on Wednesday (in Japan) We just keep getting so busy on Thursdays we have to email on Wednesdays.
Elder Frank gave me a great idea. Every 3 transfers (18 weeks) he makes a mission newsletter that highlights what happened, as sort of a picture/letter collage. I think next transfer Ill start that and send you a cool mission newsletter!
This week has also been a busy one. (I dont think there is such a thing as a non-busy week in the mission field). However, I have noticed some big changes:
1. My language is slowly, but surely getting better. I think most of it is from reading the Book of Mormon in Japanese. However I'm always shocked at how much I still dont know. For example, one night when we returned to the apartment, Elder Frank said, "You sure sound angry when you speak Japanese", which surprised me because I thought I was being as humble and polite as possible. It turns out that some of the Japanese filler words (like the enlgish 'umm') that I used made me sound like I was offended all the time. One of the Japanese people we talked to even apologized to me when he thought I was offended. I dont think Ill ever understand all the little nuances of the Japanese Language, but every day I am learning something new.
2. Yamaguchi-san was baptized and confirmed a member of the church this week. He made a lot of good friends in the branch, and our cake turned out fine! I took a video of us making it.
3. The 85 year old we met on the street met us again today. We had lunch and he really wants to meet with us regularly. Hes a nice guy that likes to talk about his family members that are going to prestegious colleges in America. He lived in Seattle for a few years as well. His name is Kawai-san.
Recently, we went on exchanges with the Yamate Elders. I went to Yamate with Elder Bennison (from Australia). He is only 2 transfers older than me, but his Japanese is near-fluent. I was so impressed, because he could read a lot of Kanji, and read so quickly, and talk so fast. I hope I can get to be that good by that time.
(Elder Mumford with the district leaders)
Exchanges are always fun because you get to see how different missionaries talk to people. Everyone speaks Japanese a little differently, and everyone seems to have their own opinion about what way is the best. I still havent figured it out.
-- As for the family coming to Japan, it's hard to think about right now because I dont know how Ill feel later on (or what the new mission president might change the rules to) yet. However, right now I actually think it might be better to just come directly home, and then if you want we can all travel to Japan together later. That way, I wont have to wear my suit and nametag everywhere I go with you. :)
(Jogashima, looking South to Mount Fuji)
I dont know yet where I will go this next transfer. I might stay in Yokosuka, but I could easily move to another area. I kind of want to go, and try a different area, but I have become so used to Yokosuka and the members here, and the city and all the people. Im sure all missionaries feel this way when they are leaving their bean area.
I love Japan. Here's to another week in this great country!
Love you,
-Elder Martin Mumford
-Tokyo, Japan
(Elder Mumford displays an impressive collection of tango (Japanese vocabulary flash cards)- on a key ring to rival that of any Janitor.) (Click on picture to enlarge)I'm still in Japan! Sometimes I wake up and it just hits me that I'm in a different country, speaking a foreign language. At this point, when I get into a conversation with a Japanese Person, Im starting to think in Japanese. I still can't understand much, but I can comprehend the structure, the words, and the ideas behind them when people talk. Its becoming much, much easier to follow.
Recently we have been trying some new activities, we visited a City Japanese class, which was interesting. There, we met Gen-san, a young Chinese person who is just hanging around Yokosuka until he goes back to China. We became instant friends, and he says he wants to teach us Chinese sometime. Strangely, we are the first Christians he has ever met. He said he had never heard of a Christian church before.
Also, today we just tried a Shuwa Circle (Japanese Sign Language). Elder Frank knows quite a bit of American Sign Language, and he already knows Japanese much better than me. However, it was amazing learning a new language through a new language. Having never even done American Sign Language before, and knowing so little Japanese, I was surprised when I learned some JSL words that I didnt even know in Japanese. I sort of just figured out what they meant. Sometimes in JSL, the signs make a lot more sense than the actual language behind it.
In other news... we have the Baptism this week! Yamaguchi-san is ready to go! We are having a little celebration with him and some members afterwards, and we are making a cake. Kind of a scary idea, Elders cooking food, but Im sure it will taste OK. A member from Elder Frank's previous area is actually moving to Yokosuka soon. I guess he just can't seem to escape his last area, they come to him!
This week has been full of random happenings;
- On the way home by train one night, we were packed like sardines, and these three ladies started to talk to us. It turns out that all three didnt know eachother, and were getting off at different stations, but somehow the conversation (though rather one-sided, they just kept talking!) turned to the Bible. So, for about 15 minutes these three talked to us about the Bible and religion, and then got off. That really took us by surprise, because in Japan, (1) no one talks on the trains, and (2) even if they did it would NOT be about religion.
- There is a homeless man in central Yokosuka that roams the streets asking for money. One of the rules as a missionary is that we cant give money to homeless people, but when he came up, we felt so bad. We couldnt give money, and all we had was a couple packs of Elder Frank's skittles, so we gave him that. He was kind of surprised, but thanked us and went on his way.
- In Yokosuka, they have a lot of American restraunts. However, in Japan they put employees right outside them to hand out packs of napkins with ads on them for the restrant. As we passed, the person offered us napkins as usual, and because we like napkins we took them as usual. However, Elder Frank has this thing with restraunts. He always wants to get a paper menu that we can take back to the apartment and look at. Most restraunts carry these, but some don't.
When he asked her for the menu, she ran inside and asked someone, who then ran farther inside and asked someone else. Normally, at this point the restraunts would try and call the manager or the Franchise company, because this kind of request doesnt come up very often. (Kind of strange, because even if they have a stack of them right where we can see them, they have to check with the highest possible authority to do anything out of the ordinary. Its very rigid and unchangeable in Japanese restraunts). A minute later, she comes back out of the restraunt with one of the big, normal menus (the hard-copy that they give you when you sit down). She runs up, hands it to Elder Frank, and then makes the 'shhhh' sign and goes back to handing out napkins. :) That was pretty funny.
Anyways, we're doing a lot of work in Yokosuka. It seems like there are never enough hours in the day to get everything done. There is always something that needs doing, and I dont think it will ever run out these next 1 1/2 years. However, that is very satisfying, knowing you are doing a lot of work. After a long day, its so easy to just collapse each night and not even move until the next morning, especially if you know that you did well.
Thanks everyone for your support. Good luck to everyone in their endeavors; school, home, church, WoW...
Love you,
-Elder Martin Mumford
-Tokyo, Japan
Um... I forgot.
Or at least that's what Elder Frank says is my new favorite phrase. I have a pretty bad memory and it keeps getting us into all kinds of unfamilliar places.
This week has been exceptionally full of meetings! District Meeting, Zone Conference, Zone Interviews, Stake Priesthood Meeting...
Also, we are now emailing from a library, instead of that internet place. So we don't have to worry about internet expenses now. The only trade off is the time limit is only 45 minutes (unless theres no one in line, in which case we can take our full 1 Hour).
Sadly our appointment with Takahashi-san fell through. Usually appointnents made right off the street don't show up, so this was just one of those 'usually' times. He was a nice guy, we met him on the street and got to talk to him a bunch about the band he was in.
However that day was also very interesting because of a special Japanese Holiday, Seijinshiki! Coming of Age Day. Every person in the Yokosuka City area who was 20 years old was invited to this big event. The streets were filled with young people! A little different from the geriactric gangs that usually roam the city. The girls all wear elaborate kimonos, which are pretty expensive, as a member was telling us. The guys are ALL wearing suits though, so we blend right in! ... except for the backpacks, the nametags, and the fact that we're Americans. But we blended in much more than we usually do.
We do have another baptism soon. This one is in the Japanese branch, his name is Yamaguchi-san. His parents are both active members and he has his own set of scriptures that he marks up. He has come to church every Sunday, and has already had all the lessons before we came to Yokosuka. So, all that was left was for him to ask. The first Sunday I was there, he told me and Elder Cook that he wanted to be baptized, so we have just been getting him ready.
The only difficulty is that he is part of the J-tai school. I might have mentioned it before, but it is the Japanese Defense Acadamy, and its very strict on the first year students. Basically, he is not allowed to leave the school campus on weekdays, and when he leaves on weekends he must wear his full military uniform at all times. There are other strange rules as well, like he isn't allowed to have an umbrella, so when it rains he just has to live with it, and sometimes the school requires him to spend the weekend cleaning a building on campus. Very tough school.
But we found a weekend when he can do it, so everything is all set up! He's a great guy, and all the branch members like him. He's 20 years old, I think.
Anyways, to answer some questions:
1. How is the English class going? Did you recruit any new people from passing out all those flyers? English class is english class. We still get the same people coming, that have been coming since before I was born. We have passed out flyers several times this last week, with no real interested people, except for one just last night. He came up to me and was really interested in free english class, so I invited him to come on Thursday, and he said he would be there! It was very cold, so a few minutes later, he comes up with a hot can of coffee! I had to quickly explain that I didnt drink coffee, but thanked him a bunch. Kind of akward, but he was a nice guy.
2. Have you had any more experiences with the Komatsu family? (The Fry's Japanese neighbors) Not yet, but the Frys will update us if they need our help with anything. The Komatsus invited the Frys over for dinner sometime, so if us Elders can fit along with the Frys and the Komatsus in a little japanese house, then we might be able to tag along. They are a really nice family.
3. Have you tried any new and/or interesting foods lately? Surprisingly, we have been eating mexican food lately. We do some weekly service for Brother Nolan now, yardwork and such. He also likes to cook spicy food, and so when we go he makes us a 'care package' he calls it, filled with burrittos. Also we have been trying to use all the random cans of food in our apartment, so we made Taco Soup the other day using Sister Fry's recipie. That will last us a long, long time (the recipie made a LOT of soup).
4. What is your favorite Japanese food so far? My favorite Japanese food... strangley enough it is still Okonomiyaki, even though I havent ever had it on my mission so far. However out of the things Ive had here, there's this tiny little Tempura shop in Yokosuka that makes the best Tempura on rice. Soo good.
5. What is the weather like there? Have you had any snow? Weather has turned cool. Nothing like Sapporo, Im sure, but we have had a couple days that were misty and cold and sad. Everyone keeps saying that February is the worst of the winter, so I'll get ready. I'm using the scarf that Sister Fry gave me for Christmas.
No snow yet, I've heard snow is really rare in this mission, however Brother Nolan thinks we will get some. He said there was lots of snow and ice last year, and the weather is similar this time.
And yes, the rumors are true, I have assembled a package and sent it home! It is full of fun stuff for the family, and some stuff to put on a shelf for when I get back. Theres a note explaining all the contents, so I'll let it be a surprise. I sent it home the cheap way, though, so it might take 3 or 3 1/2 weeks to get there.
Anyways, thanks everyone for the love, support and prayers.
Here's to another week in Japan!
-Love you,
-Elder Martin Mumford
- Tokyo, Japan
Sorry for the long wait, this week has been busier than ever, but lots of fun. We found out we can use the computers in the Library in Yokosuka, for free! I think we will definitely use these from now on.
Shogatsu (Japanese New Years), it seems is the biggest holiday celebrated in Japan. From Christmas Day all the way up to January First, there were celebrations and festivals and floods of people everywhere! In Japan, they close down everything from January 1 to January 5 or 6. The post office, library, email facilities, banks, everything except hospitals and 7-11 gets shut down.
However, there was one funny thing that happened on January 1st. That night, we were walking back to our apartment a little early, and we hear someone say, 'STOP!!!' in english. So we turn around, and there was this little old Japanese man running up to us. So he asks, Arukohoru, nomu? (Do you drink Alchohol?), and we tell him no. He thinks for a second, and asks 'Coohi, nomu?' (Do you drink Coffee?), and we tell him no. After thinking some more, he asks, 'Hot Chocolate?' and we tell him yes. So he takes us into this little restraunt/bar right there, and orders us two hot chocolates. After a few minutes, we can tell he's drunk beyond all reason, and has no interest in the gospel. However, as we are finishing the hot chocolate, our investigator, Ujihara-san walks into the bar! We were pretty shocked, but he was probably more surprised to see US there. So we talked to both of them, and at 9:00 thanked the random stranger and went back to the apartment. It was a very interesting New Year.
(A View Of Tokyo Bay)
Now that Shogatsu is over, people are stopping and listening to us again. In the past few days, me and Elder Frank have been passing out some flyers for English Class in a busy section of town. We havent had too much success so far, but I had another funny story come from it.
I was passing out flyers to the people walking by, and I see a very old Japanese man shuffling towards me with a cane, and I think, 'perfect! I can probably talk to him about english class before he shuffles past me.' So I say, 'Eigo o shabemasuka?' (Do you speak English?), and he doesnt respond. 'Muryou Eikaiwa Desukara...' (Free English Class), and he stops suddenly, gives me a wierd look, and shuffles away. Then, I see him stop aways off, slowly turn around, and shuffle all the way back. He then proceeds to spew out a string of utterly incomprehensible English and Japanese. I think he might of been homeless, and definitely drunk, because it was one long slur of words, 'MMMFffaoiso sdkf fmmmkssl?' it sounded like. However he really wants to talk. So for 15 minutes we sat there, him raving in broken english, me asking questions, and him gargeling strange answers. He seemed pretty friendly, but I couldnt understand a single thing he said. He seemed to think that I could understand it all, though.
I was feeling kind of depressed at the lack of people with interest that day, and maybe I just needed a random, raving old man to brighten my day. I just couldnt stop laughing afterwards, and its one of those funny journal experiences.
Thanks everyone for the great Christmas and New Years season. I love the calendar of the cats. How did you make it? Also it feels kind of strange to have 3 ipods in the apartment. I think I will send two back (the mini and the white nano). Elder Frank has a lot of good music too so we're certainly not running low. Ive also realized just how much I like William Joseph's music.
(Elder Mumford Tours the Aircraft Carrier, USS George Washington- in it's new home, Yokosuka, Japan)
We are visiting more members this transfer, and first on our list was Ochikoshi Shimai. She is about 92, lives a LONG, long way away, and still manages to make it on time to church every single sunday. We biked down to Jogashima where she lives, which reqiured a whole day, but when we got there she was so appreciative. She kept thanking us and saying what a blessing it was. She asked us to translate a few letter return addresses that were in cursive that she couldnt read. It was definitely worth it, she was so happy.
Yokosuka is great. Im finding that I am beginning to love the people here. We were having a lesson with 'Maruyama-san' who the previous missionaries nicknamed Korihor, because he demanded to see a sign, or he would not believe. And he was being as stubborn as ever, not really listening to our answers, and for some reason I was just overwhelmed by how much I wanted to help, and how much I loved the people in Yokosuka. Kind of a wierd situation to feel that, but it was really cool.
Thanks for the letters, stuff, and prayers. The language is getting easier, the people are listening, and things are really moving again here. Your support is much appreciated.
Thanks, I love you!
-Elder Martin Mumford
-Tokyo Japan, Yokosuka
Our neighbors (mom and dad and 3 teenage daughters 15-18) came to our home for the evening. We went around the room and everyone introduced themselves, including the Elders. The Komatsu family tried to do all their speaking in English, and we tried to do most of our talking in Japanese with the Elders helping a bit when we got stuck.
When it was my turn I told a little bit about myself and then I pointed to the big picture we have hanging on our wall and told them my husband and I were married in the SLC temple. They gasped and ohhhhhhh-ed and ahhhhhhhh-ed. Then all three of the girls said, "I want to get married there" in Japanese and the Elders got a chuckle out of that!
Next we played a giant game of UNO. It was a lot of fun!! One of the daughters won the first game and my youngest son, Ryan, won the 2nd game. Afterwards we had some delicious(very delicious!) blueberry cheesecake the family had made, and we all sat around and talked.
I began showing them pictures of our home in WA and we talked about my son serving a mission in Sapporo.The Elders told a little bit about what they were doing and the family had some great questions. The oldest daughter commented on the wooden sign I have hanging above our family picture- "Families are Forever". She said she liked it. I had Elder Frank translate to her in Japanese my feelings about it. I explained that it really helps me to know that our family can be together forever, especially after losing my son. I know I will be with him again one day. As Elder Frank translated she got a bit emotional and commented on the warm feeling in our home and said that she really liked it!
I thought Elder Frank was going to pop a button with excitement! She had felt the spirit throughout the evening and was responding to it. At the end of the evening we discussed getting together again in their home, perhaps on a Sunday evening. They are very excited to get together again. I am hopeful the missionaries can be a part of this and we can share the gospel with this family. If tonight was any indication, they have been prepared to hear the gospel.
-Chris Fry
