Final Call from Japan!

May 26, 2013

My Beloved Family,

Well, this will be the final time I send you an email as a full-time missionary from the Land of the Rising Sun. How great has it been? How fast has it gone? I have a few things I'm supposed to coordinate with you before I go home: 1.  Do you have an appointment set up with the Stake President so I can get released?  2.  My wisdom teeth came in the top, I think they need to come out...  3.  What will the first 48 look like when I get home? and  4.  I am pretty overweight on luggage, so my plan is to send a bag of books and stuff that put me overweight to Nancy and we will just pick it up when we come back to Japan. I don't want to pay the overweight fee and I have too many books from the mission and just stuff that I don't need right when I come back.

 

We had a pretty fun and busy week out here. I told you how last Monday we went to that arcade place and had a ton of fun. Well, we are going again today with the whole district! Super stoked. On Tuesday, after we helped that old crazy lady weed her yard again, we went to the beach with one of our investigators and had dinner and just discussed over a few things. We had invited her to baptism a few days earlier and it went really really bad. Like, it turned out to be a huge mistake. So we had to make sure everything was ok and just had a good time.

On Wednesday, we headed down to Nagoya for the big conference we had on Thursday. We stayed in Inuyama with four other elders. It was so much fun! It is a really nice area. Shinoda lives in that area, we couldn't make it down because there was Eikaiwa and some members took us all out to dinner.

The conference was so awesome! One of the best ones since I have been in Japan. Elder Ringwood of the Area Presidency came and spoke to us. He was way down to earth and just a classy man. The first half, he talked about identifying ourselves with scriptures. I chose 1 Nephi 11:17 where Nephi tells the angel that he doesn't understand the meaning of all things, but he does understand that God loves him. The second half was just question and answer. Someone asked him how he handled going home and the down feelings you have when you get home. He gave some awesome advice. Just saying to have fun, keep praying always, study, and date. He said that we should be thankful for the mission we have, our mission president, all the people you meet, other missionaries, companions, and just everything, because nothing is a coincidence. Wise words from a great man.

The district headed up to Takayama together after the conference and we all stayed there for the night and had DTM there the next day. It was a really fun day. DTM was awesome, got sushi together, and visited the Mahikari temple together. Like some crazy devil worship religion. Really cool and gold building.

I ate a lot of food too, a member took us to an all-you-can-eat meat place and the next day a family made us so much tacoyaki. I love the people here so much! Church was awesome too, which is weird to say because I feel like it was because our investigator didn't come.

I love you all so much! As much as I am so excited to see y'all, I am also torn apart. So sad to say bye to the land and the people I have come to love so much. There is a time and a season for everything. I will see you as I walk down those escalators next Tuesday. As I always say, Life is good, God is great.

Final shout-out from shortBOOB
the Barbarian in the Land of the Rising Sun!

Nearing the End

May 19, 2013

Hey!

Ok sorry it took so long to get an email to y'all. I know you are all asleep, but a member took us and the Toyama missionaries to a gaming center that had a fishing pond, batting cages, arcade, and some darts. It was so much fun! I will send a few pictures. I was rockin' it up in the batting cages, good thing it was only on like 70 mph haha.

This week was crazy. We had a lot happen in such a short time. I guess that's the story of missions. We did an exchange on Tuesday and I was with Elder MacDonald. My man who knows baseball. We talked ball all day it was so awesome. We had a busy day, visiting a member and housing around her, doing manual labor at an elderly lady's house for a few hours, and then had dinner with an investigator. Gotta love it.

The rest of the week kind of blended together (or I just don't have a whole lot of motivation to write a long email) but on Friday we had a member from Takayama take us and the district out to lunch and she gave me a kimono to go home with! PS about coming home, there was a missionary who didn't have money to buy an extra luggage bag or ship stuff home, so I talked to the Honbu and gave them one of mine and I bought a huge duffle bag (which is a life saver because it is so light and huge!)  I was happy to give it to him. Crazy what two years can do to you.

We got dropped by an investigator, yay, not haha. But we had the FUNNEST sports night ever! We had five  investigators come and we had such a blast! The Big Three were on my team and I did fairly well! Even made a behind-the-back ally-oop! Call me LeBron James for now on haha.

Church was crazy...put it short, we tried inviting Yuka to baptism and she ended up crying because she felt stressed and super pressured and her handicap was just getting to her. This lead to another emotional phone call later for almost two hours. Now you understand why I am balding. Then we biked in the pouring rain to visit our depressed member. Nice guy, didn't really give us much....I love this!

Two weeks, not a lot of time. I'm excited to see you. You don't know how many people have told me they wish they could meet you all here. Especially after my Mother's Day talk. I tell them I get my good looks from my mom and my smarts from dad divided in half hahaha. Dum-diddly-dum-dum.

Call of the Boob

Mother's Day

May 12, 2013

Happy Mother's Day!

Sorry we aren't talking today. I figure I will see you in just a few weeks anyway. Things are going pretty well here too. This week overall is leaving the area better overall than how it has been lately.

We did a lot of yard work this week. Since Tuesdays are tough to plan for, we decided to clean up around the park that's in front of our apartment. So we have been doing that and someone picked it up and cleaned up the rest of it! Then a random lady came to Eikaiwa and asked us to come clean up her yard. It was the biggest yard I have seen in Japan. It was pretty fun though. I guess it's just a little glimpse of working for Paane when I get home haha.

It was a good week overall. A member took us to a yaki niku tabehodai and I pigged out. Then we stopped by a members house and had a very special experience. She had recently had a stroke. So I decided we should try to see her weekly. We went over and she told us she had been really tempted by the devil and she prayed for a ton of help. Then we came and gave her a blessing almost five minutes later. Way awesome.

Had my last Zone training meeting last week. Now I'm having all these lasts. I realize more and more every time something happens. I got my death papers this week with my flight plans and checklist to go home. Just so you know, all my garments, socks, suits, white shirts, pants, and shoes are gettin trashed. I might burn it all haha.

So on Saturday, the bishop took us river fishing. So much fun. It poured rain on us and I didn't catch a fish again haha but still way fun and in a way pretty place nonetheless. Then yesterday we had Mother's Day. They asked me to speak and I was a bit confused why just three weeks before I head home. And I forgot it was Mother's Day too haha so I made it up on the spot. It ended up being a really good talk. Best part about it, it so happened that the Katsuragawas (a sister missionary who served with Craig) from Gifu came up to see me right when I was speaking. Pretty cool eh? We then went to a Brazilian birthday party and had dinner at the bishop's with an investigator. It went so well. I think there is a chance she could get baptized before I go home. She also already made plans to meet us in Tokyo. I love it out here!

Love,Boob

Fishing for P-day

May 5, 2013

Hey y'all!

Is the truck gonna be ready when I get back? I gotta roll around town in my Voltron again! Things are going fine here. We have good people to teach, but in all honesty, this past week I realized that they might still have the potential, but it will be harder for everyone. I thought Anderson Louise and Shari were doing well, but it's at the point they just want to hang out and have a good time with us and Yuka is having a hard time understanding our lessons because of her stubborness and handicap, it makes the lessons pretty difficult. It's hard to see people not give the same effort you do or just stop in their progression even after all you have done. It's even harder because I come home in such a short time. I guess it's just the way God wants me to end and I have to figure out how to work with it.

Not a whole lot happened this week....We went on two exchanges and did some service. We did go fishing this morning with the Toyama missionaries and got only one fish haha. Not a whole lot of luck.

It's kind of weird, coming home pretty soon and the weeks are moving by so fast. As my man Tupac says, Life goes on.

To my beloved trunky family, The Elder Parry

p.s. Steve wants an all-paid vacation to Japan this summer with us

PS from Becky.  We told Evan not to bring the yellow shirt in this picture home.  Truly ugly. 

Travel Papers?!

April 29, 2013

So sorry this email is coming a day late! We had our ward BBQ yesterday and it took up the whole day and we didn't have time to email after. So you can enjoy this email while you watch a little Monday Night Football (?not football season Evan).

So ya those presents sound pretty good! Maybe even some American candy. People love that here. And you can just put together a few more little presents and I can give them to people I end up seeing. All sounds good to me. And I wasn't kidding about the Barneys, she got cancer and she is already home.

Glad to hear everything is great at home! We had a good week and nothing stood out too much actually....we did get two new investigators. Both where member referrals. One is a 9-year-old boy and the other is an older woman. Our lessons with them went really well. We have plans to meet both of them this week again.

We did district meeting in Takayama which hurt pretty bad. We didn't even have enough money to make it back. We have been struggling with money this past month going in and out of little money and none. But as of this morning we have money and looking good! We actually did DTM in the ashiyu, haha it was way fun!

We had stake conference in Kanazawa. Got to go to both of Dad's areas this week. Pretty good stuff! It was so hot and the mike was so low I couldn't hear or even pay attention to any of the speakers. But I saw a ton of people that are awesome and had a good time anyway. The Bishop drove us and took us to the beach before. I love the members here!

It's all good here. I can't believe I get my travel plans this week. Month from Saturday. Kind of creeped up on me like everything else in life.

Much love, boob

Six Weeks Left

April 21, 2013

I knew Dad was going to be in the bishopric. That means he has to hook me up with a good homecoming talk theme (none at all would be nice, I can whip something out). But I heard about all the Boston and the Texas bombings. People in Japan knew it was terrorist stuff and they seem to cheer on the US. I don't really understand why either why America gets bombed all the time. Makes living in the land of the free and the home of the brave(s) a bit more difficult eh.

I was super sorry to hear about Caroline's week. I don't really know what to say besides stay strong. God didn't let this happen because He wanted her suffer. He has reason. I have come to figure that out on the mission. There is still so much that I don't understand out here that God has let happen. I wish you could just pray and do everything you are supposed to and it would all work out. Just remember: Life is Good, God is Good.

This week was a great one. Easily said. We did a district activity on Monday and went to a castle in Toyama then the district stayed at the apartment that night and we all went to Kanazawa for interviews together. My interview was amazing with President Baird. First, I got my temple recommend renewed and did the interview in Japanese. Pretty cool. Then I just had a fun talk with president. Talked about the mission, home, sports, the good stuff. I shared some stuff from my patriarchal blessing and just asked what I should do to feel satisfaction and do my best before I go home. Way good advice and just had a solid time.

We had yet another Eikaiwa party, I'm a good host now. Everyone wants a party with the Boob. then it just rained and winded all week. (don't judge, it's my new vocabulary). We had an interesting lunch after district meeting with a member from Takayama. She is crazy, a 35-year-old that really needs to get married. Saturuday was rainy and miserable. We had a lesson with our new investigator Yuka. She is that girl from Eikaiwa who was born with PDD and has Asburger's syndrome. We had a way good lesson, then she came to sports night! We also had Anderson and Louise, our other investigators come too. We played basketball and it was way fun. I am way crappy now. A bunch of people from Toyama, including the missionaries came too.

Sunday was a big day, Yuka came to church and were with her for six hours, church and the church potluck after. She was talking with us a ton, had an amazing time, and made way good friends. She gets nervous in new environments. She talked with the bishop's wife for a long time and ended up crying revealing all of her family problems. It was really special. She is only 27 years old, has the syndrome, and wants a solid Christian-based family that is tough to get in Japan. She is one of my favorite people ever. We met my other favorite people and visited Andarise (the big three). Had a way good time and made a solid plan to quit smoking!

I can't believe I only have six weeks left. It still hasn't completely sunk in yet. It hit a little talkin to President. Tell Kari I'm way happy for her. I love my family, we the best.

Love the Boob

Rain and More Rain

April 14, 2013

Hey y'all!

So this week has been quite a good one! Even though I have had no money haha. But no money and a lot of rain didn't put too much of a damper on our week. I wanna give you a day-by-day schedule of what happened for this week:

Monday: Had a party at one of the biggest parks in Japan with our Eikaiwa students and walked around looking at all the sakura (cherry blossoms). Then we did our normal p-day stuff and went to a Brazilians house to watch a church movie and have a FHE.

Tuesday: Way nice day go to way strong windy day go to straight rain. Went to a member's house that was a 45 minute train ride away. Got to the eki to get on the train and there was a line of at least 250 high school students. We still got on and just crammed. Someone threw some food and all the high school students scrammed like the plague. So we stood in that area haha. Had a WAY good lesson with the Takemoto family. I did a little activity about Jesus and the very very less active mom was lovin it and laughing the whole time. I just feel so much love from them!

Wednesday: More rain, all day. Not too much happened besides a really fun Eikaiwa. I never seem to have a dull week with Eikaiwa in this area!

Thursday: Made cookies to take to investigators and less actives. Way good cookies and dough. Down side: no ovens in Japan and no cooking wrap. You know what that means? It took like three hours to get a decent amount of cookies after all the crappy batches. But we got some and took them around and it rained SO HARD! Like buckets of water just pouring. Had good visits with a few investigators and less actives. Then we went and had a dinner and a FHE kind of thing with the three foreign investigators, Andarise. I love them more and more every time I am with them. Then The whole district came to the apartment to stay!

Friday: Had a way fun ZTM with the Zone. I'm the grandpa of the Zone. But it rained and rained again. After a solid ZTM, we went to bishop's house and had a way good time with the family. Had Mexican food and just tried to have a good time. It was so fun! Hernandez drew with he daughter and I messed around with the bishop and his two boys.

Saturday-Sunday: CONFERENCE! It was really good, nothing stood out too much to me. I loved Holland's and the guy who spoke about acceptance talk. Way solid. We watched it in Toyama and it was kind of hard. The parents let the primary kids sit with us and was a huge distraction. Still good overall though.

Played some catch this morning, going to get my wallet all the way downtown in Toyama. I LOVE IT!

Da Boob

Anderrise

April 7, 2013

Nothin' like some ball games eh? Well first off, Elder Hollister is engaged and is transferring to BYU haha. He gets married on August 24, in the Denver Temple. I am going for sure!

Things went pretty well this week. Not too many stand-out moments, except I lost my wallet in the other area and went back and looked for it all day and had no luck. Which reminds me, Dad, you should probably cancel that credit card. So that was kind of a hurt to the week. I guess I can just laugh about it now.  It's awesome that I have come to the point on my mission with all the crazy unexpected things that happen I can just laugh them off and feel a lot better about the whole situation and myself haha.

So we had a really special lesson this week with a less active. Her name is Terai. No one ever met her before I came, so I wanted to make a special effort and meet her once a week and it has been going really well. She told us about all her troubles in the home. Her two kids have a pretty bad head sickness that's to the point of them trying to hurt themselves all the time. We shared a message of love and just tried to comfort her. Then I gave her a little notebook and asked her to write down her blessings from that day every night before she went to sleep. She started crying and said that was the most special gift she had ever received. She also prayed at the end for the first time. To top things off, she and two other less actives I have worked with came to church! So good.

Brazilians...never a dull week with them. We had a big dinner with a bunch on them last week. But I have a feeling that we are witnessing the beginning of the end of Brazilians here in Takaoka. Two of my favorite families took jobs back in Brazil and will leave in July, then with them gone, I'm sure Arisawa will move to Tokyo and stay there for good. That would pretty much end the reign of the Brazilians. Expect the unexpected.

Other than that stuff, not too much happened. We met my favorite three investigators Anderrise (Its Anderson, Louise, and Sherri all mixed in. It saves me time typing and saying the mixed name we made up haha). I love them so much. They really mean it when you can help people more when you are friends first, then teach.

Life is good, God is good.

shortboob

Kudos

HEY!  Sorry I wasn't able to email for a long time last week. We got super busy and only had like 20 minutes. I'll explain what we did later in the email. But first I have some news....I'm getting emergency transferred to the Honbu (Mission Home) to take the place of one of the senior couples. Crazy huh?! I head out tonight. I just wanted to let you know. I guess I will die in the Honbu.

My leg is doin fine. I'm back to biking around and exercising every morning. The bruise is still pretty big, but the gash is going away. My knee is fine too, I will wear a brace for probably the rest of my mission just to keep it safe and in prime condition when I get home.

So last Monday, we went to Toyama and played tennis with them then did an exchange. It was pretty fun. We all just had a bunch of fun together. Then the next day, we found a mattress behind the dumpster. So we put it on top of our bikes and walked it back to our apartment hahaha. I loved this companionship.

We had an interesting week overall. We did an Easter egg hunt at Eikaiwa (English Class)  with the stuff you sent. No one was home who we tried to visit til Sunday night where we met like five people in a row to give them eggs we decorated. Also with stuff you sent haha.

The story of the week, we moved a members apartment. She started on the 4th floor and moved to a 3rd floor apartment hahaha. She had about as much stuff as Dennis had when he died. It took seven hours just to get the bagged stuff and furniture down and up to the next apartment. We didn't do any unpacking. It was crazy. Really good workout though.

Well, I just wanna end with a special experience. We helped the Bishop home teach on Friday to the Tonami family. We shared some experiences and the father told us he just thought how proud our parents are of us and wanted to thank us and you guys for all you do. He went on and on thanking us and just showing a ton of appreciation. Kudos.

 

PS from Becky:  The transfer to the honbu was a little April Fool's joke.  We will all be very surprised if Elder Parry doesn't "die" in Takaoka. 

Hit By a Car

March 24, 2013

 

Hey!

Ok, I don't have much time to email today, but I wanted to give you a bit of an update. I'm doing pretty good. This week was nothing like I expected or planned. It was raining that day and the guy in the car completely ran the stop sign and ignored the mirror around the blind spot. I HATE Japanese police, so I just told the man I was ok and tried to walk it off. I rode off completely fine. I found out at the store that both my legs were bleeding and my knee (the same one I had surgery on) was swollen. I was going to ice and bandage myself, but the Brazilians saw it and forced me to the hospital and all this stuff. I have been three times this past week and I will probably go about three more times this week. My knee and shin are doing fine and will heal well if I don't bike too much. The one on my thigh is getting a little worse, but it's fine.  It doesn't hurt to walk anymore. Sister Baird has forced me to not really do much lately. So we didn't have too much going on this past week. Had to take it easy, do stuff around the apartment, or drive around with members.

We did make our way down to Takayama on Friday and it was super fun. After DTM, we went to a member's restaurant and ate lunch and dessert. Then she started dancing for my birthday and it was just super funny haha. Just kind of one of those moments.

Love you all and don't worry about me!

Elder Boob

Jamaican Investigator

March 17, 2013

Well hello there my trunky family,

This, was a very fun week with a lot of those moments haha. First off, I have a few classes I would like to take. I'm really not sure what classes I should take, but some smaller classes may be phycology, weight lifting, swimming, and maybe guitar haha.  I'm not completely sure though, get me in that Japanese class though. Figure out the one all the returned missionaries take.

So this was a very fun week. We had a crazy Brazilian bye-bye party for de Oliveira. Everyone was crying and just having a good time. Then we all went down to Nagoya on Tuesday and picked up our new companions. We missed like three trains, so we got home pretty late. But I did have two meals on my birthday and an Eikaiwa party! We just played games and had some refreshments haha I even got some presents from the students. It was way fun! It also started to rain super hard when we were far from the apartment haha that was fun gettin soaked.

Elder Hernandez is way cool! He is my kohai so he goes home one transfer after me. He is from California and loves to draw and play computer games. We just talk a lot and its way fun.

So we met our Jamaican investigator and had one of the best lessons I have ever had! Her Irish roommate and Brazilian boyfriend became solid investigators too! It was way awesome, they were just asking a ton of good questions and we were answering like normal people. So excited! They have way awesome accents too!

Well, after DTM we figured out that Hernandez forgot his wallet. So we were walking all over trying to find it. After a few hours, we found it at the train station and got back to Takaoka pretty late haha shows our luck. People always lose stuff with me.

So we moved the furniture around in our apartment, that was nice. We had English, Japanese, Portuguese, and Chinese in our gospel principles class, and a solid dinner at a member's house last night. This was a pretty fun week. This next week is gonna be crazy fun and busy too! I am going to Takayama twice!

President Baird said the only time he would cheer for the Yankees is if he goes to a game with a member of the Twelve.  Let's get to work on this, get your boy Jeffrey to go with him. I would be the happiest man ever.

Well, here you go, another one for the records,

Elder Boob

New Companion

March 10, 2013

Hey Fam,

Well we did have transfer calls today. I have wanted to train my whole mission. Way excited for the opportunity to do it and bring someone in and just be a way good trainer. Today, that did.......not happen. I will probably never be a trainer now, being I have only two transfers and just brought someone into the new area. My new companion is Elder Hernandez. He is one transfer behind me and doesn't speak a word of Portuguese. So I guess we will see how this goes.

This past week was pretty good. We had our highest number of lessons as a companionship since I got here. Including five on Tuesday, which almost never happens. Our Wednesday was pretty interesting too. We went to have a lunch at an older members house. I think she is a bit crazy up in the head. Or she just gets super lonely because she lives with no one. She just kept talking and talking and talking. She drives a lot of the members crazy. It was a nice lunch though. Then that night at Eikaiwa we had a way fun time. We talked about hobbies and we had people singing, one said his dream was to sing with Beyonce under his arm haha. Then everyone was getting way into the game after.

We went on an exchange with the Zone Leaders. That turned out pretty fun. The guy that came back to Takaoka with me is way cool and we taught a few good lessons. The one at night was with a member and his less active wife. We talked about big lessons we learned from our mission experiences and it really got the wife thinking and remembering about her mission. It was a really good lesson not only for them, but me as well.

It was a good week, you could say. Tell Boog I would LOVE to help him coach this summer. These next few weeks should be pretty interesting. I guess we will have to see how they go! I love you all so much!

Elder Parry

PS happy birthday dad!

Life is Good!

 



March 3, 2013

Oh man I'm so excited to live there! I heard it's a nice area. Kevin is going to Spain?! What the heck haha I don't wanna be with him either haha I'm just kidding, that would be a way awesome experience for him and I bet his Spanish would get way good.

This was a great week. We have had a few incidents among members with drama that is causing some problems. But on the other hand, it seems like the difference between here and Matsumoto's drama is that if you don't wanna get involved (or don't understand Portuguese muahaha) you don't have to get involved. There were multiple days this past week with some big problems. It showed at church yesterday when we only had 35 people show up.

We had some really solid days this week. It all started on Wednesday. We met with a bunch of people including a less active we are working close with. She is getting less and less depressed every time we see her! Then we met (in a very awkward way) with one of our investigators. She is Nishino and she is doing really well. She said sorry for reading past the introduction of the Book of Mormon haha. Then at Eikaiwa, we had this young couple come again. She had mentioned she believes in the Godhead and wants to know more. I talked to her for a while before class and found out she is suffering from Pervasive Developmental Disorder! It was crazy, I told her I had the same thing when I was born. Her face lit up, I felt like we had a really nice connection and it really helped because for the rest of class I was helping her out so she could get answers and feel good about herself.

Thursday, what another great day. We headed down to Nagoya so we could go to a fireside to see Elder Callister and Elder Aoyagi from the Seventy speak. It was in Meito, so that meant there were a ton of people from Kasugai and Kariya! I was SO HAPPY TO SEE EVERYONE! I started crying during the program because I just remembered the old times and how blessed I am to know these people, and that they still remember me! I could actually talk to them this time! It was the last time I will also see Kan Kun before he heads out on his mission this month. It was such a tender moment for me. The talks were also really good and helped out a lot for questions I had!

The next day, we had a mission conference for Elder Callister. He was happy to hear that we are in the same ward as Susie Becker, his sister. It was a way good conference. He taught about the Plan of Salvation all from the Bible, then he taught about being a consecrated missionary. It was way good.

The next two days, we had nine lessons! So crazy and we found a new investigator who is straight from Jamaica and is black! I WAS SO STOKED! Haha finally, a black investigator, who speaks English. My life is in a very good state right now haha. So we were running from place to place these past two days. We had a legitimate Brazilian birthday party yesterday that was crazy. It was way fun.

All I can say is Life is good, God is good. Read Romans 1:8-12 if you can! I love you all and I can't believe I will see you in 3 months! Oh and Dad, was there an Elder Hart the same time as you on your mission?

Bad Weather

February 24, 2013

Hey wait a second, why is Grandma doing chemotherapy? I feel like this is big news that somehow never made it my way. Is she gonna be alright? What's wrong with her?

Well yes, February is the snowiest time of the year here in Takaoka, and it seems to be the slowest time for the work too. No one is out and no one will let us in to talk to them because it is too snowy, windy, and cold. Even our investigators seem to have the same attitude. Kind of slow right now with the work.

We had a crazy Tuesday, Elder de Oliveira lost his money card, so we rode around town looking for it. Then we both sent packages off and the post office messed up on the receipts and all that post office crap several times and we had to go back there 3-4 times while we rode around looking for the card haha.

It has just been straight blizzard here all week. Can't see more than five feet in front of you and it has caused a series of new punks and drama for my wonderful "Blue Steel" (the bike). I'm gonna make that bike last for another three months then it will not be my problem haha. It's actually in very good shape. Better than most of the missionaries--even younger ones.

We did an exchange this week and I went to Toyama. It turned out to be a very good one. We got some good work done in both areas. I talked a lot with the Toyama elder, who is my District Leader. He asked me what I have learned from the mission the most. It was weird for me to think about it because I am finally old enough for a younger missionary to ask me that question. I told him three things: myself, God's will, and God's time. It really gave me some motivation to end really strong and be able to go out on top (like my man Ray Lewis woot woot).

We helped some Brazilians in the ward move apartments. It was pretty fun, it's always fun being with all of them even though I don't understand a lot. I can pick up what they are talking about, but nothing in particular. We had a crazy day at church. A solid potential came and started going off and saying Japanese people are "big poops" and that Satan doesn't exist and it's just people. The Bible is a "word of crap" and on and on and on. It was crazy. Not really a strong potential investigator anymore haha. We did do a Missionary Fireside after church. It went alright. Not a lot of people came and I wasn't feeling it with the Japanese haha.

Well, this week was cold, wet, and fast. I have a couple favors: if you can, teeth whitener and a Yankees baseball like the ones we got from stadiums. and last, could you send me some simple, healthy breakfast ideas? Never know what to do to start my day right.

Love you like a fat kid loves chocolate!

Elder Parry

A Visit to Takayama

This is a picture of Elder Parry at the church building in Takayama.  Takayama was Craig's first area when he was on his mission.  We think they are using the same building all these years later.   Takayama is a beautiful city high in the mountains.
February 17, 2013

Hello!

Sorry so late today. We went to Toyama and went to a dinosaur museum and planetarium with the elders over there. It was pretty fun, but it is super rainy and cold right now. Makes things a little bit miserable.

So, speaking of cold, it had snowed way way hard this whole week. It was so miserable. I tried to get back to the apartment by 7:30 because it just got too cold and we couldn't even see three feet in front of us biking in the middle of the day. It was crazy.

So I had some unlucky, funny moments this week. We played pictionary in Eikaiwa and this lady thought I wrote "chikan" instead of "chan". Chikan means groper or pervert. So she drew a very awkward looking picture that got me super worried. Then we were housing and the Brazilian food from the night before was doing me wrong, so I ran to the closest convenience store. As I was using the bathroom, a lady opened my door and walked in. Man, I didnt know japanese peoples' eyes could get that big! Haha it was super funny. Pretty embarrassing though. Went back to housing and a bunch of doors said, "to any other religions, don't piss me off" in Portuguese. So we weren't really welcomed there haha.

Guess where we went on Friday? Takayama! Went down there for our first DTM. It was way fun, two trains of three hours and we were stuck there for five hours cuz we missed our train. So we had a snowball fight, ate out, and went to a close ashiyu. It was so fun. The church is in like an old house. It was pretty funny being there and I was so happy.

Well, Sunday was lower key finally.  We found a new investigator and found a solid black potential investigator! Things are good though. I love you all so much and thanks for everything! Today is Jake's birthday! WOOOO

Love the Boob

Busy Sunday

February 10, 2013

Hey!

Well we had transfer calls and nothing is changing here. Actually Takayama is going to be an elder area and dinkel is going there...and tha'ts my district.  But it sounds like you guys had crazy. Are the dogs doing ok? I'm glad that Thomas and Louie get to spend time with each other. And I hope the football works out for them.

Well we had one of our best weeks since I got here to Takaoka. We had a lot of lessons and met with a lot of people. On Tuesday, we were supposed to go on an exchange and it didn't happen. So, we just tried to have a fun day and ended up meeting a bunch of people. We both came home and were happy with how we did.

We had a zone conference this week that was way awesome. We talked about the addiction recovery program that we have been working on. I had to translate for most of it and got way tired. President Baird is an inspired man but he loves to use words that I don't understand in English and gets way too deep into a lot of doctrine. But it was a really good and helpful for myself. Lately President has been helping us with things on how to improve and help ourselves so that we can help others better. It has really helped me as I come up on the end of the mission.

I did an exchange with Elder Petersen in Toyama and had a way fun time. He kept forgetting things and messing up on things. It made it a very entertaining for us.

We had a crazy day at church. taught the plan of salvation and a message on the spot for the last two hours. And I gave a talk that wasn't the greatest. But we had five lessons in church and a bunch of people came. It was crazy. I was so tired when I left church.

Well, I have 16 weeks left, crazy. Time is comin and just keeps flyin. I love you guys a ton and thanks for all your love and prayers!

the elder parry

Letterman Jacket

February 3, 2013

Hey mom, I want to come and do the morning workout routine with you when I get home is that ok? I would like to pick up swimming and try to do some more cardio stuff. You can have a buddy to swim with. Even though you will beat me haha.

This week was a lot better than the last few. Our number of lessons is still lower than I would like, but it was a solid week. We found two new investigators and they both are Japanese! One I found housing.  She and her 6-year-old son love it when we come over. Then the other one came to Eikaiwa and De Oliveira teaches him Spanish now and we share short messages with him. They are two very solid investigators and two people I can talk too weeeeeee!

Here is some fun for this week too, Nancy, Karen and Chiaki came and visited and we went out to eat and went and saw a few sites with them. It was so great to see them! Then I did an exchange with Ashcroft on Friday! That was way fun. We actually had a funny experience together. We were walking to the Toyama church from the station and two policemen stopped us. They took our foreigner cards and took all our information down. Asked a few questions, then just left haha. I think they pulled us over just because we were two foreigners. Completely prejudiced.

So cool story, on Thursday after one of our lessons, we were riding our bikes back to the apartment and we saw a second hand store and I felt for some reason to go in. We went in and looked around. de Oliveira has told me he has always wanted a lettermen jacket but they are too expensive and none his size. After some time, I found an all black one that was 3XL! I looked at the price and it was only $15! I was so surprised and so happy for him! His face lit up and he was so happy for the rest of the day. He hasn't taken it off yet. The Spirit works in mysterious ways.

A member from Takayama took us to get all-you-can-eat BBQ at a Brazilian place. That was way fun. Then we made tacoyaki at a members house last night. I bore my testimony on my conversion story and the parents were in tears and the Spirit was just so strong. It was a truly special moment for all of us.

Hope things are going well, sounds like they are. Got four months from today. I love you all so much and thanks for all you do for me! GO RAVENS!!!

Elder Boob

Baptismal Interview

Dear My Beloved "Something-is-wrong-with-you" family,

That's way cool that Thomas got to go see Jake at the MTC. They both are looking so good. Send my love and wishes to that family. I remember the one Jake is friends with but I don't think I ever met the younger one or even the mom. Send my love though. Hey, stop spending money you are supposed to be spending on me! Are you keeping those couches though? I could use some furniture at my apartment at BYU haha. And that Super Bowl is gonna be way awesome! It's like the first time in years its actually two teams I like! I'm pretty sad I'm missing it too.

Two quick things: my permanent retainer on the top teeth fell off like a month ago and I think my teeth are starting to move :s  Iv'e started to wear my other retainer even during the day. And the other thing, I was thinking if we could, go to Kasugai for the first church since we will already be in Nagoya. Just a thought.

Well this week was tough...we had at least one appointment, sometimes more, cancelled everyday this week. We had a lot of time we didn't know what to do with. We just tried a lot of housing and stuff and just had no luck this week. We had this way cool new guy come to Eikaiwa (English Class) who lived in England for a year and wants private English and Spanish lessons and he says he has some interest in our lessons! Weeeee! Finally, I little ray of light.

To top it off, the weather was awful this week. It rained so hard Tuesday through Thursday. The wind was very hard throughout the week too. It started to snow super hard on Friday. We tried to visit these far members and had to stop every 30 minutes to stop and try to avoid the weather. And we could only see like three feet in front of us.

Some fun stuff, all my shirts fit de Oliveira better and his fit mine better, so we traded all of them. And then after a lot of things, I went to Kanazawa to do baptismal interviews for Nanao. It was a way special experience. They had a misunderstanding about one of the commandments and the first interview went really long and I told her she had to wait. Then she talked about it with her boyfriend and recommitted on things. So I finished the interview, did his and it was amazing. They both had way simple and sweet testimonies. He told me that he had a dream where he saw God and He told him to read the Bible. Way cool stuff. It was a way cool experience for me. It got done after like three hours, so we stayed in Kanazawa for the night!

So this week, had a special moment, with mostly the hard moments. But I guess that's what missionary work is! I love all of you and thanks for everything!

Act a fool, Elder Parry

Memorable Interview

January 20, 2013

Well it sounds like your week was pretty much about Thomas and Jake. That's so crazy that he is gone and Thomas is home. I remember dropping Thomas off like it was yesterday. I do have an American member here is has been updating me on the sports world. We met with him and his family last night and we had a long talk about all that stuff haha.

You were right, its hard coming to this area, replacing a complete dead good-for-nothing missionary and hearing about everyone go home. That was one of the specific things I talked about with President Baird in my interview. I asked him about that and also about figuring out a job. Both of those have been weighing on my mind lately. I thought the job would come to me as I came out here on the mission, but it hasn't. And I have felt a little cheated coming to this area and everything. We had a way good talk that helped change my image of being here and gave me a more effective way to figure out a job. It was way good. It really helped me in multiple ways though.

So after that, we did the king challenge as a zone. Remember when I was with Hollister and ate all that meat and rice in a bowl? Well we did it together and it was way funny. I finished 3rd or 4th. Ashcroft is my zone leader so it was fun being with him too.

Good news, remember Kan kun? the one I baptized in Kasugai and Dad met his mom? Well he just got his mission call to Sendai and he leaves in March! I'm so excited for him! So awesome.

We have been doing this special lesson by watching the first vision video and sharing a simple testimony. We did it with three families this week and a lot of less actives were involved too. They were all great experiences. I could really feel the Spirit leading my testimony every time. Our main purpose is to lead people to start helping us and to help strengthen their testimonies. Really good so far and we have three more scheduled for this week!

So this week was filled with stuff. Usual stuff. Question, do you have like a proposed schedule when you come get me? I'd appreciate it if you could make at least a proposed one. I love you all and thanks for everything! Send me Jake's email and address if you can.

Love,

the Boob

Speaking Portuguese

January 13, 2013

Hello!

Sorry this is a late email today, we did our mochi tsuki (smash rice with a hammer and make a soft Japanese food) and it went long and we have just been all over today. I'm emailing from Arisawa's computer right now at a different member's apartment. So that explains why this is late.

Well, I can't think of a whole lot that happened this week either to be honest. On Tuesday, we were over an hour away from our apartment when it started to get really windy and rain super hard and I had nothing to keep me dry. So that was fun haha. To be honest, the biggest challenge I have had here so far is just always being around Brazilians. I love them, but only a few of them can speak any Japanese, I never know what is going on, they don't completely understand all of the missionary rules, and I just can't really connect with them as well. We have a way solid family that I think could get baptized in the next month or two, but they don't speak a lick of Japanese and now I just read a prayer off in Portuguese. It's harder for me to adjust, cuz I don't understand anything haha,

Well, we had our zone training, the first time I didn't have to plan and do it. But Ashcroft is my zone leader and he made me participate a lot. So it was pretty fun. I then went on an exchange to Toyama for the day. It was pretty fun too I guess. I'm trying to help this district get more genki and happy and have some more fun. Kind of a dead feeling haha.

I just wanna end this with some love for Jake. I'm sorry if you are asleep and don't see this until tomorrow, but I wanted to send some love to ya. You are gonna be such an amazing missionary. I know I won't see you in five months like the rest of the family, but these next two years will for sure fly by. Don't let a moment slip. You can email me every week at this email and I will reply to ya! Hang in there, the first 3 or 4 days are the toughest, I know you are tougher. I love you and miss you a ton, but I am so happy for you. You will be such a better missionary than I am right now. As I always say: Life is good, God is good, go big or go home. Te amo, ai shite iru yo!

I love the others too, but for now, peace

Elder Evan Boob Parry

 

New Roaming Grounds

January 6, 2013

Sounds like things at home are very good! I'm glad to hear everything is going so well. And I can't believe Ben and Mitch are home! I love and miss them so much. I would like to make an announcement: I have been reassigned to the Takaoka, Portugese speaking mission haha. I'm kidding, but for reals, it's just been Portuguese and a lot of Brazilians the whole time. We have this one member, Arisawa Marcelo, who owns a lot of factories and gives jobs to Brazilians or people that need help. He is like the Bill Gates of Japan. He is so nice and fun. I can also say I have been very well fed here too. So much Brazilian meat and just a lot of food period.

Well for starters, the transfer was quite an adventure. Ellsworth gave me three options: wait an extra day and go with someone from Nagoya, go by myself from Nagoya, or find a guy and have Nancy take me. So I took the third option haha. Nancy, Karen, Chiaki, and a friend of Chiaki all drove together from Matsumoto to Takaoka. It was way fun and super pretty. We went up through Takeyama and Toyama. We met at the Kanazawa Station. It was way fun and way hard to leave not only them, but Matsumoto. There so long and got so close with a bunch of people.

So the area is interesting. It's not really what I was expecting. A third of the ward is Brazilian, a third Japanese, and the other are special. The last Elder here died and just gave up, so there isn't really much to work with. It also snowed for three days straight and I didn't get my luggage until Saturday. This past week was good, a tough start. But yesterday we had quite the surprise! I was giving a talk to introduce myself and I looked up and saw Nancy, Karen, Chiaki, and Shunji walk into the chapel. I couldn't believe it. They came to see me and come to church here! It was way fun, we went to Arisawa's house after and had a big Brazilian BBQ.

I don't know what's really in store for this area. I don't know Portuguese and it's cold, so it should be a very interesting experience here. I probably will die here too, weird to think about that. I love you all and thanks for everything!

Calling from my new roaming grounds,

Evan