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