Hey family!!!! Happy birthday Kelsie and Nikki this week!!! Must of been great party for Nikkis birthday. Everyone looks happy and the same haha. I hope Kelsie and Nikki have a great birthday this week!! I sent something for both of you Probably wont get it on your birthday though. Nothing big but I hope you like it. I am grateful for both of you and I will be thinking you both this week!!! It sounds like everyone is doing great. Man I would do anything to watch dad get a shot!!! I remember video taping him when he got a flu shot haha. Sorry dad but to me I think it is really funny that we are scared of shots. I am also a baby when it comes to shots haha. I always rememver mom randomly saying hey lets get some ice cream!!! I said ok that sounds great!!! Then I realized that the baskin robbins looks different than I remember. Every year tricked me to get a flu shot haha. I also remember trying that on Dad and once he realized where we were going he tried to get out of the car!! haha Funny times sometimes I think our whole family is babies when it comes those stuff!!!
It has been another good week here in Samurai Shibetsu!! The weather has been actually really good this week. In the day the weather is about perfect and then at night it gets a little chilly. That is good though because I was expecting it to be snowing by now. Usually it snows in November here in Hokkaido. Everyone in Shibetsu is getting ready for the winter. ALl of the people have to wrap up there trees so that they dont die. But yeah shibetsu has been good yo!!
It sounds like it is the pretty time in Utah right now. When the leaves change is my favorite time of the year. It is kinda of doing the same thing here!!! But I still think Utah is the best place in the world haha.
Shibetsu is great but the only down side it has a terrible smell!! haah I cant even describe it. It smeells like rotten peanut butter and it is everywhere we go!!! If you really want to see how it is mix some peanut and milk and then put it in the microwave haha. I am sorry but that is usually what I am talking about when I am outside haha. It is terrible.
This week we made a lot of appointments for the next week. I feel like this was truly a blessing from the Lord. In the previous weeks it was a little harder to make appointments. But this week it seemed like they were so just rolling. I just hope that this week all of these appointments come thoruhg. THis week we found someone that I was really excited for. She is a mom and recently was divorced. She seemed really interested in the message and we made an appointment for this thurday. I feel really confident that she can become a strong investigator!!! _This made me really happy and I hope all works with this appointment. Other than that I have been loving Shibetsu. This week is transfers so we will see if I transfer out of Shibetsu. Usually after three transfers you transfer. But who knows I can see myself staying another transfer. I should be getting the call tomorrow haha. I just want to find out already haha. Until then I will focus on what I need to do!!! If I do transfer I will always remember all of the experiences in Shibetsu. But until then I will go all I can in Samurai Shibetsu!!!
Every week we visit a less active member in Nayoro!!! I think I told you about him before. But he has a bone disease where he cant really move and function on his own. There has been countless of time where we helped him. We have given him a blessing, changed his clothes, and visit with him every week. From these experiences I am grateful for the health that I have. I couldnt even imagine if this was my case. Everyday I bike and walk around the city. I am so grateful for this oppurunity and for all I have. Whenever times get hard I think of all the things that I have. That I can teach this gospel, I can ride a bike, and etc. I think all of us can apply this in our lives. When times get hard always remember all of the things we have. This especially has helped me here in Shibetsu. I also realize that our trials are nothing compared to others. If I feel like I am having a hard time in reality I am really not!! I have learned alot on my mission but that is something specific that I learned. No matter how hard things get Jesus Christ suffered for all of us. I am ｇｒateful for the testimony I have a jesus christ!!!!
Life is about the same though right now!!! Everyweek I am trying to improve from the week before. I always need to stay motivated to learn this language and share the gospel with others!!! I am so grateful for this oppurunity and that I get to serve in Sapporo. Frozen Chosen!!!!!!
I love you all and I hope everyone has a great week and great birthdays!!!!!
Love Elder Maughan
Sunday, November 6, 2011
October 30
Hello family!!!! It is great to hear what is happening back at home!! Some funny and interesting things that I heard. I heard a little about DAds experience at Lake Poweell I will need details later. I also laughed when I heard about the mouse in Scott and Nikkis apartment!!! I can see that situation in my mind right now haha. I have seen any crazy animal yet but there are really huge spiders!!! The biggest I have ever seen haha!! It sounds like everyone is doing great and staying out of trouble maybe Kelsie haha?
This week was awsome!! On friday we had our mission conference and then on Saturday we had the temple ground breaking for the temple. It was basically a three day event because on thurdsay all day we traveled to Sapporo. The temple site is so amazing and it is big too. Before they had problems starting the temple involivning something with a nearby college. It took a while to resolve but they are starting to build it. But sorry to say I dont think it will be done before I come home haha. Who knows the Japanese are hard workers so anything can happen. The groundbreaking ceremony was great. It was about a hour and half long and it was raining the whole time. It was great to see what missionary work is doing to Sapporo!!!
The mission conference was really good too!!! It was my first time to see all of the missionaries in the field. I learned alot again at the meetings and I am always grateful for all the missionaries and President and sister Evans. It was Presidnet Evans birthday and everyone got presents for him. We all surprised him right before the ground breaking ceremony!!! He was really surprised he thought we were doing a spirtual preparation for the meeting. But when we came we all surprised him haha. After the surprise party we had a testimony meeting for the missionaries that are returning home. Alot of good missionaries are going home this next transfer and it is going to be sad to see thim go honme. They were really good examples to me and if I can become like them I wont have to worry about anything.
When we returned to shibetsu and was excited to start the missionary work again. This week we actually taught a student from our english class. She has become a new investigator and we will focus on her down the line. This week we didnt have that much time to proselty but with the time we had it was good. I am trying to find new ways to try to find people. It seems like something new needs to happen in order to find people. I have done all of Shibetsu!!! Whereever I go now I have already done it before haha. There are some times when people recognize me from before. It is really funny but then again the people are not excited to see me again haha.
Last monday we actually had a pretty crazy experience. It was about 700 pm and we were knocking on doors. We knocked on somedoors and the people were really nice. I then knocked on the last house on the block. An old man answered and then just slammed the door!! I was like okay I am used to that haha. We returned to our bikes and started to go to our next area. After a couple minutes I realized that a car was following us haha. I told my companion and then he started to get scared. I was like oh well lets keep going!!! Then all of suddent he car past us and then pulled over. It was the crazy old man!! haha He was yelling this Japanese that both of us could not understand!! He was so angry and it looked like he wanted to fight. I told Elder Peterson lets just keep going. We past him on the bikes and then turned to the next street. We realized that he was still following us haha. I decided we should proably go to the police so we will go away. We rode the police station and then went inside!!! The man then went away. We told the police what happended and they didnt really do anythinga bout it haha. It was scarier at the time but now I look back and it was awesome!!!! I am glad to be a misisonary!!!
Even though that man was chasing us I knew I was protected and that nothing would happen. I am grateful for that experience!!! This week has been good and I am sure I will have some miracles to tell you about next week. I love you all and I grateful for everyone and their support!!! Remember to do all the smaall things like read the scriptures, pray, andd send me letters and everything will be okay. I love you all and I glad to say that you guys are my family!!!!
Love Elder Maughan
It was good to hear that Zach got his mission call!!! Wow I cant believe they are already getting there mission calls. Wow everything is going by so fast!!!
This week was awsome!! On friday we had our mission conference and then on Saturday we had the temple ground breaking for the temple. It was basically a three day event because on thurdsay all day we traveled to Sapporo. The temple site is so amazing and it is big too. Before they had problems starting the temple involivning something with a nearby college. It took a while to resolve but they are starting to build it. But sorry to say I dont think it will be done before I come home haha. Who knows the Japanese are hard workers so anything can happen. The groundbreaking ceremony was great. It was about a hour and half long and it was raining the whole time. It was great to see what missionary work is doing to Sapporo!!!
The mission conference was really good too!!! It was my first time to see all of the missionaries in the field. I learned alot again at the meetings and I am always grateful for all the missionaries and President and sister Evans. It was Presidnet Evans birthday and everyone got presents for him. We all surprised him right before the ground breaking ceremony!!! He was really surprised he thought we were doing a spirtual preparation for the meeting. But when we came we all surprised him haha. After the surprise party we had a testimony meeting for the missionaries that are returning home. Alot of good missionaries are going home this next transfer and it is going to be sad to see thim go honme. They were really good examples to me and if I can become like them I wont have to worry about anything.
When we returned to shibetsu and was excited to start the missionary work again. This week we actually taught a student from our english class. She has become a new investigator and we will focus on her down the line. This week we didnt have that much time to proselty but with the time we had it was good. I am trying to find new ways to try to find people. It seems like something new needs to happen in order to find people. I have done all of Shibetsu!!! Whereever I go now I have already done it before haha. There are some times when people recognize me from before. It is really funny but then again the people are not excited to see me again haha.
Last monday we actually had a pretty crazy experience. It was about 700 pm and we were knocking on doors. We knocked on somedoors and the people were really nice. I then knocked on the last house on the block. An old man answered and then just slammed the door!! I was like okay I am used to that haha. We returned to our bikes and started to go to our next area. After a couple minutes I realized that a car was following us haha. I told my companion and then he started to get scared. I was like oh well lets keep going!!! Then all of suddent he car past us and then pulled over. It was the crazy old man!! haha He was yelling this Japanese that both of us could not understand!! He was so angry and it looked like he wanted to fight. I told Elder Peterson lets just keep going. We past him on the bikes and then turned to the next street. We realized that he was still following us haha. I decided we should proably go to the police so we will go away. We rode the police station and then went inside!!! The man then went away. We told the police what happended and they didnt really do anythinga bout it haha. It was scarier at the time but now I look back and it was awesome!!!! I am glad to be a misisonary!!!
Even though that man was chasing us I knew I was protected and that nothing would happen. I am grateful for that experience!!! This week has been good and I am sure I will have some miracles to tell you about next week. I love you all and I grateful for everyone and their support!!! Remember to do all the smaall things like read the scriptures, pray, andd send me letters and everything will be okay. I love you all and I glad to say that you guys are my family!!!!
Love Elder Maughan
It was good to hear that Zach got his mission call!!! Wow I cant believe they are already getting there mission calls. Wow everything is going by so fast!!!
Long time since post! But here is October 9
Hey dad Happy birthday once again!!!!!! I hope you have a great birthday with your cookie monster pants haha. I sent you letter last week so it should be coming soon. I am glad to hear that everyone had fun on the hikke this week!!! October already wow how times flies by!! I am glad to hear that everyone is staying busy and having fun. I am trying to do that at the same time haha. I was amzed with all of the good conference talks. If I could I would watch them all over again. I also realized that the church is spreading everywhere. Every six months it seems like new temple are being anoounced. It is amazing!!! I love it. I hope everyone loved conference like I did.
This week has been good!! On sunday and Saturday I got to watch conference. I watched it on a laptop at the church with elder Peterson. It was such a great conference and I learnded alot of things for me. There were so many wonderful talks and it would be difficult to choose a favorite. But I really like Elder Richard G scotts talk about scriptures. That whenever you need a friend close by you have a scripture. I will for sure apply this in my missionary life. I will never know when I will need these scriptures in my pocket. I also really like Priesident Monsons talk about when you was deicated the german temple. I thought that was an amzing story. It was the story when you had a feeling to call on of the german brothers to talk at the didcation. The thing was he wasnt there at the meeting. That brother was somewhere else but then he had a feeling to hurry and get to the temple. Right when he arrived he heard that President Monson announced his name to speak. I thought this was a miracle and itw as because President Monson listened to the spirit. I loved conference and I need to review my notes so I can ge3t more incites into it.
By the means of Mission work it was been good!!! Right now we dont have any strong inverstigators and it is a little hard. I am sure that in the upcoming weeks we will find some investigators. But yeah we have been looking for investigaroes everyday. The people will accept this gospel sooner or later!!! But it makes me so gratful for this gospel. Since I have come on my mission have been more grateful for this gospel. Everyday I trying to find new people to bring into this church. The prophecies have come true that the gospel will be taken to all of the world. I am loving that the world is expanding and accepting the goespel. Some of the people are just not ready right now!! but anyways this week we have been lokking for investigators, Japn will be the gateway for alot of the other counteries in asia!!
Peterson choro and I are doing well!!! In the beginning of the week he had a fever so it was diffult in the beginning. But now he is doing better so we can focus more on the work. He is a good elder his dad is the military so he has traveled alot around the world. At the same time he has a really crazy personality haah. Sometimes I laugh just because it is way funny. The language is still Japanese and it will take time. I feel like the majority of the time I understand what is going on. My hear just need to keep adjusting to this language. This week we found out that every tuesday for district meeting we will be going to Asaikawa. It is proably the second biggest city in Hokkaido besided Sapporo. It is fun to travel and practice with the other missionaires in our district. That will be fun to be able to do that until the rest my time here in Shibetsu. I heard that is getting cold in Utah is that true!!! Shibetsu is usually good until night and then it gets really cold!! But I heard that Shibetsu gets the most snow in the winter in Hokkaido. I will probably leave before it starts snowing and gets too bad haha. I am not really worried about the weather yet but we will see when it hits. Oh yeah this week we had two new students come to English Class. THis is a huge thing to happen because lately we have been able to find anyone to come. We now have five in our english class and it is really fun!!! Shibetsu is great and it will always be my first area and i will always have a special feeling toward Shbietsu.
Well I love everyone and all of their support. I am so grateful for everyone and their examples. If anyone anyone wants to talk just email me haha. I will listen and proabable write back haha. I love you all!!!!! Have a good week!!!
Elder Maughan
This week has been good!! On sunday and Saturday I got to watch conference. I watched it on a laptop at the church with elder Peterson. It was such a great conference and I learnded alot of things for me. There were so many wonderful talks and it would be difficult to choose a favorite. But I really like Elder Richard G scotts talk about scriptures. That whenever you need a friend close by you have a scripture. I will for sure apply this in my missionary life. I will never know when I will need these scriptures in my pocket. I also really like Priesident Monsons talk about when you was deicated the german temple. I thought that was an amzing story. It was the story when you had a feeling to call on of the german brothers to talk at the didcation. The thing was he wasnt there at the meeting. That brother was somewhere else but then he had a feeling to hurry and get to the temple. Right when he arrived he heard that President Monson announced his name to speak. I thought this was a miracle and itw as because President Monson listened to the spirit. I loved conference and I need to review my notes so I can ge3t more incites into it.
By the means of Mission work it was been good!!! Right now we dont have any strong inverstigators and it is a little hard. I am sure that in the upcoming weeks we will find some investigators. But yeah we have been looking for investigaroes everyday. The people will accept this gospel sooner or later!!! But it makes me so gratful for this gospel. Since I have come on my mission have been more grateful for this gospel. Everyday I trying to find new people to bring into this church. The prophecies have come true that the gospel will be taken to all of the world. I am loving that the world is expanding and accepting the goespel. Some of the people are just not ready right now!! but anyways this week we have been lokking for investigators, Japn will be the gateway for alot of the other counteries in asia!!
Peterson choro and I are doing well!!! In the beginning of the week he had a fever so it was diffult in the beginning. But now he is doing better so we can focus more on the work. He is a good elder his dad is the military so he has traveled alot around the world. At the same time he has a really crazy personality haah. Sometimes I laugh just because it is way funny. The language is still Japanese and it will take time. I feel like the majority of the time I understand what is going on. My hear just need to keep adjusting to this language. This week we found out that every tuesday for district meeting we will be going to Asaikawa. It is proably the second biggest city in Hokkaido besided Sapporo. It is fun to travel and practice with the other missionaires in our district. That will be fun to be able to do that until the rest my time here in Shibetsu. I heard that is getting cold in Utah is that true!!! Shibetsu is usually good until night and then it gets really cold!! But I heard that Shibetsu gets the most snow in the winter in Hokkaido. I will probably leave before it starts snowing and gets too bad haha. I am not really worried about the weather yet but we will see when it hits. Oh yeah this week we had two new students come to English Class. THis is a huge thing to happen because lately we have been able to find anyone to come. We now have five in our english class and it is really fun!!! Shibetsu is great and it will always be my first area and i will always have a special feeling toward Shbietsu.
Well I love everyone and all of their support. I am so grateful for everyone and their examples. If anyone anyone wants to talk just email me haha. I will listen and proabable write back haha. I love you all!!!!! Have a good week!!!
Elder Maughan
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Week 17: August 28
Family it was good to hear from you once again. It sounds like everyone had a fun but busy week at school. School is always fun for the first couple weeks and then it gets to you haha. I am glad to hear that everyone's week went well and that going to school again haha. Mandie that is so crazy that you are an elementary school teacher. If your students are anything like I was you are in trouble haha. WE have this investigator that we taught and he has a boy that is two. Wherever I see little kids it reminds me of you teaching them haha. That is awesome that Grandma is living with us now!!1 Right when I leave it is like a party 247 at the Maughan house.
This week has been good!! Yesterday President Evans and Sister Evans came to Shibetsu to meet the members of the branch. I really enjoyed this experience and how the branch members really look up to President Evans. President Evans also asked me if I was ready for a Japanese Companion. I told I am and so we will see what happens. I was excited but nervous and the same time we will see what happens. I want to improve more with my language. If I get a Japanese elder then I will improve a lot more and a lot quicker. I am not to frustrated about the language though. I do feel like I am improving more and more each week. My goal is by Christmas I can show all of my hard that I have been doing with the language. This week I found out that when we tract and proselyte when the people see that I am white they walk away or shut the door right away haha. Tamashiro choro and I are trying to find ways to hide me while he is contacting people haha. I had another instance I knocked on a door and a grandma came out. \right when she came out she said I don't understand English. I told her it was okay because I can speak Japanese. Ha ha it was really funny if you are American they don't expect you to speak Japanese at all. Japan is set up so any American can come and function. Don't really need to know that much to get around. They the signs in Kanji and then in English it is interesting to see how much influence we have over here. I heard that it is really hot in Utah. It is the same here in Shibetsue. Somedays it is so brutal and other days it will not stop raining. It is okay though because I get to enjoy the nature of Shibetsu. I am enjoying this area as long as I can because no other area is like this in Hokkaido. Elder Tamshiro was telling me how rare it is to start out your mission in Shibetsu.
This week I found out that next week we have basically a mission conference. We have a conference with half the mission. I am excited because I will be able to see more the island in the fullest. Our last zone conference was really fun also.
I am reading Jesus the Christ still and I am half way through it. It is such a good book and I am loving reading it. Personal study is probably my favorite part of the day. I get to learn new things everyday and that is why I love it. I encourage everyone to try to have there own personal study everyday. From what it sounds like Mom is doing a great job with this. That is awesome to hear that Rhett Ahlander is back from his mission. All of those friends are home and that is really weird to think. All of them were really good examples to me and I excited when I get back and I can talk to them again.
We go to a near by city called Nayoro two times a week. In order to get there we ride the train and then we get there one of the members lets us ride her bikes. This week we lost the key that locks up the bike. We felt really bad about this. But the thing was we left the bike at the train station. We needed to return the bike before we went back to Shibetsu. So I basically had to carry the bike to there house. It looked like I was stealing a bike haha. Especially if you are Japanese and you see an American carrying around the city. It was really hard and funny and the same time. It is crazy to think how small of things can ruin your day. I decided to get over it and keep moving on. That is what we all need to do not worry about the small things or bike key that can ruin your day. I had a good rest of the day and we taught a lot lessons. I feel like that wouldn't have happened if I was discouraged and grumpy. I have a good time here and working has hard has I can. I love you all of a good week and don't let the little things ruin your day!!!
Elder Rainman Maughan
This week has been good!! Yesterday President Evans and Sister Evans came to Shibetsu to meet the members of the branch. I really enjoyed this experience and how the branch members really look up to President Evans. President Evans also asked me if I was ready for a Japanese Companion. I told I am and so we will see what happens. I was excited but nervous and the same time we will see what happens. I want to improve more with my language. If I get a Japanese elder then I will improve a lot more and a lot quicker. I am not to frustrated about the language though. I do feel like I am improving more and more each week. My goal is by Christmas I can show all of my hard that I have been doing with the language. This week I found out that when we tract and proselyte when the people see that I am white they walk away or shut the door right away haha. Tamashiro choro and I are trying to find ways to hide me while he is contacting people haha. I had another instance I knocked on a door and a grandma came out. \right when she came out she said I don't understand English. I told her it was okay because I can speak Japanese. Ha ha it was really funny if you are American they don't expect you to speak Japanese at all. Japan is set up so any American can come and function. Don't really need to know that much to get around. They the signs in Kanji and then in English it is interesting to see how much influence we have over here. I heard that it is really hot in Utah. It is the same here in Shibetsue. Somedays it is so brutal and other days it will not stop raining. It is okay though because I get to enjoy the nature of Shibetsu. I am enjoying this area as long as I can because no other area is like this in Hokkaido. Elder Tamshiro was telling me how rare it is to start out your mission in Shibetsu.
This week I found out that next week we have basically a mission conference. We have a conference with half the mission. I am excited because I will be able to see more the island in the fullest. Our last zone conference was really fun also.
I am reading Jesus the Christ still and I am half way through it. It is such a good book and I am loving reading it. Personal study is probably my favorite part of the day. I get to learn new things everyday and that is why I love it. I encourage everyone to try to have there own personal study everyday. From what it sounds like Mom is doing a great job with this. That is awesome to hear that Rhett Ahlander is back from his mission. All of those friends are home and that is really weird to think. All of them were really good examples to me and I excited when I get back and I can talk to them again.
We go to a near by city called Nayoro two times a week. In order to get there we ride the train and then we get there one of the members lets us ride her bikes. This week we lost the key that locks up the bike. We felt really bad about this. But the thing was we left the bike at the train station. We needed to return the bike before we went back to Shibetsu. So I basically had to carry the bike to there house. It looked like I was stealing a bike haha. Especially if you are Japanese and you see an American carrying around the city. It was really hard and funny and the same time. It is crazy to think how small of things can ruin your day. I decided to get over it and keep moving on. That is what we all need to do not worry about the small things or bike key that can ruin your day. I had a good rest of the day and we taught a lot lessons. I feel like that wouldn't have happened if I was discouraged and grumpy. I have a good time here and working has hard has I can. I love you all of a good week and don't let the little things ruin your day!!!
Elder Rainman Maughan
Week 15: August 14
Hey family so how is Powell!!! IT has been fun seeing pictures of everyone and the boat. I heard you guys watched the pictures I sent haha. I hope you enjoyed my toilet pictures and all of that awesome stuff haha. I was really worried today that I wasn't going to be able to email today. So there has been a holiday here for the span of 2 something weeks. It is kinda of like Fourth of July in America. The end of the celebration was yesterday and today. Most of the stores are closed down and we were surprised when our store was open. Today and yesterday it has rained as much as I have ever seen in my life haha. We left our apartment today and got soaked and then came back and put on rain clothes haha. No wonder why Japan is so Green. It was fun to be soaking wet on a bike. It seemed like i WAS WAKE boarding. I was wet and I was pretty fast I even did a couple jumps.
Mom I loved that story that you sent to me. It was an awakening for me and made me realize how important everything is. I couldn't imagine how life could be if that happened. That missionary had such a good attitude and I need to have that attitude even today. No matter how hard the work gets it will not get that extent. I really liked that so thank you!!! Although everyone is at Lake Powell I am so grateful to be on a mission. We all know that is what needs to be done. Some days I don't think I can get through it but then I imagine a family waiting for the gospel. I want the Japanese to have what we have. I have only been here a month but I feel like most of the people are no happy with there life. I know that this gospel will bless them in there lives. That is where I come and Rhett and Michael we have chosen on our own to serve a mission. It was not anyone else's decision besides us. I am so grateful that I get to put on Jesus name every morning. Although most of people hear Jesus and don't want to do anything with it. I am so glad that I get to put on his name.
This week has been basically finding. All of our investigators except for one we have dropped. This week we hve been finding whenever we have time. This week is going to be about the same. I always love coming home is so tired and hitting bed haha. If we keep looking we will find people to teach. Transfer 1 is over tomorrow and it went by really fast. We think that both of our staying for the next transfer. This makes me happy because I don't want to leave Shibetsy yet. We will see though.
I am have been reading Jesus the Christ lately and I am learning so much more than I have thought I would. I love deeply studying Jesus Christ and all of the things that he did. It reminds me of why I am here and what I am doing.
The language is about the same and it alright. I feel like my listening skills have gotten better and that is awesome. We have put a punishment if we speak English. Because we are both Americans it is really hard to always speak Japanese. Our punishment is if we speak English we have to do 5 push ups. You add them all up and at the end of the day you do them all. This is the last thing you want to do when you get home because you are already so tired hah. I feel like it helps but it is not fun doing push ups haha. I am not going to worry too much about the language,. I am going to study, speak and ask questions and then it will come. I have seen this already help me a lot.
I am sorry to hear that you stepped on Bee if that is the worst that happens I think I will call it a successful trip.
So I saw that picture you sent me of this so called Dave!! He looks like a nub hahahahahahhahahah. Just kidding but seriously who is he??? He looks like a cool guy i am sure everyone is having fun haha. Any crazy things happen yet in Powell? I am sure something has happened there is some that always happen. I hope that family is doing great and having a lot of fun. Remember Lake Powell is only one time a year so I have fun. Thank you for all of the support and love and I think of all my loves in prayers!!!
Elder Maughan
Mom I loved that story that you sent to me. It was an awakening for me and made me realize how important everything is. I couldn't imagine how life could be if that happened. That missionary had such a good attitude and I need to have that attitude even today. No matter how hard the work gets it will not get that extent. I really liked that so thank you!!! Although everyone is at Lake Powell I am so grateful to be on a mission. We all know that is what needs to be done. Some days I don't think I can get through it but then I imagine a family waiting for the gospel. I want the Japanese to have what we have. I have only been here a month but I feel like most of the people are no happy with there life. I know that this gospel will bless them in there lives. That is where I come and Rhett and Michael we have chosen on our own to serve a mission. It was not anyone else's decision besides us. I am so grateful that I get to put on Jesus name every morning. Although most of people hear Jesus and don't want to do anything with it. I am so glad that I get to put on his name.
This week has been basically finding. All of our investigators except for one we have dropped. This week we hve been finding whenever we have time. This week is going to be about the same. I always love coming home is so tired and hitting bed haha. If we keep looking we will find people to teach. Transfer 1 is over tomorrow and it went by really fast. We think that both of our staying for the next transfer. This makes me happy because I don't want to leave Shibetsy yet. We will see though.
I am have been reading Jesus the Christ lately and I am learning so much more than I have thought I would. I love deeply studying Jesus Christ and all of the things that he did. It reminds me of why I am here and what I am doing.
The language is about the same and it alright. I feel like my listening skills have gotten better and that is awesome. We have put a punishment if we speak English. Because we are both Americans it is really hard to always speak Japanese. Our punishment is if we speak English we have to do 5 push ups. You add them all up and at the end of the day you do them all. This is the last thing you want to do when you get home because you are already so tired hah. I feel like it helps but it is not fun doing push ups haha. I am not going to worry too much about the language,. I am going to study, speak and ask questions and then it will come. I have seen this already help me a lot.
I am sorry to hear that you stepped on Bee if that is the worst that happens I think I will call it a successful trip.
So I saw that picture you sent me of this so called Dave!! He looks like a nub hahahahahahhahahah. Just kidding but seriously who is he??? He looks like a cool guy i am sure everyone is having fun haha. Any crazy things happen yet in Powell? I am sure something has happened there is some that always happen. I hope that family is doing great and having a lot of fun. Remember Lake Powell is only one time a year so I have fun. Thank you for all of the support and love and I think of all my loves in prayers!!!
Elder Maughan
Week 13- July 31
Wow this week by really fast!!!! It has been a really good week and a lot of things happened. On Monday and Tuesday we had zone conference in Asaikawa. It is such a cool city and when I think of Japan I think of cities like that. I think it is the second biggest city in Hokkaido besides Sapporo. Zone conference was really good and I learned a lot. Our APs ZLS and Mission presidents are so good and I learned so much. I got to tract with Elder Ackerman on Monday!! That was really fun. He is the AP and I have learned a lot from him. On Monday we went to Furano and went to the lavender fields. Don't worry pictures are coming in the mail. I am sending my sim card to you guys so hopefully nothing happens to the pictures haha. Anyways I learned a lot from the zone conference and I could tell the difference between Elder Tamashiro and my work this week.
Mom you wanted me to answer some questions for you. Here they are.
1. We have five zones in our mission I think they are: Asaikawa, Sapporo, Sapporo, 2 others ha ha I forgot.
2. When I went to zone conference I saw a couple missionaries that I knew from the plane ride. That was okay because I met my zone and I have made new friends.
3. Elder Tamshiro is such a cool elder. I have learned a lot from him already. I feel we will be friends after our missions. He is from Hawaii, pro city and he really loves his family. We have had a lot of good times so far. I am grateful that he is my companion I am learning so much from him.
Everyone had a good summer it sounds like!! Scott went surfing. That is so cool!!! I remember the first time we went to Hawaii, it was the best. That is way cool that Nikki surprised you!! My wife better surprise me with crazy adventures haha. Grandma, thank you for writing. I always love hearing from you everyweek thanks!!!! I hope everyone else has a good week with a lot of fun. School is about to start only in a month (ha ha) That went by really fast. I am glad that everyone is getting ready for that!!!!!
Right now we have only one really strong investigator. Her name is is Owaki san and she is awesome. She wants to get baptized but her husband is really against the church. This makes me really sad because she wants to get baptized. We are going to keep teaching her but we need to find an answer to this question. We have another investigator named takekawa san. He comes to church but he doesn't follow any of the other commitments. It is interesting because he doesn't seem interested but he comes to church. We have been trying to find people really hard this week. We will continue this week so we bring more people in. Our branch has about 15 people not counting us. I can't believe how busy the members are. Some of them of like 7-8 or callings. When I return home I will always count my blessing for only having one calling. Our man city is Shibetsu but we go to other cities nearby. Nayoro is the city that we have the most success in and I love going there. All of the other cities remind of little house and the prairie but with angry farmers haha. Well only to the missionaries haha. I have decided with the language to study as much as possible and then that is all I can do. Not to get disappointed for any reason. I feel that this has helped me a lot during this week. It is crazy to think that a month ago I was still in Utah. This month has gone by really fast and I am glad that I experienced everything that I did. I feel my testimony growing even during the hard times. There will people that open up their hearts and let us in. I am waiting for that day haha. Until then I will work as hard as I can!!!! I love you all have a good week!!!!!
Elder Maughan
Mom you wanted me to answer some questions for you. Here they are.
1. We have five zones in our mission I think they are: Asaikawa, Sapporo, Sapporo, 2 others ha ha I forgot.
2. When I went to zone conference I saw a couple missionaries that I knew from the plane ride. That was okay because I met my zone and I have made new friends.
3. Elder Tamshiro is such a cool elder. I have learned a lot from him already. I feel we will be friends after our missions. He is from Hawaii, pro city and he really loves his family. We have had a lot of good times so far. I am grateful that he is my companion I am learning so much from him.
Everyone had a good summer it sounds like!! Scott went surfing. That is so cool!!! I remember the first time we went to Hawaii, it was the best. That is way cool that Nikki surprised you!! My wife better surprise me with crazy adventures haha. Grandma, thank you for writing. I always love hearing from you everyweek thanks!!!! I hope everyone else has a good week with a lot of fun. School is about to start only in a month (ha ha) That went by really fast. I am glad that everyone is getting ready for that!!!!!
Right now we have only one really strong investigator. Her name is is Owaki san and she is awesome. She wants to get baptized but her husband is really against the church. This makes me really sad because she wants to get baptized. We are going to keep teaching her but we need to find an answer to this question. We have another investigator named takekawa san. He comes to church but he doesn't follow any of the other commitments. It is interesting because he doesn't seem interested but he comes to church. We have been trying to find people really hard this week. We will continue this week so we bring more people in. Our branch has about 15 people not counting us. I can't believe how busy the members are. Some of them of like 7-8 or callings. When I return home I will always count my blessing for only having one calling. Our man city is Shibetsu but we go to other cities nearby. Nayoro is the city that we have the most success in and I love going there. All of the other cities remind of little house and the prairie but with angry farmers haha. Well only to the missionaries haha. I have decided with the language to study as much as possible and then that is all I can do. Not to get disappointed for any reason. I feel that this has helped me a lot during this week. It is crazy to think that a month ago I was still in Utah. This month has gone by really fast and I am glad that I experienced everything that I did. I feel my testimony growing even during the hard times. There will people that open up their hearts and let us in. I am waiting for that day haha. Until then I will work as hard as I can!!!! I love you all have a good week!!!!!
Elder Maughan
Monday, July 18, 2011
Week 12: July 18~!!
Family it has been another good week here in Shibetsu. A lot of hard work has happened this week. I got my bike so I was way pumped about that!!! I feel like the king of the world on that thing. I then I realized it is not that cool after I got tired haha. Dad you are right if I could compare it to a city it would proably be Monticello haha. Except I would have to say that shibetsu is a lot bigger. I am still trying to adjust to everyone staring at me all the time. If I wasn:t a missionary I would probably make a face at them or something. It sounds like our family is doing great!!! Mandie I heard that you are setting up your classroom!!! That is so crazy all of us are so old but some are younger than others haha. Everyone sounds like they are having a great summer!! I have to admit there are times that are extremly hard but I am having the time of my life also.
We have a couple investigators that are pretty strong!! Both of them come to church and I hope that they can keep progressing. Whenever you ask anyone about God they say they are Buddhist and move on. The funny thing is they say that they are buddhist but most of the people dont know anything about the reiligion. It is just a Japan Culture thing and they dont want to break it. I had an experience where I older Japanese man was telling us that we were extremly rude. He then was bashes America and our beliefs. I was frustrated but afterward I was wow I am actually serving a mission. It felt good to get rejected like that haha!!!! Elder Tamshiro is really cool and he keeps trying to help me with the language. I am trying to listen as much as possible during talk.
Mom here is my usual routine everyday. We wake exercise for 30 minutes(perfect pull up oh yeah\!!!!), eat breakfast, and then have personal study for a hour. I then have companionship study for 2 hours and the language study. Have language we have a quick lunch and then start tracking or housing. When we have an appointments we go to those also. AT 6 or later we usually have dinner. We then work until nine to nine 30. We then have planning at 930. I wirite in my journal and then go to bed. That is basically my schedule except one time a week we have district meeting, weekly planning, and other stuff. The fun thing that we have is we teach english classes to local people. I dont think I have laughed so hard in my life our last class. I was trying to explain to them words like oath and beverage haha it was really funny!!!!
I got to serve a day with the zone leader Elder Gandy. This was a really experience to learn from him and see what he does. He was the happiest missionaries that I have ever met. That is goal for me is always be as happy as I can. Today we are going to a waterfall for Pday. I am reallly excited we have to go on a train to get there. THe days are preety slow here but I am expecting for them to start to spped up. I havent been able to teach alesson yet because the people are just not interested. I know that if I keep working ang become diligent I will be able to teach someone eventually. During church one the members child got baptized. They dont have a batismal font so they used basically a portable pool. It was funny when I saw it but I realized you need to what you need to do. I love this church and our members here in Shibetstu.
I try to have fun everyday and also work.Sometimes it is hard because there is nothing to do haha. I love it though and wouldnt change it for everything!!!!
I challenge everyone to try to feel the spirit everdya. President Evans say if we di tghis you know you have accomplished what you are supposed. I love you all and I am grateful to be a missioanry. THANKS for everything!!!!
Thank you everyone for all the supprt and the writing it has been great!!!!
L0ve ELDER Maughan
We have a couple investigators that are pretty strong!! Both of them come to church and I hope that they can keep progressing. Whenever you ask anyone about God they say they are Buddhist and move on. The funny thing is they say that they are buddhist but most of the people dont know anything about the reiligion. It is just a Japan Culture thing and they dont want to break it. I had an experience where I older Japanese man was telling us that we were extremly rude. He then was bashes America and our beliefs. I was frustrated but afterward I was wow I am actually serving a mission. It felt good to get rejected like that haha!!!! Elder Tamshiro is really cool and he keeps trying to help me with the language. I am trying to listen as much as possible during talk.
Mom here is my usual routine everyday. We wake exercise for 30 minutes(perfect pull up oh yeah\!!!!), eat breakfast, and then have personal study for a hour. I then have companionship study for 2 hours and the language study. Have language we have a quick lunch and then start tracking or housing. When we have an appointments we go to those also. AT 6 or later we usually have dinner. We then work until nine to nine 30. We then have planning at 930. I wirite in my journal and then go to bed. That is basically my schedule except one time a week we have district meeting, weekly planning, and other stuff. The fun thing that we have is we teach english classes to local people. I dont think I have laughed so hard in my life our last class. I was trying to explain to them words like oath and beverage haha it was really funny!!!!
I got to serve a day with the zone leader Elder Gandy. This was a really experience to learn from him and see what he does. He was the happiest missionaries that I have ever met. That is goal for me is always be as happy as I can. Today we are going to a waterfall for Pday. I am reallly excited we have to go on a train to get there. THe days are preety slow here but I am expecting for them to start to spped up. I havent been able to teach alesson yet because the people are just not interested. I know that if I keep working ang become diligent I will be able to teach someone eventually. During church one the members child got baptized. They dont have a batismal font so they used basically a portable pool. It was funny when I saw it but I realized you need to what you need to do. I love this church and our members here in Shibetstu.
I try to have fun everyday and also work.Sometimes it is hard because there is nothing to do haha. I love it though and wouldnt change it for everything!!!!
I challenge everyone to try to feel the spirit everdya. President Evans say if we di tghis you know you have accomplished what you are supposed. I love you all and I am grateful to be a missioanry. THANKS for everything!!!!
Thank you everyone for all the supprt and the writing it has been great!!!!
L0ve ELDER Maughan
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Week 11: First week in Japan! July 11, 2011
Hey family how is everyone doing??!!! I hope everyone is enjoying there summer and having a blast!!! Well this has been quite a week haha. I could only write you a simple email last time to tell you that I made it safe. I still cant believe that I am living in Japan. I woke up in the middle of the night realizeing exactly where I am. SO the area that I am is call Shibetsu. It is the smallest area in all of Sapparo。 I would doubt in the all of Japan. But it is so pretty and there is a lot of farming. The city is pretty small but at the same time there is alot of people. IT is really hard to try to understand anything haha. But i knew that is was going to happen haha. Whenever someone talks to me I have no idea what they are saying haha. The people are so polite and nice. YOu can tell whenver someone is not interested in our message but they listen to us anyways. It is also weird that I am like the only American in within 100 miles probably haha. I havent seen a white since I left Sapporo haha. The best part is the people know exactly who we are. Especially because the city is pretty small they see us aroung quite a bit. Also whenever they see a white person they know it revolves around Religion haha.
My companions name is tamashiro choro he is from Hawaii and he is really cool. He speaks English and Japanese and he is a good missionary. My problem is because he speaks English sometimes we dont speak Japanese as much as we should. This week I am going to work on this so I can improve in the language. I did my first contact basically by myself. I was really proud because I understood everything that the man said. I got rejected hardcore but it was fun to actually contact someone. I can usually say what I want to say but whenever they start talking to me I have no idea what they are saying. I know that I will improve because that is all I can do!!! I teach the gospel and study the langauge 24/7。. I hope that we can get more appointments this week so I can practice me teaching on inverstigatiors. I met our ward yesterday and all the people are really cool. IN our branch we have I think 15 people at the most. I gave a talk and just inroduced myself and bore my testimony. It was good to met them and I am looking forward to working with them.
I havent had any intersting food yet. Basically just rice and eggs haha. I am excited to try more food when I get the oppurtunity. I am was suprised of how much english is influenced here in Japan. Most of the bigger signs have Kanji and then it has English. But then most of none the people can read it. It is interesting how much influence America has on Japan. sometimes we ride the train to go to the near by city called Nayoro. It is fun to see all of the sites.
There was this parade for all of these middle school students. They all made these floats and all of this stuff. But when they say me and my companion they were all going crazy because I was American. It is really weird but funny and that the same time. The only people that like us are the older ladies and younger kids hahah. I am loving being a missioanry and learning every
thibg I am. I just need to stay patient with this language and know that it will come eventyally.
I havent been able to get a bike yet becasue they have no bike shops in Shibetsu. But this week I will be ordering a bike through the mission home in _Sapporo. I think I will be also purchasing an electronic ictionary some time soon. If that is a problem I wont buy it. aNYways I am doing great with everything. I have eaten so much being here surprisely I eat a lot of rice haha.
Well I hope everyone is doing well and lovng Life!!! Make sure to always say your prayers and scripture study!!!!
Talk to you next Week!!!!
Love, ELder Maughan
My companions name is tamashiro choro he is from Hawaii and he is really cool. He speaks English and Japanese and he is a good missionary. My problem is because he speaks English sometimes we dont speak Japanese as much as we should. This week I am going to work on this so I can improve in the language. I did my first contact basically by myself. I was really proud because I understood everything that the man said. I got rejected hardcore but it was fun to actually contact someone. I can usually say what I want to say but whenever they start talking to me I have no idea what they are saying. I know that I will improve because that is all I can do!!! I teach the gospel and study the langauge 24/7。. I hope that we can get more appointments this week so I can practice me teaching on inverstigatiors. I met our ward yesterday and all the people are really cool. IN our branch we have I think 15 people at the most. I gave a talk and just inroduced myself and bore my testimony. It was good to met them and I am looking forward to working with them.
I havent had any intersting food yet. Basically just rice and eggs haha. I am excited to try more food when I get the oppurtunity. I am was suprised of how much english is influenced here in Japan. Most of the bigger signs have Kanji and then it has English. But then most of none the people can read it. It is interesting how much influence America has on Japan. sometimes we ride the train to go to the near by city called Nayoro. It is fun to see all of the sites.
There was this parade for all of these middle school students. They all made these floats and all of this stuff. But when they say me and my companion they were all going crazy because I was American. It is really weird but funny and that the same time. The only people that like us are the older ladies and younger kids hahah. I am loving being a missioanry and learning every
thibg I am. I just need to stay patient with this language and know that it will come eventyally.
I havent been able to get a bike yet becasue they have no bike shops in Shibetsu. But this week I will be ordering a bike through the mission home in _Sapporo. I think I will be also purchasing an electronic ictionary some time soon. If that is a problem I wont buy it. aNYways I am doing great with everything. I have eaten so much being here surprisely I eat a lot of rice haha.
Well I hope everyone is doing well and lovng Life!!! Make sure to always say your prayers and scripture study!!!!
Talk to you next Week!!!!
Love, ELder Maughan
Arrival in Japan!!!
Hey family!!!! Well I made it!!! I finally went to sleep about 8 in the morning utah time yesterday!!! I think I was up for over 30 hours I was so excited to get that day over with. I can]t beleive that I am in Japan. Last night we were driving on the freeway!! It was a crazy experience. It was weird driving on the left side of the street.
I just got assigned to my new coｍpanion and area!!! My companions name is Elder Tamashiru and he is from Hawaii. Right when I saw him I thought he was a Japanese is from Hawaii. Right when I saw him I thought he was a Japanese Elder. He speaks English well so I am excited to learn a lot from him. My area is the very top of Hoikado. It is called Shitbetsu, you should google it. It is the most northern mission in our area. I think I am going there tomorrow or today. I am still trying to get used to everything. I think I am getting my bike soon. Well I have to keep it short but I love you all!!! I am doing good and really excited!!! Although I can't understand anything, ha ha I am excited!
Love Elder Maughan
I just got assigned to my new coｍpanion and area!!! My companions name is Elder Tamashiru and he is from Hawaii. Right when I saw him I thought he was a Japanese is from Hawaii. Right when I saw him I thought he was a Japanese Elder. He speaks English well so I am excited to learn a lot from him. My area is the very top of Hoikado. It is called Shitbetsu, you should google it. It is the most northern mission in our area. I think I am going there tomorrow or today. I am still trying to get used to everything. I think I am getting my bike soon. Well I have to keep it short but I love you all!!! I am doing good and really excited!!! Although I can't understand anything, ha ha I am excited!
Love Elder Maughan
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Week 10: July 1st Last Week in MTC:)
Family this is it!!!! I leave on monday and I am so pumped!!! It feels like I have had no life before the MTC haha. It feels like I have been here so long and I can't believe that I am actually leaving. I leave on monday morning out of Salt lake at 830. I then arrive in portland at 930. Between 930 and 220 I am in Portland. During this time I will call you guys and I am really looking forward to this time!!! You can tell me what phone number would work the all of us. Just as long as I know before Saturady morning. The mail is closed saturday afternoon so I wouldn't get it. I am extremly excited to start my mission out in the field!!!
This week has been basically preparing for me going to Japan. During class we talked about cultural things and a lot of fun stories. The stories that my teachers told me got me really excited for Japan. All of them said that the first part of your mission is the most difficult. I was already expecting this before I came here though. But through all of the stories that they have shared I knnow I will be protected by the Lord!! One my teachers Bishoff Sensei told us this really powerful story about when he was on his mission. One time when they riding there bikes they saw a man beating on a women. They wanted to help because no one seemed like they were going to stop him. When they walked over there they realized that had been a prisoner perviously. With the little Japanese that he knew he told the man yamete kudasai. This meant to please stop!!! The man looked straight on Bishoof Sensei's tag and saw the name Jesus Christ on it. LAter on the story the man walked away and left the women alone. This was because God protected him at this time!!! This stroy really hit me because I know that I will protected from anything that Satan is going to throw at me. I am still a little nervous to go outside of the Country but I know it is what God wants me to do. I ask everyone this monday to have prayer in there heart for me. I know that during this time I will become comforted and will be protected.,
I am really happy that I leaving the MTC. AT the same time I am sad to say goodbye to all of my friends and people that I have made here. When I said goodbye to me sensei's it was a lot harder than I thought it was. I then realized that I will see them again after the mission and we will be eternal friends forever. The experiences that I have had here at the MTC I feel ready to go preach the gospel to the Japanese people. I know that is going to be one of the hardest thing that I have ever done. But through God's power and help I can be able to anything I want. I also learned a really valauble lesson this week. Everyone knows that Japan is a really hard misson to baptize. I think the number are that 90% are Buddhists. I learned this week that it doesn't matter if the mission has its histrory of not having a lot baptisms. If I have a postive attitude and think in my mind that I will baptize people will happen. If I stay committed and look to God for everthing I will be able to accomplish anythng that I put my mind to. This is a really excited for me!!! Many of the General Authorites also have said that Japan is going to be one of the strongest countries in the world for our church. That it is going to have its slow begginging but eveuntally it will become a strong country of memebers. This is really excited more me because I get to help with this cause. I can't for me to look in the future and see how styrong the country of Japan is. I have already fallen in love with people. This is with only the Japaense Elders!!!! I never met people that are so nice and would do anything for you. I am so grateful that I get to go to Japan and serve them.
I hope everyone at home is doing great!!! Everyone have a great fourth of July!!! I think tomorrow the missionaries get to watch the stadium of FIRE!!!!! I am so pumped I will have perfect view of the fireworks!! This is also perfect time for me. This is my last celebration of being in America. I love this counrty and everything that it stands for. This morning when I looked out the window I saw all the hot air baloons in the air. This reminded me when Dad and I went always go to this. I remember always being so mad becuase I had to wake up so early to save a spot in the parade. Now these memories have stuck with me forever. This time of the year is best!!! I always look forward to watch the cheap fireworks that we buy at WALMART haha. Even if the fireworks are not that good I always love making memories with my family.
Well Family I am so excited to go to Japan and start my mission in the field!!! I want you all to know that I think of you everday and I want others to have what I have!!! This brings me joy whenver I think of my family and the gospel. I am excited to hear from you at Monday and get to hear all of things going on in your life. I am also going to try to prosolte in the airport so I will let you know how that goes!!! I love you all and thank for everything that you have done for me!!!!!!
Watashi wa Kazoku o totemo ai shite imasu.
I love my family very much
MAUGHAN Choro
Talk to you on Monday!!!!!!
This week has been basically preparing for me going to Japan. During class we talked about cultural things and a lot of fun stories. The stories that my teachers told me got me really excited for Japan. All of them said that the first part of your mission is the most difficult. I was already expecting this before I came here though. But through all of the stories that they have shared I knnow I will be protected by the Lord!! One my teachers Bishoff Sensei told us this really powerful story about when he was on his mission. One time when they riding there bikes they saw a man beating on a women. They wanted to help because no one seemed like they were going to stop him. When they walked over there they realized that had been a prisoner perviously. With the little Japanese that he knew he told the man yamete kudasai. This meant to please stop!!! The man looked straight on Bishoof Sensei's tag and saw the name Jesus Christ on it. LAter on the story the man walked away and left the women alone. This was because God protected him at this time!!! This stroy really hit me because I know that I will protected from anything that Satan is going to throw at me. I am still a little nervous to go outside of the Country but I know it is what God wants me to do. I ask everyone this monday to have prayer in there heart for me. I know that during this time I will become comforted and will be protected.,
I am really happy that I leaving the MTC. AT the same time I am sad to say goodbye to all of my friends and people that I have made here. When I said goodbye to me sensei's it was a lot harder than I thought it was. I then realized that I will see them again after the mission and we will be eternal friends forever. The experiences that I have had here at the MTC I feel ready to go preach the gospel to the Japanese people. I know that is going to be one of the hardest thing that I have ever done. But through God's power and help I can be able to anything I want. I also learned a really valauble lesson this week. Everyone knows that Japan is a really hard misson to baptize. I think the number are that 90% are Buddhists. I learned this week that it doesn't matter if the mission has its histrory of not having a lot baptisms. If I have a postive attitude and think in my mind that I will baptize people will happen. If I stay committed and look to God for everthing I will be able to accomplish anythng that I put my mind to. This is a really excited for me!!! Many of the General Authorites also have said that Japan is going to be one of the strongest countries in the world for our church. That it is going to have its slow begginging but eveuntally it will become a strong country of memebers. This is really excited more me because I get to help with this cause. I can't for me to look in the future and see how styrong the country of Japan is. I have already fallen in love with people. This is with only the Japaense Elders!!!! I never met people that are so nice and would do anything for you. I am so grateful that I get to go to Japan and serve them.
I hope everyone at home is doing great!!! Everyone have a great fourth of July!!! I think tomorrow the missionaries get to watch the stadium of FIRE!!!!! I am so pumped I will have perfect view of the fireworks!! This is also perfect time for me. This is my last celebration of being in America. I love this counrty and everything that it stands for. This morning when I looked out the window I saw all the hot air baloons in the air. This reminded me when Dad and I went always go to this. I remember always being so mad becuase I had to wake up so early to save a spot in the parade. Now these memories have stuck with me forever. This time of the year is best!!! I always look forward to watch the cheap fireworks that we buy at WALMART haha. Even if the fireworks are not that good I always love making memories with my family.
Well Family I am so excited to go to Japan and start my mission in the field!!! I want you all to know that I think of you everday and I want others to have what I have!!! This brings me joy whenver I think of my family and the gospel. I am excited to hear from you at Monday and get to hear all of things going on in your life. I am also going to try to prosolte in the airport so I will let you know how that goes!!! I love you all and thank for everything that you have done for me!!!!!!
Watashi wa Kazoku o totemo ai shite imasu.
I love my family very much
MAUGHAN Choro
Talk to you on Monday!!!!!!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Week 9: June 24 2011
Hey family how everyone doing??!!! It sounds like Summer is treating everyone well. It sounds like everyone is keeping each other busy in some way or another. Kelsie I heard you are dancing a lot. This sounds really fun haha. I am glad that everyone is doing well in school. I hope everyone's summer is the best!!!
This week in the MTC has been great. We got our travels plan on Wednesday and we do leave on July 4th!!! Our travel group is only with 6 of us. Elder Davis and I and then 4 Japanese elders. I am really excited but at the same time a little nervous to leave the country. We fly to Portland and then have I think a four our lay over. That is the time that I will be able to call you. I need to find out all of the rules of that. I will let you know for sure what it going on next week. After Portland we fly to Tokyo!!!! I think we have a two hour lay over in Tokyo and then we fly to Sapporo. This surprised me because I thought I was going to take the bullet train up to Sapporo. Its alright I am really excited to fly into Tokyo. For us in the MTC everything is slowing down. All of us really want to leave and get out into the mission field. I am so excited but I know that it is going to be so hard.When we got our travels I was really excited. I think is like a day and a half of traveling haha. I will also have to figure my luggage situation. I am confident that I will fine with it. If not I might have to wear my snow coat onto to the plane haha.
So this week all of the new mission presidents came in. The mtc has been crazy all this week. On Wednesday we helped host the new missionaries. I think 600 new missionaries came in. OH Yeah this morning I had to go to the frnt desk to resolve a problem with our room. When I went to the front desk Elder Russel Nelson was standing right by me!!!! He talked to me for a little while and asked me where I was going on my mission. It was really cool to talk to an Apostle for a little while. Also today we have a special fireside!!!! That is all that they are telling us. I am so excited for this fireside and get to see who is speaking during it. After the fireside i get to meet my mission president. I am lucky because there are only 6 missionaries going to Sapporo. This means I will probably get to talk to him for a while. Ill have to make sure I give him a good first impression haha.
This week we have been trying to learn as much as we can until we leave. I need to work as hard as I can in these last week so I can be as prepared as I can for Japan. My problem still is speaking everyday life stuff. I feel like I can speak the gospel stuff alright. Everything else is really challenging. I went to the temple for the last time this morning. It was a good experience for my last time at the temple. If a miracle happens and the Sapporo temple gets built before I leave I will get to go to it. I am expecting thought that is not going to happen though haha. This week we are teaching lesson 1 and I am really excited about it. I finally have the first vision memorized in Japanese. It is so long and it made me happy when I finally memorized it!!!! Other than that we just have class for another week and teach another lesson.
I have been playing soccer everyday and I always look for Mandie and Scott driving around. I am surprised that I haven't seen them yet. I funny story that happened this week. I was walking back from the Mtc. I was at the light and a yellow jeep pulled by me. They then shouted and said hey take this!!! It was a bag full of taco BEL!!!!!! I don'[t think I haven't been that excited for a long time!!!!
Everything is going well here!!! TRYING to finish everything before I leave. I love you and hope all is well!!!
Love Matt
This week in the MTC has been great. We got our travels plan on Wednesday and we do leave on July 4th!!! Our travel group is only with 6 of us. Elder Davis and I and then 4 Japanese elders. I am really excited but at the same time a little nervous to leave the country. We fly to Portland and then have I think a four our lay over. That is the time that I will be able to call you. I need to find out all of the rules of that. I will let you know for sure what it going on next week. After Portland we fly to Tokyo!!!! I think we have a two hour lay over in Tokyo and then we fly to Sapporo. This surprised me because I thought I was going to take the bullet train up to Sapporo. Its alright I am really excited to fly into Tokyo. For us in the MTC everything is slowing down. All of us really want to leave and get out into the mission field. I am so excited but I know that it is going to be so hard.When we got our travels I was really excited. I think is like a day and a half of traveling haha. I will also have to figure my luggage situation. I am confident that I will fine with it. If not I might have to wear my snow coat onto to the plane haha.
So this week all of the new mission presidents came in. The mtc has been crazy all this week. On Wednesday we helped host the new missionaries. I think 600 new missionaries came in. OH Yeah this morning I had to go to the frnt desk to resolve a problem with our room. When I went to the front desk Elder Russel Nelson was standing right by me!!!! He talked to me for a little while and asked me where I was going on my mission. It was really cool to talk to an Apostle for a little while. Also today we have a special fireside!!!! That is all that they are telling us. I am so excited for this fireside and get to see who is speaking during it. After the fireside i get to meet my mission president. I am lucky because there are only 6 missionaries going to Sapporo. This means I will probably get to talk to him for a while. Ill have to make sure I give him a good first impression haha.
This week we have been trying to learn as much as we can until we leave. I need to work as hard as I can in these last week so I can be as prepared as I can for Japan. My problem still is speaking everyday life stuff. I feel like I can speak the gospel stuff alright. Everything else is really challenging. I went to the temple for the last time this morning. It was a good experience for my last time at the temple. If a miracle happens and the Sapporo temple gets built before I leave I will get to go to it. I am expecting thought that is not going to happen though haha. This week we are teaching lesson 1 and I am really excited about it. I finally have the first vision memorized in Japanese. It is so long and it made me happy when I finally memorized it!!!! Other than that we just have class for another week and teach another lesson.
I have been playing soccer everyday and I always look for Mandie and Scott driving around. I am surprised that I haven't seen them yet. I funny story that happened this week. I was walking back from the Mtc. I was at the light and a yellow jeep pulled by me. They then shouted and said hey take this!!! It was a bag full of taco BEL!!!!!! I don'[t think I haven't been that excited for a long time!!!!
Everything is going well here!!! TRYING to finish everything before I leave. I love you and hope all is well!!!
Love Matt
Monday, June 20, 2011
Week 8: June 17th 2011
Hey family!!!! How is everyone doing? This week has gone by really fast I can't believe it is Pday already. Dad I hope you have a GREAT Father's day on Sunday!!!! You deserve a day for you. There should be a whole month dedicated to you haha. You do and have done so much for me and our family. So with that I hope you have a great Sunday and I will be thinking about you. Oh yeah dad you asked me about the Sapporo temple being built. What I have heard is that it won't be finished before I leave. I think this was because of the affects on the earthquake. This fine but it would be really cool if they could finish it before I left. It sounds like Kelsie is a little crazy!! Dancing all day and then going to girls camp!!!??? That means someone is dedicated haha. That reminds me of when i WENT to efy and had a basketball camp in the morning. I would have to leave efy and go to the basketball camp pretty early in the morning. I would play for about five hours and then go back to efy. I remember Jon Browne and I would be sleeping during our classes because we were so tired haha. I still think Kelsie tops me on that though haha. I can't believe how fast everything is going here in the MTC. I basically only have two more weeks until I leave. I am so excited to go to Japan and start my mission haha. The only thing that I might have to figure out is I don't want to pay extra money for my luggage haha. I have heard missionaries that wore all of their snow gear so their luggage can be a little lighter haha. I might have to do this. If that is the only thing that I am worried about I will be fine.
Every Wednesday the new missionaries come. I got to host this week and it was really fun to help the new missionaries move in. Later that day I found out that I got two Japanese roommates. I was so excited to meet them and try to talk to them. One of them speaks English really well and so he helps me when I have a question. This week I realized that I can't really talk in Japanese when it revolved around everyday life. I feel okay when it comes to lessons and other stuff. BUT everyday stuff I found that is going to take a while to get used too. But with these missionaries I hope I can practice and improve a lot more. This got me really excited to go to Japan because they are such nice people.
I got that letter from Yusaku. It was so cool to hear from him again. I think I am going to start writing him because I have his address. Who knows I might write in Japanese. That a reason why I am so excited to go to Japan. Yusaku was such a nice person. I don't think I have met an angry Nihonge. But I am sure I will meet some haha. Something that I have noticed is that they all love my Kobe Bryant and Suzuki Ichiro jerseys. I love always seeing there reactions when I wear them.
This next week is when all of the new mission presidents come in. I am excited for this because this is when the first presidency and the apostles come. Everyone is hoping that the prophet will talk at the fireside. IT is just a rumor but I hope he does haha. Also it would be really cool if I got to meet my mission president. I am going to be first set a missionaries for my new mission president. AHHHHH I am so excited to go to Japan!!!
It sounds like everyone else is really busy with school and work. That is a good sign I guess haha. I always think after my mission I have to start doing all the hard things in my life. Everyone keep it up you are all good examples to me.
I always see a lot of people that I know in the MTC. Friends from highs school and college. It is fun to see where all of them are going on their missions. All of us are going to have such crazy stories when we get back.
Family I am having a good time here at the MTC. Most of the weeks are the same so nothing really new is happening. Ill I know is that I am going through this time for a reason to prepare me for Japan. I want you all to know that I have a strong testimony of this church. That I know why I am going to Japan. The reason I am doing this is because I believe in the church and what it stands for. I love you all and thank you for the support!!! Tell me how everything is going!!!
Ai Elder Maughan
Every Wednesday the new missionaries come. I got to host this week and it was really fun to help the new missionaries move in. Later that day I found out that I got two Japanese roommates. I was so excited to meet them and try to talk to them. One of them speaks English really well and so he helps me when I have a question. This week I realized that I can't really talk in Japanese when it revolved around everyday life. I feel okay when it comes to lessons and other stuff. BUT everyday stuff I found that is going to take a while to get used too. But with these missionaries I hope I can practice and improve a lot more. This got me really excited to go to Japan because they are such nice people.
I got that letter from Yusaku. It was so cool to hear from him again. I think I am going to start writing him because I have his address. Who knows I might write in Japanese. That a reason why I am so excited to go to Japan. Yusaku was such a nice person. I don't think I have met an angry Nihonge. But I am sure I will meet some haha. Something that I have noticed is that they all love my Kobe Bryant and Suzuki Ichiro jerseys. I love always seeing there reactions when I wear them.
This next week is when all of the new mission presidents come in. I am excited for this because this is when the first presidency and the apostles come. Everyone is hoping that the prophet will talk at the fireside. IT is just a rumor but I hope he does haha. Also it would be really cool if I got to meet my mission president. I am going to be first set a missionaries for my new mission president. AHHHHH I am so excited to go to Japan!!!
It sounds like everyone else is really busy with school and work. That is a good sign I guess haha. I always think after my mission I have to start doing all the hard things in my life. Everyone keep it up you are all good examples to me.
I always see a lot of people that I know in the MTC. Friends from highs school and college. It is fun to see where all of them are going on their missions. All of us are going to have such crazy stories when we get back.
Family I am having a good time here at the MTC. Most of the weeks are the same so nothing really new is happening. Ill I know is that I am going through this time for a reason to prepare me for Japan. I want you all to know that I have a strong testimony of this church. That I know why I am going to Japan. The reason I am doing this is because I believe in the church and what it stands for. I love you all and thank you for the support!!! Tell me how everything is going!!!
Ai Elder Maughan
Friday, June 10, 2011
Week 7: June 10!!!!
Family how is everyone doing?!!!!! It sounds like everyone is doing great and keeping them selfs busy. The best time of the year is right now and so love it haha!!! Thank you for all the support and love that I get from everyone. So funny story and went to the temple this morning and was sitting on the bench waiting for my district. When all of a sudden I heard someone honk and yell something haha. I had no idea what was said but I then realized it was Tara Bushman!!! I don't think I have seen a car fly out of the temple so fast haha. It took me a while to realize who it was. That made really happy haha. So I heard Nadal won the French Open (ugh). Mandie I hope you realize that Nadal will soon be the worst tennis player ever haha. Dad thank you for sending me those pictures via email. If you can could you send them by mail? I want to have as many pics of family and friends before I leave. Kelsie so I hear you are really busy with dance!!! That is so cool your are starting the best times of you life in High School. YOu just need to realize that dancing is nothing compared to basketball haha!! I wish you luck with everything going on with that. Oh Yeah Scott I hope you have a great birthday on Sunday!!! Make sure you do something fun like skydiving or bungi jumping. Im sorry to hear about CRaig. Things will all will work out I had a comforting feeling when I thought about this this week. If you get a chance tell hello from me. Well I hope all is well with the family and everyone has a good week.
It has been another successful week in the MTC. Taylor came in on Wednesday and it was really good to see him. He looked really excited but I could tell he was a little shocked in the beginning. I am teaching the Plan of Salvation tomorrow for the lesson. I am feeling pretty good about it. Last weeks lesson we taught a Japanese. It is was pretty epic because I couldn't understand him at all haha. HE would speak so fast and he would mumble. I then realzied that this is exactly how Japan is going to be. This was a good experience for me to see what I need to expect when I get there. For our task this week we are going to help someone with directions. Our Sensei wanted to play a game that would help us with directions. He basically took us outside and told of the companions to close there eyes. The other comapions was going to direct them where to go in Japanese. I have to be honest this was proabably the scariest thing I have done in my life. After Elder DAvis and I got good at it we wanted to go faster. Elder Lythgoe and Elder Wycoff wanted to race us. I don't think this was a smart idea. Eventually Elder Wycoff and I were running down the Mtc having no idea where to go. Elder Wycoff stopped and I ran in to him. Elder Davis said it was the funniest thing that he has ever seen in his life. When Elder Wycoff and I collided all of our flashcards exploded everywhere. When I opened my eyes I had no idea what happened. It was quite the experience. The only damage I had was a scrape on my knee and a little headache haha. I feel pretty prepared for the task this week haha.
This month all of the new mission presidents are coming to the MTC. Everyone is expecting to hear from the prophet sometime this week. This last tuesday we had Elder KIkuchi talk. He is a native from Japan. This talk got me really excited because he told us about his conversion story. He was from Sapporo ALSO!!! It got me really excited to go to Japan and preach the gospel. This week we are getting Nihonge Elders. I am extremly excfited because I will actually be able to talk to them this time. Last time they came I could only ask them basic things like what is your name? where are you from etc. This monday I will only have three more weeks in the MTc. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel haha. There is a lot of things I feel like I need to do before I can leave. I have so many vocab flashcards that I have to feel out. I don't think I will ever feel prepared to go to Japan. My district feels like we have been friends forever. I then realize it has only been 8 weeks. I can already see that I will be friends with them for the rest my life after my mission. This week has been really good with a lot of hard work. Thank you for all the prayers and thoughts during this time. I love you all and I hope you have a fun summer week!!!
Love, Maughan Choro
**Note to reader... the person in the car this morning stalking Matt at the temple indeed was Tara Bushman, as well as my mom. Leave it to these two. They have yet to surprise me what they will not do! They had binoculars and all trying to get a picture of Matt (which will be posted here shortly). I am completely surprised that my mom did not run up to him (just knowing her). Love you Matt!
It has been another successful week in the MTC. Taylor came in on Wednesday and it was really good to see him. He looked really excited but I could tell he was a little shocked in the beginning. I am teaching the Plan of Salvation tomorrow for the lesson. I am feeling pretty good about it. Last weeks lesson we taught a Japanese. It is was pretty epic because I couldn't understand him at all haha. HE would speak so fast and he would mumble. I then realzied that this is exactly how Japan is going to be. This was a good experience for me to see what I need to expect when I get there. For our task this week we are going to help someone with directions. Our Sensei wanted to play a game that would help us with directions. He basically took us outside and told of the companions to close there eyes. The other comapions was going to direct them where to go in Japanese. I have to be honest this was proabably the scariest thing I have done in my life. After Elder DAvis and I got good at it we wanted to go faster. Elder Lythgoe and Elder Wycoff wanted to race us. I don't think this was a smart idea. Eventually Elder Wycoff and I were running down the Mtc having no idea where to go. Elder Wycoff stopped and I ran in to him. Elder Davis said it was the funniest thing that he has ever seen in his life. When Elder Wycoff and I collided all of our flashcards exploded everywhere. When I opened my eyes I had no idea what happened. It was quite the experience. The only damage I had was a scrape on my knee and a little headache haha. I feel pretty prepared for the task this week haha.
This month all of the new mission presidents are coming to the MTC. Everyone is expecting to hear from the prophet sometime this week. This last tuesday we had Elder KIkuchi talk. He is a native from Japan. This talk got me really excited because he told us about his conversion story. He was from Sapporo ALSO!!! It got me really excited to go to Japan and preach the gospel. This week we are getting Nihonge Elders. I am extremly excfited because I will actually be able to talk to them this time. Last time they came I could only ask them basic things like what is your name? where are you from etc. This monday I will only have three more weeks in the MTc. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel haha. There is a lot of things I feel like I need to do before I can leave. I have so many vocab flashcards that I have to feel out. I don't think I will ever feel prepared to go to Japan. My district feels like we have been friends forever. I then realize it has only been 8 weeks. I can already see that I will be friends with them for the rest my life after my mission. This week has been really good with a lot of hard work. Thank you for all the prayers and thoughts during this time. I love you all and I hope you have a fun summer week!!!
Love, Maughan Choro
**Note to reader... the person in the car this morning stalking Matt at the temple indeed was Tara Bushman, as well as my mom. Leave it to these two. They have yet to surprise me what they will not do! They had binoculars and all trying to get a picture of Matt (which will be posted here shortly). I am completely surprised that my mom did not run up to him (just knowing her). Love you Matt!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Week 6: June 3rd 2011
How is everyone doing? I hope this last week has been a good one. I need to know what is going on in everyone's life. I need something exciting here in the MTC. I hope all is well and everyone is enjoying the summer life!! Something funny that happened this morning was a dropped my wallet in the toilet. It wasn't funny when it happened because I had to hurry and grab it out of the toilet. Everyone thought something happened to me because I basically screamed when it happened. I hope everyone had a good memorial day with the Maughans. I thought about that on memorial day. I was grateful for all of the experiences that we have with them.
This past week has been really good. I feel a lot more comfortable with teaching the lessons in Japanese. There is still a lot of improvement but I feel like I can get my point across. That has been basically what we have been doing this whole week. Practicing the first lesson in Japanese. In the beginning of the week I was getting a little frustrated because my companion would never let me talk during the lesson. One time when we were teaching I was frustrated and couldn't teach with the spirit. Afterward I told him my concerns and I feel like it has improved. I feel like he always wants to talk haha. When I taught my first lesson in Japanese I was really nervous. I then realized who cares if I mess up. I feel like this has helped a lot during teaching the lessons. Even if I don't make sense haha. After I was done with lesson it was the coolest because I realized that I just taught a lesson in Japanese!!! I am excited to keep improving every week.
WE had our weekly fireside on Tuesday night. I was really tired and it was hard for me to concentrate during this talk. Afterward we had our district testimony meeting about the talk. I was worried because I didn't feel like I got that much out of it. When I bore my test6imony the spirit was so strong. I shared the poem that grandma Morris sent me. You should get it from her and read it. I was wondering why did I feel the spirit like that. I didn't focus on the talk and I still got something out of it. I guess the spirit works in mysterious ways. What I got out of it is that even when I am tired I still need to focus and listen to everything. I feel like our district is becoming really close. We have district prayer every night. It has been weird not being the district leader anymore. I have had more time to study and do other things. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to serve as the district leader.
This last Wednesday we got the new elders going to Japan. I was really excited because that meant that I was going to get two new roommates. It so happens that there were short two missionaries. I didn't new roommates after all. IT alright though because that means I get my own drawers and bed haha. A lot of the new missionaries seemed really down the first couple of days. I tried to encourage them and tell that everything is going to be alright. The most excited part about the new missionaries coming means that I only have five more weeks until I leave. I am really excited to get out of here and eat real food haha. Speaking of that I went to the temple this morning and ate at the cafeteria after. It was the first time that I felt like I was eating real food in over 2 months. I basically was crying when I was eating it haha.
Because most of the missions are getting new mission presidents supposedly the first presidency is coming this month. Every Sunday and Tuesday night we are waiting for an apostle or the President Monson. I just hope that we don't get disappointed haha. It is going to be cool though because right when I get into my mission my mission president does also. I will be able to come in with him and leave when he is still the president.
I am loving every second of the MTC and I grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord. Thank you for praying and helping me through the hard times. I love you all!!!!!!!
Your missionary Elder Maughan
This past week has been really good. I feel a lot more comfortable with teaching the lessons in Japanese. There is still a lot of improvement but I feel like I can get my point across. That has been basically what we have been doing this whole week. Practicing the first lesson in Japanese. In the beginning of the week I was getting a little frustrated because my companion would never let me talk during the lesson. One time when we were teaching I was frustrated and couldn't teach with the spirit. Afterward I told him my concerns and I feel like it has improved. I feel like he always wants to talk haha. When I taught my first lesson in Japanese I was really nervous. I then realized who cares if I mess up. I feel like this has helped a lot during teaching the lessons. Even if I don't make sense haha. After I was done with lesson it was the coolest because I realized that I just taught a lesson in Japanese!!! I am excited to keep improving every week.
WE had our weekly fireside on Tuesday night. I was really tired and it was hard for me to concentrate during this talk. Afterward we had our district testimony meeting about the talk. I was worried because I didn't feel like I got that much out of it. When I bore my test6imony the spirit was so strong. I shared the poem that grandma Morris sent me. You should get it from her and read it. I was wondering why did I feel the spirit like that. I didn't focus on the talk and I still got something out of it. I guess the spirit works in mysterious ways. What I got out of it is that even when I am tired I still need to focus and listen to everything. I feel like our district is becoming really close. We have district prayer every night. It has been weird not being the district leader anymore. I have had more time to study and do other things. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to serve as the district leader.
This last Wednesday we got the new elders going to Japan. I was really excited because that meant that I was going to get two new roommates. It so happens that there were short two missionaries. I didn't new roommates after all. IT alright though because that means I get my own drawers and bed haha. A lot of the new missionaries seemed really down the first couple of days. I tried to encourage them and tell that everything is going to be alright. The most excited part about the new missionaries coming means that I only have five more weeks until I leave. I am really excited to get out of here and eat real food haha. Speaking of that I went to the temple this morning and ate at the cafeteria after. It was the first time that I felt like I was eating real food in over 2 months. I basically was crying when I was eating it haha.
Because most of the missions are getting new mission presidents supposedly the first presidency is coming this month. Every Sunday and Tuesday night we are waiting for an apostle or the President Monson. I just hope that we don't get disappointed haha. It is going to be cool though because right when I get into my mission my mission president does also. I will be able to come in with him and leave when he is still the president.
I am loving every second of the MTC and I grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord. Thank you for praying and helping me through the hard times. I love you all!!!!!!!
Your missionary Elder Maughan
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Week 5: May 27
Dear Family,
How is everyone doing? I was happy to hear about all the things that are going on at home!!! It seems like we are all busy in different ways. I am grateful for all your support and love. Please tell the Maughan family hello from me on Monday. I am so grateful that I have such a good family. Dad told me that his guy (Scotty) won American Idol. I am sure the whole family was excited about this Ha Ha!!
Kelsie - good job on being a crazy good dancer!!!! I’m pretty sure you could make anything that you wanted. Also, it sounds like Mom is having fun in Park City!!! You need to make sure to go on the Alpine slide for me!!! I hope all is well and keep telling me how everything is going. I hope you had an awesome birthday with a lot fun.
This week has been hard exactly how I expected it would be. Tomorrow, I am teaching a lesson in Japanese for the first time. I feel pretty good about it. This week has been really busy with a lot of work. I am pretty sure some on some of the days that I was so tired because of all things our teachers crammed into my head. The good news is that I can only improve from here. On Tuesday, we had Elder Russell Nelson speak to us in our fireside. He is the third apostle that I have had the opportunity to listen to in the MTC. I have six more weeks so I am hoping for a few more as the inspire me.
Skylar Schone entered the MTC this week. It was good to see him and how excited he is to serve. The new elders for our zone are coming in on Wednesday. I am hoping for cool roommates. The thing that I am most excited about is they will be speaking English. I feel like I have improved in my listening skills with my companion. It has helped as with the language. I love being a Japanese Elder!!! Whenever someone asks me where I am going I say Japan. The responses I receive back are always priceless. For example, “I am so glad I do not have to learn Japanese”, or “Wow! Good luck” and many more. I still can't believe that I am learning Japanese. It is the hardest thing that I have ever done, but, I am glad that I am doing it.
I am feeling bloated with all of this food - ha! ha! They feed us really well but after a while it is too much. One of the highlights of the week is playing soccer on the field. I enjoy this because I get to out of the dorm. One of my hardest challenges is sitting in a desk for over 10 hours. I am excited to start learning more about the language. I feel like I have learned so much in these 6 weeks. I also have 6 more weeks to go to learn as much as I can. I try to read the Book of Mormon I Japanese. It is really difficult!!! I can say most of the characters, but it is hard to find which character goes to which word. A Book of Mormon written in Japanese is read right to left and top to down. It is really confusing in the beginning.
I am grateful for all the prayers and support. I feel that it did help me this past week. Keep doing it and I will be able to get through it. I am grateful to be a missionary and get to serve the Lord. I am also grateful for my family and everything that you do for me. You guys help me be motivated in the work.
Love you all
Elder Maughan
How is everyone doing? I was happy to hear about all the things that are going on at home!!! It seems like we are all busy in different ways. I am grateful for all your support and love. Please tell the Maughan family hello from me on Monday. I am so grateful that I have such a good family. Dad told me that his guy (Scotty) won American Idol. I am sure the whole family was excited about this Ha Ha!!
Kelsie - good job on being a crazy good dancer!!!! I’m pretty sure you could make anything that you wanted. Also, it sounds like Mom is having fun in Park City!!! You need to make sure to go on the Alpine slide for me!!! I hope all is well and keep telling me how everything is going. I hope you had an awesome birthday with a lot fun.
This week has been hard exactly how I expected it would be. Tomorrow, I am teaching a lesson in Japanese for the first time. I feel pretty good about it. This week has been really busy with a lot of work. I am pretty sure some on some of the days that I was so tired because of all things our teachers crammed into my head. The good news is that I can only improve from here. On Tuesday, we had Elder Russell Nelson speak to us in our fireside. He is the third apostle that I have had the opportunity to listen to in the MTC. I have six more weeks so I am hoping for a few more as the inspire me.
Skylar Schone entered the MTC this week. It was good to see him and how excited he is to serve. The new elders for our zone are coming in on Wednesday. I am hoping for cool roommates. The thing that I am most excited about is they will be speaking English. I feel like I have improved in my listening skills with my companion. It has helped as with the language. I love being a Japanese Elder!!! Whenever someone asks me where I am going I say Japan. The responses I receive back are always priceless. For example, “I am so glad I do not have to learn Japanese”, or “Wow! Good luck” and many more. I still can't believe that I am learning Japanese. It is the hardest thing that I have ever done, but, I am glad that I am doing it.
I am feeling bloated with all of this food - ha! ha! They feed us really well but after a while it is too much. One of the highlights of the week is playing soccer on the field. I enjoy this because I get to out of the dorm. One of my hardest challenges is sitting in a desk for over 10 hours. I am excited to start learning more about the language. I feel like I have learned so much in these 6 weeks. I also have 6 more weeks to go to learn as much as I can. I try to read the Book of Mormon I Japanese. It is really difficult!!! I can say most of the characters, but it is hard to find which character goes to which word. A Book of Mormon written in Japanese is read right to left and top to down. It is really confusing in the beginning.
I am grateful for all the prayers and support. I feel that it did help me this past week. Keep doing it and I will be able to get through it. I am grateful to be a missionary and get to serve the Lord. I am also grateful for my family and everything that you do for me. You guys help me be motivated in the work.
Love you all
Elder Maughan
Monday, May 23, 2011
Week 4: May 20th. ONE MONTH! (not that I'm counting...)
Hello Fmily!!! Mom I wanted to wish you a happy birthday today!!! I am sending you something but I am worried that it wont make it you on time. I hope you have a great birthday!!! Make sure you listen to the Beatles Birthday song for me. I hope you get an awesome breakfast in bed and with terrible singing haha.
How is the rest of my family doing? I hope everyone is doing well and successful in everything they do. I am sure that Kelsie is excited that school is winding down. I hope everyone is loving this rainy season haha. That is funny that Mandie kinda of saw me walking at the light. I always look for Scott and Nikki and Mandie. I feel like they live so close that I could see them really easy. Ill keep my eyes out haha.
Mom wanted to tell you guys how my schedule is. My schedule usually depends on the day. The longest and hardest days are Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. On these days we have 6 hours of class, 2 hours of language study, and 1 hour and 30 minutes of personal study. I also have 45 minutes of gym everyday but Friday and Sunday. Tuesday and Sundays we have firesides at night. The firesides and the temple are the highlights of my week. Also on Thursday we have service for 2 hours. Sunday is a really relaxed day. WE study a lot and go to sacrament, priesthood, temple walk, and fireside. That is usually my schedule every week. The hardest part for me to adjust was sitting around in the classroom for 11 hours +. I feel like I am getting used to it.
This week has been good once again. Like I say the days go so slow but the weeks go by so fast. It doesn't really make sense but oh well. I had a really spirtual experience this last week. It was during personal study and I was impressed to read 3 Nephi 11. While I was reading it I just broke down haha. I think my district thought that I was going to die. Reasons like that is why I go on a mission. Sometimes the days are really hard and disappointing but then other days I am on of the world. This next week we are going to start teaching the lessons in Japanese. I am excited about this but also nervous. All of the older elders tell me that the first week of teaching is always the hardest. So everyone should pray that I can get through this next week. Although it is going to be hard I can't wait to start teaching. Good news my companion still doesn't speak English to me haha. I think he is going to get interviewed by our branch president about this. The sempei are leaving to japan on Monday. It is going to be sad because I have become such good friends with them. We will have 1 week to our self until the new missionaries come in. That means that I am going to be the sempei. This kinda worries me because I feel like I don't know that much haha. I am excited because when the new elders come in I will be half way done in the MTC. I am so excited to go Japan and to start my adventure. I know I will be nervous but I still have a long way until that. I am trying to speak Japanese as much as possible. The challenge is changing the gospel vocab to all all day vocab. The only way that I can get better is by practicing and speaking the language. This is my last week being the district leader also. They switch half way in. It will be nice to have more time to study and do a lot more things. Although I make a lot of mistakes speaking this language I will only improve by speaking it. I am trying my best!!!! Thank you for all of your support and love!!!
I love you and have a good week
Matt
How is the rest of my family doing? I hope everyone is doing well and successful in everything they do. I am sure that Kelsie is excited that school is winding down. I hope everyone is loving this rainy season haha. That is funny that Mandie kinda of saw me walking at the light. I always look for Scott and Nikki and Mandie. I feel like they live so close that I could see them really easy. Ill keep my eyes out haha.
Mom wanted to tell you guys how my schedule is. My schedule usually depends on the day. The longest and hardest days are Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. On these days we have 6 hours of class, 2 hours of language study, and 1 hour and 30 minutes of personal study. I also have 45 minutes of gym everyday but Friday and Sunday. Tuesday and Sundays we have firesides at night. The firesides and the temple are the highlights of my week. Also on Thursday we have service for 2 hours. Sunday is a really relaxed day. WE study a lot and go to sacrament, priesthood, temple walk, and fireside. That is usually my schedule every week. The hardest part for me to adjust was sitting around in the classroom for 11 hours +. I feel like I am getting used to it.
This week has been good once again. Like I say the days go so slow but the weeks go by so fast. It doesn't really make sense but oh well. I had a really spirtual experience this last week. It was during personal study and I was impressed to read 3 Nephi 11. While I was reading it I just broke down haha. I think my district thought that I was going to die. Reasons like that is why I go on a mission. Sometimes the days are really hard and disappointing but then other days I am on of the world. This next week we are going to start teaching the lessons in Japanese. I am excited about this but also nervous. All of the older elders tell me that the first week of teaching is always the hardest. So everyone should pray that I can get through this next week. Although it is going to be hard I can't wait to start teaching. Good news my companion still doesn't speak English to me haha. I think he is going to get interviewed by our branch president about this. The sempei are leaving to japan on Monday. It is going to be sad because I have become such good friends with them. We will have 1 week to our self until the new missionaries come in. That means that I am going to be the sempei. This kinda worries me because I feel like I don't know that much haha. I am excited because when the new elders come in I will be half way done in the MTC. I am so excited to go Japan and to start my adventure. I know I will be nervous but I still have a long way until that. I am trying to speak Japanese as much as possible. The challenge is changing the gospel vocab to all all day vocab. The only way that I can get better is by practicing and speaking the language. This is my last week being the district leader also. They switch half way in. It will be nice to have more time to study and do a lot more things. Although I make a lot of mistakes speaking this language I will only improve by speaking it. I am trying my best!!!! Thank you for all of your support and love!!!
I love you and have a good week
Matt
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Week 3: May 13
Hey family how is everyone doing? Thank you everyone for the support and the letters. MTC life is a lot easier when I get away from all of the work for a minute. Thanks everyone for the packages, news from the worlds, and everything else. I am really grateful for all of you. Things are about the same here in The MTC. I am working as hard as I can trying to learn this language. I have about 500 words on my flashcards to memorize. Haha whenever I am walking or doing anything I am studying my flashcards. This week has been really good. It went by really fast and it seems like I was just emailing you yesterday. This past week we have Elder Neal Andersen come to our fireside. It was such a great talk the firesides are the highlights of the week for me. I have heard Elder Dallin H oaks also. I hope that I will hear from another Apostle because I am in here for so long.
Our district is trying to speak as much Japanese as we can. It is tough for me because I only know gospel related words right now. I am trying to get better so i can have a normal conversation without gospel related stuff. I feel that I am improving and that is all I need to be worried about. Tomorrow for our task we are going to have to talk to someone for 15 minutes straight. I feel like we will do will because I think we are prepared. Kyle Asay one of my good friends left to his mission this week. It was fun to see how excited he was to leave. I am pretty sure that I will be going crazy the night I leave to Japan. I feel better about my companion this week. I just realized that he is different than me and I am going to just deal with it. He still talks japanese to me but most of the time i have no idea what he is talking about haha.
I watched the Joseph Smith movie this past week in Japanese. I can say that I caught a couple words in the movie. They talk so fast haha. The coolest thing that I realized this week is the gospel is true wherever in the world. Especially in Japan, we have the Japanese missionaries here and it made me realize how true the church is. They can't understand anything anyone is saying. They only understand Japanese and when we try to speak Japanese they don't understand us. I memorized my missionaries purpose in Japanese this week. It took me a while but it made me feel good when I finished. The next thing that I am going to work on is the first vision in Japanese. I am excited to start teaching in Japanese. All the sempai(older missionaries) say the language starts to make since more when you start teaching the lessons. I think in two weeks we start teaching in Japanese. I played soccer twice this week on the giant field. Scott you would be proud I scored twice in both days. It was funny because a lot of them are soccer players and somehow I made the two luckiest goals of my life.
I think I have already said this but the days seem so long sometimes but the weeks go by fast. Our district seems to be doing really good. We are all improving and try to be better everyday. Oh yeah mom I guess you tried to send me taco bell haha. When I received the package there was a note inside of it saying your fast food goods couldn't be delivered to you. It later said that it was thrown away or disposed of. I am pretty sure The MTC workers had a pretty good lunch haha. My district thought that was really funny when I read it. Thanks for trying it was great. Everyone needs to tell me whats going on in their lives. Even if it is boring I will read it for sure. My time is up and I hope everyone is doing great!!!!!
Love, Matt
Our district is trying to speak as much Japanese as we can. It is tough for me because I only know gospel related words right now. I am trying to get better so i can have a normal conversation without gospel related stuff. I feel that I am improving and that is all I need to be worried about. Tomorrow for our task we are going to have to talk to someone for 15 minutes straight. I feel like we will do will because I think we are prepared. Kyle Asay one of my good friends left to his mission this week. It was fun to see how excited he was to leave. I am pretty sure that I will be going crazy the night I leave to Japan. I feel better about my companion this week. I just realized that he is different than me and I am going to just deal with it. He still talks japanese to me but most of the time i have no idea what he is talking about haha.
I watched the Joseph Smith movie this past week in Japanese. I can say that I caught a couple words in the movie. They talk so fast haha. The coolest thing that I realized this week is the gospel is true wherever in the world. Especially in Japan, we have the Japanese missionaries here and it made me realize how true the church is. They can't understand anything anyone is saying. They only understand Japanese and when we try to speak Japanese they don't understand us. I memorized my missionaries purpose in Japanese this week. It took me a while but it made me feel good when I finished. The next thing that I am going to work on is the first vision in Japanese. I am excited to start teaching in Japanese. All the sempai(older missionaries) say the language starts to make since more when you start teaching the lessons. I think in two weeks we start teaching in Japanese. I played soccer twice this week on the giant field. Scott you would be proud I scored twice in both days. It was funny because a lot of them are soccer players and somehow I made the two luckiest goals of my life.
I think I have already said this but the days seem so long sometimes but the weeks go by fast. Our district seems to be doing really good. We are all improving and try to be better everyday. Oh yeah mom I guess you tried to send me taco bell haha. When I received the package there was a note inside of it saying your fast food goods couldn't be delivered to you. It later said that it was thrown away or disposed of. I am pretty sure The MTC workers had a pretty good lunch haha. My district thought that was really funny when I read it. Thanks for trying it was great. Everyone needs to tell me whats going on in their lives. Even if it is boring I will read it for sure. My time is up and I hope everyone is doing great!!!!!
Love, Matt
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Week 2 May 6: Another week another dollar
Hello family!! MOm happy mother's day this Sunday!!! I wish I could have breakfast in bed instead I just have the MTC food haha. It was good for the first week but I think I could use Taco Bell now!! Mom I hope you have a great mother's day!!! Let it be a day a relaxation and bossing people around haha. The best part about mother's day is when we all go sing to you to early in the morning. Especially Dad's singing skills I think he has been watching American Idol too much. Anyways I hope you have a good day becasue you deserve it. You mean everything to me and I Love YOu!!! Thank you once again for all the support that you are giving me. I have food coming out my eye balls right now haha. I think I will be throwing a killer party with all my food soon. Thanks for giving me tips and encouragement because sometimes I need it. Also thanks DAd for the updates it is a good relief at the end of the day. Thanks Kelsie for writing I forgive you for not writing me last week haha.
This week has gone slow and fast at the same time. Sometimes the days seem so long but then I realize that the week goes fast. I have been working hard and still trying to find the best way to study. Scott if you have any advice on study tips on how you learned Portugese that would be great. We tried to do an English fast yesterday and only speaking Japanese. That basically meant that I was quiet most of the time haha. My companion is really good at it though. I think he decided to only speak Japanese here on out. Whenever I ask him a question he always responds in Japanese. It gets frustrating sometimes when he won't tell me anything in English. I know it will help but our teacher didn't really recommend to do that utni week 8,9. I am trying my best and I am realizing that I am learning Japanese. One of the hardest languages for an English person to learn. I am having fun at the same time.
We had a missionary in my districrt that was really struggling. We would try to help the best that we can but it didn't really help. He went home this week and it was really to see him go. I can't even imagine quitting and going home. No matter how hard it will get I could never do that. When we all said goodbye to him he said the only reason that he stayed as long as he did was because our district. That made me feel pretty good. I just feel that he wasn't ready to serve a mission. The Japanese elders came this week too!! They are such nice people and really generous. When they saw me wearing my Suzuki Ichiro jersey they loved me. They don't speak any English and I only speak Japanese Gospel terms right now haah. It is still fun to try to communicate with them. There was a Korean elder that was with the Japanese elders. HIs japanese wasn't that good so our branch presidency put him in our district!!! He doesn't know English and doesn't know Japanese so I count blessings for sure. The more I learn about the Japanese I am more excited to get there. It has only been two week but I can't wait to get out there. I got to play on the field this week and we played kickball. It reminded me of the good ol elementary days. I think anything could be competetive with alot of missionaries. My testimony is growing evrday and I loving serving the lord. I love you all I hipe you have a good week!!!!
Love Matt!!!!!
This week has gone slow and fast at the same time. Sometimes the days seem so long but then I realize that the week goes fast. I have been working hard and still trying to find the best way to study. Scott if you have any advice on study tips on how you learned Portugese that would be great. We tried to do an English fast yesterday and only speaking Japanese. That basically meant that I was quiet most of the time haha. My companion is really good at it though. I think he decided to only speak Japanese here on out. Whenever I ask him a question he always responds in Japanese. It gets frustrating sometimes when he won't tell me anything in English. I know it will help but our teacher didn't really recommend to do that utni week 8,9. I am trying my best and I am realizing that I am learning Japanese. One of the hardest languages for an English person to learn. I am having fun at the same time.
We had a missionary in my districrt that was really struggling. We would try to help the best that we can but it didn't really help. He went home this week and it was really to see him go. I can't even imagine quitting and going home. No matter how hard it will get I could never do that. When we all said goodbye to him he said the only reason that he stayed as long as he did was because our district. That made me feel pretty good. I just feel that he wasn't ready to serve a mission. The Japanese elders came this week too!! They are such nice people and really generous. When they saw me wearing my Suzuki Ichiro jersey they loved me. They don't speak any English and I only speak Japanese Gospel terms right now haah. It is still fun to try to communicate with them. There was a Korean elder that was with the Japanese elders. HIs japanese wasn't that good so our branch presidency put him in our district!!! He doesn't know English and doesn't know Japanese so I count blessings for sure. The more I learn about the Japanese I am more excited to get there. It has only been two week but I can't wait to get out there. I got to play on the field this week and we played kickball. It reminded me of the good ol elementary days. I think anything could be competetive with alot of missionaries. My testimony is growing evrday and I loving serving the lord. I love you all I hipe you have a good week!!!!
Love Matt!!!!!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Week 1 April 29: OB la Di ob la da life goes on yeah!!!!
What is up my kazoku (family). I hope all is well in Lindon and in Provo. It is funny how when I go on my temple walks I can see Scott and Nikki's apartment. I told my district that I live so close to the MTC and that my brother lives two minutes away haha. Today is my first P day and I enjoying the break that I have. The stress throughout the weeks is more than I have ever experienced before. As I told you guys before I was called to be the district leader. I was shocked becasue I am one of the ones struggling in Japanese the most. I think this is becasue about 75 % of the elders in our district has studied Japanese before they got here. Probably the best elder speaking Japanese is my companion Elder Davis. He is a really cool guy and you always wants to work hard haha. I want to work hard of coursse but I think he over worked me in the first couple days haha. I need to learn to settle my differences with me and him and I will be fine.
I wanted thank all of you for writing and sending me packages!!! My roommates were a little jealous with all of the stuff that I got. I am sharing all the stuff with them becasue there is no way I could eat all of that haha. Thank Bonnie for me for sending the cookies they were delicious. Scott and Nikki I got your letter that you left in my bag. I didn't find it until I got a letter from you guys saying where you put it haha. Mom and Dad I am grateful for your comfort in this week I needed it!! This week we have been learning and teaching the first discussion of Preach my gospel. It has been great for me to dig deeper into this lesson and find the things that are really important. In language study we have been going over a lot of things. I can now say that I can say a prayer and bear a simple testimony in Japanese. We have also learned contactiong this week. This is just an example Watashitachi wa matijitsu seito Iesu Kirisuto Kyokai no senkyoshi des. ( We ae missionaries from the Church og Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints). I have learned so much in this first week of the MTC. So much more than that Japanese for Dummies for book. (that was useful haha). My favorite word that I have learned in Japanese is tonikaku which means anyway!!! When ever I am joking around and then want to switch back to missionary things I say TONIKAKU!!!!!!!! We have even got our sensei's to say it.
We have gym everyday and of course I make it rain on the basketball court haha. They say that gym is the most used gym in the entire world. I think I am going to start doing P90X again so I dont lazy and fat. If that is possible. Elder Davis and I room with sempeis which are older missionaries that are about to go into the field. They are really funny and I try to help us as much as possible. I know quite a people hear in the MTC. Friends that I went to Pleasant Grove and BYU Idaho. Even more are coming in this week. The food is really good but I feel that I getting sick of it already. SO I can't even imagine how it is going to be in 11 weeks. I was surprised when they said that my departure date was on JULY 4 becasue I thought I would be leaving around July 20th. I am so excited to go to Japan and start my crazy adventure. The only little difficulty is learning Japanese haha. Our main sensei got married this week so we have had subs the whole week. I think there is like 15 teachers and we have had 10 of them. It has been a little difficult with all of the teachers haha. I want all you to know that I am grateful to be a missionary. I challenge all of you to live like a missionary even when your not. Read the scriptures daily, pray, and live gospel of Christ. I know as we do this we will be blessed. I am sorry if any of this didn't make sense I had to type so fast.
I love you all!!!!! Matt the chosen one Maughan Talk to you soon
I wanted thank all of you for writing and sending me packages!!! My roommates were a little jealous with all of the stuff that I got. I am sharing all the stuff with them becasue there is no way I could eat all of that haha. Thank Bonnie for me for sending the cookies they were delicious. Scott and Nikki I got your letter that you left in my bag. I didn't find it until I got a letter from you guys saying where you put it haha. Mom and Dad I am grateful for your comfort in this week I needed it!! This week we have been learning and teaching the first discussion of Preach my gospel. It has been great for me to dig deeper into this lesson and find the things that are really important. In language study we have been going over a lot of things. I can now say that I can say a prayer and bear a simple testimony in Japanese. We have also learned contactiong this week. This is just an example Watashitachi wa matijitsu seito Iesu Kirisuto Kyokai no senkyoshi des. ( We ae missionaries from the Church og Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints). I have learned so much in this first week of the MTC. So much more than that Japanese for Dummies for book. (that was useful haha). My favorite word that I have learned in Japanese is tonikaku which means anyway!!! When ever I am joking around and then want to switch back to missionary things I say TONIKAKU!!!!!!!! We have even got our sensei's to say it.
We have gym everyday and of course I make it rain on the basketball court haha. They say that gym is the most used gym in the entire world. I think I am going to start doing P90X again so I dont lazy and fat. If that is possible. Elder Davis and I room with sempeis which are older missionaries that are about to go into the field. They are really funny and I try to help us as much as possible. I know quite a people hear in the MTC. Friends that I went to Pleasant Grove and BYU Idaho. Even more are coming in this week. The food is really good but I feel that I getting sick of it already. SO I can't even imagine how it is going to be in 11 weeks. I was surprised when they said that my departure date was on JULY 4 becasue I thought I would be leaving around July 20th. I am so excited to go to Japan and start my crazy adventure. The only little difficulty is learning Japanese haha. Our main sensei got married this week so we have had subs the whole week. I think there is like 15 teachers and we have had 10 of them. It has been a little difficult with all of the teachers haha. I want all you to know that I am grateful to be a missionary. I challenge all of you to live like a missionary even when your not. Read the scriptures daily, pray, and live gospel of Christ. I know as we do this we will be blessed. I am sorry if any of this didn't make sense I had to type so fast.
I love you all!!!!! Matt the chosen one Maughan Talk to you soon
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