Good Wishes from Yours Truly in Motsue, Japan!

こんばんわかぞく (Konbanwa Kazoku)! [Good Evening, Family!]

By the time you read this email I will be on the way to the bus station. We are traveling to Trainer Trainee Training in Kobe which is a 4+ hour bus ride so we have to leave on the morning bus. The next bus would get us to Kobe at 9:25 and that is too late. It's not the end of the world but it still makes me sad that we won't be able to chat.

This past week has been a good week. It also went by really fast! We are coming up on transfer time. I'm pretty sure they will keep us both in Motsue but there is always that small chance XD [Big Smiley Face] We'll see.

But yeah, things have been good here. The weather has turned bitterly cold here with lots of rain. Not snow. Rain....Why. I've started using the thermals you gave me and they have definitely been helping. The gloves are great too! We have a box of heat patches that we have been sticking to our feet because yeah, just, yeah. Apparently there are a few cases of frostbite in the mission. I refuse to get frostbite! And we aren't even the coldest mission. That title belongs to the Sapporo mission. Every member we have visited this week has given us hot chocolate. I love it! There have been times where it is sunnier, but those times haven't lasted long.

We had District Meeting this past Friday. We talked about making Vision+Action Plans for each of our areas. This is something Tsuchia Chōrō [Elder Tsuchia] and I did on Thursday. We will present our plan to the bishopric and ward mission leader on Sunday. Hopefully this will help get the ward missionary ball rolling.

Then we had companion exchanges. So after District Meeting and lunch we separated into exchanged companion ships. Tsuchia Chōrō wanted me to lead the exchange so I did my best to think about what to do. When we planned we decided to visit a member, a less-active member, and an investigator. We ended up not being able to meet with the investigator, Yamasaki-San (bicycle shop man), because he was out of town on business. But on our way to visit him we ran into a young man on the street. Now, this was an interesting visit!

So, he has met with the missionaries before. Last year he said. Here is the weird part: he had just Skyped with a former missionary THE DAY BEFORE. The former missionary invited the young man to begin reading the Book of Mormon and he accepted. He started reading the Book of Mormon THAT DAY. He said it was a bit difficult though. The former missionary said he would help him though. We got his number, told him to keep reading, and to come to game night on Saturday. So we contacted him on Saturday telling him when and where.

We had another cool experience later on. We had just finished tracting a large apartment building and started walking out to the Main Street. A boy was walking our way so of course we stopped to talk with him. We told him who we were and what we were doing. We gave him an English class flyer (chidashi) and invited him to come to class. As we were saying thank you and goodbye he said something I didn't quite catch. But he and Mashado Chōrō talked. I kept listening. Then, I thought I heard him say, "I think I want to learn more about Jesus Christ." I was like, what!? So I clarified, "You think you want to learn more about Jesus Christ?" He said yes. I was freaking out in my mind. The heck is happening. He actually wants to learn about Christ?! No way!! So we gave him our number and told us to please call him. As we walked away we turned to look where he was going, and, lo and behold, he was walking of the building we were just at! Sugoy! [Awesome!] We will definitely visit him again!

So yeah, exchanges were good! They left Saturday morning to return to their area. After study on Saturday we visited the Motsumoto family. The father is the famous computer programmer. He showed us a book he wrote, he's written a few. I thought of you Dad, so I told them about how you are writing a finance textbook. They thought that was cool. After some dendo [missionary work] consisting of tracting and street contacting we went to the church for game night. We usually play ping pong or card games. We only had one brother come play with us. But it was great because he's a 'ninja'! XD

Sunday was good albeit rainy. And I mean rainy. After church we met with やまもと Kōdai for some mission prep. Then we did some 12 Weeks training after lunch. We then planned for our lesson with the Imaoka family. We had our lesson, and dinner as it turned out, and headed home. They sent us a ton of food so that was a little difficult to bike with in the rain, but we arrived home safely. We didn't really have anything to plan since today is really just travel. We will call some people after dinner in Kobe so that will be our dendo for the day.

Today, since we are traveling to Trainer Trainee Training in Kobe we don't really have time to shop or clean, let alone email. We just had time for a little personal study before leaving. This week is actually really busy! After Trainer Trainee Training on Tuesday we travel to Okayama for Elder Cho's mission tour which is held on Wednesday. Then, after the mission tour, we are going to Yonago to have companion exchanges with the Zone Leaders on Friday. Then we go back to Motsue on Saturday...I think XD

So that is what's up here. We are busy each day, some busier than others. We have fun, try hard, rely on the Lord, and keep on swimming XD Never give up, never surrender! We will see what happens with transfers if I go or stay. I'm betting I'll stay but here is always that chance. But I'm excited either way! Great things are afoot here in the Kobe Japan mission. I can feel it. I believe it. I think big things are soon to happen. And I know that your thoughts become your reality so keep them positive!

Tsuchia Chōrō and I have been doing fine. We are trying to love and support each other. We have shared goals and made plans together to achieve them. I don't expect us to become best buds by any means. But I know we are closer now than we were to start. And if we are united in the Gospel of Jesus Christ then we are good. He is gearing up for BYU-Idaho that starts on March 1st. There have been a couple of moments where he has had realizations of, "wow, I'm going back to school in a few weeks", or, "what, my mission is almost over? No!" XD

I've been feeling better. The homesickness has died down and I feel more comfortable with the people, food, and places. The language is still a struggle, but it's going to be that way for a while XD I really look forward to personal study every day. I always learn a lot and find strength from the sacred words. I finished the Book of Mormon last week so now I am in Doctrine&Covenants. I'm in Luke in the Bible. And I try to study from Preach My Gospel every morning.

Like I said before the weather is cold now, but I'm really looking forward to spring and summer in Japan. The warmer weather and longer days are going to be great! But I'm enjoying the weather now because it oftentimes reminds me of Oregon XD I'm happy when it rains.

The two of us usually switch off cooking and washing dishes. I have yet to try my hand at a recipe from the manga cookbook you sent me, but I will soon and I'll let you know how it turns out. We have made curry, pasta, noodles, other rice dishes, stews, and soups. I try to eat a lot of vegetables every day along with some fruits. Peppers, snap peas, cherry tomatoes, ooh yeah! Usually I will get mikans (cuties) or bananas for fruit. I still have peanut butter toast for breakfast most days #elderpeacockbreakfast XD The only candy I eat is the stuff you guys, and other family members, send me. By the way, I still haven't touched the Christmas candy you sent me because that is going to be needed for special days (or dire circumstances).

I think about you all every day. The examples you have all been for me and the strength you have all given me. I have great hope for the future because of the people you will become and the things you will do. And oh the places you will go. I have seen the hand of the Lord taking care of me and you. And I know you have too. Please don't stop growing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You are all beautiful people and you are all great friends. But most importantly, you are my eternal family. And I am so glad you are.

Last week I asked you to bring the dendo Fire to Turner Ward by working with the missionaries and you guys accepted. This week I would like to give a similar commitment only more specific. I want you all to read the "Importance of Members" section in chapter nine of Preach My Gospel. I want you to look at the red box at the end of the section. Invite the missionaries over for dinner. Then after they give their lesson ask them for their Vision+Action Plan, and I mean one they have written up on paper. If they don't have one encourage them to make one to give to the bishopric, ward mission leader, and you. Then ask them what you can do to help them achieve their vision while referencing this section in PMG. Will you do this this week?

God bless you, my dear family!

たくさんあい,
Peacock Chōrō

P.S.
I love you

P.P.S.
For all of you people reading this who aren't Latter-day Saints there is an app called Gospel Library. That is the Church's official application for devices that contains all of the literature we study in the Church. In case you were curious check it out. It's free so you don't need to worry about in-app purchases because there are none.

P.P.P.S.
The Lord has been so good to us and he will never stop being good to us.

Below are some pictures of a recent visit to the Motsue Castle:

A tree!

Some woodwork in the Motsue Castle

McDonalds!

Paper Scrolls!!!

Some Pots n stuff

Pretty Dendo!

Some creepy masks.

The Aeon Mall in Motsue. Floor one of three.

Panoramic View from taken from the top of Motsue Castle!

Wet Bike Dendo!

Assorted Stuff

This is what "XD" means in Elder Peacock's emails. 

Big Arrows

Freaking all the helmets!

Can you find the Toothless?

Nearly One Full Month in Japan!!

As of tomorrow I will have been in Japan for 4 whole weeks! An entire month in the field! It's crazy to think that means I have been on my mission for 3 months. The time flew in the MTC, and, looking back, it sure has flown here.

After emailing you guys last week we went to go see Motsue Castle. However, once we got there the park was closed. So, no pictures to show you of the castle this week. But after emailing we are going to see it before they close so you should get photos next week. The rest of Monday was pretty normal. Visiting members, less-actives, and tracting.

The rest of Wednesday was pretty normal dendo.

Thursday was a fun day because we traveled to Zone Training Meeting. After a couple of hours of visiting members we caught the 3:55 bus to Okayama. I really enjoy this bus ride because our district all rides together. We got to the Okayama elders apartment at about 7:30. After getting dinner (and breakfast for the following morning) we ate and talked for the rest of the night. This is probably my favorite part of Zone Training Meeting. The next day was filled with news.

Changes to transfers and companionship exchanges had been made. For transfers we would now be traveling alone. The head of the church has deemed public transportation safe enough that traveling alone is no longer considered traveling "alone". So yeah, good luck when I go somewhere new XD And the change to companionship exchanges is that every elder in a district goes to the District Leader's area. And every District leader goes to the Zone Leader's area. And every Zone Leader goes to the Assistant to the President's area. So, there are only three areas in which a zone has exchanges. This means both companion ships are in the same area. This will make planning who to visit and what to do more of a challenge. But, the reason behind this is to make these areas more of an example for others to learn and apply new methods and techniques. I'm excited to see how these changes effect our areas. After we finished Zone Training Meeting we had lunch, weekly planning, companionship inventory, then caught the 5:00 bus home. We got back at 8:00, so once we got home we planned and hit the hay.

Saturday was a pretty normal day. We had a lesson with a member present, met with the bishop to talk about their ward mission plan, then met with a recent convert and progressing investigator. The investigator's name is Anzai-San. He is Christian, reading the Book of Mormon, and loves talking with us. We feel confident that he will accept baptism.

Sunday was good (as always). Even though I don't understand what is being said a lot of the time I still feel good. I enjoy being with the members and hearing them speak. We are having a mini Mission Prep class with Yamamoto Kyodai who is submitting his mission papers. We also had Ward Council today. Didn't understand anything at all. I was fighting my eyelids to keep from closing about halfway through XD  After lunch we visited less actives but weren't able to actually meet with any of them. We spent the last 40 minutes tracting. We met one young woman who was super receptive to our message so we will visit her again!

Today has been pretty good so far. We have done laundry, studied, cleaned a bit (we are slowly but surely making the apartment prettier). After email we are going to get haircuts, grocery shopping, visit Motsue Castle, and do a few other errands before we begin dendo tonight. The weather has been fine. I enjoy cloudy weather. There have been a few sunny mornings that have been great though. I'm really looking forward to the warmer weather here in Japan, wherever I am at when that happens.

Little piece of info about Japan. ALL of the sidewalks have a yellow stripe down the middle to split walking and biking sections of the sidewalk. I'll get a picture for next week. More bits of weird info next week so stay tuned! XD

Love,
Elder David Peacock

P.S.
I have tried nato, hard boiled eggs, and fish eggs. Good stuff XD

At the mini train stop after interviews with President Welch.

This is a decoration used during the New Years Days.

Individually wrapped corn on the cob.

Video on the train to Zone Training Meeting.

Zone Training Meeting

View after visiting a member.

Week 3 in the field (Japan)

わたしのかぞく (watashi no kazoku) (my family)!

This week was eventful and much smoother than last week. Still challenging, but not polarizing XD

So to start, I'll tell you that I had my first companion exchange this past Wednesday. Because Tsuchia Chōrō (Elder) is the District Leader he does companionship exchanges with every elder companionship in our district. We started with the elders in Izumo. Izumo is the area directly to the west of Motsue. We took the train at about 10:40 AM and got to Izumo around 11:30. We met the Izumo elders at the station and headed our separate ways. I stayed in Izumo with Winegar Chōrō (an Amerika jin), and Tsuchia Chōrō went back to Motsue with Mashado Chōrō. Mashado Chōrō is Brazilian, and apparently there are a lot of Brazilians in Izumo. But he was able to coordinate with some of his Brazilian investigators so that when the investigators went to the nearest Costco they picked up a couple of pizzas for us! So I got half of a Costco pizza to myself! Freaking yes my tummy was screaming with joy! It was amazing XD

After lunch we went out to dendo (missionary work). We were trying to find people to help, but instead we found so high school boys playing basketball. Winegar Chōrō turned to me and asked, "have you ever sport-dendoed before?" I told him I hadn't so we went over to them to ask if we could play. I think we played for about an hour when Winegar Chōrō called it quits. We hung out for another 30 minutes trying to dunk and shoot hoops from really far away. While we were doing that, Winegar Chōrō began talking with one of the boys. About how we are missionaries and what we do. The boy I was next to overheard this, turned to me, and asked if I was a church missionary. This began a conversation which led to me sharing a copy of the Book of Mormon which he accepted saying, "I will read". I was so happy and surprised at his acceptance! This testified to me that the Lord prepares people for us to teach. It almost seemed too easy XD Winegar Chōrō also gave a copy away. We invited all of them to Eikaiwa (English class), telling them that Winegar Chōrō would be there teaching. They really seemed to like that! Unfortunately I won't be there so that's sad for both parties.

After the sport dendo we biked over to the mall to pass out Eikaiwa flyers for about 45 minutes. All I was able to say was that the English class was free, it's fun, please come. I basically thrust out the flyer to them as they passed. Most of them were nice enough to take it XD

We then headed to the church to meet with an investigator who is an atheist. He is Japanese but speaks Portuguese very well, and English well enough that we taught the lesson in English. He was very respectful and willing to hear our message, but when we offered him a Book of Mormon he politely refused. Apparently he has refused three times now. But he still wants to meet so that's good. After that we went back to the Izumo apartment, which is nice by the way. You can tell it's new, and I really enjoyed it XD We then retired for the day.

The next morning we only had two hours of study before we had to go to the train station and go to Motsue. We got to Motsue around 11:30 and then switched. Tsuchia Chōrō and I had appointments for the rest of the day. First we met with the bishops family and had lunch. We had really good hot dog things, then played a matching card game, which they had me host. So I tried to read hiragana sentences for 30 minutes. Needless to say it was a struggle. I can read hiragana just fine. But reading sentences smoothly is still not a thing XD Then their six-year-old son read a story book with me. That was pretty great! Your right Dad, having the children teach you helps XD we then shared a message about how the gospel blesses families. Before we left we took pictures of us all together. After that we went to the Notsu family. Notsu Kyodai is the ward mission leader, he just got off his mission in Sapporo, Japan. The Notsu family is soooooooooooooo awesome, and nice,mane caring, and fun. Since that night was New Years Eve we basically ate and talked for a couple of hours. I played the same matching card game with their kids as well. Except the cards were Power Rangers themed. Except, it wasn't Power Rangers...well, it basically was. You could tell it was the same people that made them both. This show is called Ghostu. Just the Katakana way of saying ghost...I think XD

Anyway, after filling our tummies with tempura, chicken, raw fish, noodles, and ginger ale, we headed home. We were planning on sharing a message but my stomach was acting up a little so they gave me medicine and insisted I go home. They took our bikes in their truck and drove us home. Very sweet of them. We wished them Happy New Year before we left. Once home we planned and hit the hay.

The next morning we had district meeting. So we had a district meeting on the first day of the year because the rest of this month is full of events. More about that later. We talked about the importance of the Preach My Gospel, White Handbook, and Book of Mormon. And to ask inspired questions, listen, then teach to their needs. It was a good meeting and we all felt uplifted. We would have joined the rest of our district for district lunch at the mall had we not already had a meal planned with another family in the ward. We were picked up at the church by the father of the family. It took about 25 minutes to get to their apartment. We had a scrumptious lunch of sushi fixings so we could make it ourselves. But first we had these appetizers that came in at box. Honestly, I don't know what half the stuff I ate was but it was all good XD But the box was cool! There were three layers, so you would finish a tray/layer, then take it off to reveal another tray of appetizers! How cool is that! But yeah, the sushi was good. We then played catch with their ten-year-old son for a few minutes. The father then drove us to another family to have dinner with them. We drove with the second family (I am so bad with names right now, sorry) to the church building where we played ping-pong with them. We then met with a recent convert, Kou Kyodai, in the church building to teach about the temple. We then had dinner with the family and enjoyed their company. After dinner we went to the apartment, closed the day, and hit the sack.

On Saturday we met with two members and did some tracting. With each member I asked, "is there anyone else who you think could benefit from this message?" I will make it my practice to ask this after each lesson. I'm interested to see who we will teach as a result. We were not able to teach a message to anyone we met with tracting. It's discouraging at times when tracting doesn't reveal people who are prepared to hear the gospel. But I know that it helps. Although I also know there are better ways to find people. I want to develop these better ways so we can become more effective with out time and eventually make our resources work for us. This will make the work progress much, much faster than we could do by ourselves.

The Sabbath days are always good days. They help me recharge a little and feel rest. Kou Kyodai came to church which was great! It's something he has been struggling with because he is shy. Unfortunately he had to leave early. We were hoping he would stay the whole time so we could watch Meet the Mormons with him. We are trying to spend more time with him to develop a relationship with him. After church we went through our area book to see and clean our records. We are trying to contact as many of the contacts in the area book as possible. Updating the records is helping us do that. I hope we can uncover and recover some of those who are ready to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This lasted until about 4:30, at which time we bike over to the Notsu family to have dinner with them. We met with their family, Kuji Kyodai, and Yamamoto Kyodai who are both preparing to serve missions. And Yamamoto Kyodai brought his mission papers to start filling out that night. It was pretty awesome to see that! We are, played that matching card game again, and then talked with them about how we need to pray, study, and ponder about the Book of Mormon so we can receive greater knowledge. We then headed home to plan and go to sleep.

This morning we studied, cleaned (I look forward to cleaning ever Preparation Day because it makes me feel so much better), and are planning to shop and see the Motsue Castle later on today. Super excited for the castle! Definitely pictures to come :D I am also planning on writing my budget for my mission money. I am planning on needing to adjust it a few times before it's  set in stone but I'm excited to do that! But I have really been looking forward to emailing today. Being able to chat with you guys really helped me. I have felt strength from you, my wonderful family, and from Heavenly Father, and from my Savior Jesus Christ. I have felt the support this week. I feel stronger, although still aware of my feelings of homesickness. Please know that the homesickness is much better than last week. Last week was kind of a mess for me emotionally XD I am able to focus on missionary work and on study. Bubba and Gammies sent me words of encouragement that I have been able to think about that have helped me look forward with greater hope.

Dear family. I want you to know that this is the hardest thing I have ever done. Attending university was a stepping stone to this event. The strength of the beast is great. I can attest to that. And I'm only a few weeks into the field. But I am not worrying too much because I know Christ is here beside me. I know that you are here beside me. I still hold conversations with you, Mom and Dad, and what you would say to me. I also imagine talking with Bubba (Grandfather) and what he would say to me. And doing the same thing with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ really helps too. I am so thankful for you guys. To everyone who reads this email, I am thankful for you. I want emails from everyone! All of those who are apart of this mass email please send me a message because I want to hear from you! That would be awesome.

In closing I testify that Jesus is the Christ. That God is our Heavenly Father, and we are His children. The Book of Mormon is the word of God, like the Bible. And that the Bible and Book of Mormon work together to testify of Christ. If you haven't read the Book of Mormon...READ IT! I promise it will bless your lives! It most certainly has blessed mine.

Remember, you are a child of God.

あいしています!
Pikoku Chōrō

P.S. Below are videos of a young boy teaching David to read in Japanese and a time-lapse video of the first sunrise of the New Year. Enjoy! :)

Missionary Exchanges in Izumo

Izumo

Missionary bags/backpacks

I don't know if these statues are actually statues...or raccoons (if
you get the reference you are awesome! XD)