Wednesday September 21, 2016
My p-day in the MTC is every Wednesday so expect emails then. I can read emails any day but I can only reply on p-day. I will admit, the first week of The MTC was really really tough. It was incredibly frustrating trying to learn the language, and trying to adapt to my new, very scheduled lifestyle. Since Sunday, I've been able to settle in a little more though and come to terms with having to be patient with myself as I learn the language and further learn the Gospel. On our second day in the MTC, we received our first investigator, Ohira san, who we have been teaching in Japanese! The first lesson was a total bomb shell, but as we have learned to stop trying to rely on ourselves and our own teaching skill, and start relying on the Spirit to teach, we have seen much success in just these few days.
My companion is Jones Chōrō. We are not very much alike at all, but we work well together and generally keep each other in balance. Chab Chōrō is our district leader. He is a great guy and does a great job of taking care of our district. We have grown to be great friends. At the Tuesday night devotional we heard from Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the presidency of the seventy and his wife. She gave a particularly great talk. She talked about four things we can do to create more memories, moments, and miracles: 1. Look for the miracles every day 2. Trust in heaven 3. Be patient 4. Live with love. Her talk really inspired me to focus on losing myself and my worries and my troubles in the service and love of others. The spirit that is felt here is almost constant. Unlike anywhere else besides the temple. We get to go to the temple this afternoon, I am really looking forward to that! But because the spirit is always constant, we have to work hard to focus on it and make sure it doesn't start feel casual. We have to make sure to never forget the smell of roses just because we work in a flower shop. I was really home sick the first week and the emails I received brought tears to my eyes. But as I have focused on remembering that my time is now the Lord's time and it's not about me anymore, I have been able to start adapting and focus on the things I need to do to prepare myself to save the Nihonjin (Japanese people). There is a saying people use a lot around here and it goes "In the mission, a every day feels like a week and every week feels like a day". So far, I have found that to be true. As far as food goes in the MTC, they feed us pretty well, but I definitely miss Southern cooking! It's just not the same! Probably the biggest thing I miss besides home is music. The guys in my district and I love to sing all the time. It is great to distract our minds from the everyday stress and a great way to keep our spirits lifted. We sang a lot of Michael Jackson this morning! So far the mission has been by far the hardest thing I've ever done.
We have constant stress about communication and what to teach and we sit in a small box room with one window for 10 or more hours every day with the same 10 people, and I'm just not cut out for that much classroom time. I usually spend a great deal of study time pacing back and forth while reading because I have such a hard time being still, especially for that amount of time. Even with all of the struggles here, it has been a great experience. The culture is amazing. To constantly be with missionaries who are literally set apart from the rest of the world to be representatives of the Savior Jesus Christ is an experience like no other. In just one week, I have learned so much and felt so much love. Leaving the MTC in 8 weeks will be bittersweet. So far, I have been good on supplies, but if I ever realize I need something I will definitely let y'all know! Thank you for all your love and support! I pray every night that my family will be comforted! Just remember that my time is now the Lord's
time and even though 2 years is a big sacrifice, it is just a blink in the eternities. I have chosen to leave my family for 2 years so that the Nihonjin can be with theirs forever. With the Lord on my side, how can I fail? I love all the emails I have received and I love all my Kazoku (family)! Please continue to write me and keep me up to date! I miss you all so much and as we say in Nihongo (Japanese language) Ai shitte imasu (I love you)!
P.S. Pictures on the way next week. I took a few but lost them because I had to get an sd card. So I will take more this week and send them next week!
Sent from my iPad
[Note: Chōrō is the Japanese equivalent of the title "Elder". Sadler Chōrō = Elder Sadler.]
My p-day in the MTC is every Wednesday so expect emails then. I can read emails any day but I can only reply on p-day. I will admit, the first week of The MTC was really really tough. It was incredibly frustrating trying to learn the language, and trying to adapt to my new, very scheduled lifestyle. Since Sunday, I've been able to settle in a little more though and come to terms with having to be patient with myself as I learn the language and further learn the Gospel. On our second day in the MTC, we received our first investigator, Ohira san, who we have been teaching in Japanese! The first lesson was a total bomb shell, but as we have learned to stop trying to rely on ourselves and our own teaching skill, and start relying on the Spirit to teach, we have seen much success in just these few days.
My companion is Jones Chōrō. We are not very much alike at all, but we work well together and generally keep each other in balance. Chab Chōrō is our district leader. He is a great guy and does a great job of taking care of our district. We have grown to be great friends. At the Tuesday night devotional we heard from Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the presidency of the seventy and his wife. She gave a particularly great talk. She talked about four things we can do to create more memories, moments, and miracles: 1. Look for the miracles every day 2. Trust in heaven 3. Be patient 4. Live with love. Her talk really inspired me to focus on losing myself and my worries and my troubles in the service and love of others. The spirit that is felt here is almost constant. Unlike anywhere else besides the temple. We get to go to the temple this afternoon, I am really looking forward to that! But because the spirit is always constant, we have to work hard to focus on it and make sure it doesn't start feel casual. We have to make sure to never forget the smell of roses just because we work in a flower shop. I was really home sick the first week and the emails I received brought tears to my eyes. But as I have focused on remembering that my time is now the Lord's time and it's not about me anymore, I have been able to start adapting and focus on the things I need to do to prepare myself to save the Nihonjin (Japanese people). There is a saying people use a lot around here and it goes "In the mission, a every day feels like a week and every week feels like a day". So far, I have found that to be true. As far as food goes in the MTC, they feed us pretty well, but I definitely miss Southern cooking! It's just not the same! Probably the biggest thing I miss besides home is music. The guys in my district and I love to sing all the time. It is great to distract our minds from the everyday stress and a great way to keep our spirits lifted. We sang a lot of Michael Jackson this morning! So far the mission has been by far the hardest thing I've ever done.
We have constant stress about communication and what to teach and we sit in a small box room with one window for 10 or more hours every day with the same 10 people, and I'm just not cut out for that much classroom time. I usually spend a great deal of study time pacing back and forth while reading because I have such a hard time being still, especially for that amount of time. Even with all of the struggles here, it has been a great experience. The culture is amazing. To constantly be with missionaries who are literally set apart from the rest of the world to be representatives of the Savior Jesus Christ is an experience like no other. In just one week, I have learned so much and felt so much love. Leaving the MTC in 8 weeks will be bittersweet. So far, I have been good on supplies, but if I ever realize I need something I will definitely let y'all know! Thank you for all your love and support! I pray every night that my family will be comforted! Just remember that my time is now the Lord's
time and even though 2 years is a big sacrifice, it is just a blink in the eternities. I have chosen to leave my family for 2 years so that the Nihonjin can be with theirs forever. With the Lord on my side, how can I fail? I love all the emails I have received and I love all my Kazoku (family)! Please continue to write me and keep me up to date! I miss you all so much and as we say in Nihongo (Japanese language) Ai shitte imasu (I love you)!
P.S. Pictures on the way next week. I took a few but lost them because I had to get an sd card. So I will take more this week and send them next week!
Sent from my iPad
[Note: Chōrō is the Japanese equivalent of the title "Elder". Sadler Chōrō = Elder Sadler.]
