Konnichiwa Watashino kazoku

Alright!!!! What to talk about..? I had such a good plan for last week's, but now... Alright, I'll answer some questions you all had:

"Elder Wheelwright, why are you so amazing?"

Well, there's a hard and a easy answer. The hard answer involves pride and kicking against the pricks and all that, and the easy one involves me crediting God. So I'll go with the easy one.

"What has you're days been like?"

*have

Here's a run down:

Wake up- 6:15

I jump out of the top bunk, shave my face and get dressed.

Asagohan (brecky!)- 6:45

Then the rest of the day changes depending on the day of the week, but it mostly involves 4 hour nihongo classes and personal study sessions. I LOVE THE STUDY! (but we'll get to that later)

We have lunch at 11:10 and dinner at 4:10. I think the MTC staff wants us all to follow the schedule,I mean handbook, which states that we should eat no later than 6:00.

Side Note: Whoever manages the MTC is amazing- they were truly inspired. The way the schedule works makes it so that everything is being used at every time and by just the right amount of people. Gym time, meals, laundry, shower, etc. They do excellent. But the slight downside is that we get dinner at 4:10, and by 9:00 we're breaking out the care packages. (hint hint)

Sorry, I'm in an odd mood today.

I've been sick all week, but still reasonably high-spirited. The Lord, as always, has been lifting me up, and without his support there's no way that I'd still be functioning. (Not a barf-y sickness, just a dry cough, runny nose, aches) Apparently it's not a real mission experience if you haven't gotten sick at the MTC. :) So yay!

But seriously, the Lord is supporting me to do his work.

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!

Some people complain or get grumpy or homesick, but those are the ones that have forgotten their purpose as a senkyoshi (missionary). It is truly amazing to receive all of the blessings of being a full-time servant of the Lord.

Sometimes I just look down at my name tag and smile- but I'm one of those weird missionaries that seriously loves to study the scriptures, etc. In fact, that's incorrect. A lot of missionaries love their mission and love to serve the Lord. It makes me happy. :)

"How is the language coming?"

It's coming.... Slowly... I'm trying hard, but often times I feel like I should be trying harder. I'm just not sure how. I've tried flash cards- pictures- repeating and repeating- and everything else that they suggest. It still... is not coming as fast as I'd like. I suppose it's rough when there's some people who've been studying Japanese seriously for 6+ years who's parents are Japanese, etc. in the same class with people who didn't know that Japan was different from China and Korea. BUT!!! I've had the opportunity to learn a valuable lesson. Velobos Sensei was teaching us, in all Japanese of course, then he looks at us and says "Mina-san (everone) What's up?" It was the first thing he'd said in English for a long while so everyone's heads snapped up. "Seriously, what's up?... Is it an off day?" He asked. I was quite sick that day, as were a few more missionaries, plus there was an unusual feeling of discouragement in the room.

Velobos Sensei then walked to the board and erased the rest of the schedule for the class. (I love Sensei). Then he straightened his frame and said seriously "What are your expectations for the MTC?" We had an amazing discussion, which was such a help, but I'll just tell you about the end. Right before class was over Velliobous Sensei said "Never compare yourself to others. Someone will always be better than you at everything you do. If you compare you'll be discouraged and never think you're good enough for your whole life. You need to plan for yourself- work as hard as you can and rejoice in your own progress. The Lord will help you." And I know He will.

Though His Grace (the enabling power of the Atonement) we can be lifted up and push along to perfection. In fact, that's the only way that we can become like God. You've heard of sins of omission, correct? Where you don't necessarily DO something bad, but rather you fail at doing everything good? Through the His Grace, you can conquer these sins as well. He can help you do more and become more, all we have to do is try our best to be like Him. I love the Savior more than words can express. I've been reading a whole bunch in John, which I also love, and I was astonished how often the people tried to kill their Savior. He called himself the I AM, which is the same name as Jehovah , it was against the Jewish law to even utter that name. The punishment was death by stoning. When Christ revealed Himself to the people, they tried to stone Him. They tried to kill the Savior who would suffer all of their pains, sins, and sorrows. Those who knew the Father, knew the Son. The blind man He healed with clay knew. One of the few.  

THEN, when the Christ, Savior of the World, told everyone about the sacrament, about how they must eat of His flesh and drink of his blood, they did as many people do when they don't understand: they turned away- They all left Him. Instead of asking the Father, they turned away from all they knew and saw up to that point because of one small thing. Some doctrine that didn't make sense to them, some small misunderstanding. Then the Savior turns to Simon Peter and asks something along the lines of: "Will you leave me also?" and what Simon Peter answers brings tears to my eyes. I can't do it justice. It's somewhere in John 8ish.

So, I've always thrived off of the fact that I'm different. A hypster instinct to express my own individuality- however, though it is generic- I truly love the Savior and learning about Him- more than all else.

Sorry if you wanted to hear about me-

Life as a missionary is amazing, it's hard, but not too hard. The more your trust in the Lord, the more you put into His hands, the more you will accomplish. It's like buying a lottery ticket that you know will always win, if that makes sense. Invest a little, you will gain a lot. I'm just surprised more people aren't inclined to invest. :) But that's what I'm here for.

My investigators are doing well. We got both of them to pray and one of them felt the Spirit. We're trying to teach the other to recognize it.

Oh! today we get to teach real people- so not role play [role play is important, that's all the temple is], so I'm a little nervous. We get to speak cave man Japanese. YAY! :)

Phew...

Well, I'm about out of time. I hope you gained something. :) I get excited when I talk about the Savior just like I do when I talk about Metroid, except more so. Which has never happened before.

I love the Lord, and I love you all.

Invest in Him!!!!!