Sayonara MTC!

So here is the dealio kazoku, I leave on Tuesday August 27th from the MTC. I report to the Travel Office at 3:30 AM then I take FrontRunner to the Salt Lake Airport. My flight from Salt Lake City to Seattle leaves at 8:25 AM I will call home while at the Salt Lake airport. I am not sure what time but I would guess sometime between 5 AM and 8 AM, probably earlier. From Seattle we fly to Osaka, Japan and that is where the real fun begins. Our flight from Seattle leaves at 11:25 AM on the 27th, and I arrive in Osaka at 2:25 PM on the 29th. So Crazy!

The Tokyo South missionaries in our district leave on Monday which means ONE WHOLE DAY WITHOUT HAVING TO SMELL ELDER MAK!!! I kid somewhat, but really Monday will just be a weird day in class without half our district there.

We got our Japanese nametags this week and they are so cool! As difficult as all those characters are to read and write, they sure are cool looking on my badge. 

SCHOOL STARTED?!?!? I swear it just ended! I hope everyone is having a great time! Eliza, hope all is well with that crazy thing we call high school. William is in Junior High?! Since when?! He's like 4 feet tall? I hope he's loving it though! I wish I could be there for all of you and hear all your great stories and experiences, but alas... CAROLINE I LOVED YOUR LETTER!!! (Eliza and Rebecca you too) Mom don't be sad that I'm gone. I'm where I should be. Besides I'll be crying enough once I get to Japan and can't even communicate with anyone but that's okay. 

So I don't know if I ever told you this but here is what a typical day is like at the MTC for me. I wake up at 6:00 AM and shower, get dressed, do my hair, smell nice, etc. I have breakfast at 6:45 AM for which I usually have some muffins, or some cereal if worse comes to worse. Then from 7:15 to 8:10 I have personal study time in which we read The Book of Mormon for about 20-30 minutes and then spend the rest of the time studying whatever we had planned the night before to prepare for our lessons that day. (Japanese grammar, vocab, PMG, practice reading the Japanese BoM, etc.) Then from 8:10 to 11:10 we have class, in which we learn Japanese, and teach our lessons to our investigators. At 11:10 is lunch, and that is usually some sort of sandwich, burger thingy, with chocolate milk of course. Then from 11:55 to 1:30 is PMG study time, followed by gym time until 2:30, and then until 3:00 you have time to freshen up as it were. From 3:00 to 4:10 is TALL. it stands for Technology Assisted Language Learning. It's a program made at BYU to help us learn the language and get more practice listening to native speakers. After that is Dinner until 4:55 and then we have class again until 8:00 PM. After class is Language Study until 9:00 and then from 9:00 to 9:30 we plan our next day and then go back to our residence to write in our journals, brush our teeth, say our prayers and go to bed by 10:30. So in case anyone was curious, that's what I've been doing here for the last 9 weeks!

I am so excited but I can't decide if I am more likely to shout for joy or burst into tears that I am actually going so far away. This will be the hardest thing I have ever done. I'm sure lucky I have the Lord with me because otherwise this would be impossible. I love and miss you all! In case you were wondering which I know you are, it takes 7 days for mail to get to Japan so I've heard, so that's not even that bad! I am just so excited but I am scared out of my mind! Everyone pray for me. I'm praying for all of you! Mimi and Papa thank you for your package it was very well received! I Love You!

Love,

Jonathan, Elder Pace

Make Yourself a Dang Quesadilla!

Exciting news from me this week... I GOT MY TRAVEL PLANS! I report to the MTC travel office at 4:30 AM on Tuesday the 27th, then we go to the airport from where we fly to Seattle at 8:35, and then we make the long flight to Osaka, from which I'm assuming we take a train to the mission home in Kobe! Now travel plans may not seem that exciting, but when you've been here for 8 weeks, travel plans are exciting mostly because it means that we're actually finally leaving the MTC haha. 

This week was a lot like the other weeks probably because I've had the exact same schedule here since week two here. However there were a few highlights from this week.

I ran into Elder Stephen Pinnock this week who promptly gave me a hug, flipped the name tag on my suit upside down and then shook my hand and said, "You're upside down..." (What's Up Doc reference for anyone who hasn't seen that movie)

Sunday I was able to bless the sacrament in Japanese which was a cool experience! It is interesting to see the difference in meaning and emphasis on things in the scriptures through the translation and such. Sorensen Choro and I were both shaking at the sacrament table we were so nervous haha.

THIS JUST IN - Elder Mak still smells awful!

Because of Sorensen Choro's ADHD, our branch presidency has prescribed him a tutor which he (we) have to meet with once every other day or so. She is this cheerful old lady and all she really does with him is teach him how to read the scriptures/PMG more effectively, and retain the things he has read. I sometimes will listen in and pick up an interesting study technique or different idea or perspective on the scriptures, but most the time I just read the Book of Mormon or study Japanese during these "lessons" They seem to be helping him though because he now seems more confident in his knowledge of both the gospel and Japanese.

This week we also discovered the "secret" to the MTC cafeteria, quesadillas! You get them at the wrap bar and heat them in the microwave at the back. HAHA WE FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET DECENT FOOD!!! after 8 weeks of the same old food it's just good to eat something different, but I'm sure I'll miss american style food when I'm eating rice every single day/meal and octopus, squid and other kinds of fish constantly. All my senseis said they either maintained their weight or lost weight while in Japan so it looks like I may be a lurp forever...

Elder Richard G. Scott spoke at the Tuesday devotional this week and it was amazing! He spoke on prayer and how incredible it is that we can communicate with our Heavenly Father at any time, in any place. I really don't know what I would do without prayer. Sometimes it is my only source of strength. When I have nothing to rely on and no one to turn to, I always have my Heavenly Father to turn to.

I am not having an easy time on the mission right now. It's not because the work or the language is just too hard (well the language is) but I just am having such a hard time with the emotional distress it brings me. I am having a hard time being away from the people I love and care about. (BTW if you are receiving this email you are one of those people) I know I am where I am supposed to be, but then why is it hard in such a way? I know that the Lord's promises he will keep, but eternal promises don't really make me happy right now. Couldn't I just have an immediate promise from the Lord? I don't want to worry about things at home or in Chicago (Andrew when do you go?), but I do. And the only thing that quiets those concerns is receiving updates and affirmation that all is well. I just want everything to be perfect if you can imagine that, and when the possibility of that is shaken or tested I begin to be extremely anxious about everything. I know, imagine me, anxious about something... at least that hasn't changed.

So people at home aren't anxious about me and how I'm doing, here is how I am.  I am struggling with living up to the expectations I set for myself, however, I am happy and I am well. Peter (Aldeste?) Lambson sent me an email this week saying that if you aren't happy, you're doing something wrong. (with regards to missionary work) I have seen this to be true in my own mission and in my life as well. The talk by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin entitled "Come What May, and Love It" helped me a lot this week. It talks about the ways to deal with trials and sorrows in our own lives and I would encourage everyone to read it. (maybe go over it in FHE or something) I find it odd that our church does not emphasize more fully the studying of modern revalation by our latter-day prophets. I have found amazing amounts of comfort, motivation, and knowledge from numerous conference talks while here at the MTC. I love this gospel and I need to share it. We were able to skype with members in Japan this Wednesday and it was incredible! We taught Ikeda San, and her daughter, and we shared with them our experiences with prayer and how it had strengthened our faith. I told them about the time when we were camping and Jake Segura got lost in the Uintahs and how we all prayed for him, and everything that we asked for in our prayers was answered. And they actually understood my Japanese!!! The Japanese people are just so happy and full of light and joy. I'm sure many of you would love it if I were to return home the same way haha!

I hope you all are wonderful and are excited for school! That's so weird that school is starting again already it feels like I just barely graduated! I love and miss each and every one of you! I pray for you always and if there is anything you want to send me before I go to Japan, it's now or never! Letters are always wonderful even though I can't always reply to everyone immediately! Caroline I'm still waiting to hear from you!! I love you!

Love,

Jonathan, Elder Pace

"Yellow Fever"

Hello Family and Everyone,

 

So this week was more of the same here at the MTC. It gets difficult to motivate yourself when you feel like the amount of progress you're making is so minimal, but alas... I only have two weeks before I leave to Japan! So basically if anyone wanted to write me, do it while postage is cheap hahaha! Really though I am so excited though even though I don't know near enough Japanese to manage, thank heaven for senior companions!

 

So it was nice to know from Rebecca's dearelder that my family is still the same bunch of goons as when I left. Caroline you still haven't written me a letter! William I do not have your iPod! And I hear you lost mine as well... You've got a week to find it before I'm going to need it unless you want to pay to ship it to Japan. Eliza I want to write you a letter soon about high school and I hope I have time. I am so excited for you! You are beginning one of the most exciting chapters of your life! It seems like just yesterday I had to miss sophomore orientation when Andrew got home from his mission and I was getting to know those mysterious Evergreen kids. I miss those times I really do! Rebecca I don't know your Japanese teaching friend. my two senseis are Ben Taylor and McKay Anderson who are both amazing. I fully support any of my sisters who wishes to marry Ben or Jason Taylor! Also Rebecca Sarah P. left a couple weeks ago I think. She got reassigned to Tempe AZ I believe. Andrew, don't settle for less in Chicago and be sure to let me know your address when you get there. Mom, I got your package and the donuts were delicious. Dad, I never got around to writing you about your career move but I was going to say I support you in making the switch which is what you did anyway so thank you for listening to my sage advice on the subject.

 

My biggest challenge with the MTC isn't Japanese, it isn't teaching "investigators" of volunteers at the TRC, but really it is motivation. I know I'll struggle with this my whole misison, but really it's hard when I know that our "investigators" are really just our senseis, or things like that. I just hope that things change when I get to Japan and things become "real". I just want to get to the point where I feel like I'm really on my misison and that I'm not just at the MTC Japanese learning summer camp thingy. I find that the only true motivation comes from within, and I'm trying hard to be able to be motivated to do the work the Lord has for me to do.

 

Rebecca, you know how you claim you have synesthesia? or whatever that color association thing is? well I really think I might have it. I have begun to associate people, objects, feelings and most things with colors. Mabye it's a real thing, or maybe I'm just having fun with all the colorful pens I have. My district mocks me when I have about 15 or so pens in my backpack/shoulderbag thingy to which I tell them that they're just jealous becuase they are.

 

So about my iPod, I'm allowed my iPod touch on my mission, but I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed any excess apps on it. However, I have heard that President Zinke is not strict on music and that basically as long as it's clean and I find it uplifting I'm allowed to listen to it. I'll try and compile a list of specific music I would like along with the MoTab and other great churchy music. I trust you are capable of doing that for me!

 

 Okay so the most interesting experience of this week was when I went to get my immunizations. So I had to get my second Hep A shot, so I go to the immunizations office and they take me back and they give me my shot. This is hard with me becuase there isn't much arm for them to put the needle in. So right after I get my band aid on and I'm feeling pretty good about things, they realize they gave me THE WRONG VACCINATION I don't know how this happened, but they somehow switched things up and gave me the Yellow Fever vaccine.  (yellow fever is the term used to describe the strange attraction white missionaries serving in asia get toward the asian women.)

 After they told me what had happened I just about died laughing! Family I am now IMMUNE to asian women! So mom and dad if you had any worries that me going to Japan would lead to some asian grandchildren you can throw them away right now.

 

Speaking of which I am pretty sure our insurance should cover the shot so I have a reimburement form that I will send home before I leave. Also, is there a way for me to check the balance on my debit card? I mean I can just use the ATM but is there an easier way? I don't know. also I get these weird spots on the pockets of my white shirts from where like my planner rubs against the pocket and they DO NOT DISAPPEAR! I can't get them out of the dumb shirt even with the bleach and everything else I don't even know what the stain is!?!

 

Also when the last batch of Japanese speaking missionaries left I picked up a set of snazzy chopsticks which I now attempt to eat with in the cafeteria. Upon which I receive several a strange glance from some English speaking elders who think that 2 weeks in the MTC is just soooo looonggg... whiners. I also got a Japanese illustrated book of mormon stories which is pretty cool. I'll probably send that to you pretty soon as well.

 

I should get my travel plans within the next week so that is exciting! I'll let you know what they are. Judging by the last two groups to leave to Japan, odds are I will be leaving in like the middle of the night so if everyone wants to stay up and have me call I am more than happy to do that! I love and miss you all! I pray for you always!

 

Love,

 

Jonathan, Elder Pace

The Truman Show (MTC Edition)

家族は大好きです。私は家族に祝福したある。

Week 5

Life in the MTC feels like it is all one day. Even after 5 + weeks I feel like I've really been lied to and that it is really not August, but I've been in this Truman Show type world for 5 months. It just feels like I'm in a giant missionary ant farm sometimes. I can't wait to get to Japan in 3 weeks and actually have real life happen around me and run into real people. Although I discovered this week that I will not even be able to read a Japanese newspaper because you must know 3,000(ish) Kanji in order to read a newspaper. Most misisonaries after 2 years have the reading and writing capacity of a Japanese kindergartener.

So last week I meant to send this in my letter but didn't because I forgot. Last week was Pioneer day and I had always not enjoyed hearing about the Pioneers and how miserable they were and how boring all of the stories about these old people were and being bugged why we focus so much on them. My attitude was always a sort of, "I get it, they suffered so that we could live in this barren desert called Utah" And in some ways that is correct. However, I hadn't truly appreciated the sacrifice of these Pioneers until I came on my mission. I'd never realized how big of a sacrifice it was for these people to trek across the American Great Plains until I had to give up everything I had and give up my life for the sake of inviting others to their personal Zion. I believe my mission to be my personal Pioneer Journey to the West! (Okay so it's actually the Far East but I'm travelling West to get there) I won't be pulling a handcart or suffering on meager rations (I hope), but I will have different hardships to overcome. Cultureshock, companion problems and learning this impossible language instead of Rocky Ridge, Buffalo Chips and the North Platte River Crossing.

Speaking of problems, here are mine. I am not extremely optimistic, or really very optimistic at all. Also, my companion, though he is getting better at it, struggles far more than I with Japanese. I am also quite cynical, which often leads to discouragement, or skepticism instead of hope. So anyway, I tend to become overwhelmed and discouraged because I am able to see all that I have yet to learn. I am too much of a perfectionist to be content with an okay or alright lesson. I am so logical that I get bothered if we don't fully explain the doctrine in a manner that logically makes sense to the investigator. Through all of this, I found that the real problem is my faith. Not that I lack faith, but that I don't exercise it enough. Faith is like any muscle, it must be torn, strained and worked hard before it can grow stronger. I'm not sure how exactly I can exercise my faith more frequently, but I know I can strive to have greater hope than doubt.

So our entire district is sick. We all have a nasty cold type thing which is yucky, and it makes us all very tired all the time. It's not the best idea to have six people living in a room the size of Andrew's room. Especially when one of them practices very poor hygiene despite our continued requests for him to better clean himself. We have two humidifiers in our room which... do absolutely nothing. I sleep on the top bunk so it doesn't affect me at all, and every day this week I have become more and more sick.

The other day マク。長老 (Elder Mak) felt like he had a dark cloud over him and was just depressed and so he asked if we could give him a blessing. I had the opportunity to participate in my first priesthood blessing which was a cool experience to know that I am able to act in the name of God with his power and authority. It was one of those moments where you look at it and realize that this is real. That I'm actually a Missionary and I'm not just some kid who graduated from High School at a 9 week long intense EFY. Also on the way to the Tuesday night devotional at the Marriot Center, we walked by a couple groups of EFY kids and realized that we are actually doing what we have prepared our whole lives to be able to do. It was just a cool moment to experience.

 Every day really seems more and more the same, I think I may be losing my mind here. 3 weeks left and then it's off to Japan! Everyone pray for me to learn this ridiculously hard language! Also I ran into Elder Caine this morning who got here this Wednesday. When does Elizabeth Pace come to the MTC? And is Richard Worsham going to the Peru MTC or Provo? I enjoy seeing people from home to say hi, but I just feel weird talking to them because it usually ends up being about home and just making us mad and miss home so yeah. Also I don't like how half the people i know are at the MTC West (Wyview) campus. I wanted to see some of them! Oh well.

私は私の家族に愛していますよ!　私は皆さんを愛していますよ!　

心から,　    

ペイス。長老　(Elder Pace)

P.S. yes that is actually what my nametag will look like!