1st week in Japan

Japan is absolutely incredible!

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow, I have no words to explain how amazing it is here. Japan is such a beautiful place! I am so excited to serve here as a missionary. We got to the mission home on Tuesday and stayed there until Thursday afternoon. We started out the first morning there with a game of ultimate Frisbee! It was so much fun, especially because I thought that we were not allowed to play ultimate Frisbee on the mission. We met the AP's and hiked up on this mountain. From the top of the mountain we had the most gorgeous view of Kobe ever. We could see the whole city from there. We played Frisbee together in the morning both days there. The mission President and his wife are the nicest people ever! they were so welcoming and said they would help us with anything. Welch 会長  (President Welch) had so many stories of Japan. He served in the Kobe mission and loves to tell about his experiences. I am so glad that I am able to get to know these wonderful people. My trainer is the greatest guy ever! We have already gotten to know each other really well over these past few days. He has been here for about a year and a half, and he is fluent in the language. It is so much fun talking to him about all of the Japanese culture. He helps me out with the language and pretty much every time someone tries to talk to me because I don't know anything yet haha. We get along extremely well. He was actually just barely companions with Jaden Raker the transfer before I left. It is really cool to be able to talk to him about Raker 長老 (choro). I will also be able to see him soon because he is in my zone.My first transfer is called the 岡山西 (Okayama Nishi) district. This place is just indescribable. We live on the 5th floor of an apartment building. The apartment is actually really nice in my opinion. We have 2 rooms and the kitchen room (I will attach some pictures). We have a really cool view from the apartment of Okayama Nishi. 

I love it here so much already. The people here are the nicest people in the universe. On Friday night I was able to teach my less active members. It was a family of 4. Their names are 恵子姉妹 (Keiko shimai), 花　チャン　(Hana chan), 武雄　兄弟　(Takeo kyodai), and 和子　姉妹 (Kazuko shimai). It was such a cool lesson. I realized how much Japanese I actually did learn in the MTC during that lesson. Even though I feel like I know nothing yet, I do know a little bit. We taught them about family prayer, and I really felt the spirit strongly. We refered them to 3 Nephi 18:18-21. Keiko shimai read the scripture and said that she realized how important family prayer is. She committed to trying her best to have family prayer. I was so glad to be able to teach that family as my first lesson out here in the field. It was so much fun, and the spirits presence was very strong. We also brought a member with us to that lesson named 竹森　兄弟　(Takemori Kyodai). He is truly "THE MAN!" Takemori kyodai is the ward mission leader of our ward. He came and did shuwa for Takeo kyodai. Shuwa is the Japanese form of sign language. Takeo kyodai is deaf, and even though Takemori kyodai is not he learned shuwa. Takemori kyodai was able to give the lesson that we were teaching to Takeo kyodai in Shuwa. He is the coolest guy ever, and he comes with us on a lot of our visits. I hope to be his best friend before I leave the area. I already have developed such a love for these people, and I have only been here for about a week (even less). The members of the ward are absolutely fantastic! I was a little nervous to give my self introduction to everyone in sacrament meeting (in all Japanese), but everyone said I did such a good job. They all told me my Japanese is so great. They are the kindest people ever. I am so excited to get to know them all a lot more. 

The food here is awesome! It is so much better than I thought it would be. We had mabodofu the other day. It is like tofu, rice, and some sauce on top. It was soooo good. I really like all the food that I have had here so far, which is actually very surprising. One more thing before I end my email. I have been reading about captain Moroni in the Book of Mormon lately. He is such an inspiration leader to me. I remember us reading together as a family, and dad explaining to me about all the wars and strategies for the wars Moroni had. He talked about Braveheart, and explained how he was so much like Braveheart. I can really see what you meant now, and I love reading about captain Moroni so much! He has so many cool stories that I remember reading about together during our family reading time. The story of Teancum and how he snuck in and killed the king during the night. The stories of him not putting up with the people in the city. When the people wanted there to be a king over the land. They refused to fight in the army, and Moroni marched back to the city and said you either fight with us or you die. They still refused to fight, and he put them to death. He is such a bold and corauges leader. I have so many memories from reading about Moroni at a young age. I hope that I can gain the attributes that he had (Alma 48:11-13). 

Sorry this letter has to be short because I don't have much time to email this week (we got here a little late), but I promise I will update you on everything next week. 

Thank you for all the emails and support. Hope you had a great Birthday mom.  Keep me updated on things because I can read your emails throughout the week (my next email will be better)

I love you all so much.

Hirschi 長老