New Year 2015

Dear Family,

Boy this week has been a very big week! New Years is huge here, it's called 正月 (shougatsu) so we had all those meals I told you about plus 2 ish that were added in the week so basically we were scrambling to get from one to the other and Dendo on the way. It was very busy but we made it to everything and did everything with pretty much no problems and we actually got some places with extra time to study outside or walk around! So on the day of the first we had a way cool thing planned, I think I told you what it was, that we were climbing Mt Takao. It was way hard to get up and it was way cold but I got a lot of cool pictures and it was way crowded! And none of us brought lights and some of the nihonjins who were hiking had them so our night vision was destroyed and it was quite the interesting "hike of faith" type thing! At the top, it was way cool but I can't pull my time lapse off my camera so I will need to send you my memory card pretty soon! The top was way crowded, because watching the first sunrise is such a big deal, it was way weird and cool and fun.That was the biggest event this week. It was way good for finding actually. People are always willing to answer the "正月のために何をしますか？ what are you doing for shougatsu?" questions so it was nice! Because most people in Japan have that week of New Years off of work, everyone basically does the American Christmas time stuff. Visits and plays around all the time. So none of our investigators could meet this last week, therefore they are in the same place as before as far as we know right now, but we will be meeting with all 4 this week! 

I still have not found anything in Japan that I don't like, with the exception of pickled plums (umeboshi).  Takoyaki (Octopus and rice balls) is even good now! I don't love Takoyaki but I like it! And I ate a bunch of strange traditional foods at our meals this week with the members so it was way cool! Around New Years everyone starts to make "mochi" (ground rice cakes) and there are a bunch of people that choke and die on them every year because they are so sticky but I think they are delicious and I am careful with them!

We have been doing lots of exploring recently in between member visits and appointments and stuff, Takao has some crazy areas! We found an area where with big, houses and everything, even by American standards. And we also found some random farm with probably 30 scarecrows that were very realistic and creepy! It's way fun to talk to people while exploring though, and my Japanese is getting much better especially after some of my New Years goals! One of my new goals is to be able to be a translator for big mission conferences for English to Japanese by my birthday. It will be way hard to do, but if I can get there it will be very cool! 

After one of the meal appointments that we had, we were on the train and I had one of my favorite contacts yet. I was sitting next to a guy and I just started talking to him about this and that and what he did for New Years. He was actually on his way to meet his family to go to Tokyo Disneyland (which he isn't a big fan of) and the conversation just slid right in to church talking about family, our purpose as missionaries, and all kinds of stuff! It was way fun, and while he doesn't want to learn more now maybe the next set he meets will be able to teach him! It was way fun! And my Japanese was good enough that he never had to repeat himself and neither did I and it was almost as easy as if it was English! Quite the confidence boost there for sure. But I don't know. I think that's all I have to report this week!

It sounds like the drive home was interesting with the windshield wiper fluid and Ginger and being tired, I'm glad you all got home safe! I'm also glad you all had a good time in Utah together, playing games and enjoying life. The stories of Kaiden this week were way funny, I enjoyed them a lot, and it's funny that he is already not excited for a little brother or sister, but when he/she comes he'll be fine. Thanks for all the pictures and updates and things! Hopefully I hit all the questions and things!

And that journal is perfect, thanks mom! Today I may have some charges on the card because I am going to Kunitachi and Elder Bunker is going to show me around for the day. It's gonna be fun, and hey, maybe I will serve there sometime! Anyways, I love and miss all you guys! Be safe and have a happy new year! Don't forget to do your New Years goals on reading the Book of Mormon! We just taught a lesson to a less active last night on that and he blew us away that he was already trying to make one of those goals with his wife (Brother Mongen) so don't forget that! Love you guys!

Love,
Elder Gailey