Going on Week 3

Hello everyone!

Just a quick reminder: I have 1 day a week for emailing, which includes 30 minutes to both read and write mails only to direct family. It would be easier to just write as much as I can in an e-mail, and then handwrite responses to those who have mailed me earlier in the week.

(just to preface the next part-I (Stephanie/Mom) sent him a list of questions to answer thinking he would just to just that to my list but he remade the list, but you can figure out the question pretty easily ;)    

Favorite class: We just have classtime, where we learn both gospel and language principles, usually both at the same time.

Favorite food: Not much, its not terrible, but not much of it is worth eating other than just to keep ourselves alive. We just walk by a line and pick up a pre-portioned plate and go eat, and we can go as many times to whichever of the 3-4 lines we want.

I like the shower shoes, and I use them.

I love Dear Elder and hand written, but Dear Elder is free and gets here the next day.

We have gym time 5 times a week, for about 50 minutes at a time.

I go to the temple on Tuesday afternoon, but I strictly cannot under any circumstances meet with any friends, family, or acquaintances for any reason.

I dont wear suits every day, only on tuesday and sunday, and i won't need another suit :)

I have dry cleaning here, and it's really cheap.

Ring around the collar is not a problem.

I don't get mail on sunday's, just like regular post offices. Dear Elder also comes through the post office here.

I didn't see the eclipse.

I can't receive or send picture or message attatchments, or instant message on email, partially by computer capability and partially because its against the rules.

I dont think i can print, just regular mail or dear elder.

My companion is fine, he is definitely a blessing to me to learn patience. He trys hard to learn the language, but just like the rest of us, he has a lot of growing to do. He reminds me of Chris and Brian Wells, minus their well-put humor and social skills. Nevertheless, I love him for being my senior companion.

Congrats to Alex graduating! And to Jennelle going to 5th grade!

Mom+Dad: With 3 minutes left to type, I love all of you. Thank you for preparing me for this time that I have had so far; its been tough, but I've been fighting tooth and nail to survive and come out on top. My teachers and fellow missionaries love hearing about my brother, sister, parents, and grandparents/aunts/uncles/cousins/etc. Please feel free to either mail or Dear Elder if you want it to get to me faster, and I will write you back on Tuesday next week. I will also be sending out a letter to Rescue today for all 4 of you. Thanks for keeping up with Molly and for forwarding the e-mails. Keep doing what you're all doing, and please feel free to write me emails anytime. I can only handwrite on tuesday's as well. Please use Dear Elder if you'd like more time for me to respond so I can see it before my 30 minute starts. Time's up, love you all!

With Love, Elder Christopher Ichiro Honda

Week 1 MTC

Hello everyone! Sorry you didn't get mail from me yesterday, but my preparation day is on Tuesdays, so you can expect an email from me around this time every week :)

The first week has been amazing! After entering the MTC, I got my nametags, and we dove right into learning the Korean language. As of today, I can hold simple conversations with other Elders and Sisters and pray in the language, but every day we learn a little bit more a little bit faster. Our teacher's name is Sister Judd from the Sandy, UT area, and she has been great at patiently teaching us to memorize words, phrases, and grammar. So far, we have heard from President and Sister Daines, the Provo Temple President and Matron. I had heard them before at BYU this last winter, but they were still great to listen to. Also on the first day, we had the opportunity to teach some 'investigators' in a simulated teaching experience. It was amazing to feel the prescence of the Spirit there, because we knew just what to say and when to say it. In our second round of investigators, I convinced a woman of no religious background that we were teaching the truth, even if she didn't believe it. Scriptures were being given left and right, and all of them were exactly what the investigators needed to hear. We also have been teaching almost on a daily basis an investigator named Brother No. He only speaks Korean, he is Buddhist, but he is very open and interested to hear our message. He has taken well to the lessons we have taught him, and he has taken some simple commitments that we have extended to him.

     My zone is composed of 3 districts. In my district, there are 6 Elders and 2 Sisters. I am the only not-full-Caucasian, the only one not going to Daejung, and the only convert in the district. In my district, these are the names of the other missionaries: Elder Orr (Orem,UT), Elder Bricco (San Diego, CA) Sister Henrie (Orem, UT), Sister Knapp (Preston, ID), my companion Elder Esplin (Saipan), Elder Jarnigan (Allen, TX), and Elder Weller (Park City, UT). Don't be fooled by my companion's hometown, sometimes I wouldn't be surprised if he said he was from Utah ;). It's ok, I've been using our time as a companionship (11 weeks) as an opportunity to build patience, planning, communication, and as a teaching experience. Our district leader is Elder Weller, who is responsible for following up with us about our goals, and he collects and gives us our mail. Our zone leaders are Elder Sanderson and Elder Ashworth, both of whom are in another district. I got to play the piano for Sacrament meeting on Sunday, and all I can say is that I need to practice BEFORE the meeting if I do it again.

     I think it's impossible not to gain some weight in this place. Even if you eat healthy food and don't eat a lot, we only get to exersice 5 days a week, and it's only for 1 hour at a time. The food's not bad, but its not the best either, so if any of you want to send anything non-perishable in the mail, I would love you even more for forever :)

     I also only have 30 minutes to read AND write emails, and I can only mail family, so it would be great if  you (Mom and Dad), could send this to my gmail , and to whoever else wants to read it :) I will be sending out handwritten letters later today, and hopefully I'll be sending pictures in the next week or two, so be looking for those.

     As far as if I need  anything, just the tie that I accidentaly left behind, the razors, Phyto Organics, and more family pictures and the family calendar would be great. I love you all, thank you for all of your support, and I'll be mailing you all again this time next week!

With Love,

Elder Honda

MTC Here I come!!!

Christopher enters the Missionary Training Center today at 12:30, Utah time. We are waiting for our last phone call from him. The next time we get to hear his voice MAY be when he travels to Busan South Korea, sometime late July, early August. He should be able to call home real quick to let us know he arrived safely. Then we wait for the Christmas call.
Anyhow, I (his Mom, Stephanie) will be taking portions of his weekly e-mailed letter home and posting them on this blog to keep you all updated and informed. I know he would greatly appreciate letters from you. I will post the mailing address soon. As he send photos to me, I will post those as well.
A shout out to Garrison Nuttall for picking Christopher up at the airport and being his companion these past 2 days, thank you, thank you, & thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!