Monday, July 30, 2012

Week 11: Busan here I come!!


 Hi Family! Got my travel plans! I leave the MTC 5:00 AM on the 30th, and I fly out at 8:40, land in LAX at about 9:39. I leave LAX at about 1:00 PM, so that will probably be able to call then.  I am then leaving LAX at 1:05 PM to Tokyo/Narita, where we land at 4:30 PM on July 31st. We leave 東京 at 6.30 PM local time, and land directly in 부산 (Pusan) at about 8:45 where our mission president/assist. to the president will pick us up.  I am the only American from our zone going to Pusan right now, so I will be traveling with 5 other natives, and they are all really fun and responsible. I think it's because I kind of speak English that I am travel leader, which is kind of like being drum major, because I am responsible for making sure everyone gets fed (their money), and that they all stay together and are obedient, and all sorts of micellaneous stuffs.
     Thanks so much for the packages! :D I got 2 yesterday, 1 from Mom 1 from Dad. I put them in my luggage already, and I didn't open the things that said don't open till 8/7 yet. They are super helpful packages and I love them and you all a lot. Right now we are just wrapping up, trying to learn as much as we can, about studying, the gospel, 한국어, and so much other stuff. I've ran into a lot of people from my old BYU ward, Gil Osuna, Leland Finley, Becca Allen, and Elder Justin Ward. I also say Elder Delacruz, and will be looking for Elder Gomm tomorrow. As much as I can't wait to get out of the MTC, I'm going to miss it a little. There is a special spirit here, and so many friends made here, along with the great firesides and devotionals. So anyways, I will try and send another quick message with the last 3 minutes left later today, so love you all!
사랑해요
혼다 장로

Week 10 MTC


Hi Family!
Today was probably tied for best day of the week, right next to Sunday. We spent about 3 hours cleaning the Provo Temple, doing everything from tearing out the carpets outside the temple to dusting every corner on the inside. That being said, I don't know if I'll be able to finish my handwritten letters to you all today, but, taht means they will be extra long next week :] OH! And on Sunday we had a fireside byJenny Oaks Baker, the daughter of Elder Oaks. She is a fantastic violin player, who got her Master's from Juiliard. Her kids even came up and played for us, and they sound better than many people that have played longer than the kids have. Other than that, not much else is happening out of the ordinary. However, I have found that I must have been practicing the language a lot or something, because I have really bad English now! We've been practicing with the native 한국사람.(Koreans). We are getting our travel plans on Thursday evening, so I will let you all know this time next week what the schedule is! I also got a letter from my mission president that said they'll be picking me up from the airport in Pusan, and that I'll be spending a day or two in the mission home. I'm so excited to get out there and see the outside world, and to see how much all the hard work will pay off! On Sunday, President Shin read some letters in Sacrament meeting, and one of them was Sis. Kersey's. This work is true, I'm sure of it. Love you all, and hopefully I'll get your letter out either today or next week!
Love,
Elder Christopher Ichiro Honda

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Week 9 at the MTC


Hi Honda Family!
We got native Koreans last night! I haven't talked too much with them yet, but they seem really fun. This last week was really good, progressing still in the language, and teaching appointments are getting better and bettter every thime. A challenge from our branch president was to double our vocabulary before we leave, and what a challenge that is! We are all working hard here in District 28B, and we are all excited to get out there and start sharing the message of the Restored Gospel. On the 4th of July, we got to watch from afar the fireworks from LaVell Edwards Stadium, and they were beautiful! Not quite as spectacular as Disney, but they were pretty cool. with the 3 minutes that I have left, I am just so grateful to be here, learning this language and teaching skills, and to learn so many things about life. We are all learning of a new kind of love; a love for people we have yet to meet, for their happiness, and for the happiness and success of those that work along side us that we didnt even know 2 months ago. This place is, for lack of better words, magical. Miracles happen every day, whether they be a blessing that restores someones health, or for me personally, an unexplicable discourse in Korean, testifying that I know that this work is true, and that our message will bring so much happiness to the lives of those that accept it. I love you all, you are in my prayers, and hopefully you get my letter by Saturday! Talk to you later!
Love, Elder Christopher Ichiro Honda