Monday, October 24, 2011

Oct. 21, 2011

Aloha,

It is 5:55am... My roommates and I put our laundry in at 5:30 am so we would miss the traffic jam later and not have to wait for machines. After this we're going to get ready and be at the temple by 7:30 am to do initiatories. We aren't going to do a session this week.

I really hope all of you are doing great. I'm sure the weather's been nice. The Kealas have written and told me a little about it. How is school for all of the kids and work for mom and dad? I hope great. How's the ward? Probably same as usual? I love all of you.

This past week was good. It was long, but at the same time it went by really quickly. On Tuesday we had our usual Tuesday devotional and myself and a bunch of other missionaries who are headed to Japan sat outside the door for a little less than 2 hours again. It worked out really good because we ended up with some really good seats and Elder Richard G. Scott spoke. It was a great meeting. The opening hymn was “ Called To Serve,” which is always great, and the choir sang a nice hymn. Elder Scott had a bunch of great points and scriptures. He said to watch and emulate the sister missionaries, because they didn't have a duty to be here and they have a sensitivitiy to the gospel that we don't have. That was really good. I've been thinking about that a little lately. It's amazing seeing everyone here... and it's more amazing seeing all of the sisters here. Elder Scott also spoke a lot about the spirit and how to increase its guidance in our lives. He stressed to ALWAYS have something to write impressions on. You can't control when the holy ghost teaches. But you can record it. Near the end he gave two Apostolic blessings: one to know our strengths and another to, through prayer, know our weaknesses. He was not able to shake hands after, but it was a great night.

We reviewed our first investigator and got two new "progressing investigators." Progressing investigators are basically our teachers playing the role of an investigator they had on their mission. The lessons seem very real. My companion and I have taught one of them twice and the other once. The investigator that we've taught twice is named Masatoshi. He is college-aged, indecisive, and struggling with something that we have yet to uncover. Our lessons with him have been going really well. He has committed to attend church with us on Sunday and we were able to leave him a Book of Mormon and ask him to read, ponder, and pray about it. We've also extended an invitation for baptism at both lessons. We're taught to extend the baptism invitation early, preferably in the first lesson, so it's good that we were able to do that.

Here almost everyone lives from gym-time to gym-time. Lately, I've been playing mostly soccer and softball with a little basketball every once in a while. We only have 50 minutes 5 days per week, and it's never enough. I've heard that on Halloween they're going to open a free weights gym, so that’s exciting. I've been working out a little in the evenings with a few guys from our residence. It's good, but a gym with weights would be really nice.

I traded a few ties; three that I would probably never wear for one decent one... and another decent one for a nice one. We had a "tie convention" in our room a few nights ago. Our neighbor saw that we were looking at ties and walked down the hall telling everyone we had a tie convention going on. We probably had about 18 elders come in through the course of the evening.

I won't be able to upload pictures to that website... we're only able to access MyLDS Mail, LDS.com, and Mormon.com. I'll have to print pictures at the bookstore and get them out to you by regular mail.

If you haven't sent my other pair of shoes, could you get those out to me sometime soon. Also, I need my immunizations ASAP. I don't have them here, they weren't in my suitcase. I've had to meet with the health clinic people and they need them ASAP. Maybe get a record from the doctor? I just need those records now. Oh, can you get that ward list out me sometime?

I'm still excited to see Dallin. I hope he's excited too. He will be able to learn so much here. It's weird, the outside "real world" seems so crazy and bad. It's weird to think of all of the things going on "out there." I'm sure it isn't bad on Maui, it's just really good in here. Everyone is here for a purpose. People get sidetracked sometimes, but pretty much everyone is working hard.

I love all of you. I hope you're doing amazing. I miss you. Keep reading the scriptures and praying. Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ love you. They want the best for you. Seek to obey counsel already given and you will receive more that will bless you so much more.


Take care,
Elder Rindlisbacher
PS I love the letters

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Oct. 7, 2011

Hey! This is Elder Rindlisbacher, writing from my companion's email so don't reply. Anyway, all's good. It feels like we've been here way longer than two and a half days. Language skills are progressing quickly. My companion and I, Elder Barlocker, taught our first "investigator" yesterday in Japanese. I'm rooming with Elder Ige and his comanion, Elder Coakley. Elder Coakley's from Kohala, HI. It's a fun room. My companion and I get along really well. He's from Enterprise, UT and enjoys hunting and sports. He wrestled for U.V.U. this past year (D1). Only have a half hour of email time each week and this is the ending of my companion's time so I gotta go. I'll write a letter. Hope all's good back home. I love you guys!!!!

Love,

Elder Rindlisbacher

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Oct. 14, 2011

Aloha,

First full P-Day today. I got your sendoutcards package and your Dear Elder letter. Thanks a lot!

So the first few days felt like FOREVER. Everyone kept telling us to just make it to Sunday. After Sunday the retention rate shoots way up. The first 4 days felt more like 3 weeks ... but now it's already Friday and we don't know where the week has gone. We have 2 three hour classes a day and a bunch of studying time. I'll get a picture of my schedule out to you sometime and you can see how my days are. Class is only in Japanese and we have two Sensei. They each teach a class per day and as of Monday they'll both be "investigators" that we teach lessons to everyday. We taught 5 lessons to our first "investigator" that went not bad. The language barrier was hard, but it was great for learning and we've grown a lot from teaching him. Even though we know our investigators aren't real investigators, the lesson feel pretty real.

This morning we went to the temple and did an endowment session with a bunch of names one of the other elders had. It was nice. We bought breakfast at the temple cafeteria after.. good food, and cheap. Polished our shoes after that, had lunch, and now we're emailing. We'll do laundry after this and write letters while we're wating. Then dinner and class this evening.

Elder Coakley is the younger brother of the Olympic swimmer. Micah Kimura, Elder Coakley, and myself were the only three senkyoshi (missionaries) from Hawaii entering the MTC on the 5th.

We got a new elder in our district, Elder St. Clair from UT. He came in 6 weeks before us but left after 3 weeks because he had major migraines. Now he's back and one of our companionships is now a trio. Our district is 7 elders now, still small. He's hard to get along with, but it's meant to be. Our district is super close.

Tuesdays we have a devotional. This past week, Julie B. Beck (Gen. Relief Society Pres.) and her husband spoke. It was pretty good, but I'm excited to get an Apostle sometime... hopefully! We went and sat in front of the door an hour and 15 minutes early so we could get good seats. Just studied and waited for the doors to open. By the time it was about to start, the line was huge, but we were all the way in front.

The weather has been nice and we've been able to get outside for our 50 min. of gym, playing soccer and softball. We've been inside playing basketball a few times, but getting outside is way better. It's our last few chances for a while. I'd say it's usually around 65 degrees which isn't bad when the sun is out and you're running around.

How's everyone doing? Is Keawe's football season good? I got a letter from the Kealas today. It was sent the day Kamehameha played Baldwin.

And weather? Work?.. School?.. etc. Did you all finish the Book of Mormon? My doryo (companion) and I are going to finish it again before we get our kohai (juniors) in a little less than 5 weeks.

The language is hard and intimidating. But our sensei are great. We learn ALOT. By the time we get our kohai I want to be able to read and understand the short lesson plans in the PMG in less than 30 seconds each.. and be able to hold a good 10+ minute conversation with the sensei.

Tell Dallin I'm excited to see him! And I'll most likely be seeing him around a lot. He'll be in one of our Kohai (districts) and we'll become Sempai (Senior).

I can't attach pictures on here.. but I'm getting some printed and I'll send those in the regular mail!

Overall, everything's really good here. I love you guys. Miss you.. but staying busy for sure.

Love,

Elder Rindlisbacher