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