I have already been here for a month?!?

It's weird to think I have been in Japan for over a month now.  I have learned a lot but there is still so much to learn about being a missionary.  I ate some sushi for the first time yesterday at lunch after our branch's block.  It was pretty okay.  Our branch is about 40 to 50 attending members.  There are about 10 people from the states too.  Sorry I'm out of time again. :{  I wish I could write more.  There is so much to say but I don't even know where to start sometimes.  Anyway lots of love, Elder Hogewoning

This week...

This week was pretty hard.  We had some appointments fall through but I know Heavenly Father is helping us and will provide a way to do what He has asked of us.  I am excited that Christina decided on going on a mission.  It will be fun to swap stories.  I got my first haircut in Japan today.  It took a long time but it was free so I can't complain.  I hope all is going well but I took a lot of time writing family so now I don't have any more time. Sorry.  I know everyone is dying to hear from me and see pictures.  Sorry I'm so busy.  Thank you for your prayers and support.  Lots of love, Elder Hogewoning

I only have five more minutes.  I think I'll just write about this buffet that we went to today.  It was really cool.  There is a grill right in the middle of your table and all of this meat you can choose from.  You pick what you want and then grill it yourself at your table.  They also have salad, fruit, sushi, rice, soup, noodle, soda, ice cream, slushies (kind of like slurpies),  cheesecake and soft serve.  There cotton candy machine was broken today though.  (Yes they really do have a cotton candy machine. That wasn'ｔ a joke.)  I liked the melon slushies the best. No I didn't try any sushi.  Maybe some other time.  Sorry I couldn't write more.  Thanks for all the love and support. Things are going well.

Lots of love,

Elder Hogewoning

Mail from President Isa

We got a letter in the mail today from Corey's mission president, and this picture.

It cracks me up that Corey's taller than his mission president, but I was kind of guessing that he would be. And taller than most people over in Japan anyway.

They already told us that his expected release date is March 1, 2011.  

Anyway, finally one picture!  That's all for now!

I'm actually in JAPAN

I am in Marugame, Japan on the island of Shikoku. My trainer is Elder Young from Australia. I can't even remember much from my final days in MTC. We did get to go out to the field for our last two gym times. We played a game of softball on our last day. Other than that, I can't remember anything from my last week of the MTC. It was a very long plane ride from LAX to Narita in Tokyo. When we were flying over Japan it wasn't the urban sprawl I was expecting. Narita is pretty far away from Tokyo (three hours I think). Anyway it was all rice fields and golf courses with a few pockets of houses here and there. We got on another plane to Hiroshima and I slept the whole way there. I guess the airport is in the mountains and it was a cool landing from what the others said. I slept through it all. President Isa and his assistants picked us up at the airport. We had a meal and went to bed. We had all been up for over 24 hours with all the flights. We got to sleep a little on the flights but we were all beat by the time we got there. I slept on a futon but I probably could have slept on a rock. We got to go to the Peace Park in Hiroshima the next day. It was a pretty "heavy" experienve as President Isa put it. While we were driving around Hiroshima it felt like I was just in downtown San Diego. It was a really weird feeling That night I found I was going to Marugame to work with Elder Young. Everyone said he was really funny. He is pretty funny. I missed one of my trains on the way to Marugame so I had to wait another half hour. I finally got to Marugame and met Elder Young. We are still getting closer. I guess I just had different expectations about missionary work. The first couple of weeks have been hard: not really knowing the language, trying to take in all kinds of new stuff, and trying to work hard when I feel so tired all the time. Things are going better. It's all about my attitude. God is definitely help me through it. Sorry I don't have more exciting news. I try to give some more details about being a missionary in Japan next week. Lots of love, Elder Hogewoning

Corey's in Japan!

I just wanted to let you all know that Corey made it safely to Japan. My dad got an e-mail from the mission secretary saying that he made it there and his p-day is Monday, which means I'll probably get e-mails from him on Sunday because of the time difference. He left for Japan on Monday. He didn't call home from the airport or e-mail, so I'm very anxious to hear from him next week and then get a call from him on Mother's day!

Also, you can still use dearelder, but there will now be a charge. I'm not sure how much it is. And here are two addresses, one for his mission home/office and the other for where he is right now:

Corey's Current Residence:
Kagawa-ken Marugame-shi
Nakabu-cho
4-4-5 Plaza Haitsu #101
Japan

Mission Home:
Japan Hiroshima Mission
1-11-26 Hikari-machi
Higashi-ku
Hiroshima-shi,
732-0052 Japan

Thank you all for your prayers and letters! I appreciate it, and I know Corey appreciates it more. I know he wishes he could personally write you all, and I know if he had the time he would. Until next Tuesday...

The new beginning

I'm sorry I ran out of time last week. Sad story but anyways...
I'm leaving for Japan next Monday!
I am so grateful for all that I have learned here and am ready to help the people of Japan. There have been a couple of talks about charity over the last two weeks so I am trying to strengthen my love for the Japanese people. I have decided I need to have four things to be successful when I get to Japan: obedience to all of God's commandments, love for the people I serve, faith is God's promises, and be able to express my sincere testimony.
If I am obedient I am promised so many blessings. I also have to have faith that God will fulfill His blessings to me. I also need to have faith in myself because sometimes I'm too hard on myself. I need to love the people. If they can't understand my words they need to be able to feel my love and desire to help and serve them. I have something they need and they need to know that I want them to have it, not out of duty but rather because I love them that much. I have been thinking about those who are back home that need this gospel too. I love them and want to share what I know with them. Jesus is my Savior. He suffered for my sins so that I don't have to suffer for them. He restored His perfect gospel and church through Joseph Smith. He loves all of us.
Lots of love
Elder Hogewoning