30 June 2008 and 7 July 2008

30 June 2008

Hey family!

Another P-day on the run, and I’m scrambling to get a letter or two written! Yeah! I’m right now on a ferry headed back to Miyajima -- the big red gate in the water! There is a huge forest of trees engulfing the island it is on. Lots of green. Lots of green. There is a nice little sea breeze, and it just feels right here. This morning, we saw our old mission president off -- and caught it on camera! Yes, President Yafuso was a very small, happy man! Some would even call him a little cooky! Haha, he was always looking to make a joke -- and it was even funnier when it wasn’t funny just because he’s a little old man! Haha. Yeah. And then we welcomed the new mission president as he stepped off the shinkansen Saturday. Okay, that was confusing. Basically, our new mission president came on Saturday, and our old mission president left Monday morning. So. . . .

7 June 2008

that went by way too fast! Yeah, it is a week later, and it’s the same letter. Yeah, the new president is kind of quiet, but a REALLY strong man. When it is time to work, boy! He works! I’m glad I’m in the office because I have the chance to get to know him. He really came in without knowing much about the mission at all, so we are all learning a bunch together. I pride myself that I’ve gotten him to laugh and relax a bit. ☺ He’s a really great guy. Sister Isa is really stepping things up, though. She’s got us working on changing procedure and “the system.” I think she put it best when she said, “I’m a mean mom, but I give candy!” Yeah, she’s fluent in English, and he’s pretty good, but not quite fluent. So, that’s way more English than our last president and wife. Anyways, we have been really busy with things changing in the office/mission with the new couple. And, on top of that, one of the elders in our zone crashed way bad and broke his collar bone! But man, he’s a trooper. He had surgery last week, and he’s dying to get out. It’s only his 2nd transfer, so it looks like he will come to the mission office and eventually take my place as he does a little rehab. And on top of that, his companion is one of the craziest, insane missionaries in our mission, so all of us in the Mission Office have been taking turns transferring to the area an hour away and continuing the work. I like being a part of the solution!

Anyways, this was my most patriotic 4th of July yet! It’s amazing how much more that holiday means to me here in Japan. We started things off right -- putting little American flags I got in a Dear Elder package from Grandma and Grandpa Buck in our shirt pockets and waving them by swiveling our whole bodies while singing “God Bless America” to my Japanese companion. Haha. It was pretty way funny. And then, I went with one of the AP’s to take his driver’s test. He was failed for the 3rd time. The Japanese are sooo “strict.” Basically, they told him he wasn’t checking his mirrors long enough one time, and the next time, not checking his mirrors as precise and quick enough! It is even on a course, so there are zero cars. They wanted to force him through a driver’s class which would cost money and time that he doesn’t have, . . . so all he can do is just keep taking the test (which he would pass in America every time) and fail it in Japan. So, that gave us more reason to celebrate our patriotism and country that is fair on driver’s tests. Hooray! Every heart beats true for the red, white, and blue! God bless America! Haha. So, in conclusion, I love the mission and especially the people, not I am still very much American!

Cheers, Elder Hogge