This MTC experience is definitely something amazing. They take care of the missionaries so well! We have awesome devotionals, awesome teachers, awesome food; life is good! However, the MTC has it's challenges. The food is real good so... me being the hungry Howie that I am... I eat a lot and thus have gained 7 pounds since I've been here. This is the first time in my life where I think I've actually gained weight! It's all good though because I'll get to walk and bike it off in Japan! January 12th is coming fast and I'm trying my best to prepare for that. This language is hard but I love it. Some things don't make sense and the language is so indirect! Everything is about being polite and indirect so truly, it is learning a completely new language with next-to-no similarities to English. Our teachers are amazing and have helped so much already and it's going to be a sad day when we leave because we have established true friendships with them.

On another note, we like to have fun in the MTC. Of course we are focused missionaries but to break the monotony of continuous study, we do some fun things. We play a game called "what are the odds" where you place a bet such as "what are the odds that you wear two ties all day tomorrow" to which they would respond "1 in 10" or for really crazy dares "1 in 25." On the count of three, you both say a number between 1 and 10 and if the numbers add up to 10, the person who placed the bet has to do the thing but if you both say the same number, the person who was challenged has to do the dare. I have yet to lose but there have been some good bets placed!

Another thing we do is sing in the shower. Normally we sing church hymns and the like but on occasion, the most popular songs that get sung by the congregation in the showers is "Crocodile Rock" and "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Africa" by Toto. Nothing is better than being in your room and hearing a group of missionaries try to sing the high part to these songs. I personally like to sing the songs from "A Goofy Movie" but... not too many people can join in because they are deprived human beings who haven't seen it before. Lame!

Our senpai (the missionaries who leave to Japan before us and have been here for 9 weeks) leave on Monday and we will become senpai (upper class) to some new kohai (lower class). It's amazing how fast time flies. It feels like we just met but that we've been friends forever and now they are leaving! I've made some amazing friends here and I feel like the veil is thin at times and we are able to remember the people that we meet from the pre-mortal life because we already know each other so well and we probably hung out before coming to Earth!

Anyway, life is good! Pray always! Read the Scriptures (Alma 30-35=fantastic)! Remember I love you all and thank you for your support!

The picture that I'm in with the other Elder, that is Hope Choro; he is in my room and is pretty awesome. We are both going to Fukuoka so we'll get to be pretty good friends over the next few years. In our district, it is only us three (me, Ngatai, and Hope) that are going to Fukuoka; everyone else is going to Kobe. However, in the other district, all of their Chorotachi are going to Fukuoka.