Tons of Emails August 17, 2009
Thanks so much for the emails! I came to mail today with eleven emails in my inbox, and it made me quite happy - although I can’t respond to everyone because of time. I am extremely happy, however.
Well, the last week was ridiculous. The reason I went to Suwa on an exchange was because they were struggling a bit (and the fireworks… haha) but we had a great two day exchange. We found them some new investigators, and the fireworks were unbelievable. I have never seen anything like it in my life. 40,000 explosions, and some were half domes that were done on the top of the lake, some were heart shaped or smiley shaped, and some were just huge. They were so big that when launched at above normal height, the bottom embers that were still burning would touch the bottom of the lake. It was literally a 2000ft diameter I’m sure, if not larger. They had lots of small ones too, but the big ones were unbelievable. I have some videos and pictures of them, so you will see them someday. I can’t really describe how awesome they were.
Then at church, we had an excellent number of people, and everyone stayed after for almost an hour just talking and getting to know each other better. It was the first time I have seen the Branch do that. I’m pretty excited about the progress everyone is making.
The next day, we went down to Iida to meet a member (2hr train ride) and then hit Tenryukyo (the quasi-national park) again for Elder Warner. We talked with some shop people and followed up on an apple juice seller we gave a Book of Mormon to last time with Elder Katanuma. It was way fun, and the member lesson went really well. She is going to visit all the less-actives in Iida for us, since it is nearly impossible for us to do with no car and a 2hr train ride. An excellent member missionary.
That brings us to today. The week was pretty exciting, but the majority was spent outside of Ina city - I think a good thing for my mental health. Today we have already had two appointments and have another one later, so our Pday is kind of being cut a little short. Kind of a bummer. Because of that, this email might be a little short and boring. I’m going to try and respond to things people sent me…
Derek - have fun with those tough classes! I’m sure you will be fine, just don’t get Mrs. Gruwell angry at you, because then she just makes fun of you all the time. I never did the homework (bad idea) and she made so much fun of me that I guess she still remembers me! Ha. Glad you had an awesome summer though, next summer I will be there to party with you!
Jacob - you also had a way good summer, I’m excited for you! Your name in Japanese is ヤコブ which is pronounced Yeah-co-bu, spelled Yakobu in English characters. It is a pretty rare name in Japanese of course, because it is English, but it is pretty cool to have a name like that in Japan. Hang in there in school, and taking eighth grade math early! I did that too!
Kathryn - dating a geospatial intelligence major eh? I have to admit, that is pretty impressive wordage. Sounds like he held up to the younger brother test, so I can approve. I would definitely like to talk to him sometime, either email or Christmas phone call (assuming all continues well). I definitely understood everything you wrote, and I will write you a letter responding to it. I am glad everything is well, and go ahead and get married in December if that is what it takes!
Mom - sounds like life is hot and busy, but might settle down again here soon. I hope everything stays well. The BYU stuff is going well, I’m sealing up the form and mailing it tomorrow, hopefully, though the time I have to do things like that is getting smaller and smaller. I haven’t even picked up my guitar in a week now! As District Leader, you have to make phone calls at night to make sure everyone is safe, and we have appointments on our pdays, so… Just a question - you didn’t by chance send a package did you? The mission home says there is one for me but they can’t forward it for some reason, so I have to wait for interviews. If it was you, thanks! If it wasn’t, oops. Haha.
Dad - sounds like work is keeping you on airplanes. It sounded before like because your boss got changed to Santa Clara that maybe the trips to Oregon would slow down a bit, but this email sure looks like it hasn’t! Hang in there eh? BYU football will start soon, that should be consolation and maybe a highlight of the fall even if work stays busy. Keep me up to date. And I still don’t believe Apple will announce a tablet PC anytime soon - if it happens I’m going to say next January or February. a tablet just doesn’t sound very Apple-like. Everyone going home soon is convinced it is going to come out before the Winter semester starts at BYU. I can’t believe that at all. Guess we will see.
LeeAnne - You will be awesome as a trainer, I promise. Training isn’t at all about the language, and even though you can’t speak it, your neuva won’t care. Just work hard and have a blast, and you will be the best trainer she could ask for. You just have the personality that a trainer needs to have, and I’m sure that is why your President chose you, even though you are young. He doesn’t lie when he says there is a reason for you being a trainer - you just might not realize that reason until you start training (or even until you finish training her). I would imagine you will train more than once too, as a sister. Let me know how it goes! Sorry for lack of letters - time is rough, I know you understand. Miss you!
Karen (AKA the other Sister Lowry) - thanks for forwarding emails! I have still not gotten the pictures sent off to you (I’m a terrible person) but I will get on that soon. I appreciate the emails and letters and conference talks, etc. You are awesome! I will try to write sometime soon!
Thanks everyone for the letters! If you have any questions or anything you want to know, just ask. It is looking bad for me next transfer, the APs talked to me on the phone last night and were telling me how well we are doing and to prepare for more leadership responsibility soon. I am thinking I might go zone leader next transfer, but I’m kind of scared haha. Well, two more weeks and we will know!
I think that is all. I will try to write a better email next week, we are just hurrying and busy! Talk to you soon, love you all!
Elder Burnham
Greg Burnham
gregburnham@myldsmail.net
1-304 Itakadai
Meito-ku Nagoya-shi Aichi-ken
465-0028 Japan
