Yikes.. Zone Leader August 30, 2009
So… transfer calls came. I will (finally) be leaving Ina, and I’m off to Okazaki (pretty close to Nagoya) as a zone leader. My companion is going to be Elder Miller, who I’m really looking forward to working with. He is a crazy guy, lots of energy, and plays the guitar really well. Maybe he will help me improve a little. We likely won’t have time though. Anyway, what I’m most excited about is their success. Last transfer they saw six baptisms there, and they have a ton of people to teach. It is the second largest ward in the mission (I think) and is going to be a blast I’m sure.
The problem is the zone leader part. I’m excited, but I kind of feel unqualified or not fully prepared. I am also going zone leader one or two transfers younger than most people, and so it is kind of scary. I guess the worst part is that now I have to really deal with the problem missionaries, and will be so busy that I’m not sure I’ll even notice the last eight months of my mission go by. I’m excited, but I’m kinda nervous a little bit too. Everyone says it is like starting a second different mission. Ha.
Elder Warner is getting Elder Stevens as his new companion - Elder Stevens came into the mission the same time I came back to Japan. He is shy, but I think he will be a decent match for the branch here. We will see.
Other news… it was our Branch Conference this weekend, and we got 20 people there. This means that I have officially achieved my goal that I made that first transfer with Elder Katanuma. It was on my last week, but I finally saw the Branch go from five people in Sacrament Meeting to 20. I don’t think that 20 will be consistent just yet, but it was a good landmark to reach. It was also a ton of fun to see President and Sister Traveller there, and Sister Traveller and I talked alot. She is a total punk, haha. She sat next to me so I could translate for her, and she looked over at me and said, ‘Look! You’re sitting next to LeeAnne.’ Cause her name is LeAnne (one e). I refused to translate for her for a few minutes to teach her a lesson about trunky jokes. She always likes to give and take jokes like that with the missionaries. She is hilarious. I also found out while riding in the car that President Traveller has the entire discography of The Beatles on his iPod. I am proud to report that is the only unapproved music he has. I gave him a hard time about that too.
We ate so much food after our Branch Conference - we had a giant Branch meal after church, then went straight to Kitahara-san’s house and ate watermelon and cake, and then went to Katou-shimai’s house and had a birthday dinner for her three-year-old daughter. I’m not sure I have ever been so full in my life… We still have food in the fridge from Sunday.
It has been kind of tough to say goodbye to everyone in the Branch - though I think more for them than for me. There were a couple criers, and a few who tried so hard to get a hug. One of them even gave me a book of art she drew (she draws comics for a living…). Branch President is going to send me fresh-picked Nagano apples to my next area - a huge box of them. It was pretty cool. I think I am going to be missed, and I am going to miss them too.
Good to hear Karl got along well with the family. President offered me permission to call them if I felt I needed to if/when Kathryn gets engaged, but I don’t know if I am going to. I don’t want it to be too distracting for me, but at the same time I do want to talk to the two of them. He did, however, advise me to get Karl’s email address and email back and forth with him a little bit until I get home in June. He wants us to build a little bit of common ground before I get back. So have him toss me an email if he has some time. He can send me football scores while he is at it… haha.
Everyone here is praying (possibly literally) that BYU can pull off the upset at their first game. And I hear there is a big Apple event on the 9th or something. Tell me what happens!
Derek, I want to hear you sing man! Do you like to sing solo or just in the Baritone Choir? Either way, that is way cool! You will have to sing some songs with me when we get back - I can finally accompany on the guitar.
Jacob, how is school going? I bet you are destroying all your tests. Keep up the good work. Have you bought any good games lately?
Mom and Dad - I’m sending home a package of mostly boring stuff today, but in it will be three memory cards full of photos. My camera takes regular SD cards. I can get them here too, but it would be easier if you toss them in the package. And it sounds cheaper there than here.
Thanks again for the emails - sorry about last week, we were just full of appointments and other good fun stuff. I don’t really know what else to say, but I have about 20 minutes of time left, so feel free to shoot off some questions if you are still on the computer. If not, I’ll talk to you again next week, from my new area, as a zone leader!
Love you all.
Elder Burnham
Greg Burnham
gregburnham@myldsmail.net
1-304 Itakadai
Meito-ku Nagoya-shi Aichi-ken
465-0028 Japan
