uncultured blogging :: joel jenkins » Mission Journal

Mission Journal

Joel — Sun, 04 May 2008 05:06:00 +0000

Well hey, how are ya? I stumbled across my mission journal the other day, and I thought it’s right time to digitize it. I might as well do it here. I just put up a post from May 1999 when I was in Fukui, Japan. It’s so fun to read over these things, and 95% of the time, remember all of it. Such a blessing to remember. This will be quite an undertaking to type up about 2 years of Journal Entries, but it will be worth it for sure. Sadly, near the end of my mission, I didn’t do such a hot job of journal keeping. I did do some letters though, and I believe I have all of those, so maybe that will be my next project. Two years of letters. Interesting.

Anyway, off in my archive column you’ll start seeing months and years from years ago. If you’re bored, give it a read. Sadly, it won’t mean to you what it means to me.

May 21, 1999 – Fukui

Joel — Sat, 22 May 1999 04:00:05 +0000

Today was a day of firsts. But I can only remember two. My first split in Fukui, and my first bike wreck on my mission. It happens, but let me explain the day.

This morn we had District Mtng. Afterwards, we began our split. First, we all came back, I made curry, and everyone ate, then Elders Lister and Maki headed off to Takefu for two days. I received Elder Vasquez. He’s been out for five months. It was fun. We started out with some TABEHOUDAI. It was good. Lots of meat. It was fun, but the adventure happened on the way home.

It was dark, I hit a bump hard, it bent my rim to hell and back, which in turn ceased my rather fast forward momentum. In simple words – I wrecked. I hit my right leg HARD. Billy, on of the sons (19), saw it and thought I had broke my leg. I ripped a small hole in my pants, scratched up my Doc’s (POOP!), scraped my palm good, and have now bruised right by my knee quite nicely. Tonight it’s swollen HUGE. I don’t know how I’ll be in the morning. Before going home we went to the Fairbank place, and I cleaned up. Now I see the results.

January 6, 1999 – Kureha (My first transfer)

Joel — Thu, 07 Jan 1999 05:40:56 +0000

10:40PM – The Honbu (mission home) called. I’m off to Ichinomiya to find my eternal friends there. It’s bittersweet to transfer. My last day with Nakata Choro was good. i still need to leave him though, because I receive this random happiness occasionally. I’m glad I got it today. So that’s the sweet part. Bitter – I don’t want to leave Kureha. I was able to see Nakamori, Matsui Kyoudai, Nakahira san/Satoko Chan. Leaving is terrible. Matsui Kyouday didn’t want to let go when we shook. He doesn’t want me to leave. I’ve only been here 3 months. We helped the other Elders teach Nakamori. It went well. Testimonies were great. My last visit was over to Nakahira. He is depressed. Out of everyone, he will miss me the most. He was speechless. He grabbed his camera and woke up Satoko, we took pictures, then he went hunting again for a present. Well, he couldn’t gather anything up but tomorrow he is coming to the Eki (train station) to say good bye. I’m looking foward to that.

Today, I packed, we went bowling. ã²ã•ã—ã¶ã‚Šã€‚It was fun. We taught Nakamori, and I said a few good byes.

Transferring is terrible.

I love these people. I am so thankful for eternity. I will return here, I will see them all again. But, I also will celebrate life for eternity with them in Heavenly Fathers Presence. Saying good bye is only temporary; I’m so thankful for that.

Also, Elder Nakata treated me to McDonalds. Interesting burger I did buy (that’s the Japanese order). Yoda speaks in Japanese order. I just realized that.

Elder Park is going to be my new Zone (Gifu) to become Zone Leader. Elder Dawson’s new comp is this (Toyama) Zone’s new ZL, and the Zone area honbu is coming to Kureha. Elder Nakata gets Elder Brockman. Good luck Brockman Choro. Elder Shaw the amazing became AP. I believe I’m transferring into Elder Nichols zone, which is way cool. Oh, my new comp is Elder Harvey, I’ve only heard good. Spoke with him for a sec, funny guy. I’m excited and have a renewed sense of happiness.

I love life!!

MTC – Day One

Joel — Wed, 12 Aug 1998 17:43:56 +0000

Well, I’m here. Seems like I’d never arrive, but I am here. My companion is Elder Andrew Lange. He’s from Heber. Very nice, and it looks as though he’s gonna put up with me. My other two roomies are as follows. Elder Nichols. He’s from Provo and just happens to be Elder Lange’s cousin. They also both seem to be going to the same mission. And they left the same day. And they’re in the same room.

I have been here about 5 hours now, and I don’t really have much to say. It all seems good. At dinner I saw Adam Swalberg, Stan Kimball and James Burton. Adam is going to the Tokyo North mission. He also got here today. He is also in my district. Class tonight was cool. Our sensei in class is a Brother Robertson. He also went to Nagoya. He’s 24 and been home 3 years. His dad is a Mission President in Kobe. Everyone is pretty darn cool here. Very friendly. I’m amazed at how well the spirit is at work here. I’ve seen many missionaries that have been here 3 weeks having mini conversations in Nihongo (Japanese).

I can hardly wait to get started in a daily MTC routine. We got a lot of books, I don’t know how we are going to get through all of them over the next 8 weeks.