Bryson is serving in the Tokyo Japan mission and entered the MTC on April 8th, 2015. We had his farewell on March 29th. We had almost our whole family here including grandma and grandpa Viehweg. Rachel was in Ecuador and Becca had had a trip planned to Arizona, so we missed them not being with all of us! We were able to get a few photos in before everyone left. It was a fun weekend celebrating 2 birthdays along with Bryson's farewell.
We were able to go to the temple with Brittney and Brent on Friday before her left and then Wednesday he entered the MTC- He was excited to leave!
Bryson's first letter came today and he is loving the MTC- if you would like to email him, his email address is bryson.viehweg@myldsmail.net
Konichiwa! (Good day!)
My goodness where can I possibly begin? I suppose I will start with how happy I am here. The MTC is the most sacred place on the earth. I am absolutely convinced of that. As you walk around and go from class to residency or meals you can feel the angels standing guard over all of us. There is a constant spiritual presence here that I have never felt before. I know that the temple is similar in feeling to what I just described, but it feels stronger here...I dont know, maybe its just the early mission shell shock.
So I am in a trio with an Elder Frazier and an Elder Larsen. Both are very different in personality and strength, but both are awesome examples of obedience, work, diligence, and spirituality. I feel so fortunate to have been put in a companionship with these two chorotachi (elders). As we have grown closer I have seen how we each have things we need to work on, and how the other's strengths have helped to better ourselves. The Lord has a hand in forming companionships and I feel he has blessed me so much by giving me such a good one right off the bat.
As you know our first three days here we hear nothing but Nihongo (Japanese) in class and have to try and figure out what the crap the teacher is saying. Luckily I have two amazing positive and patient teachers Crandle Kyodai (brother) and Jack Shimai (sister). They have mastered the language and I believe both are using it as a minor at BYU. Day one here was like a dream, but also frustrating. We were moved from one room to the next in a group of thirty or forty intermixed districts of new missionaries, and essentially had a lesson with true investigators. Any one could stand and ask a question or offer clarification or bear testimony. Unfortunately most new missionaries cannot wait to testify testify testify of what THEY know, without considering what the investigator KNOWS, or NEEDS. I watched as each of the three investigators we met with was pummeled with testimony they probably did not understand. Very frustrating but a nice way to learn what NOT to do.
Each day we wake at 630 and go to gym till seven forty ( which I am soooo thankful for), after that we get ready and head for breakfast till about eight thirty or forty. After that we head over to the classroom where our district meets. We only have five people in our district, Larsen Choro (Elder), Frazier Choro, and I, and two sisters named Bower Shimai, and Sargent Shimai. The numbers are small but I love it. Anyway from nine to ten is planning, then personal study, then comes companion study, then language study, then we go to lunch. After lunch we normally teach a lesson (a very rough and basic and poorly pronounced one, mind you) ALL IN NIHONGO (Japanese). So hard, but SOOOO helpful at the same time. I am the only one in my district without a history of formal Nihongo training, so I it is easy for me to get frustrated and impatient with myself. However, I have learned so much in such a short time I know I only need to trust myself and trust God. So we taught our first lesson on our third day here...so intimidating. It was good though, we did our best and our companionship flows and meshes so well we tackle problems as they arise with a fair amount of ease. So that’s the basic schedule. After that it is more classroom instruction and study then district and zone prayer, companion prayer and personal quiet time and then bed. ZERO FREE TIME. And I couldn’t be happier about it!! I love working all day.
So I’ll tell you a little about my doryotachi (companions) I suppose. Larsen Choro is first. He is an incredibly intelligent, diligent, and generous kid. He is from Kelso, Washington and is nineteen years old...or eighteen? Anyway he can be a little negative about himself in a joking kind of way which we work with him on, but he has the sweetest testimony and loves having our friendship and companionship. I value him and what he has to offer so much. Elder Frazier is from St. Louis and is a solid nineteen year old guy. He is our district leader and is somewhat disorganized and struggles to just make a decision sometimes. But he also has a great testimony and awesome work ethic. Both are VERY clean so our room always smells and looks great which helps so much with the stress.
Hmmmm what else? Oh on Sunday night we had a devotional and listened to the BYU mens chorus sing, which was the greatest thing I had ever heard, bar none. After that we watched a movie called Character of Christ. It was a recorded talk that Elder David A Bednar gave to the MTC on Christmas day several years ago, and is unavailable to anyone anywhere else in the world. I.e. It is basically considered sacred revelation for missionaries in the MTC ALONE. Absolutely amazing. He methodically goes through who Christ is and how we can emulate his character in our service. Let me be clear, what I just said does it absolutely no justice. What I just said is analogous to Steven Hawking saying the universe is cool. Understand? I really fee like what was said was so key and sacred for us missionaries that I shouldn't share too much, so sorry about that, but it was so amazing. Last night we had another devotional at which Elder Zwick of the seventy and his wife Jan spoke. Jan spoke about Repentance and talked about her son who was born mentally and physically handicapped, and offered some analogies and insights that I had not heard before. Elder Zwick stood and spoke with the power of God. He talked about the atonement and emphasized points I had never considered before. I was in spiritual shock when at the end he had his son come up and join him on the stand (the handicapped one) and bear his testimony. In that moment he gazed out over the audience of missionaries and seemed to look every one of us straight in the eye before speaking. When he did speak you could tell he spoke with the pure love of Christ. His simple testimony was one of the love he has for us missionaries, as well as the unconditional love he has for his family. Many found themselves with misty eyes. As Elder Zwick retook his position he looked out at all of us and choking back tears said "Elders and sisters, I can only imagine...how joyful that day will be, when I look at my son's perfected, complete body and mind. How happy I will be". It was such a sweet moment in time I will always remember. He closed his talk and we began singing the hymn, ‘I'll go where you want me to go dear Lord'. At the words I’ll go where you want me to go in the first verse I lost it. I felt such a strong witness of the atonement and repentance that I could not control my emotions. Throughout the rest of the song I sobbed and knew then and there without any doubt that I would go where the Lord wants me to go, I will do whatever I possibly can to share my knowledge and understanding of that wonderful truth with the Nihonjin (Japanese people) if it killed me. If I had to crawl on hands and knees from apartment block to apartment block for two straight years, that is what I would do. I cannot deny what I know to be true.
I do not want to fool anyone. This experience is not all rainbows and butterflies, it is hard. It is discouraging, and frustrating. But, It is more than worth it. There has never been a time in my life where I have wanted to wake up before the crack of dawn to work all day long at something I am still fairly poor at. It is so interesting how everything you hear about a mission is so true. The work is hard, but you pay it no mind because of the strength that you receive in uniting yourself with the mission of Christ. But it isn’t without its tough times. The other night our teacher Jack Shimai did ‘"personal training,” i.e. basically a counseling session. I spoke about how everyone seems to have a jump on nihongo (Japanese) and how frustrated I felt. That same day we had given a lesson that was not the best experience. Our investigator, Yoshida San, asked us questions and said things we did not understand at all. Jack Shimai listened patiently then shared a scripture with me. I am kicking myself because I do not remember it but there was one particular line that sparked the spirit deep inside me. I hadn’t felt the spirit super strong at any point upon arriving at the MTC (this was before the devotionals) and worried that I was not good enough or worthy enough to do missionary work. This one random line of scripture brought that spirit out and let me know that God loved me, and loved what I was doing. That I would be okay, and all I needed to do was keep on working and studying the gospel. That day was so hard, but I am so thankful that I am being stretched and experiencing growth.
Any way I am doing so good. Dad those checks are all deposited and I am sorry you had to un-move for so long, but I’m sure its good to have stuff back. Please send more dear elder stuff! I love it. Also tell anyone you want to email me. (His email address is bryson.viehweg@myldsmail.net. Tell the family I love all of them and tell Shannon I cannot wait till she is here. It is such an adventure. Tell Caley I love her and appreciate her support in the dear elder letters and want more! haha. Tell her to email me here as well. I love you family, and miss you, but this work is so...WORTH IT!!
Ai shite imasu!! Matta Ne!! (I love you!! See ya later!!)
Elder Viehweg
