🌲MERRY CHRISTMAS🌲

Feliz Navidad everyone!

Christmas is the best, isn't it?! My Christmas this year went a little like this:

We woke up, I opened a few gifts, and made pancakes, waffles, bacon. Then I got to call my family and open the gifts from them. 

Video call with the fam and I got a ping pong set from some of my Aunts and Uncles!

So fun talking to everyone

Then we got to visit a member's home, made some crock pot pork and rolls for dinner, caroled to our Mission President's house and a few other people. Then we went to bed. 

Christmas at a member's home 

Sharing a member message in action haha 

Overall Christmas was pretty good. I thought it would suck but it was actually pretty fun. It was also awesome talking to my family and getting to see them on Christmas. Christmas Eve we had dinner with our district and I got to play some basketball. It was pretty sick. 

Christmas Eve Dinner Set up 

Also this week was Zone Conference (a big meeting that is like all day and you go to workshops and hear lots of awesome messages with other missionaries). We talked a lot about how to become a better missionary (surprising right), and about being a "light" to others. I really learned a lot. 

We talked about being a "lower light" and some missionaries sang "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy."  This is "The Lower Lights" singing this song.

Also I've got another story this week from the branch. We were about to start church and started the announcements, when the Branch President got a phone call and had to take it. Then they just paused the whole meeting and he talked to whoever he was talking to. Then he hung up and got the zoom call working and resumed as usual. Then during the meeting he got another call and turned on his phone flashlight while on the phone and flashed everyone in the meeting. 

Me with the Bountiful Temple 

Anyways, that is basicslly this week. I hope you all get to party it up on New Year's Eve and are stoked for 2021. Live it up. 

Elder Leon doesn't like the cold 

Scripture of the week:

- Alma 17 (The Book Of Mormon). I love the story of Alma and the sheep. And getting to teach the King. I have learned so much from these scriptures. Alma is such a good example of a missionary and a good person. 

Song(s) of the week:

- I Hope They Call Me On A Mission by Vocal Point. 

Sadly, this isn't Vocal Point singing the song as I couldn't find a version to share.

My mom sent me this song last week and man it's so good. Also it brings back memories for some reason. Throwback to when I was like eight year's old and singing this song and boom now I'm here. Kinda crazy. 

- Barbara Ann by The Beach Boys. I love the Beach Boys. So good. 

Love, 

ヂットー長老

Meeting the King of Snow Shoveling

Ho Ho Ho and Merry Christmas Everyone!

 Christmas mask and blue skies 

This week I made some fire Zesty Italian Crockpot Chicken and some killer salsa chicken burritos (Thank you to our "secret" elves that have been bringing us little gifts each day! I wonder who you could be???). We ate good this week.

Sourdough bread our "secret" elves left us!

I hope everyone is doing well and that you all have an awesome week getting to party it up for Christmas! And for all you missionaries - I hope you don't miss your fam too much, and get to meet up with some members or people you are teaching so this Christmas is a little less weird. Honestly, I don't know how excited I am for actual Christmas day this year, but I do love the Christmas Season and getting to talk about Christ even more. 

 Walking with Elder Leon

We had the BEST visit a few days ago with the Birrell family. It definelty is in my top 10 favorite conversations I have had on my mission so far. It started off as a normal conversation but then quickly turned a corner I never thought I would encounter. Brother Birrell LOVES snow. I know what you might be thinking right now..."but Elder Ditto, that's pretty normal, isn't it? Don't you love snow too? It's the best! You get to ski and sled and play in the snow.". Well that's where you are wrong. This guy doesn't love snow cuz it's snow. He loves snow because he gets to move it! He is in love with moving snow.  As he continued to express his love for moving snow, I learned more about all the different kinds of tools that are used to move snow (and yes it's called moving snow, not shoveling snow, because that would be inaccurate, as there are many different ways to move snow) than I ever have. He asked what kind of shovel I have back home and what my favorite shovel to move snow is. I had no idea how to answer that question. Then he showed us how favorite shovel and told us all of the specs. For all of you who are dying to know which shovel to get for the next big snow storm, you must get the Orbit Orange shovel that is construction grade plastic with NO metal edge. This is key.

THE SHOVEL

Good luck fellow shovel-ers.🤠

Church yesterday was awesome. The branch was pretty chill and it's always funny because they are quite unorganized and it feels super personal. Then the Dai ichi ward was awesome because there were probably over 50 people actually attending church in person. It helps that it was Christmas Sunday, so a lot more people wanted to attend it in person instead of online. I hope the numbers continue to go up. It was funny cuz when I first walked into the chapel, I thought I was in the wrong church because there were so many people. 

So once a week, missionaries have a day where they get all their laundry, shopping, and playing in for the week. Pdays are the best cuz I get to play basketball. The only bummer is that now, Elder Seachriest is gone and I just play basketball by myself. 1v1-ing yourself is kinda hard. A lot less fun too. Don't worry tho - I won. 

A very brown meal I made 

Also yesterday we brought this sister in one of our English wards the sacrament because she hadn't received it in a few months. I also gave her a blessing or comfort in peace since she is going through a lot right now. It's always cool getting to use the priesthood (The power of God) in a more direct way and really feeling like I am able to help bless someone's life. Also she has an adopted son who is struggling right now and her and her son aren't really getting along. We have been trying to meet up with him for a while and play basketball or skate with him since he loves sports and skateboarding. But no luck so far. It would be awesome if you could keep them in your prayers!

I don't have a real skateboard right now, so I had to buy a mini one😔

Scripture of the week:

- Luke 2:11

11 For unto you is ^aborn this day in the city of David a ^bSaviour, which is Christ the ^cLord.

Christ is born! I love Christ and am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and this time of year. Keep on praying and reading your scriptures. You guys are awesome. 

Song(s) of the week:

- The Pentatonix Christmas Album. Sooo good

   

- Run Run Rudolph by Chuck Berry

- Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms

- I Will Wait by Mumford & Sons. 

Apparently some people think this song is about the 2nd coming of Christ. I mostly just think it's a really good song. Let me know what you think.

P.S. - I saw the BYU "Y" yesterday when we went down to visit some members in Eagle Mountain, and that was really cool but also weird. Hope all my BYU peeps are doing well. Congrats on finishing another semester!

P.P.S. - We were talking to our friend, Kazuki Taylor, and he was telling us this gnarly story about when after a surgery on his appendix, his wound started to open back up and his organs and whatnot were falling out of his body. It was a pretty dope story but then Elder Leon started to go all white (even more white than he normally is) and then he said everything went black and he almost threw up (dont worry - he caught it before it came out). It was pretty funny to see, and an interesting way to end the day. 

- Elder Ditto

Japanese Ghost Stories

What's good fam!

Elder Seachriest left us on Wednesday to fly home since he completed his two year mission. It's weird not having him here and it's weird not being in a trio anymore. There are pros and cons to being in a normal duo tho. 

We didn't have any real crazy experiences this week, so I am just gonna list off some of the memorable things that did happen:

Lighting the World by decorating a door (We had to make due with what we have)

- We got a crock pot (pretty nasty and old one... but still a crock pot) and a rice cooker from some other missionaries in our district! If you have any killer crock pot recipes, then send then my way!‍

Japanese snacks and treats

- We went to try to visit Kevin again but ended up running into these twins, Brad and Brett, who were trying to move this HUGE dresser (seriously weighted 400lbs+) and barely got it onto there car. We talked to them for a while and are gonna meet up with then again hopefully soon. ️‍♂️

- It snowed! Yayyy. We shovel Fusako's (this Japanese grandma that we have been teaching for awhile) driveway. She was so grateful and gave us these rad mugs. I love snow!

Pushing some snow

- Elder Leon and I got a Sashimi (raw fish sushi) boat. It was really good.

Sashimi boat!

- We decorated our hotel room a bit for Christmas

- The Stanley's have four crazy kids and they are always so fun to talk to. The youngest always quizzes our Japanese and you can never predict what she will do next. This time she told us some ghost stories in Japanese, "took pictures" (would make a clicking sound and then draw a picture on some paper) of me and Elder Leon and this baby doll.  She also gave us a Japanese class study session. So funny.

- Elder Seachriest and I have been searching for all of the license plates for each state, and we found all of them this week! Niceeee. 

All the states 

Scripture of the week:

- Doctrine & Covenants 3: 8,10

8 Yet you should have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and he would have been with you in every time of trouble.

10 But remember, God is merciful; therefore, repent of that which thou hast done which is contrary to the commandment which I gave you, and thou art still chosen, and art again called to the work...

- I have been reading more in The Doctrine & Covenants, and I have loved it! This scripture really brings me joy and peace. We can always repent and come back to Christ. God is so merciful and all we need to do is take advantage of Christ's atonement and then we are again called to the work! So good.

Song(s) of the Week:

- Jingle Bell Rock- Gotta love the Christmas songs tho and this is one of my favs.

- Silent Night by Michael Bublé. 

Michael is always a go-to and this song is no different. I also love this song when it's sung at church too. 

Love, 

Elder Ditto

Putting Your Trust In The Lord

Mahalo!

I hope you all had an awesome week and are enjoying the Christmas Season. I love Christmas music, and me and Elder Leon (Elder Seachriest leaves for home this Wednesday) will be bumping it till the 26th hopefully. 

Home court training (both Japanese and ping pong)

Ping pong training for when we get to play Kotatsu one of these days.... 

This last Sunday was fast Sunday and the two wards we went too were super good. Church is like my absolute favorite now, and I really look forward to it. I am so grateful for church, and especially being able to attend in person church. In the Daiichi ward, there were some great testimonies shared, and two of my favorite quotes from them are from two of the young men that spoke. 

"Shoutout to ma' bois *points to the young men helping pass and bless the sacrament* for being so awesome. Also I wanna shoutout The Bois part II *looks behind him and points at the bishopric*..."

Then there were a few more great and funny testimonies shared. Honestly it was super dope cuz it kinda reminded me that we should always be ourselves and share the light with others. Oh and also they were wearing white Air max shoes and Air Forces haha. I LOVE THE DAI ICHI WARD! 

Sushi! A member works at a sushi restaurant and got us some super good sushi.

We also visited our boi Parker (soon to be Elder Richards) from the Daiichi ward. He starts his mission in January and was called to the Tokyo South Mission. It was super cool talking to him and getting him psyched to serve a mission! Huge shoutout to my MTC district! You guys are the best. Talking to Parker got me reminiscing about what it was like just anxiously waiting to start but also being nervous. 

Cool pic I saw on Facebook this week. The world can be a confusing and distracting place.

I listened to a ton of mission related talks this week and they were all so awesome and I learned a ton too. I will attach two of my favorites below. I am really trying to continue to work on putting my trust in the Lord and really "forgetting myself and getting lost in the work". 

Adney A. Komatsu Talk on Sacrifice:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1977/10/sacrifice-missionary-style?lang=eng

David A. Bednar Talk on Becoming a Missionary:

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2005/10/becoming-a-missionary?lang=eng

Also this week is transfers week (when missionaries get moved to different areas and get new companions), but we found out that me and Elder Leon will be staying together and will be over the same wards. So my address isn't changing, and I would love to get some Christmas cards or letters you guys! 

Elder Tyler Ditto

Utah Salt Lake Mission

3487 S 1300 E

West Entrance

Salt Lake City, UT 84106

Well that's about it... nothing really happened this week. At least you get to read a shorter email this time haha. 

Scripture of the Week:

- Mosiah 23:22 (The Book of Mormon). 

22 Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his ^atrust in him the same shall be ^blifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people.

I read this scripture this past week as I am making my way through reading The Book of Mormon again. It says "...whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up in the last day...". Fully trusting in God can be a pretty tough thing most of the time, and I am definitely working on that right now. Each day brings new challenges and many of the same old challenges. Praying and the scriptures are becoming my best friend now (probably a few years overdue) and trusting in the Lord is one of the many things I have been working on. 

Song(s) of the week:

My Little Prayer by David Archuleta. I seriously love this song. So so good. Gives me the chills every time and I love the message behind it too. I know my Heavenly Father is always there for me and that I have these trails and hard times for a reason and so he can strengthen me. Life is so hard and a mission is no different. I'm continually trying to learn more and soak up all I can.

 

- The whole Tarzan soundtrack is wayyy good. Give it a listen.

These Skittles are the weirdest thing ever. They were given to us, and they are just like that Jelly Belly game where some of them taste nasty. So disappointing but also kinda a fun game if you are bored haha 🤢

Hurrah for Israel!!!

Sinceramente,

Elder Ditto