Now Leaving MTC, Next Stop: Nagoya, Japan

This is my last email that I will be writing from the MTC. I cannot believe how quickly the past 2 months have gone. This email is probably going to get sappy real fast, but oh well. To start with, I got my travel plans, so I will officially be leaving the MTC on Monday, June 12. Our group leaves the MTC at 4:50 in the morning for the Salt Lake City Airport. We have a layover in Seattle before heading to Tokyo and then down to Nagoya. I'm so excited and can't believe I'm finally heading to the beautiful land of Japan. Because of that though, my schedule has become very busy. Lots of packing and last minute prep to do before we leave. As such, apologies if today's post is a little scatter-brained. Trying to write very quickly. 

First off, a word on the relationships you make here at the MTC. (AKA, the cheesy part) It's crazy how spending 9 weeks straight with people can force you to really get to know them, haha. I wrote really brief descriptions of my district in the past, but today I just wanted to say a quick word on each of them.

First, Bennett Chourou. When I first met him, I was a little hesitant about him. He and I had very different personalities and I didn't fully understand his thinking. But now I've learned that he has such an amazing mind that wants to learn. While he sometimes struggles, he's constantly working to be better. The other day he mentioned that he doesn't fully understand "sass", which is hard because the rest of our district is very sassy. So, at first he thought we hated each other, but then he learned that it's just our way of showing love. I'm glad that he understands how much we appreciate him and are grateful for his wisdom in our class.

Next, Namoa Chourou. My Australian brother, haha. He's just a big teddy bear. While in the first couple weeks he struggled a little with following rules, you could tell he always wanted to be better. He didn't always follow through, but you could see the sincerity in his heart. His spiritual insight is always so incredible and usually comes out of nowhere. I've learned so much from him in these past weeks and know he will be able to touch so many hearts with his sweet spirit. It's weird to think that after the mission I may never see him again, but I certainly hope that I get the chance to because he really is like a brother to me.

Then, Pook Chourou. Ah, the sassiest Brit I have ever met and a lifelong friend. While we constantly joke about how "I can't wait til we're in different missions", we do actually enjoy each others company. He is a recent convert--19 months now--but somehow knows more about the gospel than I do. He seriously has such amazing insights into the gospel and is a walking LDS Gospel Library. Ask him anything about the scriptures or some random obscure talk and he's got the answer. It's seriously impressive. Not only that, but he has a strong enough testimony to convert all of Japan, I'm sure of it. He knows this gospel is true and his experiences always leave me with a stronger testimony of my own. But he's also HILARIOUS and knows when to let loose and when to focus. I've been inspired time and time again by him and I'm so excited to hear about the wonderful things he does in the mission field. 

Then, Christensen Chourou. Literally the little brother I never knew I had. (Not discrediting you Erik, haha, still love you) He and I have so much in common it's kind of insane. The amount of times we have quoted Disney movies at each other or Lord of the Rings or (my favorite) Megamind is insane. It has really helped me feel more at home here at the MTC. While I frequently give him a hard time, I know that he will be a truly incredible missionary. He's already got an amazing grasp on the language and an even better testimony. I'm so excited to see how he improves over the next 20 months. While we'll be in the same mission area, I'll probably only see him at mission conferences. However, I'm so excited to hear about his stories when we do get to meet up. Luckily he's from Utah, so I know I'll get to see him when I get back from my mission. Which is great, because he seriously has become one of my best friends. And when he and Pook Chourou are together, haha, it's truly amazing. They are a power duo and have taught me so much through their ability to teach and work. 

Finally, Porter Shimai. My companion and friend. In all honesty, having a companion with me 24 hours/7 days a week sounded awful before I came on my mission. I really like my alone time and generally don't love people, haha, so it was...a difficult situation to go into. However, Porter Shimai has truly been a blessing in my life. While she and I are really quite different--like...we don't have any hobbies in common--we've gotten along amazingly well. We compliment each others lifestyles and build each other up as we work through this whole "mission" thing. It's amazing and I love her so much. She's got an A+ personality, but is more dedicated than any person I've ever met. She is hilarious, but knows when to work. And she works HARD. I'm still impressed by how quickly she's picked up on the language and know that she will quickly adjust to Japan. I'm so grateful for the blessing she's been in my life, whether it's been through us teaching together, or laughing together, or--on rare occasion--crying together. She's always there to support me. I'm so glad/lucky that she's going to the Nagoya mission as well. I hope that sometime in the future--preferably after we both know the language, haha--we get the chance to be companions again. Either way, I know she will be one of my best friends for life.

Alright, cheesy part is over, haha. But I am seriously grateful for the chance I've had to meet so many amazing people and I know that that number will just increase over the next 16 months. But now onto some more exciting things.

First, the MTC opened 2 new class buildings today. And they are GORGEOUS! They're 6 stories high, huge, and have amazing artwork and architecture and I'm in love. I'm glad we at least get to use them for a week, but kinda wish I could be here with them longer. I'll send a few photos and I'm pretty sure you can find some more information online, so I won't say a ton about it--plus words can't do it justice--just know that it's amazing. And we're on the 6th floor and take the stairs everyday, so it's very tiring, haha. But the view is very much worth it. We can see over the whole valley from our room, it's amazing. And my personal favorite part, the "ponder rooms" (AKA study rooms) have music playing in them. Just instrumental church music, but it's AMAZING! I study so much better when there's music playing in the background so it's been a real blessing in my life.

Tomorrow we have something called "in field orientation" which means we spend the entire day in special classes to prepare us for actually being in the field. I have no idea how it's going to go, but I hear it's exhausting and amazing all at the same time, haha. I look forward to it. 

This is my last chance to write for a week and a half (p-days in Japan are on Monday, so I won't write again til the 19), but I'm sure my next one will be very long. 

I'm excited to head to Japan, but I will definitely miss my time here at the MTC. The friends I've made and the things I've learned will help me for life.

Again, apologies for how crazy this email has been, haha. Enjoy the photos! Next stop: Japan!

--Armour Shimai

P.S. To all the lovely people who send me letters, packages, etc. The package pickup closes at 2PM on Saturdays and that is the last chance I'll have to pick up a package before I leave. So! If you are wanting to send me something--which is of course very much appreciated--please make sure it will arrive before then. And preferably as early as possible so that my district leader will be able to get me the package pickup slip in time. Thanks!