Email - March 25, 2013 PDay

Hey Mom,

I ate the brownies. It still tasted of home so thank you! And thank you for the letters! It really made my day when I finally got them. My letter to you guys may take a little bit cause I've been so busy lately that it's crazy.

Psh, I didn't even get the chance to write you guys a letter and you're already writing me again??? Geez, I have to catch up now!

You and the rest of the family are always in my prayers.

Love,
Elder Nakai

P.S. I got more pictures for you :P my first P-day last week... we went Soda smashing. It involves a golf club and several cans of cheap, knock off brand soda.

Email from Elder Nakai - March 6, 2013

Hey Shima!
 

I got the letter you guys sent me and it really brightened up my day!
 

Elder Corn is such an awesome dude. He always has a good joke or two up his sleeve and his spiritual power always astounds me. I'm blessed to have such a companion.
 

I'm glad the Maeda's sent you the picture. Yeah, Brother Maeda actually role-played as an investigator and spotted me and recognized me so it was pretty awesome!
 

I have seen many people here, it's crazy. I saw Sister Tanner, Elder Mata'u, Sister Redford (old friend from Logan), and I met one other sister from St. George named Sister Harrison. I don't think I met her in St. George but she's from there and went to Snow Canyon High. Oh, and I saw Sister Isaac there too!
 

Time is just zooming by. It seems like yesterday, I just got here. Hope you're all doing fantastically!

Love,

Drew

p.s. Can you send me a family picture in the mail? Oh and I'm leaving the MTC on the 11th so here's my mission home address:
 

Elder Andrew Ryan Nakai

New Mexico Farmington Mission
400 W Apache St
Farmington, NM 87401
United States

March 27, 2013 - The Mission Field

Dear Family,

Grandma and Grandpa Hyde found me at the MTC.  (Editor's note:  Grandma and Grandpa Hyde are in a branch presidency at the MTC.)  It kinda caught me off-guard, but it was a nice surprise.  (Grandma Hyde gave him a vicarious hug from Mom.)

I must admit, I've had a lot of ups and downs, but thankfully, I'm still here.  Shaaa, I've been so busy that I haven't had time to write back!  Sorry!

My current companion, Elder Lambert . . . how do I say it . . . he's an absolute fruitcake.  Take my awkwardness and weirdness, and multiply it by 6000.  That's Elder Lambert.  I'm doing my best keeping my patience, but wow!  It is very, very, VERY hard.  Pray for me.

Dad, I have a request for you.  Teach your children Navajo.  Please.  Our language is dying, even on the Rez.  Please, please, please teach them Navajo.

Love,

Elder Nakai

March 12, 2013 - Letter from President Doyle L. Batt

Dear Brother and Sister Nakai,

It was wonderful to meet your son as he arrived!  We are grateful to have him as a full-time missionary in the New Mexico Farmington Mission.

I had a personal interview with him to get acquainted.  We held a heart-warming testimony meeting in the evening.  I felt his spirit as he bore his testimony.  The next morning he met his trainer.  We select trainers that we believe are the most obedient, hard working and most skilled missionaries.  We talked about how blessings come by obediently working in unity.  He left the mission home with a big smile and great anticipation.

Experience shows that once new missionaries become immersed in daily missionary work, feelings of homesickness dissipate and they begin to feel the warmth of the Holy Ghost.  You and your missionary will be blessed as your communication with him helps him focus on his purpose - to invite others to come unto Christ.  As a reminder, it is against Church policy for full-time missionaries to have visits from family members, relatives and friends except a phone call on Mother's Day and Christmas for 30 to 40 minutes.

Enclosed is a picture of Elder Nakai and his trainer with Sister Batt and me.  Rest assured that next to our own family, our most important responsibility is to love, watch over and strengthen our missionaries.  May the Lord bless you with the knowledge that your missionary is well cared for, as he serves the Lord.

With our love,

Doyle L. Batt
Mission President

March 6, 2013 - Life at the MTC

Dear Family,

Life here at the MTC is fantastic.  The days are just zooming by, that it feels like I just got here yesterday.  I've been teaching my fellow NM-FARM missionaries some basic Navajo.  Some are doing well.  Others . . . yeah.  Anyway, one of our branch presidency members, Brother Lauritzer, speaks fluent Navajo.  Every time he sees me, he starts speaking Navajo.  Its awesome.

I went to the temple today.  As I sat down in the celestial room, I had the most curious thought that great-grandma and great-grandpa were sitting there with me.  Same with Nala and Grandpa Huskon. 

I love you all!

Love,

Elder Nakai

WEEK ONE - At the MTC

"Dear Elder Nakai:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. you are assigned to labor in the NEW MEXICO FARMINGTON MISSION.

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013."

And report he did.  Drew was more than ready to go.  He was pacing around the house around noon in his suit and tie, and he didn't have to be at the MTC until 1:45 pm.

Everyone did remarkably well with their goodbyes.  Some did better than others, but no one had a total come apart at the curb where Drew was dropped off.

We received an email the very next day from Junichi Maeda.  My guess is that Junichi Maeda works at the MTC.  Apparently Junichi's son and Drew were in band together.  Junichi saw Drew at the MTC and took a couple of pictures of him and emailed them to us.  One of the pictures is of Drew and his new companion, Elder Corn.  From the looks of it, they are both happy to be there. 

We received our first letter in the mail on Saturday.  Everyone was excited to read it, and several wrote back to him the very same day.

"Dear Family,

Oh. My. Gosh. 

First day at the MTC was so spiritually filled.  At our introductory meeting, we all got to introduce ourselves, why we are here, how God prepared us for our missions, and where we saw ourselves in two years.

Time just zoomed by, like really unexpectedly.  Before you knew it, it was time for dinner (chicken cordon bleu . . . Yum.).  Afterwards, we had three lessons where we talk to 'investigators' about the church.  Such a powerful experience.

Anyway, I met four other Elders going to my mission.  Elder Corn from North Dakota is an awesome companion.  I introduced him to Cactus Cooler.  He loved it.

Hope to hear from you all soon!

Love Elder Nakai

P.S.  Enclosed is my MTC address and the approx. date I leave for New Mexico."

It cracks me up that Drew introduced his companion to an Orange Pineapple soda.  Maybe that's how guys bond with one another - through food. 

Drew will be at the MTC until March 11th. 
Here's his address:

Elder Andrew Ryan Nakai
MTC Mailbox # 41
NM-FARM 0311
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604-1793