Our Sister Taylor

Shortly before I (Spencer3) was released as our Ward Mission leader Sister Anne Taylor transferred into our Ward (Sonoran Springs). She had grown up in the United States for the most part but was originally from Japan. So she speaks Japanese and at the conclusion of serving her Mission here in the Gilbert Mission she moved up to Provo and began teaching Japanese at the MTC.

We became Facebook friends and I stayed in contact with her to let her know is that our Spencer was heading to the Fukuoka mission. She said she'd keep an eye on him for us and posted this photo to Facebook today.

Week 2 - Sept 28 2016

Konnichwa

Wow, that was a fast week. This is what I've been up to this week

Wednesday: after me and Campbell Chōrō had finished with laundry we had went to the gym for an hour. I played volleyball while Campbell Chōrō played basketball. It was a ton of fun, after that we all got dressed and went to the Provo temple, which is just down the street, amazing experience. After we had finished up there we had gone to get lunch at the MTC, it was right before the cafeteria closed so we were almost alone and the staff wasn't to happy because they had to serve us. After that the Chōrōtachi went back to the room, I sat down for a little bit to plan our lesson with Makiko and when I had finished I took a nap. Not regretting that choice, after I woke up we got ready for dinner and went to class, during that time everyone in the class had a chance to teach Makiko

Thursday: today was cloudy, like by afternoon it looked like the sum was just coming up, and it stayed this cloudy until about Thursday afternoon.  I spent morning taught Japanese by William Shimai and Proctor Kyōdai in the afternoon, and then 3 hours of personal, companion and language study throughout the afternoon. Me and Campbell Chōrō decided to walk around the MTC studying Japanese flashcards for language study, it was chill but really cool. Here are some pictures I took

I do realize its a grainy picture, it was on my IPad. And before 9:30, the time we head from class to our rooms, it had started rainin and I had no coat or umbrella so I put my messenger bag over my head and ran. After we had gotten inside and almost to the room Wincester Chōrō realized that his ID badge and key where missing, we found them pretty close to the door so I threw on a coat and went looking for him, I didn't find him until I had almost reached the residence building, so that was exciting.

Friday: I don't believe I mentioned it but the MTC choir is going to be singing in the Saturday afternoon session of general conference but I'm not in it. The problem is the MTC choir is 12 hundred people and there are only about 300 seats but don't worry I'm in the MTC choir, though Osmond Chōrō, Arnold Chōrō and Torgenson Shimai made it. They lose a ton of study time to be in the choir, so I'm not terribly sad. During class today, William Shimai announced that today was the last day she was teaching us because she was moving to DC right after the class was over, that made it hard to concentrate the rest of class but she was a fun teacher.

Later that afternoon I was in the bookstore getting a scripture case when I hear "Spencer Brinkerhoff?" Which is highly unusual because I hadn't told anyone that my first name was actually Spencer and not Elder. So I turn around and low and behold its Colton Dayley, we swam together my sophomore and junior year. After a loud reunion I find out he had just soon up Wednesday, and he was going to Georgia, I can't remember what city. 

Mow for the third surprise, you guys remember my investigator Makiko? Turns out her real name was Grudvig Shimai and also that she is going to be our new teacher.  

Saturday: sadly this was a boring day. Nothing interesting, meaning we just studied an had class time, really happened until we were about to have lights out. Wincester Chōrō had asked Arnold Chōrō to tuck him in and Arnold Chōrō said "no" but his Doryō, Swapp Chōrō said he would, after he had wrapped him in his sheets, he used the extra sheets around his feet to tie his feet together and Campbell Chōrō had jumped off his bed, grabbed two charging cables and used them to tie him up, here is the evidence.

Sunday: we had a pretty busy day. 

This is Mayse Chōrō, this is picture of him consuming about 14 bowls of the BYU Creamery ice cream and he knows he is doing something stupid. After lunch we had a temple walk, where we walk to the Provo temple not a block away.

This is my branch president, President Stevens. After our temple walk we had a quick district meeting then went to sacrament meeting, which is mostly in Japanese. Then after dinner we had choir practice.

Yes, its packed but the devotional today was given by Steven Allen, he is in charge of all of the missionary training videos, about not going home when you don't want to be here.

Monday: it was pretty usual, study, eat, study and more eating. We did teach our new pretend investigator, Grudvig Shimai was pretend to be Yoko san. Nothing interesting happened tell we got back to the residency hall.

The idea of this fabulous game is to see who could go the longest, last I heard the record was 30 seconds.

Tuesday: we had a sub for class to day, Eyering Shimai. I know what your thinking, we asked and she is the the granddaughter of Henry B Eyering. Studying and eating until we had the devotional, Elder and Sister Schwitzer talked, Sister Schwitzer about leaving no regrets and Elder Schwitzer about the blessings of commandments. Then we finished off the day with a review back in the classroom.

Let me know how you guys are doing 

Letter From the President

It was totally cool to get this envelope in the mail

We received this letter from Spenci's mission president about a week after he left for the MTC. It made me cry a little bit. It was amazing to read about how they are excited to meet our boy, and how they are hoping that this will be a great experience for him. It helps me to realize they love him already and will take good care of him. We sure love our Spenci.

Week 1 - Sept 21, 2016

Konnichwa
Week one has gone by quickly, when I got here i got my name tag, room
key and Id card rhen I went straight to learning Japanese. After a
couple minutes of class my Sōryō all walked in Campbell chōrō. Food
here is not too bad but there is mass quantities so I'm not starving
also the Dōryōtachi in my district get care package is full of food
it's fantastic. We study for about 11 hours a day either language or
scripture and on the second day we start teaching our first
investigator Makiko. It's not too bad except for the fact that we had
to keep your teacher in Japanese and I'm below kindergarten level. Me
and Elder Campbell write out our script before hand and then we
teacher off of it, not too bad until she has questions. We had a
district meeting with the branch president and another district and I
was assigned to be the first district leader in my district. There are
five other chōrōtachi touches in my district and a ride to Shimaitachi
in my district as well. We have devotionals every Sunday and Tuesday
and Tuesday evening we usually get a general authority to come this
Tuesday we had L Whitney Clayton from the 70 come to teach us it was
pretty cool he talked about how the church is true. I suppose I
skipped over the total touchy and the Shimaitachi they are Winchester
Chōrō, Swap chōrō, Arnold chōrō and Osmond Chōrō and the Shimai are
Cowdell Shimai and Torgerson Shimai. Sunday afternoon we took a quick
walk to the temple it was pretty cool but we didn't get to stay long
because we had an extra long mean afterwards. I'm now going to explain
the Japanese words in my letter, we were challenged by Procter Kyōdai
to Speak Our Language (SYL) and to do that we incorporate words into
our vocabulary
Chōrō-Elder
Shimai-Sister
Dōryō-Compainion
-tachi- makes the noun plural
If I missed any other word, Google translate

Me Campbell Chōrō and Swapp Chōrō

Torgerson Shimai and Cowdell Shimai

Me and Dōryō

Winchister Chōrō is not amused

Me, Campbell, Winchester, Swapp, Arnold, Osmond, Cowdell and Torgenson in front of the Provo temple

Mason Chōrō, guy front and center on the selfie, got a care package with some face mustaches and he shared with me and Swapp Chōrō. Fun fact, he is from Arizona and played rugby with Ryan.

Replacement Workers

Spenci has been doing yard work with Papa for several years. They have gotten into such a groove that Papa does not need to give Spenci much instruction any more. They both have really enjoyed the hamburger lunch afterward, and the time spent together.

Here is the work crew the first Saturday after Elder Brinkerhoff reported to the MTC.

How many boys does it take to replace 1
Spencer D.?

Traveling to the MTC part 2

(Contributed by Jennifer Platt)

Waiting curb side at the airport.
He has slick baggage that connects all together

We picked Spencer up from the Salt Lake Airport around 10:30 am (MST) and traveled to Provo. He was so excited and happy... ready to go. When I asked if he'd like to call his parents to let them know he was safe, he said he'd best not. We drove through a favorite local (Provo) burger place and ordered lunch. Upon arriving at the window to pay, the clerk noticed Spencer in his suit and asked if he was headed to the MTC, which merited a FREE lunch.

Cousin Curt Farnsworth met us and spent a few minutes in between classes eating lunch. Then we made a quick stop at Uncle Jed's store to purchase a water bottle. Report time was 12:30 pm and we were exactly on time. It's a slick, painful process- just rip that bandaid off. I started crying as soon as we turned into the MTC. We were directed down a long road to park in slot "21", get bags out and go. I think they said we had 4 minutes. Needless to say, I had a good cry. Apparently more than his mom did that morning :) Way to be strong Jenna.

Cousin Nelson (age 8.5 months)

Elder Brinkerhoff couldn't get his hands on this baby fast enough.
He was very happy for the car to stop so he could cuddle this baby!

Stop crying Aunt Jen.

When asked what he's most excited about, he stated: a love of Japanese culture and people has been engrained in me. I guess I blame my dad. I can't wait to go to Japan.

What are you most worried about: teaching in general can be scary but to do it in Japanese is pretty scary.

I reminded him that the Lord trusts him and to have faith in that for now and it will be enough. He's going to do great! He's a happy, easy going guy and we were so happy to have some time with him.

With the Provo Temple, facing the MTC 

BYE!!

He's off! I was being rushed away by a traffic officer

Walking toward the MTC. I thought he'd sprint. 

First Letter Home

I have arrived safely at the MTC but, I'm sure you heard that from Aunt Jen already. Today has been busy, I got here, got my books, assigned a companion, Elder Cambel,  and started learning Japanese right away. We had some meetings in the day and in my last meeting was with the Branch Presidents and I was called to be the first district leader. My PDay is Wednesday.

Text Message From Mom's Friend

Mom received this text message from her friend Tracy Alexander

"My friend posted these on Facebook after dropping off her son this A.M. at the airport ... I was like, I recognize that other missionary! :-)"

This other missionary is going to Taiwan. I think his name is Christian Erikson

Traveling to MTC

Aunt Jen picked me up from the SLC airport.

I got to see my cousin Curt Farnsworth. He just returned from his mission in Chile.

Airport Dropoff

Spencer had a great system set up with his luggage. His bags had straps on them so that they all  linked together. It ended up making a little train that he could easily navigate through the parking lot and the airport terminal. And note in the photo below that Claire is on Megan's back BECAUSE SHE FORGOT TO BRING SHOES!

Spencer said that he was a bit hungry so we grabbed him a greasy egg sandwich from the Paradise Bakery there near the security gate at Terminal 3. We think that the combination of that fast food and a bit of nerves didn't sit well with him and he didn't end up finishing it at all. Our beautiful Talley is giving Spence a bit of a look in the picture below. I absolutely love the way that our children love one another. 

There were a couple of pictures that we took at the airport that morning with just the three of us. I chose to include the photo below for one small reason. My dear sweet wife is holding the hand of her little boy. She held it like she has so many times before. She has led him by the hand and taught him right from wrong. She has used her hand to heal and nurture, to correct and council. And in that moment as he was about to go out on his own, she was there to hold his hand. She is the greatest blessing in my life. 

Annnnnnnnndddddddd.... there he goes. Our life is changing.