Hey guys,

Did you know that in Japanese ha ha means mom, funny huh! Man, I laugh everytime I think of Whitney and the new dog. I'm sure she is loving it, just make sure she doesn't turn into another Allie.

I go to the temple every P-day around 3:00. It was weird last time cause I saw Kyle Tuft's sister and one of her friends out on the lawn. It was kinda funny she was yelling my name a few times then ran over. I didn't recognize her at first then I realized she was Kyle's sister. She said she had just been talking with Whitney. Crazy coincidence. Sounds like Kyle is doing really well.

The MTC is the same. It's really weird that I have been here for 5 weeks now. Six more to go. Our sempi, the guys who were here when we got here, just left. Its really weird...people really do leave this place:) Not much different going on, lots of class time and good meetings. Iam doing well with the language and am making progress. We are going to teach the first lesson in Japanese this week. Scary stuff but we have practiced it and done alright.

The field is open but trying to play soccer with 25 elders tht only played in city league isn't always that fun, but at least its outside. The food is really starting to get old, which reminds me thanks for the package. You should have seen the lady's face that handed me the package. I got some good heckling as I walked out of the post office. (The package was cinnamon rolls, but the lid of the box had princesses printed all over it.)

Oh another weird story. Burn's companion has something wrong with his foot and has to stay here for a few more weeks. I guess when he went to the doctor Sister Linquist was one of the people that helped him. She asked him about his companion and it was Elder Burns, then asked about me and he remembered me. Well I was in the Call Center when he walked in. He had a note from her to me, it was crazy. Make sure you call her for me and tell her thanks, that was a good surprise.

Our district is combining with another district this week which is too bad. My address might change, I'll let you know. It will be interesting to see how it goes. Not everyone is excited about it but I think it will be cool to get to know some of the other guys.

Let me know how the soccer team does in state. Isn't it about that time? What about Joe's mission call, has he gotten it yet. I can't wait to hear where he goes. I sent both Burns and Trent letters last week, I have no idea how long it takes them to get mail but I hope they got them. I hope to hear back from them. Thats cool that Trent has had a baptism, and it probably won't be long before Burn's does too.

Well thank you for all that you have done for me. I'm doing well and am glad I'm here.

Love (ai shite imasu)
Cam

So how is everyone doing? Anything fun for spring break? I'm sure it was nice just to have a break from school.

So we really got a new dog. Wow, I'm really surprised about it. Did you get it for Whitney? I'm sure that everyone is having a lot of fun with it, especially Morgan and Whitney. I can only imagine. What do you think of it?

Everything is going well over here for the most part. It is getting a little old sitting in class 10 hours a day but that's what I expected. All the guys in my district are really great and I'm getting along with my companion really well. We all have a lot of fun together. Japanese is hard but I am really coming along and have already caught up to some of the guys.

Anyways, everything else is pretty much normal here. Hopefully the field will open this week and we can go outside for gym time. Our sempi (the guys that were here when we got here) leave on Monday. Man I can't believe I've been here for 4 weeks, its flown by so fast. I got to say goodbye to Grandpa and Grandma they seemed really excited. I'm sure they are doing great, I'm sending them a letter this week. Can't wait to hear back from them.

Thank you so much for the cookies, they were really good and reminded me of home. I also just found the starburst jellybeans in the bottom of my Easter basket that was totally awesome. They are one of my favorites. Thanks for Trents address too.

I've seen Jake a few times and he seems to be doing great. He is worried about the language just like everyone else. I'm sure he will do fine. You really learn fast here and it isn't because your doing it yourself. There is no way I could have learned as much as I have so far anywhere else, it's pretty cool. He said he saw you in the temple the other day. I bet it was awesome.

Our teachers told us that it is a really good idea to bring pitures of our family, friends, house, pets and whatever else we want because the Japanese people LOVE it. I asked Whitney and Derrick to get me some more but if you have any favorites you want to send that would be great too.

Oh, let me know where Joe ends up, I can't wait to hear.

Well, guys, I hope you know that I love you so much and I don't know where I'd be without you all. I really appreciate everything that you have done to help me get here.

I gotta go, but can't wait to hear from you. I'm doing great, having fun and learning a ton.

Love you,

Cam

3 Weeks have flown by...

Man it's crazy how these last 3 weeks have just flown by but it also feels like I've been here forever. I dunno, it's kind of hard to explain.

So, it sounds like I will get to see a few more guys I know, Cool. I have been surprised with all the people I have seen since I've been in Here. I saw Kasey and Mason, his comp. both from Springville. I also got more pictures with Trent before he left, got to tell him good luck and all that. Could you get me his address and is that really Burns new address? I'm going to write to them both today if I have time. I will be watching for the other guys to come.

I figured you would like the pictures. I will send more. I want to get Rick a letter out soon but I will have to do it next week, I have to get my haircut and a bunch of other stuff today.

I have seen grandma and grandpa every day except maybe 1. They really seem like they are liking it and are doing well. It's a lot of fun to talk to them. They have this thing called the TEC and a person comes in and pretends to be an investigator. It's pretty cool. They get to do it too and they are having a lot of fun with it. I can just picture Grandpa teaching, I'm sure they did great.

It's crazy how fast I have been learning. I still have so much to learn but they really give it to you fast and I feel like I'm picking it up pretty good. Everything is going pretty well.

Thanks for the Easter basket it was awesome. The card really made me laugh. My comp thought his was cool too. I got a mini preach my gospel in Japanese it's so cool. Did you ask her to send it? My comp has one in english too, it's really sweet. I can't read the japanese one because it's all in kanjii. If it isn't too much trouble could I get an english one. They are way cool. I hope the lady doing them is getting money for them cause I'm sure they are expensive to make. If it's a hassel don't worry about it.

Tell Muff and Whit that I love their letters. Whit should get her patr. blessing, I know that it will help her a lot. I just hope she gets better. Oh and dad told me about the suburban ad and how he worded it...it made me laugh. That's just like dad. I didn't think you would have any luck selling it due to the economy and stuff. Glad you won't miss it too much.

I'm sorry this is short, but I'm out of time. I love you so much and am having the best time out here. This is a great place to be.

Love You

Cam

Elder and Sister Meldrum Sighting

This has been a much better week than last. The first week was tough getting into the new schedule and all but now that I'm used to it its quite a bit better.

Burns left yesterday and I was able to talk to him, give him a hug and take a few pictures. I'm developing them right now and will try to send them to you this week. Oh ya, and if you ever want to send me something that could go bad let me know the day before and I will pick it up before dinner.

I saw Grandma and Grandpa yesterday when I was walking to dinner. I gave them a big hug and took a few pictures. It was really great to see some familiar faces. They seem really excited to be here. They will be great missionaries.

Japanese is hard! I'm working at it as much as I can and I know how to pray, bear my testimony, and say basic sentences like, I walk to church and things like that. It's a lot of fun, but can be kind of frusterating.

How is everything going back home? Anything exciting going on? Who won the NCAA tournament? Its like a big bubble here and nobody knows anything going on ouside. Kind of cool.

I haven't gotten the mail today so I hope your letters are in there. Oh and by the way I loved the address list joke, it made me laugh! Could you get me Burn's new addres, I want to keep in touch while he's in Norway.

We watched a ton of conference this last week and there were alot of great talks. It's really different watching it as a missionary and I really liked it.

I miss you all and can't wait to hear from you.

Love,
Cam

Well this was my first week. The first day was by far the worst day of the week. We sat around in our room for an hour and a half not doing anything, but I did get to meet my companion. His name is Buerger Choro (elder). He's from York, Penn. He's had 3 years of Japanese in High School and a semester at BYU.

We had a bunch of devotionals and meetings explaining whats going to happen during the next 11 weeks. I saw Trent at dinner and got to talk to him. That was cool. The next day we actually got to meet our teachers and start class. We got to know our district better too. We have 6 total elders in our district and all of them, except me, have had Japanese (nihongo) in high school. I'm already feeling behind but am trying my best to work hard to catch up to them. We had more big meetings that day and class. We learned how to pray, ask what is your name and where are you from. I started to memorize my Hirrangana which is what they use to write sounds for their language.

There are 3 alphabets, Katakana which is used for non-native words. Hirrangana is for native words. Kanji is for actual words like book or computer. I have all my Hirrangana down and am learning how to write it now. Hope that explanation made sense, probably didn't but that's my take on it.

The third day (Saturday) I finally saw Burns at dinner which was cool and got to talk to him. Still the same Burns but he can speak Norweigan which is crazy sounding. Trent is still the same and makes me laugh. Lots of class on Saturday and I'm starting to get the grove of things.

Sunday was fun. We had lots of study time, which is great because I need to try to catch up. We had mission conference and heard talks from the mission presidency. We had Sacrament Meeting and then another devotional. I saw both Burns and Trent there and so we got our picture together. I'll send it to you when I have time. Burn's companion is huge. The pictures do not do justice. It was so awesome. We watched testament after that and got to relax for a bit.

Yesterday (Mon) was our first day on our real MTC schdule which is class and a LGM (large group meeting) and gym. Gym is fun. You can play basketball, volleyball, four square or just workout. Nice tomove around and use some energy. After conference weekend the field will be open to play soccer!

Well that's pretty much what's happened in the last week. Alot of class. The food isn't great, but it works. The milk is good so I will be alright.

I really appreciate the letters I got during the week from Whitney and Derrick. Aunt Cami sent me one too. Ask her in a few days if she got my letter. The only thing I need right now is an address list which I won't need until Tuesday.

Ok, well Love you guys and miss you a lot. I'll leave you with a little nihongo. Iesu Kirisuto kyokai no shienkyoshi desu. (I am a missionary of the church of Christ).

Love you

Cam