Merry Christmas

Well it has been a while since I have written anything, henceforth I present my *BEST CHRISTMAS WISHES* to you all.





久しぶりですよね！？！最近ぜんぜん何も書いていないよね。。で、みんなにメリクリスマスを言いたかったからこれを書きます！




This is a cake that I made with a homless man!! seriously,

これはチャンとたまたまで会ったホームレス人の作ったケーキです！！　マジで、




メチャ甘いクリスマスケーキ！！
SuUPER Sweet Christmas Cake!

Well here are just a few christmas pics. really chrismas is today but yeah, merry christmas. Ishigaki is good, it is warm here, not a christmas time feel at all, but thats ok, im on an island in the middle of nowhere. Also recently I have picked up the fun language of spanish, thought it would be good to expand my horizons and dive into another language. so far so good, but. THANK YOU and MERRY CHRISTMAS, and a happy new year.

これは（上の写真）最近の撮った写真ですが。当たり前でしょう（笑）でも、実は今日はクリスマスですけど。メリクリスマスね。石垣はいい所だけど、私が思ったとりすごく田舎ですよ。最近、あたたかいだし、あんまりクリスマス雰囲気がないね。しかし、すごく田舎島に住んでるから平気だよね。そして、数週前私はスペイン語を勉強して始めました。使い機会はあんまりないですけど。。。意味あるかな？！？（笑）でも、いいと思うから続けて勉強します。　私の変なブローグを読んでくれってありがとう。メリクリスマス。良い正月を！！

Departure Date (WOO HOO)

Well I now have a positive date for my departure from Japan. It is February 19th at 8:30 am (Japan time). My parents are flying to Fukuoka to meet me and we will be visiting some of my favorite areas where I served. Our last stop will be Tokyo and then back to the USA. I should be home February 26th. I am planning to attend school and then come back to Japan for additional studies in Fukuoka.

Time is going so fast and I am about finished with the Mission.
Merry Christmas family.

See you soon.

Elder Cole Chandler

Transferred to Ishigaki, Japan

These were taken by Cole from the plane as he flew to Ishigaki.




What a sweet aircraft!






Southernmost City of Japan
You are on your way to the southernmost city in all of Japan. Ishigaki Island is located 1,950km away from Tokyo, 450km away from Naha, and 270km away from Taiwan. The current population of Ishigaki is 47,804. The island is 222.57 sq. kilometers. Ishigaki is a part of the Yaeyama Island Chain. With Ishigaki as a main transportation center, it is easy to get to other islands via the extensive ferry system. Nearby islands include Taketomi, Kohama, Kuroshima, Aragusuku, Iriomote, Hatoma, Hateruma, and Yonaguni.




Ishigaki Island is famous for the coral reefs and diving. It is also a major vacation destination.





The sunsets are spectacular.





There are many white sand beaches located on this beautiful island.



Tropical Fruit, Pineapples, Mangos and Bananas.




Ishigaki bay seen from southern gate bridge.




Attached to the Fusaki Resort Village, Fusaki Beach is another beautiful beach on Ishigaki Island where marine sports such as wake boarding can be enjoyed. Fusaki Beach has a netted off swimming area to help protect swimmers from the poisonous Habu Jellyfish. The beach is also a great place to watch the setting sun. Even though Fusaki Beach is attached to the resort it is open to the public and free of charge along with showers and toilets.



Ishigaki Sunset Beach is a private beach located on the Kuura Coast, the northern peninsula of Ishigaki Island. It is a well kept beach with life guards on duty and a safety net to help keep Habu Jelly fish out of the swimming area.

Located on Ishigaki Sunset Beach is a small shop that sells snacks, drinks, sunscreen, and ice cream. Marine activities are also available here like snorkeling tour, glass bottom boat rides, fishing tours, GS boat Tour. Enjoy this white sandy beach, clear water and beautiful coral reef with the whole family. My New Companion is Elder Toomey (here is a clip of him from the MTC with me)

Elder Cole and Prime Minister Taro Aso

Elder Chandler sent this to us. He is with the Previous Prime Minister of Japan.

Taro Aso (麻生太郎 Asō Tarō?, born September 20, 1940) was the 59th Prime Minister of Japan serving from September 2008 to September 2009, and was defeated in the August 2009 election.
He has served in the House of Representatives since 1979. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2007, and was Secretary-General[2] of the LDP briefly in 2007 and in 2008. He was President [2] of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from 2008 to 2009. His successor, Sadakazu Tanigaki, was chosen 28 September 2009.

Aso, a Roman Catholic, was born in Iizuka, Fukuoka on September 20, 1940.[3] His father, Takakichi Aso, was the chairman of the Aso Cement Company and a close associate of Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka; his mother Kazuko Aso was Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida's daughter. Taro is also a great-great-grandson of Toshimichi Okubo, and his current wife, Chikako is the third daughter of Prime Minister Zenko Suzuki. His younger sister, Nobuko, is the wife of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, a first cousin of the Emperor Akihito.
Aso first graduated from the Faculty of Politics and Economics at Gakushuin University. He then studied in the United States at Stanford University, but was cut off by his family, who feared he was becoming too Americanized[citation needed]. After making his way back to Japan on a ship, he left once more to study at the London School of Economics.
Aso spent two years working for a diamond mining operation in Sierra Leone before civil war forced him to return to Japan.
Aso joined his father's company in 1966, and served as president of the Asō Mining Company from 1973 to 1979. Working for the company, he lived in Brazil during the 1960s; Aso speaks Portuguese fluently.[4]
He was also a member of the Japanese shooting team at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and President of the Japan Junior Chamber in 1978.


Cole is meeting very influential people.

Well this Wednesday is transfer day again. Cole is hoping to remain in Izuka because he really loves it there.

Another Email From Elder Chandler!

Here are some photos that Elder Cole took



It is nice that he has a little time on preparation day to take photos and enjoy serving in Japan. This is a collage of some that he sent us.



Here is some artwork that he has been working on. This is so cool Elder Cole! Keep using your talents when you get a chance.

He is still working with a few "friends" that he made. One of them has an imported Chevrolet Impala that has been tricked out. They are learning about the Church and Elder Chandler enjoys just being their friends. It sounds like March or early April and we will be going to Japan to see him complete his Mission. Great Job Elder Cole!

Transferred

Well this morning i got a call saying im going to a place called Iizuka City. Its just about 20-30 minutes or so away from Fukuoka, but it seems pretty rural. My new comp is Elder Beuchart. He is a really tall guy with red hair. It should be pretty interesting.

Love Elder Cole

Photo of Elder Cole

We just had Elder Chandler send this to us.
He asked to have it posted ASAP. haha



In a tunnel with Elder Williams



This is one of Cole's (new) favorite friends.



It is good that he is learning to play the piano.

Transfers are this coming Wednesday. Elder Cole said that all is well in Kumamoto. They recently got brushed by a Typhoon, but nothing more than a lot of rain and heavy winds. It is cooling off and wearing caps and scarfs are becoming the norm.

Till next week Elder Cole!

Yeah! We finally got a letter ...

This was a cool photo at night.


A happy group of Missionaries! +)




Elder Chandler and Elder Williams (his companion right now)



FINALLY A NICE LONG LETTER




You never know where Elder Cole will be, new friends?



I don't know if that is a good place to get your hair cut!



We do not know how Elder Cole did this, but it is a sweet photo!

Free Time

Elder Cole had a little free time and used some of his artistic skills.



He sent this to us.

Very good work Elder! This is a great pencil sketch that we all enjoy.
Hurry and send us more things you are doing while serving the people of Japan.

Elder Chandler

Elder Cole is awaiting his next transfer.
Hopefully it will be warm.
We will update this as soon as we get something from him.

あおはばすです！（the Blue Bus)

You always could see this Blue VW Bus and know it was our Son. In his recent letter he said "When I die I will be buried in the Bus just like a Pharoh".

So I had Cammi Higley, Coles sister, come with me to get photos of the Bus going down the freeway by Benjamin Utah. I dropped her off on a freeway overpass and she took these shots of me. It was a scary experience for her. People honked and waved, she thinks some called the police thinking she was a "jumper", but it was all for Elder Chandler. The red circle on top is like the Japanese Flag.

はたわにほんごです。

This is a shot of the bus going down the fields south of Spanish Fork.

Elder Chandler is loving his new area in Kumamoto. They have a couple investigators and he is really busy. The next transfer date is October 14th.

Enjoy Kumamoto Elder Chandler, we love you!

Are you in にほん (Japan)

Story: When Elder Chandler got his call he went to show it to his Mom at work with his friends. He opened the call letter and read that he would be serving for 24 months in Thermopolis Wyoming. His Mom's jaw dropped and she did not know what to tell him. It was a great prank to play on his Mother! That sounds like Cole! ha ha...
We recently decided to drive to Thermopolis to see if Elder Chandler is serving there, we caught him standing at the sign. (Elder Cole got a laugh out of this one)


While Elder Cole was serving with Elder Mizoguchi, he sent this to us. It is a great principle for us all. When things get difficult be persistent and you will see Miracles in your life. Thanks Cole for the wonderful advise.



We got a short email from Elder Cole on Sept 6th. He is still serving in Kumamoto and has a new companion, Elder Williams, he did not say where Elder Williams is from, but that he liked motorcycles and is a mechanical type person. Elder Chandler is senior companion and loves the Kumamoto area to serve in. Hopefully we will get a letter and some new photos.

Email From Kumamoto Area

These are some photos from Nobeoka right before my last transfer.


Ready to launch Captain...


This should not be seen on a public beach... Argghhh....



My good friend Mizoguchi came to visit before leaving for BYU in Provo for college.



Bowling is always fun. I really like the blue shoes.



"How is the Mission?"
"Great, yeah I love it, the last 5 days have been way fun, we are still short some missionaries so i have been going to a place called yatsushiro every now and then, its fun but that will stop next wed, too bad but it was way fun, Im very excited to start working here in Kumamoto for real. W have some way chill investigators. We went to a way ghetto bowling place the other day. Shoes were 2 dollars each and each game was only 1 dollar. I went to jump into the top bunk in our appt. last night and i racked my knee way hard, huge gash, it freaking kills. My appt. is really nice it is next to the college and tennis courts the arrow you have is correct. Today we are going to ride pocket bikes on a track, it should be fun. I just had a break through, i thought i could speak Japanese a while ago; but now i can talk way good, just better than i can english! The Mission President is でしよ！　He is a stud. The photo of the car is way rad, it is very rare here in Japan.


Beam me aboard Scotty!



Some water fun, I wish I could swim with them. It was so hot that day! This photo was taken in Nobeoka in the Pacific Ocean.



This is great to eat when it is hot! Yum. (でざあと　ありがと）



I love you all so much!" Elder Cole