3/31/1990

I started a little slow today & didnt want to wake up too much. Then I crashed during Book of Mormon reading & felt a little bad. Then I went & statyed with Elder Brecksa who was sick, and his dode went and taught a lesson. We talked about some of his different douryous [companions] the good and the bad. Its a little scary to think that there are some elders out there who dont obey the rules. On a great note I went out dendoing with Elder Finlinson ( Who is from our stake in Holladay) who has been here for 2 months in the rain. We had to follow the spirit and get help from the Lord and we met a kinjin [golden] and I gave away my first Book of Mormon. Yatta! [yippee] it was awesome.

3/30/1990

I suppose I should be celebrating my week anniversary her in Izumi. So today we merfed [wasted time] out. we had to check on a new apartment for some other elders. It is quite luxurious by any standard. And for a missionary apt they might get a little bit big headed- because in comparison to our apt. it is a mansion. After that we helped a lady chase down her Labrador retriever. Then go on a bus to get another Elders jikoshokai that he left at the sports center. So we didnt get a lot done. We did go housing & it wasnt too fruitful. Some of the people didnt answer the door after looking through the peephole and seeing two large gaijin [foreigners] outside. I guess it scared her a little. And another after I saw her run down the hall told her 2 year old son to answer the door and say she wasnt there. So we are ganbaru'ing [hanging in there]

3/29/1990

It was nice. OK- it was better than nice, it was awesome! I went on a split with Elder Hopper and we found a kinjin [golden person] right off. He was wonderful- no excuses or anything. We asked him if we could show our jikoushokai [self-introduction] and he didnt beat around the bush, he just said "Hai" Then Elder Hopper talked with him for a while and set an appointment. It was incredible. I just stood there in awe while his Japanese flowed out. I feel that with the Lords help this man will understand our message.. Then we taught English class and it was a riot. Just to see a few Nihonjin sing "my kitty Cat craves Crave" Shini sou ni narimashita [I almost died]

3/28/1990

I saw my first baptism today. It was grand. The shimais [sisters] name was Akiko Matsuda. I got to participate in her lessons a little, but obviously I didnt say too much. It was a really special moment and I felt the spirit very strongly. As my [patriarchal] blessing says , seeing baptisms will be something on which I can base my testimony for the rest of my life by seeing the joy the gospel brings to others. And this young lady was very happy. It certainly does change lives. Her mom has even committed to baptism for next Sunday. This is a great work & I am loving it!

3/27/1990

Well one day I figure I will be able to write strictly in Japanese in here, kanji and all- but for now I will stick to the English script. I got to dendo with Elder Lay and it was awesome! He has only been out a little while and he already talks pretty well and the Japanese understand him pretty good. It looks like I have another goal to go for. We were riding down a hill, and I was about to pass a kid and Elder Lay told me to stop. That we needed to talk to this young man. I am not quite tuned in with the spirit yet because this guy seems prime!

3/26/1990

Today was my first P-day [Preparation day] in Japan. We slept. After that we went to the store and bought some interesting looking foods. I also got my new bike and it works great. I dont have to pump half as hard to get to the top of the humongous hill on which our apartment is on. At 5:00 we had DM kai [District Meeting] and set some goals for baptism and such. We have a great group and I know that we can meet them. Then Nelson choro and I went and did a little bike dendo. He stopped one guy who seemed interested in coming to English class. I hope to see him there!

3/25/1990

It is one big wave out here. I was on a little roll this morning at sacrament meeting. I hope that it was jet-lag, because I started to nod off a little. It was just a little frustrating to hear how fast they all talked, and not to have a clue as to what they were talking about. But that doesn't matter- it is going to come. I know it. I saw my first lesson and gave a little akashi [testimony]. I was pumped up with the spirit & I felt the investigators spirit as well. The daughter is going to get baptized on Wednesday! I cant wait to see it.

3/24/1990

DITTO! I had a kikai [opportunity] in which I got to with with a Nihonjin [Japanese person] today. He is awesome. His name is Nobumoto san - to omoimasu[i think]. Communication doesnt even seem to hinder us from getting along well and basically understanding each other from the inside. I guess when I look at it this was my 1st whole day of Dendo [proselyting]- kind of. We shopped a little bit too for some hitsuyou [necessary] items. The store we went to was humongous. People were everywhere. It is kind of fun to see the reaction we get from some of the Nihonjin- always doing double takes. I dont know if its bad, but I kid of like the attention. But most of all I like the Nihonjin.
[following is a small note I took from a meeting]
Where it says in the scriptures: "Man is that he might have joy"- now I know what it is talking about. This is it! I am totally happy to be here there is nothing in the world that I would rather be doing! In other words- we got an appointment!

3/23/1990

Oh what a beautiful day! I love this place! It is my daiskii [favorite] I went out to dendo [proselyte] for a skoshii [little] with a dode [companion] who has been here for four months- and he was cranking . It was great to see how rapidly everyone excels with the Lords help. As of now I am in my first area, Izumi. North of Sendai with a new dode an in my first apt. My dode leaves in two months so I know by that time I am moving on out. He is great a ZA {Zone assistant)Nelson Choro [Elder] and cruises with the Japanese. Things are looking good I am stoked!

3/21/1990

It looks like I missed most of last week- and I lost a day since getting to Japan. Oh yeah, by the way, I am in Japan, and it is awesome! It is very different- but in a good way. Everything is completely different. I haven't seen too much of the place- just the airport at Osaka & even talked to a couple of people. It was incredible to see mount Fuji & then to get to Japan Sendai and see the lights of the city and area in which I would spend the next couple of years of my life, and maybe even touch the lives of some of the people that lived in those house & make their lights a little better. Seemed like a dream come true.

Missionary Journal of Todd Miller in Sendai, Japan, 1990-1992

I will be transcribing all of my journal entries that I kept as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints while serving in the Japan, Sendai mission from 1990-1992. Where I now have the pages that were written preserved in one copy, I will now make an effort to conserve them digitally to have a backup copy.
It will also be nice to 're-experience' my experiences of 20 years ago as I post them electronically.

I will be trying to keep the text and spelling like how it is written out on the pages of my journal to maintain a sense of authenticity. Occassionally, I will scan in pictures and even the pages that I wrote. There are a number of occasions where I wrote words in Japanese mixed with English. These I will translate in brackets in [English]. Also, any other editors notes will be noted in [brackets]

The journal will start after my Missionary Training Center (MTC) experience. (I seem to have misplaced those entries) The first day I have records for is from 3/21/90, after I had been in Japan for a few days.