Week 37

Mon

We visited a less active couple. The man video taped our message and us praying. I'm not entirely sure why, but I think it was because he wanted to review our reactions to his reactions or something. The sister gave us onigiri (rice triangles), but she didn't have anything else to put it in so she put it in an empty milk carton. I thought it was cute.

Tue

At the Halloween party, we had a photo booth where they could request the photo to be sent to them by us the missionaries, so on this day we printed out the photos and made cards out of them for those that requested it. We stopped by a member's house and her two year old fed me three sticks of gum. By the time we left I had a huge wad of gum but no place to spit it out so we taught our next lesson with me trying to hide the gum in my mouth. I finally got a chance to spit it into a kleenex when our investigator went into the kitchen to get us drinks. The lesson with the investigator went rather well I think. It seemed more focused on gospel topics this time. She gave us a plastic bag full of junk food that she got from a festival the previous weekend. We dropped by another member and talked about when you know you have completed the repentance process. Then we went to another investigator's house to have a farewell lesson because she was moving out the next week. She believes that Joseph Smith met Jesus and Heavenly Father, and she also believes that Mohammed talked to angels and that Buddha did reach Nirvana and so on. We got enough information from her to send a referral to her new house, so hopefully the missionaries there can talk more with her. She wanted to share with us her favorite song before we left and so we asked what kind of song it was and she said it was a relaxing song. It turned out to be a harp/bubbling stream song so we were safe...until she switched it to Shania Twain.

Wed

A recent convert sent us a text and said can you meet me at the church at 10:30, I want to meet with you, so we of course said yes we'll be there. She shows up in a rent-a-car, proceeds to drive us out of our area to see a craft show. Admittedly, I did like being there (and I did buy some things), but I still felt uncomfortable doing those things on a day other than P-Day and out of our area. We then ate lunch and went back to the church to teach a lesson. It was a good lesson though. She seemed to understand some principles of baptism, enduring to the end, and the Sabbath Day that she hadn't before. Only a few people showed up for Eikaiwa, but among them were the less active couple that we visited on Monday.

Thu

People kept saying that the typhoon would come on Thursday, but the time kept getting pushed back and back and back. Turns out, the typhoon didn't pass over us at all. We got some rain, but that's it. So far, I am unimpressed with these weather events that are supposed to be damaging. So far they've all been weak. I'm sure now that I say this there will be some disaster this week that will strike. Yay, service opportunity! We met with Kato-san, our fantastic investigator and had three tachiai's for that lesson. We got through about half of the Plan of Salvation before we ran out of time. I feel bad for Kato-san because we always seem to have long lessons with her and she is a very busy lady so she doesn't have a lot of spare time. However, she is always willing to listen. Another investigator that we met with that day actually prayed and read the Book of Mormon that week! She seemed much brighter and full of energy when we met with her. I definitely think that the two are related.

Fri

Kokan! I went to Ichinomiya, an area north of ours. Their apartment is HUGE. Two of our apartments could fit in theirs. Few people were home, but that's ok.

Sat

Sister Moore and I made goals to help us achieve the mission standards of excellence. It was a spiritual morning. We watched the Joseph Smith video with our family eikaiwa people and their reaction was better than I expected. They readily accepted a Book of Mormon. Then we hopped on the train to go to Stake Conference. We met some members and some missionaries at a nearby ramen shop and had dinner with them and then went to conference. There were some funny talks and some great advice.

Sun

Stake Conference again. Three investigators and one recent convert came. I also got to see many of my Yokaichi friends. More great talks but the biggest surprise of the day: Our bishop became stake president! Everyone was really surprised. We aren't sure who will be bishop but I guess we will find out soon. We talked with our investigator on the way home about what she thought. She said that the things she heard entered her heart more than anything else she's learned. She wants to know what she needs to do to be baptized and what she has to do after she is baptized. Here's hoping she becomes a yakusokusha soon.

 

Lot's of love,

Leah 

Week 36

This week I took notes, so hopefully it will be better written!

 

Mon

We went with an investigator and her three children to the family home evening held at the honbu for investigators. On the way there, the kids sat in the back seat and pretended that the cars behind them were enemies. I think that game must be universal because I distinctly remember playing that game when we were young. When we pulled up to the honbu, we say the elders and one of their investigators. We were all suprised because we didn't know they were coming. Two of the kids got balloons from a missionary who can do balloon art. One was a poodle and one was a motorcycle. The FHE ended at 9:15 so we didn't get back until 10:00. I think President Yamashita will forgive us since he was the one who talked longer than expected.

Tue

No appointments so all suprise visits. During lunch, the AP's called us up and said, do you have time this afternoon? We said yes, why? They said that they are making a film for new missionaries so that they can see older missionary's dendo style. They wanted to film us doing something. So we met them at the train station and walked to an investigators house and sang her a hymn. I tried to sing harmony but I didn't do it very well. But it's caught on film now. Afterwards, we went to an ALL YOU CAN EAT CAKE RESTAURANT. I got three plates in before I felt like I could never look a cake in the face again. While we were there, there was a commercial for the restaurant being filmed. I would laugh if President Yamashita or one of the members saw me. Also, we got candy from a worker dressed like a pumpkin. We got takoyaki from a member again. As we were making a pinata, it popped, making us start all over again.

Wed

I got the package when I went to interviews. Thank you so much for the art book and the mormon ads! They help so much. The skirts work fine. The butterfly shirt is too big but the other shirts are fine. NO MORE PANTYHOSE. I have more than two sister missionaries could use in their entire mission. After interviews with the mission president, we met with a Brazilian lady and gave her a Book of Mormon, there was some definite translating by the Holy Ghost because we would say things in Japanese and she would respond in Portugese and we all understood each other. She gave us mint tea. I like it.

Thu

Ota-san opened up in our lesson with her. She agreed to be baptized around Christmas. We had an appointment with the referral from President Yamashita. As we were planning for her, two members from another ward called us up and said that they wanted to come to the lesson and share their testimonies. If all missionary work was like this, it would be so easy! Get referrals from other people, members say that they want to come of their own volition, the work would explode! The lady turned out to be a spectacular lady. I look forward to meeting with her more. She said that when she recieves an answer, she'd be baptized. Whoa. We met with another investigator at her door. I'm not sure if she didn't have time or if she just wanted us to leave early. On the way home, we saw a street vendor selling bread. We got stopped by the stoplight at the same corner where he was selling, and then we smelled it...and then we each bought one. It was possibly the melonpan I've had yet.

Fri

Met members as they were pulling out of their driveway, so couldn't talk to them, so we decided to go visit another member but the wife wasn't home so we couldn't go in. So we went out to another member to find out that she had to leave in five minutes to pick up her daughter from kindergarten. Oh well. Such is life. Then we spent the evening preparing for the Halloween party. We left with many things yet to do, so we were anxious that it could get done in time.

Sat

Halloween party. Over 80 kids alone, not including adults, showed up. Thankfully the members helped us set up and clean up so it all went smoothly, except that the pinatas wouldn't break open so we just had the elders dump them over the kid's heads. A former investigator came out of her house to greet us and was very happy to see us. Hopefully she comes to stake conference.

Sun

We visited a less active in the hospital. She was suprisingly genki and full of smiles. I hope that she keeps going that way. Then we went to a less active that we've never met before. We only spoke for about 10 min at the door, but it she is really struggling with her family life. As we left, she said that this was a really nice birthday present for her that the missionaries came and talked to her. We were totally thrown for a loop because we had no idea that it was her birthday. The Lord truly guides us.

 

Please send cookie recipes!

 

Love,

Leah

Week 35! Pictures!

I got a lot of cards this week. Thank you to the ward relief society and the stake sisters who sent them. They made me very happy. I don't have a lot of time to write today, sorry.

 

Mon

Went to a large apartment complex seeking former investigators and less actives. Got there, couldn't find them, called the elders, and discovered that they had moved. So we visited a less active that we knew lived there and talked with her son for about 45 minutes. He showed us some of the artwork he's been doing at school and a game that he likes to play. He tried to show us music videos on youtube but we stopped him there. He seems really happy to talk to people.

Tue

Nobody home and our appointments canceled. A lot of time to ring doorbells. However, we got a referral from a member in another ward and the members came with us to meet her. She is very friendly and open so we hope that we can turn her into an investigator soon.

Wed

Went to a former investigator's house, rang the door bell, and when someone picked up the intercom, we asked if this was the person we were looking for. She said yes. We said we are the missionaries for the church of jesus christ of latter...and in the middle of us saying that she hung up and wouldn't answer the phone after that. I guess that means she doesn't want to meet with us. Yet again no one home and appointments canceled. Only 3 people came to Eikaiwa because it is test taking time for students in the area so everyone was either taking a test or studying for it.

Thu

Leadership Council. Spiritual discussion and much thinking. No conclusions made on the discussions. Afterwards, we taught the lesson for the missionary preparation class at institute. The lesson went very well I think. The teacher said that our lesson gave him hope for future missionary taught lessons, especially sisters. Apparently so far the missionary lessons have been difficult because so many of the missionaries are so new to the field. No time for dinner.

Fri

ZTM. Our Zone got split the last transfer so now there are only 20 people in the zone, 6 of whom are sisters. We are the sister leaders over two zones now, busy busy busy. But I much prefer busy to not busy. We then had a member present lesson that was a good presentation, but I don't know what the investigator thinks. We will follow up soon. Then we went with a member to buy the candy for the ward Halloween activity. We went to a bulk candy story and bought $80 of candy. I wanted to eat some for myself, but no such candy for us. Then we had a meeting with a member because apparently one of her work associates has accepted a Book of Mormon and has been asking her questions about the church. We taught her the Restoration so that she can have ideas of what to say to her friend. Hopefully he will accept the invitation to meet with the missionaries. No time for dinner.

Sat

GENERAL CONFERENCE! SO GREAT! I loved Elder Holland's talk. I cried as I thought of all the people that I know who are struggling with physical and mental obstacles. The missionaries all enjoyed the talk by the seventy that was all peppy and talked about missionary work, exclamation point! We also loved the strength of the seventy from the Carribiean? Africa? Either way, he had so much spiritual power in his talk. Afterwards, we went to a recent convert's house and had dinner. Yum.

Sun

More awesome messages. I loved the talk about the Sabbath day and it's importance. There was a man who came to General Conference of his own accord and we got to talk to him. He gave us his number and his address so the elders plan on teaching him from now on. Several other investigators and less actives came from all of the areas that attended at that building. Then we went to a Less Active's house and had dinner. Yum again. During the lesson, we got a call from President Yamashita. He had a referral for us! She is an associate of his son and daughter living in our area and apparently wants to know more about how to be happy in life. We will gladly teach her moreon Thursday when we have an appointment with her.

 

The pictures are: a funny building that we found one day riding around on our bikes and a construction site near the church.

 

Love,

Leah

Week 34

I forgot my old planner today since it is a new transfer and I am using a fresh one. This will be a true test of my memory.

Mon

I learned how to make sushi! We made it at a recent convert's house for lunch. When I get back I will teach you. And all the other Japanese food I have learned to make so far. We decided not to go to the thrift store (Sister Ishihara wanted to buy some new cardigans) and instead stayed at home so that we could sleep. It was a nice, quiet day in. I drew the flyers for the Halloween Party. It's a good thing they asked me to draw the Halloween flyer because my drawing skills are pretty scary, as you know. Also, a member asked me for ideas for Holiday cookies, so would you send me your favorite Chirstmas/winter/fall/holiday/any-time-of-the-year cookie recipes?

Tue

We tried to find a long lost Less Active but we couldn't find her house because it was an incomplete address. But I saw a tiny turtle in the canal as we were looking! As we went to visite a new investigator, we turned around the corner and saw a lady getting into her car. Lo and Behold, it was our investigator, who apparently forgot our appointment. So we waved to her and said we would come back again another time. We talked with one member about the Halloween party as she made dinner. Her two year old ate three jellos and then started to get sleepy so she put him down. In the middle of us eating dinner, he woke back up and began crying and proceeded to cry until we left for the night. Apparently eating three jellos right before bed isn't good for your stomach.

Wed

We met an investigator's husband for the first time. He was very friendly and gave us cake, but then went into the next room and started watching television. Hopefully we can entice him to listen with her. We invited her and her family to church and to General Conference. I hope she can come so that she can see a living prophet for herself. Decided to eat at McDonald's because it was on the way back, ate my first teryaki burger. Once was enough. We also had chestnut pies, a seasonal product available only in Japan in the fall. Fairly good. As we left, a biker on a sleek cycling bike in spandex biking get-up started up the same hill we were on. I laughed under my breath, put my 7-months-of-riding-a-bike-every-day-all-day leg muscles to work and beat him up the hill. Not a huge victory in the scheme of things but I had fun.

Thu

Companion exchange with Sister Vincent in Yokkaichi! It was strange to be back in the same place with the same companion but not for real. As we met the sisters at the train station this old lady came up to us and said "oh I'm so glad you're here, these two nice young girls said they were waiting for friends but I was worried because this is a town that doesn't have anything but goldfish and they don't speak much Japanese but they are just so nice so I was worried and now that you're here I can leave and not worry about them." Apparently Sister Vincent and Sister Aoki hadn't said much of anything except hello and the lady did most of the talking. She was a sweet old lady. We went with the elders to wish a PI happy birthday. I hope that she can come to church or Eikaiwa or something. We had a few lessons with members and recent converts in Yokkaichi and almost every time they greeted me like normal but then after about a minute it caught up to them that I hadn't been there for a month and then the got all happy and huggy. I was so glad to get to see them.

Fri

We bought bread from the bakery by the train station in Takabata again. I am now thoroughly convinced that anything they have there is delicious and heavenly. The Zone Leaders out of the blue showed up for district meeting. We had fun playing pictionary with them. They just shouted a stream of words until they got it correct. Afterwards we taught an investigator the plan of salvation. I don't think she's wrapped her head around it yet. She did say that she wants to go to General Conference and have FHE though.

Sat

At kid's eikaiwa one kid decided to pull down his pants and show us his underwear. Hmm. At family eikaiwai, we were able to teach another small lesson which went over well. We also got a lot of presents again. In a package of gum, the little boy of the family got a light up pile of poo. Something only a little boy would find joy in, but he loved it.

Sun

Sister Ishihara did a great job of asking the members to come with us to appointments. 3/4 appointments now have members attending. We broke our fast with a member, a less active, the elders, and a returned missionary who joined us via skype. The member and the elders did home teaching for the less active and then we ate okonomiyaki until we were all full to the brim. It was a fun way to break the fast, do missionary work, and spend time with them.

 

Lots of love,

Leah