Week 43

Claire's note. I cannot seem to find a way to make Leah's pictures show up on the blog but I will post them separately later.

Leah's Letter, 

The keyboard is broken so I'm having to write this by clicking individual letters on an onscreen keyboard. I'm very glad that they had typing classes in school because I don't think that I could do the whole two fingers thing. Attached are the pictures of Kuroki Shimai's baptism and then one of us at the FHE at the honbu. (Okay, now I'm using the computer Sister Hansen was using because she's finished.)

 

Mon

We were planning on going to Nakamura Koen, but my bike busted a flat so we headed to the nearest bike shop and got it fixed. Not only did the tube burst, but the actual tire got so worn down that it also tore. Just goes to show that missionaries ride bikes a lot. We went to the FHE with Kuroki shimai. There weren't enough seats in the car for everyone, so it was decided to put the kids in laps and drive that way. Two kids+one mom=one sister missionary with a baby on her lap even though the white handbook expresses very clearly that you should not hold children. At the FHE we talked about the meaning behind some of the Christmas type images, like what the star at the top of a Christmas tree means. President Yamashita wanted to talk about the meaning of a candy cane but I stole his thunder. Thanks, Mom, for getting that picture book.

Tue

 Leadership Council. I think that there is never enough time and they need to make it longer. But I think the people who live far away couldn't get home on time if it were like that. President Yamashita and Sister Yamashita heard when they went to the mission president's seminar that they should really push the missionaries to not have backpacks and to follow the missionary clothing standards. Also, President Yamashita wants us to work hard to be outside proselyting and not studying on Sundays. I think there are many people who may be a little resistant to these things, but hopefully everyone takes it with tact.

Wed

We had a first lesson with an investigator. Her older sister is a member and an aunt is part of a different Christian faith so she isn't sure which is true and all that. I talked about the apostasy and the restoration of the priesthood. I'm not sure what it made her think about, but hopefully it answered some things. Because of that lesson, we ended up being late getting home.

Thu

I had a kokan with Stremcha Shimai. We had our last after baptism lesson with Kuroki Shimai and visited some investigators together. We bought bread at my favorite bakery here. Around 6, Elder Richard calls me up and says, hey are you coming to Institute tonight? It's the Takabata missionaries day to come. I said we'd be there, so we hurriedly went to a Less Active member's house where we had toast and eggs (a lot of bread that day) and then dashed out the door to get on the train to the Institute house. We then had to hurriedly ask a member for the address (again) so that we wouldn't get lost. When we were there, we paired up with the attendees and taught lessons to each other. I also got a very detailed plan of salvation visual aid from the teacher.

Fri

Zone Traning Meeting. I spoke about Alma 5 and the Atonement as well as pioneer ancestors/convert ancestors. Then I talked with the shimai about clothes. I think it went over ok, but I'm not sure. We set a goal for 10 to 20 baptisms in the zone for the month of December. It's high, but I think we can do it. Two of our investigators agreed that day to be baptized on Christmas. One of them I think will, but the other one needs some prayers. We made potstickers from scratch with them. Mine were not pretty at all, but equally delicious. Then we got a text from another investigator saying that her daughter was hospitalized and that there was a pretty high chance of her dying. We told the ward members as well as the other missionaries in the zone to please pray for them.

Sat

Another text from that investigator saying that her daughter was doing much better. We have offered to give her a blessing, but still no response. I shared with her my experience when I was 8 and very sick and getting a blessing from Daddy and Grandpa. I think the investigator mistook what I meant to say because she asked if Dad was coming from America to give her daughter a blessing. I said that there are priesthood holders in this area. And ones who speak Japanese. I took some time to contact a bunch of people and write the progress record. One of our appointments canceled, so we traveled back and forth visiting investigators and less actives before our next appointment. We had planned on singing Christmas carols with her. It wasn't as good as we had hoped, but what's done is done.

Sun

The Primary had their Primary program. I had a smile on most of the time because the kids were really cute and they sang with much gusto but not much melody. I was especially impressed at one boy who recited all thirteen articles of faith. We finally have a new bishopric so we wanted to go around and give them a thank you gift. I tried to make no bakes, but something went wrong and they turned out too sticky. Sp we gave them persimmons. Everyone seemed very happy to see us.

 

What time do you want to skype?

 

Love you all,

Leah

Week 42

I'm really glad that Bryan is doing better. And I'm glad to hear that Karen is engaged. And I want to hear about your reactions to your gifts.

Mon

We had plans to go to a large scenic park in our area to take pictures of the fall leaves, but it was raining, so we went to the all you can eat ice cream place instead. We then had a dinner appointment with some members, but the dad hadn't returned from work yet, so the elders had to stay outside in the rainy cold till he got home.

Tue

We got a huge bar of chocolate, 500 g of pure dark chocolate, from a member. I would send you a picture of it but I forgot my camera cord, so next week I'll send lots of pictures. Our investigator passed her baptismal interview! YAY! We also got in contact with a potential investigator and she said that the television show she was watching was talking about the bible at the exact moment we called so she thought it was a sign from God saying that she ought to talk with us. She was sick so she couldn't meet with us last week, but we are hoping to meet with her this week. Then we visited a less active family. Their ten year old basically poured out his heart to two twenty ish year old gaijin girls. We were happy that he opened up but a little suprized.

Wed

I had a kokan with Hammon shimai and Wakazono shimai. We had to do walking dendo because there are only two bikes here in Takabata. But it was a good day I think. A less active couple came to Eikaiwa. Also, one of the students attending my class, upon looking in on the other class, discovered her older brother there. I think Heavenly Father wants that family in contact with this church.

Thu

Hansen shimai and I bought a dozen donughts from Krispie Kreme. I made them last over three days though. Elder Richard out of the blue called us up and was like, we want to have lunch with you. Do you have time? So we all four went to McDonald's. We tried for curry first, but the restaurant wasn't open. Then we had another member appointment. We get there at 6, to hear from that member that she invited another family over and they won't be over until 7. Hmm.

Fri

The church carpets were being cleaned, so we had District Meeting in a convini. But hey, it gave me the opportunity to eat taro ice cream (which was delicious). We finally were able to meet with an investigator that we haven't been able to meet with in a while. She promised to pray out loud, so here's hoping she keeps her promise.

Sat

Only one person came to Kid's Eikaiwa. I'm not sure if everyone was sick, out of town, had tests, or doesn't like us anymore, but it was quieter at least. We had dinner with two of our investigators. It was tomato seafood nabe. Nabe is kind of like soup, everything is really chunky so you just get the stuff and not the broth. In the nabe was oysters, clams, shrimp, and fish. Delicious, but slightly scary to see all those things go in. Also served was liver. I felt like I couldn't turn the food down, so I ate it. Suprisingly good, but still strange to wrap your head around.

Sun

Kuroki shimai was baptized! Again, I'll send the pictures next week. President Yamashita and his wife came in person to see the baptism. Hansen shimai and I were a little nervous singing at the baptisimal service, but it went over well. President Yamashita asked all the missionaries to ask the members in testimony meeting if they have any friends that they would introduce to the missionaries. We all felt like it wouldn't go over well with them, but we did it anyway. We helped put up Christmas trees to put in the foyer of the church. It was fun.

 

What day/time do you want to skype for Christmas? As far as I know, actually skyping on Christmas is fine. If that is the case, then

• Christmas morning for you, night for me,
• Christmas morning for me, Christmas eve for you,
• the morning of the 23 for me, the evening of the 22 for you

are the options as I see it. The morning for me is more convinient for me.

 

Love,

Leah

Week 41, It was a good week.

Mon

My goodbye with Ishihara shimai was less than cinematic. We were waiting in the mission office for the other sisters to come pick me up and then some other people came into the office and then Sister Ishihara got pulled into an interview with the financial clerk so our goodbye was something along the lines of "oh, yeah, see you." The other sisters and I then went out with a member in that area to get them winter coats since both of them are from warm areas. Then we got cake. I got a chocolate pistachio creation that was unbelieavably divine. I made the call for the movers to come pick up their luggage since none of them knew how to do it. Then all I had to do was wait, so we watched Legacy and laughed over all the cheesy parts. Then we did a lot of walking. When we got home, we started planning, so I crossed my legs since I didn't have a desk and I look down to find my ankle a bleeding mess. New shoes-new calluses. But a good wash and a bandaid made things better.

Tue

More walking. I developed some lovely blisters. After the movers came we headed to the golden clock in Nagoya eki to meet with everyone's new companions to find no one there. I look behind me and my companions aren't there either. Thankfully I had a phone and so I called some people. The sisters I came with eventually caught up (they were putting money on their train passes) and the sisters we were meeting were eating lunch. Then we parted ways and came back to Takabata. We met this one girl on the street who agreed to come to church and to have a tour of the building. Hopefully we can teach her. Then, we got a text from a member who is friends with a former investigator that said that the investigator wanted to be baptized! So we called up the investigator and she said that she wanted to get baptized before December! Miracles happening all over the place!

Wed

A Potential Investigator called us up and set up an appointment, so we finally can count her as an investigator. Another miracle! We missed the movers coming with Sister Hansen's luggage the first time, so we called them back and asked them to come between 6 and 8. Trouble was, we Eikaiwa from 7 so we wouldn't be home for half the time. Thankfully they came at 6:45. Unfortunately, because they came then, we were a little delayed in getting Eikaiwa started. I think that because the church was dark until right before it started, some people thought that we didn't have it that day. Oh well. A bunch of elders were staying over in the elder's apartment so we asked them to put Sister Hansen's bike back together. It was funny to see 8 elders huddling around a bike.

Thu

The reason why there were elder's staying over was because there was an all mission conference! It was strange to look at the mission and only know a handful of people because the rest of them are all so young. The speaker was Elder Evans of the Seventy. He spoke at the MTC while we were there and a lot of what he shared then he also said at the MTC. Nevertheless, it was a good conference. We talked about how to hasten the work. He is the director of the MTC or of missionary work or something up high like that. He said that there are going to be some changes made to the white handbook and to the missionary schedule coming soon. I wonder what. Also, eventually, we will have iPad minis. I hope they come before May.

Fri

Two of our investigators agreed to keep the Word of Wisdom without blinking an eye. Yay! One investigator finally opened up on why she doesn't want to come to church. Apparently when she came before, everyone was dressed so nicely and in nice families and couples that she didn't fit in she felt. I hope she can try once more. We decided to put in some time to making the area map. No where near being completed, but progress made.

Sat

We had a lesson with a 10 yr old and two 8 yr olds. They were really interested in the gospel art book. We were able to talk alot about different principles based on the questions they asked about the pictures. One of them asked what the word symbol means. I can't really explain that in English, let alone Japanese. We went to visit a Less Active and discovered the elders to be there before we were. It's the second time in three months that this has happened.

Sun

Lots of unexpected people came to church! A member brought her friend and her friend's daughter to church. That member was just the kind of member that all missionaries hope members will be. She sat next to them and explained things and bore her testimony and was all smiles. Then one lady came to church of her own accord. She apparently drives by the church often because she has a friend that lives nearby, so she decided to see what it was like on the inside. I asked her for her number but no such luck. Then the investigator that is being baptized also came to church. The members were all on top of it in helping her get the baptisimal program figured out. Part of me wanted to say that all investigators and baptisms should be like this and part of me felt like I was being crowded out and I needed to participate more. One member made us nikuman, the steamed meat buns. They were perfect. We were riding our bikes up this hill. At the top, there was a stoplight that was red, so we stopped and panted and when I looked around, the two cars next to us were both members. We had as much of a conversation that one can have at a stoplight and waved them goodbye.  Lots of good things this week. Hopefully we can keep things up!

 

Love you all,

Leah

Week 40

I don't have a lot of time because we have to go to the honbu to drop off Sister Ishihara since she's dying.

 

Mon

I sent my Christmas package and a postcard with my comments on the gifts. You can open the box because they're already wrapped. Feel free to make guesses from my comments. Look for the box and the card some time in the next week I think. Also, any Christmas presents need to be shipped before Dec 1 so that they get here in time.

Tue

We had lunch at a Chinese restaurant, but it was a small place and around 2 so we were the only ones there. As we were leaving, a big black SUV pulled up beside us and blocked the road. It was the restaurant owner with something that we had forgotten in the restaurant. We were both suprised that he would ride us down to give it to us. He was very nice.

Wed

A member gave me a three or four pound bag of rolled oats. I'm not sure what to do with it. Ran out of TP. Akward. I taught a Katy Perry song to the Eikaiwa students. I wasn't sure how I felt about it.

Thu

We went to a member's takoyaki restaurant and they gave us everything on the menu for free! I was so full, but it was so good. One investigator dropped us, but we ran into a lady we have been trying to meet for three months and she said please please come back! We took cake to the Korean man that gave us Aquarius. He was so suprised to see us again. He gladly accepted a Book of Mormon and said that he wanted to meet with us again.

Fri

I had cake for breakfast. Pretty much the whole week we were eating at restaurants or member's homes so we rarely ate what was in our fridge. We met a lot of investigators, some progress. I had a pear for dinner. Yum.

Sat

My new companion is Sister Hansen, my MTC kohai. I am now the Sister Training leader for all of Yokkaichi zone. We made a mountain of mashed potatoes for an FHE.

Sun

Baptismal service for Elder's investigator. The we and the elders sang...or rather the we sang and the elders tried valiantly. Then for sacrament meeting we sang with two less actives. Then Thanksgiving themed FHE for investigators and members. No one knew how to cut up a whole chicken so I did it. Everyone seemed to have a good time.

This week has been very cold.

Week 39

Mon

We went out to eat with a member, but most of the restaurants were closed because it was a holiday. We ended up at a tiny little Brazilian self serve restaurant. I think I had intestine soup. I don't recommend it. But to make up for that, we went to an ice cream place soon after and got a strawberry-pineapple parfait. By the end, we were really full, so when we went grocery shopping right after, we didn't buy much because our minds were saying "no more food." That night, we went with three investigators to the honbu FHE. A member drove our three investigators to the honbu, but we had to take the train. We ended up having to run from the station to the honbu (about a 20 min walk) and still ended up 10 min late. Oops. One elder had the game responsibility, but he explained in English so all of the Japanese people were very confused. Our three investigators are all in middle school, so they went crazy over the elders. They took pictures of them and with them and asked for handshakes. The elders were a bit uncomfortable it seems. Yet again we got back around 10.

Tue

Leadership Council. We got halfway to the station before we realized that we had left the phone in the apartment, so we had to go back. We ended up running to the honbu in less that 24 hours, but at least this time we were on time. We talked about effective planning and various things. I think we got closer to a solution that will help us. For lunch, I had blood orange soda and soy sauce mayonnaise chips. Two flavors only found in Japan, both surprisingly good. One of the speakers gave us candy, so the candy plus the soda equaled one big sugar rush. Thankfully I didn't crash during the meeting. I got the shoes, but they are too big! One pair is almost livable but still big. The other pair flops off my feet. Is there a way to get a different size?

Wed

Companion exchange with Sister Brady. We tried to visit a Potential Investigator only to find out that her apt is the kind where you have to dial the room and then they let you in. So we put flyers in their mail boxes and hoped that she would get one. We had some time so we thought we might go to an appointment early, but they weren't home yet so we decided to talk to people on the street. We were crossing the street when an old lady was crossing in the opposite direction. I said to her "that's a pretty button you have on your jacket" and she smiled and started talking to us. She said that we shouldn't have a conversation in the middle of the street so we started to walk the same way as her, but she pushed us in our original direction, so we took that as a sign that the conversation was over. But once both of us had reached the opposite side, she called out to us again, so I scurried back across the intersection...but so did she. When we met in the middle, I thought she would stop, but she kept going to the other side, so I had to run back across to greet her. She then gave us two dinner rolls, slapped our hands, turned around and walked back across the intersection. We thought that we couldn't let a lady that interesting get away, so when the light turned green we hurried to catch up with her. She was suprized and asked us what we were doing. We said that we've never met such a genki old lady and she said that it comes from walking and talking to people you don't know. Then she proceeded to enter a convini and harass the clerks about something. Sister Brady and I weren't sure if it would be okay to wait for her to come out again or to let her continue on her way,but she left the convini before we even figured out what to do. She spotted us, shook her head, and walked away. Funny experience. That night Sister Brady gave my hair a trim. It feels much nicer when I brush it now.

Thu

While we had lunch with a member, she showed us pictures of her mission. She also made squash salad, which is much like macaroni or potato salad but with mashed squash instead. We were blessed because the rain stopped just as we were heading out for the day and when we were leaving that member's house. That afternoon, President Yamashita and Sister Yamashita came to one of our investigator's lessons. I was grateful for their words. They are good missionaries. Afterwords, we went and visited a former investigator that they both know. She was very happy to see us, suprisingly. Hopefully she'll start to want to meet with us again.

Fri

At ZTM, we talked with the zone about the process once you have an investigator who wants to be baptized as well as the things that we felt like the zone needed, as per our kokans and leadership council discussions. After ZTM we went out for tonteki, perhaps the last time that I will eat that uniquely Yokkaichi food. Yummy. At one of our lessons, the investigator's friend showed up partway through, so we invited her to listen as well. We gave a brief overview of the plan of salvation. The lady began to cry because her daughter had passed away many years ago. When we said a prayer before we left, she began to cry then too. She told us where she lives, so we hope to talk with her again. We arrived early to our next appointment, so I asked Sister Ishihara if we could get a drink from the vending machine across the road. As we got to the street, we ran into the lady with the burns. She gave us her number and we hope to get an appointment with her soon. We ran into the elders as we went back to the apartment for the day. It must have been strange for other people to see four people on mountain bikes with white helmets riding together.

Sat

The kid's at Eikaiwa were slightly better. A member family and an Investigator family came, so that was good. Afterwards, we played ping pong with the member and her four year old. She didn't use a paddle, just stuck out her hand and tried to stop the ball. We talked with the investigator's children about prayer and they had a hard time grasping the idea of a father in heaven, but they seemed willing enough to pray. They loved the gospel art book. I taught the pokemon theme song to a seven year old. We had dinner with a returning less active and her son, we asked him if he wants to be baptized, and he said yes! He is getting baptized next week.

Sun

We were expecting lots of investigators at church, but unfortunately half of our investigators and half the ward it seems like is down with a cold. Thankfully, so far, the missionaries have been spared this plague. We made a deal with two less actives to sing in sacrament meeting so we had song practice after church. Then we went to a member's house for an FHE. We helped her make fried chicken and played games with the kids. Once we were done sharing the message, we thought that it was over, but then they brought out a cake because it was Sister Ishihara's birthday! Very good strawberry cake. see picture

Mon

We went with a member to a street mall. There was a shop based on Alice in Wonderland that was SOOOOO COOOOOOL! It had peepholes and hidden cupboards and all sorts of interactive things as well as stuff to buy. I want more stores like that. We also stopped by the local shrine. see picture

Week 38

Mon

The bishop/new stake president's wife called us up and said "Let's go grocery shopping together!" She bought us rice and peppers and chips and all sorts of stuff. Sister Ishihara accidentally stepped on a praying mantis when we visited a less active. It suprised me that I actually felt a little sorry for it.

Tue

A day full of people not home. Thankfully we were able to get a hold of an investigator we hadn't seen in a week. She seems to be worried about the various requirements it takes to get baptized. We both expressed that if we could meet more often those concerns would be resolved. Perhaps she will make some time for us.

Wed

Companion exchange with sister Neilson. She had a full on cold so we kinda took things slow. We tried to visit a member whose son had a birthday, but in the member list, it only had a partial address. So we said we'd go anyway and see if we could find it. After some aimless biking looking at the names on mailboxes, we stopped by three moms talking while their kids played in the nearby park. We asked them if they new these members and they said they didn't but then they started calling all of the people they did know to see if they knew the members. After about twenty minutes of callling, they finally found one friend who did know and we found the member's house. Yay for grape vines! As we were riding our bikes to the train station, we met this one lady who lived in New York for 3 or four years when she was in elementary school. She and her family became protestant there and she has been active in her church since. She was in a house fire and had scars all over her arms but none on her face. She said that she felt like she was preserved by God and that it was an experience sent by God to convert her. She told us rough directions on where she lives, so we hope to do some housing around there and run into her again.

Thu

 Companion exchange with Sister Aoki in Yokkaichi. Two in a row! It really made Sister Ishihara and I realize how grateful we are for eachother. It finally sunk in when I was in Yokkaichi again that it is no longer my area and I have a new place to work, a new section of the vineyard. It made me a little sad, but it helped me realize the relationships in Takabata that I have.

Fri

On the way to change back companions, we talked with two college students who seemed promising, but the conversation got cut short because we had to get off the train. One investigator talked with us for 20 minutes, which is an improvement. Another investigator feels torn between this religion and the one she is going to now because she says that she feels the same in both places. Watched Joseph Smith movie with young investigators. They said they think it is true.

Sat

Taught an 8 year old to pray.

Sun

Ward still doesn't have a new bishop. Planned Christmas party. Taught recent convert and challenged her daughters to read Book of Mormon.

 

Love,

Leah

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