Well, today is my one month marker. Phew. Feels just like the MTC, one looong day. But it really has gone by fast. But felt long. It's a weird feeling. Anyway, our baptism went really really great. A couple days before she came and got her mensetsu (baptismal interview) and we walked her through what would happen. Then Sunday was here and it was time! She came looking really nervous and kinda overwhelmed but smiling. Almost the whole ward stayed for the baptism and to welcome her. A lot of people brought small gifts for her and one of the sisters drew a picture on an omedetto card (a big white cardboard-ish thing where everyone signs) and we all signed it. The service was nice, we spent a long time ironing a dress for her. She actually had to do it twice though cuz she's so tall for a Japanese and she didn't go under all the way, but she was so cute and it was great. [Picture is Kofu]Then she bore her testimony afterwards and apparently she had been thinking that whole week that maybe she should just call us and cancel the whole thing. But finally the night before, Saturday, she was praying and finally felt washed over by the Spirit and knew this was what God wanted her to do.
God really does test us to the last minute if that's what we need. But her answer did come. So she has a huge test (big things in Japan) this sunday but will be confirmed the following Sunday. And this Sunday is Hikari's baptism! She is a little nervous too, but has a lot of support from her mom so I don't think she's going to have any problems.
This week otherwise was a bit stressful with Yuko's baptism being on and off and on and then going to Tokyo, we never really had a true P-day and I realized how much I depend on this day to have time to clean and run errands and just how much I looked forward to that. I was kinda at a loss without it. But I feel much better today as we've had a nice relaxing day and will be getting everything done we need to do to be ready for this next week. We spent a lot of time trying to hunt down less-actives that were on an old ward list this week--which meant a lot of biking to places that were like 45 minutes or an hour away only to find that they weren't home, and we didn't get to talk to a whole lot of people so hopefully this week we'll be making a lot more contacts. We did have the Ramos family tell us their grandmother might be ready to take the discussions now, but she only speaks Spanish. So we'd have to have her grandson translate for us. I think she needs a little more BRT before then (build the relationship) so we'll see if she can teach us to cook some amazing Peruvian food! :D Oh! And tell Grandma and Grandpa Leach that the sister they knew in Salt Lake--she's in my ward right now! She came out here to go to school from Tokyo. How ironic huh?
It is starting to hit me now how much work missionary work is. It doesn't even seem like it should be that hard, you're just going out and talking to people, you get a fine chunk of sleep every night, 3 hours to study to your heart's content, and two and a half hours to spend eating every day, but it really makes you soo soo tired, and it's really emotionally hard work! Cuz you talk to people and you want them so badly to listen, and they don't always do but you put your heart and soul into everything. I'll be keeping my eye out for those small miracles. I thought I saw them before, but maybe I'll really see them now :)
Ok last random note then we gotta go run our errands. Okonomiyaki. This is a random Japanese food but aparently it's a big deal here and pretty commonly eaten for dinner and at festivals. Basically (warning in advance it sounds wierd) it's flour and water batter that you mix in cabbage then you pour it into the hot pan and add whatever else you want on top (shrimp bits, dried squid, onions, etc.), flip it, put it on a plate, and top it with (if you'd like) pink-pickled radishes and dried fish flakes. Then you smother it in mayonaise and this kinda sweet soy-ish sauce. And...itadakimasu! It's quite delicious. I will learn how to make it.
OH! I almost forgot the strawberry tabehodai!! Some members took us on Saturday to an all-you-can-eat strawberry greenhouse. The plants are up on platforms and you go down the isle with a tray of sweet & condensed milk and just...eat! I ate 115!! A couple of the chouro were pushing 200. It was intense. Sooo good, Japanese strawberries are amazing. Even the not-quite-red ones were super, super sweet. And then that night we were teaching a lesson and afterwards the high priest group was having gyoza night in the kitchen. Guess who was in heaven? Yeah...me. They were AMAZING.
And they gave us the recipe. All I have to do is translate it :D
Ok, well that was my week I'd love to hear how yours are!!
I can't believe school's almost over again!! And Austin's graduating!!
Oh goodness. Well once summer comes everyone will have all the time in the world to write me right? ;D
Love you all lots! Wish us luck with Hikari and see you next week!
LeFevre Shimai
ps. Dad, pictures are taihen (hard). I can't attach them at the library. Soooo you'll just have to wait until I fill up? I'll buy a smaller one next time. I'm trying to take lots! :)
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