So, it is week two of my fourth transfer in Japan. Nakano is amazing! There are ALWAYS people on the streets--we're pretty much in the idealic part of town. It's pretty much what you think of when you think 'Tokyo' and we even have Ikebukuro in our area, a city area which has possibly the busiest intersection in Japan. We don't really go there much because it's almost more hassel than a help. But the normal streets are just fine, there's enough people to have effective streeting but it's not usually so crowed that it's abunai (dangerous). But there's always people to talk to and it makes me sooo happy! I think I got a little starved for doing streeting in Maebashi where NO one was out walking, they were all driving. Which is pretty funny, though, because I thought at first in Kofu that talking to new people all the time was maybe the hardest thing, but after Maebashi I realized that it's harder without it! So now I love it, and I'm just so excited to talk to everyone! I think my views on Dendo (missionary work) are changing a little... maybe the hardest thing is becoming seeing investigators that are so close and want to believe but just can't seem to find their own faith.
We have some great investigators here. There's Meiho-san, who has a baptismal date but is very hesitant about it. But she's very sweet and continues to study the Book of Mormon. Then there's Miho-san (they are similar names!), who has some kind of nerve(?) sickness so she's always trembling and has a hard time doing anything that requires mobility, writing, walking... she reminds me to be grateful for the little things like being able to turn pages of the scriptures without trouble. But despite her great trial she is pressing on and is up to chapter 12 in the Book of Mormon and comes to church as much as she can.
Then there's 10-year old Yumi who's mom is a recent convert and she LOVES the missionaries. Yumi told us she wants to be a missionary. We laughed and told her she needs to be baptized first. Well, for sure she'll be baptized she just thinks she's embarrased to, so they're waiting until her younger brother turns 8 in November and they'll have the baptism service together. :)
Lastly this week we met with Aya-san who came to Eikaiwa first, and doesn't really know much about church or God but likes the feeling at church and so comes once in a while and meets with us. She's only had a couple lessons so far but is really sweet and is super pera-pera (fluent) in English even though she's never even travelled!
So those are our really progressing investigators but it's just so busy here and Sister Shipp is SO nice. I think we've already learned a lot about each other and made a lot of connections. I can't believe it's only been a week!
A little about her, she's from Salt Lake, majoring in English so likes to write and read (reads very fast-I'm jealous), and had a wheat allergy so don't send us any cookies! ;) We're doing just fine though since there's plenty of rice. But I'm learning a lot of new things about food--like that normal soy sauce and bullion cubes have wheat in them! And that you can stir-fry cucumbers pretty much like zucchini (which for some reason they don't have here). And they eat a lot of pumpkin here in Japan... like in stir fries or just on the side of things.
Let's see... a few very Japanese things that have stopped surprising me:
- Taking off your shoes backwards (you face the door, slip them off in the genkan/entryway--which is lower than the rest of the house-- and then you can bend down and pick them up to move them away from the middle,etc.) apparently it's very rude to touch things or push things around with your feet--which bad habit of mine I'll have to break.
- The toilets all have faucets on top that the new water pours through and you can rinse your hands off if you want. Or there are squatter toilets, which are really not a problem now. Almost comfortable.. but still seem more unsanitary to me... even though Japanese think they are more sanitary since you don't have to sit where someone's sat I guess.
- Mugi-cha (wheat tea). The first time I drank it I thought it tasted like it had been accidently burnt but now it's actually quite delicious. I think I'll have to search it out for the rest of my life. I think it's healthy at least.
- Seeing street signs and everything in Kanji. It almost surprises me more now when I see something in English and can read the whole thing! ;)
Ok well that's all I can think of for now. I have to say though, that this week we also had dinner with the Hombu staff, which included President and Sister Albrect, Brother and Sister Shaw (the secretary) and the Hombu Elders. We went out to eat at a restaurant and it was very delicious but I just kept laughing to myself at the interesting conversations that were going on around the table. It's funny to remember that no matter what role we have in terms of responsibilities, leadership, etc... we're all still very very human and don't always know what to do with ourselves :) Everyone has flaws, that's the whole point of life. Zehi, please, this week if you're feeling weighed down because you think you can't do everything, I want you to realize something--that's right! You can't do everything. You'd have to be perfect already, and none of us are perfect. There was a quote from someone at the MTC that they said "As soon as you think you can do something on your own, the Lord will let you. And you'll fail misserably." And it is soo true. Please, look to the Lord for your strength and know that he's waiting there to hold us up and show us how to succeed. He is our way and our light. And he loves you all soo soo much, whether your Japanese, or American, or from anywhere else. Black and white, bond and free, male and female, he invited all to come and partake of his goodness (2 Nephi 26:33). I hope you all have an amazing week and read your scriptures! :) Thanks for your support and letters! Feel free to keep sending them my way! :D
Lots of Love,
LeFevre Shimai
P.S. Tell Steph Happy BIRTHDAY for me and A HUGE Hug and good luck as she heads to the MTC! Does she go this week? And tell Uncle Cory I do get his e-mails so the address is right! :)
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