Squatter Potties in Rainboots

Helloooo minnasan!

Sorry, I'm mixing gengo's (languages) here.. :)

How is everyone? Guess what? We had another typhoon! Actually, it was supposed to be today... but I think I'm coming to realize it's like snow in Seattle--if they say it's coming the next day will probably actually be sunny and gorgeous. So, today is sunny and gorgeous. But yesterday was a long and rainy. We didn't have any lesson appointments until the evening so we spent the whole afternoon biking to Ikebukuro and back, talking to everyone we could along the way. Good thing we have Capas and my new rainboots.. but I laughed when we had to stop somewhere to use the restroom and... I think I've mastered the squatty-potties pretty well, and they're almost pretty comfortable, but I just had to laugh at myself yesterday as big black squeaky rubber rainboots add a whole level more of complexity to this very primitive practice. Japanese wear boots like crazy in the winter (apparently as I've seen so many this last few weeks)(although usually much more stylish than mine) but I guess squatting with boots doesn't faze them just like not having a sitter toilet in any given stall doesn't faze them either. Well anyway, enough silly talk but there's a bunka (culture) point for the week.. sorry it's not a little more profound...

So last week's Wednesday was the big highlight day I think. First of all, we had a big surprise. President called the night before to say they had a sister arrive unexpectedly and they were on the way to pick her up, but until her real new companion could come he wanted her to dendo with us for a day. So, we got a one-day-bean-chan. It was really fun--her name is Sister Helps and she is from Utah/South Africa (she's Danish decent) and she is really sweet and outgoing. It also so happened we had three lessons AND eikaiwa (English class) scheduled so she just got dunked right into the mission field :) But her Japanese is at least as good as mine already (she's been studying it the last three years at college) so that wasn't a problem!

We met with Sawada-san who we really wanted to just make a baptismal date but she has work on Sundays, but she said she'll talk to her boss or else from here maybe try to look for a new job (even though she just started this one). Then there was Akiko (Who we really think is probably crazy... she is impossible to keep on one train of thought for even 1 minute) which was all over the place but entertaining... we gave her a pamphlet to read and invited her to come to church but she says she's Catholic. Then she started doing Japanese sign language to us, and told us about her boyfriend. Hontou ni wakaranai... *shrug*. Last we had a lesson with Akane who is always great, and we taught more about prayer and how much God loves her. She's also going to try and come to church next week.

Thursday we had a mini-zone conference and dinner with a lady who doesn't seem interested herself but keeps trying to introduce us to people she thinks might be interested. This time it was her daughter and her daughter's boyfriend. They were very sweet but afterwards she appologized for their lack of interest and said she's try to find someone else again. I hadn't realized quite was she was doing before but it makes me chuckle and feel very grateful that she at least recognizes what we're doing and wants to help (pretty much as good as any member!) I hope we can help her see SHE can study it too though, from here on :) Then on Friday we had another lesson with Miho (the girl in the wheelchair) and she seemed a little more genki, like maybe she's on the upside of recovery, but still whenever we talk about her coming to church there's just a wall and we still can't figure out why she stopped coming. :( Ok and lastly, Sunday was GREAT! We had Sister Dibbs (Yeah--President Monson's daughter) come to our ward! She and the area president (Elder Stevenson) spoke for sacrament meeting and she did a special class the third hour for the young women. She's really sweet, and has such a strong testimony of prophets--which is so cool that someone that close to the prophet can be so sure he's called of God. It also happened to be Sister Watanabe's last sunday so she bore her testimony at the beginning as a (non-)farewell. She is VERY nervous about serving--especially because she's going to SLC Temple Square, and doesn't really speak any English right now. But she recieved some great advice from Dibbs shimai to take life one inch at a time, and to just trust the Lord. That's the advice Dibbs shimai said "another girl who stuggled with her confidence to fulfil her duty" got when she counseled with the prophet. :) I think it's good advice for us all.

Well, my time is about up for today, but I am excited about my coming package!! (I can get packages and mail any day besides P-day. They just put it in our mailbox--or here at the hombu we just drop by to see if we have mail--and if it's too big the delivery company just leaves a note on your door and you call and say what time you'll be home to receive it.) So maybe I will get it soon!! (for future reference though you should just not tell me until you send it otherwise everyday when we stop by the hombu I nervously check the packages names but to dissapointingly no avail.. :) I'm glad you're saving my e-mails! I have such great parents :D I print some out here and there too but printing is only available here at the hombu usually...
And I loved reading about Virginia's stories! They are really great, especially the lady who had the strokes. Powerful. Tell her hi and a big hug from me ok?

And Brooke's talking and William's dating, Austin's searching :) Sounds like it's pretty busy. I was thinking last night about that animal sanctuary Larisa and I volluntered at in high school (remember Larisa?) Sarah's Sanctuary. There is (was) a poster for it at the Redmond Petco. It's on Novelty Hill.. but anyway I was thinking it'd be cool to see if they need help that one month I'll be home (if I even have time).. but maybe Austin should drop by and see her setup--Last I knew she was struggling even to get by but that was five years ago, so maybe she's found some funding because it's still going... and so she might be able to pay him to do some side work or something...cleaning out animals stalls, you're used to that right Austin? :)...well it might be worth a shot.

Ok well good luck! Be safe! Love you all and talk to you next week!

-Hugs and Kisses-
LeFevre Shimai