Little Bitty Miracles

Konnichiwa Kazoku and Minnasan!

SO! Much to tell from this week. We are enjoying some Easter season sunshine over here, although Easter was pretty uneventful save for Saturday we had an Egg Hunt with one of our gaijin wards and then a picnic under the Sakura trees--WHICH are in full bloom now for sure!-- at Yoyogi park, a pretty famous one here for Shibuya. It's right next to the Meiji shrine too, so I'm sure Sister Wells and I will go back later to see that, but the Sakura are already getting sparse. Really probably Sunday was the peak and now they are all starting to fall off. Which I have to say, is just about cooler than the blooming part! In fact, we went to a little college on our way here to e-mail and they have this beautiful driveway full of huge 40 year old sakura trees, so we just walked up and down that sidewalk for a while and just enjoyed what looked like snowing sakura. It is sooooo pretty and I just stopped for a minute to just breathe. And you feel the calm of it all, and every time a little breeze comes by the petals just come tumbling down in a shower. There were a bunch of little schoolgirls too who would gather up the petals that fell on the street and blown into piles by the wind, take a handful (and make a treat... lol, jk) and throw them up in the air or on each other. It was so cool! Like fall leaves... but tiny and pink and soft! Ok, so that's one of the highlights of this week. I'm trying to take lots of pictures, but like I've been saying the SD card is getting full. So I'm also trying to go back through and delete pictures I don't really need (which I'm sure Dad, and myself, will thank me for later... :)

Oh, and I bought a Kimono today. It was used so it was only $10. Has some stains but the color totally matches my eyes. Now I just have to get all the other things that go with the kimono ( the waistband, tying string, socks, shoes... ) ... but I think I'll wait, those won't be as much on sale I think... maybe I'll improvise.. :)

As for the rest of Easter, really it slides under the table here in Japan and no one does anything. It's not even listed on their calenders. And some of the Japanese members didn't even know it was Sunday. ... I thought it was kind of sad, but for me it was just a nice time to really think about the Savior without having ANY of those other distractions and I realized I can get by fine without them :) They are fun (too much candy, coloring eggs) but the real point of Easter after all, is Jesus and celebrating his ressurection. So it was quiet, but nice.
Austin--if you have time go ahead and work on the garden! That'd be great! I don't know if I could remember exactly the plans or anything... but I can try to draw out what I remember again if you want. Basically just keeping the grass and weeds out... I think I'd love to alter it a bit now and make it a tiny bit more Japanese-ish if I can.. :) They just have such pretty garden styles here. We'll see.. I'll think on it some more.

As for Mom and your seaweed adventures :) sounds like fun! Nori (the seaweed) is eaten plain a lot here too. Or cut up and put with sesame on your rice. Or any way you want. That's the dry seaweed sheets. I think they actually fry them or maybe just roast a little too though, so they are just ma-ma (kinda) healthy. The real seaweed they sell all dried up called Wakame and you soak that in water to re-hydrate it, then put it into your miso soups, etc. And the sprouts are great, but I've never eaten them raw! ... We usually use them in stir fries. Today Wells shimai cooked us a fry/soup that had long thin carrot, daikon sprouts, onions, green peppers all fried together, added Tofu blocks, then throw in some soy sauce, Mirin (like a rice wine--you cook with it like red wine), and sou--or dipping sauce for noodles. It was tasty and light and healthy! :) You can use any veggies of course, but those were what we had--says Wells shimai. :) She usually uses those combination of sauces. I like to mix soy and vinegar.

OH! And we made gyoza!! Our own! It was a lot of mincing veggies, then we put all the veggie and meat mix together and put those in the little gyoza skins and fold it on up! So I want to have a gyoza making party at home... I will teach you all my ways.. mwahah :) No, but it is fun to learn how to cook here and use crazy veggies and foods. In fact, I already thought of that before you said anything and there's a little surprise in a little package coming your way soon. aka being sent hopefully today. For some strange reason I thought Luke's B-day was last month! I know it's in April but it was 3 gatsu (third month) and for some reason I thought san-gatsu was April... so I felt bad I was late, got everything and then realized, so now I'll just be on time :)

Ok, so what I really wanted to tell you all about is that Shibuya is so fun! I have had some little thing every day it feels like, that tells me I was really meant to come here. I LOVE all the sisters I've met so far, they are all so strong and faithful! One brought her friend to our Easter picnic. One came to our Eikaiwa class and fellowshipped a newcomer, even inviting him over to her house for a dinner party they were having (for one of the choro's recent converts) just so she could invite the choro too and make sure he has a chance to talk to them.

AND ... Drumroll..... I've gotten to use SHUA! That's the Japanese sign language. If you remember, I was learning it back in Kanagawa and really sad to leave because I was afraid I would't be able to use it any more. But as luck (or the hand of the Lord.. ) would have it, there is one family here with two little girls that are half-deaf. They are sooo cute and sweet. AND on top of that, we keep having the strangest miracles of meeting people on the street that are deaf! That'd been definitely the biggest highlight of my week!! In Kanagawa we only met one person-- and I really truly believe it's because we finally got to the point where we could have somewhat decent conversations. And everyone kept saying as I left Kanagawa how amazed they were I could speak it that much already. I really feel like the Lord has first of all blessed me with this gift, and is giving this opportunity to me here to keep using it as we run into people. Three times in just this last week!! The first two I actually noticed them speaking with their hands on the sidewalk first and approached them. This last time we hadn't talked to very many people that day so I decided to finally stop someone and talk to them because we had a little time and the very first person I stopped was partially deaf! It's funny though, because as much as I KNOW the Lord is leading me to these people, the conversations are just the same: They still don't know much about God. They still put up the objection that they are already Buddist--simply because that's what Japan is. And they still have not said they'd come and try out church. But at least I know I'm planting seed there and if nothing else, being something of an introduction. And I'm sure they are surprised with a good impression... not only is this gaijin speaking Japanese, but Japanese SIGN language! :) :) So, that's been my favorite part of the week. Running into deaf people :) And I'm not sure if it is the gift of tongues or if I should call it the gift of limbs... or appendages.. ;) And cross those appendages that they will come to church soon!

Well, that's about all we have time for today, but Harrison, you have a safe drive home to Floria--sorry it's on your birthday :( long day huh. Sister Shipp!! If you read my blog I did get your email! Thanks! Ganbatte with school ne?! And love you all and keep looking for missionary opportunities there too! They're everywhere just by being a good example and being open! :)

Mom ganbatte with tests! Karada mo daiji ni shite ne! (take care of yourself too!)

Thanks everyone for your love and support!
LOVE YOU LOTS

LeFevre shimai

ps.. I am going to get to go to Education week in Aug right? ... :) I'd love to if I can!