Here's a recent photo of the missionaries serving in the Japan Tokyo Mission. Elder David Bednar, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, is seated in the center (red tie) beside his wife. An area conference was held with sessions for the missionaries and the general church population as well. Click on the photo to enlarge.
Emily answers our questions in her email dated 6 May 2009:
How did you travel to Maebashi? By train, 3 hours. What's Maebashi like? There are still many people, but no one is on the streets. There are very few tall buildings. It is a holiday time right now so people are usually not there when we house. It is like a ghost town because there are no people on the streets. What's the ward like? There are 25 people or so. We just had a ward BBQ and there were 15 people. Tell us about your new companion, Yamamoto Shimai. She just had her birthday and turned 27. Here mom is a member and her dad is not. Her younger brother and sister are inactive. Her mother and father are divorced. She is quiet and kind. Her shoulder hurts a lot, like mine. I gave her a massage to help. We switch off between Japanese and English every other day. It is her last transfer. She likes to sing hymns. Her brother is studying massage and her sister is a dental assistant. She likes the color green. Are you back to speaking Japanese non-stop? Every other day : ) Japanese is incredibly hard for me. I am not progressing like other missionaries have. At the ward BBQ I did a lot of standing around. The BBQ was 20 minutes away by car. A member took we sisters and an investigator, Maya. We have 3 investigators. It was drizz
ly. We went to a place with trees and a sort of camp ground. There was a 3 by 2 foot hot plate type BBQ deal thing. It was under a tree and that was good because it really rained towards the end. They made the sukiyaki in the rain. Before that they cooked up, separately, strips of meat, onions, sausage (or hot dog), pepper. You picked it off the hot plate with your own chopsticks. There was also rice and curry. Somebody brought a special thing that is made in Gunma-Ken (ken means county; our county is Gunma). They were small rolls, square-like and had a special sauce on them. Super good! Are there less English speakers around in general? I am not sure. Many people seem to know basic English if you talk to them in English, which I don't, but it would be like somebody saying hola and you know they say hello. What's your new apartment like? White and quaint. We are on the 3rd floor. We have wood floor, thin carpet, tatami, and bathroom floor stuff. Our futons are raised off the floor! I think I am sleeping better at night. It is on something like the lounger in the backyard at home except without the back and thin iron-like pole stuff, like something you might take camping. I put two futons on. They are not like the futons I had in my other apartment. They are not mean to fold up the way the others did and they have a different texture. They feel thicker. I think I am sleeping better. Can you see the mountains? A little. I think there is smog and that is why we can't see.I have passed through rice fields since I have been here. We are not what I consider "country country"... just country. So there are rice fields, but not lots of space. We passed ov
er a big bridge with a big river. It reminded me of Idaho somewhat. I wish we could see the mountains more, but the visibility is not far. Did you take your bike on the train?As sisters we ship our bike. The elders must carry, unless they want to use their own money to ship. Sisters, it is free. We used cardboard to cover the handlebars, pedals, and chain so they are not bumped and send it. There is a shipping company. How did all of your stuff get to Maebashi? We take the mini suitcase for overnight and ship the other two. How big is your district? Our district is 8 missionaries. We had district meeting on Monday. It was fun to see the elders. There are no young adults in our ward. I think one or two young women and i say two young men, but that is it. And perhaps 4 kids. Is it easy to find places to email in Maebashi? We can come here 3 times in a month. SO, for the 4th week I think we will go to Takasaki and email. We need train for that.We ate at a 100yen sushi place today. Soooo good. I love sushi. For music was playing Saturday in the Park and Stevie Wonder and "somewhere out there... neath the pale something something...". There were no words, just electric redo of it. It was totally awesome to hear those songs.
I am cutting my hair today. Waaah! I am scared. It is long. Too tricky to wash. I took a before and I will take after picture!
Here are my favorite parts from studying:
The relation between: trust, rely and depend...
Happiness: Isa 32:17, James 5:11, Alma 27:18...
Elder Neil Andersen's conference address"You Know Enough" http://www.lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-947-4,00.html
3 Ne 26:9, D&C 50:40, D&C 78:17-19
I thoroughly enjoy reading the Book of Mormon and studying in the morning.
I have written in my journal every day for a while now and I can't wait to tell you all about it on Mother's Day when we get to talk! I wish I could write it down so you could put it on my blog.
So yeah, I am totally slow with Japanese and it frustrates the brains out of me. I need some spark of something. I wonder where my Emily fire went?!?!? I can't wait to talk to you! And Peaches. Is she ok? I love love love love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
McMahan Shimai
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