May in Maebashi

We were able to talk with Emily on Mother's Day. It was wonderful to hear her voice and hear her latest stories. Like...the story of the sweet woman in her tiny Maebashi ward (25 people total) who asked Emily if she might be able to sight read a stack of xeroxed LDS music. Emily said, "of course." The woman smiled gratefully and said, "I prayed that someone would come who could play this music for me."

Email: 13 May 2009

We had another cool thing with housing. We ran into Nakano Shimai. She is inactive. She joined the church 8 years ago or so with her husband. She answered the door. She and her husband joined the church 8 years ago in the Yohokama area. They have not been to the church in Maebashi. She didn't even know where the church in Maebashi was. We gave her a map. The mom, Sister Nakano, was pregnant. She had a grey one-piece on that went to her knees. She looked like she hadn't showered in a couple days. Her arms shook/quivered when she moved them. Her teeth were too close together and overlapped in some parts. Her teeth were discolored orange in some parts. She had what looked like she'd eaten messily and gotten some orange/red stuff around her mouth, but I think it was some short of sore. She really loved her daughter (8 years old, who also came to the door). You could tell, but Sis. Nakano's eyes did not shine. She would stroke her daughter's hair, her arm trembling. She also had a 10 year old son, but we did not see him. We asked if there was anything we could do, and she said that visiting once more (or often) would be good. Yamamoto Shimai told me afterward that the woman had some form of schizophrenia and, at one point, had not slept in a week. I am not sure if that was 8 years ago, or recently. We are returning to her home on Saturday. I am so excited to help this woman, meet her husband (hopefully), and help the kids. Sister Nakano is a WONDERFUL mother but her body trembles and she has something wrong with her mind. The daughter is truly a blessing for the mom. She loves her mom very much. I remember her saying "daijobu (it's ok) mom" when we visited. The daughter is a bundle of light and she has a keen mind, one especially keen for an 8-year-old.

Yesterday it was sooooo windy. Like as windy or more windy than Idaho. It cleared the sky a bit and you can see the mountains now. I can also see dust in the air. So much! But anyways, as is usually the daily, we stopped at a konbini to buy a drink. You get so thirsty. I went to the register and a lady was there, in her 20s I would guess. She looked at me and looked down real fast, kinda shy or something. I thought she had read my name tag. I don't really remember the convo too well, but turns out she recognized that the church I was representing was just down the road. I am not sure if she had actually been to it, or just heard of it. I told her Eikaiwa (English Class) started that night and she should come. She did! She came about 7:03, like a smidge after we started. She walked in, saw me (I think) and gasped and left the room, being nervous again or something. After Eikaiwa we met with one of the woman who came and talked about God a bit. Her question was: If there is one God, why are there many religions? She accepted a return appointment and became a new investigator.

Anywho.... The rest of the class went out into the hall for refreshments. The ward mission leader comes at the end to bring snacks. SO, yeah, it was the missionaries running the show, and just me actually. It was so draining to be go go go for all the time! and be happy and smiling etc the whole time!Yeah. Anywho. I have 5 min. The Mish leader said there was one of the girls who came who wanted to meet with us. Sure enough, it was the girl I had met at the konbini. It was her, the mission leader, my companion, and some other guy (member I think) that had come to eikaiwa that remained. Me and the ML and my comp were surrounding this girl/woman and she was against a corner kinda. She opened up a lot and started speaking English to me, looking right at me. She said she has been having a hard time because she thinks the Japanese people are unfriendly. She said she feels left out, or something like that. She said it was a blessing that I came to the store. She said she likes to talk with foreigners and is learning English so she can speak with them. She said she would like, when people walked their dogs etc, to wave and say hi. She even got teary eyed for a second. She had a cross necklace on and carried a New Testament with her, one that had both Japanese and English, so she could learn English. We are meeting with her today, the day after eikaiwa. I am excited to get to know her. I hope she will have genuine concern for the church.

I loooove you all sooo much!

ganbatte kudasai!
mcmahan shimai