Teaching in Maebashi

Whoa! New bishop! That is such a big change and so cool. Speaking of bishops, I got the big paper letter from the ward in the mail. I loved looking at the pictures! I also got the package from Brother Hallet in the mail. Thank you for the PJs. I needed some new ones actually! I think Sister Yamamoto liked the CD.

I am bummed I missed Sweeney, and the Memorial day breakfast.

Our apartment needs some serious organizing of records. I told you I found old Eikaiwa records from 2003-2004ish right? Well, I went and called all the females and I am organizing it all. 3 of the people I called came to Eikaiwa. We had 14 people there yesterday. In Maebashi I think Eikaiwa is an effective way of finding new investigators because when we house there are many people who are not home and many times the streets have very few people. I want to take time and really look through our apartment at all the records and get it all together! My language may suffer and I may be terribly terribly slow at it, but what I CAN do is get everything organized and get it going and set at work my instinctive desire to have everything organized. I may not be able to read the Book of Mormon 3 times through on my mission like I heard another sister do, but I can keep up with the reading schedule. I have read until Alma chapter 3. I am almost done with chapter 2 of Alma, today's reading. I may not be the brightest tool in the shed when it comes to language, but I can do everything I can. I work very hard to always love and serve my companion and to be genuinely concerned for investigators. During meetings at church and elsewhere I can contribute and, through some slightly jumbled Japanese, say what I need to say. Japanese has been hard for me. My mind is very organized and needs structure and the language is such a big thing to tackle. It is hard for me to learn without a textbook in a classroom setting. I have learned from this situation the above things mentioned. I focus so much on learning the doctrine in English, in my morning study, strengthening my testimony, and loving others. I am working to gain confidence in the sight of the Lord and be worthy to be a missionary.


Oh, how is the eating healthy going at home? : )

Although we found him a ride, Christian did not come to church on Sunday. His mom called and said we had a cold. I called them on Monday or so to follow up on the Book of Mormon reading. The mom had not read but Christian had read 3 pages. He is 11, we found out. And, would you have it, I look like his step-mom! He said so at our last lesson. The last lesson was rather interesting. Turned out it was Andrea's birthday. She'd forgotten. There was a couple over, the woman fixing the computer and the man smoking. Another woman, Maria, was there. She was Phillipino. She listened to our message about God and Family. We had intended to give and entire lesson one, but it was not good timing. The phone rang twice and occasionally Christian would have to get up to help with the computer. Maria was a Christian. Her father, who died 20 years previously I think, was the actor for Moses and one of the robbers next to Christ on the cross, during a presentation in the Philippines. So, towards the end, Maria and the couple left. Then, a grandpa-ish aged man came and a younger woman also came. The man had a video camera. He was Japanese and so was the woman. They were Maria's friends. There was much smoke and Andrea was standing the whole time except for when Christian would help with the computer and she would take his seat. So, it was an interesting environment. We left them with a Book of Mormon in English, Tagolog, and Japanese. Our next appointment is Saturday.

We ate at Denny's for dinner one night. Yes, Denny's! The menu was different and included Japanese-style food.

The woman from the konbini did not come to Eikaiwa. We ran into her at the konbini before Eikaiwa though. I have been fervently preparing for Eikaiwa and getting all the old records in order and getting everything straightened out. There were various old versions of Eikaiwa registrations. I combined my two favorites with cut and paste and had gone to the konbini to make copies.

I found out that Yamamoto Shimai, before her mission, had two pet turtles and their names were Mormon and Nephi. Isn't that awesome!?

It was a while back that we street contacted a high school student and found out she liked music. So, I pulled out the Michael R. Hicks arrangements book and shared "Our Savior's Love". I only told her the title. I have never pulled out the music and shared before but I thought it was a kinda cool idea.

Thank you so much for the package again. I love the sunblock! The 45SPF stuff I found in the apartment turned out to be kinda oily and not so great. I have been thinking lately and looking at my forearms. It is like 3 solid hours of sun exposure every day! I am afraid I will get wrinkly skin! Many women here carry umbrellas with them in the summers and they wear gloves over their hands.

So yeah, that is about all. I want to finish off with a really happy note. I was reading the old investigators part of the area book. It was elders in this area back in the day. I really like to read what they wrote. They write as if they are speaking. I can't think of a real, specific example, but it goes like this....

"She did not come to church today. Nuts.
He accepted and wants to be baptized. Yeah!
The lesson was horrible."

So yeah, so funny. We are gonna go to the store now. Thank you for taking the money to send me stuff. It is so much appreciated. I love you so much. Be strong, be healthy, be happy!

I love you!

Sister McMahan........ the big meemers