A new companion in Maebashi

10 June 2009

Mada Maebashii desu. Watashi no atarashi doryo wa Sakamoto Shimai desu. Nihongo wa hanashiyasui ni narimasu. Watashi no atarashi doryo sugoku kansha shite imasu.

which means...

I am still in Maebashi. My new companion is Sister Sakamoto. It is becoming easier to speak Japanese. I am really thankful for my new companion.

I took Yamamoto Shimai to the honbu (mission office) and left with Wells Shimai, a temporary companion, to kichijouji for two days. Sister Well's companion was going home as well. Sister Wells is from San Diego! Grandma sent me a news article from the Seagull a few weeks ago with her and two other elder's pictures. I told her about the article.

Sister Wells' Japanese is great. She took two years in high school and watched some anime films with English subtitles growing up. She says she forgot a lot, but I think the exposure has really helped her. Funny, I was not afraid to go off and dendo (contact) with someone who was entering their second transfer. I remember my first and second transfers or so and how I would be terrified to do that because I didn't know the language or how to get around well. I found that I could understand the language just fine. And, would you have it, the Kichijouji apartment has a dryer! Yes, a dryer! I didn't use it while I was there but I was in shock that they had one! I used Hardel Shimai's bike (Wells Shimai's old companion). It was rusty and run down but it did the trick. Sister Wells joined the church 6 years ago along with her mother and half brother. She went to EFY before she was a member.

So anywho, I am co-senior with my companion this transfer and that kinda freaks me out because it reminds me I am half way done with my mission! Whoa! However, just like Sister Oga said, the language has clicked. It really did. I think that having my third Japanese companion is a blessing and I will be better prepared to become a trainer (they will be needed because shimai are not so many as the elders and many sisters are returning shortly) if need be. And guess what? Shaha Shimai is co senior as well and she is serving in Yokohama and Kanagawa, my bean area! (note: Shaha Shimai was Em's companion in the MTC) Oh man, those hills are gonna be just terrible in the summer! I wish I would have taken more pictures. It is seriously San Fransisco style.

So, todays sechedule. I woke up in Kichijouji with Sister Wells. We met at Kichijouji train station at 10 to meet the other sisters. They always come to that train station and then leave with their new companions. Then I left with Sister Sakamoto. We came to Takasaki train station, ate lunch at the cafeteria down stairs (we are in the city hall) and then came up here to email. Sakamoto Shimai doesn't email though, just hand-written letters. Next we will ride the train to Maebashi, drop our luggage at the apartment, go to shopping, and then I will teach eikaiwa.

We had dinner last night and a mogi (mock/ practice) lesson with a member couple in Kichijouji last night. They served us sukiyaki. The wife was pera pera (kind of like "fluent") in English. She learned English in school a bit but she says she really learned from listening to cds/records of the Osmonds. Isn't that awesome! She was stellar and talked in both English and Japanese to us.

I can't tell you how excited I am that Claire wants to serve a mission. Oh, I saw Nagase Shimai today at transfers. She said to tell Claire sorry she hasn't written her back.

I am terribly excited to see the pictures! I will try and send you some when I can.

I usually copy stuff from my journal and I have it in my suitcase but I don't really feel like getting it out. My mind is going real fast right now.

However I do remember something pretty sweet. In the train station yesterday I saw some people from Nepal (I suppose) because one lady had a shirt on that said Kathmandu. I started thinking about the good times of the hiking trip.

I love you sooooooooooo much!

Sister McMahan