McMahan Shimai received great news this week; five of the wonderful investigators she taught during her stay in Kofu have set baptismal dates. The dear sister pictured above, Chiaki-san, will be baptized along with her two daughters on Nov 15! The two sweet ladies below, Takano-san and Sano-san will be baptized on Nov 8!
19 Oct 2009Yep, I am by the ocean. Everyone is burning their crops right now though so the smokey air burns my eyes. It's a weird combination, the smoke and ocean air. I'd have to say though that it doesn't smell as strinkingly salty as when it does at home. What I did notice, and thought was weird, is that the sun can actually set on the side oposite of the ocean we are at because it is an island!
We take long bike rides to get everywhere, and by long I mean the average is about 30 minutes. The roads are barely lit up at night and housing at night is not a good idea because of it. So, we have to work around that bit. There are no colleges or parks here so our dendo options are housing and visiting members. We are on the look out for new and effective ways to dendo. Last transfer Budge Shimai started a map in the apartment with pins for all the members. It is a long process. I would say I am the most gungo-ho out of our threesom as far as getting it done goes. I reall enjoy the map, both preparing the one in our apartment and using the hand held one when we go out. I have been doing most of the leading as we go about. Johnson Shimai says she has a hard time with directions and such. I think that, as a missionary, I have improved with map reading skills. Our map we use when we go out is 10 years old and, as you might imagine, very out of date. A new map was bought last transfer, but Johnson Shimai doesn't feel comfortable taking it out until she gets reimbursed for it. The reimbursements don't come until next month though, sadly.
Speaking of things having to do with the month, next Tuesday a member is going to drive us and the elders to the temple. It is a member from one of the elder's areas. There are four elders in our district. I know one of the areas is Togane, but the other I forgot. Our district leader is Korean and he is trainging a Japanese elder.Here in Chosei we have three male investigators, Emily, and a Japanese mom. I have not yet met the mom but because her husband is only home on Sunday she is not progressing well because she can't come to church. Emily is from New Mexico. She is living in Japan with her Japanese husband and daughter from a previous marriage. She likes learning lots of religions and seeing how they connect. She said that she likes studying but probably won't become a member. She has had a hard life in the past apparently. She had dyed blonde hair and is loud and crazy, in a good way of course. I can't remember the guy's names so well. None of them are progressing though. We had a lesson with one and got cancelled on by another. The one with whom we had a lesson had many questions but little desire to actually learn.
On Thursday we had a snack/get together thing at the church. Swasey Shimai, my old companion, and her parents, and Watanabe Shimai, another missionary, came because they served here and this is their last transfer. At any rate, Swasey Shimai wanted me to play the piano for her parents. Of course I said yes cause piano opportunities are rare. Then everyone listened, maybe 25 people. I felt really show-offy but couldn't back down because they announced that I would play. So, it was a weird introduction to the ward. Sister Tanaka loved the music and wanted to copy it for her son who also plays piano.
We have had some long evening planning sessions. Two of them were an hour long. I have been sleeping well though. There are two beds with teh futon on the floor in the middle. It is a good futon though.
One day we were taking the train and as I was talking to a lady I asked her about the bag
and if it was some stuff she had just bought. She then told me about nato, and even though we both understood that I don't like it, she said how good it was for the bones and that I should eat it. Then she gave me the nato she had just bought. I wonder if you can try nato in America. It is completely nasty. It is the only food I have come across that I just don't like.Get this. There is a lady in the ward who puts on a hip hop class. We went at the begining and shared a message, we upstairs (at the church) to eat dinner during it, and then came bacck down towards the end. It just seemed kinda weird, the juxtoposition of sharing a message and hip hop stuff. Before it started I saw a huge cockroach upstairs and tried to put a pot over it but I dropped it to hard and it bounced and he got away. Anywho, my companion's bike had a flat tire so we walked home, about 15 minutes by foot or something.
On Sunday after church a guy fixed my companion's bike. Sister Tanaka took us home by car and then we walked back to the church to pick up the bike. Church was good. The fruitbasket was overflowing. Apparently they do it every week just cause people would forget if it was only once a month. Oh, and would you have it, on Saturday Sister Johnson showed me how to save words on my dictionary. Sweet! Now I don't have to write them down! Church was good. It is a rather small ward. There aren't any young people really. Maybe 4. They are all extremely nice and willing to help with anything. I was very impressed by that.
Yesterday I got to see the beach for the first time. It has been fun here in Chosei to see people have their wesuits out in their yard or occasionally a surfboard. I really enjoyed when we were at the beach, looking at the guys in the surfer parking lot. Just like home! We took a picture on the beach and then moved on. We housed into a guy who was maybe 50 and German! He had lived here for 30 years and spoke Japanese and English, but the British english. He said the religion "wasn't his cup of tea." We asked what brought him here to Japan, and he said the in New York many years ago he started a game of Go and that brought him to Japan originally.
In the everyings, via some bells, they play the "Yesterday, love was such and easy game to play..." song over the clock. Sweet.
So, yup. That is Chosei. I was entirely shocked that I was to leave Kofu but I trust that everything is for a reason. I am always trying to find the reason for transfering or, in other words, the things I can learn. It is neat to be in a threesome again. It takes a lot of work to keep things balanced and figure out what everyone' style is. I have learned that hard workers are the best companions and that serving your companion sincerely is very important.
Sorry, this email is kinda all over the place. I hope it give you an idea of how things are going. I am, myself, still adjusting, and will always be adjusting to my circumstances. As a missionary you are always put in new situations.
I love you so much! Thank you for being so supportive!
Love, Sister McMahan
No comments:
Post a Comment