The Final Transfer: Urawa

Emily, her companion and members of the Ito Family.
The Itos are moving to Provo this summer; Emily will get to see them!

15 February 2010

Remember last week how I was in the middle of recording? Well, it got even crazier! I am still in the same area except two more sisters came to cover the stake so now my new companion Sakuma Shimai and I are over Kawagoe and Urawa wards, except for that Sakado and Okegawa wards have a lot of missionary fire so we will visit their referrals and visit less actives with them on occasion. Thing is, Sakado and Okegawa are a bit far so we don't go to church on Sunday there. Just Urawa and Kawagoe.

Now, if that's not crazy that I am on my 14th companion... I am getting a new apartment! It was decided yesterday in a meeting after church with the stake president, which I couldn't go to because I went to a different ward than my companion. Shimoniya Shimai went. Last transfer we lived in Fujimi-Kawagoe ward area about a 10 minute walk from the church in a gorgeous apartment. Train money was getting a bit expensive and I am sure there is another reason or two, but at any rate after discussion we are moving to Urawa boundary. Haven't an apartment here yet so we are living in the Bishop's second house. I am there how using his work computer (he works machinery downstairs in a warehouse-type place) to email you! We are actually at his "real" house. We live in another house about 3 blocks away in a neighborhood. The house we live in is a bit old and very Japanese-like. I like it a lot. We live upstairs. Downstairs is another warehouse type place.

Yup, you guessed it. We packed up all our stuff today. My new comp Sakuma Shimai had her stuff sent to this new house we are living in. The elders in Kawagoe are going to move into our old apartment (well, the brand new but recently lived in gorgeous one) sometime or other.

Someone in the ward is searching for an apartment for us to live in here in Urawa. We aren't sure when the move date will be. First of course, someone needs to buy it! So, we could live in this Bishop's house for one week or the whole transfer.

Sister Missionaries of the Japan Tokyo Mission: January 2010

During the recording business on the second day we didn't finish until 1:30 in the morning. People's fuses were a bit short by that time although everyone remained patient. They couldn't get a good take on a certain song. Well, about 6 other sisters were there helping and, like you guess, there is a last train and they all missed it so the bishop drove him to his extra house and they spent the night. Then, the following day or so Elder Call came to the extra house and edited with Hancock Choro. They are best buds. Apparently they stayed up till all hours of the night. I wanted to come and help since I was watching the music etc etc, but they are buds and I guess it is effective to have two elders instead of a sister and an elder. So the companions of Elder Call and Hancock became companions for quite a while. One of them is going home this transfer so in short it might be sad because of the recording coming on his last week, but I think it worked out okay.

As for transfers, the elders in Kawagoe stayed, but get this. Elder Hancock and Elder Provost came to Urawa. They were in other areas in the zone before. Elder Call's companion here in Urawa went to where Hancock Choro used to be. So, same people, generally, or at least half of them, but just switching places.

Elder Call became the AP. He still hasn't finished the cd and has some concerns about musicality. I talked to him a bit about that on Sunday. I really like this recording business. Can you believe it though, I conducted two of the songs! Well, after the first one I realized things just weren't together so I went up and told Elder Call I would conduct. He got me a platform table to stand on. I took off my name tag, shoes, and watch because I was so close to the mics... and... conducted. It was so fun! I was a group of talented kids but much of it was unrehearsed and there is a lot in the editing process that could have been taken care of if we had rehearsed. It was just so fun for me to do that. I felt a bit weird though at the table. There is actually a picture with me in between two elders, which is technically against the rules cause you are supposed to be with your companion. Oh, and the violinist was so amazing. He is a member close here in Tokyo somewhere. I heard he applied and could have gone to Julliard but needed to learn English more. The violist and cellist weren't members, friend of the violinist. They were also incredible! Elder Call said he wanted me to work in his studio after the mission. He comes home in June or something. Sounds pretty fun, if I'm around.

Well, the family is here and my companion has finished email so I feel a bit like I am holding them up. We are going to go upstairs to the house and have dinner. Can you believe it ? So so so nice.

Well, I feel bad to keep everyone waiting. I still have to say sayonnara for now. Things just change so much around here. Sometimes I feel more like a business than a missionary. Well, that's not true but ya know what I mean. I just keep hoping I won't forget to call someone or make an appointment or something. Plus we are in a technically new area and not close to a train station. So, we will take a bus and than train etc etc. I still get my bike sooner or later but even then were a 30 minute bike ride from the church. It is such an adventure. I kinda like it, and an kinda stressed at the same time. Secretly I kinda tell myself to just give it my all until the end and then it will be over. I dunno what I will do with myself after the mission. I might go crazy with nothing to do. It will be great to go to school and study Japanese and or hang out with return missionaries from Japan and then just get a job and work. Even though everything is just emotionally really big right now, it is kinda fun because I actually understand Japanese. I am so so so worried about going home and everything will feel just like a dream. I really dread that. I guess every missionary thinks their mission is a dream.

Okay, okay, for reals. I probably forgot tons to say and again didn't write in my journal but, well, I guess you can get the feeling from ym letter. I love love love you soooo much!

Oh, and Sakuma Shimai is a twin and her sister is also a missionary in another mission in Japan. Cool, huh?

Sister McMahan