Double Duty: Saitama Stake and Tokyo Mission!

Today we received by mail a photo CD from Sister McMahan with over 100 photos! I've been rationing for the last several weeks on this blog and now....three weeks before the end of Em's mission, I've got a ton of photos!!! All of these were taken within the last two months in the Saitama Stake. Emily's former companion, Shimomyia Shimai is in many of the photos, along with many wonderful Japanese friends, young and old.

3-8-10
It is raining again today. It has rained almost constantly for nearly 4 days now. I think the weather will shape up in time for you to come. Speaking of which, don't ever take a taxi. A bus is much, much cheaper but at the same time the bus schedules are written in kaji so understanding them is difficult. I really mean it about the taxis. It's not even worth it. I sent you a train map, in english, in the mail. Managing the trains is really overwhelming. Here is the toll free number for the mission- 0120232032

Last Pday we went, again, to the Ikezaki's for dinner. Their 18 year old son, Kenzo, is a great chef and has been interested in cooking since elementary school. He fixed curry chicken. The time before he made pumpkin cheesecake. He pointed out that you can baste meat with mayo and it will soften nicely. I asked everyone what animal they wanted to become. I think he wanted to be a hamster.

Wednesday we did a church tour over at the Kawagoe building with Yamaguchi-san. We made it quick because she left her son sleeping out in the car. At the end she asked if we had Sunday school on Sundays, like she had back up in the Fukuoka mission. Well, of course we did so we let her know. We also handed our old apartment keys to the Kawagoe elders. They, at the request of the bishop, were going to check it out and quite possible move-in to it. We went back over to Urawa church for a lesson with Koto-chan and taught lesson three, the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thursday was a bit sad because Kotaka Shimai, of Kawagoe, called to cancel her appointment on account of her going to the doctors because she was having a hard time with her pregnancy. We went over to the church anyways and walked about 30 minutes from the station to Tanaka Shimai's house. She was also a bit down and blue but for other reasons.We shared a scripture at her door and my companion gave her some Japanese sweets she had made. We walked over to Domon Shimai's house for a mock lesson. I went without looking at the map, confident I remembered the way, but went off track. It was raining and we were cranky. After the lesson we took the train to Eba Shimais and waited at her house but she wasn't there. Found out later she was at work or somewhere but didn't have her cell so she couldn't call. It was a very cold, rainy day.

Friday was a mini zone conference and interviews with the President at Urawa church. We reviewed what we learned at the bigger, multi zone conference we had earlier. I don't remember what exactly the topic was, but the elders ended up doing push-ups and seeing who could do the most. The elder I counted for did 67, and all of them were good and solid. I think the object had to do something about diligence and effort....? We also played Jeopardy with categories regarding language: grammar, vocab, and writing kanji. There was also one category for English vocab. Words for the three Japanese missionaries we have in our zone.

At 6 we had a lesson with Mibuki-chan at the same church, but she didn't show. At 7 we had outreach. Good times. Elder Hancock walked in at one point sporting some gloves which I recognized as mine. He didn't know they were mine but had found them laying in the road. Oh yeah. I could have lost my gloves!

Saturday we had weekly planning and I called Sakata Rina. Turns out she had the day off and we had a white day (no appointments) so we trained on over to Kawagoe area. We shared the second half of lesson two, the Plan of Salvation, and watched the Together Forever DVD, during which she cried for the first two scenarios. She has read in the Book of Mormon until half way through 3rd Nephi. She said her church member husband (actually boyfriend) who is in jail for shoplifting wants to meet with the Bishop. The bishop called her yesterday (Monday) and will meet the husband on the 16th at the jail.

Saturday evening we called a less-active sister and sang happy birthday to her on the phone as a message.

Sunday my companion and I split so we could go to both Kawagoe and Urawa wards. I rained all day. Church was particularly fun. I feel less and less like a missionary and more and more like someone who actually lives in the ward boundaries. In the evening I called some people who had previously investigated the church but had stopped for one reason or another. I talked to a 20 year old girl and had a really good conversation. I also talked to a woman who had some sort of depression, according to her record, and she still had some things she was going through. She also called us back yesterday and I had an interesting conversation with her. She spoke mostly yes or no for answers and ended the conversation by saying "bye-bye" and hanging up rather than "Nice to talk to you... see you...thanks for the call.... etc."

Yesterday was district meeting at Kawagoe church. We also, afterward, had a lesson with Koto chan at Urawa church but she didn't snow. Two young women from the ward had come for the lesson, so we just showed them how we talk to people on the street. I also bought a pen at a convenience store. During the time of Koto-chan's lesson I learned that my companion had a curfew of 5:00 as a kid.



I drank soy milk for the first time. My companion doesn't drink regular milk cause there is cow blood in it, apparently, so we don't buy that. She doesn't drink soy either (well, she does, but, you know, just not to the point that it is her favorite thing) but it was cheaper than the regular so I bought it.
love you so much! I am working very hard to obedient and have the Spirit with me!

Love, Sister McMahan