McMahan Shimai's Penultimate Week

22 March 2010
I assume you will take a carry-on suitcase and a backpack. Well, if you are not planning on a backpack, can you take at least one so we can share it as we go around? I wont have a bag, but if we can share that would be good. Dont bring me a backpack though. Sharing is good.

As for presents, there are two families that I want to give them to. For the Uchida family two cds from the free store, something by a hawaiian guy etc etc but not efy or motabs.

For the Ikezaki Family,

two packets of that taco seasoning mix stuff
one packet of something else like a chicken shake and bake thing
a box of jello
a box of pudding
one thing of sprinkles--- the kind where there is like 6 or 8 types in one thing

These two families have helped us out a lot!

I hope you got the train map that I sent to you....

John Bytheway is coming to Japan on Sunday. We learned about it last week. The whole mission is getting together on that day. Usually transfers are on Monday but we are going to split off with our new companions on the Sunday. It will be held at the Kichijouji church. Weird to think you will be in Japan on that day!

Last Tuesday we did a mogi lesson and had dinner at the Mizunos. I was really nervous for the mogi lesson because we were teaching the lesson of the Restoration and I was going to share, memorized, Joseph Smith's experience. Sure enough, I messed up in one spot. Mizuno kyoudai told us, as feedback at the end, how explaining the Bible and THEN the Book of Mormon will help because people in Japan mostly likely don't know much about the Bible.

Wednesday we went to the Shiki City Office. Sure enough, I, or rather the church, needs to pay for insurance. It's a long story, but missionaries are supposed to get out of it, but the people at the office didn't know and or didn't follow the guidelines. So yeah, a bit of a downer. I also was sick with a sore throat, coughing, and a somewhat runny nose. I taught eikaiwa that evening and felt my voice leaving me as I taught. I really like teaching eikaiwa. We split into beginner and intermediate classes this week even though it was really few in numbers. Brother Mizuno put and ad in a magazine or newspaper so more people would come.

Thursday we got on the Urawa computers and took a survey that had been emailed to us by the church. Some mission headquarters guy is coming in April and wanted to get an overview of the mission before he came. It was questions about the effectiveness of our dendo and how PMG has helped us etc etc. Before that though we had district meeting over at Okegawa church. At the end we shot baskets outside. The DL wanted to show us how preparation helps us achieve goals. He first threw the ball at us an we had to shoot then and there. Next he let us think a little. In the evening we had dinner at the Ikezakis back in Urawa.

Friday I got up at 4am and my throat hurt. I ate some ice cream. I had not been feeling well since the Mizunos. As we were washing spinich we found tiny slugs on it. Nasty. Someone in the Kawagoe ward brings it every week fresh from the garden. We hadn't found the slugs before. I sifted through and picked the best leaves. Spinish is one of my favorite foods! The slugs are kinda scary, but I could tell it really was just from the garden. Later that day as we were searching by foot for a house we never found, we were stopped at a light and an elementary school aged girl stood next to me. She looked up at me twice. I said konnichiwa to her. As we crossed the street I asked if she was going home and then what she would do when she got there. She said she was going to play. I said that sounded like fun. She was way cute. One of my favorite things is the kids because they just really want to talk to you. As missionaries we have to be careful of legality issues as far as how much we should interact with kids, but I must say that each of the mini conversations I have had have been way cute. They are so open and understanding. We had a lesson with Koto chan that afternoon at Urawa church. She said her mom has been trying to read the Book of Mormon but is having a hard time understanding the names and, generally, what is taking place. We are really excited to hear this because it means that possibly next transfer the mom might give Koto chan the ok to get baptized. Koto chan is reading about Abinadai in the Book of Mormon right now and wondered, upon reading about King Noah, if me might be the same as the Noah's Ark Noah in the Bible.

Saturday we moved into our new apartment. We got up and didn't study but packed and cleaned the house up. We left for Urawa church for the Relief Society opening social, yearly Relief Society Birthday party thing, and arrived towards the end, in time for lunch. At 1 o clock we walked across the street to the *i forgot the word in english but the place where people collect info about homes and you choose what one to buy* to get the key to our apartment. The apartment is a 15 minute walk from the church and a 3 minute walk from the Ikezakis. my companion took pictures of defects in the apartment to send to the mission home. Sooner or later the Honbu staff came. They had taken the fridge as well as everything from the elders apartment in kawagoe and brought it in two vans. We chose what we wanted and didn't want. Next the Ikezakis drove us to the place we had been living where we met with Brother Uchida. We piled all our belongings and apartment things and took them to our new place. We first cleaned all the elders stuff. It was totally filthy. Then we moved in a bit. In the evening the Ikezakis and the youngest son took us to buy futons to sleep on. As a side note, I found out that my companion currently weights 49 kilos. I weigh like 56 I think. When she was in elementary school she walked 40 minutes to school. She lived in the country. I was still sick.

Sunday it was way way windy. So, all the trains were delayed. We left at 830 for Kawagoe church but I went a station to far. We would have made it barely on time if I went back and fixed my mistake on any normal day. *I needed to go cause I was going to help with a musical number where v1 and v2 were a cappella, I did an interlude I made up, and v3 a cappella* But, the train was delayed 30 minutes, about, so we called the members in Kawagoe and they said to just go to Urawa ward. What was hard was the fact that we were both carrying tons of Book of Mormons. During the move, the elders forgot they left all their BOMs in the cabinet, so we were gonna take them when we went to church. It was so heavy. I think I had like 18 of them. My comp also was carrying a lot.

The good part is that elder Hancock was singing Come Thou Fount in church and I hadn't been able to cause we were going to Kawagoe... but... now I could last minute.

Monday was spectacular. First was district meeting. The Kawagoe elders told us about an incident on Sunday. A newly baptised brother had been asked to give the closing prayer in advance, but had misunderstood or something and though he was to give a talk. So, he went up for the prayer and gave his talk for almost two minutes while everyone in the congregation was sitting with their heads bowed in prayer. Oh, and Sakata Rina came to church for the first time! Yamaguachi San came for the second!

We took the bus back to Urawa. My companion and I sat on the back row, the long seat, at opposite ends. A set of elders also were on the same bus. They sat one seat ahead, in the personal seats. A girl came and sat by me. I pointed to her bag and asked if she went shopping. She said yeah, and showed me her comic book. I talked to her the whole way. She is a college student going to school a train station away from where the Kawagoe church is, is studying Christianity, used to have affiliation with the Quakers, knows her religious history, likes badmition, and likes learning about different religions. I shared the Book of Mormon with her, going through the pictures and explaining how the BOM is like the Bible, but takes place in America and that in the BOM there are prophets too. I gave a copy of the BOM to her and got her name and number. I was really thrilled about that. That evening we had outreach starting at 7 and guess what we always play.... badmiton.

We got to the church. The youth were practicing a dance for an upcoming youth conference. The elders were putting together my companion's bike. We chatted for a few and then went housing. My companion rang the doorbell of a woman with whom she had a conversation through the talk box. My companion was able to give the woman a BOM by putting it in her mailbox. Can you believe it!? Two Books of Mormon in one day. We have passed out only one this transfer and then two today. And here's one of those things were you aren't supposed to compare, but a pair of elders passed out 28 this transfer. I dunno how they do it. I was really satisfied with the two we passed out and especially excited about the girl I talked to on the train.

Today we had a lesson with Yamaguchi san. She has various concerns about getting baptized and we want to help her find the courage to get moving a long. We used the example of Nephi returning to get the plates and tied it to having the plates be like her baptism. Nephi goes three times to Laban. Even though it would be easy to lose faith and give up, he keeps on going. At the begining of the lesson we asked if she had ever applied the things she learned from the Book of Mormon to herself. She said no. So, I think it was a good lesson not only to help her realize the importance of baptism but to show that the BOM is more than a text book.

As for my being sick, I think I had somewhat of a pollen allergy. I also got this way last year before the Cherry Blossoms, except last time I had a fever and fluid in my lungs.... hence them calling it bronchitis. I decided to just endure until I get to America. Lots of Japanese people have unpleasant reactions to particles in the air during this time, whether it be to the Cherry Blossoms or to other things that spring brings along.

I realized that I have not got a final word on Chiaki-san. I called and left a message. At any rate, I feel you should go to church in Kofu. Church starts at 10. It takes about 2 hours the Yamanote Line to get there. The Ogas will help you out... and I really hope you got the map I sent! Money shouldn't be a problem cause you have those passes. If we end up going again then well, we will just pay for me. Man, those passes sure are great! I will let the missionaries know you are coming. I wont be able to contact you with further information, but most likely someone will be there to meet you at the station around nine forty. If not, the Ogas will help you. You go down the main road and turn left on the second main light I think. At any rate, you can just point to the churches name **which you should have written down somewhere*** and ask what direction it is. If you walk more than 15 minutes after going left, then you went to far. That is all I can clearly remember. There are a lot of various shops so I don't remember the names clearly enough to tell you where to turn. Oh yeah, when you are going down the main street before you turn left, if you pass a small park on your left, you have gone too far.

When you go to church, don't forget to ask the missionaries to show you chiaki san an mei chan!! And, bring my present for chiaki. I didn't have on for Mei-chan, so I feel bad, but, well, yeah, I am so happy you get to meet them!

I am so impressed you are going to travel by yourself! You know how worried I get when anyone gets on a plane so I will be worried sick and you won't be able to call me to let me know you got here safe. I hope I have told you everything that will be of use and I am positive the Ogas have been of great service. Since I can no longer be of service, please ask them for anything and let them know I am very grateful for all the assistance they are giving you!

Just thought about it. Can you get an EFY cd from the free store for Mei chan?
Sorry about all these presents!!