Long days, Late nights in Saitama

McMahan & Shimomiya Shimai with 86-year-old member, Sister Nakahishi

1 February 2010

Again, did not write in my journal this week. As a matter of fact we got home at 10pm last night and started our daily planning at 10:30, the time when we usually go to bed.Yesterday, Monday, we left at 11am and headed to Tsuruse station whereupon we met with Shuuto Shimai ad Domon Shiai. My companion went with Shuuto Shimai to have a lesson with Sakata Rina ad I stayed there and walked with Domon Shimai to Yamaguchi-san's house for a lesson.I taught about faith and how we can help our faith grow. With the help of the Gospel Principles book I was abe to find four helpful scriptures which references I wrote on 4 cards for her. The lesson was a bit crazy because Yamaguchi-san has a 2 or 3 year old boy who talks and dances. Sister Domon has a 3 year old girl and a baby.

We were supposed to meet up at 1:30 at the station but got a call from Sister Shimomiya on a public phone saying sister Shuuto had lost her cel phone because they had fallen. Well, Sister Domon's baby was crying. She'd nursed her during the lesson but the baby was still upset. It had aso begun to rain. I walked to the car about 5 minutes away, holding the little girl's hand, the baby crying all the while. We got to the car but the little girl had to use the bathroom so we went into the drug store. Then sister Domon had to circle around in her car for about 10 minutes cause she couldn't find a parking space but then decided to stall ille

gally in front of the station, where we waited in a parked car for another 20 minutes.

I felt bad about all of this, especially because Shuuto shimai is pregnant. Although not far enough along to tell at first glance that she it, it was still a bit of a rough day for everyone. She and my companion had falled while running across a railroad track when the blocker things were coming down. Sister Shuuto had toppled over while ducking under at which point her cell phone had fallen, something which they had to go back and search for, only to find it wouldn't turn on.

We had had plans to visit a less active but then decided to go to Mister Donuts and reccouperate, talk about how the two lessons went, and things had gotten a bit short on time cause of the cell phone incident so we wet to Urawa church. As for Sakata Rina, it was a good lesson. My companion learned about some personal problems of hers. She really opened up.

At Urawa it was FHE but before that we met with Lin. The rain was begining to turn into snow. We ate at a CHinese Chain restaurant. Lin is going back to China for two weeks or so. She got baptized very recently, speaks fleuent Japanese and English. She is nervous to talk to her parents about serving a mission because they are a bit against her becoming a member of the church.

By the time we got hom at around 10, it had turned to real snow and it was sticking. We woke up this morning to snow everywhere. It has since melted but stuck long enough that I would consider it legitimate.

Well, that was Monday.

Sunday also was hectic. We went to meet up with twowomen who were going to go on splits with us so we coud go to two wards, Koshigaya ad Kasukabe, but the Koshigaya one didn't show up so my companion and I and the woman from Kasukabe went to Kasukabe ward. She was the Bishop's wife. She needed to get to the church quickly so she took us in a taxi.

Church was great. I forgot my nametage though. It is my 2nd time this transfer and the 2nd time on my mission! I have never been to the Kasukabe ward so people were a bit confused when I wore my companion's spare nametage.

We met a girl named Liz at church. She is fron Utah. She is here for 3 months teaching English and will go home about the same time as me. We invited her to fhe on Mondaybut she didn't come on account of the rain.

After church a member of the Seventy came and spoke. There was also a shokujiai after. Don't remember in English, where everyone eats a meal after church... a social? The fireside was great. I understood most of it, which was incredible to me expecially since we speak only English as a companionship. I saved 50 words in my dictionary to learn later. I was amazed that I understood enough to actually take notes. Who ever thought I would do that!?

After church we went to a member of Sakado's ward house (Tetoanui family) and ate dinner with them and a couple by the name of Butler. Bro Tetoanui is from Haiti and speaks perfect english. He met his wife at BYU=Hawaii. His wife is Japaese but lived a good part of her life in England so speas english and her accent was hard to place at first but when I found out she lived in Englad it made sense. BRother Butler is from LA area and served a mission in Oaklahoma but is now less-active. He was married to a Japaese woman with whom he had 3 kids if I am not mistaken but they were divorced about 2 years ago ad around that time he married the woman he is married to now. She is not a church member but is a bit open to the gospel so the Tetoanui couple and their way cutw three young kids (all speak english and Japanese) are being kind to them and sharing their beliefs.

Well, as for the other days of the week I don't have much detail. It is just driving me nuts cause I can't get things down in detail.

On the 30th we had a lesson with Sakaguchi-san (teach her little kid english and share a gospel message) at the church but she didn't show up. Then we waited to meet Miho, a girl we met on the bus, at our lunch appointment but she didn't show. We had a lesson at 3 at Urawa church with Mibuki-chan. Her mom was there for most of it, whcih was good. I think I've told you Mibuki's situation before... In the eveing we met with Eba and her daughter Mizuki and helped then plan what they are going to say at Mizuki's baptism. THe mom is kinda nervous cause Japanese is not her first language.

On the 29th We had a lesson with Koto-chan at 2:30at Urawa church but she did't snow cause shehad to go to school and we felt kind of bad cause a joint had come. At 5:30 we had district meeting. Yes, district meeting in the evening, at Urawa. Then we had Outreach following that in the same building.

An "Outreach" Young Adult Activity. Em is in the blonde in the back...

Thursday we also met with Eba shimai. I stood up to leave an realized I didn'T have my nametag, but then Eba Shimai saw it under the couch. Whoa. I had brought along some cake that I made for them. You take a pancake mix and put in some sugar and an egg and a banana or two and also some of whatever you like (like vanilla, but we did't have any) and then put it in.... the rice cooker! Yes, it makes cake!

Met with Irisa Shimai that Thursday morning, a less-active of Fujimi-Kawagoe ward and watched The Testaments DVD. This woman used to babysit my companion on occasion.

Oh, and for the grand finale of today (I have 10 more minutes) I will rehearse unto you what happened Wednesday. We had an appointment to meet with an active member named Domon Shimai (but a differet one). She had invited a less-active mom friend over for lunch. Well, we searched on the wrong side of the road for the house (went by bike) and ended up 15 minutes late. Then whe it was time to go we realized we did't have time to rideto the station ad then take the train to where we needed to go. So, we had to leave our bikes their ad Sister Domon drove us to the station.

We barely made it. We met Nakasone Shimai at the station. She is about 50 or 60 and Japanese but grew up in Peru. She is from Saado ward. We wanted to take her to come see Sataka Rina with us because we were struggling with the Spanish. Well, Nakasone Shimai had walked 30 minutes to the station to see us. We got on the train together and we to the station where Rina lives. The it was a 10 minute walk to her house. We were like 15 minutes late ad had a time limit because Rina would only be there so long cause she had to go somewhere. On top of that we had only been to the house once and weren't 100 percet sure we could get there in one piece, but my companion remmebered. I was worried about Nakasone Shimai because I coudl tell she was kinda tired. Well, we made it there and had a short lesson then al of us walked back to the station. I took a picture of me pushing her young boy in the stroller. So, then we went back on the train with Nakasone Shimai ad she had to go another 30 minutes by foot back to her house.

Mission Christmas Party December 24th. Emily is playing the goofy carol medley she arranged

as her zone sings to the mission president and the other missionaries

Well, I must be off. Oh, and we taught Eikaiwa on Wednesday night.

Next transfer we heard more news about changes in the area. Our apatment might close altogether and we might go live over in Urawa. Nothing is final. A hard part in adding to the process is that President Dorff, the stake president, had a hernia so is in the hospital for a bit.

Well, trully must be off. I love you!

Sister McMahan

Busy Times in Saitama

We haven't heard from Emily in a while. This latest assignment in Saitama has kept her very, very busy. Unfortunately, not hearing from Em means we're totally out of pictures for the blog. So sorry! Hopefully we'll hear from her soon!

25 Jan 2010
Again, I did not write in my journal this week. We didn't even get home until 9:50 last night and we are supposed to be in by 9 (or 9:30 if we have a lesson).

Well, last Tuesday we went to the Koshigaya church and met with Hagiwara Miki, a 20 or so year old who has done homestay in Australia. She is a recent convert. We were going to meet, as a last minute appointment, another sister afterwards. She was either excommunicated or had her name withdrawn from the church records though. Long story short, we forgot we locked the doors and my companion even saw her waiting as she went to use the restroom but thought she was busy texting on her phone. This lady called the mission office and was upset. In the evening we had dinner with the ward mission leader of the Fujimi-Kawagoe ward. His name is Brother Mizuno. We did a mogi lesson. He took it very seriously and gave me some advice about teaching about the Holy Ghost.

Wednesday we took Pday and in the evening had eikaiwa. No one came. Well, 6 people came but they were al church members, there mainly to support.

Thursday a woman said she thought I was from Russia. Never gotten that. They usually say I look European. We had a mogi (mock) lesson with Sister Domon. She is a return missionary, but now married with a young child and baby who is about to walk. He wanted to eat my Book of Mormon. In the evening we went over to a member's house, an older couple with their youngest son being 19. Koto-chan came with us. She is the 14 year old investigator who can'T get baptized because her mom is not ok with it yet. We taught about following the law of the land. My companion got some ideas out of the primary manual. She wrote "follow the law" or something one letter at the time on papers and numbered them. She put them with the numbers up on the table an said we were going to play a game. Then she was silent and tryign not to laugh. The point was that you needed to know the rules to learn the game, if that makes sense. Walking back to the station with oto chan aftewards the light was flashing green and about to turn red, signaling we should be about to teh other side. My companion started to run to get across the street but then I and then she realized we had just taught about obeying the law and here we were trying to run to make the light and cross the street.

Friday we had a mini zone conference at Urawa church. Then we had weekly planning while eating a burger at a nearby place and continued as we walked back to the church and planned there. It was weird t plan without the area book. Then we had Outreach. It is on Fridays and for single adults. We play games and have a spiritual message. We had called Mizuki-chan (the other 13 or 14 year old who is investigating but will be baptized) a few days earlier and told her her parents needed to sign a sort of release\okay for for he to be baptized. She said she would get back to us via a text message about if she would do it on Friday or sat or sun. Well, she took it that she could come for the baptism interview on Friday and have her parents sign it on Sunday. Well, it isn't usually quite done in that order, but we got the okay because... she texted us and said she would be there at the church at 6! We were stressing out a bit. The district leader would be coming though and could interview her. We reviewed the baptismal questiosn with her beforehand. Weh adn't taught her about the law of chastity so we explained that quickly. Well, she had the interview. I will tell about her parents, who I met on SUnday at church!

And, side note. My companion , when in america, said "I am going to go get a mail" to a friend when she meant to say "I am going to go get the mail" Funny, huh...

Anywho..Saturday we met with another young woman, Arisa chan. She is about 14 too and got baptised recently. We were going to go to the temple with her on friday but found out the temple was closed. So, we are gonna have to wrk that out. In the veign we met with Eba shimai and her daughter Mizuki-chan, an 8 year old, who is going to be baptised. I think I explained about then already I think.

Sunday was a big day. We did a split again. I went to Urawa ward and my companion went to another. My companion was a mom who had served a mission many years ago. Lemme tell ya, doing splits takes a lot out of you. We got there and looked around for the mission correlation meeting but couldn't find it and found a room with people but instead of DCS this particular day it was a special meeting to wich the missionaries came but we hadn'T known about it. Then was sacrament meeting. Elder Call's parents were there. They were actually there at teh end of Outreach too. He had gone to pick them up at the airport that day. Elder call is not at teh end of his msision but got specaial permission for his parents to come. I guess his brother or cousin is a pilot and coudl fly them over. Elder Call is a sound engineer or something, so they brought over his equipment. Sister Campos, a singer, is making a cd with (possibly) some other people and they are going to make hundreds of copies for members to give to their friends. Seems like a lot of work to me and I wish mosre missionaries could be involved, but I guess on the whole it will be a good way for members to be able to share what they belive about Christ with other people.

Anyways, back to sunday. We had sacrament meeting at towards the end a brother came to me and said a woman was waiting who had neverbeen to church. My comp for the day and I went to see her. We invited her in for the last 30 minutes but she did not feel comfortable and said she would go out and walk around and then come back in 30 minutes to go to sunday school. I switched phone numbers with her before she left. Apparently she had called the church last sunday and had gotten the bishop on the phone but had not actually come to the church.

We went to sunday school together. It was about agency and making choices here on Earth. The teacher asked us if we had a good choice we made and the blessings from it. When it got to the woman she said she was afraid she had done nothing good.

Next was Relief society but my companion said the thaught the woman had something she wanted to say to us. So, we went into the kitchen, an unused room at the time. I thought we would speak for 15 minutes and then go to the other meeting but it turned into 45 minutes. She spoke to us about her past. Then bishop came in towards the end. He is amazing man. He said that she was free to talk to him any time. My companion also exchanged numbers with the woman. We let her know how the missionaries were here to tell her about what church members belived but she can and should go to the bishop with heavier matters. The woman was 31 years old and loked like she could be a model, but she was very sad an troubled.

After church we had 3 things to do. Mogi lesson with Shiraishi Shimai, a return missionary and "retired" MTC teacher. I think she is about 30 years old. Then we had a lesson with Koto-chan and Mibuki-chan. Well, we did the mogi lesson and the sister brought us lunch. I also did a lesson with Koto-chan, but skipped the one with Mibuki-chan the reason being that her dad came to much of church (he is not a member but comes sometimes and is really good friends with the elders) and BOTH of her parents were at the church at 2:30 to sign the baptism papers. I handed that stuff over to the elders and they took the parents in another room while I taught Koto-chan. Thing is, these two girls are both learning about the church and you know how middle school is, how kids really pay attention to each other and there is unspoken competition? I was taking that into consideration when I interacted with both these girls on the same day. You know, cause one is getting baptized before the other.

Oh yeadh, there wasa young womens activity after church so both the girls went to that while I did the mogi and eating with Shiraishi-shimai.


I was really tired Sunday and Monday.

MOnday we met up with an 86 year old sister. She wanted us to meet her non church-going 78 or so year old friend. This sister, Nakaishi Shimai, was incredible. She was 86 but could pass for 50. So bright and she was really funny--- she took short cuts across the road and stuff. She even walked up the stairs in the house. I dunno, really funny and good lady.

We also met with Koto-chan yesterday and had a lesson with her mom. The mom learned about persona progress and I think was happy about that.
I am gonna finish up with an event that happened on SUnday. We were taking the train home and pulled into a station and people were lined up with cameras outside taking pictures of the train. We thought someone famous was on the train or something. When we had initially gotten otn the train to we had noticedvarious drunk buisiness men, like a party r something maybe.

Then we noticed a 20 or 30 year old man crying as we pulled in the station. Well, we got off the train d asked what all the stuff was about. The train had been working for 17 years and this was its last run. SO, it was a bunch of people who really, really liked trains.

I gotta go now. Thanks for all you do!

Sister McMahan

"100 percent hectic"

Pictures of Sister Missionaries learning Origami, taken at a recent Mission Conference:

1-18-10
On Tuesday we visited Kaori Mitchell. She was a former investigator when I was in Shibuya. I called her at that time and referred her to the recently-opened-by-sisters Saitama and now I got to meet her in person. Her husband is from Canada and a member of the church, but has come in a long time. We are helping her have a desire to read the Book of Mormon.

Wednesday was a Zone Conference. I played for Elder Hancock to sing "O Give me back my Prophet Dear..." He has a beautiful voice. I went on an exchange with Sister Helps in Matsudo afterward (where the conference as held). She is very talented a drawing comics and makes a comic of the day each day. Very creative. Her parents, with fair skin, were originally from Africa but moved to America when she was a baby. They were both converts to the gospel. The missionary couple came over to to an inspection of the apartment, making sure we have necessary things. They are going to all apartments. Then they took us and one set of elders out to Denny's. That night I went back with Simomiya Shimai to eat at the Ikezai's house. They have 4 boys if I am not mistake. The youngest is 9 and full of life. He is very kind and spirited. Their family loves Hawaii. Well, they drove us home in their car. The 9 year old said "Wasureru mono ai? Are you ok?"--- just like that! So funny! He said "Did you forget anything?--- and then, in English... are you ok?"

During the day we visited a sister who doesn't come to church much. She is a young mom. Her son, probably 2 or 3 said, in Japanese "I have to fart" (my companion translated) and then went in the next room and, well... took care of that. So funny. I also learned about a referral that has been sitting around in our apartment. It is from Sister VanBose in the Fukuoka mission. I roomed with her in the MTC! We also had Outreach that night at the Urawa church.

Saturday I slept in for 30 minutes because..... we were so sick! We had had sore throats for about 2 days and Friday had a runny nose. We had this runny nose for about 3 days. I still have it today a bit actually. Oh man, we were quite sick. We went to a ward activity at Urawa though. It was a talent show of sorts. Elder Hancock was there so I asked if I could play and he could sing. He sang the "I Know my Redeemer Lives" with the fancy piano. He cried during it and I heard some people watching cried too. They were serving mochi. They had had a mochi tsuki earlier. I had some mochi with cheese fondue.... I thought about Dad. It was way rich and way good! Oh, and I had a dream that Ibuprofen was 100 dollars in Japan. It was a sad dream.

Sunday was 100 percent hectic. My companion and I went to separate wards. I had a companion of the day from Sakado ward, the ward where I went. Her name was Tsukiji Shimai. It was on this day I decided to minor in Japanese. I was doing all the talking to people and whatnot and it was the first time I met everyone so I did a lot of introducing myself. It wiped me out! We met with an investigator after church. Thing is she has come to church for 3 years but doesn't want to get get baptized because she feels she is happy. She teached yoga and in my opinion that has become sort of a religion of sorts for her. We shared a scripture with her and we listened to her talk for about 30 minutes about various things including her opinion that God is at the top of a mountain and there are many ways we can get to him or in other words, all religions are good as long as they make you happy. Well, after that we went and visited a referral from the elders. I got there couldn't find the address but found a place that looked like it. So I called the elders and then had to call another elder who served here a while back. It was originally from him. Anywho, no one was home apparently, in any of the 4 apartment thing because there were no cars. I waited a sec and a lady drove up in her car. I asked if she was Shimazu-san, the lady who we wanted to visit. She said she might be the lady but had a different name. I cant remember it as I am writing right now. She remembered meeting the missionaries before. So, it was her. I made a return appointment. We met her husband and baby as they got out of the car. They seemed nice. I talked to Shimomioya Shimai later and she recognized the name the lady had given us. She was a former investigator! My comp had never met her before but had seen the record in the apartment. Sure enough, I saw the record and it was written as Shimazu but then crossed out and the other name was written. The correct address was also written. I guess the elders had gotten and given us the slightly incorrect information. She is very strong in a Buddhist religion and didn't have a strong desire to learn about Christianity so the missionaries had stopped teaching her before. Maybe she will want to listen more this time.

We had a dinner with the Amano family in the evening. They are an older couple. Their RM daughter and her young boy (maybe age 2) were there visiting. They were sooooo funny! The dad speaks great English although he is very humble and says he doesn't. The grandma mom served a mission. The dad was talking about an apple at one point and my comp referenced snow white and the poison apple. The grandpa said that if I ate it I would "shinu made ikeru" which means "live until I dies" It was sooo funny. I could feel a really good spirit about them and their house. He spoke in perfect English at the end about how he knew we had a living prophet today.

Monday we had 4 appointments. One with Shofontes Shimai. She is from Peru, an active member but sometimes needs friends because of the language barrier. We also met with Koto-chan. She is 14. Her mom used to listen to lessons about the church. Long story short, she has had dance recently and hasn't read the Book of Mormon or prayed and told us how she could feel a difference. She prayed at the end and expressed how it had been a long time since she had prayed. She has to make a tough choice because she has the opportunity to be on a dance team, or something, that meets a lot on Sundays. We met with Yamaguchi-san, the referral from VanBose Shimai. I won't say her whole story, but she feels intimidated by some of the members of the church who have been members their whole lives ad feels like she doesn't know much. We want to help her realize that she had learn little by little. We also want to help her husband learn a little about what Christianity is. Right now he is with another Buddhist religion and, I assume, doesn't know much about what his wife is learning.

In the evening we had a dinner appointment. We took a bus for part of it. I talked to a girl named Miho the whole way. We ended up making a lunch appointment with her for a later date! Yeah!

As for today it has warmed up suddenly ad the weather is gorgeous. I haven't had time to write in my journal this week because I was sick and then we got home late sometimes and then I was just kinda tired. This morning I stretched for one entire hour!

Well, I must be going. Thank you for all you do for me!!!

Sister McMahan

Covering SIX wards in Saitama!

This picture was taken at a recent Shimai Conference. It shows all the sister missionaries in the Japan Tokyo Mission with Sister Albrecht, the mission president's wife, in the center. Emily is kneeling in the front row, red sweater.

The Church has approved a website created by the Japan Tokyo Mission to advertise their English classes. Check it out: www.goeigo.org or in English: www.goeigo.org/en

11 Jan 2010

Hey, I just looked at the new eikaiwa website, too. They put the wrong date down for the Adachi Eikaiwa! Yadda! (That means "oh no" in Japanese, roughly).

Things are different as a stake missionary. For example, we don't ride our bikes at all. It's trains or walking. Consequently my back has been way up there on the pain scale lately. I haven't written in my journal 'cause it hurts my back to write and I am just plain pooped sometimes. We get home past curfew most days. We plan and eat, at times, on the train. President is a little concerned that we don't get all our study time in and get home late. He is also concerned about the cost a bit. We spent about 80 USD in a week on trains. We send in a reimbursement request in order to get the money back. We are lucky to ride the trains because it snowed today! Well, it was rain trying to be snow. I kind of like the really cold rather than the semi-cold though. We rode our bikes today to the city hall so I could change the address on my foreigner's card. At the end a guy came and tried to get us to sign up for insurance. I guess some elders did it a while ago, but the church is the one paying for us. Anyhow, it is a bit of a mess. We didn't sign up. We need to do some paperwork and luckily will meet the office people tomorrow cause we have a zone conference. The older guy who was trying to get us to buy the insurance didn't smile even once so that was a bit intimidating.


On Wednesday we visited a referral from an elder from last transfer. She speaks Spanish and is from Peru. She had wanted a Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price and D&C triple, so the elder had bought her a nice leather one from the temple with his own money. We went to visit her and found it was for her Mormon, but less active in church, husband who was in jail. He had wanted to repent or something along those lines. She wanted us to come and deliver it to him there. Everything must be done in Japanese at the jail so guards can understand. Our Zone leader (it is their area) knew a man who he had recently baptized in a nearby area, a man who spoke English, Japanese, and... Spanish. So, the elders are going to go with Abraham, that guy. It'll be good cause he can communicate to Rina, the wife, yet understand and speak Japanese. The mom, Rina, has an almost 1 year old boy and works at night. She barely understands Japanese. She was falling asleep when we went to visit her so we didn't get much of a spiritual message across and it was really hard to communicate. My companion also studied Spanish, but both she and I are limited now because we are out of practice.

In the evening on Wednesday we went to SPM. Stake something or other meeting. It is once a month. The sisters don't go, but since we are stake sisters we were invited. Shimomiya Shimai has been once before. It is for the Zone leaders and Pres Albrecht, and the Stake presidency (Stake presidency meeting?) Anywho, my companion talked about the ups and downs of working on the stake level. The stake pres, Brother Dorff (he is American) talked about how it might be good to have another set of Shimai, and split the wards 3 and 3 between them. Pres Albrecht talked about the cost of our traveling. So, next transfer is up for grabs, but it might change to 4 sisters.



Thursday we met with three less active members. One was a woman who married the America missionary who baptized her, but he had a problem with pornography ad is now inactive and they are divorced. She is really neat and speaks fluent English. We also visited Eba Shimai. She speaks Spanish, from Peru, was once married to a Japanese man but has since divorced. She has a young daughter who we are meeting with and will be baptized this transfer! The mom sewed her baptism dress. I thought that was pretty cool. In the evening Shimomiya Shimai's mom's friend bought by some food etc. The friend had met her mom at the Temple. Shimomiya Shimai's parents live in within the Tokyo mission. There is a train she can take that goes straight to where she lives. Whoa. She even has a picture of her working in from of where her dad works, when she was in Yokohama. Whoa.

ON the 8th, we did a split. I went with a girl named Amelia, a 16 (i think) year old Australian exchange student. She is in Japan for a month and a half and will go home soon. She only had high heels so that was tough. We streeted and visited a less active (which took a long time to find, and I felt bad about that) and got kicked out of housing an apartment complex. A man said that we couldn't do door to door stuff. He didn't even smile when he talked to us, kinda of intimidating, if you will. Amelia's ancestors are partly from China and Malaysia so people tend to think she is part Japanese and can understand Japanese. She doesn't know Japanese, but is learning it. For lunch we had burritos. Yes, burritos! With tortillas! We made it in our apartment. In the evening we went to a thing at Urawa church called Outreach. It used to be sports and then institute, but institute is on a break until April so less people come. We played badmiton and volleyball with a soft air ball (which I didn't lie because I do not like volley ball, but badmiton was so much fun). Oh yeah, in the morning we didn't have milk so we rode our bikes for about 3 minutes and bought some. And, the funniest story of the day happened on the train. My comp and I sat next to two grandmas. One said to Shimomiya Shimai that I was pretty and then... "You have a good looking boyfriend" So funny! She thought I was a guy. I had my hat on. Shimomiya Shimai started laughing. The lady felt bad and said, in English "Excuse me. I am sorry." So, she mustered the English that she did know and said that to me. So cute and really funny.

Saturday we met with a woman who is a referral. She has a son who is 7 but has something wrong with his body so he looks five and his skin is not healthy looking and his hair is thin. Well, the RS pres of that ward came with her two boys (3 and 9--i think 9). Shimomiya Shimai stacked up some paper cups with pictures on them to represent how Christ built his church. The 3 year old said, in Japanese, "So, when are we going to knock it down?" So funny! Well, when the apostasy part came, we took one cup away at a time, from the bottom, and he was happy when it fell. Before the lesson we did a quick English lesson and afterward we ate spaghetti. I was having a hard time being positive and smiley 'cause my back hurt. Later that day we passed out eikaiwa fliers at an eki for like 10 minutes. A little girl, probably age 5, came up to ME and took one. So cute! You know, usually people avoid those who are passing out stuff, but the girl came to me! There was also a party thing at Urawa Church, the stake center. We ate oshiruko. That is mochi with anko. It wasn't a ward activity, but mainly SA and people ike that.


Sunday we went to church at the one by our apartment-- Fijimi Kawagoe ward. There was a baptism of the elder's investigator before church, at 8 am. I swear the elder was chewing gum when he performed the baptism. Then we had dendo chosei shukai, the meeting about missionary work, at 9. My comp was stressed and upset and etc etc so she started crying and had to leave in the middle. After church Lin came and did the clean check for our apartment. Lin is Chinese. She is 21. She got baptized recently. She has been in Japan for about 2 years to study Japanese and is going back to China next month. She speaks fluent English. She reminds me of Bonnie Rosell, if I had to choose someone. Really nice and a people person, like that. She wants to serve a mission. I wish you could meet her when she comes, but she will have gone home. Sad! She said that, in China, people eat Gyoza (known as pot stickers) for BREAKFAST, not dinner or lunch. Whoa. We went to Li's house for dinner. She is a less active, also Chinese. Last time when the sisters went, she started drinking alcohol or something not good like that, when they were there, saying that she needed to because she was sad. When we wet this time, we found two empty bottles. There was a not good feeling about her apartment. I found it hard to concentrate because of that. She said her body and stomach hurt. She took two packs of some kind of powder and one set of pills while we were there. She is in poor condition. We committed her to keep the word of wisdom and Shimomiya Shimai asked if she could toss out the alcohol bottles on our way out. She said yes. It felt weird to carry those out. I am really worried about her. She is thinking about going back to China for 10 days or so and we think it is a good idea, to clear her mind.

Well, I have about 5 more minutes. Monday I learned from a 14 year old girl we are teaching (who is getting baptized next month!!!) that she was taught to avoid fruit juice and drink tea. I thought that was interesting. In the evening, coming back after the day was done, a guy we didn't know tapped my comp on the shoulder and as if she wanted to eat some KFC he had in his hand. He was really creepy. I said that we ate already and that he could eat it. We walked quickly to another area on the train platform. We were on our way home from the church, at FHE. The elders had found a 30 year old or so guy on the street with a guitar and brought him in. He gave an hour concert and was SOOO good. He even sang Black bird singing in the dead of night.. and feelin' groovy.... He had a gorgeous voice. So talented. He has played since he was 18, has a real natural gift for it. The RS President made everyone dinner. SO cool. It is FHE for the SA. We watched the 5 min or so Finding Happiness video. At the end .... hey, well, my time is up. AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I have probably three more things so say.

At the end a guy said before he joined the church he was sad and wanted to commit suicide but the church changed his life. Another girl said she built a good relationship with her parents and heard her father say thank you for the first time in her life.


Well, well, I must go. Long story short I am stressed and don't really know what is going on. I dunno how I will ever learn the trains. I hope my back feels better. We speak TONS of English, which is maybe not so good so we are going to focus on Japanese. It is kind of fun to speak English though, of course, cause I have voice my self clearly since it is, well, my native language.


love you.

Saitama, Japan and Shimomiya Shimai

Emily and her former companion, Kina Shimai at the Tokyo Temple:

Aio-chan is baptized; She is pictured with her parents and the Sister Missionaries

4 January 2010

Right now I am at the stake center. In the next room over some members are watching a concert by a Japanese singer named Arashi and I LOVE it! It is rock/pop style....yeah, kinda a temptation...

What stake center you ask? The one in... Saitama prefecture! Yes, I got transfered again! I am a stake missionary now. We are over 6 wards in the Saitama Stake. Yesterday we had lunch with an investigator. The dad is a member but the 14 year old daughter and son and mom are not. Another 14 year oldgirl came over to joint *we were origionally going to do it at the church but the dad of the investigator picked the other girl up*

Then the other girl invited us over to her home. We went. She is the daughter of the Relief Society president in one of the wards. I am still not sure what one. They fed us some snacks and I shared Alma 16'32. Then they drove us to the church where we had an FHE for the Single Adults. We played volleyball with a kids ball and had a lesson afterwards. ALL the elders came, from the whole Stake I think. They dont usually all come. Then we rode the bus home and got back at 10. Since we were late, we planned on the bus.

I guess here things get tight so we plan and eat on the bus or train a lot. Tomorrow we will have our weekly planning meeting and I will learn about the trains from my companion then. My companion is Shimomiya Shimai. She is Japanese but went to school in America for middle school through college. Her english is amazing. She reminds me of Aunt Stephanie a LOT, with her manerisms and tone of voice. She is a people person and super nice.

As for what has happened lately in the mission, I copied my journal and mailed it to you today so you should get it in about a week.

I am really looking forward to Saitama. The apartment is new and beautiful and the kitchen is big. I will have to take some pictures. I feel like I should really be here this transfer. I am always amazed at how Heavenly Father puts us right where we need to be.

At our zone conference on the 13th we have the opportunity to meet with the mission doctor and I am going to check out my back.

Well, I dont have too much to say. You will get the copy of my journal in about a week.

I love you so much! Thank you a million times over for doing the paperwork to help me get going at BYU.

Sister McMahan

Brother Nibley, ward mission leader:

メリークリスマス: Christmas Music, Missionary Style!

12-21-09

Sorry, I won't be able to e

mail next week. Like you said, everything shuts down for the New Year's. Sadly we don't have any dinner appointments with

members. We haven't had any yet this transfer either. However, yesterday we rode to the grandpa who fixed my bike (his son, a married man, is in our ward with his family)

and he i

nvited us over for dinner on January first. He is not a member of the church. Sad thing, wh

en I was riding over to his house, my nice snow gloves fell out of my bike basket and I lost them. Good thing, my companion got a package from her mom and in it were various warm items of clothing, including a pair of gloves. So, I inerite

d the gloves from my companion's previous companion. It is very, very cold here. It was 0 degrees celcius, which is 32 in farehneit... the humidity makes it feel a lot colder, especially when riding a bike.

On the 24th during the afternoon we have a mission conference.

Each zone is in charge of a musical number. We brainstormed some lyrics at our mini zone conference. Sister Bertagnole was going to create the music

, but I knew she was busy (they have a lot of investigators) and there was less than a week to do it, and we have a keyboard in our apart

ment, so I created it. I worked about 20 minutes each night. I thought I would need sheet music (which no one had in our ward) but I got along fine just plunking out stuff. There are 3 carols. An elder from Shibuya made one, a group of missionaries in our zone made another, and Harris Choro (my DL) made

Jingle Bells. Here are the words. The Oogas will like it, I think...

(piano intro)

Jingle Bells---

Riding on my bike

Through the streets of Tokyo

We forgot to plan

And don't know where to go

I guess that's kind of wamp

I'm starting to get lost

I just hope that the spirit will

michibikaremasu.

ooh

Kekko desu, kekko desu

Kikitakunai

That's ok, I guess I'll just go

Stop another guy

Konbanwa, konbanwa

Read the Mormon sho

That's the way we baptize people

Here in Tokyo!

Riding in the cold

On my Giant Mountain Bike

We go out every day

No matter what it's like

We dendo in the rain

We dendo in the snow

At least we're teaching people

About Christ and not Nato

Chorus, again, but this time take the last syllable of Tokyo up a half step

(short music interlude, changing to jazzy tone)

spoken by a single elder: Dear President Albrecht

(short, short music interlude)

Sung by elders (O Christmas tree):

O president, O President

This year we want an iPhone

A dendo dog or Disneyland,

How bout another P-day?

Sung by sisters in thirds:

Our feet are cold

our hands are wet

We want a car-

Maybe sorvett.

Sung by all in unison, piano lands on jazz chord:

O president, O president

(a cappella, all, first in thirds and then a chord on TIM and TAM)

At least a couple tim (e g b flat) tams (f a c)

(Music interlude-- sleigh bell sound)

clapping by three people, eigth notes on 2 and a quarter on 4, everyone a cappella to "Santa Clause is Coming to Town"

He's making a list

Checking it twice

Gonna find out who's wamp or nice

Transfer calls are coming around

He sees you when you're streeting

He knows if you have planned

He knows if you are dilligent

So work hard or you'll be banned

Oooh--

You better not slack

Better not lie

Better not flirt, I'm telling you why

Transfer calls are coming to down

All, spoken: Oh, yes he is

(While the spoken words are delivered, I play a C7 with eigth note triplets on 2, 3, and 4, pulling the beat back like it's a big jazz finale)

All, sung: (WAY jazzy to a dotted eighth 16th quarter quarte

r pattern, with the bass straight eighths going F E flat D C)

You better not slack

a c bflat c

better not lai-hai

e flat d c e flat f

better not flirt

a flat g f a flat

I'm telling you why

a flat b flat a flat bflat c

Santa clause is coming, (a c f a g b flat ) then BIG double bass C's from the piano

Yes, He's really coming (a c f a g b flat ) again, double C's

Santa clause is coming to town (a c f a g b flat )

starting the f below middle c, I play the following while they hold out town

beat 1 is a rest

f (and)

a flat (two)

c (and)

d flat (right abouve the middle c) (three)

f a flat (and)

a flat (four)

c (and)

f (one two)

then... big low F for the finishing punch :) (three four)

wow, I just waisted all that time telling you about the song......

Sister McMahan

Two weeks worth of Adachi News

Elan here. I was unable to blog last week so this week I'll combine highlights from the past two emails. I'm also posting some older pictures from Emily's time in Chosei with her companion, Yamashiro Shimai.

12-08-09
Last Tuesday we streeted a lady from Colombia who spoke Spanish and Japanese. She went to church sports activities with her friend in Colombia and even knew who Joseph Smith was, but didn't have any interest. I was happy to hear Spanish because it reminded me of home!

On Wednesday we rode our bikes over to Ueno Park, about an hour away. It is very famous in Japan. Lo and behold it is the home of a science museum, zoo, and... an Fine Arts and Music College! It is very hard to get into. There is a young woman in our ward who attends the fine arts part of it. I was in heaven, but sadly the college did not give tours. The park reminded me of Central Park, France, and Japan, all at the same time. Some of the buildings looked European. The leaves were all changing colors. It was beautiful!

We visited 3 less actives on Wednesday and that sparked a conversation between my companion and I about why people go inactive. There are 20 pages of members, but only about 80 are active in our ward. My companion told me about how life is so convenient that people gradually fall away from going to church. For example, on every corner there is a convenient store, people have cell phones to communicate, and you don't need a car to get anywhere. I remembered how we hear from the Prophets about the quickness of this day and age, sometimes forgetting where true happiness comes from.

Speaking of less actives, we made a goal to visit every single one. Our area is relatively small and we can get everywhere by bike no problem. There are 4 "ku's" A Ku is like a county, I think. In Japan there is -Ken, which means prefecture. That can be likened to a state. Then there is ku. After that there are cities, with different suffixes, usually relating to how big or small it is. Well, enough about the lay-out of Japan... back to our project!

Like my companion Sister Perkins did when we had all of Yamanashi KEN as our area, its ward being called Kofu and located in Kofu city, we copied the ward list. Next we cut all the names into strips and arranged them by ku (county) and next by city. Since I have a Japanese companion, that part went way faster than if I did it alone because she can recognize the kanji quicker than I can. My job was to write out the name in English and paste the strips of those living there under that name.

Next I went and wrote how old everyone was. This was somewhat tricky because the birthdays were on a separate list all together. I got the hang of it and soon finished quickly. Knowing the ages helps a lot. For example there was an 80 year old woman who was inactive. She might have passed away or she might be in a hospital.

Well, at any rate, having the list this way will really help in effective missionary work. We can go to a certain city and visit everyone there within an hour. And by the way, when I say city, it is not as big as Carlsbad city, for example. A city, or town, is a number of blocks and takes about 10 minutes by bike to get through all of it.

BIG NEWS! The Ito family (Mom, dad, and the two brothers Dan and Tatsunari in the wheelchairs) will move to Utah around March or April in order for the boys to go to BYU Provo. I will be able to go visit them while I am up at school! I couldn't help but remember how I felt prompted to go to BYU Provo after the mission. I think I will be able to have some good experiences while I am there, whether the Itos move there or not. If they do, then I will have reason to be 100 percent excited! You can even come and meet them!


12-15-09


Friday it rained ALL day and was so cold you could see your breath in the air. At the end of the day at our apartment my companion showed me a blue spot on her foot. I think she was starting to get frostbite. She was wearing summer shoes with just nylons.

We had three appointments on that Friday. The first was with Kai Shimai, a 21 (I think) year old convert of three years. She doesn't come to church every Sunday . Her dad is also less-active, of many years, but at the end of our meet he came in the room to answer a phone call and said he wanted to get his faith stronger. My companion was surprised at his comment and invited him to the ward Christmas party. The daughter did homestay in America and speaks good English. According to my companion she is thinking about serving a mission.

Next we we to the Ito's for a lesson with Tanizawa (21) and Asano (19). We rode our bikes along the river because there are no lights. It was an hour bike ride through the rain. My socks got wet even though I was wearing my Merrill water resistant boots. I was very cold. At the beginning of the lesson my companion asked Dan who we wanted to say the opening prayer. He said "Chiba-kun!" My comp. and I were confused because Chiba kun was not there (I have talked about him before. He hangs out with the missionaries a lot, but for some reason can't serve a mission until next year)... but then Chiba slid open the door leading into the next room and popped out! That was pretty fun. It was the first time I met Tanizawa-san. He was Tatsunari kyoudai's helper. He doesn't have too much interest in the message and thinks a lot so sometimes he is kinda in his own world. I think he is thinking about what we are talking about though.

Lastly on Friday we met with Aoi-chan. I have talked about her before. We read from the Children's Book of Mormon reader.

Saturday was stake Conference. We went to Nakano (the honbu) for that. Before we left we went housing in our area a bit. On the top floor of an apartment we housed into a chubby, cute 12 year old boy who could pass for 18 by his maturity level. His mom passed away (not sure how long ago). He said she read the Bible and even brought it out to show how she marked it up. He has interest in Christianity. We gave him a Book of Mormon and told how it also testified of Christ but was about the people of Ancient America. He said he would tell his dad bout it, but wasn't sure his dad would have interest. We gave the boy a copy of the Book of Mormon. Then we housed on floor down until a lady in the hall (it was an outside apartment) said we could do what we were doing because there was a sign downstairs that said "no posting." We had come in a side entrance so we hadn't seen it. We stopped. Luckily we met that cute boy and gave him a Book of Mormon.

Sunday again was stake conference, but in Koiwa, the area over where our District leader lives. A primary choir sang. So cute. In Japan, kids LOVE singing and they all sing very on pitch and reverently. I remember at home how some kids don't like to sing or they sing too loud cause the leader said to not be so quiet. Anyways. Cute.
Photo above: Emily's Chosei apartment by the beach

We housed into a grandpa who was investigating the Jehovah's Witness church so couldn't listen to what we had to say. He said we were "otsukaresama" for going out in the rain. That basically meant he thought we were hard workers and/or respected us for respecting what we do. He said "just a minute" and came back out with two vegetable juice juice boxes. Nice guy.

This last one might have been last week... My companion said through the speaker box that we were teaching about the purpose of life. The grandma from within said "Mo sukoshi shinu kara irenai desu" which means "I am gonna die soon so I don't need to know." My companion laughed as we went to the next door. She seemed like a pretty perky and funny lady to me.

As for yesterday, Monday, we had district meeting. My companion and I had to leave a bit early cause we had a lesson at the Ito's (which required a 50 min train ride back and then a 50 minute bike ride to the appointment). I know you sent the poppyseed bread for me and my companion but I wanted to share it with the district. I cut it into 8 pieces and left it for them as I left. Elder Renfroe, the DL's companion, said "Hey, the church IS true" as I mentioned how my mom had made and sent it. I guess you had to be there, but coming from a 19 year old boy and with the tone of voice he said, it was really funny.
Sister McMahan along the beach at Chosei

Well, that is how things went last week. I am looking forward to talking to you on the phone on Christmas Day. 10am here is fine. I will have a hard time concentrating on study :) I did last time when I called home.

I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sister McMahan