Basketball and Interviews

Oh hey. It's been another week here in the hot. Lovin it! On the bright side, I really am getting kind of tan. That's a miracle! Ok this week...hmmm...

 

Oh the best part of this week was that Kaicho (President) came to do interviews!!! It was SO subarashii (wonderful)!! Kaicho (President) is awesome. I have kind of a funny story though. So that was on Thursday. All of the chorotachi (Elders) from the whole zone (Ishigaki, Naze, Miyako too) came up for it. So I wanted to play basketball again since the last time was when the AP's were here for junkai (meeting). So  Kuroki Shimai (Sis. Kuroki) and I woke up and went and played basketball with all the chorotachi (Elders). Some of them went inside to play ping pong though, so it was probably like half of them playing ball. One of the AP's, his name is Eliason Choro (Elder Eliason), is pretty good at basketball. So we were playing and I'm talking trash...of course. Anyways after we were done, he was trying to dunk it. Oh and we were outside on one of those hoops you can like roll and adjust the height. It was only at 9.5 feet. It took him 3 tries before he got it and I was talking trash the whole time. I asked him if he wanted me to show him how it's done. Ha so he lowered the hoop, and went and got all of the elders to come watch. It was so embarrassing. I crushed it at 7.5 feet though! :) So that's the background. So I went into my interview with Kaicho (President), and Eliason Choro walked past, but Kaicho thought they were leaving, so he called him in really fast. So Eliason Choro comes in and tells Kaicho about their junkai (meeting) plans and stuff, but then he was like "Kaicho, you really have to talk to this girl about talking trash. She talks more trash than anyone I know." When he first walked in, I was going to give him a hard time about basketball, but I decided I better not. After he said that though, I said, "Oh that's funny. I was just about to tell you that anytime you wanted to get beat at basketball again to come on down." Eliason Choro laughed and said, "See what I mean?!" But then I realized I had just talked crap to an AP in front of my Mission President! The Mission President! And this is like his first impression of me because we didn't talk when we first got here. So I was a little concerned. I was thinking, "what have I done?" But I look over and Kaicho is laughing. He said "I like this girl!" And just laughed and whatever, but it turned out ok I guess. Funny right? Oops.

Anyways the rest of the interview was awesome. Gustafson Kaicho loves sports too! So we talked about sports a little, and then he asked me what the hardest thing for me was right now. I told him Japanese. We talked about it and stuff, but the general idea is that he said I need to be patient for two transfers, and then I'll be on my way. He said to stop worrying about it so much. He said I didn't just walk onto a varsity basketball team. I had to work. He said this is the team, and I'm the coach. And you have to earn your spot on the team. I LOVED that!! So awesome! He also told me that if I ran in the mornings I'll start sleeping at night. He gave me permission to go with Kuchar Shimai since no one else will go with me. So Kuchar Shimai and I have been doing that. And guess what...I've been sleeping much better! Yatta!

The bad news...Mako and Akiho didn't get baptized.  They have kind of dropped us, I think.  They still came to church with us but they don't really want to meet with us anymore.  It is depressing!  They don't know if they want to have to keep all the commandments for forever.  It is the saddest thing!

BUT...we found a new investigator!  Unfortunately he is a guy, so we'll have to pass him to the Elders.  It's kind of cool though.  We found him housing.  Kuroki Shimai was like, "How about this apartment complex?"  So we stopped and housed it.  It was late-ish so we didn't have much time before we had to go home.  We didn't have any luck on the top 3 floors.  You could see this really cool Japanese castle up on the hill, though.  I said I really wanted to see a big, Japanese castle.  So we knock on the last door, and no one answered, so we started walking away.  Then the door opened and this guy came out.  We talked to him, and he actually had interest! Funny thing...his name is Oshiro san.  It means "big castle"!!!  haha!  Funny!  We met with him again later in the week and we have another appointment for this week!  He also read the introduction to the Book of Mormon like we asked. YAY!!!!

I might get transferred.  It's not typical for a "bean" to transfer but I think it's gonna happen.  Kaicho (President) told me a little during my interview, so we'll see what happens.  There's not supposed to be threesomes and my trainer is an STL (sister training leader).  So they're going to put the STLs together.  Next transfer is her last.  I'll find out next Tuesday.

Oh, and next week P-day is on Tuesday!  (that's for Mom so she won't panic when she doesn't hear from me next Monday!  :) ...and for all you blog followers...Lacee's blog won't be updated until I hear from her on TUESDAY!  :) )

I'm getting really good at making pancakes!  Everything here is made with "hot cake" mix.  I don't know why it is so big here, but it is.  Lots of it is surprisingly good though!  :)

Just know I love you all lots!

First Baptism!

Yatta!  We had a baptism!!! So exciting!  Runa got baptized on Saturday.  It went so well!  It was awesome!  The only downer is that the ward had my companions and me sing during the in between part.  Not cool.  Seriously, that is discouraging missionaries to get baptisms if they have to sing at them!  :)  A few days before, Runa told the bishop she couldn't do it.  She said she couldn't get baptized.  He told her to pray really hard, and if she didn't feel anything she shouldn't get baptized.  So that's what she did.  A day or two before the baptism, she called the bishop and told him she knew she needed to get baptized.  So cool!!!  The bishop also told us that she told him something she would never have told us...She said if it hadn't been for the sister missionaries here she wouldn't have gotten baptized.  She said that even if it were different sisters she really doesn't think she would have gone through with it.  I thought that was kind of neat!  So that was obviously the highlight of my week!

We had a ward party thing at the beach today!  It was fun!  We ate delicious food and hung out.  Unfortunately I still don't really understand when people try to talk to me!

We have two more baptisms set for this coming Saturday, but I don't know what will happen.  We have taught them everything except for "Obeying and Honoring the Law" and "The Law of the Fast", which we are teaching tonight.  They aren't really sure they want to be baptized though.  Today Mako said she didn't really think she wants to.  I am so sad.  I am praying for a miracle!  They come to church, they are keeping all of their commitments.  Akiho is in Alma in her Book of Mormon reading.  But they still aren't SURE it's something they want to do.  It's breaking my heart!

I had another kind of cool experience.  We went to a member family's home to talk to them about our investigators....the Sakihara family.  Sakihara Kyodai speaks perfect English.  So he was telling us a little about where he learned English.  I asked how he heard about the Gospel.  He went to school in Indiana for 5 years, and when he came back to Japan he wanted someone to speak English with.  So he went to a phone and asked if there were any churches close by.  They told him five were.  So he went to the first 4 which were all closed.  The last one was our church!  It was open and the missionaries were out front.  He talked with them in English, they taught him the lessons, and he was baptized!  That was 40 years ago.  He is just the cutest!  Anyway he got all teary-eyed and said he knew the Church was true.  He said he had known that for over 40 years!  It was so cool.  As we were leaving, we shook hands and I said (in English...haha!) "I can't speak Japanese but I know this Church is true too."  We kind of had a moment.  He teared up again and just told me thank you.

I realized something the other day during a lesson.  This has been really hard and it's going to continue to be hard, but I think I know at least a little bit why it is.  I have had to completely rely on the Lord.  Totally and completely for the last 3 1/2 weeks.  But because of that, I have such an amazing relationship with my Heavenly Father and my Savior.  I LOVE reading the Book of Mormon.  I liked it before but now I just LOVE it!  I know without a shadow of a doubt that this Church is true.  I may not be able to speak Japanese but I can look anyone in the eye and tell them that this is the true Church, and it will bless their lives.  My testimony has already been strengthened so much.  I think I need it to be hard because I am so proud and stubborn.  I need to be humbled.  Anyways I think that's part of it.

Lacee is having some truly great learning experiences.  She is still adjusting to the cultural differences.  Because she and one of her companions are tall and blonde, she gets a lot of stares!  But the people tell them they are kawaii (cute) and kinei (pretty) a lot!   There are 5 sisters living in a 2-person apartment.  At night, their futons fill the room and even overlap a bit!  She is still a bit overwhelmed with the language, but I am sure it will come!  She has had a few moments of homesickness, but she is surviving.  She loves and appreciates all of you for your prayers, letters, love and encouragement!

Bikes and Baptisms!

My card came!!!  Yatta!!! I now have money!  And...a fancy new bike!  Abura Inazuma (oil lightning...I didn't know the word for grease! :) ) is no longer mine.  I love my new bike!  It shifts gears, it isn't greasy, I have a good basket...It's wonderful!

I saw my first butsudan (family shrine).  I'm a little surprised I didn't see one earlier actually.  I also have tried a bunch of different flavors of curry here.  Where has that stuff been all my life?  It's delicious!!  I have also tried all kinds of foods!  I had sashimi...I don't know how to spell that... sorry.  Raw fish!  It was actually not so bad.  The texture is a little weird.  I can't even tell you what I've eaten though.  Either I can't pronounce it or I really just don't know what it was that I ate.  Sometimes I think it's better that way.  But my chopstick skills are definitely improving!

Zone P-day was super fun!  We went bowling!  And guess what?  My lifelong goal of bowling over 100 happened!  I bowled like 112!  It only took coming to Japan I guess.  At the bowling alley they have shoe vending machines.  It's pretty neat.





















Mako and Akiho are keeping the Word of Wisdom!!  Yay!! We taught them about it, and they drink coffee, tea, and some alcohol.  So I told them I loved ice cream, and I would stop eating ice cream until they were totally done drinking all their stuff.  They seemed to like that, and ever since then, they haven't had any of it!  They only have water and juice.  And mugicha (it's like a wheat or barley drink that's ok...and actually pretty darn good). They both have a baptismal date for the 28th so hopefully they'll make it!  They also LOVE the temple.  We showed them a picture of the Salt Lake Temple and they were both so excited.  They kept saying that's where they wanted to get married.  Perfect!  Get baptized!  We'll help you get there! :)

We are having a baptism this Saturday!  Runa is getting baptized!  She's 16, and super cute.  She's way quiet, but I really like her.  Her grandma is an active member in our Naha Higashi (East) ward.  We also visited Higa Shimai again.  She got baptized not too long ago, but went inactive.  I LOVE her!  I want her to come back so badly!  She's cute, and I feel like she still knows it's true.

I have been doing something new this week.  Every single person we talk to, I imagine them in the temple.  It really is the coolest thing.  I imagine seeing them in the Celestial Room in the temple, and seeing how they are just so happy.  I thought I loved these people before, but when I do that, I really feel like it gives me just a tiny glimpse of how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ feel about every one of us.  I love doing it!

Things are good I think.  Hopefully my Japanese will come!
Love everyone lots!

Shout out to KARLI!  Happy birthday!  I thought about you all day Sunday!

First Bike Crash!

Lacee had her first bike crash!  She said it was embarrassing...riding in the city, she either almost hits a person or almost gets hit by a car multiple times a day!  From her email:

"I had never wrecked though (in spite of the traffic/pedestrian issue).  So the time I do, my skirt got stuck and my shoe fell off.  And I flew over the handlebars.  It was quite embarrassing!  I have some pretty sweet bruises.  The best one is in on my chin.  It got all scraped and swollen and bruised.  Cool.  Cool.  Stupid skirt!  Can I say that as a missionary?"

She has had some problems with her debit card and the bank is supposedly "rushing" her a new card but she is riding someone else's bike until she gets the card and can get her own bike.  She says, "I'm grateful I have a bike to use, but it is a dumb bike.  It's all greasy and gross, so it has ruined 2 skirts because the black greasy stuff won't come out.  Also there are some enormous hills here.  Everywhere.  And this bike won't shift gears...at least I'll be in pretty good shape I guess."

Bumps and bruises from her crash!

Another fun thing...we played basketball with all these little kids.  Our bishop set it up because Kuroki Shimai, Kuchar Shimai, and I all play basketball.  It was SO FUN!  These kids were adorable.  They all like charged us when we walked in.  We played some games with them.  Oh, their hoops are like 8' hoops and the kids were all like 4 foot nothing, so I was like a giant!  It was great!  :)  The best part though was between a couple of the games, these 3 or 4 little tiny boys who were probably like 6 came over with a ball and handed it to me.  And the one said, "Dunku shite".  Ahhhh!  It was so cute!!! He wanted me to dunk it!  I told him I couldn't but they kept telling me I could and asked me to do it.  They were so cute, so I tried, and I got pretty close, but didn't make it.  Anyways I told them all to try, so all these itty bitty kids were trying.  Adorable.

So this was my coolest spiritual experience so far:  We went to go visit a less active member.  She got baptized a while ago, but then went inactive really fast.  So we went over, and we couldn't go in (which happens a lot).  We just teach them at their genkan (where they leave their shoes).  Anyways we're just sharing a quick message, and I only understand like half of it, but my trainer said she was a daughter of God, and that God loves her.  Then she asked the lady, Higaitsuko Shimai, if she believed it.  She said she wanted to but it was hard to believe.  I asked her if I could share a scripture.  I shared Alma 32:27 (which says: "But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.").  She read it, and I told her that she already had the desire.  She just stood there for a second and then told me that that scripture was perfect for her right now.  Yay!  Cool right?!!  I thought so.  I think that helped me feel like even though my Japanese is terrible I can still contribute a little.  So that was good.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the people here.  I can't even tell you.  I love them all so much!

Some things I've learned:
Riding a bike in a big city is scary.  In a skirt, it's even worse.  But biking shorts are awesome!
Sometimes you don't actually want to know what you're eating!
Without the Lord, all of this would be impossible.
Sometimes you ride your bike up the biggest hill of your life in the rain to visit someone, and then they aren't home.
You ride your bike until you literally can't ride any further...then you ride home. :)
Sometimes you just have to open your mouth, and have faith in the Lord.
If you don't fall, angels can't bear you up.
Miracles happen every day, you just have to look for them.
Japanese is HARD!
Sometimes you wreck your bike!

Love you all!!!

Excited/Frustrated! :)

Wow, ok!  This week was INSANE!  It was so good, but crazy!  First off we had the whole travel mix-up thing which put us back a day.  We were supposed to spend two nights at the honbu (mission home...which is under the Fukuoka Temple...awesome, right?!) but we only stayed for one night.  Kutcher Shimai and I were both heading here to Naha...yatta!! OK, so the thing is that they only let you take a carry-on and one checked bag to Okinawa.  And we had to leave to catch our plane at 6:30, so we had to rearrange all of our luggage.  We didn't even get to the honbu (mission home) until like 1:00, so we only got an hour of sleep that night too.  In more than 72 hours we got less than 10 hours of sleep.  It was ridiculous.  The Lord was definitely holding us up because there was no way we could have done it without His help!

Anyways, so hai (yes).  I am in the Naha East area.  It used to be just the Naha area until like a week ago maybe.  Then they split it.  So Kuchar Shimai (one of her MTC roommates) is in the Naha ward.  But we all live in this little 2 person apartment, but there are 5 of us!  It's not terrible, but there's not really any room.  It's all right though.  We sleep on futons...the mat things on the floor.  They are pretty great actually.  They just fold up out of the way so there's a little more room.

The sister from Utah has been out for a little more than a year, and by the end of this transfer will have been in Naha for 10 months.  That is forever!  My native companion is on her second transfer.  So she's a bean too.  I LOVE HER!  She is seriously the best.  She knows English because she went to BYUH for 3 years before her mission...yes, they are both 22, so I am way younger, but oh well!

The first day we tried to get my bike and stuff, but that didn't work out.  So we did some contacting.  The last few days have been pretty good.  Unfortunately, I have horrible Nihongo and I don't really understand anything that's going on.  We have a bunch of investigators, and we actually have 5 with baptismal dates.  I've already gone contacting, housing, helped teach a lesson, so much!!!

Church was kind of scary.  It was very overwhelming, and people would come talk to me and ask questions but I didn't know what they were saying or how to answer.  I am so scared I'm going to offend someone.  Everyone is super nice though.  I love them all so much!  Everyone...literally everyone...struggles with my name.  It's kind of funny.  One old gentleman before sacrament meeting asked who I was.  When I told him he said, "Baputesuma Shimai!" (Sister Baptism) and just started laughing.  It was pretty funny!  It could be worse!

The food here is weird.  Hopefully I will get used to it.  It's either super good or disgusting!  Either way you have to eat it and tell them how delicious it is.  And they make you eat SO MUCH!  Dinner appointments are going to be the death of me.  I know it!

Also, I don't know if I will ever be dry again!  It is SO ridiculously humid here!  You walk outside and you're drenched.  Hopefully that's also something I will get used to.  On the bright side, I now no longer need lotion!  :)

Shoutout to Cook Kyodai and Pehrson Kyodai!!  I miss you both!  Thanks for everything!