Installment #2 for today!

From Lacee's email:

"Well, this week wasn't too exciting.  Although I did get flipped off this week...in Japan!  It was really weird.  People here DO NOT do stuff like that.  They are usually so polite and everything.  So, we don't know if it was cuz I'm gaijin or because we're Christian or maybe the guy was just a jerk!  Whatever it was, it was way weird.  We just ignored the guy and pretended that nothing happened.

Also, I don't know if I told you that everyone says "herro!" (hello with the Japanese accent) to me.  It is SO funny.  I usually don't even hear it, so Kuroki Shimai has to tell me.  I say "hi" back and they think it's great! The whole thing just kills me!  :)  So the other day these 4 girls, probably middle school, were saying "herro".  So I said it back and they all just squealed and said how cute I was.  It was hilarious.  Pretty much if you're not Japanese, you are just super cute here.  Funny stuff.

We had a funny experience housing.  This lady opened the door.  We explained who we were, and she just went a little crazy!  She was yelling at us! She just kind of goes on and on, but pretty much she was telling my companion she should be Buddhist because she's Nihonjin (Japanese).  It's OK that I'm Christian because I'm gaijin, but for my companion it is NOT OK.

We've struggled with lessons.  It's been frustrating.  Our investigators have been super busy so we haven't been able to meet with them.  We're trying to find new people to teach, but so far...no luck.

We continue to visit the less active members and former investigators (when we can find them).  We still haven't found anyone who is super interested.  We talk to a ton of people every week though.  We are starting to build some relationships with the members.  Can I just tell you that I LOVE this ward!!! There are so many incredible people.  Last night we were invited to a family's house for dinner (Yay!  There are actually families here!).  They have five adorable kids.  So cute!  They are SO nice.  And way awesome.  The mom is a convert, but both she and her husband served missions.  He served in Tokyo and she served here in Fukuoka.  It was so cool.  Her conversion story was neat.  There are also a couple of ladies who bring us food all the time.  It is delicious food!  We also know a lady who is super excited about missionary work.  We are meeting with her this week to talk about how we can help her do missionary work, and how she can help us.  It should be really good!

It doesn't seem like we are being super successful here, but you know, I am figuring out that it's OK.  We are working hard.  We are doing our job, and it is just hard enough without beating yourself up about things you can't control...like other people's choice of whether to listen to us or not.  Plus, who knows?  Maybe something will come out of what we're doing one day.  I just know that we will definitely leave this area much better than we found it, so we are doing our job!"

From Lacee's mom:  Lacee has been having some issues with her health.  So this week she had to use the Japanese Health Care system.  She was terrified!  Luckily, Kuroki Shimai was with her every step of the way!  Lacee said, "I'm SO grateful for Kuroki Shimai!  I literally could not have done it without her!!..."  Lacee said she has not been sleeping since she got to Japan (thus part of the problem...after 9 weeks of little to no sleep) and, after talking to her mission president and getting an AMAZING blessing from him, she finally had to give in and go to the doctor.  All the paperwork was in Kanji, so her companion also helped with all of that.  She should get the test results later today. We hope that it will just be something minor and that she will soon be on her feet!...Actually she has been on her feet...going with all the strength she had and a little beyond until she just absolutely couldn't go anymore!

Continuing with Lacee's email:

"We also talked to Kaicho (president).  So great!!  He and Gustafson Shimai (sister) are AMAZING!!!  I LOVE THEM!!!  They told us to come over to Honbu (mission home) to their house and they gave us snacks and they helped me figure out some stuff to help me sleep.  Then Kaicho gave me a blessing.  It was amazing!   The past two nights, I have slept  better...Awesome right?

Today we're going to a giant shrine and hang out with Kuchar Shimai in Chikashimo!!  :)  I love P-day!!

Love you all!"