Snail Mail!

I have asked Lacee lots of questions about her area and she wrote a snail mail letter to answer some of them:

"We may be getting a new apartment...eventually.  I guess they're in the process of making that happen.  We always wear sweats, sweatshirts, fuzzy socks, etc.  If it's really cold, scarves, gloves, or even our coats.  I wear my UA thermal running leggings and a pair of tights, and socks always.  It's cold outside!!  Usually we sleep warm, though.  Yes, we wear sweats and snuggle in our blankets!

"On Sundays, we meet in an actual chapel.  This one even has carpet!  The chapels here are different...the same, but tiny and somewhat different.  There are probably like 40-ish active members in our ward if you include the kids.  That's actually pretty big here though.  In Nakatsu, they have 4 missionaries and 8 members in their branch!!  I know most of the members in our ward.  They are super nice!  We have been able to get them to join us for lessons...so that's good!

"OK, so the Sunny (a store I asked her about...it's kind of a Japanese Walmart - actually part of the Walmart International system).  The one we go to is near the Muromi Eki (bus station).  It's like about a 20 minute bike ride from the Fukuoka Tower.  It's just a block or so from the river.

"In our apartment, there are four of us.  One was in the MTC with me and her native companion.   They're funny!  We don't do a ton of stuff together, but we all get along really well & have a lot of fun!  My companion is from Ibariaki-ken.  It's up by Tokyo.

"I love it out here!  I really do.  It's so hard!  It's ridiculous, but I know why I'm here...I'm here for the Lord.  I'm here to share what has blessed my life and brought me so much joy!  I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  I finished reading the Book of Mormon last month.  I LOVE that book!  Let me tell you what...IT IS TRUE!!  I know with everything in me that The Book of Mormon is true.  I love it more and more every day.  It's strengthened me and my testimony and my relationship with my Savior and my Heavenly Father so much!!

"I think I am becoming a little bit better person every day.  Maybe by the time I come home, I'll be super awesome!  I sure hope so!  :)  I'm trying really hard to let my mission change me.  Now I know why people are so different when they come home after a mission.  I think it would be hard NOT to change.  The Lord is preparing people here to accept the gospel, but I think He is also preparing missionaries for life.  I feel like after a mission, everything else will be easy in comparison!  Bring it on, life, I learned Japanese!"

She finished her letter in Japanese, so I will have to wait for her to translate it! Maybe next Christmas!  :)  We will be talking with her on her Christmas Day...our Christmas Eve.  Then it will be New Year's Day when I update this again after I get her email!

Merry Christmas to you all!  We love and appreciate you!  Thanks for keeping Lacee in your thoughts and prayers!