Spiritual Growth

Hey everyone!

This week was interesting, but I'm sorry there's not a lot to report.

We went to Hiroshima Castle last P-day.  It was pretty fun!  We went up inside of it and stuff, so that was really cool. (It was restored after WWII and the nuclear bomb that destroyed the original.)  There was a bunch of Samurai stuff.  SO COOL!  My new life's dream...be a samurai!

Ling san was sick this week, so we weren't able to meet with her.  But we're meeting with her this week, and she is also going to do an activity with the ward.  She's going to talk to them about China and do some fun stuff, so that's in the works!  I sure love her!  She is so cute!

Also, I learned that sometimes old Japanese men are less than nice.  I got rejected good a couple of times this week.  One:  we knocked on his door, and I introduced us and stuff.  He just kind of glared at me the whole time.  When I paused, he just looked at me and said, "arigatou, awari" and slammed the door.  Haha!  Basically he just said, "Thanks, we're done."

Two: we were housing.  A man was outside doing something so I said konnichiwa and he just waved his hand in my face and said, "iranai"...I don't need it or want it.  Haha...good times!  It's not too bad, but sometimes it's funny.  Cranky old men...but at least they didn't throw mashed potatoes at my head!  :)

After DM (district meeting) this week, we went to Sushiro.  I ate a little whole squid.  It was GROSS!!! Ewww.  That's what I'm eating in the picture.  I did NOT like it at all!  I seriously chewed on it for probably like 5 minutes and it did nothing!  So I ended up having to swallow the whole thing whole!  Gross.  Other than that the food was delicious!

Also, tsuyu has started!  The rainy season.  It rains all the time!  Or if it isn't raining, it's just super humid and you wish it was raining!  Haha!  But it's all right.  At least it's not freezing cold rain!

So, I had a mid-mission crisis this week.  Luckily, or unluckily, Kuchar Shimai did too.  Have you read "A Consecrated Missionary" and "The Fourth Kind of Missionary"?  If you haven't, read them!  If you have, read them again!  I read "The Fourth Kind of Missionary" yesterday.  It literally changed my life and my mission.  I have felt like I am failing as a missionary.  I'm doing all the things I should...I'm working hard and being obedient, but I was frustrated and upset.  We haven't been seeing a lot of success, and we didn't know what we were supposed to be doing.  I also felt like I was spending a lot of time thinking about home and stuff.  I realized that MY will wasn't completely aligned with the LORD'S will (it's still not completely but I'm working on it!).  So I prayed and prayed and repented and repented, and after feeling like the worst person in the entire world, I think I've figured some things out.  One of them being that most things just don't really matter in the long run.  I am just going to do my very best to do what the Lord wants me to do, and then I am going to have faith and let Heavenly Father take care of the rest.  I am not a quitter, but I gave up...I surrendered.  I gave my will to the Lord.  And it has made a HUGE difference already!!  I'm going to be frustrated sometimes, but I will know that I'm doing the Lord's will.  So nothing else matters!!!  :)

Next P-day is transfer calls, so it will be on Tuesday.

Love you all LOTS!


My District

Japanese food

Swallowing a squid!
 

Future Samurai

Hiroshima Castle