New Companion!

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

こんにちは!

After this week, we only have 2 full weeks left! To be more specific, we have 19 days left and we're not counting down the hours and looking forward at all...

Spiritual Stuff:

During our Tuesday Devotional last night, Sister Kathleen Andersen and Elder Wilford W. Andersen of the Seventy spoke. I particularly liked that Sister Andersen spoke about the fact that Satan puts negative thoughts into our heads. Whether they're about other people or ourselves, all he wants to do is drag us down. It's important, both as a person and a missionary, to recognize where those negative thoughts come from and to focus on the more positive things in life. In particular, as missionaries learning a new language and training to go to a foreign country, it's very easy for us to be hard on ouselves about the language and the teaching. However, our district has decided to find something we did right when all we can think about is how we messed up. I encourage everybody reading this email to do the same in their lives in whatever aspect they find difficult, whether that be interacting with other people, work, school, whatever. It'll make each day a much better day.

Daily Life/Fun Stories:

Last Thursday, aka the Fourth of July, we got to stay up late to watch BYU's Stadium of Fire show from one of the buildings. We were all dead the next morning but it was fun. On Sunday, Olson姉妹 and I got assigned as Sister Training Leaders (STL's)for our zone, and almost immediately took up a bunch of responsibilities, including helping a 姉妹 (shimai= sister) who has to get collarbone surgery and another who had to see a cardiologist. That whole issue required being driven to Spanish Fork with her because her companion had already left. Thankfully nothing was wrong and she left yesterday morning, but we all thought the driver was going to make it so none of us ever got to go to 日本 (Nihon= Japan). Halfway through the drive she told us she had ADHD and we were like, "we should have known." On Monday, Olson姉妹 and I taught our first lesson with a native speaker 求道者 (kyuudousha= investigator), and it was so much fun. It went way better than expected, and we understood almost everything she said! Also, she understood almost everything we said! It was a huge confidence booster. Last week, my family got a dog while I was gone! I personally have always wanted one but the answer was always "no" because of allergies, wood floors, etc... Well, apparently he's hypoallergenic and they stopped caring about the floors and his name is Pepper and he's the size of our bunnies (see pic). And I can't meet him for a year and a half *cries*. This morning we helped clean the Provo Temple for 3 hours, which meant that Olson姉妹 and I detailed lockers. As in, the average pace is 2 lockers in 4 hours. We used Q-tips and toothpicks. Perfect for an OCD person! Later today Olson姉妹 and I are getting another companion. We'll be in a trio with a 日本人姉妹 (nihonjin shimai= japanese sister) just like we were with Ikeda姉妹 at the beginning, except this time we'll go with her when she leaves for Japan! We haven't seen her yet, but her luggage has been moved in and we can't wait to meet Yamashita姉妹!

About the Pictures:

• Olson姉妹 and I with our STL binder.
• Face masks!
• The most recent batch of 日本人宣教師 (nihonjin senkyoushi= japanese missionaries) that left on Monday, enjoying chocolate chip cookies on the Fourth of July.
• What happens if we study in the classroom.
• So this happened. Olson姉妹 and I were just in the corner dying of laughter. Needless to say, he doesn't normally part his hair down the middle. Also, he totally went in to teach our teacher like that.
• Fourth of July selfie!

• Can't believe my family got another bunny without me lol. He fits right in.

愛してます!

-スナ一姉妹

(Sister Snarr)