Monday, August 26, 2019
The next day, the only attendee of our weekly Book of Mormon class was a completely unknown woman who remembered the Salt Lake Olympics, likes researching other Christian religions, and saw the sign for our class while she was in town. She has a love for anything and everything that will help her learn more, and while she lives in Tokyo we're excited to keep in contact with her and help her grow!
Ogata姉妹 continue to be amazed with the fact that blessings really do come as soon as you dedicate yourself to the work. We'd been having several weeks of no success, and within the space of a couple days saw more miracles than my entire time here! We're loving it.
Last P-Day we went back to Odawara Castle and actually went inside this time! It was 500円 (a bit under $5) but well worth both the views and the discovery that Odawara Castle was the residence of the Houjou family during the Warring States period. And that Houjou family symbol was the Triforce. Yes, that triforce. And now it makes so much sense why I've been seeing it on signs, sidewalks, and more places all over town.
It was fascinating riding the 電車 (densha= train) around Tokyo as we traveled the rest of the way to Kichijoji, because it really made me realize that Odawara is, in fact, a very small city, and very different from Tokyo. I can't wait to see the various places I'll travel during my time in Japan!
On Friday, we got invited to eat sushi with that couple who usually takes the missionaries out for udon every month (it's a Sunday this next time so we switched it up). I was so surprised when I ended up actually liking everything that I ate! (See pic) My favorite was the ひらめのえんがわ (hirame no engawa= the meat at the base of a flounder's fin), which is apparently pretty unsual, especially for a 外人 (gaijin= foreigner), as most people like tuna and/or salmon. Speaking of tuna, while we were eating, a worker brought out a full-on giant tuna. As in a huge, probably caught that day, fish. Which he proceeded to cut up and make into sushi. Which was absolutely delicious and you could taste the difference.
-gyoza harusame soup
Monday, August 19, 2019
Unfortunately, this week we did a whole lot of planning and not a whole lot of teaching, due to people not being home, not showing up, or just straight up canceling. However, we do have several leads that will hopefully make this week a lot more successful! A lot of our planning has involved finding scriptures about family, and it's made me even more grateful that I know that I can live with my family forever.
We had zone conference last week, and basically the whole day was filled with spiritual messages and lots and lots of learning. And even more 模擬s (mogi= roleplay). One of the many things I took away from zone conference was the importance of the gift of discernment. President Esplin invited us to pray to receive it every day, and I have feel that it is something that I need to do. I am certainly not fluent in 日本語 (nihongo= japanese), and even if I were I would still need to be able to figure out the needs of the people I teach, my 同僚 (douryou= companion), and others around me. I know that as I pray for the gift of discernment, I will be better able to discern those needs, whether I know what they're saying or not, and I know that as any of us pray for any of the gifts of the spirit, and work for them, Heavenly Father will bless us with them.
Last Sunday, a man we'd never seen before walked into church. We went up and introduced ourselves, and he said he was Tsuchiya from the Kamakura Ward. At that point, I was like, wait, hold on a second, Tsuchiya from Kamakura... When I asked if he had a son teaching at BYU, he said yes. I then proceeded to tell him that his son had been my Japanese professor and was fantastic. I hadn't thought that I'd be able to meet his family because the Kamakura area is closed to sisters right now, but apparently his dad is a speaker for the stake and so he came to speak in Odawara! I'd say it was lucky, but it was probably more than just luck.
So, typhoon story time. It had been raining on and off for a little while, occasionally pouring, but nothing too bad. There were several long breaks, and we were only outside in the rain for a couple minutes due to timing and scheduling. So, when it was time to go try to visit an investigator we've been trying to see for weeks, we figured we were fine but put our rain jackets in my basket anyways. She wasn't home, so we started back. It had started to drizzle, but not nearly enough to be worth it to wear a rain jacket (that thing is so hot. Even more so when paired with the pants). After about 5 minutes, it started to rain a bit harder. Then, it started to pour. Add in the fact that by this point it was dark, and there was also wind, it made for a fun experience. By this point we were already drenched so there was absolutely no point in putting on those jackets (see pic). It was actually so much fun. Though I am grateful that the wind wasn't that bad, the rain probably would have hurt more.
On Saturday, we went up into the mountains with that convert couple we did a 模擬レッスン (mogi ressun= role play lesson) with last Saturday. They said they had a work barbecue up there and that there would be a waterfall, but it was not anything like I'd expected. There were a LOT of people there, all just doing their own thing, who had brought tents/pavilions/other things and were sprawled all along the banks of a wide stream. In that stream, adults and children alike were cooling off and catching what I think were crayfish. Also in the stream were various things being kept cool, mostly drinks. We walked a short ways to the waterfall (see pics) and ate WAY too much food, most of it from the Philippines because that's where the wife is from. After a while, one of their friend's kids walked into the stream and fished out a whole watermelon, which they proceeded to place on the ground and basically open it the same way as a piñata (it just broke in half, thank goodness). If you're a fan of anime/manga, you know what I'm talking about. While there, we got the opportunity to talk to the couple's less active daughter and other nonmember family and friends. All in all, a great time.
I've learned that my face gets very red very easily. Expecially in the heat. And especially after riding my bike. And even more so when it's hot and rainy and I have to bike while wearing a rain suit. Fun, but way too hot. So hot I forgot to get a picture before I'd taken everything off lol. Next time, I promise.
About the Pictures:
Monday, August 12, 2019
One thing that's been emphasized this last week, in my district, companionship, and personal study, is the need to rely on the Lord. I love that PMG talks about not relying on our own abilities, not worrying about our own abilities (or lack thereof), because we have the Lord on our side. We are on His mission, serving His purpose, and He will support us. One scripture I like is 1 Nephi 4:6-
Tokyo's traffic is the nicest, politest traffic I've ever seen. On our drive from the airport to the mission home, not once did I hear a car honk, and when someone wanted to get over, the cars made way for them. Completely different from New York lol.
Daily Life/Fun Stories:
The ward mission leader took us out to lunch so we could make some plans, and he took us to a sushi restaurant! I got to try more 天ぷら (tenpura= tempura), along with my first real sushi! So delicious and soft and completely unexpected. The 長老たち (chouroutachi= elders) just stuck to 天ぷら lol.
-sushi! (tuna, fatty tuna, and mackerel)
Friday, May 29, 2020 こんにちは！ Hey everyone! It's been awhile. And it's been a while since my missionary journey started. It was one ye...
