I'll write a real letter next week (July 25, 2016)

Maybe. No promises. Enjoy some pictures!

Just a Snippet (July 11, 2016)

What up! I know I said my farewells all dramatic and whatnot, but here's my next attempt:) Seems like I can send messages okay, just receiving them is a little spotty and they disappear, so if I've missed a message or not responded, I apologize, that's my excuse;)

Lemme just tell y'all about one of my favorite parts of the week. We're working with a less active sister who is so, so cute. Due to health issues and past experiences, she is mentally pretty young and she LOVES the missionaries. We visited her and shared a message about prayer and that Heavenly Father always answers our prayers, like a parent who answers the cry of their frightened child at night. We agreed that we would all pray for her to have the courage to come to church this week, and we touched base with her a lot, prayed over the phone together, and did whatever we could to help her. However when we called her on Sunday morning, she said that she wasn't feeling too good. She cut the phone really fast before we could say much else. We went to our morning meeting a little disappointed, but when we walked into the chapel for sacrament meeting, she was sitting on the bench closest to the door with the biggest smile on her face, because she had surprised us by showing up. She had to leave right after sacrament, but being able to watch her pray and partake of the sacrament was one of the sweetest things ever.

The organist didn't make it to church on Sunday, so they asked me to step in last minute, I had a great vantage point to be able to watch the ward (and that sister) as they renewed their covenants with God, and even though I still don't know everyone's names yet and although I don't have a personal relationship with them all yet, I love Kamisugi ward and their desires for righteousness. It is so evident when people are trying to do what's right. It touches our hearts. It is my hope and prayer that we will ever be striving for truth and right.

Haven't taken many pictures recently (we got work to do!) but here are some from last week (sorry, parents, recycling;).

It is so humid here, we've been above 90% a few times (and here I was thinking missionaries don't swim!), but the 紫陽花 (あじさい = ajisai = hydrangea) are way, way pretty.

I'm pretty too, but no one ever says anything. (That's a joke, please don't respond to that or I'll just feel uncomfortable. *Laughs awkwardly like someone who's lost all social skills, which is actually pretty accurate.*)

P.S.

Just a silly story from this week

This week, we housed this apartment complex, and no one answered the door. We got to the last door where the post was overflowing with flyers, but rand the bell anyways. Right when we were giving up--Sister Burton was starting down the stairs--the door popped open and out of nowhere is this white dude in a luxurious navy bathrobe. I was so startled that the only thing that successfully made it out of my mouth was, "Uh, you speak English?" He answered, "Yeah! You speak English?" and it was obvious he wasn't American. Ends up he was European, and he had heard of Mormon missionaries before, but "Alas! I'm not interested," because he has some Mormon friends and knows "it's not for me." (We speculated that he probably likes drinking too much because he's from Bristol. OBVIOUSLY a drunkard.*kidding*)

Anyway, just a silly little story from this week:)

(July 4, 2016)

元気だよ！大好きだよ！

今週は東京の姉妹の友達と初レッスンしました。日本では思えないほどすごかった。最初は二人に神様とお祈りについて教えましたが、23歳のカナちゃんは彼女のお母さんと弟と一緒にレッスン聞きたいと言ってくれました。皆んなで神の子ですを三番まで歌ったら、皆んなで涙を流してカナちゃんと違う友達の48歳のさとみさんがお祈りしてくれました。二人共純粋で素敵な祈りを捧げてくれました。

次の日、サキ子さんと言うもう一人の友達とレッスンしました。今回はまたヤング姉妹と交換で行きましたが、サキ子さんと自己紹介してから、彼女はなぜ宣教師になったの？と聞いてくれて、私達は二人共神様の愛を感じた事や助けを得た時について話しました。そしてその幸せと希望、平安と慰めを分かち合うために日本に来たと説明すると、サキ子さんは、涙を目に輝かせ、私は神の子だと感じた事がありません。と、言いました。その続にものすごく霊的な時間を過ごすことができました。一緒に神の子ですを歌って、彼女の純粋の心の祈りを聞きました。

本当に特別な方々はこの上杉や東北や日本に住んでるんだな。最高です！

いつもお祈りありがとう！大好きだよ！

I'm doing well! I love you!

Today we had our first lesson with friends of sisters from Tokyo. It was so amazing you wouldn't think it was Japan. First we taught the two of them about God and prayer, and 23-year-old Kana said she wanted to hear the lessons with her mother and younger brother. We all sang "I Am A Child Of God," all three verses, and we were all crying, and then 48-year-old Satomi said a prayer. Both of them are so pure, and it was a beautiful prayer.

The next day, we had a lesson with another friend, Sakiko. This time I was on an exchange with Sis. Young. After we introduced ourselves, she asked "why did you become missionaries?" We both talked about times we felt God's love and times we received help. When we explained that we came to Japan to share that joy and hope, peace and comfort, Sakiko said, with tears in her eyes, "I've never felt that I was a child of God." After that we had an amazingly spiritual time together. We sang "I Am A Child Of God" together, and heard her pray from her pure heart.

There are very special people living in Kamisugi and the Touhoku area and in Japan! They are the best!

Thank you for praying for me! I love you!

(Bonus photos:)