This week was super great! I am slowly slowly learning more and understanding more Japanese. We had a lot of funny things happened this week. We teach eikaiwa (English Class) on Wednesdays and it's awesome cause I'm actually the only "really skilled" English speaker so everyone treats me with a lot of respect and I for once get to teach my language rather than get taught another language constantly. We have like three students now and they are really nice.
Next, while I was trying to talk to this old ojichan (Grandpa) about the church he turned around looked at me and then yelled I'm Buddhist and my house will always be Buddhist and I had the biggest smile on my face and kinda started laughing at him. Also another old ojichan as we were riding our bikes toward him to talk to him he started like throwing his arm/hand at us while also doing this like half swimming stroke to try and motion us away from him and also looked like he was about to throw a kick in there too but he didn't. Hahah Gotta love ojichans!
On Thursdays we go to an old folks home and talk with the crazy obachans (Grandma's) and ojichans (Grandpa's) and I was sitting next to one of them and she kept like waving to me with her pinky and smiling except she's missing like half her teeth so it was kinda funny. But turns out the pinky wave means she wants to be my wife Hahaha Japanese people love me!
This is part of my email to my Mission President:
This week was really good! I love Japan and the people even though I don't understand a lot. It was kind of frustrating for a little because it seemed like we weren't having any success. On Saturday we were riding our bikes through a neighborhood to go visit a less active member and we saw an older lady so we decided to stop and talk to her. Because it was really hot she had us come in and she gave us some cold mugicha (wheat tea), a cupcake, and some mikans (tangerines). We then talked to her and found out that her husband died about a year ago and so we taught her a little bit of the plan of salvation and shared some scriptures from Alma 40 with her. We gave her a Book of Mormon and a plan of salvation pamphlet and asked her if she would read and pray. She told us she would and that she really wants to believe. She gave us her number and said to call her so that we can meet again on Monday or Tuesday. It was really exciting and definitely all set up by the Lord. She was so kind and loving to Ogata Chōrō and I. She kept bring more mugicha and pouring more ice in our cups. I can't wait to meet with her and teach her more and see how she is changed through coming unto Christ.
It is hard to get lessons and find people with a desire to learn more because everyone is busy or Buddhist but I know that our meetings aren't coincidence and that in some way it is preparing them for another, even greater opportunity when they will need the gospel in their lives. The people here in Joestsu are great and I know I'm growing and learning a lot from them everyday.
So this old lady is Noriko and she is the kindest sweetest old Lady ever. She's like my Japanese grandma. She is super interested and we are hoping to meet with her in the next 48 hours to extend a baptismal commitment. She will really help the work start moving in Joestsu and will probably be the first baptism in Joestsu in over 2 years. So we are really getting excited.
We also have Aoyama who I think I have told you about recently. He came to church yesterday and then left after the first hour but it turns out he has a little problem. We are pretty sure he can't read. When we read the Book of Mormon intro with him he took forever to read. I'm pretty sure I can read twice as fast as him so that's kind of
unfortunate for him. If he can't read the Book of Mormon he won't be able to feel it's spirit and then won't progress so that is real bad news. We are thinking we are going to have to get some tapes or CDs for him. He's a little strange but I love him anyways.
Well that's all I have for now. Had a little squid for lunch today. Tasted like fat and rubber but wasn't like gross, it just wasn't good.
Love you!
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