Konnichiwa Kazoku!
Well, I'm really
glad to hear you are all doing well. I pray for you every day!
I was able to do Initiatory
for the first time since I did my own, last Thursday, and that was a
really good experience. The temple holds so many blessings for
attendance. I know that if we regularly attend the temple, we will have
extra strength to become more like Christ. I know that being temple
worthy is something that every person can strive for and it should be
the deepest desires in our hearts, if we aren't worthy to become so.
Our Branch. The Elder in the front is the one who asked if I wanted to build a snowman. They are all hilarious.
I
have successfully completed week 5, and have commenced in the journey
of week six. Honestly, nothing has changed. The food, although at first
seems quite the enticement has become somewhat of a bore. hmm. What will
I have for lunch today? Salad? Or if I'm feeling really gross, cookies
with cereal. I've reverted to "Caroline at 12:00 am in the morning mode"
and have cereal almost every meal. I love cereal, and it's like the only
thing here that I can count on being consistent--as far as food goes.
Oddly enough, I have been craving dried apple slices, so, if you have a
little bit of happiness in your heart that you are just dying to share,
please send me that.
Chorotachi
Everyone thinks my mail is funny. Every time I get a
letter or a package or anything from home it is COVERED in tape. I
think it's cute. That just screams "mom" and it makes me happy, but
every one thinks it is funny. You sent me that red box with my skirt and
everyone was like, "Why did they send you a happy meal?" Well, I thought it
was cute. I am going to try the skirt tonight and see how it works out.
It is very very colorful. It doesn't really match my bland personality.
:) But I'll try. The shirt is kinda weird. I haven't tired it yet. It
is soft and might become a PJ shirt. I don't know. I'll see. I'm kinda
skeptical.
Basically the only thing I'm
good at with Japanese is actually saying words the way they are said
like a Native. I'm not really very good at the actual coming up with
things to say part. Oh, did I tell you that Amelia Crandall was
transferred into our zone? She got here and realized she already knew a
lot of Japanese and so she is going to leave for Japan with the
Nihonjin. She was in orchestra with me. She is a year younger than me
too, but that's fun. But you know, anyways. Japanese is weird and
beautiful and so so very confusing. And I will say it every day of my
mission until I come home. I swear I'm trying really hard, and things
from the first few weeks are just barely starting to click. Oh well,
better late than never.
My tango (vocab)
I had my first really
cool experience here. Well, not the first, but it was cool. We had been
talking in class about how the Spirit honors all the preparation that
you put into a lesson. This meaning, that if I diligently prepare a
lesson, no matter how the lesson begins to go, the Spirit will direct
and guide you and recall to you information that you had studied. Well,
we were teaching one of our "investigators" about the sacrament and we
had him read the sacrament prayers and we were talking about them and he
asked why the prayer in the scriptures said wine and we actually use
water. I was stumped for a minute, not knowing at all in any way how to
describe this fact in Japanese, and not wanting to argue about anything
and I suddenly remembered one scripture I had read earlier that morning
during personal study. The scripture was in D&C 27: 2-3. It
basically says that it doesn't matter what you use as long as you are
using it in the right spirit etc, and then 3 talks about a new
commandment not to buy strong drinks or wine and stuff, and even thought
it was kind of a choppy answer, he was satisfied. I felt pretty proud
of myself. Bahaha.
Basically everything is funny, or else you die here. The days are all the same. Every day feels exactly the
same as the last. I feel like I have just been trying to get through
one giant long day here. In life we all have our "ups" and "downs" and I
am thinking this is just one of those times. I can't wait to get to
Japan. I only have about 3 more weeks here and I'll be on my way. I
think being here for so long has kind of given me this weird
perspective. I can't really see past my stay here. It almost feels like
I'll be done after this haha but I haven't even gotten to the fun part
yet!
The
Nihonjin are still funny as ever. And they are getting really warmed up
and close to us and it just feels really nice. They speak really fast!
HOLY MOLEY. hahAhAhAhAHHA I'm so glad I know Japanese ;)
I made some goals and taped them up next to my
desk. Oh have I described my desk to you? Okay I will.
I
walk into the classroom every morning, a brilliant, glowing smile on my
face, not at all concerned about the cares of the day, and I face
again, the tragic display of what could be considered my desk. Sadly, I
make my way there. Shoved behind the heater vent, behind the shadows of
the Elders and completely shrouded by the figures of my fellow Sisters,
sits my desk. The steep decline and angle of the desk risks the safety
of setting anything upon it. My bucket full of pokemon-named books sits
awkwardly on the heater behind one of my fellow missionaries, and I
excuse myself every moment as I reach helplessly behind myself to summon
Pikachu or perhaps Bulbasaur. Oh the woes and worries of the world. I
extend my legs in anguish! I realize to my pity and despair that too
close for me to bear is another missionary. My plan thwarted, I humbly
compose myself and submit myself to my desk.
Well,
that's a pretty good picture of what my desk is like. I'm not
complaining, just telling a bit of truth really. Okay I'm done.
Me and mah goals. Just chillin in my corner trying not to suffocate. :)
Alrighty
folks, here is something to make you happy. "Trust in the Lord with all
thine heart, and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways
acknowledge Him and he shall direct thy paths."
We
had Elder Cook speak to us on Tuesday for devotional, and that was very
uplifting. My favorite part was he quoted President Hinckley saying, "If
the missionaries would have more faith, they would have more success."
And it reminded me of what Scott told me before I left to not doubt the
potential of anyone when sharing the gospel. We have to have faith that
we are doing our best and that the Lord will take care of those who are
ready and willing to hear the word and the message that we have to
share. It's not my church nor is it my job to tell someone what they
should do, but it is my privilege to be able to bear Christ's name on my
badge every day and simply extend the invitation to come to Him. He
also talked about how one of the last things the resurrected Christ
spoke about was preaching the gospel, and I'm doing that!
I love you all. You bless my life and I can feel your prayers. You are all rock-stars. Yeah.
Mom, thanks for all of the love. I have the most loving family out of everyone here!
Ai shite imasu!
Raines Shimai
P.S.
Margaret, you sent me your news letter twice. Also, it was hilarious. I
love ya. Also, if someone has a heart, send me a small picture of
Pikachu.
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