Konnichiwa Kazoku!
Wow this week has been a really great one! I have had some of the best days on my mission so far this week.
On
Tuesday we were housing, and we had both felt really good about this
one block, and we knocked on the last door of the last house (of course)
and this man said for us to hold on, through the inter-phone. So we
waited and waited, and this guy came out with a long pony tail and we
started introducing ourselves and he said, I don't speak Japanese very
well. So we talked in ENGLISH!! It was really hard! I haven't ever
contacted someone in English so we were both floundering about what to
say. Well, he said he was from Hong Kong. We were excited because he
said that he has been Christian for about 15 years but right now is
looking for a new Bible to read hahahahahahaha. So, we pulled out the
Book of Mormon and we talked about it and he said he wanted a
downloadable version so I was able to get out my iPad and show him how
to download the gospel library app and he was really excited. We told
him how we use the King James version of the bible and he said he was
thinking about maybe reading that one in the first place. We were really
happy about it. Well, we went back to teach him. We taught him about
the Book of Mormon and about God and what we believe about Christ. He
was pretty interested but cant meet until next month so that was a
little bit of a bummer but we were really happy we got to meet him. He
calls him self "Koala" because he says that is his English name.
Hahahahahahaha. We had a lot of fun teaching him.
There
is this old grandma that we always run into and we don't actually know
her name so we just call her the "ET Obachan" because she looks like ET.
Yeah. Anyway, she is the cutest thing in the world and we always go to
her house and just see how she is and this last time she let us in and
gave us donuts. I am going to have to try to get a picture of her
somehow. She is really cute when she smiles.
I
got one of your packages this week too. It had the post cards from
Scott and Kenzie in it which are WAY cool! Thanks so much! Layton Shimai
and I really enjoyed the candy too :]
On
Friday we got to go up to the portable thing next to the church and
teach Kodomo Eikaiwa. It was a lot of fun! I love kids! It was a lot of
fun we were able to sing songs and talk about animals and shapes and it
was just a grand old time. I love when a kid thinks I am the weirdest
thing in the world and then once they warm up to me they really like me.
There was one Sisters daughter who was there and she wouldn't look at
me, but the next Sunday when we were at their house she grabbed my hand
and wanted me to play with her! SO CUTE :}
This
week we were able to give out a Vietnamese Book of Mormon too! We
housed into these two boys who were from Vietnam and don't speak English
or Japanese very well. So, what we did was order a Book of Mormon for
them in their language and we gave it to them! I don't know what will
happen if anything, but it was really cool because they took it very
kindly and seemed at least interested to read it. That was a short, cool
experience.
The best thing that happened this
week was a dinner we had at a members house. We were going down there,
streeting, and we thought we were going to just have dinner with the
Fukuyama family, but then the Nakazono family drove by and then they
turned and they came too! It was so much fun! They are the best.
Fukuyama shimai just barely had a baby so it is really tiny and cute.
Their kids were jumping around and I was playing with them a lot and
Fukuyama Shimai made giyoza (potstickers) and some type of octopus soup
thing. It was really good. But we were sitting there and Fukuyama Shimai
asked "Raines Shimai have you ever had Natto?" I was stunned into
silence. I felt my face get really read, and I said "No." Oh my goodness
my stomach flipped over. I had immediate panic. You know the stuff I
was talking about two weeks ago that looks like snot, yeah, that, she
asked if I had ever eaten that. So she smiles this big smile and said
"You are going to try it." So the whole time we are sitting there eating
dinner I was thinking about this natto I was going to have to eat. I
stayed quiet and hoped she would forget. Nope. She did not forget. So
she said "Are you going to try it?" Not really asking. I told her to
wait so I could get my camera. Oh my pounding chest I thought I was
going to die. You know when you are forced to try something you dont
want to try, that feeling, well times it by ten and thats how I felt. I
had seen people eat it before and it just looks bad. So she set it
infront of me. I asked her to teach me how to eat it. She laughed. So,
she told me how to do it and they were all watching. They warned we to
take a small bite first. So, in my head, I was thinking "I have to just
take a big bite and like this" So I did. They were all really surprised.
They were all laughing and asked me how it tastes and what I thought.
Here is what I told them, and what I thought. It was extremely slimy,
but not something I wasnt expecting. When I put it into my mouth, I just
chewed swallowed and that was the end of it. It wasnt pleasant but it
wasnt something to barf at. So, to everyones surprise, and maybe because
of my pride, I ate the whole thing. It comes in a package about the
size of like..... an apple or something. I sent a picture. Anyway, they
were very impressed. So, when I was done I got up bowed, and they all
laughed. Then, as a prize, Fukuyama shimai gave me a box of Chocolate
cereal to take home because I eat that every morning for breakfast
hahaha. It was really fun. I really felt like I was myself that night
and I felt a lot of love from those two families. I really love Nakagawa
and the people here. It will be hard to go.
Before I ate it.
On
Sunday we had another dinner with the Uehara and Fujino families. They
made curry for us and it was really good. We felt really blessed to
spend time with them as well. They are really lovely families and I am
so happy to know them.
Well, here is the news.
I am transfering!!!! Layton Shimai will be training a new missionary
here in Nakagawa and I am transfering to Taniyama in Kagoshima. It is on
the opposite side of Kyushu, the Island I am on. It is going to be like
a five hour bus ride and then we have to take the train over to
Taniyama. I am so so excited. The best part is that I will be companions
with Stevenson Shimai! She was in my district for three transfers and I
love her! I will be her last companion because she only has one
transfer left! I am way excited. Kagoshima has a volcano that spits ash
every where so we will see how that goes! I am very very excited and
very very sad. I will miss Nakagawa dearly, and Layton Shimai. We have
had a lot of fun together, and I really have grown to love this area. I
know the Lord is in charge, and I am very grateful for the growth that I
have experienced while in Nakagawa.
Well, I am glad every one is doing well and is healthy! I sure love you all. I will write you from Taniyama next week!!!
Love Raines Shimai
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