I love Japanese people, they are so cute! and sweet!

Well, this week has been absolutely fabulous!! I love my new companion, and she is such a sweetheart, even though she does have a tendency to talk my ear off... Guess that's what i get for being so talkative as a kid, right? ;) It sounds like a lot of things are going to be different when i get back, and so far i've only been gone for a month and a half! was everyone just waiting for my to leave so that they could spring into action, and see how well i adjusted back to normal life, when lots of things had changed, or what? It is awesome though that things are going so well for everyone. And im sure ill be fine, just so long as you and dad dont move... it was already strange to see the pictures of the new blinds. It took me a bit to realize that it was our house, because the blinds looked so foreign, but they do look nice. I'm not surprised that you had to fix will's bed. I lost track of the times will had to add screws to that board to keep it together, since we kept breaking it. I love getting pictures! Please everyone send me more pictures. I want pictures of all of you, and especially my neices and nephews, because i miss seeing them, and honestly they are probably the ones who are going to change in appearance the most while i am gone. So if you could send me pics, that would be fabulous, though i would prefer to get them via snail mail, cause i can't print color here, which is fine for most pics, but i like color... :)I've had grilled zucchini before, and i also really like it with the butter.. more than olive oil... I'm not surprised to hear there were a lot of band people there, he was very popular in high school. I haven't seen him yet, but i will probably run into him at some point while he is here. I got to host Wednesday, and it was a fabulous experience.. The only downer part was that it was super hot. Crazy thing that happened though is that the downpour of rain that came down started right after we had finally finished hosting everyone yesterday... I was in class by that point, but i wish i could've gone out and just cooled down in the rain. It was really coming down! I don't know if you were affected by that, but it just poured, though it didn't pour very long. We also got to do our first ever skype TRC yesterday. TRC for japanese missionaries is an opportunity to practice our japanese teaching member lessons. Yesterday, we skyped with a member in Japan, who is living in the Fukuoka mission borders. Her name was Youko (Yooko), and she was very sweet. For english speaking missionaries, they have members or investigators pretending to be investigators that they teach.. I'm glad that i just teach people i know are members. I was reminded of a poem called "If" by rudyard kipling as i read the quote. I really loved that quote, because it is so true! I'm glad you have such a sweet things that helps you to remember your grandma. I can't believe that you have already had another sunshine ladies! It doesn't seem like a month has gone by since the last one! Give the sisters my love, and tell them i say hi as well. They are so sweet! My companion and i got the same feeling last night, about the same time, as my district was preparing for TRC, that we were meant to be companions, that this was right. It was a very sweet feeling, and just reaffrimed the things that i had been feeling for the past two weeks. She is a gem, and i love her so much.  it. I am currently working on being able to read scriptures in Japanese. The reading part isn't too difficult, because it's all in hiragana, but the understanding part of it is, and right now it takes me about an hour or more to take one verse, figure out where the words end, because they don't have spaces, except after commas and periods, and figure out what it is saying, using the english to assist me. It is quite the process, but it is actually really fun, and challenging. I just wish i had more time to do it. Hope dennis is doing better, and i hope everything is going well. And as for the packages that a mystery person has been sending, i think i may have figured it out, but i'm not sure, so i will just tell that person thanks for some delicious brownies that i shared with the zone. Also, yesterday while i was hosting, i got to host one of my kohai, who went to highschool with me. She is going to nagoya, and is in my zone! Unfortunately my brain was pretty fried, and i was tired because i lugged over 50 lb bags to at a time up about 3 flights of stairs, because all of the sisters i hosted were on the fourth floors. But i was still super excited and happy to see her, but i might not have made much sense. We got 48 kohai in our zone yesterday! Which was a lot! Before we arrived on the tenth, our zone consisted of 6. We joined and it rose to 36, but the 6 that had been there left a few weeks ago, so now we are at 78. It will take a lot longer to pass the sacrement this sunday, normally it takes less than 10 minutes start to finish with just 2 elders passing, and the longest part of that are the sacramental prayers, because the elders have to say them in Japanese. Sooo basically i have had a fabulous week, and just been super extremely spiritually uplifted, and blessed, and seen miracles in the little things of day to day life that have just made me so happy!Love and miss all of you!

Emergency Companion Transfer at the MTC

So, highlight of my week was yesterday! Not only did i get an adjustment from Dr. Lowry, and i am feeling so much better, i also got to see you, mom! As for the call with miranda, i could barely hear a word she was saying. But i got that someone was visiting, and that their last name ended with 'oy', so i just naturally assumed veloy, since i had no way of knowing that Uncle roy was anywhere near. I think i don't know how to use a phone anymore, but the sound quality was terrible, so im just glad i got that someone was over, and that was why she was calling. I'm glad that you were able to laugh at that. Tell Uncle Roy hi for me. Sometimes i wish i had the little 'luck' figurine thing he gave me, but i have the lord with me always, so i don't need luck. I am glad that they enjoyed the Matt Damon story. Brother Liddiard has told it to us twice, and i just love it too. I am glad to hear that Danielle's job is still going well for her, and that she is able to have fun with friends. I hope that you can get the cooler fixed soon. I can't imagine not having it out there. just because it is so nice and convenient. I guess it is just replacing season at home, isn't it? I hope nothing else will need replacing anytime soon. Tell Drake congratulations for me. I have met quite a few missionaries here who are going to the netherlands, dutch speaking, and they seem really awesome and nice, though i have only gotten to talk to them when i end up standing in line for food next to them. That is a really awesome way to meet new people here, and i would recommend it for anyone who is coming in soon. I would also recommend talking to the senior couple missionaries. They are awesome, and have the greatest stories. Just this afternoon i was talking to a Elder and Sister Edgen, and they told me the story of their conversion and baptism, and also a little about their 7 children serving missionaries. I'm glad to hear that nicolas was feeling better and that both you and dad got to hold him for a little bit on friday. I hope things continue to get better, and that you will be able to babysit him again soon, since you seem to enjoy doing that. My new companion is awesome. We get along almost perfectly together. She has a lot of experience in Japanese, and we are really working hard to improve our Japanese. She also has lots of great ideas, and crazy experiences. Believe it or not, she talks more than me, constantly. So now i am not the one talking the most out of the two of the companionship. She is a complete sweetheart, and super supportive, and my japanese has improved a whole bunch in just this past week. I discovered that the mission T-Shirts shrink a lot! Mine is at least one size smaller, but it still fits, though a lot more tightly. I might decide to invest in another one, but a large this time, so by the time it shrinks it will be a medium. I am now glad i got will's shirt an XL, because after shrinkage i think it will fit very well. If not, then i guess he is just SOL. The teachers have been pushing us more and more, and it is really helping. The crazy thing is that i have already been here for five weeks, but it doesn't seem like i've been here that long some days, and other days it seems like i have been here much longer than that. I only have 3.5 weeks left in the MTC, and i can't believe it! I can't think of anything else to say, so i will just tell you all how much i love you and miss you! The lord is behind everything!! No matter what happens in life, no matter how much of a struggle it may seem to you, HE knows the reason why he is putting you through it, and if you don't give up, no matter what it will be for your good. I am so grateful for the refiner's fire in my life!

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Love, Sister Makin

One Month Anniversary at the MTC!!!

Kathleen's New Companion

Week 4

I'm glad that you enjoyed the pictures, the one you couldnt figure out, kind of has a story. So, one of the sisters and I were sitting on the floor, and then we just kind of layed down, and it was really comfortable, and soon we were all laying on the floor, and making 'peace' signs, because that is apparently something that japanese missionaries do. They are apparently having some trouble taking care of the bats, because they are an endangered species, so they can't kill them, and so they have to figure out a way to get rid of them, that is not extermination. Give sis. cannon a bid thank you from me, i really appreciate that! I actually received four surprise packages, including the one that you sent mom, and the one i got wednesday of last week, and then i got one friday, and one monday. It was so much fun to receive packages, and i really appreciated it. Though i have to admit i was confused, because one of the packages contained some things with peanut butter in them (peanut butter mandm's, and reeses peanut butter cups), but my district really enjoyed eating those for me, so those treats are all gone now. I really appreciated the peas and beans that you sent, but they went bad really fast, so i didnt have an opportunity to eat most of them, just cause i was so busy, and then went bad in just a couple of days. Does Danielle have a new email address? cause i sent her a quick email thanking her for the package she left on my second p-day... though i never got a response. I hope she didnt think i was being ungrateful, because i really did appreciate it, i must not have her correct email though. I am able to send packages home, but from what i gather it can be pretty expensive, though i can just have them drop it off at post smart, and give them your phone number, and they will call you and ask you to pick it up, and that is free. Not really sure where post smart is, or how that works, but i have heard about it, and seen people doing it. I figured that i would use one of the boxes i got my packages in, and send will's t-shirt home, along with some stuff i have realized i will not be needing in japan. I was really grateful to receive the towel you sent. Another sister in my room had lost hers during the last move, and so i loaned it to her. Her mom sent her one this week, and so she was going to wash it today, and then give it back to me. that is going to be so weird to have new blinds when i get back, but i am glad you were able to find some new ones that you liked. Are you just going to replace all of the blinds in the living room while you are at it, so that they match? or are you just not worrying about it.I am sorry to hear about the cooler, it is so nice to have that, especially with our big family gatherings, and i hope they will be able to get that fixed. I think that whoever has been sending the mystery packages might know how to use post smart, but i am not sure, cause i don't know, but i am planning to use that to send things home, a little closer to when i leave. I have also really been enjoying the weather, though i am inside most of the day, so i can't enjoy it as much as i would like. I hope Dennis gets better soon, have you found out anything more about what is wrong? I am glad to hear that Michelle and Baby are doing well. One of the sisters in my district also has a sister who is pregnant. The cool thing is that the parents are allowing here to pick their childs name... seems like too much pressure to me. I hope that you can continue to adapt to an again crazy house, and that she can find somewhere soon. The language has gotten a lot better this past week, despite the struggles, and I am getting more confident. One thing that one of my teachers said that really stuck out to me was: "Perfect language does not matter, but perfect love does." I am striving to remember that, and keep in mind how much i love the people in japan already, and the 'fake' investigators that i have here. I know that if i focus on the love i feel for them, and share that with them, they will understand the message that i give, even if my words do not make any sense.That's funny that you forgot about the piano man coming, but im glad you got everything taken care of. How is he doing? I have noticed that i feel like an hour is way to little time to email you, and i forget a lot of things it seems like, but it is what it is. I love and miss you, and am so grateful for all of your love and support!

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Love, Sister Makin

P.S. As fun as it is to receive packages, i would really love to know who is sending them.  I don't care if you just write your name really small like mom used to do on our christmas gifts on one of the items, but i would like to know. There is really no way for me to thank you either when i don't know, except to generally express my gratitude. I am grateful for all of your love and support, and I hope you are all doing well.Â

Who Posts Her Emails

Just a side note...

I am Kathleen's sister, Mary Lou. I copy her emails exactly and I don't change anything. Kathleen emails every Thursday. I will try to post the email on Thursdays. However, I work a lot, so I don't always get around to it. I will do my best to make sure that her emails are posted by Saturday night at the latest.

Week 3

as you probably just saw, i now have a way to send pictures, though i can only fit one picture per email. I included a picture of my and my companion, my district, me and my former stls, me, and stl, a friend from highschool and his companion, a picture of my old and new room, though i didnt include a picture of my oldest room, a picture of us as we were lokking out our classroom window trying to see president monson, and a picture of him, a picture of all the elders in my zone, and also a picture of all the sisters in my zone. obviously, there are way more sisters than elders. So a funny thing happened last week shortly after i emailed you. They called a meeting for all of the sisters at 4 pm that day, and we were excited thinking maybe we were going to meet an apostle or some such thing. Anyway, it was not to be. There are bats in 17M, the apartment thingy i has just moved to the week before, and so we were immeadiately moving out beck into the old place. They are trying to take care of the bats, but since they are an endangered species, they can't kill them. I am safe in 5M, though i am back to being cramped and not having enough space for everything. Sunday was wonderful, though we didnt get to meet any general authorities, and none spoke to us on sunday, but the guy who spoke gave a really awesome talk, so i was totally ok with it. We said goodbye to our zone leaders and sister training leaders on sunday. They left early monday morning. I really miss seeing them, they were such good leaders, and really great and inspiring examples. I don't know if i told you about the one elder, who is from peru. But he had the oppurtunity to play professional soccer for argentina, or go on a mission, and he chose to go on a mission. He has also had to learn both english and japanese, simultaneously, and he is really good at both. It is truly amazing how powerful the gift of tongues is, and what a blessing it is. I am so glad i only have to learn one new language, even though it is a struggle. So funny thing about sundays topic, that was the talk that me companion was assigned for her farewell, so i totally agree that it is all about missionary work. I'[m glad you picked the songs you felt inspired to do, and i'm sure those were great songs. I'm glad that everything went well with moving miranda, and that you are able to make things work with all of them down there. Could you send me a picture of my room? i had thought about moving things that way, but i didnt think it would work, and i am curious as to how it works. I also really want pics of the family, everyone is showing there's in my district, and they really want to see mine. The only pic i have is one of me and danielle outside the temple after my endowment that i stuck in my journal. Me medallion was silver, but if she had a gold one in the closet, id be fine with that, i dont want to be an inconvenience. But i really do miss my medallion. I wear it constantly normally, and i find myself want to touch it, but it is not there... So i would really appreciate it if you could get me a new one. Got a surprise yesterday that really made my day, someone sent me a package!!! :) it was so appreciated, and it really made my day. Yesterday was super emotional, because i am getting a bit overwhelmed with all of the new language things that they are throwing over me, and that package just really helped. I really grateful to whoever sent it, though they didnt include a note, so i can only guess as to who it was from. ordered a mission t-shirt for myself today, i was going to also order one for will, per his request, since they didnt have those in the mexico mtc, but he didnt tell me his size, so i am going to have to wait. It takes about a week to get them here, so hopefully he tells me what his size is soon. I am really glad to hear that nothing bad happened with the accident that jennie's car was in. I am so glad that she was delayed, and that though their car was hit, they are ok. I hope that bishop terry continues to recover and do well. I'm sorry to hear about uncle dan. I'm sure it is hard for you to lose him, but i am really glad you were able to see him one last time, and i know that he is doing great, and it is only us left behind that miss him so much. Though im sure he misses us. Japanese is hard. I am struggling to be able to express myself the way that i want to, though i have to keep reminding myself that it has only been three weeks, and that there is no way i would be able to express myself fully in japanese already, but it is hard when i have such a strong desire to help the people i am teaching, but i don't have the ability to do so. I love and miss you, and though this is one of the hardest things i have ever done, i know i am in the right place, and that no matter what, everything is going to turn out alright, if i just place my trust in the lord. It is jsut scary to only be able to pray in just japanese during lessons, no english at all anymore, hopefully when its my turn i will be able to do that! Love and miss all of you!

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Love, Sister Makin

P.s. I would love to hear from all of you, as i hear from momma. btw, dear elders are delivered daily in paper format to the missionaries at the mtc, so if anything big happens while i am here, that i need to know, that is the fastest way to reach me. I love and miss all of you, and the main reason i ask this is because i am constantly being reminded of family in class as everyone else reads their stack of dear elders that they receive daily, and i really want to hear from you. Whether it's a letter or an email, i would appreciate it. EIther way, i love you, and pray for you.