It sounds like you have had a good week! I'm happy that you confused
my companion with the birthday anniversary thing, because I got two
laughs from that story instead of just one, and I enjoy laughing. It
probably is just a dad thing, but I enjoy using it to, and seeing
people's reactions... I should figure out how to say that in Japanese.
This week has been so crazy and fast! I don't really like how fast
time is already going by in my mission, because everyone says that it
only gets faster, and at this point, I can't imagine that!
Monday we visited Paula, and we were sad to find out she hadn't been
reading. But we found out she wants us to give her specific homework,
so we did, and we will find out how she did today. She is still taking
everything super literally, so hopefully we can help her to learn how
to learn from the scriptures, and not just take literal meanings from
it.
Tuesday I went to the hospital again for rehabilitation, which is
getting easier, and faster... My hand is just as stubborn as the rest
of me some times, and I have to force it to do what I need to do so
that it will fully heal. We also taught eikaiwa, and it turned out
great. Something that had really been bugging myself and mills Shimai,
was that despite doing self introductions a couple of times, we had
been unable to learn all of our students names, mainly because they
said them so fast... So we came up with an ingenious idea. We taught
them about holidays, and then included birthdays, because birthdays
are your own personal holiday, right? So then we had them all practice
writing in English, by writing their name, birthday and favorite
season on the board all in English. And while they did that, I wrote
it all down, so we would be able to actually learn their names. Evil
plotting success! We then taught them two truths and a lie, and I went
first, and got everyone! I put: I'm a missionary, I don't like dogs
(because of traumatic childhood experiences, thou I out hate for my
eikaiwa students, because it is simpler for them to understand), and I
love peanut butter. For those of you who know me, you know which one
is a lie, but it was hilarious when I revealed the truth. Almost
everyone thought I had lied about dogs, and one of the students who is
a member and teaches English, said "are you American?" After i
revealed, which made me laugh.
Wednesday we went back up the mountain, to visit inoue San. And when
we got there, a guy was there selling medicine, and she introduced him
to what we were doing in Japan. He seemed interested, and we gave him
our contact info, but since he hasn't contacted us, we aren't sure if
he was just being a good salesman or not. But we had a good lesson
with inoue San, and it was funny, because she kept on complimenting
me. Told me I was always happy, and I had a great aura, and that I
really brought the spirit whenever I came, and called me an angel
several times. She is very sweet, but mills Shimai didn't get an
opportunity to straight out in Invite her to be baptized, because she
kept on interrupting us, including when I was about to hear testimony,
as I had just started it, but she know the church is true, she
believes the Book of Mormon is true, and she is even asking us to
teach friends and family, but she refuses to get baptized. We didn't
get to ask her straight out, but she told us an experience she had
with a previous missionary to make it clear she didn't want to get
baptized. I kind of got the feeling that she doesn't want to give up
her freedom... It is super sad, and mills Shimai and I both got some
revelation during stake conference this weekend, that if she does
refuse, we are going to have to drop her. It is sad, but she knows
everything, and us coming every week isn't going to help her if she
won't take that step right now.
Thursday we had a kokan! I was with Itabashi Shimai, and she helped me
check the prayer I had written for zone conference, and since she is
basically fluent in both English and Japanese, it was a huge help! And
we also went and visited less actives with the takatas. It was funny,
because some of them recognized me, and I talked a bunch with them,
and they talked with me, fully expecting me to understand, and the
wonderful thing was that I did for the most part. The last time we saw
these less actives was a month ago, back when I still had the cast,
and they remembered the sister with the borked hand, but most of them
didn't remember that it was me, my broken hand was more memorable then
my face, but that's ok. They remembered, and enjoyed our visit I
think.
Friday we had zone conference, and that was amazing! I loved learning
what my fellow missionaries had been learning from the Book of Mormon,
and also receiving counsel from Welch kaicho, Welch Shimai, and the
APs about being confident, focusing on the right this, and how the
doctrine of Christ is truly centered on love! It was an amazing
conference, the only hard part being praying to close the first
session, because I was super nervous, and I just prayed following the
spirit as best as I could. I guess I did a fairly good job, because
everyone said I did, but all I know was that it was a relief not to
have to pray during the afternoon session. I just really loved zone
conference!
And then Saturday and Sunday we had stake conference, and elder Choi
of the seventh came to reorganize our stake presidency. He is very
straightforward, and spoke in English with a translator, and it was
awesome! Often Japanese people use a round about way of speaking,
which becomes confusing, but he is Korean, and definitely didn't do
that. I learned a lot from that man, and also from the other speakers,
who spoke in Japanese, because even though they are politely round
about, which at times for me is hard to understand, they still bear
powerful testimony of what they know to be true, and teach the truths
of the gospel, and it is amazing! Stake conference on Sunday was in
Niimi, which is in my area, but about a two hour drive north of
Kurashiki, so we rode there with members. It was a long drive both
ways, but it was definitely worth it.
I learned a lot on my kokan about just trusting the lord, and
remembering that he has everything under control, and just being
positive and recognizing when I am improving. It was a very good
lesson. I also received tons of direction during zone and stake
conferences, and I am just trying to sort through it all so that I can
act on it at the moment, because revelation received, but not acted
upon, is wasted.
This week I chose 2 Timothy 1:7: For God hath not given us the spirit
of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. I just really
love his scripture. Sometimes, as a missionary, sharing the gospel can
be scary. It is easy to worry about offending someone, or driving away
friends, but sharing the gospel is an act of love. If you reach out
and share with those around you, this wonderful blessing that we have
that has given us so much joy, you are giving them the opportunity to
experience that joy for themselves. That is why we have been counseled
over and over again, that every member is a missionary. This doesn't
mean that every member goes and serves a full time mission, but we all
contribute in the work. And the work never ends. God is preparing
people we just need to open our mouths and give them the opportunity
to hear the gospel, and receive the joy that comes from it. With love,
and with the aid of the power of God on our side, and also having the
knowledge that we have in our sound minds, we need not fear to go out
and share, all we need to do is do it! That was something that elder
Choi helped me see in his remarks, especially for after my mission.
Members should help the missionaries so much, and be so into finding
for the missionaries, that we don't have to go finding, and truly
effective member missionary work, working together, can begin.
I love you all, and miss you tons! I am loving learning the language
though, and realized last week that I can tease, though simply, in
Japanese now, and that has been lots of fun. My companion and I are
tryin to nihongo dake (just speak Japanese), and it has been super
helpful in showing me what I know, what I don't know, and how I can
improve! I am doing very well, and love hearing from everyone! Lots of
love!
Love, Sister Makin
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