 |
| A potential investigator and an amazing embroiderer! She embroidered that kimono! |
 |
| My district |
 |
| President and Sister Welsch |
 |
| What I saw at the bottom of the squatter box....eewww!! |
 |
| The youngest of the family of 8 that we are teaching. So CUTE!!!!! |
Wow you are having one adventure after the other!! Sounds FUN. Keep it up! :)
Preaching the gospel in Japan is also quite the adventure. Biking through rice fields in thick humidity wearing a skirt and blouse following signs written in characters and meeting people of all ages, sizes, and personalities. (They all look the same though...crazy!) Life of a missionary is goooood.
I love building up the church in Yonago. It is a great time to be here!
We spent one day last week going from one less active members home to the next, and nobody was home! There was also nobody on the streets (yay inaka!), so it was quite a long day of no talking. But then we stopped by a member's home and found that he actually really needed some help. He was doing some field work, and we volunteered ourselves and the elders to help him. It felt SOO good to just be out helping. As we pulled weeds and worked in the dirt, I was very grateful for the yard work we did week after week after week for our family home evening activity! Helping him felt like I was out doing one of my hobbies. It was a good day!
I am also grateful for the humiliation I experienced year after year as I attempted to play softball but sadly ended up going home after each game to hear dad say *If you would just watch the bat hit the ball........* I kept that in my mind as we played softball this week at a ward activity. Fortunately, it was not as humiliating as I expected. In fact, it was a great day! When I swung, the bat actually hit the ball. AND the 8 person family we are teaching, (Takekawa family) all came! It was fantastic!! The mother talked a lot with other sisters in the ward, the father had a great time with the brothers in the ward, and the kids connected so well with the kids in the ward. In fact one young woman went to the Takekawa familys home after the activity to hang out. It was so amazing to see that family taken in by the ward! And they have strong interest in all of the other activities our ward has this summer. We have not been able to visit their home and teach them often because they are having problems with their shop, but they said we can come soon. I am so excited for this wonderful family to learn more about how living the gospel can do more for their lives than they could ever imagine!
Our shigansha Ayako chan is also doing well. Unfortunately, her parents want her to wait until she is 20 to be baptized (she is 15). However, she is still moving forward with faith. She is committing to live the commandments, she is reading and praying, and even though she is busy she is making time to meet with us. She has been changing a lot lately. I love seeing how the gospel works for a 15 year old girl, because I know what the gospel did for me when I was 15! The gospel brought so much light and confidence and encouragement to me, and I know the gospel is what drove me to develop talents and friendships that I am so grateful for now. I am happy that she is choosing to accept the gospel and move forward, despite the opposition from her parents. The youth (members and nonmembers) are so strong here in Japan! I think a LOT about the future here in Japan, and when I do, I think about the youth and how much they will contribute. I am grateful to be able to work with a Japanese companion right now and meet so many wonderful people who will be strong members building up the church in Japan. I love Japan, and I love what Japan is becoming as the church is spreading! It is a good day to be a missionary!
Thank you for your emails and your support. You have no idea how much it helps!! I love you to pieces!!!
Love,
Crofts shimai
No comments:
Post a Comment