Dear friends and family,
So we had an amazing conference this last week, and it was great. Elder Cook came to Japan with Elder Maynes and they spoke to us. We all gathered to Kichijouji from far, and we were all able to shake their hands. All 400+ of us. It was great! I also was able to see many people I hadn't seen in a while. Missionaries who also came to japan. So, lots of fun things, today. We traveled and went to the Tokyo Temple this morning. The trains around that area are really busy. So many people. I'm so grateful we get to go once a transfer though. It's so nice to go, and feel the Spirit there. On other news, I have my Japanese name tags! It took the a while to get here, but now I have them! I'm so happy. I am in Takao. It is really a rural part of Japan, comparatively, but it's still a busy place. It's really green, and it's near the mountains of Japan. It's so beautiful, and so clean, and so nice. The members here are so great! We've (the missionaries) already sung in sacrament meeting. A week after I got here. I bought a Japanese primary songbook. I'm so happy. Oh! And I got to go on splits for a day with my amazing MTC companion! Sister Hurlbut! Two new missionaries, with moderate-level Japanese skills, sharing what we have to share with the people in Hachioji. We had a lot of fun. It was so good to be with her again for a day. Well, lots of love to everyone! I trust everyone is in good hands. Sincerely, Sister Blake PS- "roses and thorns grow together, like a rainbow follows bad weather. Hard times will only make me better, 'cause roses and thorns grow together" I still want to write everyone! >.< taihen!
Last time, I wrote in Japanese but I think I'll only define this one, for time sake. "Blake shimai o break shinaide kudasai" means "please don't break sister blake". It's the best because the way you say Blake and break in japan is the same. ^.^ always a good joke I think. So, after a week, this place is still amazing, and the people are great, and the ward members are the best, and walking everywhere is great. Especially when you get lost, and you can see the main road, but can't get to it. That happened today. Also, climbing mountains is the greatest. We climbed mount Takao with the other missionaries, and also with a lot of non member friends. That was a lot of fun. From the top you could see mt Fuji. Also, plans to go to the Ghibli museum are underway. It's in our mission, near kichijoji, I think. :) who's excited? Well, fell off my bike this week, and I think It may havedone something to my wrist, but it's healing pretty well, so I'm not worried. Takao is a pretty place, next to mountains. It probably has the best mountainside view in all japan. There's so much green. We had ward conference yesterday, and we sang twice. Once with the sisters in relief society and then with another group. God is love and I'm trying to be like Jesus. I love singing. Yesterday, I met a girl who really likes English, and loves one direction! We sang together a little, and it was great and fun. Well, loves you all. Out of time. But keep up the good work, wherever you are. As in learned from my teachers at the MTC there are miracles every day. Look for them. Seek them out. You'll find them. God's hand is in every one of our lives. Love, Blake 姉妹 Welcome to japan! This has been quite the week! Really, jet lag is
really something. I got to see my cousin... Wait, let's go back some. Ok, last week, we all got up really early to be at the travel office at the MTC at 2:30, and we all made it there. As we drove away, we waved goodbye to the MTC, and to Provo, and went on our way in the bus. What a day, and I was wide awake. I began singing the fourth verse of Come come Ye Saints, but that fell out of favor quickly. .. After all, it does begin, "and should we die, before our journey's through" .. I love that verse. Just wasn't the best for the time, I suppose. :) Got to the airport, and figured everything out. .. Slowly. I was supposed to be travel leader, but I really think that out of everyone I was the last to figure out what we were doing. At Texas, where our layover was, a couple of the Elders disappeared! When we were boarding, we had no idea where they went, but we had to board the plane. ^.^ I was freaking out! but later! they got on the plane. They had gone to a separate area to find something for breakfast. It was all good. We were fed really well on the plane, and I met some really great people. When we got to the airport in narita, we went through customs, and when we got out on the other side, no one was there to meet us! So we waited. And called the number we had, got everything figured out, and soon enough, the Elders were there to pick us up. We had a great bus ride to the mission home, past Disneyland and Tokyo tower, and the really famous things in japan. Great stuff. I'm in japan. Now I'm here. What a great place, with really wonderful people. Much more to come, but for now, know that I'm doing great. Mina San, 愛しています。 Blake 姉妹 Oh, and I got to meet Blake 長老 my cousin. It was really great. I didn't think I'd get to meet him, but God provided a way, and we got to talk some. If there's something he said that I remember, it's the words he said to my companion, "Blake shimai o break shinaide kudasai." Love it! Phew, I just need to stop and take a breather. This week is so crazy. Well, of course, what do you expect, but it's a flood of emotions, all good. I'm really loving this week. I got to host again yesterday, and saw one person that I knew! From college! Sister Wolfe. :D I didn't host her, but it was fun. We got to see Hotta san last night again. What a great time. Of course, last night was also sad, because it was the last day of another sensei of ours--Stratford Kyodai. Really sad. We got to meet his wife last night! She came to pick him up from work and we all went to meet her. Well, it's been a day. I've been so pushed this week, to get better, and to improve. Nihongo and gospel study, and just be better. Wow, what a change you would find in me if you would see me now. Personality wise, probably. I find I'm more patient, more loving, and more kind. God has blessed me so much, and how can you possibly take those things for granted?
Well, in anticipation of this week being one of the saddest weeks in my life, I'm probably going to cry eventually. I don't know if it will happen here, on the plane, or in Japan, or maybe not at all. I am touched deeply by the kind of person I have become in the period of two months. And my gratitude to God and to all others who have helped this change in me is deep. Something we do here is in the last week, we kind of have a Byebye book, that everyone writes in-their home address, and such. So we can get together after our mission, and keep in touch with each other forever. Hopefully. Ha-ha! :D I can't wait to meet myself at the end of my mission! and then at the end of my life. What will become of Sister Blake? We shall see. Mwa ahahaha. By the way, our kyudosha, during the lesson (we were teaching about the concept of good works and bad works, and the Plan of Salvation), suddenly says, "Naruhodo!( Aha!)" and proceeded to connect the Plan of Happiness to Star Wars, with a whole bunch of strange connections and metaphors. I loved it, but it was probably less enjoyable for my companion who was not well versed with it. And since it was in Japanese, it was more than confusing. I loved it. Well, thanks all! Next week is Nihon! My pday from now on will be monday, but that's Japan time, so probably Sunday for America. ^^ Nihon is so ahead, even time wise! :) Jodan. (Jodan is literally the Japan way of saying "jk") Love you lots! -Blake Shimai |
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Sister Blake
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