Home Sweet Nihon

こんにちは！！！
(Konichiwa - Hello)

How is everyone? Probably not as good as me!

"Heart Attack" with my companion Kempner Shimai

Funny first week highlights: So we get off the plane not even been in Japan for 15 minutes and I walk into the men's room... This Japanese man was walking out and I looked up and realized what I was doing and freaked out. He just laughed probably thought this foreigner over here doesn't know what a blue men's room man looks like. The toilet paper in our apartment smells like roses... I have no comment.  At least our bathroom never smells!

Yesterday at church I bore my testimony and said "toki doki doki doki, kedo waku waku desu" (sometimes I'm nervous but I'm excited) everyone died laughing. The all said I'm fluent so I know my Japanese is bad. Then we were street contacting and this girl said my trainer and I look so cute and took a picture with us. She invited us to her concert and we got permission to go, yay! I am so glad I practiced kneeling. We were in a lesson and my leg fell asleep. It was so bad but for the first 20 minutes I was set!

We went to get ramen the other day. Oh my goodness it was so much food. I was halfway done but I was so full, I looked up and my trainer had downed hers.  I literally rolled over and died. I'm going to get so fat. Everyone here asks me about my hair, EVERYONE. Those weren't exactly funny but hey this place is cool!

I love love love Japan so much! I feel so at place here. Everyone is so nice! When they

Mission President and his wife

don't want to talk they just bow and walk away. You literally bow all the time. I'm starting to pick it up but it's still hard. When in doubt, bow. The members here are so awesome. I'm in a small ward with two companionships of Elders. Before church all the missionaries line up outside the door and shake everyone's hands. They are all so friendly! Their testimonies are so strong. I am seriously the luckiest person in the world! The language is so hard though. I only understand like every 5th or so word.

The first night 3 different people asked me how old I was and I had no idea what they were saying.  Embarrassing.. But I am in a apt with two Japanese Sisters. They are in the area next to ours. So I get to practice my Japanese a lot. It's great. My area is Moiwa! Everyone here wants to learn English so they practice on my constantly. It's sooo helpful! I teach English class tomorrow super excited! I don't know what else to say but how lucky and blessed I am to be here. We have no investigators, no prospects,
nothing. Starting scratch. But I know that I am supposed to be here and that if I do everything I can the Lord will fill in the rest!  Every time I have to say something in Japanese the words find their way to my mouth.

Silly Sisters!

The other day we were teaching a recent convert (she's so cute!) and we showed her the "Because of Him" video and after my trainer Sister Kempner looked at me and said bear your testimony on Jesus Christ and all I said was I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I felt the spirit so strong. Sometimes we forget the small and simple truths of the gospel. But in that moment I knew more than I ever had in my life that Jesus is the Christ and he loves us. It was really awesome.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful week. Next time I email I will no longer be a teenager!!




I love you all very much!

ゾリンジャー 姉妹
(Zorinja Sister)