This has been an exciting week because a transfer occurred. Everyone knew I would transfer - three months is a VERY long time in a bean area. We were all very surprised, however, when Page Choro was the one who got transferred (he was only in Matsudo for 1 month). He went to Nagano to be Zone Leader. He's been a great companion. A lot of fun. But the really exciting thing is that my new companion... well... he's Japanese!!!
He speaks very little English (less than I do Japanese) so communicating is often difficult, but he is one of the nicest people I've ever met! He's from Tokushiwa in Shikoku - the island just south of the main Japanese island. He's been out (as a missionary) a year and a half, so is quite experienced. He's very, very patient with my inability to understand of speak to him well. I'm very grateful for that. I have thought that this could be very difficult )the communication barrier), when I don't understand what happened in a lesson, for example, but I'm so grateful for this opportunity to speak Japanese more. That is something I need a LOT of practice with. It may get frustrating, but I'm grateful for this opportunity to improve.
He seems like he'll be a WONDERFUL companion - he's very selfless, too, and humble. His name is Mori Mura Choro. He also plays the piano and is quite good — likes Chopin. Even though he's been out the longest in the district, they made Stevens Choro District Leader, so I won't be going to DL Taikai this month, etc. I'm really excited to work with him. I'm getting more pictures developed tomorrow and I'll send them in my next letter.
OK, wow! - there's so much to write about. I'll take it in the order I think about it. Ah, yes - the Japanese - English sayings. I'm glad you like them.
Visit the "Funnies" page to read the latest
ones.
[I asked him if he remembered a Japanese dish his dad has made, and that my childhood neighbor - Grandma Ozawa - made] Yes, I remember
Omu rice. In fact, I asked a member for a recipe. Dad says it's just like his except he adds peas. I've made it many times - yum! Pile on the ketchup! It's very good, and pretty easy too - but I always ruin the omelette. I can't quite flip it , or even get the spatula under it well yet - but it tastes good.
I didn't get to see any conference. I'll have to wait another month for the Ensign to read about it. A video would be nice, but it's a little bulky and would be hard to find time to go to the church and watch it. Maybe an audio cassette tape would be good, though. I could listen to those on my walkman while making breakfast and stuff. They probably won't come out on tape for awhile, thought, huh.....
The weather here is getting quite cold. I've been wearing my overcoat (mostly because I don't have a light jacket), but I took out the inner lining. It keeps me nice and warm. I guess it's time for the weekly travelogue:
One thing I forgot last week is that on Wednesday night, we came back from Eikaiwa and saw a couch in the garbage of our apartment. It was a little used, but it was nice! We snuck out at night (10:00pm) and took it, cleaned it up, put a sheet over it, and now we have a nice couch! It's wonderful - something to lay on besides the floor and something soft to sit on.
Well, this week we had some great potential new investigators including a family of 9!!! That's HUGE for Japan! And the Yakumaru family, and another single girl, Koumi san, but everybody spoked us!! Pretty zannen (disappointing). Friday we had zone Taikai - very good. ZL training was on teaching and using correct body posture, voice tone, eye contact - now THAT'S something I can do even if I don't know much Japanese!
Eda san came to church again Sunday and enjoyed it, though said some of the talks were weak. We finished lesson 3 (restoration) and he still just wants to learn more and continue coming to church before he thinks about joining.
Takasugi san is doing great! We finished lesson two (about Jesus Christ) and invited him to be baptized... and... We set a date! Right now, for him, though, it's just a goal. Nishimura kyodai, our joint, was extremely helpful and explained that if you want to progress you have to have a goal, so he set November 20 as his goal. So far, he's only been able to meet with us once every two weeks, so we'll need to speed that up if he is to be baptized by then, but he is progressing so well, reading the Book of Mormon and praying. It's wonderful to be a part of it!
Sunday night we had dinner at the Ichikawa kazoku's (family) home - it's always really fun. Her two daughters blurt out these funny things in English from movies or whatnot, and it's just hilarious. It was this family that gave us the
meltykisses.
Monday we got our transfer call and were extremely occupied. Elder Page packed, we got spoked for a lesson : ( but got to watch "The Phone Call" again, with the Adachi Elders - it's so funny! (If I didn't mention that movie last time, it's the funny old [1980] church video about the boy who's afraid to call this girl for a date, and tries to gain confidence by learning karate... and ends up helping another girl out. It's really funny! Elder Page and I have watched it together three times! Check it out!) That night we visited some members so Elder Page could say goodbye.
Tuesday, Page Choro left, and I cleaned the apartment, studied, sang, listened to old (1991) conference tapes I found and waited for my new companion to arrive. I had a wonderful, personal, vocal prayer with the Lord, too, during that time in which my love for these people I'm working with/for was greatly increased. I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to help bring Heavenly Father's children (my brothers and sisters) back to Him! This is such a great work! I love it.
You may be wondering how we can do Eikaiwa when my companion can't speak English... well, fortunately, Sister Hall was nice enough to become the teacher for one of the classes. My companion becomes a student. It's pretty fun. We made Halloween decorations for the Halloween part on Saturday with Eikaiwa students. Hopefully, some of them will come.
Well, there's my week! These people are great! I love this work! Thank you for your letters and love. This church is true and I love you!
Elder Piasu
