Well this week has been crazy full of activities!
On Monday we cleaned up our apartment and packed everything up, and then on
Tuesday we moved apartments, unpacked everything and cleaned up. We didn't
transfer, just moving to a newer apartment in our area. It was about time, this
last apartment was so old that drinking water from the tap was dangerous. SO
needless to say, I'm much happier in our new apartment.
On Wednesday, we taught Tsuchida-san, and talked about the different beings
in the Godhead; God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. It was
interesting for her that we know them to be separate beings, but one in purpose,
Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost reporting to the Big Man in the Upstairs. After
our lesson, we hung out with a less-active girl, Rie. She's 17, and other than
her older sister who is currently serving a mission in Sapporo, she is the only
member in her family. She's struggling a bit with her faith, and hasn't been
coming to church since about last year. I know that when I talk to her, though,
all she really needs is love. When you give her your love, she opens right up.
So she and the sister missionaries have a good relationship, but the ward has
yet to connect with her to help her out.
QUICK DETOUR; a couple weeks ago, I learned that it was going to be Girl's
Camp (the bestest camp ever) soon for our stake, and I had asked the leaders if
anyone had talked to Rie. (Surprise, surprise) None of them had. So I asked them
if we could invite her. They told us to go for it, but that she would probably
say no because she has no friends at church. One of the leaders even made an
off-hand comment that if we wanted to help, we could come with her. I know she
was joking, missionaries can't stay overnight. But I heard her say that and
thought to myself...challenge accepted.
I got permission from my Mission President, and sure enough Sister Abe and
I headed up into the mountains of Gifu on Thursday for a day at Girl's camp. We
had invited Rie, and she came for the whole thing (three days long). She was
really sad to see us go at the end of the day, but we promised to text her if
she ever got lonely (she pretty much had only been talking to us the whole
time). I haven't said such sincere prayers in a while as I prayed that night for
someone to be Rie's friend. I prayed she would be able to have fun, to make
friends, and to feel the Spirit. I just needed her to 'remember who she
is; God's daughter, and as such, a one true queen'.
(Does that sound familiar to anyone who has watched a Disney movie?)
Friday was pretty normal, and Saturday was transfer calls. That evening I
called Rie; she was exhausted but said she had fun. Maybe I can talk to her more
later.
Sunday was crazy. I was sick in the morning, so I slept as much as I could
and had to give up when it came to that evening's activity. We had a huge dinner
at the church with some investigators and church members, that soon got very out
of hand. But all in all, it seemed like the investigators had fun, and the
members did too, so I'm content.
Exhausted, but content.
Oh yeah, transfer calls... Sister Furukawa decided to go home, so she left,
and now Sister Aoki is being transferred to Suwa, in Nagano. So now it's just me
and Abe.
And then there were two...
