Missionary life is so busy and hectic that I have not had a lot of time to send in updates for my blog. But here is one now!!
Last Monday I had a really great P-day. A less active member took us sightseeing. We went to two different places. First we went to this place that is really well known in Japan. I have forgotten eh name but it is a fresh water spring that is really pretty and there are shrines all around the area. The next place was this trail that lead to this really pretty calendar scene. The car ride on the way there and back was so beautiful. The landscaping in the part of Japan was beautiful.
This past week I got to experience a Zone Conference!! It was a conference for both the Hiroshima Zone and the Yamaguchi Zone. I am in the Yamaguchi Zone. The conference was absolutely great. A lot was talked about on faith and having the courage to do this work and remember that the Lord will always help us in everything that we do. We are also focusing a lot on involving members more in the missionary work in their area and helping to teach them how they can be a missionary everyday. The Zone Conference itself was in Hikari. It was very interesting at the end of the conference when half the missionaries in the Yamaguchi Zone missed their train home. We are about 4 hours away from Hikari, so we luckily made the train. But half of the missionaries missed it because some of the Elders suggested we go streeting to people close by before the train came. We cut it to close and were running by the time we had to catch our train. Luckily, all the sisters made it in time, but none of the elders did. My companion and I made it just before the doors closed. So we were very grateful. The scenery on the train was absolutely breathtaking. We saw the ocean for a big portion of it, and when it was not the ocean, it was rolling green hills, tress, beautiful houses, and so forth.
This group picture does not have the whole zone conference in it, that one is being sent to me, so I will post it as soon as I get it! It is just the Yamaguchi zone!! It does not have anyone from Hiroshima Zone in it though.
The day before the Zone Conference, my companions and I went down early and stayed with the sisters in Iwakuni. It is a newly opened up area and is BEAUTIFUL. The people there were so kind too. We went on splits with them. I went with Sister Miller and had such a great experience. The people there were so open to talking to us and we even gave away several Book of Mormons!! Sharp Shimai and I realized that the people in Iwakuni are so receptive because they have never had missionaries in that area before and there is an American base there so they are used to seeing Americans. In Ube, they know you are a missionary if you are an American. Therefore, they do not really want to talk to you. Nevertheless, I had such a great experience in iwakuni. The people were so kind, the scenery was breathtaking, and the sisters serving there were awesome. I would not mind being transferred to Iwakuni at some point in the future.
Saturday night, our gas was not working so we went out for dinner to this Sushi place that is right next to our apartment. Their sushi is pretty good and they have the best ice cream I have ever tasted that Japan has to offer. But, I finally built up the guts to try the last sushi thing I wanted to eat just so I could say I did.
Fish eggs. This was fish eggs with cucumber and rice, but I did not like it very much. As I was trying to finish chewing Sharp Shimai said "You just ate Nemo". It made me laugh so hard. But I swallowed and I did it! So for the sushi realm, I have eaten SQUID< OCTOPUS< AND FISH EGGS>. I may take a break for a bit on trying new things for a while unless I am offered it specifically by a member.
Well, I have been out in the field for one month now. I feel I have already learned and grown so much, but I still have so much more to learn and so much more to grow. This gospel is true and is such a blessing in my life. The members of the Church of Jesus Christ literally have the most valuable knowledge in the world. The purpose of this earth and this life is to prepare to meet God and become more like Him. Therefore, the fact that we know about this purpose and about the foundation of the world, we are the richest people in the world to have that knowledge. Do not take it for granted. Cherish it and share it!!
I love you all! Please write me!! Missionaries love receiving letters!!!
