I love living in the mission field and experiencing mission life first hand. It's amazing and so different then what I thought. Everyday, every lesson, my fear to go on a mission turns to excitement. This work is so important. There are so many people that are ready to hear the good news. And I am so ready to tell them!
Well, lots has been happening. Lindsay, Kirsten (my friend), Cydne and Brayden finally made it to Japan! I am so happy that they're all here! The first day they were here we went to the aquarium. It was so fun. They have all these weird fish... My personal "favorite"-in other words, the one I was most creeped out by, was this one fish that had legs and wings. When it was at the bottom of the tank it would stand on it's legs and then when it swam it's wings would come out... so weird. Totally not natural. Lots of new and cool things to see. Then, of course, we had to go to Cats Garden Cafe. They have THE best ice cream ever. But not just ice cream... it comes in a glass pitcher (yes, like a water pitcher). The bottom had chocolate sauce, then it had ice cream and frosted flake cereal, then ice cream, whipped cream, and then fruit. Oh man, SO good. Yes, we got two, and yes, we finished them both.
Yesterday we went to the Nagoya Castle Festival. Festivals are all over in the summer. There is one every week in a different city. Some that are more popular or in more popular places, like the Nagoya Castle, last for weeks. When we got there we started off with some traditional Japanese Dancing. All the Japanese (mostly older people- but there were some younger kids) danced and wanted to teach us how to do it. They were all surrounding a tower that was decorated with Japanese lanterns. There was a large drum and music playing from the tower. It was really fun to experience and see. Then... drum roll please!! We went to the Fish Doctor. We had been talking about this the whole day. I wasn't sure if I was going to do it because my feet are super ticklish and putting your feet in a tub of water with fish that suck on your feet sounds kind of creepy, right?? Well, best thing of the whole night!! Yes, my feet were twitching and tickling and I was laughing, I'm sure the Japanese thought I was a crazy! But, it was really fun. The guy working there that was helping us, was awesome. He spoke really great English and he was really funny. Later I really felt like I should give him a pass along card. I was really nervous because I've been rejected before... it's scary! Especially when I don't speak Japanese. Anyway, so I went back and I said, "My parents are living here because they are serving our church. I love that church. It makes me so happy. I like you and I think you're really cool and I want you to be happy too." He didn't really understand, but after a few questions, and me explaining it again, he accepted it happily. I told him that I hoped he'd have an open mind. I don't know if he'll think twice about the church or what I told him, but it felt good, and important that I give him that little pass along card. I just want to tell everyone about this gospel!! I love it!!
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I told you! Ticklish!!
Some of the other fun things we did...
- Homemade fans! (fans are a necessity in Japan! Even at night. Atsui!! Hot!) We took a picture and pasted it on the fan. Super fun
- We made our own leather bracelets! We chose what we wanted to make, chose the stamps, then the dye, and there ya go! Bracelet!
- Ice cream and Snowies!
- Cucumbers on a stick
- Wearing Kimono's... that we didn't really know how to put on. Everyone wears Kimono's to festivals. It's traditional and fun. I love seeing a lot of the old traditional things in Japan, Kimono's, the wooden flip flops, fans, etc.
