Called to Serve

So, it came! I have a call to serve in the Kobe Japan Mission! I report January 26, 2011. I am so excited!

So let's rewind...
I, as many of you know, am one of the lucky few who get to serve early. When my parents got a phone call from Elder Hales' secretary, I started jumping up and down on the couch yelling "I'm going on a mission!!" Yes, it's something I've wanted to do forever, so to be able to go a whole year early is such a blessing! I submitted my papers on September 11th and a week and a half later it's here! There were so many mixed emotions. Mostly I just felt sick... I was so nervous. It had finally come, this thing that I'd been waiting for for years. Mckenzie and Craig are so nice and let us open it at their house. We all got together (including Mom and Dad on Skype) and made guesses on the map. When I opened it, everyone was sitting around but they were talking to Mom, so I quickly scanned the letter and found it, and started to cry. I love Japan. I am so excited to go back and teach, serve and love the people there for a year and a half.... and I know forever after that. I can't wait to really learn the language and to be able to communicate with the people there the way I want to. I love this Gospel so much. I love God and his son, Jesus Christ. I am so excited to be able to serve them and their children. I'm so excited and so blessed! Get ready Kobe, cause I'm comin'!

See how close Kobe and Nagoya are?!

Fish Doctor...

Have I told you how much I love Japan? Well, I LOVE Japan. It is such an amazing country. Everything, and I mean everything, is so opposite from America. When I got here I was counting the weeks to home. Just last night I asked my mom if I could stay until I left on my mission. (She's been begging me to since I got here.) But she knows I have school and other things going on at home- the answer was sadly no. I have made so many good friends and memories. One of the Elders asked me, "Since you've been here and you're experiencing the mission, what are you most excited about when you go on your mission?" and I replied, "Well, I am so excited to learn and teach the gospel. The feeling, you know, is indescribable. I never really understood when people got home from missions the love they could have for a place and for people. Since I've been here I have met so many people. I love the members of the Meito Ward. I love the Japanese people. I love Japan and the culture. I love the language (even though I don't speak it!) I think now I understand the love that missionaries have for the people and country they've served, that's what I'm most excited for."
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!!

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.

Ahhh, only one week left!

I Love the Japanese People!

Oh man, the Japanese people are amazing. Especially the Japanese members. I continue to be amazed by them. They are truly incredible. We had fast and testimony meeting today at church and there were so many people who got up to bare their testimonies: the majority of them being young adults, 15-16 year olds. I can't understand their language, but I can definitely feel their spirit. I was so grateful because we had some inactive friends come to sacrament meeting with us, Megumi and Ryoko, Mother and daughter. Ryoko is 23. I know that because these young, strong girls had the courage and strength to get up and testify, she felt the Spirit. One of the girls, Aiko Shimono, who is 15 or 16, was just baptized three months ago. She's a ward of the state. But she is one of the strongest members I know, and I want to work and study so I can be as strong and as courageous as she is. I love these people and it makes me so so sad to know that in just three short weeks I'll have to leave them. Maybe forever. But I know that I have been changed because of them, and I know who I want to be and what I have to do to get there. I wish you could all know and love them the way I do, and hopefully someday you will!

Ryoko and Megumi

Aiko Shimono