We’re on a train back from the temple. It’s about a 2 hr 15 min trip. It’s going to be odd one day when I come back to Idaho and there aren’t any trains. It’s kind of strange to think about.
I’ve been kind of sick lately. Sunday morning I woke up really early and couldn’t sleep. We didn’t go to church and I mostly just slept. I was hoping to be all better by now but it’s coming slowly. Our church members here are so nice. They brought us a huge garbage sack full of food and one of the ward members bought us both a pair of boots because our feet look cold in just shoes (they look like Uggs). Also, they offered to give me a blessing which I had actually been thinking about earlier. They can’t come into our apartment, so we just brought a chair out on the porch and did it there. They also brought us the sacrament bread and had us bring out some water and blessed it right there outside our door. One of them is a doctor so he took a look at my throat (I have a cold –nose/throat pain) and said the usual – it’s probably a virus and that I should sleep (don’t ask how long it took for us to make sure I understood correctly ☺).
I sure like this area. It’s huge, so that’s kind of a pain and it’s really cold, but it’s a good place. In the mornings (when I’m healthy) I go out on our “veranda” and jump rope while the sun rises. This is the first place I’ve ever been in Japan where I can actually see a horizon of some sort. It is still buildings, but they are far away enough it feels like an actual sunrise. We only use ½ of the apartment because it’s warmer that way. We’ve moved all our study books into the kitchen/dining room and just do everything in there, rather than warming up both rooms.
It is interesting to note the differences between people here and the sort of people in my last area that was so rich. Not that everyone is poor here –they’re pretty well-off I would say (as a whole). But it is interesting to note the differences in people’s lifestyles and attitudes. That’s for sure one of the biggest things I’ve learned on my mission so far. My favorite people to talk to are people who are really poor and don’t have jobs – not only are they generally more open and humble, but they’re also a lot more interesting. I ♥ it.
Yesterday we went and had lunch at this lady’s place. We met her while housing. She doesn’t work and neither does her husband, nor the other guy who lives with them. Who knows how they get along, but they sure are characters. It was a grand time. When we first knocked on their door last week she (her name is Chin, pronounced Cheen) said she was Buddhist and wasn’t really interested. We chatted and found out she was from Taiwan and I said I wanted to learn to cook some yummy Taiwan food and she said OK. A lot of people say things they don’t mean, so I said we could come back on Monday and she said OK (much to my surprise). So that’s how that worked out. The food she made was really spicy and had some weird fish in it, but I’m used to that so I thought it was pretty good. It even had some cilantro in it, which you can’t find in Japan, but she had grown it herself. The whole time the other guy who lived there was watching these really poorly-filmed episodes of some sort of Taiwanese drama. I thought we were probably really bothering him but after we were done eating he disappeared for a while and then came back with some Nashi (Japanese pear) that he had sliced and pealed for us. After that we asked Chin if we could turn off the TV and share a message. We showed pictures of Christ’s birth and read some of Luke 2 and testified that God cares about all of us – even humble shepherds. We asked if we could come back and teach more about Christ and they both agreed. Chin said she would make ramen for us. It was a great experience (so much for Chin being Buddist. . .). You could tell as we testified to them that they were God’s children, and that the spirit was testifying to their hearts. It was a very missionaryish experience. One more thing about Chin – She is knitting seat covers for her car. Yep.
I read your email early this morning before we left to the temple and have been re-reading all of Dad’s D.E.’s. I’m sure blessed to have a family that loves me.
-Mooze – I’m glad the guitar is being used! I’m excited to hear you play when I get back.
-It’s funny to me all the bed re-arranging that has taken place since I left. And I still can’t really picture Janie speaking in a full sentence.
Dad – tell the stake presidency hello for me and thanks for the Christmas card. Thanks so much for the D.E.’s. I have a huge stack of them just piling up on my desk and I feel so loved every time I see them all. How are you anyway? I’m glad to hear that THE SHED project is winding down.
Maren – you said you’re sad you can’t be in the high school play. . .do you mean this year’s high school play? Silly girl!
Hey Sadie & Hallie – what’s going on with being in separate rooms but still sleeping together. You weirdos!
Janie, thanks for always praying for me at dinner. I love your squirrel cheeks.,
Well, I’ve about worn out my welcome in this letter I think.
One more thing: Yajima, the guy we taught in my last area who worked on Sundays got baptized! And Sano, the girl that got baptized is coming to church, paying her tithing, and doing her visiting teaching even. I was so happy to hear that. I need to call her.
OK, now I really will stop blabbering.
I ♥ U! Merry Christmas.
Love, Waite Shimai
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