English fasting
So I made a deal with Sakamoto Shimai. Every other day, I would only speak Japanese. If I accidentally talked in English, I would buy her the renowned Japanese candy bar, the BLACK THUNDER. Well, I've only done this exercise of only Japanese for two days, and between those two days, I've bought her 16 Black Thunders. She says I'm crazy. I agree. On the second day, after a long day of struggling through broken Japanese, I started telling her that I feel "kanashii" (sad)
and "tsukareta" (tired). We finally busted out to dendo in the evening. We were guided to this apartment and started knocking on the doors. This woman a few feet away was parking her bike just about as angrily as you can. Lots of loud crashes and stomping. She gave us a stony, disapproving look, and then sauntered into the door that we were about to knock on next. Yay. Well, we knock. She opens the door a second later, "What is it?" I was feeling so not ready to preach the gospel. She said she was busy and that she'd already talked with missionaries before. Truly this felt like the beginning of a conversation I've had a million times since coming to Japan. But I looked at her, and felt the Spirit. I told her, "God loves you. God is our loving Heavenly Father. You are his daughter." Even though I say those things everyday, it still felt different in this moment because I knew that these were new principles to her. When I talked about the Book of Mormon, I promised it would bring her comfort, and that when she felt busy, it would bring her peace of mind. But then I realized I didn't have a Japanese Book of Mormon to give her! I apologize about three times for not having the book to give to her, even though I wasn't even sure if she would want it. She smiled briefly, mumbled something, and closed the door. Well, time to head back home. But then a few seconds later, the door opened and she had a big smile on her face as she said, "Come again another time!" And she hands us....coffee in juice box containers? Lol-there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes that light takes the form of coffee in juice box containers.
I think I'm going to keep that coffee in the fridge for all eternity
just to remind myself. I joked maybe I should give it to a cat. Mac
Shimai in complete earnest said, "I've seen cats drink coffee in
cartoons."
"Oh be wise, what more can I say." :)
Ohanami at Kumamoto Exercise Park
(Ohanami is a flower viewing party/picnic during cherry blossom season)
Snowing sakura petals surrounded us in the rich forestry of this wonderfully expansive park. The children were as numerous as the sakura trees. Most days can be a little chilly, but that day the sun had tagged along to this special retreat in the park. The whole ward was there to say goodbye to a departing member moving somewhere else in Japan, and sitting on the ground surrounded by this community of saints brought peace to me. Such fragile ties that bind us in this mortal state, and yet we can glimpse eternity in friendship and prayer. The air was so clean and clear. The trees were green. Sakura petals kept falling onto my hair, and I was reminded that we are like sakura
blossoms in the eyes of God. We are beautiful both when we flourish and when we fall. "Be still my soul, the waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below." Our spirits know God. In that special place, feeling God's love was an moment of remembrance. "All now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still my soul."
Take care everyone.
Over and Out,
Rogers Shimai
Sorry don't have time to label pictures.... :P The memes won't make sense probably, but they are just as confusing on this side of the world too, so no worries.
