So Miyazaki is the hottest part of Kyushu. It's right by the ocean so we get the warm ocean breeze. I haven't seen snow yet and I don't think I will here in Miyazaki. The mornings and evenings are bitter cold, but the afternoons aren't too bad because the sun is really strong.
Our laundry still dries outsides, and doesn't freeze like I heard it does up in Hokkaido Island. Ha ha.
For Thanksgiving we got a call from the Relief Society President, Sister Petersen. She is Japanese, but she married an American. In their household the mom speaks Japanese to their kids, and the dad only speaks English to their kids. Therefore, their kids are fluent in both languages. Crazy huh? The kids are older, the youngest being 14, the oldest married and has a kid.
Julie Petersen just got back from her mission in Hawaii (when I asked her about it, she said she didn't know what she did right to get sent there). She reminds me of Hannah Shepard. We're instantly best friends. There is Shane who is leaving on his mission this month. There is also Aileen who lives in America and will be getting married in December. As expected the mom is freaking out, about as much as mom was when I left on my mission. Ha ha. Basically they are an almost normal American family in the middle of Japan.
They invited us over for Thanksgiving dinner. I was so happy! Real turkey and mashed potatoes. Yeah! The family runs an American Kindergarten in the 1st floor of their house. It's for ages 2-6. The kids come and play around, but everything is in English, and since they're kids they pick up English, with proper pronunciation right away. It's amazing. Anyway, they are by far my favorite family. And the fact that they fed 6 missionaries Thanksgiving Dinner was a miracle. There were even extras.
My companion went crazy Monday night. She was on another low and this time told me that she blames me for all of it. Well, I told her to get over it. I'm stuck with a companion that doesn't want to leave the apartment and yet I'm not choosing to be angry or sad. I told her to take time that night to decide to serve her mission or leave. The choice is hers. The door is open. Go ahead and go home. She isn't helping anyone in the state she's in. Was that harsh? Yes, but as I laid awake in bed that night (making sure she didn't actually leave) I felt full justification for my words from the Spirit. I knew my words were guided at that moment because my Japanese conjugations flowed easily. So, that night she decided to just open her scriptures and read wherever they fell open. It fell open to Alma 5:27. Are you stripped of pride? Are you following the good shepherd? Because if not, you are following Satan. I don't think there is a more in-you-face fire-and-brimstone chapter in all of the Book of Mormon.
So I guess my harsh words were followed up by a harsh scripture. She told me later she was sorry and she's been emotionally stable since. Wow. now, of course by emotionally stable I mean back to the normal ups and downs she was doing before, but at least that is manageable.
This week in our mission we have good news. We're all getting new phones! All the phones for the missionaries in Japan are all done together. We were going through Docomo telephone services, but now we're going through Au. Docomo and Au probably don't mean anything to you. But think of switching from AT&T to Sprint or something like that. So we got awesomely stylish new phones. Now we can text whoever we want. That's a big deal in Japan, where everyone is on the bus or subway where they can't talk on the phone, so everyone texts.
I will have to learn to text in Japanese soon. Gross. Anyway, everyone in Japan got their new phone except us. Our phone right now is from Miyakonojyo, so maybe they sent it to the wrong area. oops.
Anyway, I'm sad it's not an iPhone but I'm excited it's a new phone.
Yeah! A new toy to play with!
For Christmas, I would like to add to my list. I would like the most ridiculous leg warmers you can find. Yes, Dad, that is permission. For our morning study we have to wear skirts, but I don't want to put on tights yet. Not that tights are warm enough. I won't be wearing the leg warmers outside, so they can be whatever you want. My poor little calves are freezing!
Okay, I wish I had more to say, but I don't.
Your Favorite Daughter
The photo below is me with my hump camel. I laughed, Thanks!
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