The Missionary that was Returned: Brownie Eikaiwa, Birthday Parties and Toothbrushes

This week at Eikaiwa (English conversation class) we had Brownie Eikaiwa. I taught everyone how to make brownies in their rice cookers. See, we can't use the church for more than preparing food, or whatever the rule is, so we cooked it in rice cookers. And everyone has a rice cooker, and nobody has ovens. Oh, and steamed food definitely tastes better. It's like you're pressuring the flavor back into the food. It's way awesome. :) As we were cooking, we were learning words like "to cream the butter" and "to grease the bowl". Then, as it was cooking, we were playing a memory game with the new vocabulary we learned. It was way fun. And now they know how to make brownies in Japan. I feel like my mission purpose has been fulfilled. I can come home now.

Did I mention that earlier this transfer I got my death call (returning home)? That's where the mission office calls and says "this is when you are dying (leaving)".

My date is 8/19. I would like to tell them where to get me a plane ticket to, so let me know when you know. They haven't asked yet, so no pressure! Think about how different real life would be if you knew when you were going to die. Cool, eh?

This week was also a birthday week. On Thursday we threw a party for one of our investigators... who isn't an investigator because she is content being Baptist, but still comes to activities and such because she likes the members. Anyway, it was a surprise, and she said she hasn't had a party since middle school. She was really touched. That was a good party that was nice and stuff, but on Friday night we had a birthday party for Tabata Anna (yes, that is a Japanese name too). She is 16, and we do Family Home Evening with her family every week.

She and her brother, Yuya, live with their dad. The mom got a divorce and just kinda left. Not sure what happened there. Anyway, the family was border-line inactive before the missionaries started coming over. The dad wants his kids to come to church, but he comes and sleeps in the upstairs room on a couch during sacrament meeting. Anyway, for Anna's birthday we just kinda showed up with the Elders that night with cake.

On one cake was written something that translates to something close to "I own you". Then we pied her in the face. Anyway, it turned into a great pie in the face party in a super small Japanese apartment.

Ha ha. That was way fun. I think I'll send a picture.

Oshima Choro holding Abe Choro's head while Anna-chan pies him in the face.

Anna-chan's birthday party. Sorry, I didn't quite make it into the picture. I'm the hand on the far right

On Thursday night, my companion asked me, "Have you seen my toothbrush". No, I don't think so. Wait! Is it the one by the sink? "Hey look, I found it!" Don't use it! ----

I had used her toothbrush to clean all sorts of gross things in the apartment. For example, the little corners in the rice cooker, the fridge butter stuff that was getting dirty and leaving a line on the fridge, and the sink garbage basket that catches all of our food since there are no such things as garbage disposals in Japan. The grossest things ever! I had asked her if I could use that toothbrush, but she didn't look, thought I was talking of another one, and gave me the okay. Anyway, I took her to my suitcase in my closet which has a lifetime supply of toiletries.

Deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes... and gave her a toothbrush.

Ha ha. I felt really bad, but we both laughed really really hard.

Well, there really isn't much to report from my end either. I'll send pictures next.