げり

Well, this week I have learned the Japanese word for diarrhea. Geri (see the Subject line). Ever since Wednesday before the alarm went off I have been suffering stomach pains. We tried to figure out how to get the fan hooked up in the bathroom for the long moments stuck in the little room. The thing is I couldn't remember what is good for diarrhea and what is good for constipation. Turns out corn is bad.

Ha ha. Anyway, I hope I grossed you out or made you laugh. I better now, but it kinda put a damper on all the fun this week.

Okay, before I forget. Yes, Dad, please see if you can get me a computer. From previous experience, I know that I want one on the smaller side. I don't need a notebook with a 10 key pad and the resulting bigger monitor. That's just too much to carry around. I would give you specs on what I would like, but what I would like is probably 7 generations behind what there is right now. So anyway, I think I can trust you enough. You're right, the requirements are very specific for the School of Business. I would like one with a web cam, but I bet all computers come with a web cam right now. Basically, I have no idea what I want, even if I was the one ordering it. I don't want to buy one here because then I would put it on my credit card (which means it's waaaay too much in American dollars and there is a conversion fee).

Oh, and it's interesting that my address from my friend, and the one on the housing application is 2 digits off. Well, I bet either one is fine. Maybe the back part of the house has a different number.

Let's see, this week - With our favorite less active family, the little 5 year old girl got really excited when she was studying the 1st Article of Faith with her mom. I think she liked it because when she finished we congratulated her. And that feels good. So then she would say one more time! One more time! So we would have to do it again. I think she did it 15 times at least. Maybe 20. Then she said she wanted to do the prayer. Here was her prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, We believe in God the Eternal Father, and in his Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Well, I thought, why not? Why can't she testify in the middle of her prayer. She was a little confused why we didn't congratulate as much when she did it as a prayer than when she was memorizing it. Well, maybe she'll figure it out sometime.

And our favorite recent convert quit her job this week. That's no secret, she announced it on the roof tops. She had always complained about her job since the first moment I met her. But I thought it was all talk. I didn't think she would quit her job for real. Well, she did. And now she has a ton of time. She is 61, which means in Japan she can start collecting some of her retirement money, though it comes in full when she turns 65. She has sooo much time. She calls us all the time and is even more lonely than before. She will be going to the 'peace conference' which is code for the marriage conference for members over 40. She's a great cook, and that's all Japanese men are looking for anyway. We'll just have to see what happens. Since she quit her job, you might think she would have a problem with tithing, but she went to the bank and paid it last week. You pay tithing at the Bank or at ATMs in Japan. Who knows why. But when she used the ATM, it said to insert something, but she didn't know what or where so she stared at the screen for about a whole minute, then it went blank, sucked up her money and said to wait for a representative to come.

Ha ha. She had to wait for about an hour outside the bank. She was super embarrassed, but was laughing about it anyway. We had family home evening with her last night, but we can't visit her everyday.  She is so lonely. Maybe she needs to get a dog or something.

There is a typhoon going through Japan right now. I had to wear my super wind-proof skirt today. I think it's the one Emily used on her mission, but it's long and black and is narrow so it doesn't get caught in the wind. It's made out of nylon or something that's not cotton, so it dries quickly. The rain hasn't started yet, but Japan is shutting down to deal with it. Today is Tuesday, so we had to go to Hiroshima City for District Meeting. The train stopped at every station and waited and waited and waited, then went to the next, and waited, and waited, and waited. I think what happened was that they didn't want a train to get stuck between stations in case the rain or wind started so strongly and the trains had to stop. So before our train could move the train in front of us had to leave the next station. Crazy, huh! So our normal 40 minute train ride took over an hour and a half. After district meeting, the zone leaders made us go back to our apartments as soon as possible. This is us taking a little break before doing the other half to our apartment. But on our return train it was pretty good. No stopping at stations or anything.

But 2 stations before Saijo we were stopped for an hour and a half because a tree fell in front of some of the tracks near Saijo. You could hear the train moan when that announcement came on. I slept real well. So now we are on our way back to the apartment where we will start calling people. We aren't allowed to leave the apartment until the typhoon blows over. Yep. Well, at least we bought our 72 hour supply of water last week. I heard this is a #6 typhoon. What strength was hurricane Katrina?

Until next week.

レモン姉妹

Me, waiting for the train to get moving.  On our train ride into Hiroshima, the train was packed and we didn't have a seat.  This is me resting me knees my squatting, waiting, and waiting, and waiting....

Sunday dinner. The bishop's wife is the best cook ever.  She cooked spare ribs!  This meal appointment was the best ever.

Have I mailed this picture before? This is rice as it is growing. In a few more weeks it will turn more yellow and be ready to harvest, but right now it looks like a giant green blanket. Don't you want to lay on this?