CH-CH-CH-Changes

WOW! What a crazy week it's been, FULL of changes. 

First of all this is the craziest thing: MY WHOLE MISSION GOT PORTABLE WIFI! Really really crazy, it's just this little cube we carry with us so now we will always be reachable to the ward and investigators and always be able to pull up whatever materials we need whichever language we please. Crazy. Still figuring out how to use it most effectively, which i think will be a life long process. A little afraid of it honestky ahha but also grateful (no more stressing when we miss a train too, and now even easier to use our maps). Also this new wifi thing means I am currently emailing you from the comfort of my futon in my apartment. So blessed to be in a tablet mission / wifi mission and a biking mission, and in Japan where so 99% of humans are nice. I've only really had one person get legit mad at me so far haha.

Second big change to announce: I will be transfering out of my bean area on wednesday. Bean area= first area. New missionaries are called beans, or green beans in japan haha so yoir first area is your bean area. Yep! So I've been in Yachiyo this whole time, or as sister Borges and I like to call it YachiYOSHI muahah it's a funny joke trust me. And on wednesday I will be transfering over to Koshigaya! ... which means taking the train alone for probably an hour, but it's all good because densha dendo (train missionary work) is my favourite. Fun facts I've heard about koshigaya so far, it just got it's own set of sister like 2 transfers ago. A set of sisters used to be split inbetween it and another ward called urawa, but they were getting way too busy with referrals from the ward so TADA koshigaya got it's own set of sisters. SO exciting. Also apparently it has the largest mall in all of Asia in it, as well as another massive mall called lala port that I went to one pday. It also has a super close costco! Lots to be excited for.

We biked around in the pouring rain today to go start saying some goodbyes to some wonderful people I've come to know a little bit and love a lot since I got here in January. Good news: my rain coat works. There is a literaly line on my skirt from where the rain coat ended on me hahah. Seriousky soaking wherever my coat wouldn't cover, but it's okay because we had some super tender moments with some people because we were able to make those bike rides!

Sometimes I wonder if I'm doing a good enough job, and I'm sure I coukd always do a better job, but man I sure do love these people, and that counts for something I think. I know I will see all these people again, hopefully sooner rather than later, but if that means waiting til the spirit world then I know we'll all still celebrate together.

I've done a lot of housing in these massive apartmenr complexes that I'll send a picture of, and a lot of people living in those cheaper apartments have a lot of challenges. I've been thinking a lot about the resurrection lately and all the different people who have told me about struggles they have, as well as the struggles I have, and I just can't get over this Jeffery R. Holland talk / quote. (It's the talk like a broken vessel.) He says:

"In striving for some peace and understanding in these difficult matters, it is crucial to remember that we are living—and chose to live—in a fallen world where for divine purposes our pursuit of godliness will be tested and tried again and again."

I was just reading Alma 48 this week and these verses made me think of that quote even more:

                       19 Now behold, Helaman and his brethren were no less serviceable unto the people than was Moroni; for they did preach the word of God, and they did baptize unto repentance all men whosoever would hearken unto their words.

20 And thus they went forth, and the people did humble themselves because of their words, insomuch that they were highly favored of the Lord, and thus they were free from wars and contentions among themselves, yea, even for the space of four years.

21 But, as I have said, in the latter end of the nineteenth year, yea, notwithstanding their peace amongst themselves, they were compelled reluctantly to contend with their brethren, the Lamanites.

Sometimes we just have trials, that's part of this fallen life on this earth, but with Christ we can overcome those. No matter where our challenges come from we can always use our agency to choose to have hope and faith in Christ. Even when we can't feel that hope we can choose to remember it and act in rememberence of it. That is faith. Ether 12:27 27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." We will be made whole through Him, our Saviour Jesus Christ! And the resurrection just sums all that up so well for me.

Love,

Amy

Pictures:

NAKANO look at that crazy tokyo skyline

JAPAN TOKYO MISSION

Gomen for my face, but while i was packing after transfer calls this morninh my comps comes in with this hilarious balloon and starts taking pictures of me. I'm going to miss my Sister Borges. Truly my sister now (sorry hailey) (JUST KIDDING I SWEAR)

This is how you can tell which bikes are the missionaries: white helmets everywhere

MURAKAMI DANCHI I've spent like the last 4 months of my life housing these amazing and slightly cat infested danchis. So many interesting people to have met there. This man that we met there is getting baptized this month, he loves the book of mormon so much and has sacrificed so much to come to church. What a valiant soul. But ya, these danchis go on as far as the eye can see. Heaven.

How to bike in the rain while trying to stay dry: put your helmet on over your hood.

Our dinner tonight. In Japan we don't go over for dinner a whole lot, but each set of missionaries has a food basket at church where member give us food. So so nice! In yachiyo we've gotten a home made loaf of bread every week! But especially on fast sundays we get more... this was in oir basket this past fast sunday... minion ramen. Not too bad actually, as long as you don't eat the minions or the other yellow stuff which is like rehydrated fish meat stuff based on the taste but nothing else. What a treat.