Missionary Moments

My week was a good one, although interesting at times.

On Tuesday I got to do what Nathan will do this week and paint. Except I painted the outside of a house using ladders and balancing skills. It was pretty fun. The member who got us to help out also brought our older lady investigator along, and she helped too (by passing me the paintbrush). I got lots of paint on my new jeans so now they look not so new, but cooler.

On Wednesday we had the Elder Aoyagi conference. He is one of the Japanese 70s, and will be let off soon because he is about to turn 75, but the conference was awesome. It was in Japanese, but his Japanese was incredibly easy to understand and follow, and it was perhaps even more powerful and meaningful than if it were in English. He had a great sense of humour too, and lots of good faith growing stories. It certainly was a privilege.

Not a whole lot happened for the rest of the week. On Thursday we went and found even more Brazilians (this time a couple looking for a Church... That does not happen in Japan) and helped out with the N.'s English class again. They have a student that is going to Australia, and it was her first night at the class. I think she was about Katie's age. They told us she was very shy, but loves gaijin. She didn't know that actual real gaijin would make a guest appearance and she ran out the door into her Mums arms when she saw us. They finally got her in and she wouldn't talk or look at anyone for half the class. I then went and sat in front of her and said some nice stuff and finally got the conversation going and she opened up to everyone and the class was a success. I think I will become a teacher of English for good. maybe.

Through-out the week we had been semi-orgainising a Pizza party for after Church on Sunday, and I went and invited as many PI's and Investigators as I could. We had quite a few say they would come, and bring friends too. So we prepared a lot of pizza dough and toppings. The morning before Church I had at least 10 confirmed to come, then a few canceled, but it was still looking good. It got to the time and still no one was there. I then got a phone call and the guy was like, 'I am in the car park, can we come in?'. But we went and checked and no one was there, I tried to call back, but nothing. Then no one else showed up, so we started giving some to the members. It then turned into a ward activity pizza party (it was ward council meeting so all of the members were still at Church) funded from mine and Elder Y.'s wallets. It turned out really well and the members absolutely loved it (pizza is super expensive in Japan, but making it is cheaper than back home??). So for member and missionary relationship it was excellent. For investigators and that part of missionary work, terrible. I was very happy though it had some good use......

Sunday night we were walking around the eki, and there was a super drunk guy screaming his head off at some guardsmen (these are men who stand in front of 'dangerous' things in Japan and guide people, like a job for retired grandpas). He was really quite unpleasant, and providing a nuisance to everyone...... The guy saw us, and then stopped being mad and followed us like a puppy trying to help us because we were gaijin, and he was super drunk. We were about to leave and go back but he started yelling at the guardsmen again, in very angry Japanese. This is Japanese you only hear in war movies and kids when they get into a fight..... It usually means they are going to get violent. I walked up to him and used some of my own serious Japanese and put my hand on him, which made him stop, .... he didn't even get mad but obediently let us take him out of the station and in the direction of his home. It was a lot of fun, and everyone around was thanking us afterwards. I am not sure where the police were, but it made our night exciting. 

The weather warmed up a little. It was freezing, colder than it has been all winter up until about Thursday. Now it is nice enough not to have to wrap you head face and hands everywhere you go......

Giving away an Australian flag at N.'s English class (not sure why Elder Rowlings has his eyes shut). And making origami Pikachus.