mochi

Mom and Dad

So yeah things here are super fun! This last week we had a huge party thing at the church. There is this Japanese food called mochi that every Japanese person loves.

And we had so many of our investigators show up. It was so fun! I will send you a video  of people making it. It's basically like this really soft rice. Ha I have no idea how to explain mochi. I am sorry. Side note. The black guy in the video his name is Brother Biney. He was a world champion boxer haha. But not anymore now he is just a boxing ref. But still now cool is that! 

Anyways....

This past week my companion has had the flu Ha so terrible. I feel bad for her but I felt like I was going to die. I needed fresh air so bad haha and my fingers and eyes were getting tired from staring at my iPad and doing area book on it all day haha and emailing people and calling people on our dorky phone only works for like 50 minutes before your feel like dying haha. Not to be dramatic or anything. 

But yeah. At church we had lots of investigators come so that was way exciting! It's so fun.

We had dinner at the Dorffs house on Sunday night. We ate Hawaiian haystacks. Talk about long time no eat haha. It tastes delicious. They are so kind to and make sure that everything is always gluten free for me. I love them. Anyways we went over with our investigators. Eri came she is so cute. She loves going to church and she loves learning the gospel and she just looks at all the families and everything and sees how happy everyone is and she just talks about how much she wants that. It's so great. Then the Matsuhashi family also came. They are Sonpon, Hinaco, and Yu. President Dorff arranged for this family from another Ward to come over for dinner as well. Sonpon has been wanting to meet them because the dad is from Thailand. And so on it was just really cute. Such a great night! 

I can't believe Kate and Jeff are home. So cute. So exciting haha!! 

I love ya and hope you have a great week. 

XOXO

E

Priesthood Blessings

Mom and Dad
 
This week has been a whirlwind that is for sure.
Things are so amazing and our investigators are progressing like none
other! It's amazing. We had some way cool things happen this last
week.
But I am stuck. Lately I have been thinking about so many things that
have happened on my mission. All the people I have met. The people who
I have shared the gospel with. The list just goes on and on and on.
And my heart breaks. I want so badly to see them again. I want so
badly to go back to church in Nagaoka and Kiryu.To be able to sit down
and visit with all my friends there, to teach them again, to share my
testimony, to laugh with them, to hug them. Like it's weird. We have
been so busy here in Urawa. We are teaching so many people. I have
never been so happy yet part of my heart hurts. It's such a weird
feeling. Yeah I don't know what's wrong with me. I think it's because
I finally am realizing that I won't transfer back to those places. And
it makes me question if I will ever see these people ever again in my
life.
 
Transfers aren't for a few more weeks. Like the beginning of February.
So that is exciting. But it makes me nervous. I don't know who any one
is in the mission anymore... Haha so I am worried about my next
companion. But it's all good. I know she will be great!
 
This past week we had such an amazing lesson with Eri. We talked with
her lots about baptism. She said that is is something that she wants.
Eri has a serious medical problem that just makes everyday life hard
for her. It has something to do with her skin. And she has to take all
the steroids to help her but it only helps and little and then has all
these crazy side effects. At church last week we talked about the
priesthood and at our lesson she brought it up. Sister combs and I
both felt very strongly to ask Eri if she would want to receive a
priesthood blessing.  She quickly responded with yes, I want one. So
that night we met at the church. Elder ishikawa was the one who
blessed her. He gave her such a wonderful blessing. I am never going
to forget the spirit that filled the room. Eri was so touched and felt
like God really understand her. She couldn't believe all the things
that elder ishikawa said. She said he addressed her problems and
concerns and worries without her even telling him. She knew that it
was because if God that he was able to give her such an amazing
blessing.
 
This week I realized how powerful the gospel truly is. The gospel
changes lives. It's heals people and helps them when times are hard. I
know that the power of the priesthood is real. And I know that God
loves every single one of us no matter what. This past week, with
studying and teaching I came across a scripture that has a completely
new meaning to me.
DC 18:10
The worth of souls is great in the sight of God.
Even though we might be have hard times in our life, it doesn't mean
that God doesn't love us. God knows each one of us. He wants every
single one of his children to come back to him!
 
Love ya lots
 XOXO
sister brown

Fun Week

Mom and Dad
This week was such a fun week!!
So since it was New Years and that is the biggest holiday in Japan we
weren't Able to do many things. Most of our investigators were busy
and couldn't meet. New Years here is comparable  to christmas in
America. That's how important it is here. I really like it. People
have like an entire week off of work and just spend time with their
families. It is something much needed in Japan. But because of that
our investigators can't really meet...
 

So we had on Wednesday a day of cleaning and we literally just cleaned
the apartment all day long. Thursday we had Book of Mormon reading day
and literally just read the Book of Mormon all day long. And Friday we
had a mission conference and guess what... While we were there we got
to watch meet the Mormons.
 

I was also lucky enough to eat lunch at the Dorffs house on Saturday.
And oh man. They had amazing food. It was like way good Japanese food
mixed with American food! They literally had a huge turkey. So lucky
and they made gluten free brownies for me. So nice. Haha
 

This week we did do lots with Sonpon and her family. On Monday we had
a huge birthday party for Yu, her husband. That day he went to Costco
with the elders and bought lots and lots of food. It was his first
time and he couldn't believe it. Tuesday we also went to their house
as well. We did a little follow up about Monday.. It kind of ended in
a weird way and yeah... Sonpon wanted us to come over so we did. Then
on Saturday we were with them for a little while as well. We went and
did some purikura with them. So fun. And then had dinner at their
house. Then in Sunday they came to church at ten and stayed basically
until three just trying to get to know the members and figure out why this
whole church thing is important. Sonpon told us that we are part of
her family so she wanted to spend time with us. That made me feel
really loved. I am so thankful for them. Lately we have been talking
about baptism with them a ton. I know that it is something they both
really want. But it's just a matter of when. This week Sonpon told me
that she wants to do this whole church thing the rest of her life. She
talks about how much she loves it and how much it is already changing
her and her life and her family for the good. Now just imagine how
much it will change everything after she gets baptized and sealed in
the temple. Words truly can't describe how much I love them and how
much they mean to me. I know for a fact that we were friends in the
pre-earth life. I know I promised her I would help her if she ever
needed it. I am so grateful that I have taken this opportunity in my
life. I can't believe how much it has opened my heart and my eyes. I
love serving the people here in Japan.
 

I am so glad that things went good at the wedding. I love Lynn she is
so cute and such a sweet heart! I am happy she is happy. I am glad the
king family party was fun. Sorry it was just you two that went.
Next time I will let ya drag me around all the place haha.
 

Japan is great, thanks for all our your prayers in behalf of my
investigators. I can feel them working. I love serving the lord and I
love being a missionary!!
 
Have a great week!!
XOXO
Sister Brown