Christmas is almost here!! Hope
everyone is in the holiday spirit :)
Life here is super busy. Being
STL [Sister Training Leader]really doesn't have a ton to it, but it is tiring. Plus there is quite a bit
of pressure to be a good example, hundred percent obedient, etc. Its a work in
progress. We plan exchanges (somehow all 40 shimai are supposed to go on exchanges
at least once during a transfer), and we participate in workshops at zone
taikai, etc. This week we also attended the mission leader kaigi, which is the
APs, zone leaders, district leaders and Kaicho [President] and Evans Shimai. It was
slightly intimidating. But it was really interesting to see how the mission
works behind the scenes. Speaking about others, leaders are truly chosen by
inspiration. There are so many incredible missionaries here. and Kaicho really
does lead and guide us according to the Spirit. With exchanges, we only have 4
days to work in our area, one of those being p day. But we have a small group
of investigators and we really want to help them progress this transfer. Kaicho
basically told my companion that she probably wont be STL next transfer so I
have to learn the area pretty quick. My companion is Japanese and we actually
lived together for 3 transfers in Obihiro, so I know her pretty well. She is
very different than me (much quieter, shy, timid, etc) but we work well
together and have fun.
We are Odori shimai, which
means we can dendo anywhere in Sapporo and we don't have a home ward, but we
focus in Moiwa since there aren't shimai there. There are also 2 other Odori
shimai in our apartment and they also have their focus areas. The Moiwa church
is the oldest church in Hokkaido and it just got re-done so its all snazzy now!
Dad, Sakurai shimai is in that ward. When she saw me at church, she gave me a
big hug and told me she was happy I was in their ward. It made me quite happy
:)
Ojiisan [Grandpa Sugihara] sent me 3 huuuuge boxes
of mikans [citrus]. Our apartment is trying to down them but we are also giving some
away haha. I'm grateful for his generosity but 3 boxes?! demo ureshii :) Moiwa
bishop is Canadian so another gaijin [foreigner] bishop. He is funny though and his Japanese
is good.
We have a missionary Christmas
party tomorrow but the 25th is a regular dendo day. Our schedule is changing a
little bit next week because of new years (p day is going to be on wednesday) but other than that, life goes on!
Adjusting has been hard. Going
from being loved in a small branch to being nobody and not having a home ward,
to knowing an area and being sempai [senior companion] to knowing nothing about the area and being
kohai [junior companion], I feel like a bean. and I really don't like it. But its a humbling
experience and I'm trying to stay positive and learn from it. I wish I could say
my Japanese is boss but as you'll here on Wednesday, its not haha.
If I think of anything else, I
will tell you on Wednesday! I'm excited to talk on the phone! A little sad that
I wont get to talk to Sho or Ryo but shoganai!
Love you all! Merry
Christmas!!!!!!!!
Love,
Sugihara Shimai
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