Dear Minnasan,
Another week...it's been a one of soul searching. I've passed my year mark in Japan, and I can count on one hand how many transfers I have left....It's frightening, to be honest. I can't say I've done everything I thought I would do, or become the missionary I envisioned I would, or reached the level of Japanese efficiency that I wished I would...and I'm not going to lie, that extremely frustrates me. During Weekly Planning this week, my companion asked me if I have been feeling a bit off this week, and as I explained my feelings, she smiled a little and said, "Weigl-Shimai, you're like me. You are a perfectionist. But we aren't perfect, and that's okay."
I had never thought of myself as a perfectionist, but after she pointed it out, I realized that she is right. I think that's something I am going to benkyo (study) out this week. I've learned a lot about this particular lesson in the past, and somehow I find myself back here again struggling with the same sort of thing. Haha, I guess I have more to learn about the Atonement.
Anyways, missionary work has been taking a toll on me and my companion lately -- our energy is zapped, but our hearts are still strong. We are busier than ever. We taught nine lessons this last week (which might be the most I've ever taught! One week we taught FOUR lessons!) It's crazy, and I love it.
Every time I start getting tired and exhausted, to the point that I don't think I can go on, God gives me a little "tender mercy" to liven my spirits and refocus my heart. For example, in my last area, there as a young woman my age who we did a lot of joint lessons with. She is a great person, and she and I became good friends. When I left, I gave her my MTC copy of Preach My Gospel (the book that helps train missionaries). Yesterday, I just got news that she is turned in her missionary papers and is going to serve a mission!
Another tender mercy is our less active investigator. He is so excited to go to the Temple. We had a little FHE shokuji (meal) at the church this week, and he came. We had an activity where we asked everyone to draw a picture of something that made them happy, and he drew the Temple. This week at church, we were in Gospel Principles (Sunday School class), and he was talking to the Elders about how much he wants to go to the Temple.
This last week, when we visited this man's house, he was so excited that he could barely speak. He just sort of waved his arms around excitedly and kept stuttering over his words. We had given him a little notebook to write down his thoughts in when he studied the Book of Mormon, and boy, he went CRAZY with that. He was so excited; I have never seen him so worked up. It's truly an amazing experience to see someone change and come unto Christ like that.
Last Monday, we went over to a less active's house, and she did my companion and mine's make-up and hair...she's a professional, so it looked pretty good...but it was done in the traditional Japanese Geisha Style...so we looked ridiculous. My hair was a good six or seven inches up off my head. They also dressed us up in Kimonos, and boy, those things are like the Japanese version of European Bodices...THEY ARE SO TIGHT. It was hard to breath....haha. All in the name of beauty, I guess.
Well, ganbarimasu!
Sister Weigl
