Another week, another roller coaster. I know I'm being dramatic but
... really. They weren't lying when they said being a missionary has
crazy ups, downs, and downright weird moments.
Ups: We set a baptismal date with one of our lovely Filipina
investigators. And by that I mean Sister Mondano set a baptismal date.
I mostly sit there like a rock because I don't speak Tagalog. She is
beginning to understand how much power comes from the Atonement and is
so ready to cast all those burdens out of her life.
Downs: one of our investigators texts us and says we can't meet
anymore. We refused to be broken up with over a text and went to visit
her, and she says she only meets with us because we "are nice and cute
and I feel bad that it's so cold outside." Ouch. Beyond that,
heartbreaking. Because we're pretty sure she felt something during the
lessons. But we're not giving up yet ...
Weird moments: Today we go to meet an old investigator. She
immediately walks back into her house and changes out of her pajamas
into a dress that says "UNHOLY" in huge block letters. She says, "Now
I look like you two." I attempt to explain the meaning of "unholy" and
we all die laughing.
Ups: Sister Mondano and I took the ferry to Niigata so we could Skype
into a conference in Tokyo. Some exciting (I think, I'm still not
quite sure how I feel) news ... the mission is finally going to start
using Facebook. I'm not sure exactly how many of Sado's inhabitants
actually use it, considering that the extent of the technology here is
brick-cell phones that resemble the Jitterbug. But it will help us
connect with the younger generation and when people ask us, "Do you
have Facebook?" We can finally say YES. (Just as a side note--it's
strictly for missionary purposes. We're still using email for family /
friend communication on p-days). A handful of the missionaries are
testing it out before the rest of the mission gets online, so don't be
alarmed if you start seeing activity from my account. Haha.
#facebookpurge
The theme of this week "Good intentions get you nowhere unless you do
something about it." Sometimes we're scared, confused, or just
downright lazy, but unless we actually implement changes in our life
we are not going anywhere. In a letter I got this week, a dear friend
who is off sharing the gospel in the Eastern Europe wrote, "You can't
expect to see change when you are going about things the same way." I
guess where I'm going with this is ... if we want to be happier, if we
want to have strengthened families, if we want to be more Christlike,
etc., it is not enough to just think about it. It's an obvious thing,
but sometimes we forget obvious things.
Just something I was thinking about as I was walking through a rice
patty the other day.
Thanks for all your letters and emails. YOU'RE ALL THE BEST.
Love, Sister Margaret Willden
(Monday, March 17)
Pic 1: Did you know that this is what happens when you microwave fake
Japanese butter for too long?
Pic 2: Happy blizzard. Love, the Sado Sisters.
Pic 3: The seagulls are attacking the ferry.
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