Well, it was a busy week. We were running back and forth to Tokyo for meetings and such and Sister Dopp and I would collapse on the floor every night at 9:31 after nightly planning BUT I am nevertheless thrilled to be what I am doing and am embracing every minute of it. Also I am pretty sure there are people in this world who are busier than I am.
I attended MLC for the last time in Tokyo and was feeling overly sentimental about it all. There's an incredible spirit at those meetings and it's incredible getting to be part of planning for the mission. As I pounded out the mission song on the piano for the last time, I was just felt so blessed to be part of such a work, and so blessed that God trusted me enough with the chance to share such an important message for eighteen months. The message is perfect, even when I am not. Thank goodness people can get past that sometimes.
Earlier this week we're on the rapid back from Tokyo, and Sister Dopp sits next to a lady. "The sky is pretty, isn't it?" she says. The lady realizes Sister Dopp is not Japanese (how many times have I heard, "I thought you were Japanese until you opened your mouth ... "), sees the missionary tag, and begins telling her whole life story, including the part where she went on a ski trip to Utah and read the Book of Mormon in English. "I came back to Japan and couldn't find the church. Where is it?" It's a Christmas miracle!
You might also remember King Benjamin lady who I referred to last week. Well, we were finally able to meet her this week. We walk into her darling home with handmade quilts from her 104-year old mother, and she says, "You're here to teach me. I want to learn about how to find true happiness. Teach me." She's pretty incredible.
I was filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude this week. Gratitude for the members who go far beyond to help the work of the Lord go forth like one of my best member friends who picked us up for Indo curry and bought us cake, ice cream, and 杏仁豆腐 because she was sincerely worried about our body weight, or the bishop's family who tells us to bring investigators for dinner literally any day of the week. Gratitude for a companion who is unendingly patient with my flaws and quirks. Gratitude for a family and an incredible mother who thinks of the tiniest details.
Gratitude for the Savior, because of whom all things are possible.
"19 And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more." --D&C 78:19
See you next week! Love you all!
Love, Sister Margaret Willden
(Monday, December 8)
Pic 1: This is the Christmas tree from our Eikaiwa student Jimmy,balloon maker extraordinaire.
Pic 2: I LOVE HER. (Sister Mondano, my former companion of six months on the Sado Island!)
Pic 3: The Yoshida Family from Chiba came to Togane for church. Happy
1-year anniversary on her baptism!
Pic 4: I don't really like vending machines, but the vending machines
in Japan are a thing to behold. I am clutching my new favorite, "Weird
milk that tastes like pudding."
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