Week 36

Hi minasan!

This week, I am going to count my blessings.  One by one. Here are a few.

INSULATED RAIN BOOTS. The weather has been unusually cold here in
Sado. I thought Wisconsin prepped me enough for winter anywhere, but
then again I don't just normally walk around outside for full day in
any sort of weather.

STALWART MEMBERS. I think I already mentioned, but it's sort of cold
here. Since there is no efficient way to travel here in Sado (I pray
for the day when they announce they will be building a train), a
couple from the branch drove us all over the island in a blizzard to
visit less actives. I'm pretty sure that would have not been on my
list of fun activities for a Saturday afternoon (I know, I have a long
ways to go), but they are such examples of what it means to do what we
call "LOVE ONE ANOTHER."

HOT SHOWERS. Our pipes froze. I boiled water on the stove so I could
wash my hair. It was still like doing the polar bear plunge on New
Years Day in Lake Michigan. Then the gas went out the next day so I
couldn't even boil water. But I learned how to reset the gas so all is
well again and my hair is now clean.

APPLE. I thought going on mission would create a little hiatus from
technology, but the Tokyo Mission is trying a little experiment on
behalf of all the international missions and are having he
missionaries carry around personal iPads. I still can't believe it
either. The church developed the handiest app so we are 24/7 carrying
around the Area Book, member list, scriptures in every language,
Mormon Messages, kanji dictionaries, etc. etc. I also quickly
discovered that becoming a sister missionary unfortunately does not
erase the urge to take unlimited selfies and filter them à la
Instragram. (This is of course not referring to me).

MIRACLES. The other day we received a referral from the elders.  A
lady who lived in an apartment that we had housed literally a week
ago. At first we were a little skeptical when she told us she was too
busy when we tried to make an appointment, but we kept yammering (I'm
not exactly sure what about) and soon we found ourselves in her genkan
teaching the entire Plan of Salvation. She told us about the trials
she had faced in her life and asked If it was some sort of punishment,
so we pulled out our handy dandy iPads and read with her D&C 121. I
don't feel like I cry very much during lessons, but none of us could
hold back the tears. The love that the Savior and our Heavenly Father
has for us was just so TANGIBLE I could almost taste it. Needless to
say we will be meeting her again soon. We've been hitting a lot of
dead ends this past week and finding a family that was so in
incredibly prepared just blocks from the church where we had housed a
million times is evidence that Kamisama has a plan that is a whole lot
bigger than any of us.

MORMON MESSAGES. This week as I was eating my kiwis and yogurt for
breakfast, I was watching Elder Bednar's Mormon Message series,
Patterns of Light. (It used to be on the TVs in the fitness center at
the MTC but I didn't have headphones then so it's kind of nice know
what he's actually saying now ...) Anyway, what he says is a whole lot
better than anything than I could ever say. So go watch it if you
haven't already. It's inspirational and succinct (unlike this email).

Okay. That's all for now. Love you all!

Sister Willden

PS If you emailed me earlier this week and I didn't respond, write me
again. It's possible it got lost in the transition over to the iPad.

Sent from my iPad

(Monday, February 10, 2014)

Pic 1: We just couldn't help ourselves.
Pic 2: The field is white! See D&C 4 for details.
Pic 3: Taking the ferry, after the "Hastening the work through technology tour."
Pic 4: The Church is true! Even if only 7 people come to church.