Dear dearest family and friends,
This week contained one of the more eventful transfer days of my
mission, it being amidst a typhoon and all. (We all survived). We got
special permission and I rode a boat all by myself from Sado, all
ready to go with a lunch packed by my lovely grandmother. I felt like
I was sort of re-entering the MTC again, having my grandparents and
two companions drop me off at the ferry port. I had never been alone
by myself for so long. It was weird. Luckily the only two women on the
entire boat were two Jehovah's Witnesses.
I am currently sitting in a BEAUTIFUL three-story church building in
Togane, Chiba, Japan. After months on an island with more old people
than I can count (I say this in the most affectionate way possible),
it was maybe a little shock to the system to go to church and see ten
million little kids running in circles screaming. I love it.
My new companion is Sister Yasui. She is incredibly patient and even
rides her bike alongside me when I make us go running outside. She
says I have a strange Japanese vocabulary and I suppose she's right--a
combination of five-year old words and church doctrinal words makes
for a strange conversation.
Togane is known for having incredibly strong "dendō fire," as we like
to call it, and it's no wonder. Apparently it split off from the
Chosei ward less than a decade ago, when the members wanted to build a
ward building closer to home so they did some serious missionary work
of their own to make their dream come true. 8 years later, ta-da! They
have an incredible building, ward, and the missionaries here are
extremely busy. I feel super blessed.
Yesterday we stopped a lady (maybe a little disgruntled, you could
say), and she says, "No thanks, aren't you some sort of weird
salesperson?" Hmm. The comment made me think a little. This morning I
pulled out my copy of "Our Search for Happiness" by Elder M. Russell
Ballard. I've thought about it much--why does the church put so much
money, sweat, blood, and tears (literally) into spreading a message to
people who don't necessarily want it?
Sometimes, we just don't know what we're looking for until we find it.
When we meet people who say, "Why don't you leave people alone? We're
perfectly happy," I just take it as a misunderstanding. As Elder
Ballard says, "That's the way it is when Jesus Christ becomes a
reality in your life. It isn't that He somehow makes you do things
that you wouldn't do otherwise. Rather, you find yourself wanting to
do what He would do ... [a]nd an interesting things happens ... One
day you'll look up and discover that His path has led you directly to
the throne of God" (8).
I couldn't have said it better myself.
Hope you all have a beautiful week. Thanks for reading. Thanks also
for all the letters and emails. I love it more than you know.
Love, Sister Margaret Willden
(Monday, July 14)
Pic 1: Pre-typhoon Sado. The photo editing made it look a little more
ominous than it actually turned out to be.
Pic 2: Good-bye Niigata! I don't know what's with the weird cat
graffiti on the letter "T".
Pic 3: Somewhere along the way of the five-hour bus ride to Tokyo.
Pic 4: Togane Ward, just across the street from a cake shop.
Pic 5: Sister Yasui and I teach each other a new word every day.
Today's English word was "selfie." Haha.
Hi friends and family.
This is going to be short.
I love Sado. But it's time to go.
After six months in Chiba, six months in Sado, I'm going back to the
prefecture of Chiba to the area of TOGANE. It's been a huge hotspot in
the mission as of late (a few weeks ago the had 50 friends come to
church ... no, that is not a typo), so I'm bracing myself for the
DELUGE of miracles to come.
Speaking of miracles, this week was full of 'em.
I will share two.
One: We were so determined to reach our goals for the week, only to
have a lesson fall through on Sunday night, hours before we were to
submit the week's results. We stopped a lady on the street, we share
with her a 30-second version of the restoration, she gives us her
address and phone number so we can visit her the very next day. She's
wonderful. And we were able to achieve our goals, just in the knick of
time. (Want to learn too? You're one click away:
http://www.mormon.org/beliefs/restoration)
Two: I had the most miraculous recovery from the most strange virus of
my life. I just wanted to dendō (do missionary work), so I curled up in a ball, took a nap, my companions said a prayer, and in three hours I was as good as new.
Good thing, because going to Mamako's house and not being able to eat
would be the WORST. Also, not being able to dendō is also a very
terrible thing.
To close, a favorite scripture as of late from the Book of Mormon:
"And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children;
nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." (1 Nephi
11:17).
There's a lot of things I don't know. But I know that God loves me and
YOU (so sentimental, but oh-so true) and that's good enough for me.
Sorry this is so short. In the meantime, enjoy the pictures from
today's sightseeing excursion, courtesy of my grandparents whom I love
so much.
Goodbye friends, love you all!
Love, Sister Margaret Willden
(Monday, July 7)
Picture 1: We couldn't really get the timing right. But this is us and
the Niigata sisters at the Sawata Coastline in Sado.
Pic 2: Me and Papako! In front of the famous cliff that is on everypamphlet I have ever seen of Sado.
Pic 3: For p-day Mamako and Papako took us to the gold mine in Sado.
Mamako didn't want to be in the picture.
Pic 4: After the gold mine. Ice cream topped with gold flakes, naturally.
Pic 5: If you can lift the bar of gold and lift it through the tiny
whole, you win a prize. I unfortunately did not become one of the
1,614 people in history to succeed.
Dear family and friends,
Thank you so much for all the birthday love and letters and packages.
I FEEL SO BLESSED. I was moved to tears by it (really, I was).
Birthday week was magnificent!
This week was filled with visiting families, families, families. We
love families. I suppose that was our theme this week. We've been
introducing the idea of Family Home Evening to our friends in Sado and
waiting for it to catch fire. We're all part of one big heavenly
family so naturally that has been what we have been focusing on as of
late.
We also held our first sports day with all the families that live in
the area. I learned that elders don't really show any mercy when it
comes to sports, even if it's the sisters' investigator.
On Saturday we went to my grandparents house for a birthday feast of
tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet), squid, 3 different kinds of salads,
roast, miso soup, rice, and more side dishes than I can remember. And
one delicious chocolate cake. (It's true: sister missionaries talk
about their weight a lot).
Sunday's church attendance was GREAT and we had actually had a Primary
this week. If there's one thing that I have learned as a missionary,
it's that families are the most fundamental unit of the gospel, and
nothing we did would really ever matter without them. Little actual
progression or growth, and the growth we would make would not have any
eternal consequence. I don't know about you, but I don't really want
to go to heaven by myself, hypothetically speaking. (I still have a
long way to go before heaven). So go love your family today!
Many a miracle this week. A friend who hasn't been to church in months
randomly decides to come this week, we're working on the area book at
the church and an investigator just shows up with her daughter to be
taught, making crazy connections with people through Facebook, and
more. I can't remember them all. I have to look at my journal which is
currently sitting at the apartment.
To close, some sound words of wisdom a friend wrote me this week:
"You are infinitely more precious to God than a tree."
Agreed.
(To read this quote in context:
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/spiritual-whirlwinds?lang=eng)
LOVE YOU ALL.
Love, Sister Margaret Willden
(Monday, June 30)
Pic 1: Feeding the fish with my grandfather, the newest fan of the iPad Air.
Pic 2: This is Sado.
Pic 3: Sports day with the neighborhood.
Pic 4: Birthday feast!
Pic 5: Tall candle = ten years. Short candle = one year. I don't think
I'm that old but we didn't want to have to get a fire permit.
Pic 6: Fried squid and a whole lot of food. Grandma's kitchen is a wonderland.
Pic 7: I feel so loved (thanks family!). Annie's organic macaroni and
cheese, and enough dark chocolate to last me the rest of my mission.
Dear family and friends I love so much,
Happy June 23rd. Thanks so much for all your emails and letters. They
mean the world!
Disclaimer: I feel like my letters have gotten increasingly repetitive
the longer I have been in the field. I suppose that also comes with
spending six months in each of my areas. But that doesn't mean every
day is not exciting. Because it is.
Anyway, this week was mostly spent in Niigata because of zone
conference and 2 district conferences. I guess I will start with the
most exciting news. Niigata has a new district presidency, and Sado
has a new branch presidency. Whoo! Some branches in the district have
been combined into one and elders are serving as the leaders over some
of the "groups." Niigata's bracing for some amazing growth.
Zone conferences are my favorite. There is nothing I love more than
being with other missionaries (especially being up north for so
long--it's a little isolated). The thing that stood out most to me:
the need for diligence. I suppose it could have been taking in a sort
of demeaning way. "We're not working hard enough. Let's work harder."
Profound quote of the day: "Don't just be positive about a negative
situation. Turn a negative situation into a positive one."
Since we were in Niigata for so long, we went on exchanges with the
Niigata sisters. Sister Jones and I went to teach a kids English class
at one of the members' homes. After the class she sat all the moms
down and had them ask us questions (aka about the church). A true
member missionary. Her daughter later told us that her mother
introduced a friend to the church. When her daughter asked how they
met, her mother said she met her at the bookstore and then invited her
to church. This lady just went streeting in her spare time.
While handing out eikaiwa fliers in Niigata, I met an American who
attended MIT, works in Hong Kong, had a meeting in Tokyo and came to
Niigata for the day on a whim, and asked me if I knew any LDS
wrestlers from America while clutching a can of beer. (I'm not sure
why he asked that. Unfortunately I'm ignorant on the wrestling
circuit.) It was a strange conversation. He said he'd had so many
run-ins with Mormon missionaries in the most unexpected places. It was
fascinating, seeing how this man had found himself in the most random
corner of the universe and wasn't necessarily seeking God, but God had
found him. He said he'd read the English pamphlet I gave him and I
invited him to go to the massive chapel in Hong Kong when he returned
home.
It's a small world.
On a side note, can you believe it's almost July? I can't. Also, I
made the yummiest salad the other day--sauté tofu in soy sauce with
garlic and ginger, pile on lettuce and avocado and sesame dressing.
HEAVEN.
LOVE,
Sister Margaret Willden
(Monday, June 23)
Pic 1: Us, and the nicely striped carpet of the ferry.
Pic 2: After the District Conference, with the Niigata sisters and our
friend used to serve in this mission.
Pic 3: Flowers from my grandparents! We saw Mamako and Papako this
morning and received some some fresh flowers, Russian food, and
vegetables from the garden. We are the luckiest sister missionaries
alive.
Dear friends and family,
I feel like numbering this letter somehow makes it more organized or
something (I'm aware it doesn't). But here are some random thoughts /
interesting experiences I encountered this week:
1. Today I was blessed to be able to sweat. The weather took a sudden
dip this past week and I pulled out all the tights and cardigans I
just packed up, so I am grateful for today's sunshine. I almost fell
asleep from the heat in a lesson today because our investigator said
air conditioning made her back hurt but I am counting it a blessing
that the blustery winter of Sado is OVER. My companions are nice and
let me run in the mornings (while they ride next to me on their
bicycles at my slow pace if they aren't really feeling a run).
2. We went grocery shopping and this old man walked up to me and got
really close to my face and says in English, "It is the first time I
have ever seen you before." And then he walked away. Interesting
observation.
3. We went to visit a potential investigator that we hadn't seen for
about a month. Her doorbell was broken, but we could hear CNN blaring
about the tension in the Middle East so I called to her through the
window. After a few minutes she comes out with a hose and tries to
soak us with water, until she realizes who we are. "I though you were
that one Japanese girl who won't go away," she said. I guess I could
fit both of those categories. And then she smacked me in the head
(playfully, I think) for not calling her before coming (I guess I
wasn't a surprise that she wanted to show up on her doorstep, but it's
okay, we're friends now) and fed us some muffins and herbal tea as we
sang her "I Am a Child of God." She's a hoot.
4. "Let patience have her perfect work." (James 1:4). A friend quoted
it in a letter I received this week, and it struck a chord in me. At
the beginning of my mission, I thought to myself, "How can I be the
best missionary I can be?" My answer at the beginning of my mission:
study the Christlike attributes (PMG Ch. 6). Which is all in all a
good thing, but without patience, THE ULTIMATE PERFECTOR, it's a lofty
goal that one can only read about in an attempt to achieve. It's
ultimately the force that drives us to be able to achieve other
Christlike attributes. It really is perfect work.
5. Be grateful for what you have. And positivity is a good thing.
Sister Mayama says, "佐渡の皆さんは金人ですね." ("Everyone in Sado is golden.") I guess I hadn't considered everyone in Sado to be golden, but then I
gave it a thought and realized how blessed we are to be surrounded by
so many people who are really are so ready to learn about the Savior.
Everyone has interest in the way to find true happiness, sometimes as
missionaries we forget and assume otherwise.
6. Happy belated Father's Day to all my favorite fathers. Watch one of
my favorites as of late, "Earthly Father, Heavenly Father."
(https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-01-002-earthly-father-heavenly-father?category=mormon-messages/mormon-messages-2013&lang=eng&cid=HPTU061014222).
We're all part of one giant family. You and me both.
Love,
Sister Margaret Willden
(Monday, June 16)
Pic 1: After our branch BBQ, aka cooking vegetables on a hot plate in
the chapel / eikaiwa classroom / all-purpose room.
Pic 2: I had no interesting pictures to send. (Sister Mondano
transferred). So I folded a crane and sent it for your viewing
pleasure. The extent of my artistic creativity this week.
Dear everyone,
Greetings. Thanks for reading. This week marks exactly ONE YEAR since
I got dropped off on the MTC curb with my overstuffed baggage and a
whole lot of worries and excitements for what the next year and a half
would hold. It feels like an eternity ago and yet still like no time
at all.
Since it was transfer week I accompanied Sister Mondano to Niigata and
bid her farewell (too many tears) and was on an exchange all day with
the Niigata sisters till the bus of missionaries came from the Honbu.
I guess I need a lot of help because they sent me TWO new companions.
Our trio ranges from ages 21-27 so it was strange at first but ...
What is age but a number? [British accent]. Sister Mayama joined the
church three years ago and is in one word: unshakeable. Sister Owens
is a bright and bubbly so it is a good example for me (conclusion of
many companionship inventories: Sister Willden often seems bored, even
when she is not. I will change, haha).
Anyways, since this is a five-week transfer, it feels as though I am
here to hand it over, and then I will depart to some unknown location
once the transfer's over. Time is short so I will eat up every minute
of it.
The week was full of lots of goodbyes (for Sister Mondano) and lots of
hellos (for Sister Owens and Mayama). We both thought, "It's funny how
much love you feel when you're about to leave a place." Amen. AKA we
should just love people all the time, but sometimes we forget. We can
always be better. (Quote attributed to Sister Mondano).
We have our work cut out for us. 21 referrals to visit this week. The
elders literally send us a referral every day because there are so
many stay-at-home moms on the island, and lots of really nice people
with lots of time (a change-of-pace from the hustle and bustle of
Chiba).
After hitting the year mark this week, I couldn't help but reflect on
the past year. So up and down, but oh-so-good. Every day is just a
glimpse into God's hand in the lives of everyday, ordinary people.
It's easy to feel forgotten (or to be the one who is forgetting) when
we're all wrapped up in our own little corner of the universe, but
God's there. He's in the details. It's just a matter of having the
eyes to see it, and oh what a difference it makes in your life.
Love you all dearly!
Sister Margaret Willden
(Monday, June 9)
Pic 1: Sister Mondano and I ate some balot for fun. It didn't actually
turn out to be that fun.
Pic 2: For transfers the elders took apart Sister Mondano's bike and
plastered it with hearts. PRECIOUS.
Pic 3: Found this gem in the Niigata apartment. Walking comforter /
Japanese snuggie.
Pic 4: Saying good-byes at the bus stop in Niigata. We cried.
Pic 5: The new Sado sisters. One American, Japanese and half-Japanese.
People for some reason always think that's funny when they see us.
Hi everyone,
Happy Monday. Today we had transfer calls. I am staying. Sister
Mondano is leaving (I will cry myself to sleep). Sister Mondano and I
both started packing last week because we were trying to be prepared,
but I guess now I am just extra prepared for next transfer. I will be
in a trio with a Japanese sister and an American sister. Being
half-Japanese I guess we will have the full spectrum covered.
It was a very family-filled week. Alex, Kristen, and Kristen's parents
just happened to stop by Sado for fun, and I was lucky enough to be
able to have a family dinner, prepared by my lovely grandmother, and
study the Book of Mormon with them. It was awesome. [Both the food and
the Book of Mormon. And the people].
To top it off, my grandparents and brother and sister-in-law came to
church! It was something I can honestly say I never thought would
happen, all of us coming together in that sort of way. People tell me
I am very lucky to be able to see so much of my family as a
missionary. Either lucky, or extremely blessed.
On another random note that I had during personal study this morning.
I love words. Spelling tests were the best part of elementary school
(aside from art class), and I can't help myself in correcting grammar
mistakes I find (I didn't proofread this, so don't judge ha). This
morning I as thinking about the difference between the words "IF" and
"WHEN". "If I brush my teeth" gives the impression that you are
unhygienic while "When I brush my teeth" means it matters to you
whether or not your teeth will fall out. I was reading an article in
the Liahona about a woman who had lost her husband and read Mosiah
2:41 after he passed:
".....ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep
the commandments of God. For behold......if they hold out faithful to
the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell
with God in a state of never-ending happiness."
For her, the question of "if they hold out faithful to the end" was a
matter of "when they hold out faithful to the end." When she does so,
she can see her husband again. "When" is a powerful word and
ultimately drives us to do what we do. We can choose to make our lives
one of "ifs" or "whens." I guess this is the very essence of faith,
whether or not we are going to do something about what we believe in.
This week I was super struck by just how much of a miracle this is.
Missionary work, that is. We were able to visit some of my mother's
relatives this week, most of whom have lived on the island for years
and are very well acquainted with our branch president through the
community [Sado is a small place]. I still wonder at the fact that I
am here on this tiny little island surrounded by so much family,
especially since Sado only became part of the mission the month before
I came to the field.
It's all one big wonder. Love you all.
Love, Sister Margaret Willden
(Monday, June 2)
Picture 1: The Sado Branch.
Pic 2: The family all at church!
Pic 3: This flower is named Margaret. I didn't know such a flower
existed until I came to Japan and everyone asked me if I was named
after a flower.
Pic 4: The port. It is approximately 9 hours and 47 minutes away if we
walked (thank you Google Maps) so we were lucky enough to have our
lovely branch president and his wife drive us all the way up to the
north end of the island to visit some potential investigators.
Pic 5: The remotest part of Sado. Apparently 20 years ago it was all
gravel roads and no stoplights existed.
