9 June 2014 Oyumino Chiba
Hello everyone!
It has been raining all week! Basically non-stop. It's crazy!!
I totally feel
blessed though! Usually rain makes me grumpy. I hate being wet. But all
week I have been fine, perfectly content walking, biking and on occasion
running through the rain. It's kind of fun!
Tuesday we spent our day in Goi. We had had a lesson the previous week with someone the elders had found that had fallen through, so we went to stop by at the lady's apartment. She wasn't there. We went to leave but ended up talking to someone else in front of the apartment.
Tuesday we spent our day in Goi. We had had a lesson the previous week with someone the elders had found that had fallen through, so we went to stop by at the lady's apartment. She wasn't there. We went to leave but ended up talking to someone else in front of the apartment.
She came home, saw
us, ran up to her apartment, went in and then ran down again. We decided
to walk around the block and catch her on the other side. We said hello
and she literally ran! A few minutes later her very disheveled looking
son walked by us too, trailing after his mother. It was quite the scene!
Wednesday was a day full of lessons...or so we thought.. Our first lesson we had went great! It only lasted two hours, instead of three like the time before and we actually spoke about gospel oriented things. Her name is Furuki San. We don't know how interested she actually is in learning about the gospel, but she could sure use a friend or two. It sounds like her husband is abusive and she spends all day, essentially locked up inside until he gets home. We sang "I Am a Child of God" for her. It was in English but there was a definite change in her demeanor after we sang. Next time we will song it in nihongo so she can feel the spirit AND understand the words. I really like her. She is such a positive person living in a very not positive situation. I'm getting better at understanding her too. Which is wonderful cus she was sooooo hard to understand the first time we met with her. She also likes to hit Hubner shimai.
During the lesson I told her that wasn't ok and what does she do? Hit Hubner shimai again!! Don't worry, it's more of a slap on the knee type of thing. I think it means she likes her. Sister Hubner actually gets hit a lot while talking to nihonjin. I don’t know why... After other two lessons for the day fell through. But it was ok, we had a special job to do for the bishop.
Currently we are trying to either rent a Church
building or build a building in Oyumino. There was a lady who was going
to rent to us but is a little unsure...so he sent us to
"surprise" house into her. We had no luck. But, as we were going
from house to house we met a cat, the cat decided to follow us from house
to house. We must've looked pretty funny. We finally ping-ponged into
the cat owner's house. I thought for sure she was going to be a kinjin.
He cat obviously knew what was up. But, the lady wasn't interested in
eikaiwa or church. She did however find it funny that her cat, Brown,
followed us around.
We had a few more lessons throughout the week. Nothing too exciting to report on. Lots of rain...
On Sunday I think a lot of the members were surprised to see me! I hadn't even thought to call anyone and tell them that I wasn't transferred! It was so nice being told by everyone that they were sooo glad I didn't leave! I love the members here so much! They are stellar. Each of them is so caring and willing to help the missionaries as much as they can. It's great!
During studying I found this poem. It was in a talk by elder Boyd k. Packer. I really, really liked it and thought I would share:
‘Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin.
But held it up with a smile:
‘What am I bid, good folks, he cried,
‘Who’ll start the bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar; then, Two! Only two?
Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?
Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three-- But no,
From the room, far back, a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, What am I bid for the old violin?
And he held it up with the bow.
A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?
Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?
Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice,
And going, and gone! said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
We do not quite understand
What changed its worth? Swift came the reply:
The touch of a master’s hand.
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game--and he travels on.
He’s going once, and going twice,
He’s going and almost gone.
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought
By the touch of the Master’s hand
(The Touch of the Master’s Hand)
Each of us, in one way or another, are like that old violin. We don't realize our true worth! Each of us are sons and daughters of God; a Heavenly Father who loves each of us individually and unconditionally. We are each worth so much! And we should never sell ourselves short!
I love you all. Thank you for the emails, and letters. They are much appreciated!
Love,
Sister Molinari
