Hello everyone out there on the North American continent!
We hope you are all doing very well! I can't believe school has started and it must seem like fall is soon to follow.
It's interesting here because even when school is out, the parents put their children in private summer schools so they can compete successfully and make it into college. I even see them on Saturdays and Sundays in their school uniforms.
It's still very hot here, and unlike America, there are little or no Halloween/Fall decorations for sale. So, I think I know the meaning of the 'endless summer'. It is still very, very hot.
We did get a new mission van. It's the first time in 10 years we've had the 'new car' smell. We had a three hour training just before its arrival on policies and procedures of the mission and vehicle/bicycle safety. The truth is now I would rather drive the old van, with it's already existing scratches and dings. The new van and I have one thing in common though.....neither of us are bilingual. The problem is, we don't speak the same language. Navi is Japanese!
We had the opportunity to attend church the last two weeks in Ina and Suwa. In Ina there are about 11 plus one two year old, that are active members. It amazes me to see these members. There was a new branch president sustained in Ina, the previous Branch President moved, so I guess the number of actives are 9 plus the two year old. I couldn't understand 99% of what all the members said, but the spirit there was tangible, and again, it moved me to tears. They are so faithful. They come every week. Some travel longer distances. They come because they love the Lord. They come because they want to worship Him. They come because they love each other.
The missionaries are working hard. We have transfers next week. We get 10 elders and 2 sisters. We say goodbye to 9 others. That's the hard part of the mission, letting them go every six weeks. We play opposite roles of the parents. The parents are missing their child when they come, but we are clicking our heals they are here. When it comes time for them to return home, their parents are sooooo excited and we are crying (literally.) The growth that happens here is incredible. Boys turn into men and young women into wiser young women. They have given all to the Lord. It doesn't compare to what the Lord has given back. This is an amazing experience, to witness over and over.
I hope you all have a wonderful week and a successful new school year to all you students, wives of students, and parents of students!
We love you.
Sister Baird, Bonnie or Mom
Cultural tip of the week: The women here wear arm covers. Yes arm covers. They are for sale everywhere and every women probably has multiple pairs. They have on short sleeve shirts with arm covers (they are like leggings but for arms. Maybe they call them armmings??
). They go clear to their finger tips and have a hole for their thumb. This protects their arms from the sun. The women do everything to avoid the sun. I saw a women riding a bike with what looked like hot pads attached to her handlebars that her hands fit in. This way the sun that came in under her hat, arm covers and umbrella (yes they carry umbrellas while riding bikes, some bikes even have umbrella holders) wouldn't get to her hands. I laugh at this....at least until the other day when I was sitting next to Sister Urano. She's just a little younger than me. I looked at her arms. Perfect skin. Not one age spot. I looked at mine. Not evenly tanned anymore. Evenly sun spotted. Arm covers-- not so humorous now.
We hope you are all doing very well! I can't believe school has started and it must seem like fall is soon to follow.
It's interesting here because even when school is out, the parents put their children in private summer schools so they can compete successfully and make it into college. I even see them on Saturdays and Sundays in their school uniforms.
It's still very hot here, and unlike America, there are little or no Halloween/Fall decorations for sale. So, I think I know the meaning of the 'endless summer'. It is still very, very hot.
We did get a new mission van. It's the first time in 10 years we've had the 'new car' smell. We had a three hour training just before its arrival on policies and procedures of the mission and vehicle/bicycle safety. The truth is now I would rather drive the old van, with it's already existing scratches and dings. The new van and I have one thing in common though.....neither of us are bilingual. The problem is, we don't speak the same language. Navi is Japanese!
We had the opportunity to attend church the last two weeks in Ina and Suwa. In Ina there are about 11 plus one two year old, that are active members. It amazes me to see these members. There was a new branch president sustained in Ina, the previous Branch President moved, so I guess the number of actives are 9 plus the two year old. I couldn't understand 99% of what all the members said, but the spirit there was tangible, and again, it moved me to tears. They are so faithful. They come every week. Some travel longer distances. They come because they love the Lord. They come because they want to worship Him. They come because they love each other.
The missionaries are working hard. We have transfers next week. We get 10 elders and 2 sisters. We say goodbye to 9 others. That's the hard part of the mission, letting them go every six weeks. We play opposite roles of the parents. The parents are missing their child when they come, but we are clicking our heals they are here. When it comes time for them to return home, their parents are sooooo excited and we are crying (literally.) The growth that happens here is incredible. Boys turn into men and young women into wiser young women. They have given all to the Lord. It doesn't compare to what the Lord has given back. This is an amazing experience, to witness over and over.
I hope you all have a wonderful week and a successful new school year to all you students, wives of students, and parents of students!
We love you.
Sister Baird, Bonnie or Mom
Cultural tip of the week: The women here wear arm covers. Yes arm covers. They are for sale everywhere and every women probably has multiple pairs. They have on short sleeve shirts with arm covers (they are like leggings but for arms. Maybe they call them armmings??
). They go clear to their finger tips and have a hole for their thumb. This protects their arms from the sun. The women do everything to avoid the sun. I saw a women riding a bike with what looked like hot pads attached to her handlebars that her hands fit in. This way the sun that came in under her hat, arm covers and umbrella (yes they carry umbrellas while riding bikes, some bikes even have umbrella holders) wouldn't get to her hands. I laugh at this....at least until the other day when I was sitting next to Sister Urano. She's just a little younger than me. I looked at her arms. Perfect skin. Not one age spot. I looked at mine. Not evenly tanned anymore. Evenly sun spotted. Arm covers-- not so humorous now.
7:18 AM |
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