Week Thirty.

This first part of the letter was just one that Sister Robertson sent in the mail.

Dear Mom and Dad,

How are you? I'm doing really good. I have less than a year left....isn't that crazy?! Lately I've really had a change of heart and want to work really hard.
Sister Tui and I decided to always speak Japanese unless it is meal time. We can also speak English after 9:00 pm. Hopefully we can stick to our plan and get better at Japanese.
We've also really amped up our planning techniques to make sure we are effective every hour of the day.
We've recommitted ourselves to the work and the rule book. Sometimes it's hard to follow the "seems harmless" rules like don't use slang ever. Being my age, slang is built into me! It is hard to break that habit for sure.
I hope your missionary efforts are going well, as well. Have you ever read the book "The Power of Everyday Missionaries?" It has wonderful suggestions on how you can share the gospel. You should read it.
I love you both a lot!

Love, Mindy Lou

now to the regular email.

Hey there everyone!

First off, I didnt receive a package this week but I did receive a surprise card from Mom! Thank you!!! I was really hoping I would get mail this week and I got your card!

I hear a little about the Olympics here and there but mostly I dont know the vocabulary for it so when people are talking about it I have no idea that they are. I did visit a lady with a member once maybe 2 weeks ago and she had the olympics on in her house so I did catch a glimpse of snowboarding. It was pretty cool!

Sister Tui and I failed pretty bad at our goals to speak more Japanese. It just is habit and natural to speak English to each other. But we try to speak only Japanese to the Japanese sister that lives with us. She is fluent in English so it makes it easy to want to speak English to her too. We have been pretty good at staying focused during our language study time at least instead of eating food... Just wait. I will get transferred in 2 weeks and get a Japanese companion or something and then I will REALLY have to work hard at Japanese.

This last week we taught one lesson to Harumi san (the old grandma). We taught about families, prophets, and Jesus Christ. I am concerned we moved a little fast for her because she has never ever heard of any of this stuff. She has been reading the Book of Mormon and praying everyday but we dont think she really gets it still. Next time we meet with her we want to help her understand the Book of Mormon more and probably talk about Joseph Smith too.

We had interviews with President this week. I was really nervous, like I always am for interviews. But my interview went good. We just talked about my companion and Japanese and Aizu. Pres Rasmussen said that my Japanese has gotten really good! I hope so. I had to give a surprise talk in church yesterday and hopefully my Japanese was understandable.

This week was a crazy one for weather. We got hit with a blizzard! It was so windy on Saturday, but Sister Tui and I knew we needed to go visit a few people before we reported to our ward mission leader on Sunday so we got all bundled up and started our journey up a giant mountain in a blizzard. I thought my toes and fingers were going to fall off they were so cold. And my umbrella got whipped out of shape from the wind. The snow was blowing horizontally! Actually, it was more of a rain/snow so it hurt when it hit your face. I have never seen wind so strong in my life, and I grew up in Idaho!! We walked for 2 hours, visited some people who werent even home... then walked back. We stopped at a sushi place on the way home to rest and ate a nice cheap raw fish dinner. Mmmm! Our backs and our legs and feet were so sore. I felt like a pioneer. I cant WAIT for it to be warm again.

Before all the snow hit though Sister Tui and I did wake up early at 6 one morning and went running!!! It was so so great! We probably went about 2 miles. It was the first time I have gone running since being in Japan. We have realized from looking at our pictures that we have rice cheeks. And food babies. So we are really trying to be healthy!

Dad, I dont go to ward council. Only the district leader and his companion go. But every week on Sunday we have a meeting with the ward mission leader and all the missionaries and we present our progress record to him and talk about the work we did that week and where we need help. And he`ll tell us various things about what he wants us to do or focus on.

Mom, I have a trillion things about the things I love about you that I didnt already write down for you before I left on my mission! Dont worry, Ill send some more!

Oh and guess what, today marks 7 months on my mission! When I was in my interview with President he said, "Wow time really moves fast on missions huh." And I said, "No. Its normal." And he just laughed ha ha. But maybe it will move from normal to fast once I hit half way then before we know it it will be Feb 2015!

I will see you all in 11 months!

Love Mirand