Week Seventy-one.

Konnichiwa from very cold rainy Japan! It was like a shower today on my bike ride to the church so I could email! I dont like rain very much, but it is also fun to watch all the people walking around with their umbrellas. I remember in America (at least in Idaho) when we did have rain mostly people either played in it or just kinda toughed it out or if they had to go outside they just ran really fast and tried their best to put their jacket or hand or bag over their head. Well, you will never see that in Japan. Everyone here is equipped with an umbrella, both old and young! I saw the cutest 3 yr olds walking today with their cute little umbrellas. It seems like a small thing but now when I see umbrellas I will always think "Japan."

I went on splits this week with one of the Sister Training Leaders and guess who it was...! Sister Kanno! My old companion, and also my FAVORITE Japanese companion! It was sooo fun. Ah she is the best. We had a lesson with 3 ladies that we teach English to and then teach a short church message. 2 of the ladies dont seem to have too much interest in anything but English but one of the ladies (Oki san) seems to have some interest! We taught about prophets and the priesthood and committed them all the read the prophets words in the Book of Mormon and start from the beginning and to read every day. They were all way surprised when we talked about how we have a living prophet today. I wish every investigator would have a reaction like they did because it makes me feel like I am actually helping people understand stuff ha ha. Anyways, we will be seeing them tomorrow. Oh but one thing that sucks is Oki san actually lives in Ishinomaki, one of my past areas. So if she does become an investigator she will become the Ishinomaki sisters investigator. Boo.

We visited Ishibashi san like always. We taught her about faith and gratitude- 2 things she very much lacks. And of course like always she just shot down everything we said and said, "well this is what I think... and so thats how it is." You cant change truth lady! Whether you like what we are telling you or not, that is how it is gonna be in the end! But the other day we were planning what to teach her next and I realized that I need to have more charity for her and her dumb bunny (as you can probably tell...) So I am praying a lot to have charity for her and I think that will help change the atmosphere and help her feel the spirit more and I dont know.. change somewhere along the way maybe? I will keep you posted.

And now for the highlight of the week! Thanksgiving! Since we live way close to the mission home, me and Sister Iwasa and then two of the elders in our district went to the mission home and we had a big nice American thanksgiving with president and his wife and some other missionaries from other areas. SO FUN! And the food was so so good! Japanese people of course dont celebrate Thanksgiving so it was just another day for the rest of Japan. But it was a great day to remember all my blessings. I am so grateful to be in Japan right now and to be a missionary! I am so grateful for this gospel! I am so grateful for Jesus Christs sacrifice and for repentance and forgiveness! The list goes on...

This really doesnt have much to do with anything but we ordered pizza this week from PIZZA HUT mmmm. A medium pizza was super tiny and it cost $17.00. Can you believe that?!

At church yesterday the missionaries did a special musical number in sacrament meeting. Since no one is really that musically talented in our group of missionaries I got put as the leader of the whole thing and had to teach everyone their parts and play the piano while we practiced and stuff. I really am not that good at piano and especially singing! But whatevs. I just told everyone to try their best and to do 3 things and our performance would be great: 1. put love in it  2. have confidence  3. sing
We messed up a lot in the performance but hey, I felt and heard a lot of love coming from those elders mouths so I thought it was the best performance ever!

I am glad you had a fun Thanksgiving with Abby. The times have really changed huh. Sometimes it is really sad to look back and see how much we have grown and how you cant stop time. It was fun being a kid with all my siblings. But at the same time, it is a very happy thing to see everyone get married and go to the temple and have their own families.

The Christmas tree looks great! When I worked at Eagle Rock Nursery I was always told that Home Depot had bad trees and plants and they didnt take very good care of them, so I hope you got lucky and found a good healthy tree. But maybe Texas Home Depots are different than Idaho ones.

Good job on all that running you guys! You are going to do great in your half marathon mom. Running my halfie was probably my greatest accomplishment. Once I finish this mission then the marathon will move to #2 but for right now, it is number one! Definitely the hardest thing I have ever done physically, but so worth it.

Well thought Id let everyone know I am getting fat again! But whatevs yo. YODO. (You Only Dendo Once) I will just deal with my rice cheeks in February when I get home. Whoa. I will hit my 2 months left mark on the 6th. That means you will be getting travel plans in like 4 weeks mom! Ahhhhhhh. I still have so much to do here!

Have a great Juuni Gatsu! (December) 愛してるよー


Love, Sister Miranda Robertson

Thanksgiving

Pizza hut pizza!

 Eating sushi and waiting for the bus!  Now you can see why I am getting fat. All I do is eat food!