A bike, flowers and the superior species...

4/13

(Syd's 1st email from her new area, with her new companion.)

 

So, this one is not at all like my last one. Shorter, for one thing.
She's also a little harder to get moving in the mornings. Before, in
Okayama, I felt like I always had to work my hardest, but here, once
we get moving, I feel like I don't have to put in as much effort.
While it's nice, I don't feel like I'm growing too much. I hope that
I'll have enough patience to really figure out how she works, because
once I do, I know we'll really start going places.

But that's enough about my bicycle.

My new Japanese companion, F. shimai's is truly amazing. I'm not entirely sure how, but she
is definitely a member of the superior species known as female
nihonjin. She's pretty fantastic and I really feel like I'm her
partner in the work. She's really good at making me feel good about
myself and at the same time making me want to be better. She hasn't
criticized me once--it's her example that makes me want to be a better
missionary.

Imaaaabari! The inaka (countryside) is quite a bit more populated than I thought
it would be. …And, flowers. There are flowers everywhere, and they just pop up and say
howdy wherever you are--in the street, the dirt, the massive,
uncovered gutters, cement walls, between fences... Forget-me-nots and
pansies abound. Little white star-shaped flowers and watery scarlet
blossoms are everywhere. Sakura season is pretty much over, but there
are a few tenacious hangers-on. Bug season's coming, too. Better
buckle up for that one.

But that's about all I have time for today. Best of luck and best of love.

-サンズ姉妹

P.s. Imma see if I can't get a keyboard for next time.