I was dancing on the way home

11/2

On Monday morning [(the only free/personal/"off" time we get on our 

mission)], we cleaned our apartment really well, so I had a fantastic 

time just rolling around on the floor. After procrastinating for forever 

(went through the shotengai - an enclosed shopping center-tunnel-thing 

etc. - ), we went to check on the transfer verdict.

I'm staying. Whoot. It looks like I have something left to do in Abeno 

after all. When I first got here, I didn't think I would stay for more than
a transfer, but it would seem that I have a work to perform in this
tabernacle of clay.

So we went through the shotengai and made friends with all the
shopkeepers. We ate tempura, including a sweet potato doughnut. Super
exciting. We also picked up a PI when G. shimai bought a vest for
more wintry wear. His name is T., and he was very interested in
English.

So, G. shimai's brakes have been screaming for the last while, so this 

week we finally took it to the bike shop where she bought it. We got lost
though, so it took a good long time to find. Thankfully, we asked for
help from a gentleman from a 7/11, and he took us all the way there.
It was very sweet. I gave him a Book of Mormon as a thank-you, and he
was like, "Oh, wait, you're Mormon?"

Me: Yep! How do you know about us?
Him: You guys are super kibishii (strict/unallowing), right?
Me: Eh? Strict?
Him: Yeah, strict.
Me: Why?
Him: You don't do alcohol and stuff, right?

I told him that was true, and he was like, "Okay, well, I'll take this
and head out. Bye." So that was interesting.

And on the way home, we found a coconut-milk soda. ...It tasted like a
watery, melted snowcone. ...Not my favorite in Japan.

Later, we went to a member's house and had Philippino food. It was
very good. We talked to the son about going on a mission. He's really
super.

Then eikaiwa!! I was talking to one of our students about our 30/30
program, and she was like, "I think I'll just keep doing this. But I
bought an (abridged) New Testament. What's a 'sheperd'?"

So we taught a brief lesson on Christ, God is Our Loving Heavenly
Father, and prayer. Right after we taught prayer and explained that
God is our Heavenly Father ("Oh, naru hodo (I see).") and that he
wants to talk to us, she was like, "Oh, okay. I'll go home tonight and
pray, then."

...Needless to say, I was dancing on the way home.