The candles looked a little like incense for the dead, and they very comically turned out to be impossible to blow out

Sept 28

Farewell to Imabari


Monday we climbed a mountain :D Mine, companion, and WS's goals were "Go tell it on the mountain," "Go tell it on the mountain," "Go tell it on the mountain." respectively. Unfortunately, it was not told on the mountain, but we got to see a really big, cool shrine on the Ishizuchi mountain.

Then, all three of our packages came, but one at a time. That was very funny. Especially because at the beginning, WS was like "You know what'd be funny? If he only had one package, and had to come back three times."

Well, it wasn't the same guy, but it was three separate guys in three separate visits. That was interesting. Took me like, fifteen minutes to open the package my friends sent, and they sent me...candy.

Good heavens. It's only by the grace of God that I have not ballooned on my mission. Six months to go...

Altogether, it was a good day :D

So we began Tuesday by going to N-shimai's to learn calligraphy. She is SOOOO nice--let us do three kanji three times, then gave us boards to write on so that we could have a little bit of kanji in our homes. I did 風、真心、and 望--wind, sincerity, and hope/desire. Then she signed our works with little kanji that she decided fit us. she gave me 志、which means aspire/motive/hopes. So, I feel, like, super privileged. The experience was really pearls before swine.

[This week we taught so many sweet people. They were so kind and generous.] One family that we taught has the cutest little boy, and he was the most cooperative in the lesson. He even recognized the whale I drew in panel five!

Him: “KUJIRAERERA!”
Me: “That's right! Kujira!” (whale)
Parents: surprised (whether at the fact that it could be recognized as a whale, or that the 3-year old knew what a whale was, I'm not sure.)

At the end, I had drawn two hands (male and female, for the 6th day of the creation) holding each other, and he recognized those, too.

Him: “Hands!” reaches out
Me: reaches out and holds his hand
Him: so super excited that we're copying the picture. It was really cute.

We also stopped by to say hi to one of our favorite LA's. He wasn't home, but his mother was. And thus began a chapter I'd like to call "Let's argue about the purpose of prayer and chakras." In short... My chakras were poked. All of them. We spent the last five minutes saying nothing but "We understand what you're saying, but we believe differently." It was... exhausting. I have since repented and have decided to say that from the get-go if it ever gets like that again.



[I found out, sadly, at the end of the week that I’m being transferred.] Abeno Osaka area. I have gone from the suburbs to country and now to city. To drink our problems away, we went to the nearest Hamazushi and got cake from a place by the station. It was really good.

Then we did FHE with our LA, and she has really come so far. So far since I first met her six months ago. I was so happy. It was really a good, solid lesson, and then I said my goodbye. But before I left, our dear member was like,

Her: “Wait.”
Me: ?

Then she went off and came back with cake. Four big nama rolls from a great bakery (aka: Darn good quality cake) and lit a couple candles for me and they sang "Happy Birthday" to me. The candles looked a little like incense for the dead, and they very comically turned out to be impossible to blow out (everyone was surprised at that), but I was so touched. I was so touched.

The next day, an older family took us out for a goodbye lunch, which TOTALLY surprised me--I had no clue that they actually liked me. But they were super sweet and gave us a couple towels. (Towel count: 23. ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED: Towel Magnet.)

Afterwards, we went down to visit our people in the old neighborhood, [and to say my goodbyes, and witness a string of miracles.] We went to the house of the BBQ family and said goodbye. Unfortunately, the wife wasn't there. So I said my goodbyes and waved goodbye, then thanked Heavenly Father that we actually got to see them, for like, the first time for the past two transfers. After we prayed, the wife pulled into the driveway, and I said goodbye to her. Then we dropped by R-chan. She and her mom weren't there. That was very sad. So we sighed and began getting on our bikes. Then a car pulled in and lo and behold! It was our R-chan and her mom. We said our goodbyes to them and hopped back on our bikes and visited M-chan. M-chan and her mom weren't there. That was too bad. So we sighed and remounted. Then a car pulled and and lo and behold! It was M-chan's mom! So we got to say goodbye to her as well.

Then we went to our favorite cake shop and the owner was like, "Today's a Tuesday."
Us: ??
Her: You usually come on Wednesday. Today's a Tuesday.
Me: Oh. I'm transferring.

And she actually looked sad! I felt loved. I'm gonna really miss that cake shop. But W shimai's totally got it covered, and like a pro set up a 30/30 English appointment. Man, she's so cool.

We had an incredible lunch with the W. gofuufu (I'm gonna miss them so much). Then we went to one of our LA's and said goodbye, and then, we got to meet our two girlies!! YES!!! I had sent them a text previously, trying to feel out if R-chan is okay enough [she had hurt her leg badly] to come see me off, but she was still healing, poor girl. I told them that I was transferring and would leave a letter for them with W. shimai. Then I got the most amazing text:

R-chan: "WHAT?! You're leaving? When?"
Me: “4ish.”
R-chan: “We can't stay after 12, but can we visit you in the morning? I've talked to S-chan and we want to see you before you go.”


God. Is a God of Miracles.

So we met with our two girls and had a great time and committed them to baptism. My last act in Imabari. Yes. YES. I wanted so badly to leave Imabari better than I left it, and I can truly say I have. Thank heavens. Thank heavens.

Then it was like one big party. Our neighbor and friend came and gave me a handkerchief as a parting gift, a LA who wouldn't talk to anyone came to the church to hug me goodbye and gave me a Mikan-chan coinpurse. Her sister, whose testimony I saw flourish, gave me a plushie of the Imabari mascot and a bunch of Bari-san stickers. The girls gave me a letter and a home-made cheesecake (and W. Shimai got another appointment like a pro), and I just... Man. I felt really, truly loved by God and the people of Imabari.

It was a wonderful week.