So... my cup broke today. I was so sad. It's just a silly little thing, but I was really sad. Like, really sad.
I really love that cup. It made me so sad. As we went to the church, I could only think, "Dear God, you know that was my favorite cup. Why would you break my favorite cup? What lesson am I supposed to learn? Did I like that cup more than you? Was it holding me back from being a good missionary? Would I have been arrested from taking it on the plane? Was it really so bad to love a cup? I have, like, one favorite possession on this mission. And that's that cup. I'm so sad. I won't blame you or get angry. It's just a cup and that's silly and I love you, but why did my cup have to break? Was I being prideful? Is M. shimai, my companion, supposed to learn something from this?"
I'm still really sad.
But anyways, my voice was bad enough today that I dendoed with a flipchart and wore a hygeine mask. Everyone thought it was hilarious, and I did a pretty good job. M. shimai also had a good time--finally got to talk.
On each page of my flipchart (in Japanese) was one of the following:
Good morning!
Thank you for worrying about me.
I'm doing well, but I can't really speak at the moment.
How are you?
Thank you!
I love you!
I don't think I have a cold--it's just my throat that's painful.
Yeah, for sure.
Sounds rough.
Excuse me!
And that worked for just about every conversation.
Me: Good morning!
Kyoukaiin (church member): Oh, hello. How are you?
Me: *flip* I'm fine, but I can't really speak at the moment.
Kyoukaiin: What? Is it a cold?
Me: *flip* I don't think it's a cold--it's just my throat that hurts at the moment.
Kyoukaiin: *laughs at the flipchart*
Me: *flip* Thank you for worrying about me.
Kyoukaiin: No, that's fine.
Me: *flip* I love you!
Or,
Kyoukaiin: That's too bad. I remember one time I was super stressed, caught a cold and couldn't speak for days.
Me: *flip* Sounds rough.
Kyoukaiin: It was. Be sure to drink a lot of water, okay?
Me: *flip* Yeah, for sure. *flip* Thank you :D I love you!
There was one with whom I had a special conversation over the flipchart--I actually had to write to him because my responses weren't enough.
M-kyoudai (my Japanese twin. He's like, 70 or something, but we really like each other because we're practically the same person. Except I have all my fingers.): Did you catch a cold?
Me: I'm fine, but I can't really speak at the moment.
Him: Oh, I see.
Me: I speak too much--
Him: Yeah, you do.
Me: *puffs and coughs of me laughing* --so God silenced me.
Him: I believe it. *cracks up*
I communicated with the other senkyoushi via iPad because I type faster than I write. The chouroutachi translated for me at DCS.
At the end of the day, we got a blessing for the cup--I mean, my voice--and it was really powerful.
God cares for me and my broken cup.
Goodnight.
*****
This week, I learned a little about creative dendo! I've been working on doing different approaches, and I feel like this week was a little odd, but in a good way. I've learned a lot, and I've had a lot of fun with my trainee.
New Year's Resolutions! Every new year, people have an image of who they are verses who they want to be (usually with weight), I would like to invite everyone to step on the scale and take a look at the situation before them. How do you want to stretch yourself this year? Where are you weak? Where do you want to be strong?
Be sure to pray about it and let me know!
Also, shoutouts to my recently married friend, the woman previously known as Tucker; Brenna Donnelly for her cute notes; Caleigh for her love and hard work; Hanna my little sister; and to anyone else who wrote me but doesn't usually! Thank you for taking the time.
And to everyone who writes to me on a regular basis, I love and pray for you and your happiness every night, even if I don't always give you individual replies.
Love,
Sanzu shimai, *gets out walker and shuffles away*
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