What a Week!!!
I was thinking about this past week and what I would tell y'all I am
just amazed that everything that happened was only in 1 weeks' span!!
So much has changed, and so much is new and fun!! So much has happened
that I think for my sanity's sake, we will have to organize this email
by the day :)
Tuesday 5/6: We had a fiesta!! To celebrate my being transferred to
Atsugi (aka being voted off of the island of Kichijoji) we made
guacamole and quesadillas!! It was pretty nostalgic considering that
is literally what I ate every day in college. :) That evening Sister
Wells and I had dinner with a couple of the members of our gospel
choir!! They taught us how to make sushi, a better miso soup,
crab+bamboo scrambled eggs and gyoza!! I will def make some of these
delicacies for you when I get home! Since I'm like a gourmet chef and
all :) It was sad saying goodbye to these women who have become such
good friends to me, but I really feel like it's just a see you
later...
Wednesday 5/7: We taught Baby English class and it wasn't horrible!! I
think I need to give a little bit of background information. We teach
it 2x a month and it was the bane of my existence. Kids are cute. But
not when they're mean to other kids or are out of control. Then
they're just annoying. But this week, everyone was incredibly
well-behaved!! All the kids took turns, said please and thank you, and
participated in the songs and dancing. We had a blast, and it was the
perfect sendoff :)
We got to dendo with the new missionaries!! What a completely
refreshing experience to go street with someone completely fresh to
Japan and to being a missionary. The missionary I was with would just
randomly start giggling because she was so stinking happy to be here
doing the missionary thing. That's the kind of attitude I need to
have! To be so happy with the life I am living and the work I am doing
that I just can't help but giggle. We talked with tons of people, made
new friends, and an old lady gave us her earrings that we
complimented. It was quite the adventure!
My last Eikaiwa in Kichijoji!! We said goodbye to lots of members and
students, but again, it was just a see you later. I am so grateful for
the members who took such good care of me while I was in Kichijoji.
They have loved me so much, and supported me through all the ups and
downs that are included with being a missionary. Please do not ever
underestimate what a simple hug or smile can do, especially when given
to someone who is so far from home. Our friend Moeka came and we said
goodbye. She thanked me for talking to her that day in the park, and
she said that even though we were saying goodbye, that she felt like
this was a new beginning for her. She is incredible. She is such a
miracle to me.
Thursday 5/8: TRANSFER DAY/MEETING MY NEW COMPANION. It's so much fun
when you train, because it's like this long mystery. For most people,
the first time the trainers see the trainees is at breakfast where we
all mingle and eat together. Lucky for me though since I was in
Kichijoji I got to meet all the sisters early and become their
favorite before they got to meet the other trainers! Anyways, back to
breakfast. It's kind of like speed dating. You're scouting out the
prospects, getting to know eachother, guessing who will end up with
who. The only twist is that at the end, the decision is made for you!!
President Wada decides the companionships for you (through revelation)
and you don't find out who your new companion is until just before
lunch. The big reveal happens through a slide show presentation where
President Wada has our pics and a map of the area we are going to. I
believe t's just the appropriate amount of drama and mystery. We even
do drum rolls before the final reveal. It's so much fun.
Reenactment: The sister who gets to go with Sister Feist to open
Etsugi is ...............Drum Roll.................. Sister
Jolley!!!!!!!!!! *applause, small whoops and hollers but nothing too
crazy, we're missionaries not college students after all*
Sister Jolley is incredible!! She is so freaking adorable and fun and
humble and diligent and punny. I love puns. She is fabulous.
After we were assigned companions we went to lunch where I received a
tutorial on how to read nutrition labels. Sister Jolley is allergic to
wheat, most fruits, and most nuts. Did you know that wheat is in
almost everything? Including soy sauce?! Good thing I really love
rice!! But yeah, wheat. That's rough. My goals for perfecting
okonomiyaki and pancakes will simply have to be put off another
transfer I suppose.
After all the trainings were over we went and had dinner with the
Kichijoji sisters and Aki Shimai!! It was so much fun to see them and
to say goodbye!! One last hoorah in Kichijoji and now it's time for a
new adventure!
We hopped on a train to Atsugi with our carryons praying for the
best!! We made it there no problem, and the elders helped us find our
apartment. It's great!! So clean, 5 minute walk from the station, and
even has an oven which is incredible rare in Japan! Weird parts: Yeah,
we have no kitchen utensils. I didn't know how to work the appliances.
The gas wasn't turned on so no stove or showers our first morning 24
hours. Our suitcases took a few days to arrive so we couldn't even
really unpack. It was a little chaotic. But in a fun pioneer kind of
way :)
I guess it's time to just talk about how incredible this ward is.
Everyone is so excited to have sister missionaries. They are all so
kind and so supportive and are continuously asking how they can help.
People are treating us so kindly and this area already feels like
home. I am so incredible happy! Let me back up a little. Did I ever
mention that I requested to open this area? A few of my friends I had
made during my first transfer are in this ward and they said that
their relationship with the missionaries was a little rough. I was
determined that it was time for a change and that maybe I could be a
part of it and help out! So now I'm here with my friends and their
families, serving with them and finding ways to help them as they have
been helping me.
We went to the temple today!! Always an incredible experience! I love
the Tokyo temple and I'm so grateful that I was able to share that
experience with Sister Jolley. We went out to sushi with the
sisters from our zone afterwards which was an adventure. Have I
mentioned that I like sushi these days? Like, I think that it is
incredibly delicious. Then we did some intense shopping for the
apartment and grocery shopping and are trying to get our act together
tonight!! I will be completely honest when I say that I don't think
I'm ever really going to get my act together, but hey, maybe if I keep
saying then it will magically happen.
Life is good. Life is good. Life is meant to be enjoyed. I love you
all! Thank you for all of your support!! I can feel your prayers daily
and they really do help. I love you all and am excited to tell you
more next week about the adventures of life in Japan, Atsugi edition.
Love always,
Sister Feist
I was thinking about this past week and what I would tell y'all I am
just amazed that everything that happened was only in 1 weeks' span!!
So much has changed, and so much is new and fun!! So much has happened
that I think for my sanity's sake, we will have to organize this email
by the day :)
Tuesday 5/6: We had a fiesta!! To celebrate my being transferred to
Atsugi (aka being voted off of the island of Kichijoji) we made
guacamole and quesadillas!! It was pretty nostalgic considering that
is literally what I ate every day in college. :) That evening Sister
Wells and I had dinner with a couple of the members of our gospel
choir!! They taught us how to make sushi, a better miso soup,
crab+bamboo scrambled eggs and gyoza!! I will def make some of these
delicacies for you when I get home! Since I'm like a gourmet chef and
all :) It was sad saying goodbye to these women who have become such
good friends to me, but I really feel like it's just a see you
later...
Wednesday 5/7: We taught Baby English class and it wasn't horrible!! I
think I need to give a little bit of background information. We teach
it 2x a month and it was the bane of my existence. Kids are cute. But
not when they're mean to other kids or are out of control. Then
they're just annoying. But this week, everyone was incredibly
well-behaved!! All the kids took turns, said please and thank you, and
participated in the songs and dancing. We had a blast, and it was the
perfect sendoff :)
We got to dendo with the new missionaries!! What a completely
refreshing experience to go street with someone completely fresh to
Japan and to being a missionary. The missionary I was with would just
randomly start giggling because she was so stinking happy to be here
doing the missionary thing. That's the kind of attitude I need to
have! To be so happy with the life I am living and the work I am doing
that I just can't help but giggle. We talked with tons of people, made
new friends, and an old lady gave us her earrings that we
complimented. It was quite the adventure!
My last Eikaiwa in Kichijoji!! We said goodbye to lots of members and
students, but again, it was just a see you later. I am so grateful for
the members who took such good care of me while I was in Kichijoji.
They have loved me so much, and supported me through all the ups and
downs that are included with being a missionary. Please do not ever
underestimate what a simple hug or smile can do, especially when given
to someone who is so far from home. Our friend Moeka came and we said
goodbye. She thanked me for talking to her that day in the park, and
she said that even though we were saying goodbye, that she felt like
this was a new beginning for her. She is incredible. She is such a
miracle to me.
Thursday 5/8: TRANSFER DAY/MEETING MY NEW COMPANION. It's so much fun
when you train, because it's like this long mystery. For most people,
the first time the trainers see the trainees is at breakfast where we
all mingle and eat together. Lucky for me though since I was in
Kichijoji I got to meet all the sisters early and become their
favorite before they got to meet the other trainers! Anyways, back to
breakfast. It's kind of like speed dating. You're scouting out the
prospects, getting to know eachother, guessing who will end up with
who. The only twist is that at the end, the decision is made for you!!
President Wada decides the companionships for you (through revelation)
and you don't find out who your new companion is until just before
lunch. The big reveal happens through a slide show presentation where
President Wada has our pics and a map of the area we are going to. I
believe t's just the appropriate amount of drama and mystery. We even
do drum rolls before the final reveal. It's so much fun.
Reenactment: The sister who gets to go with Sister Feist to open
Etsugi is ...............Drum Roll.................. Sister
Jolley!!!!!!!!!! *applause, small whoops and hollers but nothing too
crazy, we're missionaries not college students after all*
Sister Jolley is incredible!! She is so freaking adorable and fun and
humble and diligent and punny. I love puns. She is fabulous.
After we were assigned companions we went to lunch where I received a
tutorial on how to read nutrition labels. Sister Jolley is allergic to
wheat, most fruits, and most nuts. Did you know that wheat is in
almost everything? Including soy sauce?! Good thing I really love
rice!! But yeah, wheat. That's rough. My goals for perfecting
okonomiyaki and pancakes will simply have to be put off another
transfer I suppose.
After all the trainings were over we went and had dinner with the
Kichijoji sisters and Aki Shimai!! It was so much fun to see them and
to say goodbye!! One last hoorah in Kichijoji and now it's time for a
new adventure!
We hopped on a train to Atsugi with our carryons praying for the
best!! We made it there no problem, and the elders helped us find our
apartment. It's great!! So clean, 5 minute walk from the station, and
even has an oven which is incredible rare in Japan! Weird parts: Yeah,
we have no kitchen utensils. I didn't know how to work the appliances.
The gas wasn't turned on so no stove or showers our first morning 24
hours. Our suitcases took a few days to arrive so we couldn't even
really unpack. It was a little chaotic. But in a fun pioneer kind of
way :)
I guess it's time to just talk about how incredible this ward is.
Everyone is so excited to have sister missionaries. They are all so
kind and so supportive and are continuously asking how they can help.
People are treating us so kindly and this area already feels like
home. I am so incredible happy! Let me back up a little. Did I ever
mention that I requested to open this area? A few of my friends I had
made during my first transfer are in this ward and they said that
their relationship with the missionaries was a little rough. I was
determined that it was time for a change and that maybe I could be a
part of it and help out! So now I'm here with my friends and their
families, serving with them and finding ways to help them as they have
been helping me.
We went to the temple today!! Always an incredible experience! I love
the Tokyo temple and I'm so grateful that I was able to share that
experience with Sister Jolley. We went out to sushi with the
sisters from our zone afterwards which was an adventure. Have I
mentioned that I like sushi these days? Like, I think that it is
incredibly delicious. Then we did some intense shopping for the
apartment and grocery shopping and are trying to get our act together
tonight!! I will be completely honest when I say that I don't think
I'm ever really going to get my act together, but hey, maybe if I keep
saying then it will magically happen.
Life is good. Life is good. Life is meant to be enjoyed. I love you
all! Thank you for all of your support!! I can feel your prayers daily
and they really do help. I love you all and am excited to tell you
more next week about the adventures of life in Japan, Atsugi edition.
Love always,
Sister Feist