World Traveler: Sabbath Awesomeness

Today was pretty great in spite of still not feeling well. I woke up nauseous, but I got ready and went to church. The ride there was fairly pleasant (no spider incidences, mmm), and everyone was so nice. I found out that little girl's name: Madoka-chan. :) Seiko-shimai gave me a beautiful uchiwa (a kind of fan). I'm going to write her a thank you note this week. At church I felt overwhelmed and emotional. However, after the meetings, I was able to play piano. What a great blessing to have knowledge of how to play and there was an English hymnbook sitting on the piano. I have said for a long time that hymns number 220 (Lord, I Would Follow Thee) and 82 (For All the Saints) are my favorites. However, #30 (Come, Come Ye Saints) has been very powerful for me the past few years. Every time I hear it, I feel the Spirit so strongly. I feel such a strong connection to the saints who struggled and fought for what they knew was right and suffered so terribly. When I have a thought I don't want in my head, that is my go-to hymn. Today at church, when I started playing it, I teared up again. "But with joy, wend your way." That is what I am trying to do here in Japan. I felt so keenly alone this past weekend that that small call to repentance is appreciated. There is joy to be found here. I wish I could convince my brain and heart that it's ok to be far from my family and friends. I get to email, message, and skype them fairly often. I have a beautiful best friend who often posts on facebook, "Love who I am and who I am becoming." I realized that on the bike ride to church, I thought of the end-goal the entire time. I saw the streets only as a percentage of my route (halfway there, 3/4 there). I forgot to enjoy Japan on the way. So I am, again, renewing my goal to enjoy my time here and forget that everyone is so far away from me. I was trying to catch up on my siblings' lives via facebook stalking and I was so jealous to read about my brother and his wife's 7th anniversary. I was happy (and also jealous) to see a new picture of my little niece. I wish I could know Heavenly Father's plan for me. I wish I could see when the deep hurts in my heart will finally heal. In the meantime though, I will pray to stop being jealous and to remember my blessings. "Though hard to you this journey may appear, grace shall be as your day... Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard? 'Tis not so; all is right... Gird up your loins, fresh courage take. Our God will never us forsake; and soon we'll have this tale to tell: all is well! All is well!"

As I was playing the piano I got the skype call from my mom. I was able to talk to her and my Papa and Josué. I got to talk to them an extra long time today because the elders asked me to stay for one of their lessons. I told them I could give them a half hour because I needed to get home and clean up before my home teachers came over. Their lesson was with Yasue! So it was really great to see her. :) I haven't seen her since our shopping trip. :) She told me she reads my blog (so hello! Love you!). It was nice to see her and talk about English grammar (pretty sure she knows it better than me and poor Elder Saunders was like, "Uh... good thing you were here. I have no idea what you're talking about!"). Then I pedaled home. I wasn't as good at my resolve as I meant to be - I only was able to notice my surroundings and appreciate them once or twice, but it's better than nothing. I'm afraid my brain was working on what straightening up I needed to do. (All my laundry was still up drying.) When I got home, I cooled down then I got working. I folded and put away most of my clothes (I couldn't get everything as some stuff was still damp), and I got the snacks ready. I also reread the message in the Ensign. The visit was very nice. I'm understanding Japanese better and so there was less of a communication problem. (Oh also the sisters arranged with me to come visit me this week. YAY! They are coming over Thursday evening. -- Actually that story is kind of funny. As I was playing piano one of the sisters came up and complimented me then asked, "Hey! Can we come mogi with you this week?" "Mogi!? Is that a dance move?" She laughed and explained that it was roleplaying. I said sure but that it would be hard for me to roleplay as I don't know much gospel Japanese. Then she reassured me that it would all be in English. ~ two of the sisters are from the US and the third is from Japan) After my home teachers left, I put my bed down (I've been putting it up during the day so mold won't grow on it) and laid down. My nausea has calmed down a lot, mmm, and I have tomorrow off because it's a holiday. I'm feeling stressed and frustrated though because all the run around for getting a tutor set up. I emailed the guy last Saturday and he emailed me last night. I'm supposed to meet this girl tomorrow and there's been no confirmation on it. It's frustrating to have something set up on my holiday that I HAVE to do. I would rather choose things that I would LIKE to do. I mean, I have errands to run, but if I choose not to do them, then I alone will suffer the consequences. If I don't show up for this meeting though... ARGH! Seeing as I haven't had a confirmation... I don't want to just go and hope for the best. GRR! I don't care for being stressed. I ate some lunch (kinda did a late lunch/dinner) and now I think I will eat a dessert cheese. Forgot to tell you, I got some yesterday! I'm excited to try it. Wishing you all the best! XOXO, A

oh and p.s. I've been informally called to be the ward choir director. I have NO IDEA how I am going to accomplish that! I can't even plead for people to join. And the weird thing is, I was told I would get the calling, but I was never sustained. At least, not that I know of. And yet, I was asked by my home teacher today when I would start the choir. Uh... next week? AH! This is stressful. Any advice would be wonderful! Thanks!