This morning was slightly crazy - four females getting ready in a tiny space. However, we were ready and out the door pretty early. We went down to the bus center since the girls hadn't rented bikes. Since I knew where the church was, I went with them to show them the way after we got off the bus. We walked to the bus center and I asked about a bus to Takamastunoike. It was great - the whole thing was all in Japanese! And I understood almost everything she said to me. I understood perfectly where to go but then she added extra information and I lost that. In any case, there are two bus stops in front of Nanak and I was able to figure out the right one on my own. Then I got us onto the bus. I told the driver where we wanted to go and I also found out how much it would cost. I was having a Japanese high! Then I heard the correct stop and asked the girls if they wanted to press the button (Abbey wanted to do so). Then "disaster" struck. Tara did something and the driver was trying to explain to her what happened. He motioned me over (YAY! He thought I spoke Japanese!) and I had to say, "Gomen, wakarimasen." Turns out she overpaid. So he gave her receipts and she has to do something with them but we're not sure what. LOL That was fun. So we got to church just fine and I introduced the girls to a bunch of members. Then Sacrament meeting started. It struck me then: FAST SUNDAY! I totally forgot. :/ So I'm going to fast next Sunday. Elder Norawong was sitting in front of us and translated for the girls. Miyuki came in a little late and I had her sit between Abbey and I (or is it me?). After that meeting, Elder Iida said goodbye to me ~ he's getting transferred :( ~ and he gave me his meishi. The teenage girls were crying. He's a heartbreaker! LOL Elder Norawong invited me to the Gospel Principles class so I went with him while the girls went to Relief Society. The class was really great - Miyuki went as well as Rika-shimai. We talked about repentance (oh and the sister missionaries were there too). Today was a very spiritual day. It was wonderful. Hibiki-chan (one of the teenage girls) bore her testimony today. It was very sweet. I found out during her testimony that she is investigating the church because her friend Rio is a member. We were all touched. It was a great day at church.
After the block of meetings, we skyped our respective families. I got to talk to my Maman, Papa, Nadia, and JT. The girls brought a present, by my request, to Fumie-shimai since she provided the futons for the girls. It was a really nice gift (a willow figurine) and Fumie-shimai was really touched. In fact, as we were wrapping up our skyping, she offered to drive us. I tried to turn her down, but she insisted. So we gratefully accepted a ride to the station to go to Kitakami. And there the .. "adventure" started. My cramps were KILLING me at that point. So I was glad to ride the train.
Ok, SO when we got to the station, since the girls have train passes they got in a different line than me. I grabbed my ticket and told the girls I was going to the bathroom and would meet them at the gate. There were A LOT of women in the bathroom so it took a while for me to get out. When I got to the gates, no girls. So I assumed they were on the platform and went to ask on which platform I should get. The guy tells me number six and that the train is leaving in 2 minutes! So I run to get on the train assuming the girls are there. Nope. They are NOT on the train. !? So I text Tara and tell her I will wait in Kitakami. Eventually she calls me, I explain and as it turns our they WERE on the platform but for the shinkansen while I took the local train. So since they hadn't seen me, they didn't take their train. We were separated for 2.5 hours. When they finally arrived, I had looked up a map to Sakura Hall and off we went. The walk took a long time and I was so crampy and hot and miserable. When we got to Sakura Hall, we found out we missed everything and now we're 30 minutes from the station and the place where the fireworks are happening are 10-15 minutes from the station in the opposite direction. I wanted to cry. Luckily the girls were ok with me waiting before we left again. Then I just trudged - my cramps hurt SO MUCH. When we passed the station and got about halfway to the fireworks I called it quits. I sat on a curb and promised the girls I wouldn't go anywhere. Off they went and I made friends with the people sitting in front of me. They spoke a little English and I speak a little Japanese. :) The lady brought her daughter over and had her practice her English with me. I taught her how to say peach.
The girls eventually came back and we got back just fine. I was so exhausted on the train and in so much pain, but I survived! YAY! Sorry it took me so long to finish this. XOXO, A
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