Bring the World His Truth

Happy New Year!!!!      Hows it going yall?  I talked to my family on Christmas. That was great!  I am only allowed to talk to my family twice a year over Skype (Once on christmas and once on Mother's Day).   This week, we had so many 食事 's /Shokuji (food appointments). nWe were able to go caroling, have a nice lunch with the Bishop and his wife, and go to a member's house for a delicious dinner.  Since tomorrow is New Year's, 会長  /Kaicho (mission president) told us to "go enjoy the culture" and "don't go housing and streeting."  We are packed full with appointments today and tomorrow.  We have appointments back-to-back.  This morning, Elder Uhlig has been on the phone all morning as members have been calling us to invite us over.  Now, we don't have any free time what so ever.  What a blessing!!  We are so grateful for their kind invitations!!         So, ...

Hey,    Yeah, so my P-day is on Christmas.  This year, our mission president allowed us to select when we wanted to have our p-day this week; whether it was the 24th, 25th, or 26th (Over in Japan). So, We chose Christmas.  This week, I went without my companion for most of it.  He's a Zone Leader and a District Leader, so he had to put together a zone conference and had a Mission Leaders' Conference over in Fukuoka all in one week (last week).  I was with Elder Bodily; Who is new to the Naha Area-- The funny thing is, he's been in Urasoe more than he has in Naha.  Well, Elder Uhlig and I are back at it again.  It doesn't seem like Christmas this year!  In Okinawa, it's pretty much Hawaii so there is no snow.  Right now, it's even 64 degrees!  This week had lots of Christmas Carolings.  Elder Uhlig and I also played our last violin/cello duet gigs and returned our instruments back to the member we borrowed them...

Hey,   Almost everyone got transferred in the Naha Zone.  All of the polynesians are gone, new faces came in, and it's a new era of Naha Zone Elders and Sisters.  Out of our zone, Hippolite しまい/Shimai (Sister)  was transferred and a Naha sister, Rush しまい , took her place.  Elder Boll died (I know, that sounds horrible, but this is what missionaries call "going home"), Elder Palu was transferred to Kagoshima, and Elder Lim was sent to another area (I don't remember where).  Also, The Naha しまい only have a two-man since Baquinquito しまい died and Spendlove しまい was transferred to Fukuoka.  Everyone else stayed; I stayed, Gallarde しまい stayed in Shuri, Elder Takahashi stayed in Itoman, Elder Uhlig is still my companion.  It was hard saying goodbye.  Many of my friends were headed out and I'm not sure if I'll see many of them later.  Elder Palu, in the last 2 minutes before going through security, gave away his uke...