Letter Postmarked 12 Nov 2009

Dear All,
    Did you know that despite the fact that I go up and down at least 30 flights of stairs a day, (my classroom is on the 5th floor,) I am somehow uninjured?  I have not fallen once!  While this seems silly to most people here, for me, this is no less than a minor miracle, as you well know, and one I am quite thankful for.
    The days pass so fast that I hardly recall what happened yesterday, or even a few hours ago.  The majority of the last month is a distant blur.
    Yesterday, Hna. Perez received a package from her sister (we DO eat things besides cookies, you know,), which contained, among the baked goods, a card … for me.  Inside was a note of respect and love, terminated with “If you need help coping with Becky, just ask.”  I was amused and touched.
    I have frequently thought of home this week, with a certain wistfulness, but I remain un-saddened.  I often reflect, in a frustrated moment of two, that I would very much like to pick up a controller and kill a few pixels, but it’s a silly, wistful thought, not a longing.
    I’ve become fairly close to elders Nielson and Condie, as has Hna.  Elder Nielson is one of these people who is constantly making strange faces for no apparent reason, and Elder Condie is quiet and reserved (kind of like father is) until he pulls out this small comment that just makes it hilarious.  Elder Nielson is also an artsy, kinda touch-feely guy, and he seem to appreciate the fact that neither Hna. nor I (neither one of us is very effeminate) are “Boys.”  (Nor are we “Girls.”  The boy is a hopeless flirt.)
    Hna. found out about my knife, which she proceeded to relate to the whole district, calling it a “small sword.”  The Elders desperately wanted to see it, and I wanted to de-tooth the rumor.  However, when I showed the little dagger to them, they all expressed varying levels of awe and wonderment, and several said that it made them happy.  I’m not sure why.
    This week, we have received a little slip of paper that reads “If you could ask an apostle one question, what would it be?”  Aside from being baffling (what DOES one ask an apostle?)  it reeks of foreshadowing.  In an awesome screaming fan girl kind of way.
    Elder Condie received a letter from a friend in Japan.  The contents of which were not nearly as fascinating as the engrish that plastered the paper and the envelope.  “I am cool bone guy.  All girls are gutlessnesses in me,” was the most understandable.
    Speaking of Japanese, there is a zone of Japan bound missionaries down the hall from us.  They frequently bid me “Oyasuminasai” in the evenings, which I find touching, but requires me to change gears very quickly.  I find my desire to learn Japanese drastically increased, which no one seems to understand.  I think I just love the language.  However, until I learn Spanish, that’s just a dream.  So I buckle down and work harder.  (On a side note, I did bring both of my Japanese dictionaries.  The Lord blessed the prepared.)
    Oh!  That Jim Butcher story that father had me read just before I left!  It’s actually been a real moment here.  The line that the angel Gabriel says, “The battle was fought while you weren’t looking,” has become very well known to our zone, as has the story, in an abbreviated sort of way.  I used it as an example to show that even though we will not likely see much of the fruits of our labors, it does not mean it is not worthwhile.  Everyone loved it so much, and I was very glad of it.  I find other examples in fiction frequently coming to my mind to help me explain ideas, and my mission president assures me that I will need, at least once, to use that talent in the field.
    In addition to the Christmas list I sent in the e-mail, there is one other things I want.  It is a picture of the young Christ sitting on a purple cloth, teaching at the temple.  I like it very much because it uses Asian posing structures to describe what’s happening.  They do not have prints here, and the image in a PMG (a cropped version) does not have credits.
    I love you all, and hope you are doing well.  Don’t have too much fun without me.
Sincerely,
Hermana Maren M. Jones

PS: I’ve enclosed a separate letter just for Myr.  Also, I have enclosed some doodles.  Enjoy.  The dragon is for Caedy.  I based the personality on Tsuki.

Email Received 6 January 2010

    So, We met back with the investigator who set the date. She says that she's not ready to be baptized, but that her daughter is. It was kind of an "oookaaay" moment. She won't tell us exactly why she's not ready, but she's increased her reading. I think she's looking for something, but I'm not sure what, and neither is my companion. We’re going to do all we can to continue to prepare her, with hope that she'll change her mind.

    That said, another investigator has his baptismal date as well. We’ve been teaching him for a long time. He might have a second-grade education... maybe. However, we've seen miracles with him. In the short time I've been here, his reading has improved drastically, and the other day, he called us, saying, "I have a really important question I need to ask you." Of course, he wouldn't tell us what it was. So, we made a appointment for the next day after our zone meeting. Well, in zone meeting, President and Sister Doll did a role-play about using the scriptures to teach.  They used 3rd Nephi 27 to show who Christ was, and what we should do to follow him. It was amazing and inspiring. So when we got to the appointment, It was fresh in our minds. So, our investigators question was this: "Who are they who will not return to live in the kingdom of the Father?" (It's not nearly that elegant sounding in Spanish.) Well, we used the exact same chapter, and before we knew it, he was asking to be baptized, and we set the date for January 24. However, since he works weekends, we have to baptize him Sunday, since it's his only day off. We're going to talk with the branch president to see if we can do it that morning. Otherwise, the confirmation will have to be held outside of sacrament meeting.

    The soup sounds fantastic, and remarkably like something that one of the hermanos in the branch made for us. I think it would be a great tradition. I’m curious how Caedy did for Risk, since she so soundly schooled us last time. I'm also glad the kids got to make a snowman. I would have been sad if I had sent that kit and Teg never got the chance to use it.

    It's been very cold this past week. Sunday was -11 in the morning, and it has been hovering around 4 for the few days past. Today, however, is a balmy 24 degrees. Still too cold to wash the windows of the car... the cleaner freezes to them.

    The other day, we had to park our cars in another spot so they could plow our lot. We were greeted the following morning by a thick layer of frost... on the INSIDE of the windshield. Unsure what to do, we just sat in the car and let the defroster run. As a result, we were late to our meeting. No importa.

    By the way, I now have plenty of tights and nylons... I think I might be ok until say... Christmas next year. J It’s all good.

    I've written a letter to the ward. I'ts a little bit harsh, but I think they'll apreciate it just the same.

    I also got a letter from Bother Welch. Hermana and I laughed realy hard.

    Tell my little punk brother that if he doesn't send me his e-mail adress, I'm going to do something drastic... (not like there is anything I can do, realy...)

    Love you all. Best of luck to you in this new year.

Sincerely,

Hermana Maren Jones.