Dear Friends,
We were out of the state of emergency (lockdown) for 4 whole weeks! It's a new record. I was able to attend church and meet some of the members in person. It was good to be in community again. There is something about physically being in the same room as people that is just so much more encouraging than simply meeting online.
However, we are now under another lockdown and everything is back online. The café is still open and Curves is still open, so I am enjoying trying to meet people those ways. I now recognize many of our regulars and know exactly what they want to order! It's kind of fun!
The ladies at Curves are continually challenging me to speak more Japanese. Last week I forgot my indoor shoes. The instructor said in Japanese and holding up one finger, "First time, ok" and handed me some borrow shoes, "Second time, not ok" and put her arms in a big X in front of her face. They're learning how to communicate with me! I feel so loved! Some of the ladies that work out there now acknowledge me on the street as I go by! Some have even spoken to me at the gym!! Please continue to pray for my gym time!! I really like these ladies!
It also looks like we may be losing the other missionary who works at the café at the end of May. He's trying to go work directly with a Japanese church, which is great for him, but it means that Mahoko and I will have to do everything at the café. Prayers for us as we try to figure out how to manage everything without wearing ourselves out!
Blessings,
Elya
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Mahoko and I have decided Fridays are official okashi (sweets, snacks, desserts) making days. We take turns teaching each other how to make different things we like. Mahoko is very skilled at "fancy" desserts. My style is more like your grandma's homecooked goodies that taste like home and make you feel like your in a cozy kitchen.
So, we make a good pair teaching each other new things. My Japanese cake vocabulary is better than my everyday conversation vocabulary!
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Mahoko taught me how to make macaroons. I attempted to make them once before and cursed the heavens I'd ever got such a notion. It was comforting when Mahoko said, "We are going to make macaroons, but half of them will probably fail." Half of them did fail...and I sacrificially ate them. The rest we were able to sell.
Please continue to pray for my relationship with Mahoko. I've been praying that we can be good friends even without being able to speak a lot!
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I spent a day with my friend from Vietnam. We went to an interactive art museum that you had to go through barefoot! I was nervous, but it was a lot of fun. We waded through water that was knee high, got hit by giant balls being blown around by fans, and were dazzled by crystals lite up to the sound of music.
Please pray for our time together this next month. I'd really like to have good conversation with her and understand her heart.
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I have a wonderful new friend, Elisa, who is a fellow missionary in TEAM with me. She has been such an encouragement. We have enjoyed exploring parks together and eating good food. I am very thankful to have her as a friend and neighbor!
Please pray for Elisa, she's getting married soon and is trying to plan her wedding here in Japan. I can't imagine planning all that in a foreign country during COVID. Please pray that family can safely come to Japan to attend as well.
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Fun Story
Sometimes when I am serving drinks at the cafe, customers surprise me by suddenly speaking to me in Japanese. Most of the time I have no idea what they are saying and I have to apologize for not understanding and get help. This month a customer asked me "Where is your restroom?" After a moment's pause I actually understood the question!! I excitedly directed her to the restroom. It was a good thing I was wearing a mask, because I had the biggest grin on my face. It would have probably come across extremely creepy how ecstatic I was to show them the restroom. I was really just happy that I finally understood something and didn't have to ask for help. Celebrate the small victories!
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