Hello everyone!!!

Well, since many peopleare not happy with me and my lack of letters
last week, I will try to make up for it.

 So, NOW I reside in the beautiful place of Yamate- which means
mountain hand!!! You can google it if you like. It is where all of the
 Japanese movies are filmed. It is absolutely beautiful and is NEVER
boring. People from all over the world live here and part of out ward
is English speaking.

My companion is...well...awesome! She is the perfect example to me and
 is teaching me so much! We are trying hard to focus on the work and to
 not have too much fun with each other.

Because we are opening this area for sisters, we inherited no people
to teach and knew about 5 people- 4 being elders. But since then, we
have been praying (ichiban taisetsu) and talking with everyone, and we
have made SO many great friends! We love them so much, and because we
do we want to share the Gospel with them. We met two high schoolers
this week who I absolutely love! One has been to a church and is
curious about them and the other wanted to know why we were so happy.
They asked us if we could sing a hymn so we did I am Child of God in
Japanese on one of the busiest intersections in Tokyo. One of them
closed her eyes and had the most peaceful look on her face. Sometimes
people try to complicate the Gospel Jesus Christ and forget the root
of it. And that is peace. And sincere happiness.

When i first gothere, I was so focused on doing everything to the T I forgot

what I was there to share. And God wants us to remember the core of His
Gospel. And I have the privilege of spending all of my time dedicating
myself to that cause.

So I basically love it here. It is most certainly not easy, but it is
 absolutely worth it.

Um..other news...so we found an awkward olace in our area. Our area is
the smallest one in the mission, because there are so many people
here! But we traveled to the other end of our mission (about 10
minutes by train) and came to my new favorite place. Because it was
just strange. Like, the eki started to close on me while getting out
(scariest moment of my life) Hubbard Shimai slipped on the incredibly
small stairs, a family had a personal portapotty in their front yard,
I broke a handrail in a really old apartment building (but we fixed
it),and a lot of very awkward things. But it was hilarious and we
just kept pushing forward. and we found a referral there!

Things may seem awkward at first, but sometimes you just have to plow

through it! わたしの日本語。。。 well, I am trying. I can see how much

the Lord had helped me so far. And i can converse (painfully slow) with people.

But He has helped me so much in learning the fifth hardest language in the world.
And I find that, when my learning Japanese is no longer about me or my
pride but it about helping others and loving them enough to speak
their language, it becomes so much easier.

I love you all! Keep being awesome! God is real :D

Love

 モレン姉妹 

 Well I hope everyone is happy!

Okay, so here is the fun fact: We have no time to email because of a
very long story of buying $300 worth of stuff for our new apartment at
a store 30 minutes away walking, had no bikes, and had to callt he
zone leaders to help us carry it home. But it was a blast! Here is
the picture. We literally had to tape our bags while walking

Molen Shiamai

 BLIZZARD!!!!!!

So, for anyone who is keeping track of Japan, this should come as no
surprise. But to everyone else, we had a massive  blizzard this week!
It was insane! My companion and I couldn't leave the apartment on
Saturday,  but we delivered treat to ours neighbors, who were very
surprised to see us in the Blizzard! Then, (while we were calling
people in our apartment) we received a text from Bishop 山口, who
cancelled church. I didn't know he could do that! Insane, right?
But on Sunday the snow had stopped and, although a lot lf the roads
were undriveable, people could get around by foot. So we made the 40
minute trek to the church. We were actually walking back from a もぎ
lesson with a member who lived close to the church, we stopped to talk
to someone on the street. While we did, a lady walked by and smiled at
us. The conversation ended shortly thereafter and, as we walked away
the lady that passed us earlier yelled for us to stop. We quickly
walked over. Her name is Joyce, and she is from the Philippines. She
is married to a 日本人 and has a nephew on a mission. She then said (in
English) "I was really busy before, but now that I have time, I want to
go to church. And I like the Mormon church best. Can you come by my
house next Sunday and we can walk to church together?" Needless to say
we said yes.

I have met so many wonderful people here in Fujisawa! I am absolutely
in love w ith the members, investigators, and PIs here.
Then, this morning, we got a call from the APs. "Sister Molen,
President Wada went to the Temple and prayed very hard about this
decision. And the Lord has told him that people need you in Yamate.
So you will be opening that area with Sister Hubbard on Thursday."
Well, okay. I suppose that is the life of a missionary. My companion
土田姉妹 will be training Sister Hokanson in Fujisawa. I think they will
work perfectly together. I hate to leave ,y companion, though. She has
taught me so much! I feel bad that i got the best trainer in the
mission, but I am glad I was given that blessing!

It is a very strange thing, a mission. To fall in love with a people
and then be called elsewhere. But I am trusting that the Lord knows
best- He is the one that is helping me, lifting me, and leading me. I
am so glad that i chose to serve a mission. Sometimes it is difficult,
and sometimes it is beautiful. But it is always worth it  and I am so
glad to be here.

I hope all is well with everyone at home! 愛していますよ
Ever onwards,
モレン姉妹.

Smile for the Day:  This is what you do with all that snow :-)

Sometimes a picture says a thousand words.  We did not receive a new blog entry because of her using a new keyboard(Japanese) but she was able to send some pictures.  Those of you who know Mari have experienced the extra something she adds to the day.(I know I am biased but hey I have the right). Well
in this picture I believe it says all we need to know how she is this last week.  I know she appreciates all your support and for that I thank you ~~~~~ Mari's Mom

Molen Shimai 2/14