A Week of Growth

Hey Family,

I am glad to hear that you all had a good 4th of July and had a good week in general. On the 4th we had Eikaiwa (free english class) and we kind of celebrated it. That was the day that we ended up having a party so there were balloons and food and games. It was fun. The Elders popped the balloons after the part with their pens so it was our version of fireworks. It was pretty funny. I will say serving a mission and coming to another country has helped me appreciate my own country even more, especially since that country is America. Don't misunderstand I love Japan. I love the people, the food, the culture but I am true to my counry. I am for sure more patriotic now.

So this last week we had a zone conference where we met President and Sister Wada but the interviews will be tomorrow. But he also came to one of our wards yesterday to speak so i was able to see him then. I LOVE President Wada. He is amazing. I am actuallly kind of sad that I have him for such a short time but he has come at a perfect time during my mission. He is just so full of love and is real about things and has a great love for the gospel and for each missionary individually. It makes me so happy. Sometimes President Budge had a business feel to how he ran things. He to is a great President but I think I connect better with Presidnet Wada already. :D So they talked about the return a little bit last week in the conference and the zone leaders talked about it with him as well in the leader training counsel that was held last week. What it sounds like is that President Wada wants to the missionaries who came together to go home together (and for sisters go home with the scheduled elders that was before) and what is sounds like the earlier date rather than the later. I will find out more tomorrow when I ask him personally but for now it sounds like I will be coming home at the beginning of October sometime. I will let you know more next week but that is the rumor mill.

So this last week I have learned many things. One thing that stuck out was how much I love my mission. Last week I had a dream in which we were at a zone meeting and instead of the usual transfer call we had transfer letters and we took turns reading the letters out loud. When I opened my I read in big black letters YOU WILL BE GOING HOME! TONIGHT! I was so surprised and stammered over my words saying why?why?why? I am not ready to go home yet all while I was bawling really hard.  When I woke up and thought about the dream it made me realize how much I really do love my mission ever though recently it has been hard with not much success and companionship problems. What I am learning, gaining and the people I am meeting are all worth it and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Even knowing all of the tears and hardships I would face. Knowing how tired my body would be. I would do this again, I wouldn't even think about it. It has been a huge blessing in my life. And from thinking that I have thought a lot about where I am at right now in my mission and how I want to finish. I want to be sure to finsh strong. Not holding anything back. That also means taking better care of my body. The Lord has taught many different lessons this last week. Everyday I have learned something. How grateful I am for that. Even if it was a struggle. When I think about who I am now and who I was before I left I am different. I have changed. For that I will forever be grateful. I wish I could explain better the things that I have learned the things that I have felt. It was good, hard week for personal lessons.

This much I can tell you. I know that this church is true. I know that the Savior lives and helps us through trials. And I know that the Book of Mormon is a word of God. My testimony is solid on that. Through reading the book of Mormon we can have the spirit more in our lives. I know it, I have experienced it. What a great blessing and strength. Remember to be reading it EVERYDAY.

I love you all so very much.

I pray that this week is good for you.

Love always

Kenzie