January 18, 2013

Hello from the ARCTIC NORTH.

 

Seriously it is so cold here I can't even know what to do with myself. Today we were outside by the train station giving out fliers for Eikaiwa and I literally thought I was going to die. It is times like those that you just have to do weird things to have fun and get the cold off your mind slash then you have to remind yourself that after trials come blessings. Plus, it could be much worse. I could be serving my mission somewhere like Russia or something. #goodthingGodknowsme

 

Anyway, as you might be able to tell by the fact that I am emailing so late, this week has been SUPER busy. But I would much rather prefer busy weeks then weeks when we have no appointments. We have been blessed. Thanks for your prayers! So on Sunday we had a little girl named Momoka's baptism. She is 8 and her parents are members but her mom wanted her to choose for herself slash understand what she was commiting to by being baptized so we taught her all of the lessons. I have done that a few times on my mission and I love it! The first picture I attached is of my companion and I and Momoka. She is an angel I love her SO much!

 

In other news, I no longer have the boot! I have graduated to normal shoes and a really cute lace up brace thingy when I don't wear boots that support my ankle. It feels great to walk normal again! Also the doctor says I can run, dance, ride my bike, etc. I went to the hospital on the navy base again and on that same day there was a giant snow storm in Tokyo slash surrounding areas. So that day was filled with stopped trains and lots of traffic no matter where we went. Everyone doesn't know what to do with themselves when it snows her apparently. The second picture I attached is of me when it just started snowing. As you can see I am not very recognizable as a human these days because it is so cold that I just put on pretty much every article of clothing I own. The third picture I attached I took when waiting for our train at the platform of the train station. That is also not too long after it started snowing. I love the train stations btw. They don't get old to me I still always feel like I am in a movie or something when I go on the train which is pretty much every day...

 

Yesterday we went on splits with another area in the mission called Hibarigaoka. As sisters we do splits about twice a transfer. It is where we trade companions for a day and get to learn from another person and miracles ALWAYS happen. I went on splits with this sister who I am obsessed with I seriously love her. Her name is Nagamine shimai. Well we had a lesson in the morning with an investigator who we haven't been able to meet for about a transfer. We taught her and everything was just flowing really well. The Spirit was DEFINITELY guiding this lesson. Then at the end of the lesson we got on our knees and our investigator prayed and it was SO bomb. She was full on having a conversation with God when up until now she would always just read the pamphlet that has 'how to pray' written in it. The spirit was SO strong and for the millionth time I received a witness from the Holy Ghost that God really is there. He loves all of us and wants to hear from us all the time. He is waiting to hear from His children. It was during this split that I once again felt the absolute PURE joy that comes from teaching the restored gospel. It is something so exquisite that I could never put in words but I can say that I feel so blessed to be a part of God's work right now. The work is hastening! Like it says in Doctrine and Covenants section 88 verse 73, "I will hasten my work in its time" well I KNOW that the time has come!!! So don't wait! Don't be left behind because it is a lot funner to be a part of this amazing work then sit on the sidelines. I love this gospel so much and I love my Savior!

 

I love you all!!!!!

 

LOVE LOVE

xoxo

gg

Ariel

 

ps I taught my companion "too legit to quit" the other day. You should hear her say it. You should also hear her say "dang it" which she also started to say because of me. My biggest triumph was when a member in my ward (she is like a 50 something year old lady mind you) started to say a little phrase that I ALWAYS say (in Japanese) and she said it once and was like, oops! I started saying that because of you! It was then that I had the reassurance that my personality is being portrayed when I speak Japanese. I don't even know if that explanation made sense.. Oh well..

January 7, 2013

Hello all!

 

Picture number one is a picture of me today eating pig tongue. We went to a buffett like place and it was amazing. It had everything you could imagine. Including a cotton candy machine. Picture number two is of this CUTE little girl in my ward who I am obsessed with. She wore a kimono because it was the first Sunday of the new year. New years is a big deal to these people.

 

In other news, this morning I taught my companion the word holla. It wasn't the easiest explaining to her when it is used. Let's just say it feels good teaching a Japanese companion to be ghetto again. I love it. Also we have been doing morning exercise to a pop-ed up primary song CD called popcorn bopping (thanks to Uncle Brent and Aunt Melodie!!!!) and we are learning a rap from it. Be looking forward to a video of that.

 

Yesterday was fast Sunday and like every person in our ward got up and bore their testimony. (it's a small ward) But I have to say that I love these people so much they are amazing. You would be shocked at the amount of faith and love they have. One member went housing with us yesterday it was the bomb.

 

I LOVE missionary work!!!

 

Love you!

 

LOVElovelove

xoxo

gg

Ariel

January 1, 2013

Happy New Year! It is 2013! I am in the future!!

A new year, a new transfer and a new COMPANION!!!! Yep! That's right! She's JAPANESE! I am so happy!!! I have only had one other Japanese companion on my mission. Her name is Sister Ono and she is the bomb. She is from Okayama which is a place by Hiroshima. She is on her 7th transfer (I'm on my 11th now) and she is an angel!  Remember last year when I took the "last picture of 2011" with my companion? Well, I did it this year too! (after we popped a bottle of Martinellies). Also for New Years Eve we went to a member's home and had a traditional Japanese New Years dinner. Sushi and chicken and shrimp and other Japanese foods that I can't explain in English. It was so much fun! (picture included).

We had another baptism on Saturday (the elder's investigator) and it was an amazing service. The person who got baptized has been an investigator for over 5 years. After he was baptized he gave his testimony and it was amazing. He told his conversion slash life story and he has not had the easiest life but the gospel has helped him to feel true joy. It was really a testimony to me that whoever, wherever, no matter what circumstance, the gospel can make you happier then you can ever imagine. It also gave me hope for all the people I have taught on my mission who are not quite ready to receive the gospel. I know that one day they will and I cannot wait to see their faces light up with the joy of the gospel changing them for good.

The Lord is 100% in every single details of our lives and I am so grateful for that. I spent some time today thinking of my goals and what things I want to accomplish in 2013. It is gonna be a great year. I am sure of that.

Happy New Year!

LOVE YOU ALL!

Love,

xoxo

gg

Ariel

Merry Christmas from the Japan Tokyo Mission!

Hello everyone!! Merry Christmas from the Japan Tokyo Mission!!! We made this video at a mission conference on Christmas Eve! May the love of the Savior be on your minds and in your heart all year round! I love you all!

 

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Sister Swainston

December 26, 2012

メリクリスマス！from Japan!!!!

 

Here is great pic of my companion and I with our mission president slash santa. I love him!

 

Okay so I just talked to the fam via Skype so I will keep this short. Merry Christmas!!!! This year was a little different than last, my Christmas was mostly a normal day of missionary work. BUT I realized a few things. I am so blessed to have been able to spend Christmas without all the lights and presents and parties and food and such. Instead I was privelaged to spend it with just me and my Savior Jesus Christ. Helping the very Son of God whose birth we celebrate, The Shepherd, bring His sheep to the fold. Now what could get more festive than that?!

 

Christ is born! He is the ultimate gift from our Father in Heaven. He loves us with a perfect love we may never understand but certainly every person on this planet can feel. It is real and I KNOW that.

 

Love you all!

Merry Christmas!!!

 

Love,

xoxo

gg

Ariel

December 18, 2012

I know this is SO lame and literally one sentence but I legit don't have time so SORRY! Went to the temple, played with Mano shimai (my senpai in the MTC) because this is her last transfer. (SO WEIRD) Went to Shibuya and re-kindled my LOVE for that place. Seriously I am obsessed with it. Oh yeah and I went to the Yokosuka base on Tuesday and I got a nice huge BOOT to walk in so it's a miracle! I can walk!!!! Also there was a Taco bell on the base and I was literally hyperventilating all over the place when the sweet military missionary couple who picked me up from the station took us there for lunch. Didn't know what to do with myself. All in all, I can walk! Which means I can DENDO!!!!! I am happy. Oh yes and the attached picture is of me infront of a purikura "mecca" as it says and it was called Las Vegas so obvi I had to take a pic.

 

The Church is True!

The Lord is DEFINITELY hastening His work!

 

LOVE YOU!

 

love,

xoxo

gg

Ariel

December 10, 2012

愛する皆様、

 

So this past week may or may not have been one of the longest of my life. Yes, I have been stuck in the apartment. ALL the day long. Except for going to church and to eikaiwa and stuff. So I was thinking last week after the accident, God has a purpose for all things, I am going to make the best of this situation and do with it what God would have me do. SO I got our cell phone and I called the world in our ward and asked the bishop and ward mission leader and stuff for permission and we were able to get 8 different sisters in the ward at different times during the week to come and do splits with us so that my companion could go out and dendou with one member and then I would stay behind at the apartment and talk with them about Preach My Gospel or how to introduce their friends to the church or I would practice teaching lessons with them. It was so amazing to see my ward come together and help us out like that. The picture I attached is of me and two of the members who came. I am laying in my bed (yes it is mobile because we sleep on futons) that we brought into our study room and I have been imprisoned in it.

So I have been working with Sister Budge and the mission office to figure out another hospital to go to and we figured out that we had to go back to the hospital that I first went to to get a reccomendation from the doctor and to get copies of my xrays. When we went the doctor checked my foot and my pain had spread so he had me take another xray. When he looked at the new xray he said the bone is fine. Of course xrays can only see bones and not ligaments or tendons so we aren't sure about those. So Sister Budge contacted a doctor on the American military base who is actually a member of the church and he then called me and we set up an appointment to go see him tomorrow. So tomorrow I will go to the military base in Yokosuka.

So, I am in high spirits. My pain is almost 100% gone and I am hoping for a very speedy recovery so I can work HARD until the end of my mission. Christmas is coming up and I want to get out there and start caroling again!

 

Thank you for all of your love, care, and prayers!

 

Love you!!!

xoxo

gg

Ariel

 

p.s. When I get home, remind me to tell you what I received this week as a Christmas present from and Eikaiwa student.