Hello everyone, hope you're doing well! I am happy, warm, and a little sunburnt here in Fujisaki - a welcome change from the countless layers of a couple weeks ago. This week, we had the privilege of hearing from living prophets and apostles of Jesus Christ, those called by Him to run the church here on Earth. They spoke on all sorts of topics, including charity, opposition, the future, agency, you name it. I really enjoyed each and every talk, and look forward to going back here soon and reading over them all. If you follow this link, you can also find my favorite song performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (also the Vanderbilt Choral Department last year, so I love it even more). I know that through the grace of Jesus Christ and our exercising of faith, we can receive the fullest joy imaginable (2 Nephi 25:23-26).
This morning, pre-PDay activities, we participated in the funeral service for a woman in the ward who passed away suddenly this week. It was my first funeral in Japan - very somber and reverent, as is to be expected. In this situation, as with the passing of loved ones which we all experience, I'm so grateful to know of Heavenly Father's great Plan of Salvation, which enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave and into eternity. I'm grateful for the life and example of my great grandmother who also passed away recently, three days after her 100th birthday. Because I am so sure she is and always will be my great grandmother, and that I will be reunited with her in the not-too-distant future, I can feel peace half a world away. God has provided this plan and allowed us to know of it so that we can be happy in this life and in eternity.
And I am happy :) I hope you all are too! These three ladies in the picture added some fun to the week. We were biking down a street and saw the lady (top left) sitting outside her house at a spinning wheel! We asked her what she was doing, and she said she was spinning old futōn into thread...what a cool lady! She invited us into her house, where her sister and friend were crafting to the highest degree. They had looms, wheels, t-shirt designing, you name it. Every time we turned around, there was a new thing they had either made or purchased in their travel literally ALL OVER the world. They gave us cake and hot water (because we don't drink tea, but hot water works) and we talked for an hour or so. They were adorable. Three of the twelve old women we became BFFs with this week - a record, I think.
Here's a picture of the crane attack we received on our post box, as well as my sunburned face :)
I love you all!
Sister Janette Jorgensen
janette.jorgensen@myldsmail.net
I love everything about this. Hooray for Sister Jorgensen!!
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