A Japanese Dinner

My friend "G" from work invited me to join him in a dinner with some friends that were making traditional Japanese dishes. "G" is from Brazil but is actually German and served his mission in Japan (Actually his real name is too long and too compicated for our poor English language so it's just "G"). Everyone there was either Asian or had some connection to it like missions, etc. I was very gratiful then that my Mom served in Hong Kong and that Uncle Dan served in Japan! I fit in more and was able to talk a little bit about what i knew.

It was so much fun! It was held at the home of one of the staff members in the international student office at school. They were such a good family. They welcomed us all in and set us to work rolling sushi or pinching these pocket things together for her. The mom had also served in Japan and had all these great dishes and plates, etc to make it more of an authentic evening. I guess she makes Japanese dishes quite frequently because her kids were raving about them.
After everything was so beautifully prepared we sat down to the low table they placed in the living room. There was at least twenty people. Having never tasted Japanese food, it was pretty darn good. I really enjoyed the sushi and all the other dishes that i can't pronounce.
The family's one daughter had just turned in her mission papers. She is very pretty and so sweet; we got to talking and became pretty good friends. I laughed because she said she'd like to go anywhere but Hong Kong. She's heard it was a very difficult mission; course i shared a little bit about my mom's mission and by doing that, caused me to want to go there some day, whether on a mission or just visiting. She got to talking and bore her testimony to me that when you decide you are going to serve the Lord through a mission, Satan attacks you in every which way- especially in the marriage department. Knowing that i'm planning and hoping to serve a mission, she told me to be warry and don't listen to those negative thoughts of "if you serve, you'll never get the chance for an eternal marriage", "that one guy you like, if you leave, he'll get married to another girl...", "you know it's not required for women to serve, why spend all that time and money- you know it'll be one of the hardest time in your life", etc. All in all, i wish her the best as she goes on to serve in the mission field. I know she'll do well.

It was a very fun night full of music, food, and remenising talk of Japan- often in Japenese. I learned a few phrases but ha, i can't remember them now. Someday i hope to be able to visit these places.