JESS HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 I hope your birthday was fantastic despite taking the ACT again the day after. In japanese we say ''otsukaresama desu'' which kind of translates to ''you're a hard worker''. They say it when Americans would say ''you're awesome!'' which is definitely an interesting culture difference but also a conversation for a different day, BUT both ways of thinking have benefits. 

It's 10 days until CHRISTMAS!!! <3 

This week went wicked fast, but it was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Last Monday the Director of the MTC came to pick up his daughter from her mission in the Nagoya, Japan mission, and he decided to visit the Kobe Japan mission and do new training with our mission president. He also sat in and participated in our mission leadership conference and it was SO AWESOME!!! He spoke a few times when I was in the MTC and he is an incredibly wise and inspired man. His daughter spent a day with us and we did missionary work with her and it was awesome!! We found these two incredibly prepared girls on the street on the way to a less active's house and if things work out we'll start teaching them this week and they'll start down the path of returning to their Heavenly Father. 

I've only got a little bit of time left but we also had the ward Christmas party and the ward brought a jillion friends and we were able to talk with all of them and it was so awesome to see the ward participating in missionary work! ESPECIALLY the primary children!!! They sang and did a play where they talked about the meaning of Christmas and talked all about Christ's life and when/why He was baptized and that He was resurrected and it was by far the most impressive play I've ever seen in my life. It was perfect!! Soooo many investigators came and the ward was incredible with fellowshipping them. I think these parties should happen every week. 

So that was about a hundredth part of my week and I wish I could write more but unfortunately I am out of time. But I love all of you anyway!!! Thank you so much for the package!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 and thank the Perras family for me too!!!!! I received a package from them today! I will definitely be sending a thank you card. You are all incredible! 

Have a wonderful Christmas week!!! Eat lots of cookies!! Serve lots of people!!! 

Love,

Daniels shimai