I had an aunt and uncle who were called to serve as mission president in Thailand. I was in my teens when they returned from their mission. I loved my Aunt Kate. She had a really fun sense of humor and she and Uncle Clyde were great story tellers.
I fondly remember sitting at our home or theirs and listening to Aunt Kate and Uncle Clyde tell us about their mission experiences in Thailand. One story that really stuck with me, because I thought it was just so cute and funny, was of Aunt Kate being asked by an elder if she would hem his pants. She did, and then she asked him to step into the next room to try them on to make sure they were OK. As I remember it, there were several missionaries around. Uncle Clyde was probably doing interviews or something. Anyway, as soon as she sent him into the room, she told all the other missionaries to just wait to see what happened. She had sewn the bottom of one of the legs together. Pretty soon everyone heard him say, "Aaaa, Sister Lowe?" And they all burst out laughing. I don't know why that story has stuck with me, but I have always dreamed of doing it.
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| This is Elder Kishi from Southern Japan |
Last week, one of the office elders who I really love, Elder Kishi, asked me if I would hem two pairs of his new slacks. He had already tried them on and had them marked where they needed to be. I jumped at the chance. I hemmed the first pair nicely, and then sewed one of the legs closed. But I just basted it. I gave him the pants and asked him to try them on. I said I didn't want to hem the other pair until I was sure these were right. He tried them on, and came out and thanked me and didn't say anything. So I asked him if everything was OK when he put them on. Of course, I couldn't act sincere about it, so he saw my grin and told me one leg was kind of hard to get into. So I told him the story about Aunt Kate. He laughed about it and told me he had thought I had to do that for some reason to get them hemmed, and that I had forgotten to take out the thread.
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| Elder Kishi is the middle child of 9 |
A few days later, I told him that I was almost done hemming his other pair. He said thank you, and then he said, "You won't need to sew up the bottom." I laughed and told him I wouldn't.
I put a little note in the pocket that says, "I love you, Elder Kishi,",,,,, and I sewed up his pocket instead.
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| We are being taught by a member how to make sushi. |
I saw him next on Saturday. He walked up to me and did a little acting out of what happened.( It's easier for him to pantomime than to speak English.) One leg in, fine. Second leg in, fine. Hand in left pocket, all fine. Then he tried to get his hand in the other pocket. It wouldn't go. He was laughing and he thanked me again for hemming his pants and seemed to enjoy the extra attention. I asked Elder Berrett, his companion, if I had in any way offended him, and he said no. They all got a good laugh. So I think (hope) it was OK.
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Japanese Pizza--with potatoes and little sausages
around the edges. Not bad. |
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We were cleaning up from a big meal
at the mission home and Elder Kishi
found Sister Baird's napkin rings. |
