Monday, November 3, 2014

Fwd: Hello

Sorry this is a day late! We had a Zone Training yesterday and we had to move PDay to today, so I hope you are waking up to a nice email! Things should be normal for the rest of this transfer, so you`ll get my email on the normal day!

I am sorry to hear about Brady- he is a great kid! I will pray for his family.
I am glad to hear that Jadyn had her baby and that you are loving your calling!

I don`t think you`ll recognize me when I get home. I have changed so much! My testimony has grown stronger and I have grown in so many ways... and it`s only been 2 weeks. I have seen miracles that have made me catch my breath. The Lord is so involved in this work. I am so blessed to be a missionary here in Japan! There is so much happening. I wish I had time to tell you about every single detail! Just know that I am so happy, and even when I have a bad day, I know that the Lord is helping me.
Japan is completely different. Haha I am still adjusting to how people talk and bowing every other second. We bike pretty much everywhere. In my area, everything is less than an hour away by bike, so we don`t need to use the train. In other areas, you use the train a lot more. I am on my bike whenever I need to get somewhere- our apartment is about 20 minutes away from the middle of town, so to get to the church or most members houses is about a 40 minute bike ride- I`m guessing about 5 hours worth of just bike riding a day? I am getting pretty strong and can make it up the bigger hills now! The people here are so fashionable. We try to talk to 30 people a day, which is easy because everyone walks everywhere! Asia is so different. I really love it though. I like being in the big city, but it:s also fun to ride out to members houses because they live by the rice fields and mountains.

We are trying to reignite the dendo fire in our ward- to get the members excited about missionary work. We spend half our time doing less-active work, and it has taught me the importance of members helping us out.

One of our investigators is going to be baptized! I got to ask the big question! I said, in the simplest sentence there is, Yamaguchi san, baputesuma o ukette itadakimasu ka? which means, Mr. Y~, will you receive baptism? and he said HAI, itadakimasu! Which means YES!!!!! We are working with him to give up drinking and smoking, but his date is Nov 30th. It is a miracle. We are praying for him so much. We really wanted a baptism before Sister Nelson went home. 

I ate a whole octopus stuffed with a shrimp over rice with a lemon wedge. It was disgusting, but a member gave it to us, so I swallowed it with a smile. Most of the food is really good, but most of it looks like it`s still alive....... yeah.

I got a letter from Samantha this week! It was awesome! I will tell you when I get stuff. I sent you a letter last week! Since we live so close to the Mission Home, they give us mail whenever they see us (which is mulitple times a week) or it gets sent straight to the apartment. I am warm enough!! No worries! We have a heater and lots of blankets. It`s not super cold- just the wind while I`m biking at night is a little chilly. It has been raining though. It`s like someone turned on a waterfall showerhead above you, and it just follows you. I`m getting used to it though! 

I am finally used to riding my bike. My leg muscles are pretty impressive, haha! 

I am so happy! I love being a missionary! How is everything at home? I love you guys!

Love your missionary, Sister Sanders


-- Sanders Shimai

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