Fwd: 3rd Transfer Week One

From: Lindsay Sanders <lindsay.sanders@myldsmail.net>

Date: January 19, 2015 1:36:27 AM MST

Subject: 3rd Transfer Week One

Literally what my journal this past week looks like:

1/15 SISTER SANDERS HAS ARRVIED IN CHIKUSHINO. SHE IS ALSO BETTER AT JAPANESE THAN SHE THOUGHT.

1/16 SISTER SANDERS HAS SURVIVED HER FIRST FULL DAY AS A TRAINER. SHE ALSO HAS A HEADACHE FROM ONLY SPEAKING JAPANESE.

1/17 SISTER SANDERS　MADE A FOOL OF HERSELF BY TRYING TO GIVE SOMEONE A BOOK OF MORMON AND TELLING THEM IF THEY READ THIS BOOK THEY WILL DIE.

1/18 SISTER SANDERS SURVIVED 3 HOURS OF PEOPLE AT CHURCH ASKING IF I AM FROM UTAH AND IF I HAVE EATEN NATO. HER COMPANION WAS NICE AND GAVE HER CHOCOLATE TO EAT DURING RELIEF SOCIETY.

I am not sure why I wrote about myself in the third person, but looking back, I thought it was pretty funny.

This week has been great! I LOVE having a native companion! She is teaching me how to make delicious Japanese food and my Japanese is already improving. I also love being a trainer. Ogawa Shimai is such an amazing missionary! Funny story, she actually went to college here before her misison and she knows all the people and has lots of friends in the ward. Crazy, right?

Chikushino is my new favorite place!.It is slower paced than Fukuoka and there are so many families!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Missionaries live for opportunities to teach families. I am so excited to get to know these new people, ward members, and investigators. I feel like I am meant to be here.

Ogawa Shimai has also become one of my best friends. We are always laughing and we are both working so hard to talk to each other. We are a good team! She thinks I am super funny too, so that`s good. She is 26 years old, and loves cooking and shopping. Her favorite food is udon and her favorite color is sky blue. She is crazy good at yoga. Also she loves kids :) I LOVE HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want all of you to meet her!

It was really hard to say goodbye to Fukuoka. Oba Shimai drove me to the train station and we both hugged each other and cried. She is my Nihonjin mom. She always took care of me and we have a really special bond. I will always be to thankful for her and her family.

This week I have seen a lot of miracles. I don`t have time for them all, but one of them is on my 2nd night in Chikushino, we were housing, and had about 20 minutes left till curfew. We still needed to give out 1 more Book of Mormon. We prayed. The next 4 doors all took Book of Mormons. It was amazing.

I love being a misisonary! I am still super genki and rocking it out here in Chikushino.

My district leader is Sugimoto Choro, who was in my Zone in Fukuoka. I LOVE HIM! He is one of my best friends. I will take a picture with him and talk more about him later. Also, my zone leader is BRAZILIAN. His name is Cascardi Choro. His parents are mission presidents in Brazil. I get to work on my Japanese AND portuguese this transfer!

I am so thankful for the prayers on my behalf! I have felt them and they have gotten me through some rough patches this week.

ALSO, thank you everyone for sending me letters! I am really behind on writing back, but please keep them coming! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!

Please tell me what you want to hear more about. I never know what to write in these emails.

please and thank you!

--

Sanders Shimai