Transfer 7 Week 6

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

Date: August 2, 2015 8:15:14 PM MST

Subject: Transfer 7 Week 6

Transfer 7 Week 6

Wow this transfer is almost over. That went fast. Transfers happen the week of the tenth, so we will see what happens. 

Well, this week was recovery from hospitals and drama last week. Life is so crazy. It's over now, and I am feeling so much more genki and I am back to work. Sorry about how short the email was last week... I promise a good letter today! 

I feel like Sister Sanders is back! The first time we actually got out to contact after I recovered, I felt so much fire to talk to everyone. I beat my personal record for Book of Mormons passed out in one day! I also pushed myself a little too hard and had to take a break... But things are getting better! Thanks everyone for your prayers! They have been keeping me going. 

My district is still awesome! I really like these people. District Leader, Elder Christensen, goes home after this transfer. I am so sad to see him go. But he'll be at BYU Provo this semester, so everyone go say hey! He's way cool. I am really lucky to have awesome leaders. I have learned about the importance of STL's... Mostly how I don't want to be one. I am also thankful for our zone leaders who push us to work harder. I always try and be friends with the Japanese Elders because honestly they are the funniest. Elder Sato and Elder Roncal are hilarious. Elder Sato is the most chill guy, and then elder Roncal has so much energy. But they complete each other. I am BFF's with Madeux Shimai. I am going to take a road trip to Minnesota when she gets married. Chun Shimai is amazing. Our personalities are "perfect matches" and our minds wrk the same way. I am so blessed to work with such amazing people!

Can I tell you what Murakami san said to me?! We have been working with her for a while, but she just hasn't gotten baptized yet. She has some concerns about her family... But we were having a lesson on faith. Our member, Kojima Shimai said "it was an act of faith in the pre-earth life to come to earth"... Then Murakami looked at me and said "I think that we were friends then, and we promised that we would find each other... Thank you for finding me and helping me." I may have shed a tear or two... Or fifty billion. How sweet is that?! My translation doesn't really do what she actually said justice. I do honestly feel like what she said is true. I think that our paths were meant to cross. I just want her to be able to be baptized so bad. Her daughters and son came to the lesson too, and when it was time to pray at the end, Murakami's kids were the first ones to fold their arms. Then her daughter asked "Mom, can I say the prayer next time?" I have never seen Murakami so happy. She is sooooooo close. We are praying for her.

We have had a lot of success finding this week! Such a blessing! We found a FAMILY who actually invited us back. We are going to teach them this week. I think every missionary's dream is to find a family. I have only taught a few on my mission so far. I just have a really good feeling about this family. They just have one four year old son who has tons of energy and he is so cute! They have been looking for a way to make their family stronger, and they were sitting around their table talking about how to make their family stronger when we knocked on the door. Coincidence? I think NOT! :) I introduced us as people who had a message about how God loves you and your family and wants to help your family become stronger. He asked us when we could come back. That was a first! Most people don't even open the door for us. The Sakae family is going to be so blessed! Yay!

I want to share a thought from D&C 18:

Lots of times in the scriptures when they talk about the cool missionaries like Alma and Ammon and so on, the scriptures say things like "they brought many souls into Christ" which I take as "they baptized many people". Then I start to feel kinda bad because I haven't seen many baptisms. But I was talking to another missionary about this, and they said "as long as we invite them to come one step closer, we are successful." Our success is measured by our commitment!!!

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

Being a missionary is such a wonderful opportunity! I love it so much! It can be difficult, but I literally get to cry repentance by inviting people to come unto Christ. My time is short- I only have 7 months left. In the 11 months that I've been serving, I haven't seen many baptisms... Will I be less happy because I didn't bring many souls to our Lord? 

No! God wants us all to be happy. He wants us all to have perfect joy. If the one soul I bring unto The Lord is myself, then that is great! If the many souls are my family, even better. Sometimes I get caught up in the numbers... But I truly believe that God doesn't care about numbers. He cares about hearts. He care about us wanting to change and be better.

You have a Heavenly Father who loves you! He remembers your name and knows what you need. He truly cares about you. He cares about what you are doing with your life.

Love you all. Thanks for all of your support! 

Sent from my iPad