Fwd: Transfer Nine Week Six

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

Date: November 2, 2015 7:06:18 PM MST

Subject: Transfer Nine Week Six

Transfer 9 Week 6

Hey family and friends! Hope you had a good week :)

this week is transfers, so it has been stressful. My companion is
definitely ready to go home... It has been hard to get out the door
and work, but we are doing our best. One of the hard things about
being with a native companion is the power struggle. It shouldn't
happen, but what ends up happening is the question turns into "Whose
culture is more correct?" Most of the time, I don't push to have
things my way, however we have to be obedient. That part is
non-negotiable. We had a situation this week where we had a lesson
with our male investigator, but our joints cancelled at the last
second. However because we are teaching a male, we have to have two
other brothers there with us. She felt like it would be okay if we
still taught him. I did not. I made her give me the phone, and I
called people and found two men who were able to come. It is really
difficult to have your companion be mad at you, but I will not break
mission rules just to keep the peace. I know it is really hard to go
home, and it is easy to feel like the rules don't have to be followed,
and I am not perfect either... But that is one of the struggles we've
had... All transfer. みんげん 関係 は 難しいですね。Working with many different
kinds of people has taught me a lot. I am thankful for the opportunity
I have had to have so many different kinds of companions as well. Next
transfer I will be with my 10th companion.

I have loved this transfer and I am thankful for all that I have learned!

Yay for hard things! They help us grow!

We had a lesson with Shimamoto San about baptism. The spirit was so
strong. We invited her to be baptized again, and she said... No.
Again. Now is just not the time. She is still doing awesome wth
praying and reading her scriptures. I know that someday her time will
come. We just have to be patient with the Lord's timing.

I want to tell you a real story from my life. You will probably laugh
at how pathetic I am... So it was raining on Sunday night, we had been
fasting all day because our meetings went long and there was no time
to get a snack before leaving. Then we had to bike really far to a
member's house for Akuta Shimai's bye bye party, and then they fed us
soooo much food. It was delicious, but they just kept piling food on
our plates... This is when it gets good. We are rushing home for
another lesson, it is pouring rain, my hands are cold and cracking and
bleeding, I am sopping wet, I need to go to the bathroom, And we get
to his hill and I just have to stop about half way up, and then I GET
SICK on the side of the road. I finish throwing up and you know what
happens?! A car drives by and splashes MUD all over me!!! It was
literally like a movie when the main character is having the worst day
of her life.

Needless to say, I murmured. Hard core.

So here I am, it is pouring rain, I am covered with mud, I feel sick,
and I want to cry. But my companion didn't know that I had stopped, so
I had to get on my bike and catch up. I was a little more than upset
and was telling God that I was done and wanted to give up. I didn't
want to be outside in the rain. I wanted to be done.

I finished complaining and finally I looked up and asked "What the
heck am I supposed to do right now?" I received an impression: "count
your blessings". Then, a scripture: D&C 121:10 "Thou art not yet as
Job."

I was immediately humbled. Sure, I was having a bad day, but that
didn't make it okay to grumble OR give up. I think of my friends
serving in third world countries who don't even get a real shower or a
nice apartment. Japan has its challenges, but I have it pretty good. I
have so many blessings. The rest of the bike ride I tried to name all
of the good things God has blessed me with. It helped so much. Things
like "I have a good bike, it has held up pretty well" or "I am
thankful for my kappa (rain suit) because even though I look funny, it
keeps me kind of dry". I was really trying to see the good even though
I really. didn't. want. to.

It was funny though, when we finally arrived, my companion looked at
my face and said (in English) "what happened to you?" Another blessing
we received was getting back ten minutes early, which was just enough
time to get cleaned up a little before we taught our lesson.

We can choose how to react to the situations we are put in. We can
choose to give into misery, or we can fight to have joy. It's hard.
But if Sister Sanders can do it, you can too! Never give up! Never
surrender!

More miracles: Our Halloween party was a huge success! So many members
brought their friends! And then we had a family come because they
found the flyer in their mailbox. They are really cool. They are a
host family for a girl named Liese from Denmark! They had lots of
questions about what we believed. They had never heard of Mormons
before! A student from our English class, Ayaka San, came with her
husband and two daughters. They were SO cute! The girls were dressed
up as Snow White, costumes hand made by their mom. I was so proud of
the branch members, they went and introduced themselves to everyone. I
didn't have to worry about someone being left out. Ube is the best!

Lately, I have been thinking about what kind of person I want to be by
the end of my mission. I have grown a lot, but I have a looooooong way
to go. I decided I want to have charity. To really love the people.
Not just an appreciation of the culture, or liking the same foods or
fashion... But to love these people as my dear friends. I found this
quote and wanted to share it today:

President David O. McKay said "To my knowledge, there is no such
teaching by the Savior that says "become one who is loved by others".
The Savior taught "Love others. Love one to another". Being loved by
others is wonderful, but for those who truly understand the gospel,
their only desire is to love...

To missionaries, the most important thing is not to be loved, but
rather the desire to love others... The most important thing you can
tell your investigators is "I love you". Doctrine can become a great
help, but it can never replace it.

The most important thing for a missionary is not knowledge or to be
great of speech, but rather it is to love the people...

To love someone, it is not to change them so that you can love them,
but rather it is to accept them just the way they are."

Isn't this the way God loves us? I want to be this kind of missionary.
I want to be this kind of person! Charity, the pure love of Christ, is
the most important trait you could have! I know my time in Japan is
coming to a close, but I am a forever missionary! My badge is etched
into my heart! I sincerely hope to have more charity and be able to
show every person I meet the love the Savior would show if He were in
the same situation.

Have an awesome week! Can you believe it is November? Stay warm and
stay happy :)

This week my ponderize scripture is Alma 5:26 And now behold, I say
unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and
if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can
ye feel so now?

Love you all!!

サンダーズ姉妹より