Konnichiwa from your favorite shimai :)

Okay, this week was such a blur so I will do my best to tell you about everything that's happened...

Things are going so great! This week was a bit more overwhleming, but my language is really coming along. It is easier for me to make my own sentences instead of just rweading from a book. I love my companion :) We are working well together. We are so different though. She is such a nerd :) She loves art and anime and all things weird. No, I'm not even kidding. But I love her so much :) We keep each other focused and motivated. She also gives really good hugs, and that is awesome because shimaitachi need lots of love.

I am so happy :) Thank you to everyone who sent me letters! I love them! I read them over and over all week! Please use Dear Elder because it's free! Thanks Priscilla for the Goldfish, those are my favorite :)

Last Thursday, (P-Day) we went to the Provo temple as a district and I loved it! It is something that is familiar to me and it was so nice to just feel the peace of the Spirit there :)

*Disclaimer* like I said last week, when we teach kyudosha (investigators), we are teaching our sensei's who are playing a character. They base these characters off of people they taught on their own missions. I try to treat them like they are my real investigators. I take it very seriously... This is some of the best practice we can get. No matter what, if we teach with the Spirit, their reactions are genuine. It is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced!

Friday we said goodbye to Watabe san and got two new investigators. We taught Iida san on Monday, and he is retired, divorced, and a smoker. We know the gospel can bring him joy in his life! Our focus on the first lesson was the Restoration. We shared a video about the First Vision, we bore testimony that we know God and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and that the true gospel has been restored. Iida san accepted a Morumon Sho (Book of Mormon) and we are meeting again with him on Saturday. We are also teaching Fuchino san, who is a recent high school graduate who plays soccer with the senkyoshi (misisonaries), and wants to know why they are such good people. We will be teaching him about Jesus Christ, and how following His example will bring him joy in his life.

On Sundays, we get to watch a broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word, and we have Relief Society. This week Sister Carole Stevens, First Counselor of the Relief Society General Presidency spoke to us. Here is one of my favorite quotes from her: "Sister is not just a title- it is a duty to love, give service, and be examples of virtue and charity. We must exemplify what it says in Mosiah 18:8-10 (this is also what we covenant when we are baptized!). It is our DUTY to love.

The shimaitachi and I all decided that, since we are in the business of saving souls, we are superheroes :) We are trying to come up with good names. If anyone has good ideas, please let us know. 

Speaking of super heroes, the chorotachi (Elders) are still great. We love them so much. Soares Choro was looking through the dictionary (remember, he is still learning English) and came across the word Hazelnut. He says to the class: If I were a super hero, my name would be Hazelnut. (he pronounces it Hah-zel-noot). We laughed so hard. That is how "Team Ephraim" began. Yes, Soares Choro chose names for all the chorotachi. Here is the list, and why Soares picked them)

Jespersen= potato chip (we don't know why...)

Wallace= Army Guy (looks like GI Joe??)

Soares= Hahzelnoot (the word is cool)

Rostrom- Storm Trooper ("Rostrom" is too hard to say, but Storm Trooper is basically the same thing)

Dana= Mormon Guy (he looks like Kirby Heyborne)

Agnew= Bruce Lee (they're both Asian)

Let's get a round of applause for the chorotachi! They are mostly the only reason we stay sane. The shimaitachi are great too :) We have our own funny things, but they're just not as good. Sometimes we sing "Bohemian Rhapsody" in the funniest way possible :) It's great!

During one study time, I can't remember which day, it was me, Mills Shimai, Jespersen Choro, Wallace Choro, Dana Choro, and Agnew Choro all sitting in our classroom reading the scriptures. It was SILENT. (hard to do, we are all goofballs). Then Jepsersen Choro had the idea to share what scriptures we chose for our missionary plaques, and how we chose them. I am always impressed at the testimonies my awesome district has. Everyone is here for the right reasons. 

This week I've started feeling a bit more homesick... I just love my family a lot! I know I am doing more for them while I am here on my mission than I could do for them at home. I read 1 Nephi 3:15 " But behold I said unto them that: As the Lord liveth, and as we live, we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us." This is Nephi telling his brothers who wanted to give up that they couldn't quit! They would not return until they had done what they were commanded to do. I had the thought "I will not go home until I have finished my work". I love being a misisonary. In this short time I've been here, I've been able to recognize the Hand of the Lord in everything that I do. I also love the scripture "Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life." (3 Nephi 5:13) This is my whole purpose of being here.

I forget who said it, but the Nihon senkyosha got a shoutout at the last devotional. Did you know that last year, other than English speaking, more missionaries were sent to Japan than any other country? Japan is being flooded with the Gospel! My district is one of the next group of reinforcements. There are about 70 of us missionaries going to Japan in the next 2 months. Suberashii!!!!!!!!! Yay! We have been told that we probably won't baptize much. I don't believe that. There are so many people that need the Gospel, and they will want to be baptized if we can teach with the Spirit. I am not going to Brazil or the Philippines where a missionary can baptize 100 people in a year... I am going to Japan. That is where the Lord needs me to carry out His work. I have no doubt that I will find people that are ready. I know it will be hard, I am realistic in that sense. But Japan is just as ripe for harvest as anywhere else in the world.

I saw Elder Ethington this morning! And I saw Elder Jacob Larson on Sunday :) They are both so happy! I see a lot of people all the time walking to class, at devotionals, and at meals :)

On Sunday, the choir sang "Where Can I Turn For Peace" arranged by the wonderful Mary Ellen Loose! That's right, she was my pianist at CGCC!!!!!!!!! I was so excited! Her arrangement is beautiful. The conductor shared a thought: When the Savior suffered in Gethsemane, it wasn't a mass sum of all the world's pain... it was like a long line of people. The Savior suffered for each of us individually. He knows what it's like to be us, to be tempted and tried. I can truly say that He knows us. Not just what it's like to have a broken heart, but what it's like to be you and have a broken heart. I hope that made sense. 

I am going to be auditioning to sing at a devotional or Relief Society meeting this week.... pray for me! 

That is all for today! I am about to go to lunch then go to the temple. Have a great week and I'll talk to you next week!

Ai shite imasu!

--

Sanders Shimai

Farewell Talk

I gave my Farewell Talk yesterday morning! The ward boundaries in my stake were rearranged just two weeks ago, so there were lots of new people, but I had tons of support from family, friends, and members of our old ward!

The topic of my talk will be President Eyering's talk entitled "Our Hearts Knit As One" from the October 2008 General Conference. If you'd like to read/watch/listen, here is the link: 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/our-hearts-knit-as-one

Here is my talk:

Hi, my name is Lindsay Sanders and I have been called to serve in the Japan Fukuoka Mission, where I will be speaking Japanese. For those who don't know already, I do not speak Japanese... yet. I am so excited for this experience. I have always wanted to serve a mission because I love this gospel! I have peace and joy in my life. I know what my purpose is. I know that my Father in Heaven loves me, and has a work for me to do! Christ, our Savior, suffered the Atonement so that I can return to God's presence. I hope that I can help others to love the Gospel, too!

The scriptures teach us that we, as Saints, should be "of one heart and one mind" (Moses 7:18)... but how is that possible when we consider all of the things that divide us? It can be as simple as what school you go to, or where you choose to shop... or things of a much greater magnitude. President Henry B. Eyering gave a talk entitled "Our Hearts Knit As One", referencing the scripture in Mosiah, stating that the members of the Church would have their "hearts knit together in unity and in love towards another". This scripture is speaking of the prophet Alma, who was one of King Noah's wicked priests. After hearing the words of Abinadi, he escaped the king's servants and continued to share the Gospel in several cities throughout the land with whoever would listen. There were many who believed his words and were baptized in the Waters of Mormon. Even though they came from different cities, and from various walks of life, the scriptures say "there was no contention among them". 

How can we avoid contention with those who are different from us? President Eyering reminds us that we will "come from every nation and many different backgrounds into the Kingdom of God". 1 Nephi 22:25 says "And he gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth, and he numbereth his sheep and they know him, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd". Prophets through the ages have called for unity as Saints, and President Eyering says "we are doing better". Whether it is in our own homes, as a Quorum or class or group, or even as a brand new ward. "The miracle of unity is grnted to us was we pray and work for it in the Lord's way. Elder D. Todd Christofferson said "We will become of one heart and one mind as we individually place the Savior at the center of our lives... Let us seek to build up Zion through unity, godliness, and charity". The picture of Zion comes into full view as we lay aside the conflicts of the world and focus on what is good.

When we find ourselves in troubled water, a skilled peacemaker can calm what could otherwise be a raging sea. A peacemaker is also a restorer of unity. You could be one of those peacemakers. Seek for common ground and what you DO agree on. Heavenly Father, in His wisdom made us all unique. We can still build unity with people who are vastly different from us. The children of God have more in common than we do differences. Likewise, we grow stronger together than we would on our own. Differences can be an opportunity, or contribution, instead of a source of irritation. As the Lord gathers more and more people who are not like is, it will become more obvious that the Atonement brings the same changes in all of us. We become disciples who are meek, loving, easy to be entreated, and at the same time fearless and faithful in all things.

The unity we feel now will only increase! Start small and seek to serve. Reach out to someone new. Fearlessly share your testimony! D&C 6:3-6 is one of my favorite scriptures. It reads "Behold, the field is white and ready to harvest; whoso desireth to reap, let him thrust in his sickle... Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God. Therefore, if you will ask of me, you shall receive, if you will knock it shall be opened unto you... Seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion".

I'll leave you with my testimony:

I know that Heavenly Father loves us. He hears us and answers our prayers. Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of sould! His Atoning sacrifice makes it possible to live with God again. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet called of God to restore the Gospel to the earth! He truly was inspired to translate the Golden Plates so that the Book of Mormon could come forth! I am so thankful that we are able to read the words that were written for our day! I have found peace and comfort from reading the Book of Mormon. I have prayed to know that it is true! Thomas S. Monson and those that serve with him are called of God to lead the Church today.

I am thankful for this opportunity to speak to you! The next 18 months will be a wonderful adventure, and I promise to come home tired from all the work I've done!

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

More Mission Prep

MORE HELPFUL SITES AND BLOGS!!

In an effort to be suuuuuuper helpful to Sisters (or Shimai!) who are headed to Japan, I have compiled a list of all the blogs/ blog posts/websites that I have found helpful in my own preparation for my mission. However, I will say that no amount of scrolling through blogs can replace dedicated scripture study! Here we go:

About the (Provo) MTC:
http://elderpickle.blogspot.com/2013/02/surviving-mtc.html

http://hermanasilva.blogspot.com/2013/02/tips-to-know-before-entering-mtc.html

http://sister-2-sister.net/2014/07/23/surviving-the-provo-mtc-cafeteria/

http://sistercarlylynncase.blogspot.com/2014/01/mission-be-betters.html?spref=fb&m=1

http://manyarecalledtoserve.blogspot.com/2014/08/mtc-provo-missionary-store.html

SISTER MISSIONARY BLOGS (most are from the Japan Fukuoka Mission, the others are from different missions in Japan):
http://sisterbreksa.blogspot.com/

http://www.missionsite.net/sistermeghanstirling

http://roberts-shimai.blogspot.com/

http://sistereddy.blogspot.com/

http://missionarylucy.blogspot.com/

http://sisterbaird.blogspot.com/

http://sisterkatelynsharp.blogspot.com/

http://sisterlemmon.blogspot.com/



Misc:
http://gospelgirlrm.blogspot.com/2013/07/10-things-you-wish-you-would-have.html


Encouragement:
http://lemmonythings.com/2013/09/20/go-elder-message-to-pre-missionary/

http://sisteraverymiyahara.blogspot.com/2014/06/sista-miyaharas-farewell-epistle-61614.html


Favorite Talks:
http://laytreasuresinheaven.com/becoming-a-consecrated-missionary/

How to Post to Your Blog By Simply Sending an Email!

So, my mom is great, but she was stressing about figuring out how to update my blog while I'm away! I can't stress my momma out any more than necessary, so, I found a solution!

I was playing with the settings for my blog and discovered how to update my blog without breaking mission rules! All you have to do is send an email.

I will now share this secret with all of you.

From your Blogger dashboard, look at the left column, and go to "Settings" (at the bottom)

 Then click on "Mobile and Email".

Under the "Email" section, there is an option to type in a secret word and create an "email address" for your blog!

Make sure to pick "Publish Email Immediately"!

You will send the email from your own personal email to this new "email address".

When you send an email, the subject line becomes the title of your post.
The message becomes the body of your post! You can add pictures and everything!

Hope this helps!

Mission Prep: Helpful Websites

Here are some of the websites I've found that have been super helpful as I've been preparing for my mission! All of these are specific to the Japan Fukuoka mission! If you know of any that I missed, please let me know in a comment! Best of luck!

http://missionhome.com/?missions=japan-fukuoka-mission
This website has basic information about the Church in Japan, food, climate, and other things!

http://www.freejapaneselessons.com/for-LDS-Missionaries.cfm
Start the lessons on this site NOW! They will help so much! Definitely start trying to learn the basics before you get to the MTC.

http://preparetoserve.com/japan/fukuoka-mission-blogs/
Here is a list of blogs of missionaries that are serving or have served in the Fukuoka mission. I love reading the stories and hearing about what goes on in the mission. **Also, you can look at the pictures to see what the Sisters are wearing to get a good idea of what will work!**

http://preparetoserve.com/japan/
Okay, I LOVE this site! There are interviews from RM's that have been there, videos about culture, the history of Japan, maps, and much more! Watch all of the RM interviews in the playlist!

http://www.survivingnjapan.com/p/how-to-guides.html
These How-To guides answered so many of my practical questions like: What kind of shampoo will I be able to find? What about feminine products? How do I know what bus stop to get off at? Take a look at the ones you think will apply to you :)

My Mission Pinterest Boards:
http://www.pinterest.com/linzlou95/called-to-serve/
http://www.pinterest.com/linzlou95/fukuoka-japan-mission/

The Best Day of My Life

Today, on Thursday, May 22nd, 2014 I went through the temple for the first time. I had a wonderful experience! I've been preparing for 18 (almost 19) years to go to the temple to receive my Endowment. As I've been preparing to go on my mission as well, I have made sure not to treat the temple as something to as a checklist item. I am so excited for my mission, but going to the Temple has been my main goal. I hope living worthy to go to the temple is your top priority as well.

Here's some of the best advice that I've been given that I found particularly helpful:

• Take a Temple Prep Class. Chances are, your ward or stake will have a Temple Prep Class that you can attend. In my ward, my Bishop teaches the class and I found it very helpful. 

• Talk to your parents or leaders. Of course, because of how sacred the temple is, we don't talk about exactly what happens inside, but you can always ask your parents, leaders, or a trusted friend that has gone through for their advice.

• The Temple is different. One of my dearest friends serving a mission sent me this: I learned this in the Temple. When people say that they don't feel right about the Temple it is not because it is not true. It is because they aren't at the level of understanding yet to comprehend what is being taught in the Temple. The Temple is different. Be open to everything there and remember that is is just different not wrong.

• Come with an open heart. Your first time, just listen. Don't worry about a thing. There are people there specifically to help you. To be honest, the experience was not what I expected. I loved it though. Take comfort in the fact that everything has scriptural reference and it is the way God intended it to be.

• There is so much to learn- don't feel like you have to remember everything or learn everything your first time. It takes a lifetime and more to understand it all.

Today is going straight to the top of my list of "Best Days Ever". I cannot express in words how happy I am. I will just have to say this: I feel pure joy. This is a huge milestone in my life here on earth, and through the eternities. I testify that this Gospel is true and brings lasting happiness.

Me in front of the beautiful Gilbert Temple!

Another shot of the Gilbert Temple (not taken by me)

Here is the beautiful temple in Fukuoka! I can't wait to see it!!!

The Call

Everything with my mission call happened so fast! I was able to start my papers at the very beginning of January, and I just did a little at a time. It is possible to get everything done in a couple days, but since I was juggling school and work, it just worked out better to do one section/ one appointment at a time. I had my appointment with my Stake President on Tuesday, March 25th, and my papers were officially submitted the next morning, March 26th!

I had been thinking and praying about where I would want to serve. Of course, your call is up to the Lord, but I think He takes into consideration where you personally would like to serve to! Many leaders and moms of my friends who had already left on missions encouraged me to really think about where I would want to go. I prayed... pondered... fasted... everything. For a long time, I didn't receive any inspiration or have any specific thoughts on that subject, so I just figured I would be surprised when I opened my call. I always thought, if I were to go foreign, I would go to Italy, Germany, or France- basically the languages I had been using for my music classes! I also thought I would definitely stay stateside for multiple reasons, and I was more than fine with that! I never had a preference though. I knew that I would be called to where I needed to go.

So, with my papers submitted, I waited. My dad is a stake clerk and is able to check the status of my papers. On APRIL 1st (APRIL FOOLS DAY) I am sitting in class and I get a text from my dad saying "Your mission call has been assigned! Congratulations!" I totally thought it was a prank. As soon as that class was over, I called my mom and she was *emotional* (because you know, it's my mission call!), and then I explained my thinking that it was a prank, and couldn't decide if my dad would actually joke about that. I called my dad just after and told him "If you're joking about this, I'm going to be so mad!" He said the thought hadn't even crossed his mind! It was official, my call had been assigned!

I really wanted to be the one to open the mailbox and get that wonderful white envelope. I asked for all of the mailbox keys, and checked every day after work. Most mission calls in Arizona arrive on Friday. On Friday, April 4th, while at work, I got a text from my mom saying "Text me when you are on your way home, and I'll meet you at the mailbox." I drove home really fast from work that day (not too fast though...!) My mom was waiting there and she was talking to a few of the neighbors, who were also hanging out by the mailboxes. She was ready with her phone to video the whole thing. I was literally shaking as I turned the key. I opened it up and reached inside. THERE WAS MY BIG WHITE ENVELOPE! There was a happy dance and a few tears (from my mom).

Photo cred: My mom :)

I knew I wanted to wait until Sunday night to open it. I wanted my friends and family to be there, and Sunday nights at 7pm work pretty well! That weekend was also the April 2014 General Conference. The talks were so amazing and I probably took 10 pages of notes! It was awesome to have my mission call sitting right next to me while I was listening to inspired men and women and beloved prophet, Thomas S. Monson, share messages that greatly impacted my life.

My extended family normally comes together for dinner on General Conference weekends, so we had eaten dinner, cleaned up, and played a few too many games, and it wasn't even 6 o'clock!!! Time dragged by so slowly that day. By 7pm, people started coming. My mom had been baking cookies all week, and they were all gone really fast! We put up a map for people to place guesses, and I had emailed my missionary friends and asked for their guesses too, so everyone was represented!

Photo cred: Diamond Zamora

The house was PACKED. I was amazed at how many people came. I was so happy to share this experience with my friends, family, and others that I am close to! I waited a few minutes for everyone to arrive, make their guesses, and eat some cookies. All of the sudden my heart started racing and I announced, "I am going to open it RIGHT NOW. Get grandma on the phone, we're doing this now!"

We gathered everyone around. I tore open the white envelope and pulled out the contents. Of course my eyes flashed right to where I had been assigned to serve... but I took a deep breath and started from the beginning:

"Dear Sister Sanders:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Japan Fukuoka Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, August 20th, 2014. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Japanese language..."

My thoughts went something like this: JAPAN??? HOW DO YOU EVEN SAY FUKUOKA CORRECTLY? OH MY GOSH. This is real. How crazy is this?! This feels right. This is right. I am so excited. I don't know any Japanese. AHHHHHHH!!!!!!

I looked around the room and I could just feel the Spirit there, confirming to everyone that the Gospel is true! The next few minutes were full of congratulations, hugs, some tears (Kayla!), and lots of happiness!

I know I will never regret my decision to serve a mission. I can't wait to serve my brothers and sisters in beautiful Japan!

photo cred: Samantha Incorvaia

Just a few of my awesome friends!