Fwd: Weekly Email

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

Date: February 15, 2015 7:50:54 PM MST

Subject: Weekly Email

This week was CRAZY but we had so much fun!

On Wendesday we had a zone P-Day where we had the opportunity to go to the Fukuoka Temple, then afterwards, we had lunch and played games as a district. On the way home, we stopped at a little food cart and bought a delicious fried sweet potato thing. It was awesome! 

On Thursday, we had Mission Tour with Elder Whiting of the Seventy. He is part of the Asia North Presidency, and served his mission in Japan!!!!!!!! We learned so much from him. We talked about the power and authority we have as missionaries. It reminded me that when I put my tag on, I am literally becoming a representative of Jesus Christ. It is my job to do what He would do if he were here. When we`re set apart, we are given authority, but not power. However, Alma and the Sons of Mosiah has both authority and power when they taught... so how do you get power??? FROM THE HOLY GHOST. It was a great lesson. I am trying to allow myself to be guided more. 

At the meeting, I saw some old friends, Sister Smith, SIster Mills, Elder Agnew, Elder Rostrom, Elder Soares, and Elder Knighton! I got to talk to Elder Knighton a little bit and we took a picture! He is from Gilbert and went to Mountian View High School with Emily 

We said goodbye to an investigator this week... She wasn`t progressing or keeping her commitments. I hate dropping investigators, but Ogawa Shimai and I felt like it was the right thing to do. However, We found a new investigator this week! Her name is Mito san. The Lord always blesses us when we do His will.

I hope everyone had a good Valentine`s Day/Single`s Awareness Day. We got a suprise from the Elders WHO RODE THEIR BIKES OVER AT 6:30 AM TO DING SONG DITCH us and leave us chocolate. We love them so much. Thanks Elder Kikuchi and Elder Glover! We had made them brownies the night before and brought them over to the Elders at lunch. We have a happy little family of missionaries here in Chikushino. Dendo was way slow. No one was home and no one had time to talk to us........ so at the train station we passed out little flyers that we folded into hearts. We were trying to be creative!

I HIT 6 MONTHS THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can`t believe how fast the time goes. I am 1/3 of the way done. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I am so sad that I only have a year left! I have to work so much harder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am doing great! I am really really thankful to be serving the Lord here in Japan. I am so lucky. I am learning how to really love the people. I really really want them to all hear about the gospel and how they can be happy.

MUCH LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

--

Sanders Shimai

Nozomi San

​Sakura tree

Pics

Sanders Shimai & Doi Shimai wearing special rain suits... it rains A LOT in Japan!

THIS WEEK

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

Date: February 9, 2015 8:32:54 PM MST

Hello Everyone!!!!!!!

This week we had a lot of fun! I don`t have a lot of time, but I will tell a few funny stories.

So everyday basically we ride past a pachinko place- a gambling place- I forget the word in English. And there are greeters that stand outside and call taxis for drunk people. We have become very good friends with the greeters. They wave at us and love to say hello! Even if we are riding on the other side of the street, they will yell and get our attention! We gave them chocolate yesterday because it was super cold and they are otsukaresamas :)  Haha you make all kinds of friends on your mission! 

We were shopping yesterday and I was looking at the fruits and all of the sudden I look up and IT WAS THE JAPANESE VERSION OF JOHNNY DEPP. I almost screamed. I got Ogawa Shimai`s attention and she gasped. We followed him for a few minutes. Then the ELDERS showed up and kept putting things like coffee packets in our basket when we weren`t looking. Silly Elders. I got them back good because I put a big box of femenine supplies in Elder Kikuchi`s basket that he didn`t see until he got to checkout. Yep, he had to buy it. HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!! He was pretty mad, but that`s what you get! I returned them for him and gave him his money back. Hehehehe I am still laughing about that.

I want to tell you about my district leader really quick. Elder Sugimoto is the coolest Japanese Elder ever! I served with him in Fukuoka. He is super cool because when he is talking to us, he`ll be like do you remember 5 years ago when (blank) apostle said (blank) in (blank talk) that has everything to do with what you are talking about? HE HAS EVERY TALK BASICALLY MEMORIZED. I don`t know how he does it, but it is so cool. Also, every time we call him, he answers in a different voice.

Other than that, we had a pretty average week. We are really working hard and trying to find new investigators. We are praying really hard and trying our best to be obedient. Transfers are coming up in 2 weeks and we have no idea what will happen. I really hope I get to stay with Ogawa Shimai! But I am excited for whatever adventure is next. 

I love Chikushino. I really feel at home here. The members are SO nice. They really show lots of love for me even though I`m a strange American haha! It started snowing this week!!!!!!!!!! We are having lots of fun. I am trying to make sure we are having fun while also getting work done. I am grateful for the opoprtunity to train early in my mission. I feel like I had to grow up fast and decide what kind of mission I want to have right from the beginning. I am working so hard! But I am so happy! I hit my pillow exhausted every day. Physically, we walk or ride our bikes wherever we need to go. Mentally, I am constantly speaking a foreign language. I am thinking about how many people we`ve talked to, trying to remember where someone lives, etc. Emotionally, UGH I get tired just thinking about it. I miss home, I am worried about my investigators, I have my companion, the Elders in our area, ward members, and also assignments from my district leader, Zone Leaders, and Mission President. The circle of the love that I have to share has stretched SOOOOOOOOOOOO much! Spiritually, I am constantly relying on the Spirit to guide me in what I need to do, where to go, and what to say. I am bearing my testimony, sharing personal experiences, and trying to build up other`s faith. Sometimes people try to tear down my faith, but that won`t stop me. I really feel the Lord helping me and strengthening me. I don`t know how I would do this if the Lord wasn`t on my side.

There is no way I could do this by myself!

Almost all of the ward members in Japan are converts. Talk to any of the adults and they will tell you when they first met the missionaries. There are almost no 2nd generation adults in all of Japan. The children in the ward are the first ones to have parents who are members. All of the people I teach would be the first members in their families if they convert. In the Buddhist religion, to forsake your ancestor`s beliefs brings great shame to the entire family. It is very very hard for people to convert, BUT people have done it, and their lives have been blessed. On a side note, almost all of the active male adults lost or quit their jobs when they became members because most Japanese companies require you to work on Sundays. Most of the Brothers own their own businesses. They are great examples of sacrificing something important in order to keep the commandments of the Lord. Japanese Mormons do a great job blending their heritage and culture and their standards in a way that they are still Japanese, but are obedient to all of Heavenly Father`s commandments. I have learned so much from the examples of the people here!

The Lord promises to bless us when we follow Him. 

This week, my testimony of personal revelation was strengthened. I know when we are worthy, we can receive answers through the Holy Ghost to tell us what we need to do.

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- 

Sanders Shimai

Pictures

Box from home! :)

Fwd: Transfer 3 Week 3

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

Date: February 2, 2015 11:46:00 PM MST

Subject: Transfer 3 Week 3

Happy February! February is the coldest month of the year in Japan, so I bought a  big box of hand warmers today. I would probably die without them, haha! We had a great week! We cleaned our apartment, taught MEMBER PRESENT lessons, and talked to a lot of special people! 

Right now, our investigators seem to all be taking an Oyasumi (break). No one will answer their phones or have time to meet us in the upcoming weeks, so we are taking this opo9rtunity to find new investigators! We are praying really hard to find someone who is prepared to hear our message.

I did another Junkai with Doi Shimai! We had so much fun! It was pouring rain, but we saw some cool miracles and laughed a lot. We also walked up some very steep hills in the pouring rain...... that was fun.

I love Chikushino because I can see the stars at night! Ogawa Shimai and i were riding home and she asked if we could stop for a second. I look up and there were shooting stars! It reminded me of Dad! In Fukuoka, the lights were too bright to see the stars. It was so special to see them. I really felt like Heavenly Father was saying `See, I remember you! Look at this beautiful sky I made for you`. Ogawa Shimai said that she loves looking at the stars too. In Japanese, stars are hoshi.

I made lots of cookies! We gave them to ward members, less actives, our investigators, and then still had enough to keep 2 doezen, and give about 4 dozen to the Elders. They were really happy!!!!!!! Have I told you about Elder Kikuchi and Elder Glover? I don`t know if I have. They are the best. I will give them a proper introduction next week. They are both half Japanese.

I had my big interview with my mission president! He asked me to work a lot harder. At first, I felt like `Hey, you already asked me to train a Nihonjin on my third transfer, what more could you possibly ask of me?!` But I learned another lesson- the Lord demands the very best of us. I have so much to improve on. My Japanese needs to be better, my teaching skills need to improve.... so many things. I am thankful for the kick in the pants. It helps me to be humble and to try a little harder!

On a more positive note, as a district, we went to a yummy pizza place after our interviews and had lots of fun! Except the Elders put tabasco sauce on my pizza........ so I put anchovies in their hot chocolate! :) It is fun to have `brothers` out here in Japan! 

I am doing great! THANK YOU FOR THE SEFLIES!!!!!!!!!! KEEP EM COMING!!!!!!! I will send a seflie back to everyone who sent me one next week. I love you all!

Have a great week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

--

Sanders Shimai

Fwd: 3rd Transfer Week 2

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

Date: January 26, 2015 12:45:25 AM MST

Subject: 3rd Transfer Week 2

Woohoo! This week I hit 3 milestones

on the 20th, I have been in Japan for 3 months

and I have been serving a mission for 5 months

on the 21st, was my half birthday! I would like to remind everyone that my birthday is in 6 months. Start writing your letters now! O negai shimasu.

Next week on Monday we will be having interviews with Gustafson Kaicho, so I will email next Tuesday.

I am having a blast here in Chikushino! I LOVE THIS PLACE! It is a good mix of city and country and there are beautiful rice fields that we ride past everyday. I will make sure to take pictures! 

I am learning so much from Ogawa Shimai. She is patient with me and all of my weaknesses. She is so sweet and is always putting others needs before her own.. She is also SO FUNNY. We laugh all the time! We are getting really good at impressions. She loves my Gollum impression, and she does a really good impression of Darth Vader. It is scary how good she is! We are finding that we have a lot in common and it is getting easier to communicate! My Japanese is getting so much better! My district leader is also Japanese (Sugimoto Choro!!!!!!!!!) and he says I sound like a Nihonjin! YAY!!!!!!!!!

Also, Ogawa Shimai calls me `ai suru Sanders Shimai` which means Beloved Sister Sanders... it is so precious. We call each other that. Or I call her Ogawa sama, which is an honorific, and she gets all hazukashii... embarrassed ;) hehehe we always have fun!

This week we taught investigators... brought treats to members, and walked.... a lot. We have a smaller area, so we like to walk to we can talk to more people. We have seen lots of miracles by setting appointments with God- saying we will be in this place at this time... Heavenly Father, please provide someone for us to talk to. We have also had a lot of success housing. There are 3 all-girls colleges in our area, so we are going through all the housing and we have found some cool people. No new investigators.... BUT we found an old investgator who had moved and no one knew where she went! We are going to start teaching her again.

This week had a lot of highs and lows. I decided that I wanted to study Humility this week... and Heavenly Father really helped me with that. Being a trainer has given me lots of opportunities to discover my weaknesses. I have a LOT. But I know what it says in Ether 12:27 is true- if I come closer to Christ, my weaknesses will become strengths.

I was reminded this week that I am so blessed! I would not have made it this far without the help from God. My words aren`t empty when I say I know that God loves us. 

I feel like I am growing. This experience- this hard time- will help me learn what I need to know for the rest of my mission, and the rest of my life.

I know that through the Atonement, the things we feel guilty of can become things we feel peace about. Regret can become relief. I have felt it. I have experienced that change in my heart and I want everyone to know it! When I stand before God and am judged for my works and intents of my heart, I want to have a story worth sharing. I love this gospel. It has blessed my life. I know that God lives- He is our Loving Heavenly Father. I know that Christ is the Savior. His Atonement makes it possible to be free of any chains of guilt or regret or worry. 

I love each and every one of you! Thank you for your prayers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I appreicate it so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great week!

PS Mountains to Climb from the EFY CDs is my theme song.

--

Sanders Shimai

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