Fwd: Transfer 4 Week 3

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

Date: March 16, 2015 4:41:58 AM MST

Subject: Transfer 4 Week 3

I don't have a lot of time!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry! How are y'all? I had such a great week! Sister Campbell is the best and I am so sad that we only have 4 weeks left together. I also hit 7 months on Friday of this week, and we have a big conference on Saturday that is the whole mission! I am so excited! We are riding a bus down to Fukuoka on Friday. It will take about 5 hours.

Here is a cool scripture thing sister Campbell showed me. In Ether 2:23, The Brother of Jared is inquiring the Lord about how to have light in the boats. The lord basically tells him to make a plan, and bring it back to him. Go to Genesis 6:16 about Noah building the ark, and see the footnote about windows. It'll blow your mind. The Brother of Jared STUDIED THE SCRIPTURES in order to make his plan to bring to the Lord. This meant that the Jaredites had records and studied them. I thought that was cool.

I am a little frustrated with our investigator right now because he isn't keeping any of his commitments. He says he will, but then never does. I was asking Heavenly Father WHY (because I am not very smart)... and my answer was 'Well, Sister Sanders, how many times do you do that to Me?" I really need to work on being EXACTLY obedient. I know it will bring me, and my investigators, lots of blessings.

Our other investigator committed to come to church with the Japanese branch, which is a huge deal because the church is an hour drive away. We are really hoping he comes!!!!!!!

I finally unpacked in Iwakuni... in a lot of ways. My clothes are all hung up, my suitcases are empty. I can finally get to work. Missionary work isn't easy. It's not supposed to be- but I still need to give it all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I didn't love this area at first. I missed Chikushino, my sweet Nihonjin doryo, and my friends there... I felt like I didn't fit in with this awesome American ward, and when I spoke in Japanese, people weren't understanding me. I was throwing that kind of pity party for myself. I wasn't happy. So I changed my attitude! It made all the difference. As soon as I decided to just TRY and love the people and this new place, I did. 

I know that the Lord loves us. He gives us these experiences to help us grow. He wants us to rely on Him for everything.

Hope everyone is looking forward to General Conference!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) :) :)

--

Sanders Shimai

Pie on Pi Day! :)

4th Transfer Week 2

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

Date: March 8, 2015 9:01:50 PM MST

Subject: 4th Transfer Week 2

WOOHOOO!!!!!!!!! I survived this week! It was a bit of a strugglebus but we made it!

We started off the week by going 3 hours south to Ube to do a mini junkai with our Sisters there. I had so much fun being comps with Sister Wilkinson! AND I got to wear a kimono. This sweet lady that helped us put on the kimonos then paraded us around town (a department store, CITY HALL) to show off our gaijin-ness (foreigner-ness) It was lots of fun!

I got a little sick this week, but it's all good because one of the nice Sisters in the military branch is a nurse, so she has been making sure I can still work! Iwakuni is so much colder than my last area!!! I love it though! We had a lot of adventures this week. 

I finished meeting all of the people I need to know. All the investigators, less actives, and ward members. This Sunday we went to the Yanai Branch two cities over where the Japanese members meet. It felt like coming home!!!!!!!!!! I missed speaking that much Japanese! The Elders are sooooo great! There is Elder French (from Canada) and Elder Kishihara from Tokyo.... then Elder Chantry from Utah, and Elder Ngatai from New Zealand! Then me and Sister Campbell are from AZ......... it is fun. They are such good Elders :) They are suuuuuuuuuuuuuper funny!

This week we had Zone Training Meeting with Kaicho and the AP's- it was really good and we focused on finding THE ELECT (ie the people who are prepared and ready to accept the gospel). Kaicho is a good man. He really cares about his missionaries. I am so sad that they are getting ready to go home soon!

That is about it for this week- sorry this is short, but I took lots of pictures!

Send me your favorite scripture and a SELFIE please! 

Much love

-- 

Sanders Shimai

Pictures

English! :)

Fwd: TRANSFER 4 FIRST WEEK

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

Date: March 1, 2015 9:33:19 PM MST

Subject: TRANSFER 4 FIRST WEEK

Woah, I am officially not a baby missionary anymore!! How crazy! First off, I will talk about last PDAY where we went to the Tenmangu Shrine in Dazaifu. It was soooooooo beautiful and I had lots of fun with Ogawa Shimai, ELder Glover, and Elder Kikuchi, and Sayuri chan who is a YSA from our ward. My camera ran out of battery right before I got to the SAMURAI SHOP and I was so sad!! We had a blast and ate umegaemochi- a special kind of mochi with onko inside (onko is the bean paste).

Later that day, we got our transfer calls. Surprise, I was transferred to IWAKUNI. I was shocked- I just barely came to Chikushino last transfer!!!!!! It was so hard to say goodbye to the members and to Ogawa Shimai. I love her soooooo much. I definitely cried lots.

Iwakuni  is in Yamaguchi zone, but techinically is a city in Hiroshima... but is part of the Tokyo south stake. Super complicated deshou? Iwakuni is the BEST area because there are 2 main areas... the Iwakuni Marine Base... and the rest of Japan, haha! We are not allowed to proselyte on Base, or wear our name tags.... but we can visit members! It is so weird to be with Americans and eat American food again. I have a feeling I might get fat in this area. Dang it. I just came from a suuuuuuuper Japanese area, so I kind of forgot english? I have to remind myself what language I am speaking sometimes. The rest of our area is normal Japan. Lots of old people who are VERY Buddhist. Very different from Chikushino, where there were tons of college kids and young families. We have solid investigators, and one with a baptismal date for the end of March! We switch off going to the English branch and the Japanese branch in Yanai. The day I came, we got at least 10 calls from various members wanting to meet me and offering to feed us dinner. The members here are SO COOL! I am so excited to be here in this new area. 

The BEST part of being in Iwakuni is being companions with SISTER CAMPBELL! She is from Surprise, AZ, is a singing beast, loves to write missionary songs (don't worry, I will record all of them!) we have been rewriting all the lyrics to all the songs I can remember. It's a thing. I love it! SIster Campbell is super sciency and smart and I really love her. She likes to do personality typing... I have been learning a lot about that. For you psychology nerds, I am an ISTP type :) She is super chill and loves to do missionary work. She is also going home after this transfer.... which means I will have another new comp next transfer. Maybe I will train??? No idea. SIster Campbell is an STL right now, and they will need a replacement.... Anyways I am way excited to be working with a fellow Arizonian who understands my sense of humor! I love her so much!

Funny story, last night we were housing, and we knock on this door and an old man comes and is talking to us from behind the door. We are trying to talk to him, but he couldn't hear or something, so he opens the door, and sees us and starts freaking out. (SIDE NOTE, I can understand most Japanese, except for old man Japanese... they use to much slang... and they usually don't have teeth....) and he is pointing to me and keeps saying things with lots of emotion. My companion says goodbye and we walk away, and I ask "WHAT THE HECK?!" She says "He thinks you're beautiful and wanted to know if you had a boyfriend... and then you didn't answer, so he thought that was a no, so I just said goodbye for you" I laughed so hard. That's the first time THAT's happened!!

I am doing great. Missionary life is crazy, but I am doing great and I finally feel like a missionary!

My testimony has grown this week. I had to have a lot of faith in order to leave Chikushino. I loved it there. There are pieces of my heart there. I have no regrets though- everyone knew I loved them. It is better to be sad leaving because you're going to miss them so much than being glad to leave because you don"t know anyone. No regrets. It was hard though. I sang "I'll go where you want me to go" besically the whole 4 hour trip to Iwakuni.... but as soon as I got here, I felt confirmation that this was where I need to be. 

I know that the Lord loves us and wants us all to be happy. I am so sure of this. I feel it when I talk to people on the streets and in their homes. 

Missions are hard. But it is making me stronger. I am such a different person from 6 months ago... even from last month, or last week. Trials help us to come closer to God, if that is what we choose.

Thanks for all the love! Please send me pictures!!!!!!!! Share your testimony with someone and then tell me about it!

Love you,

Sister Sanders

-- 

Sanders Shimai

Entrance to Shrine in Tenmangu

Fwd: 6 Months and 6 Things I Have Learned

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

Date: February 23, 2015 7:28:50 PM MST

Subject: 6 Months and 6 Things I Have Learned

I HIT 6 MONTHS!!!!!!!!!!! Woohoooo! I am not a baby missionary now! This transfer, I really felt like I got into the rhythm of studying the language and I feel like I can talk to people in Japanese now. I am not fluent or close to fluent, but I can have a VERY simple conversation! Yay!

Today we get transfer calls. I think I am staying in Chikushino, but you honestly never know. I really want to serve with Ogawa Shimai for another transfer, but now I am a trainer and Ogawa Shimai has finished her training.... so who knows. I will tell you next week!

I want to tell you about 6 things I have learned in 6 months of being a missionary.

1. How to pray. How to really petition the Lord and ask for the things that I need.

You can`t just ask someone for the keys to their car- they will want to know what you are going to do with it. But if you have a plan, and maybe you need to visit someone who just had an accident and your car isn`t working... the person might just reach into their pocket and hand you the keys. But if you say Ummmmm, your car looks really cool I want to see how fast it can go, you`re not going to get the keys. It is the same with prayer. You can`t ask for a gift without knowing what you`re wanting to do with it! 

2. How to study. I study for at least 3 hours everyday. I study the scritptures. I use what I learn and apply it. I study language. Since there are so many different people here in Japan, I learned how to give a brief explanation of the church in English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Nepalize, and Portuguese. This has helped my missionary work so much. People of every race and nation need the gospel, and they need to hear it in their own language.

3. How to teach. Especially about the Atonement. I am teaching all the time. In order for people to understand, I have to improve my teaching skills. There is a whole chapter in PMG dedicated to how to teach.

4. How to love people. I didn`t know I had the capacirty to love people as much as I do. I truly have a love and appreciation for the Japanese people. I am constantly thinking of my investigators needs, about my companion, the ward members, etc....

5. How to work hard. I won`t bore you with everything that we do everyday. But it is hard. I have learned that I can do it though. 

6. How to follow promptings from the Holy Ghost. THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!! Even if you are not a missionary! Just do it. When you follow one prompting, you receive more. Simple as that. Always try to be listening to the still, small voice.

This week was Elder Kikuchi`s birthday, so we made him a cake, and then he suprised us by taking us to eat REALLY JAPANESE SUSHI THAT COMES TO YOU ON A CONVEYOR BELT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was more than a little excited. I ate 20 plates- just as much as the Elders. Well, actually, Elder Hoskins ate 40 plates and thought he was going to die.

It was so much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love you all! Have a great week! I  hope everyone is looking forward to General Conference!

Love

Sanders Shimai

-- 

Look at all the sushi!

6 month party on the swings

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!