サンダーズ姉妹より

Transfer 8 Week 6

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

Date: September 21, 2015 7:40:32 PM MST

Subject: Transfer 8 Week 6

Transfer 8 Week 6

Elder Sanders went to the MTC this week! I am so excited for him! Shout out to little brother!

Well another transfer comes and goes. Today we get our transfer calls and we get our callings for the next six weeks! It is always crazy and exciting and I decided I am just going to stop guessing what will happen because I am always wrong. We got a call on Saturday night because Sister Thompson is going to train next transfer!! Woohoo! I knew I was leaving, so it was kind of nice to get extra time to pack.

I am excited for this new start in a new area and new companion. This will be my 5th area and my 9th companion in 9 transfers. So crazy. It is kind of fun because I get to know a lot of people. It's also really hard. But I can do hard things! That seems to be the theme of my mission.

We had a cool miracle. I was convinced that something was trying to stop us from getting out the door. My companion was sick, our toaster exploded, and all this stuff. We finally made it out of our apartment after we cleaned up a little and go downstairs to find that my bike (which I got fixed yesterday) had a flat tire again. We didn't have any appointments, but we felt like we needed to go to a specific area. We prayed about it, and we still knew we needed to go to this place that was about a half hour walk away. We set out, contacting everyone on the sidewalk, but everyone kekko'd us (kekko is a rejection). Literally every person. So we decide to just walk straight to the place we had planned on going. We are going up the steps of the apartment we felt prompted to go to, and a sweet obachan (grandma) is coming down with tons of heavy looking bags. We ask if we can help her with her bags. We walk with her and get to know her better. She told us that her daughter had died 10 years ago, and today was actually the anniversary, and she had just visited her son. We told her that she will be able to see her daughter again. She says "oh, I believe that!" She tells us her daughter is Christian, and the church she went to did a beautiful funeral for her. When the mother went to the service, the women there told her about heaven and that she can be with her daughter! She said "I know in my heart that is true." Sister Thompson and I looked at each other and then we started to teach. We shared Alma 40:12, which talked about paradise and a state of rest. We testified that God loves her, and that she can feel peace because she knows she will be with her daughter again. We gave her a Book of Mormon and invited her to church and to hear the lessons. She declined, but thanked us for showing her kindness. Sister Thompson asked if we could hug her. We both hugged her, and this sweet obachan didn't let go for a long time. She said "thank you, that was like getting two big hugs from my daughter! You are both Angels". We helped her get on a bus and waved goodbye. Then we went around a corner and cried so hard! It took all the craziness before meeting this grandma to see the miracle. That is when I feel like I am being successful- when I am in the right place at the right time and I am able to say what God wants me to say to His beloved children. When we are obedient, and try our very best, we are blessed immensely.

We were really busy this week. We had lots of appointments with members. We do practice lessons so we can get help with our language. One of the women we met with talked about her conversion story. She started crying thanking us for what we do to help people. It was so sweet. We thanked her for always helping us. We really could not make any progress without the members help. I love Shimizu Ward!

Our new Chinese investigator Alex is the best. Because she speaks Mandarin, English, and Japanese, she asked for Book of Mormons in all those languages! She usually reads her Chinese one, but likes that she can get a deeper meaning by reading the different translations. We invited her to church and made an activity with the young single adults to watch Finding Faith in Christ, which is a video all about Christ's life and why He is important. As we watched with her, she would ask questions like "did He really do that?" I would say "yes" then she would say "wow". She is excited about getting baptized next month.

So... Yep, I am an old missionary. But I made the resolution to keep working hard to the end. I know that God loves these people. They deserve my best. I finally feel comfortable with the language, so now I am studying more of the characters and kanji. I really want to focus on my teaching skills. I am just excited to start this next phase!

This week I really had my testimony strengthened. I know that God loves us. I know I say this every week, but that is what I learn over and over. He knows me. He knows you. He knows what we need. We stopped a woman on the street, and she started to say "I'm busy" but I felt prompted to say that her family needs this message so they can be happier. She stopped dead in her tracks. We spoke to her about the Plan of Salvation. At the end, she said that her daughter was really struggling. She wants us to come and talk to her. We have wonderful opportunities to be servants of the Lord. We are here to help others. I know that this is true!

Love you all!!

サンダーズ姉妹より

My crazy district!  And my 13 month mark!                                                                                           

Transfer 8 week 5

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

Date: September 13, 2015 6:35:54 PM MST

Subject: Transfer 8 week 5

Transfer 8 Week 5

愛する皆さん、こんにちは‼︎

Woahhhh this transfer has gone by way fast. Next week is transfers, so I will email on Tuesday. I think Sister Thompson and I will have one more together... But who knows! I have four transfers left, so I think I will probably have one more area. Who knows where that will be!! Transfers are always exciting. Crazy and exhausting, too. 

This week after district meeting, we were walking through the big shopping center and we were stopped by a tv crew... They asked us where we were from and where we were going to eat. The Elders were great and introduced us as church volunteers and totally taught about Jesus Christ on live television. I was so proud! People loooove foreigners around here. People ask if they can take pictures with me like I am a princess at Disneyland or something. 

On Sunday I hit 13 months. Ouch, that hurts. When did I get so OLD? I stopped telling people how long I have been out because they automatically say "woah, you only have ___ months left! How does that make you feel?" IT MAKES ME SAD, thanks. I was feeling really homesick this week, and I was praying about it, and I had a cool experience. 

The whole week I was thinking about how lately we haven't had any success and I was getting lots of negative thoughts, one of them being "why did I even come on a mission if I have nothing to show for my efforts?" I talk to people all day, either stopping them on the street or by knocking on doors. In a week we contact hundreds of people, but hardly any will let us share a message or accept a return appointment. It is very discouraging sometimes. 

I had an impression saying "Think of all the people you never would have met if you hadn't come on a mission". My mind flashed through the face of every person I have gotten to know in the past thirteen months. I thought of my friends in the MTC, my companions, my fellow missionaries, the Ward members from each Ward that I have served with, and lastly, the investigators that I have worked with. I remembered how much I love them. I remembered the lessons we had, and especially the times when they came excited to tell us they kept their commitments! I have met amazing people. I am so blessed. The next impression that came was "Think of how much I, Heavenly Father, love them. Thank you for being kind to my beloved children." 

I knew I needed to repent and change my thinking. How could I be sad when so many great things were happening in my beloved people's lives? It is NOT about the numbers.

Preach My Gospel states "no effort is wasted". I was helped to be able to see that I have a lot to show for my mission so far, and I will continue to have success through the rest of my mission! Success does not just mean baptisms, although it is great when those do happen. It is your commitment to serve God. I have been able to show love to people that need it, I feel the Holy Ghost speaking through me to touch their hearts. It is amazing. All efforts to serve are appreciated, although sometimes just by our Heavenly Father. If we love Him, shouldn't we be doing things to please him, even if no one else notices? 

It is so easy to feel like what we are doing goes unnoticed, like it has no value, especially to the world's standards. But I can promise you that if your heart is set on serving the Lord  (Luke 12:31 ¶But [first] seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.) then you can feel confident that the work you are doing is important! You can know that you are doing a great work. If you are a student, or a parent, or working... First serve God, and your needs will be provided for.

Thompson Shimai and I have formed a great companionship. I really love her. We are opposites, but it works out. According to Meyer's and Briggs, she is an INFP, and I am an ISTP. (Almost all of my companions have been INFP's). We approach problems from different perspectives and it is really cool to put our ideas together. I really love her. She is from Bakersfield, California.

This week we had a miracle. Our new investigator Mori's daughter Ichino chan was sick. We made them a goodie bag with soup mix and tissues and treats, and lastly, a Book of Mormon. We went to her apartment expecting to just drop off the bag.., but instead, she invited us inside! We came in, and her dad Seiji san was there too! Mori pulled out all of the treats out of the bag. The last thing she pulled out was the Book of Mormon. She said she had heard about it and wanted to read it. She opened it and started to read the first page, and then I felt prompted to ask "if you have a half hour right now, we prepared a message about that Book" we taught the Restoration lesson. We sang I am a Child of God for Ichino chan. The Spirit was so strong! Sister Thompson recited the First Vision in Japanese and did it perfectly (she has been working so hard on memorizing it!). Lastly, when we talked about the Holy Ghost and what it feels like, Seiji san said "oh, like what I felt when you were singing?" They got it! よし‼︎‼︎‼︎ we explained the Book of Mormon, its importance, and why we are sharing it. They both committed to read and pray this week. They are both working towards baptismal dates. They are KINJIN! (Translates to golden person). I will let you know how things go. They definitely need the gospel.

On Sunday, we were not expecting anyone to come to church. We walked by the front door to the church, and Mori was there talking to a member! We were freaking out! She WALKED all the way from her apartment while carrying her baby!!!! She loooooved church. And all the Ward members came and introduced themselves... The mommies in the Ward are going to do a play date so Mori can come. I am so proud :) she is amazing. 

While we were housing, the funniest thing happened, and it basically describes my mission. A young man opens the door. We introduce ourselves. He asks "are you Christians?" We say yes. He says "sorry, we have another religion" so I ask "oh really?! What religion do you practice?" He tries to remember, scratches his head, and then shouts back to his wife "Yuuka! What religion do we believe in?" She yells back "uhhhhh, Bukkyou!" (Buddhist). And then he turns to us and says "Yeah, we are Bukkyou." Sister Thompson got kind of feisty and asked "do you actually believe in that though?" Then he awkwardly shut the door in our faces. 

Isn't that funny? But this is everyone I talk to!!! I am not kidding! That is how most young people are. The older generation usually tells us "I am this way because my ancestors believed in this" then we would ask if they believed in it for themselves, then they would ask us to leave. I know I am young, but I am grateful to know what I believe. I have an identity and a purpose. I had to learn for myself that this church is true. I know that God is there, and He loves me. People everywhere in the world, not just Japan, need to know that.

District Leader, Sato Choro (his name means sugar... So we call him Sugar Choro), shared a quote with me this week that I thought was cool.

"It is one thing to know about God and another to know him. We know about him when we learn that he is a personal being in whose image man is created; when we learn that the Son is in the express image of his Father's person; when we learn that both the Father and the Son possess certain specified attributes and powers. But we know them, in the sense of gaining eternal life, when we enjoy and experience the same things they do. To know God is to think what He thinks, to feel what He feels, to have the power He possesses, to comprehend the truths He understands, and to do what He does. Those who know God become like Him, and have His kind of life, which is eternal life" (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 1:762).

神について知ることと神を知ることとは別である。神について知るとは、すなわち神が感情、感覚、体をお持ちの方であり、人はその神に型取って造られたことを学ぶことである。また、御子が御父のひな型であり、天父も御子もそれぞれ固有の属性、権能をもっておられることを学ぶときに、私たちは神について知ることができるのである。しかし、永遠の生命を得るという観点から神を知るということは、天父と御子が経験されたと同じ事柄を経験し、同じ喜びを味わうことである。神を知るとは、神のお考え、お気持ちを自分も体験し、神のもっておられる権能を拝受し、神の理解しておられる真理をよく味わって理解の目を開き、神の行われる通りに自分も行うことである。神を知るものは神に似たものとなり、神が享受しておられる生命、すなわち永遠の生命を得ることができるのである。(「新約聖書教義注解」1:762)

Those who know God will have eternal life. How much of an effort are we making to know Him? To feel what He feels, and do what he does? Well, if you're like me, getting to that level seems a little too far away to worry about right now. But, you can take steps RIGHT NOW to know God better. It is really simple,

1. If you have no idea what I am talking about, ask the missionaries!

2. Pray sincerely and ask for help to know Heavenly Father better.

3. Study about Him from the scriptures. Write down what you learn.

4. Be conscious of your feelings when you go to church.

5. Act on what you have felt.

We should be doing these things already, but I promise that as we come to know God better, we will notice immediately that we are happier. We can feel like we have a purpose in life. In time, this faithful effort will turn into a knowledge that God loves us, and that we can become like Him. My greatest hope is to be happy like He is.  

Have a great week! Remember to say your prayers and read your scriptures!

サンダーズ姉妹より

Transfer 8 Week 4

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

Date: September 6, 2015 8:53:20 PM MST

Subject: Transfer 8 Week 4

Transfer 8 week 4

Heyyyy everyone! What is going on in America right now? What's the best movie out right now? 

Here's some fun facts about the Japan Fukuoka mission:

We are the largest mission in the world (geographically). Your transfer plans sometimes involve a bus, a train, a plane, and a boat to get to your new area. 

About 70% of the missionaries have been in the mission field for six months or less. Yep. We are a young mission. It also means I feel old all the time. Especially when the new sisters come to conferences and have SUCH cute clothes! My companion, who is a 4th transfer right now tells me about movies and songs and YouTube videos I have never heard of. Most of my mission friends have gone home or will be home in a few months. It is kind of sad, but it just means I get to make new friends with the youngsters :) they are pretty cool.

This week was soooooo busy! We got sick as an apartment, so that has been fun. We are always trying to decide which one of us is the least sick to make meals and stuff. We got some heavy duty "natural" medicine from district leader and we are getting better :) the typhoon stirred up a bunch of stuff, so everyone is getting sick. I got to wear a mask. I felt very Japanese. Our district leader also brought us soup mix and vegetable juice and saltine crackers. He is so nice. 

We put on a huge summer festival at our church building called Natsu Matsuri. It was so fun! Our investigators came with their families. There was somen, and shaved ice, and games, and the missionaries did a fun skit at the end. Even some people from our English class came!! They loved it! Murakami san also came with her kids. She had to get a job  so we can't do lessons during the week anymore, but she is still going strong. She came to church on Sunday and said she felt so happy. 

Me and Sister Thompson have been having a lot of success finding new people who are interested in our message! We have three 

We had a conference with Elder Choi of the Seventy, who is from Korea. He had a lot of great things to talk to us about. Of course, one of the first things he says is to get married asap after the mission. I feel like the theme of the training was about motivation. He says "if you don't like it, LIKE IT." For example, I hate going out in the rain. But, I have to like going out in the rain, and we have a special opportunity to serve Heavenly Father. He encouraged us to sing more... While we are walking, and even to people who reject us. It brings the Spirit. We always want to leave people better than when we found them. 

He shared the story of the man who is told by God to go push a big rock. So, he goes and pushes, all day long for weeks. The rock never moves. The man asks God, "why would you have me try and move this rock? It is impossible!" God says "I have asked you to push against it. See how much stronger your legs and arms are now?" Sometimes the Lord gives us trials to make us stronger. I love being able to look back and see how I have grown from certain trials. It is such a blessing to have opportunities to grow. 

Another big point that was made was about reaching out. If we came on our missions to serve, not be served, then we need to do more to serve those around us.  You can't be selfish and be a good missionary!! It just doesn't work that way. We must pray to recognize opportunities to serve. 

It is good to be a missionary in Japan. I feel so blessed to be able to serve the people here. I LOVE the Japanese people! 

I guess what I learned this week is that God loves us no matter what! As long as we are trying, he doesn't care if we make a mistake. He will always help us. Somehow things always work out, and everything ends up being okay. 

I love you! Have a great week!! 

愛するみなさん、がんばって下さい。

サンダーズ姉妹より

Sent from my iPad

Fwd: Transfer 8 week 3

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

Date: August 30, 2015 6:48:54 PM MST

Subject: Transfer 8 week 3

Transfer 8 Week 3

Hello friends and family! How's life? Sorry about last week, we had an opportunity to go to the temple with our Ward, so we gave up our Pday. Going to the temple was awesome. I really needed it! I am so blessed to be in a mission with a temple! While I was there, we did a session in Japanese (I get to wear headphones with the English dub!) and one all in English. The missionaries were the only ones in that session... I received some really specific revelation and answers to some questions I have had for a long time. I love that we can find answers to prayers and feel peace when we go to the temple. I feel like such a weight was lifted off my shoulders. It was so nice to go. 

We had a typhoon on Tuesday... on the same day the STL's came for Junkai, and they brought their bean companions... So there were 8 of us stuck in our apartment all day! They stayed over Monday night and luckily they arrived just before the storm got bad. The wind and rain was so strong it blew tons of trees over and the whole city is a mess. None of us could sleep. The next day we got an email from the mission president with a commandment to stay inside. I wish I could tell you we did something exciting, but all we did was call people from our area book and organize stuff... It was nice to have a chill day, it is just kind of scary because we live on the top floor of a tall building so when the wind is really bad the whole building shakes. I got all of our records updated, I cleaned out the fridge, and got to know the new sisters. They are the cutest! They both told me they want to be my companion someday :) it was way sweet. I love the people I get to serve with. Luckily, the typhoon passed quickly and we were able to go out that night and help clean up some of the sidewalks near our apartment.

This week, on my Junkai with superstar STL Sanford Shimai, she helped me refocus on my goals for how I want to conduct myself for the rest of my mission. I get my death call this transfer (just an email telling me the exact day I end my mission) so everyone considers me to be old. Sanford Shimai goes home in a few months, so she said she was feeling preachy and gave me advice for about three hours. She is an amazing missionary... We are very different, but I appreciated a lot of the things she said. We talked about how PMG is so awesome, and how every single chapter can be applied to normal life. I will definitely keep reading it when I get home!

We saw a cool miracle this week. We had planned out our day the night before, but that day we weren't feeling right about the area we had decided to go to. We prayed and I had a distinct thought to go to a specific area at exactly 3:15. I told my companion, and we prayed again... We both felt strongly that was where we needed to go. We go to this area and are not really sure what house to knock on, so we just start housing. The fourth door we knock on, a woman comes to the door and opens it, sees us, gets scared and shuts it right away. Then she opens her door again and says "sorry, I didn't expect to see foreigners!" We asked her some questions and she told us a little about her life... And then she starts asking us a TON of questions, like why are there so many churches? What is God like? Do I have to believe in Jesus Christ to get to heaven? Do I have to read the Bible? Why do some people have harder trials than others? 

We told her that there was an answer to all of her questions, and that there was a way that she can ask God directly for answers. She was really excited. We taught her how to pray and prayed with her there on her doorstep. She said she would pray again the night and then we would talk about it the next day. We were there for an HOUR, she has so many questions! I know she will be able to find those answers for herself. We are meeting with her again this week :) people just need to know that they can have a personal relationship with God! This was such a cool miracle. I am so grateful that we were sent to find her at that exact time. 

Our new district leader is way cool. His name is Sato Choro! He visited Gilbert Arizona for a whole summer!! Needless to say, we are best friends. He is also ペラペラ in English (fluent). He gave an awesome training. I decided I wanted to share some of my notes for my thought this week!

We have to ask ourselves WHY. You can do this with anything in your life... It helps you get to the root of whatever you need to figure out.

First, ask yourself why you came on a mission. Then ask why again. Take that answer and ask why a third time. For example,

1. Why did I, Sister Sanders, come on a mission?

I came on a mission because I wanted to help people.

2. Why?

Helping/ serving people is the best way to show love.

3. Why? Why do you want to show love to others?

When we serve others, we serve God. I want to show God that I love Him.

The next question involves some scriptures, but I will have you look them up by yourselves. 1 Nephi 6:4, 2 Timothy 4:3-6, Alma 26:26

Why did these missionaries change? 

I think it is because they experienced the power of the Atonement. The Atonement is the mechanism for lasting change.

 In Mosiah 27:27 it reads  "For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit. And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. I say unto you, unless this be the case, they must be cast off; and this I know, because I was like to be cast off."

Each of them relied on the Atonement. As a missionary, as a Latter-Day Saint, and as a human being, I need the Atonement because I am not perfect. I make mistakes, and I make them often. However, God is able to love my imperfections perfectly. He has given me a way, through the Atonement, to make all wrongs become right. We can be redeemed, reclaimed, even "new creatures". I believe that is the main message of the gospel of Jesus Christ: we always get a second chance.

I know that I can be forgiven of any mistakes that I have made. I know this because I have felt peace after I have asked for forgiveness and promised to try harder. God loves each of His children. He knows you by name. He wants you to grow and learn and have JOY. 

The Atonement also makes up for what we lack. From the Sept 2015 Liahona, a missionary shares an experience of how the Lord helps her overcome her shortcomings. She says "Time after time, I watched as God took my imperfect efforts to share the gospel and worked miracles through my words and actions."

I have seen this in my mission, too! Sometimes I am about to talk to someone and I have no idea what to say, but then I open my mouth and the words just come. There have been countless times when the Lord has made up for my lack. He hasn't sent us here to fail.

The last why you need to ask yourself is: Why did the Savior Atone for YOU? Like the first set of why's, please ask why three times. Then, write it down! Then, read page 5 of Preach my Gospel.

If you're like me, I had a really hard time with this! It took a lot of pondering. Here is what I eventually came to:

1. Why did the Savior atone for Sister Sanders?

Because He wants to make it possible for me to make it back to the Celestial Kingdom.

Why?

Because He knows that is the place where we can have real, lasting happiness.

Why? Why does Jesus Christ want me to be happy?

Because He loves me.

We are all so loved! Don't forget it! Have a wonderful week. Please write me and send me pictures! Love you!

サンダーズ姉妹より

Sent from my iPad

Recent Pics

Fwd: Transfer 8 week 3

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

Date: August 22, 2015 12:39:13 AM MST

Subject: Transfer 8 week 3

Hello family and friends!

I am in the temple lobby typing this really fast! We had a great week!
For my one year mark, I didn't burn any skirts... We had fun with a
homemade flame thrower and rid the spiders from our balcony. It was...
Scary.

We had a cool miracle of finding a new investigator and then
committing her to a baptismal date all in one week. She is a kinjin!
She is so prepared. Me and Sister Thompson are super excited! We are
working so hard.

Love you! Bye!

Sanders Shimai

Sent from my iPad