Weekly email

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

Date: April 26, 2015 4:36:28 PM MST

Subject: Weekly email

Email end of week 2

Hello! My name is Sister Sanders and I am the proud older sister of a soon-to-be Elder Sanders!! Ahhhhh I am so proud of him! Guatemala?? Where is that? What food do they eat there? How crazy. Our family is going all over the world! 

Last week we went to Ube for special training on our iPads and also contacting techniques. It was pretty interesting. Now I have more resources to study from instead of waiting to get a Liahona magazine in the mail (if it comes...). Anyways, we got to stay with Sister Peterson and Ogawa Shimai, so that made me pretty happy! I love them both!

I really like this trio companionship! Sister Chapman And Sister Layton are both super hard workers. We always have fun and we are finding some new investigators, and progress is finally being made with older investigators. Sister Chapman is really good at loving people and being their friend. Sister Layton is a really talented teacher and is so patient. I am trying to figure about what my missionary talents are, but I am glad my companions are both here serving with me. I seriously couldn't do this without them.

Okay, it's time for me to brag about how awesome this area is. This branch is awesome! Shoutout to all the members of the branch who read my emails! I'm talking to you Sister White and Sister Rasmussen! Love ya! I'm not kidding when I say this is my favorite area. I feel like I have grown so much here. Not only has my language gotten better (which is weird because I'm speaking so much English) but my teaching has improved. I am learning what a successful branch/ ward council looks like, and how to participate in Relief Society. I am learning how to be friends with all kinds of people. I feel more prepared for when I come home- I will be an active member with something to offer my ward instead of just showing up to church on Sunday. There are so many good examples here. 

Sister Layton gave a talk on Sunday about the Atonement, and how on her mission she has noticed little changes in her heart. I have felt those too. As I have been serving for just 8 short months, I feel like I have completely changed. But it's been in tiny little increments. It is through these small changes that a transformation can take place. I am so thankful for the Atonement because it gives me the opportunity to change. I don't ever have to be stuck. I can change, and I don't have to do it alone. I have noticed that I really need to take more responsibility for my own salvation. If I want to live with Heavenly Father again, I need to work for it. I can't just hope to live a celestial life. That's not how it works! The people who make it to the celestial kingdom are the ones willing to put in the work. Simple as that! 

I love this gospel with all my heart. It is an amazing privilege to be serving a mission. As missionaries, we are asked to do the work of gods. Because of the great magnitude of this calling, we are not expected to do it alone. God is always with us. Remember in the Parable of the Vineyard in Jacob 5, the Lord goes with the servants as they go out to work that last time.

I know that God loves you! Don't forget it!

Much love,

Sister Sanders

Sent from my iPad

Short email

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

Date: April 21, 2015 10:29:27 PM MST

Subject: Short email

Hey! We had a really fun week!
I really like my companions! Sister chapman is super funny and has so
much energy, and Sister Layton is suuuuuper chill!

We went three hours south to use for lots of training, so that was
fun! We got to see the other girls of the guch Sister Peterson and my
daughter, Ogawa Shimai! They are doing so good!

During the training I went on splits with an elder! Don't freak out!
We were in sight and hearing of another elder and sister at all times.
It was cool to see how elders contact and how different it is compared
to the way I was trained to contact. I am proud of myself though, I
stopped cars and people riding their bikes. I am trying to be more
bold with sharing the gospel! Plus, elder Johnson  was in my last zone
too, so we are already friends!
Iwakuni is great. I really really love the people here. I am kind of
scared since I love it now, I will get transferred away.

We get to go down to Fukuoka to go to the temple on Saturday! I am so
lucky that even though I am far away, I can still go to the temple. We
are going with the Sizemore's who are the cutest couple ever.

I am super excited for Mother's Day so I can skype home! I might even
prepare a special musical number 😄

I got to share my testimony this week to a young high school girl who
was in a hard place in her life. I know that God cares about us. He
knows our names and loves us. He has given us so much! My challenge
for all of you is to pray and ask God if He loves you! I promise you
will feel His love for you specifically. If you don't believe that He
loves you, pray for the faith to know. I have felt it so many times,
especially when I am struggling with homesickness. I love my family,
but I also know that God's family, my brothers and sisters, need to
feel that love as well. I know that  we are all important to our
Heavenly Father.

Much love!!

Sanders Shimai

Transfer 5 Week 1

WHAT THE...? I'm a 5th transfer now. I am definitely not a baby anymore!

Lots happened with transfers, so I'll start at the beginning:
Tuesday, I received my transfer call! Chapman Shimai was going to be coming up to Iwakuni!
Wednesday Night, the AP's called and informed me that I would be getting 2 companions... Sister Chapman and Sister Layton, who came with me to Japan!
Thursday- I said goodbye to my love, Campbell Shimai, and spent the day with Sister White. It was hard to say goodbye, but every missionary has to die someday. LOVE YOU CAMPBELL SOUP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I also am so thankful for SIster White- she always takes care of me and makes me feel so loved! Then my companions came, and we came back to the apartment and we spent a lot of time cleaning and moving in. I am area sempai now, so I feel a lot of responsibility for the area, ward members, and people. It's a little overwhelming, but we get alone really well and I am doing good!

We watched General Conference this weekend and I loved it!!!!!!!!!! I came into it with specific questions, and all of them were answered! I loved all of the talks. I felt like most of them focused on Marriage (#trunky) and Enduring to the End. I really gotta step up my game. I know that the Lord loves us so much, and He needs us to help Him. God doesn't need lukewarm followers, He needs committed warriors to fight for what is right! I am proud to be part of Helaman's Army!

I love the Lord with all my heart. I am so blessed to be serving in Japan. I love the Japanese people. I really am thankful to learn from them. I know that the Lord wants to bless us. I have felt this week as I am trying to overcome my weaknesses that I can change. THAT is the good news of the gospel- if you don't like where you are, you can go to a place that you want to be. AND you don't have to do it alone. I have so many weaknesses, and I am overwhlemed with all of my imperfections sometimes... but through the Atonement, I can work on one at a time, slowly but surely transforming into someone a little bit better. I love that the Gospel gives us hope to become better. I can be free of all guilt and shame. I can feel peace and hope about the future. All because of my Savior, Jesus Christ and My Heavenly Father. I know they live. I know that by following their commandments, we can be truly happy.

Love you all! Have a great day!

--
Sanders Shimai
lindsay.sanders@myldsmail.net

Transfer Calls

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

Date: April 7, 2015 2:57:22 AM MST

Subject: Transfer Calls

Well friends, it has been a week. Campbell Shimai is leaving on Thursday, and my new companion will be Sister Chapman!!!!!!!!!! I met her once and she is super nice. Also, Russian. Good thing I learned some Russian...??? I am excited!! I am staying in Iwakuni though, so I am glad :)

We went on splits with the Ube Sisters and we had tons of fun. I spent one day with Sister Wilkinson and  Sister Peterson. Both are super cool. I love them both.

This week, some of the students from our English class took us out for sushi and it was delicious! I was also proposed to by a 70 year old man...? Don't worry, I said a kind, but firm NO. Silly Kimura san. He is hilarious.

We saw lots of Easter Miracles. FIrst off, everyone stop what you're doing and watch the Because He Lives video on LDS.org    

It is amazing! I have it memorized in English and Japanese... we've watched it a lot. 

The Saturday before Easter, we were streeting and approached this woman with flowers. I asked "Who are the flowers for?" She said "They are for my Savior! Did you know it's the celebration of His Resurrection tomorrow?" We said "YES! We love Jesus!" So we talked about Easter for a while and thanked her for being a good example and for being a Christian in a place where's it's hard.

I also had an epiphany about the Atonement. A lot of the time we focus on the redeeming power, but have you ever thought about the enabling power?? We can USE the enabling power to overcome our weaknesses and repent. I am thankful for Christ's sacrifice that makes it possible for me to repent. I know that when I try to be more like the Savior, I can help more people. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!!!!!!!! Getting to tell people that they don't have to be worried or feel guilty for anything is the best feeling in the world. You should try it!

Thanks for sending me lots of love! I feel it and I am glad I have this opportunity to give some of my time back to God. 

LOVES!

--

Sanders Shimai

Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

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

Date: March 30, 2015 12:41:44 AM MST

Subject: Heyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Here is my big email for the week!

It won't be very big, I am so sorry I have been bad at writing! 

Here is a recap of what Elder Nelson talked to us about:

in D&C 42:1-2 it talks about how we need to Hearken, and hear, and obey.

The word Hearken appears often in the Old Testament, and the word in Hebrew is Shama. The definition is to listen with the intent to obey. Hearken is the first word in the Doctrine and Covenants, also 29 sections have the word hearken in the first sentence. I think Heavenly Father is trying to tell us something.

Another thing he said "God is never disappointed in anyone who has the desire to repent."

It is so easy to feel like we have strayed too far, there is no hope, or that God is angry with us. That is not the case at all. Just like we wouldn't be angry with a toddler falling when they are just learning how to walk, God is not angry when we make a mistake. This is our time to grow and learn. God wants us to have experiences- but most importantly He wants us to learn from them. Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can seicho suru or kaizen suru (improve or progress). We can be free of all our mistakes and worries. I love this Gospel. I know that we can be forgiven of our sins because I have prayed for that forgiveness. I have felt God's love for me, and I have felt it for these amazing Japanese people. I love them. I know that God loves them. That is why I am here. I can't htink of anything else I'd rather do with my life than help people feel God's love.

Campbell Shimai is going home in a few weeks... and I am SO SAD! I LOVE HER SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!! But we have been working hard and seeing tons of miracles. One miracle is while we were riding our bikes to find a less active (up a really crazy hill) I saw two women walking... so I stopped to talk to them, and before I could say anything, the woman asked "MISSIONARIES?" I said "Yes! Have you met us before?" She told us that 20 years ago, when she was about to have her baby, 2 Elders helped her husband clean their house! And since then, they haven't been able to find other missionaries! She was so excited to find us! She asked us if we could come over to her house and she would make us food. We said "um, YES!" so we exchanged phone numbers and we went our separate ways. That night, she calls us and says "My husband's day off is tomorrow, can you come over and he will make you Italian food?" Needless to say, Campbell Shimai and I were freaking out. We go over to their house the next day, and they welcome us in and sit us down at their table. We learn that the husband works on the military base- is fluent in English, and is a gourmet chef. He made us lasagna, and homemade pizza and lots of other dishes. WE WERE IN HEAVEN. We asked the couple about their lives and about the missionaries that helped them. They said they had a great relationship with those Elders, but did not hear the lessons. We talked for a long time... and I think we are all friends now! Their daughter was at work, but she is our same age, and they really want us to be friends with her- so they invited us to come back when their daughter is home. We invited them to watch the "Because He Lives" video, and left. We felt like that was all we should have done. They acted like members- they even invited their friend to eat with us. Look, they are already missionaries! I really love this family! They are such kind people. Can you imagine inviting two strangers into your home, and making a full-course meal for them????? I love the Japanese people. Anyways, we are praying for them and we are excited to see them soon!

We had a great week. Also, today we went to Miya Jima and HAD SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!! I love our district! There are only 6 of us, but we are all super good friends.

Mata ne! Ai shiteru yo!

Sanders Shimai

--

Sanders Shimai

At Miwa Jima Island

Our District! :)

Transfer 4 Week 4

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

Date: March 22, 2015 7:22:49 PM MST

Subject: Transfer 4 Week 4

Well geez this week was crazy. Sister Campbell went on a Junkai in Hiroshima because she's an STL, so I held down the fort in Iwakuni with Sister Wilkinson from Ube. We had so much fun! 

We went to a big taikai in Fukuoka to meet and receive training from Elder Russell M. Nelson from the Quorem of the Twelve Apostles! It was amazing to hear his witness of the Savior. I am still going through my notes, so I don't have anything to share with you today, but be excited for next week.

Sorry this week was really boring other than that. 

It was really fun to see lots of old friends on Saturday!!!! And to be in my bean area of Fukuoka. I was excited that I could find my way around and help everyone find their way.

I am doing so much better. I put my head down and got to work and the negativity went away.

This is all I have time for this week! Love you all and talk to you later! Send me letters please!

--

Sanders Shimai

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! :)