Transfer 12 Week 4

Transfer 12 Week 4

This week was so insanely busy! It was awesome! We saw so many
miracles and I will try and fit them all into this email!

I have been in this area for 6 months... And this week we FINALLY
found 4 people who seem like they can be solid investigators. Not only
that, but a few of the less active we have been working with are super
close to being reactivated. Such a blessing.

On P-day we went to the zoo, but it was closed... But we could still
see some of the monkeys! We ended up going to Indo Curry and I got
cheese nan :) Then we dendo'd and met a cool lady from Taiwan.

Tuesday was absolutely crazy. District meeting changed last minute, so
we had to catch a train to Hofu. Unfortunately, I read the train times
wrong, and we missed our train. Then we proceeded to miss all of our
trains for the rest of the day, even coming home. It was hilarious.
Even though my companion is Japanese, we still managed to mess up! We
made an adventure out of it and we finally made it back just in time
for junkai with the Yahata sisters! I went with my bestie Sister
Jespersen. She has red hair and she is so wonderful. We housed into
someone who was a former investigator. He said he would come to
church!

Wednesday we had Eikaiwa! The kids learned how to write their names.
They are so smart!

Thursday was Junkai #2, the sisters from Iwakuni came! I went with
Sister Luczak, who is my dendo granddaughter! (Ogawa Shimai was her
trainer!) we had a blast. Found one of our new investigators. Came
home tired. We may or may not have had a dance party.

Friday we rehearsed for the concert, and then we did area book dendo.

Saturday was Yasuko's lesson! She is 91 years old and was worried
about telling her friends that she would not drink tea anymore. But
now she is ready to bear her testimony! She is so awesome! Then we had
our concert and it went really well. Not very many people came, but
one member invited his friend and she brought her daughter. At the
end, they came to us and asked if we could teach them more about Jesus
Christ. The husband had passed away last yesr, and they asked if they
would be able to see him again. We were able to say YES and make an
appointment for this week.

Sunday the branch found out that I am leaving and it was so sad. But I
still have one more week! We had a really good night of dendo and then
we were able to talk to one of our investigators and pray with her
before bed... She had a rough day.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission. I feel so
lucky to serve in Japan. These people are so prepared!

I know I have made so many eternal friends. I know that God loves us!
Sorry that is all for this week!

サンダーズ姉妹より
Sanders Shimai

Junkais and such

Sister Campbell, the baby is still in the wall in Iwakuni! Gross!

With Tashiro Kaicho! Fukuoka Temple President

サンダーズ姉妹より

Junkai

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Pics

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Transfer 12 End of Week 3

I hit my 18 month mark on Saturday! I can't believe it.

It has been raining all this week. I realized that I lost my rain
jacket when we moved apartments... Haha it has been fun! I am going to
miss the rain, so I am just enjoying it :)

If faith in God can move mountains, then faith in God can help
Yasuko's ears hear the gospel! These lessons have been amazing faith
builders for me! Her family was so concerned that she would have
reservations about the Law of Tithing... But we taught the lesson,
asked her if she would keep it, and she said Yes! We asked why, and
she said "When I am a member of the church, I will have to pay in
order to receive blessings." Wow, so cool! She gets it! She is on
track to be baptized next month. I have such a strong testimony of
faith bringing miracles! Heavenly Father wants to bless us, and we
just need faith!

On Friday, we had Elder Yamashita from the Asia North Area Presidency
come for Mission Tour. We woke up early and took a Shinkansen to
Fukuoka, then a subway to Fujisaki. I got to see a lot of my friends,
and of course the training was amazing. I came with 5 specific
questions, and I know that God answers prayers, because they all were
answered in the first part of the day! It was exactly what I needed.

We talked about our testimonies, being focused on our missionary
purpose, and teaching effectively. All of the training was wonderful,
and the Spirit was so strong. I am so thankful for the priesthood
leaders who receive revelation to direct the work.

Elder Yamashita told us "You don't study hard enough!" Then he gave us
an invitation to be more dedicated to studying our mission language. I
am repenting and upping my goals for language study! There is a lot I
can learn in three weeks!

I can't remember who shared this scripture, but I wrote this reference
in my notes.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And [ the Lord ] said unto me, My grace is
sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most
gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power
of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities,
in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for
Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

If my weaknesses or trials are supposed to help me come closer to
Christ, then I will gladly accept them. Everyone's mission (and life)
is hard... Mine is no different! I have been blessed with
soul-stretching and testimony building experiences that honestly
seemed like distresses at the time. As I look back, I can see the hand
of the Lord helping me, guiding me. Now, I can honestly say that I
love my mission! I couldn't honestly say that a few months ago. I am
thankful for the hard times because that is when I grew the most.
Trials = blessings!

Remember how a few weeks ago I said that the fact that I am going home
hasn't hit me yet? Well, this week it hit me. Hard. It started on
Wednesday when I received my DEATH LETTER... The letter that tells you
NOT to stress/slack off/lose focus. It was a huge wake up call and it
threw me off. Then we had the Taikai and so many people made a special
effort to say goodbye. It was... sad. This time next month I won't be
able to wear my name tag. I don't want this to end! But I know there
are good things ahead! So many mixed emotions. It is so hard to
describe. I still want to be here though. I am refocusing. I feel more
driven work even harder now that the end is in sight. I am determined
to see more miracles! 最後まで頑張ります！There are more people I need to find!

This week, I found a scripture that I really liked! Nephi is writing
about the things that make him happy. 2 Nephi 11: 5 "And also my soul
delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our
fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and
power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from
death."

The phrase "my soul delighteth" has stuck with me all week. Nephi says
it a lot throughout his writings. I thought, "What does my soul
delight in?"

My soul delights in the happy message of the gospel: True love never
ends, we can be with our families forever, we can be free of guilt, we
can start over, we don't have to worry when trials come because we
understand there is more than just this short life... THAT is the
happy message that my soul delights in sharing!

We have a crazy week coming up... Two Junkai's and I put together a
concert that some of the Elders are going to help with. I am so
excited! We are going to ask someone to record it, so hopefully we can
put it on facebook :)

Have an awesome week! Love ya! Read your scriptures!


サンダーズ姉妹より
Sanders Shimai

Yamashita Taikai

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More pictures

We were the only ones on the train #inaka

Yasuko san!!!

Finally got my Lesson Mastery pin! Isn't it pretty?!

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