Loving Fukuoka!! 10-27-13

1. Krispy Kremes and matching socks

2.CHEESE. This is a big deal because japan does not normally sell blocks of cheese. its basically non existent here so we were pretty excited.

3. the view from a member's back balcony

4. someone just gave us flowers when we were riding down the street one day. free flowers!

5. Bush shimai, higashi shimai, rain shimai, and snowflake shimai  (Halloween costumes)

O-hayo Gozaimasu!!!

Thanks for that full update of your week! I really love hearing all about the crazy fun adventures!!! Wow, I can't believe another week has already gone by. It is crazy, because SO MUCH happens every week! I always kind of forget that p-day is every week. So basically everySunday night when we're planning it's a little bit like Christmas when I remember we have a bit of chill time the next day. Fun stuff. Anywho. Last p-day Lane shimai and I went on a great pday adventure. We discovered a Krispy Kremes. Here in Fukuoka, Japan. Crazy good. So we had another lesson with Christina and Karan last week and talked about Faith in Christ and a little bit more with word of wisdom. And here is the crazy news of the week that you may not believe - but I, your daughter, who loves chocolate and has the biggest sweet tooth on the planet, am going on a satou danjiki (sugar fast). Lane shimai and I thought it would be fun to tell Christina and Karan that we wanted to give up something as well right now while they're giving up coffee and alcohol and such. So, the four of us decided that the two of us missionaries would give up sugar. Aka no more chocolate, sugar, jam, sugary cereal, cake, etc.. And it has been an adventure! But it's been great as well. Even though I'm not addicted to sugar, I have been able to gain the tiniest glimpse of what it would be like giving something up that you were used to having all the time. It's been fun, especially with Halloween and such, being creative with alternatives to sugar. This is probably the only time I'll do a sugar fast. If I was doing it without a purpose, it wouldn't be too fun or effective. But hey, it's great because it's fun and healthy too. We love talking to them about how we're doing with sugar and how they're doing with word of wisdom. It's all good. For example, at the ward halloween party last saturday they had an eat the donuts on the string with no hands kind of thing, and we wanted to play too so we just got rolls and poked holes in them and joined right in on the fun. Totally A-okay. Good thing the krispy kremes were the day before!! Haha just kidding. But yeah - pretty crazy stuff! 

So the two of them are trying with the word of wisdom, but we're still working on some other things as well. Also Yukari is going to be in the hospital for the next couple of weeks with a surgery she has to do, so we unfortunately won't be able to teach her but we love her so much! She is a sweetheart. Anyway, prayers are appreciated!!!

Typhoons are a little crazy these days. It's not even monsoon season but this is way more rain than I've ever seen. I look like a spy in my kapa (rainsuit). Because it is all black, the raincoat and the rain pants. Pretty snazzy. We had sports night last week as well which was AWESOME. All the missionaries (12 of us) and a bunch of investigators and PIs came and we played basketball and volleyball and it was just great. It was also junkai (exchanges)  week! Fun fact - Sister Kobayashi is one of my favorite people here. She was my sister training leader for the past 2 transfers in the kagoshima zone, and we both transferred to the fukuoka zone and she's my STL again! I junkai-ed with Sister Eddy, who is awesome. I was able to learn alot from her, and it was alot of fun having the 6 sisters in the apartment for a couple of days. 

More exciting news - our halloween costumes. Lane shimai went as Rain (it's funny, because people don't pronounce L's here so they always call her rain shimai), I went as a snowflake (basically we thought we were really funny with the whole play on our names costumes) Bush shimai went as a flower bush, and Higashi shimai (which means East in Japanese) went as East. like a compass. It was way fun. The other missionaries and ward members had some pretty fabulous costumes as well. My favorite was one of the elders went as a daikon. Which is basically a giant white japanese radish. Good times. 

One junkai miracle - Eddy shimai and I had been out talking to people, knocking doors, and not really  having much success. When we were on our way home,only about two minutes from home, we stopped one more lady just walking by. We started talking to her, and found out she had lived in provo about 20 yrs ago, and had been baptized while there. She was LDS. She just hadn't been to church for a really long time because she was a little nervous to come back after being gone for so long. We were able to talk to her about a few things, gave her the information for church and some other things, and she said she really wants to come to Eikaiwa this week! What a miracle that the Lord put her right in our path. I love the miracles we are able to see every day! Lane Shimai and I are basically having too much fun this transfer. It's awesome working together and helping and learning from each other. I love it here!!! And Fukuoka is crazy big. I think it's like the 4th biggest city in Japan. It is huge. Miyazaki is pretty tiny, comparatively. Anyway, I love being here, I love seeing all the miracles the Lord blesses us with every day as we try our hardest, and I love everything I am learning about and growing from each day. Thank you for all of your love, prayers, and support - I love you all so much!! Also if you get the time you should look up the talk called Beautiful Morning from this past April conference by Bruce Porter. It's great.

Ai shite imasu!!!!

Flake Shimai

PS Japanese is awesome. I love it.

PPS Noa chan got baptized in Miyazaki yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy! I am sad because I wasn't able to be there, but I did get permission to call and talk to her for a little bit afterward and it was incredible. :)

Every day is an adventure! 10-20-13

Every day is an adventure!!

Konnichiwa, kazoku!

Another crazy week. Like always!!! So many things, I really don't even know where to start. So many miracles, every day! So time is a little short, but I shall make sure to try to tell you as much as I can!!!

This week, we were able to meet with and teach a few of our investigators which was great. We are teaching a young couple from Napal right now. We teach them in English, because they do not speak much Japanese. They have been taught by missionaries for a while now, and they have strong testimonies. One thing that we're struggling through with themright now is that they have a really hard time coming to church with their crazy work schedules. And there are word of wisdom issues that we're working through as well. Anyway, that's a pretty brief overview but they are a great couple, and we will continue working with them and doing our best! We have another investigator that is in her 20s, she is super sweet, and we have high hopes for her. One bummer is that she has been in and out of the hospital this past week and has some surgeries next week - please keep all three of them in your prayers! That would definitely be appreciated ') even though I just met them this week, I already love them all so much!!! Another exciting story that happened this past week was that we got a referral and went and visited her and now have a new investigator! She is awesome. She is in her thirties, and has a great family. Nice husband, two kids. They lived in America for almost ten years and just came back this past year. We were able to go and talk to her, and it was exciting because we were all really open, and she asked question after question! Unfortunately, we won't be able to meet with her for another couple of weeks because she's pretty busy right now but she does want to meet again. Which is a definite plus. Those are just a few of the reports of this week's teaching front.

On to other news - we've received a few referrals this past week, and it's been awesome. Basically more referrals than I've received my whole mission, so that's pretty fun! I also basically can't get over how much I love Japan. The culture here is incredible and I love learning so much more about it every day. People are so nice. We were looking for a member's house one day and could not find it anywhere - we were going down street after street, checking our map, and trying to just figure it out (fun fact - maps are always a party to read. AKA they're all in kanji, which we can't read, but it is all good because we get creative and just learn the streets quite well) . We asked these two nice ladies where the block was that we were trying to get to, and they didn't know the exact area either but they took it upon themselves to help us out. As in they led us around the town for about 15 minutes, asking different people, until we finally found it. Super nice. 

OH we had a total Harry Potter moment this week. Remember in the fifth book how the Black's house has that spell on it so people from the outside can't see it? Yeah. Totally discovered a place like that. As in we were at an apartment building and we went to knock on door 304 and to our surprise.... THERE WAS NO 304. There was a 301,302,303,305,306. But no 304. We even checked on the other floors, and it was the same thing. We realized it's because the number 4 is pretty superstitious and such here, it's associated with death. Anyway, so that was interesting. 

We also had Zone Training Meeting this past week! Our zone is huge. Basically this zone is twice as big as my last one, so that was kind of fun meeting all these missionaries that I didn't know. 

Another fun thing from this week - we've gone and played Ultimate frisbee with the elders at a park for morning exercise a couple of times. It's way fun, there's like 12 of us so the teams work out pretty well. Once again, I feel like I'll probably be saying this every week but it is so weird having so many missionaries nearby. But it's awesome - we get to learn so much from each other!!

In answer to a few of your questions - Things really are great here. I love Fukuoka. It is huge. I now realize why everyone called Miyazaki rural. It really is pretty crazy how big it is here. Thank you, once again, for the wonderful, beautiful, fabulous package you sent me. I absolutely love everything that was in there! It's been fabulous! It got here pretty fast, as well as I am a ten minute bike ride away from  the honbu (mission office) so it didn't have to get shipped out to me. They just called us and we went and picked it up. We basically get princess treatment being this close. It's awesome. I've got a few christmas ideas but I left them on a paper at home - I'll try to remember them for next week!!! One thing that I would be really interested in is a Japanese CTR ring. I've tried my hardest to get one here, but I can't. It's unfortunate. However, I believe Deseret book has them or something like that. Anyway, it's an idea. But for now I am totally rockin the green primary CTR rings that turn your finger green. And I love it. And last of all, yes our ward is huge. It's kind of crazy coming from a branch where you know everyone to a big, normal sized ward. There are so many people! And I got to bear my testimony in church yesterday. Short and sweet, but it's all good. I'm glad your week was fabulous - I loved hearing about all that you were able to do! It's sometimes a little crazy that we don't always know exactly what everyone is saying, but it is an adventure. We have an awesomely unique situation, that we both are on the same page with everything here. I love Lane Shimai - she seriously is the greatest on the planet. Anyway, that's about it for this week. I love you all and hope you have a fabulous week!!!

Ai shite imasu!!

Flake Shimai

PS My Halloween costume is going to be great this year. We have a ward halloween party on saturday, so don't you fret, I'll send pictures.

Stolen bikes and packages 10-13-13

Miyazaki  bridge

                                          Soon to be baptized N-chan with new CTR ring

                                                   New companion Sister Lane

Konnichiwa, kazoku!!! 

So many crazy things - it:s been　an awesome week! Things were a little crazy last week after transfer calls, with packing, saying goodbyes, and a few more lessons and such before I left Miyazaki but it was wonderful. I was a little sad to be leaving Miyazaki, and the awesome people　I have grown to love so much there but I did know that the Lord needed me here. The four hour bus ride was pretty uneventful, just kinda weird not being with a companion for a few hours. But good news, friends - Fukuoka is going to be fabulous. I already love it SO MUCH. Sister Lane and I get along a little too well. Seriously, it:s always a party (in a missionary kind of way, of course). We are both on our 3rd transfer. She:s from California, and went to BYU as well before the mish. We are seriously having so much fun already. We knew each other a little in the MTC, but she was in a different zone and district so we didn:t know each other super well. Anyway, things are awesome here being a Fukuoka shimai. There are two other shimai here as well, and we live in a four man apartment. The apartment is way nice. It:s just about the craziest/funnest time of my life. I love it! It:s pretty different from my Miyazaki experience - mostly it:s just weird being around so many missionaries. I:m used to only interacting with my companion and the Miyazaki elders. In our last district, it was just the four of us and Miyakonojo elders (miyakonojo is about an hour away by train). But, we:re pretty close to the mission office here, so we have the APs, ZLs, DL, and all the office elders in our district as well as the four of us sisters. I think our district has 14 people. Crazy! Speaking of crazy, there are some definite perks to being so close to the mission　home. Aka while waiting for my bike to arrivwe in the mail, we went there to borrow some bikes. Ended up stealing (I mean borrowing) the APs bikes for the weekend, picked up a package, picked up a letter, etc. Which reminds me - THANKS FOR THE PACKAGE. It made me ridiculously happy to see all that Mexican food. Haha. Also the poor elders here eat curry like twice a day because that:s the only food they know how to make so we gave them a bit of taco seasoning so they are quite grateful as well - they get to have taco rice for a couple of meals! They give you their thanks!!

Seriously though, it is super fun being around so many missionaries. But its also super crazy!

On my last night in Miyazaki, the ward members gave me some presents and stuff. They are so nice. I will love Miyazaki and the people there forever. During my last lesson with n-chan I gave her my CTR ring and we talked about how we need to choose the right, and continue on through our whole life and that this present was a helpful reminder. She loved it, and I am so happy I was able to give her a little something even though I won:t be there for her baptism that:s happening in a few weeks. 

Lane Shimai and I are so excited for this transfer. We:re throwing ourselves in, and planning on giving it our all. It]s going to be a bit of an adventure because neither of us speak tons of Japanese but we know things will work out! I love this work. I love the support we are feeling from everyone, and how much I am able to feel and see the Lord:s help and support in all of our endeavors. 

Lastly, general conference was AWESOME. I loved watching it this past weekend! Basically all the gaigin missionaries watched it in a little room upstairs in english while everyone else watched it downstairs in Japanese.　I love the comforting, guiding words of the apostles and prophet of the Lord. We are so blessed!!! Thank you so much for everything you do for me - I love you all so much! Sorry I had to email a little earlier today so I wasn:t able to get your email this week, but I hope you know I love you all a bunch!!!!!

Ai shite imasu!!

Flake Shimai

PS sorry for the random typos. Japanese keyboards are an adventure.

Transferred!! 10-8-13

Konnichiwa, kazoku!!!!

Jaaa, I love your letters!!! Thank you so much for keeping me updated with all the happenings of your life! I love every bit of it. ;) Well, today (Tuesday) is p-day this week because of transfers, and I figured I'd let you know the big news of the week that I found out a few hours ago... I am transferring to Fukuoka! I am feeling quite a range of emotions. I am really excited, because I am sure it will be awesome there, I am excited for a change of pace and stuff, and my companion will be awesome, and my district is all of the office missionaries and such. It will be great. But I love Miyazaki soooo much. And just about a bajillion things seem to be happening this coming transfer. N-chan is officially getting baptized in 3 weeks (Oct 27) because that is the day that both of her parents will be in town and will be able to come. Super exciting!!!! The branch is renting a bus to go to the temple, the halloween party, eikaiwa, our other investigators, a lot of things with the zone, etc... so I am not gonna lie, it is a little bit sad when I think of leaving. However, I really am so excited to go to Fukuoka. Oh and big news - I am going to be a co-senior companion. My companion will be Sister Lane, who I was in the MTC with. We are both Americans on our 3rd transfer. She is super nice - it will be awesome to get to know her a little better! Wow sorry I am so all over the place, its just this call surprised me a smidge. I do know that Fukuoka is where the Lord needs me to be, so I really am excited to head on up there. But seriously - it feels so weird to think of leaving Miyazaki! I guess its just crazy to think I will be gone from here in a day and a half. I leaveThursday morning. Crazy. But super exciting, at the same time. Also Sister Suzuki's new companion will be on her 2nd transfer. Fun stuff. And Heaton Shimai's new companion is a 2nd transfer as well. So awesome. I love it here. I definitely know that the Japan Fukuoka mission is the place for me. 

Wow I just feel like I have so much to say and no time to say it! Don't you fret. What I forget to tell you / don't have time to say in letters is in my journal, so I'll fill you in on the details November/December ish of next year. ;)  Last week we went to a really cool park by the ocean with cool statues and stuff. I'll try to send pictures. We had a Mexican food party (thank you Costco) with one of our investigators and it was a little weird having Mexican food in Japan - but pretty fun, too. I've probably mentioned it before, but Japanese kids are absolutely the most adorable children on the planet. They are so cute. I just seriously can't even get over it. We went to visit some former investigators the other day (huzzah for effective area book dendo!!!!) and it was the greatest. It was  a young family; a husband and wife and their 3 year old son. He was so cute. He kept talking to  us the whole time, and when we were leaving he ran up with some bags of snacks and gave them to us, very seriously, and in the cutest, highest voice I've ever heard said "Hai, dozo!" Over and over. ADORABLE. Goodness, I really can't get over how cute they are. One more fun fact is how weird it is to see gaigins (foreigners) these days. Mostly because Miyazaki is my home, and I am used to only seeing Japanese people, so on the rare occasions that I do see people that are clearly foreigners it totally weirds me out. Till I remember I am one too, then that weirds me out as well. Japanese is still hard. Real hard. But things are slowly improving. Basically my goal is to be able to speak understandable Japanese by the end of my mission. We shall see. 

To finally answer some questions you had - ha, I feel like I could have been much more prepared beforehand, but thats what retrospect is for, right? I love how much I am able to learn everyday. Its pretty exciting. With the lessons - it totally depends on the week. Depending on the week, if we have referrals, find new investigators, etc., then we'll do a few first lessons (sit down, actually detailed lessons in their house or a member's house). I love first lessons. And yes, with PMG things do vary a bit, but we usually try to emphasize the message of the Restoration because it is so important. Obviously we try to focus on the person, though. Also we do a bunch of totsuzen (sudden) lessons each day - those are what we do when we go finding (streeting, housing, etc). We stop people on the street and strike up a conversation - maybe ask them if they believe in God, what they think the purpose of life is, and things like that. A totsuzen lesson is about a 3-5 min lesson that teaches 2 principles from PMG and has a commitment. Sometimes people are interested, and will listen to what we have to say and even set up an appointment to learn more. Some aren't interested at all. But we make sure whatever the situation is, everyone gets an Eikaiwa flyer! Haha. Its an adventure. I love being able to talk to so many different people. Definitely an awesome experience. Anywho, love you all and I hope things go well for you - and that this week is wonderful!!!!

Ai shite imasu!!!

Flake Shimai

                                                                       Isn't she beautiful?