Happy Labor Day! 8-31-14

Konnichiwa, kazoku!

Everyday sounds so busy for you. I am glad you had such a great week! I would love to see Spencer play football - I am glad he is having fun! I can't believe it is already football season again. That came entirely too fast. This past year has gone by so fast. I am still trying to wrap my mind around that. Thank you for telling me about that fun connection to washington - I was actually in the same college ward for a semester with Sister Lyles and ended up living with her in Fukuoka for 3 transfers. She is great. I can't believe she is home - missions really are so fast. And yes to answer your question - Suzuki shimai went home about 2 transfers ago.  It is already week 5 of the transfer - I feel like every transfer just gets a little bit faster than the previous one. As of next week I will have been in Saijo as long as I was in Fukuoka. Crazy. I really am hoping to spend the rest of my mission here. I know that wherever I am or transfer to will be where I need to be but I am really hoping to stay here till December. 

Our week was so busy. I feel like there is always so much to be doing and not enough time in the day to do it all!!! We had another open house this past Saturday, which was set up by us missionaries and our ward mission leader. We ordered a lot of big, church (gospel art ish) picture/posters and had them around the room, and basically had a meeting that explained a little bit more about our church. The turnout was wonderful - there were 41 people here (the maximum our meeting room can hold) and 16 nonmembers. It was a lot of fun - we had the meeting just introducing functions in our church and things like that, then afterwards we had a big meal where all of us missionaries, the members, and investigators just got to talk and get to know each other a bit more in a relaxed atmosphere. Some investigators that we didn't know would be able to come came, and it was a great experience for everyone!

Miracle time! Alright - so last week Pday was on tuesday, and the rest of our zone was in Hiroshima for a zone pday but we had an  appointment that afternoon so we stayed here. The appointment was with Yotsuji san, our new investigator and it went really well. She is Buddhist, but the reason she agreed to listen to what we have to say is because her dad died 7 years ago and she has just really been wondering if there is more to this life and where he is now. She is really sweet and sincere - can't wait to continue meeting with her! So after that lesson, we decided to go to a random store to try to find a new backpack. As we were wandering the aisles, we ran in to Barbarasan, who we hadn't been able to get ahold of! This is about the 5th time this has happened. I know that it is not a coincidence. God has prepared her and really is helping us out in being able to stay in contact. We were able to set up another appointment and had a wonderful lesson. We invited her again to be baptized, and this time she said she really wants to do what God wants her to do so she will pray about it and continue reading to learn the truth. The last time we asked her about baptism  (about a month and a half ago) she just told us she didn't see the need because she had already been baptized into another church. We were definitely blessed to see that change in her countenance this time around. 

Takeda is doing really well - progressing and moving right toward her 9/27 date ! ! 

I was thinking the other day about how much things have changed for me in the past year. When I was on my first transfer, it was a little scary to get off my bike and walk up to complete strangers and ask them their feelings about God, all in Japanese. But now, it makes me sad when I see someone walking on the other side of a busy road that we can't talk to because I just want to tell them how happy this message is! Also, a lot of the traditional Japanese houses have big yards with a gate you have to go through (that also has an intercom). You can ring the doorbell/intercom at the gate, or if it is unlocked go through and ring the doorbell on the house. When I was a younger missionary, it was a little intimidating to walk right through to their house, but now I love it! Granted don't take this the wrong way - I still have a LOT of areas I need to improve on and ways in which I want to become a better missionary, but it really is so incredible to look back and see the ways I've grown in the past 15 months. Mom, just a warning - I have changed a lot. In answer to your question - no I cannot imagine what my life would have been like without my mission. It is so hard.  Every yday is still hard, but it is the best thing I have ever done. Thank you for all of your support and love. Have a great week!

Ai shite imasu!

Flake Shimai

Recharged! 8-24-14

                                   
                                                                The 4 Saijo Sisters Selfie

Konnichiwa, kazoku!

Sounds like you had a busy week! I can't believe you're already a month into school. I'm sorry to hear that you hurt your knee - I didn't know that! I hope you can get back into the swing of things soon (did you see that? I just used an english expression. I haven't forgotten all of my english! yosh). As far as football goes - at least Spencer is having fun, right? I guess that is what matters. :) I guess the weirdest thing is just trying to picture those boys as grown up! I won't be able to handle it if Spencer is taller than me when I get home. Entirely too weird. 

Our week - things went well this week! I'm emailing a day late because we had interviews with President yesterday. I absolutely love President and Sister Gustafson. They are incredible. Even though our mission is bursting to the max these days (250 missionaries) they still know and love each of us individually and I can always feel that when we talk to them. The APs training was wonderful - all about how to improve teaching and a lot of  new ideas. We did a lot of mogis (not sure if I know the English word - it's practicing teaching situations - roleplays, maybe?) that were really helpful. I am excited to apply these things in my every day missionary work.

This past week had so many wonderful moments. Takeda san is doing great. We had been a little worried because we were only able to meet with her once a week (her work has been busy) but after we taught her this past time we pulled out a calender and said So, we have this goal for September 27th, but we still have this many things to talk about. We can either extend the baptismal date and keep meeting like this, or keep the date and meet more often. What do you want to do? She pulled out her planner and started figuring out a few more times we could meet, and figured out when she could come to church as well. We ended up having more than enough days to finish her lessons and meet with her enough in order to be baptized by that date! She was out of town for work this past sunday, but hopefully will be able to come next week and throughout September to church. It was so good to be exactly on the same page with her. She is so sweet and just really has a desire to know the truth. We are so happy for her!

Teena - unfortunately we weren't able to meet with her this week because she was really busy with work, and we were gone to Fukuoka on the day she can normally meet - we are still working on strengthening her testimony of the word of wisdom. 

Tomiko- she has still been having a bit of a hard time with Willes shimai being gone, and she has a hard time when the weather is bad. One miracle with her - I called her before church on Sunday to see if she would be coming and we talked for awhile, probably a little over 10 minutes. She said I thought church was cancelled because the rain was so bad ( it's always raining here - we don't cancel church!) and talked about how she wasn't feeling too good but would try to come next week. I told her we loved her and knew that everyone would love to see her at church, but we understood and were excited for her to come back next week. Imagine my surprise when just after it started she walked in the door! I was so happy. I taught Sunday school again this week - I loved it. Teaching gospel principles just has such a great learning experience. I love it.  Tomiko - she is still having a bit of a hard time meeting for normal lessons - but she did give us 3 referrals this week! She really is starting to come back around. I know she will be baptized but it is just all in The Lord's time.

Temple trip! We went to Hiroshima Friday night (because the trains don't run early enough for us to have gone home saturday morning) and stayed with the sisters there overnight, then got on a bus to Fukuoka with a lot of the Hiroshima stake members Saturday morning and left at 4:30. We travelled for 4 1/2 to 5 hours, and got to Fukuoka. It was unreal to be riding through the streets that I knew so well. I can't even tell you how happy I was to be back, even for a short time. We got to the temple, and were able to watch Lisa do baptisms for both of her grandmothers. I can't remember a time that I have been happier. Seeing a recent convert doing work for her own family names and just beaming with the light of the gospel is something I will never forget.

We were able to do 2 temple sessions, then got on the bus and headed back home! we got in to Hiroshima around 8:30 or so, and back to our apartment by 9:30. It was quite the day. I absolutely love the feeling of the temple. This was one of the most rejuvenating moments - it was something I really needed.

One last investigator story - we were able to teach Minaesan, the former investigator that we visited a while ago and it went really well. She is kind of busy right now but interested - we are excited to keep working with her!

In answer to a few questions - it's true - no time to play here in Japan. Everyone is working and/or in school. However, being in a more rural place (Saijo) people do have a lot more time than in the city, which is nice. Things are really going well here. Sou shimai is the greatest. Just picture always having a cute Asian with you 24/7 speaking the best mix of Japanese/english and telling you you're pretty all the time. That about sums up my life - she is great. Sorry I am totally out of time but I love you thank you for all of your support and prayers - have a great week!!!!

AI shite imasu!

Flake Shimai

Life is good! 8-17-14

Konnichiwa, kazoku!

Things are going so well here. This week had some awesome moments and some hard moments but hey - isn't that how every week goes as a missionary? It really was awesome to be able to start off the week by going last pday to the Hiroshima castle with the other missionaries, some ward members, and Okayamasan - then to his baptism that night. He was so happy. Seeing him and the elders just beaming all the time is such a happy thing. The gospel really brings such a light to people. I love being able to see that change over time. 

This week was Obon - where everyone goes home to their parents' home and goes to the cemetary to worship their ancestors. People here are so surprised when they ask what it is called in English and I say we don't have a specific day or name for that. It made finding a little bit hard becuase everyone was with their families and not too interested in listening to us - but it was okay.

ANd yes to answer your questions - yes it rains ALOT here. Definitely have seen way more rain in the last year than I  have ever seen in my life. Truth. But when it is not raining, it is super sunny, hot, and very yvery very humid. Basically come back to the apartment wet every day, weather from rain or sweat. 

We taught ueda san again (different person than umedasan). I don't think  I;ve told you much about her - we just found her a few weeks ago. She is very wise, kind of looks down on us a little and has a lot of questions that are usually asked more for the sake of having questions than wanting to hear answers, but we do our best to simply testify to her and share the things we know to be true. I just feel like every day that I am out here my heart grows bigger and more full of love for these people, and I feel the need to share the happiness of this gospel even more! 

Okay. We've got a bunch of investigators that are at various stages - sorry I don't have time to share about all of them but I will tell you some happy stories! Teena and takeda are our current investigators with baptismal dates - tomiko doesn't have one right now - she is struggling with a few things but we are just doing our best to keep in contact with her, and work bit by bit. 

Teena - she is from China, but has pretty good english and Japanese so our lessons are always a mix of all 3 languages. It is a lot of fun. The three of us are pretty good friends, and all the same age ish so it is a fun time. We taught word of wisdom this past week, and let me tell you, family - I know it is hard to teach wherever you are, but man oh man it is hard in Japan. Some teas are okay, and some aren't. Tea is such a cultural thing in asia - it is pretty hard for people to accept. She understood most of the word of wisdom but is having a pretty hard time with accepting the fact that green tea is against this commandment. Please pray for her!

Takeda is doing really well. Her work just became a little more busy so she won't be able to come to church for awhile, and we can't meet with her more than once a week now but she is growing her faith every day. :D

Most exciting news of the week - So shimai and I get to go to the temple on Saturday!!!!! So for us, we're only allowed to go to the temple once every yother transfer (I haven't been since last november, though) and temple day becomes pday. (except for email). So we're emailing right now than going back to our normal schedule of missionary work - finding, lessons, etc for the rest of the day, then on Saturday we're leaving from hiroshima around 4:30 in the morning to take the 4 1/2 hr bus ride to the temple and will come back late that night. I can't wait. The best part though is this - Lisa shimai, the RC we're working with from Malaysia will be coming with us! This will be her first time at the temple - so we're going to do baptisms together. I am so excited. Speaking of her - she is incredible. She told me one of the happiest things last week. She told us about one of her friends that had been having a really hard time in her family. Lisa said "Sisters, I remembered what you had taught me - Sea turtle! (C - celestial, TER - terrestrial, TEL - telestial) And I did my best to explain the plan of salvation to her! Although I would prefer if you would teach her next time. Can you come with me to visit her next week?"

This is about the most heart-warming thing I could have heard! What a blessing that was. Members help the missionary ywork so much more than I'm sure they even realize. They are essential!

Last super exciting news - Umedasan, our Brazillian friend. So her husband lives in Kumamoto (about 5 hrs ish away) for work and only is able to come back here to visit his family once a month. He was here this past week for the Obon festival, so when we went over to teach her about the plan of salvation last night we taught both of them. I spent language study yesterday on going between the Japanese, English, and Portugese pamphlets learning a few of the gospel words in portugese I would need for the lesson, and honestly it went pretty well! It's pretty fun to be teaching the plan of salvation with a missionary from Taiwan, missionary from America teaching a couple from Brazil - and all speaking in Japanese. God works in mysterious ways! It was such a wonderful opportunity to be able to promise them the blessings that come from this happy plan, and tell them how much God loves them. I felt it so strong. I know this church is true and am  so grateful for the opportunity I have to tell people about it every day.

Thank you for your prayers and support - we really do feel it here! I love you!

Ai shite imasu!

Flake Shimai

Happy School days!! 8-10-14

Konnichiwa, kazoku!

I feel like every week I just have entirely too much to say and no time to say it all. Ganbarimasu!

Thank you for telling me all about your week. I can't believe school is already starting for you. In Japan, the start of the school year is March or April ish. I have so many thoughts to tell you about the schooling here - but I'll save that for another day. As far as the scripture study - that's wonderful! I was talking with Sou shimai about how we had done that growing up and she said she was so jealous and definitely wants to do that with her family in the future. Speaking of Sister Sou - today is her 2 year baptism anniversary  (sorry if that sounds weird - I honestly don't know how to say it in English). She is such a champion. Baptized two years ago today. The exciting news is this - the saijo elders have a baptism today! Okayamasan will be baptized tonight, so all of us missionaries, okayama san, and some ward members are heading in to Hiroshima \city (about a 45 minute train ride away) in a few hours to go do some fun things, maybe go to the Hiroshima castle, and eat before the baptism. Can't wait!

Sou shimai - she's grand. She is super cute, 24 yrs old, fluent in Japanese, and has pretty good english. We have been having a goal to both SYL more (speak your language) - so she is trying to say more things in English and I am trying to only speak Japanese to her. We have a funny little mostly japanese, partially english language going on. It is always a party. I will try to send a picture of us soon.

We were able to meet with a lot of our investigators this week! That is always a happy thing. Tomikosan is still having a pretty hard time with Willes shimai being gone - but we're working with her and keeping up daily contact. Just trying to show her our love and support. Her baptismal date has been dropped for a bit - we're still working on some concerns that she has first. However, I do have full faith that she will be baptized one day. She is still pretty concerned about paying tithing because her money situation is pretty hard. But it's okay - little by little - we'll get there!

Takedasan is doing great. She really has a strong desire to know the truth. She started coming to Eikaiwa and really liked it - so she will be continuing that and is planning on coming to church next week!

Biggest miracle of the week - we had 9 investigators at church this week (between all of us missionaries). There were 10 missionaries, 10 nonmembers (one of the member's mom came), and 7 members there. The biggest part of that miracle - it was a typhoon and they all came to church! We were warned that saturday and sunday were supposed to have a pretty bad typhoon blowing in. I didn't think much about it - it is always raining here. BUT Saturday afternoon and night were just about the craziest weather I've seen here. There were huge winds and lots of rain - we were visiting an  investigator on the other side of town and ended up walking our bikes the whole way home because there was no way we could ride in that wind. Yay for adventures - it was fun because we never walk! The investigator we were teaching was fu san. (chinese). It's funny, because the word in Japanese for couple, like a married couple, is fufu. So, we were teaching the fu fufu. Fun to say. Anyway it is really a neat experience to hear one asian language that I don't understand at all, but then be able to talk and communicate in a different asian language that does make sense to me, even though I didn't even know how to say hello a year and a half ago.  

Last cool story of the week - I was a little frustrated the other day. I felt like I;d been trying my hardest and really doing all I could do,  but was having a hard time recognizing revelation and knowing what to do to help some of our people. Sou shimai and I talked it out, and she really helped me feel better. That evening, we went to visit a potential investigator, who ended up not being interested in our message. We prayed to figure out what we should do, and I remembered that a former investigator lived pretty close by in that area, and felt like we should go visit her. She had been dropped because her husband was against the church, and she bacame very busy. That was during my first transfer here in Saijo. Well, we went to visit her, and she was so happy to see us! She said she'd been reading the Book of Mormon and thinking about us lately. We were able to set up another appointment with her to talk more about these things. That was a miracle in and of itself, but the biggest miracle to me was that God really does know our circumstances so well. He knew that that was something I had been worried about, and showed me that he cared for me and would help me as I continue to do His work. I know that this work is the Lord's work, not ours. I continue to see so many miracles every day. I feel so blessed to be here having this opportunity to serve. I love it so much. Thank you for all of your love and support!

Ai shite imasu!

Flake Shimai

Life changes and blessings! 8-3-14

Konnichiwa, kazoku! 

This has basically been one of the most hectic weeks of my mission. As always, transfer calls were not at all what we expected. Exactly the opposite, in fact. My new companion is.....(drum roll, please)..... Sou Shimai! She is the girl from Taiwan  that I have been in the same apartment as for the last 3 transfers. We came to Saijo at the same time, but she has always been in the other sisters' companionship. We were SO surprised. It definitely meant some juggling with investigators (because she brought all the Chinese investigators into our companionship) but it has been a fun adjustment.

A bit about my new comp - so she is from Taiwan, and is a recent convert - August 11 is her 2 year mark. Pretty cool, right? She is fluent in Japanese, her english is decent, and she is way nice. She is on her 4th transfer - we came to Saijo together at the same time when she was a bean. It has definitely been an adjustment teaching lessons again where I have absolutely no

idea what's going on for part of the lesson. we usually make sure to roleplay (is that what you call it in english?) during companion study. We either teach their lessons in half chinese, half japanese, or half chinese half english - depending on which language they are better at. A few days ago, we taught the law of chastity to Teena - she is really cute, college age, and has a baptismal date for next month. Chinese, Japanese, and english all in one, teaching that commandment - yep. An experience, to be sure. But it went well, so that is happy. 

This week was crazy. Here is the lowdown. Willes was down in Fukuoka for trainers meeting sunday night and monday, it was transfer call pday on tuesday - turned our lives upsidedown a little to discover that Sou shimai and I would be companions, and burgon was getting a bean. Wednesday was crazy - last lessons and goodbyes with investigators, eikaiwa that night, and willes was off early thursday morning. Sou and I became comps early thursday morning. 

Miracle of the week. So honestly from all the hustle and bustle I was pretty exhausted, and Thursday and Friday really were an adjustment for me. I'd been with Willes shimai, one of my best friends for 4 1/2 months. I felt like my Japanese wasn't adequate to fully communicate with Sou shimai, and I felt like my body was just so utterly exhausted that I wasn't giving enough to do missionary work, but also that I couldn't do anything more than I already was. I got a blessing from the elders friday night that was one of the most comforting of my life. I was promised that our language barrier wouldn't be a problem,. and a few other things. The next morning when I woke up, my pure exhaustion feeling of the day before was gone. I felt like I was back to normal, and like I had had a huge burden just lifted off of my shoulders. It was such a huge testimony builder to me of the importance of relying on The Lord. He will make our burdens light and strengthen us so that we can do the things we need to do. Since then, things have been great here. I mean it's not perfect, we're not perfect, but things are going really well.

We set a baptismal date with Takeda san this past week!!! She is really progressing and wants to have that fresh start that baptism brings. I am so excited to keep working with her. 

Tomiko - - so she has had a really really hard time with the fact that Willes shimai left. We are getting her going bit by bit. She came to church yesterday, and bore her testimony in fast and testimony meeting. It was so good. That was the first time she has borne her testimony in front of other people - I was so proud of her. Her prayers are so sincere as well. It makes me want to cry when I think of where she was 3 months ago and how much she has progressed since then. I love her so much. 

I love all of these people so much. I feel so lucky to have at least one more transfer here - hopefully more. I am hoping that I will get to finish my mission here. I have learned and grown so much in the past year. Missions really are incredible, aren't they? Wow. 

Well that is most of our week! Gotta run but I love you all! Have a good week!

Flake Shimai

Transfer week..always a party 7-28-14

Konnichiwa, kazoku!

Thank you for your fun-filled letter! It really has been a wonderful week. I honestly can't even tell you, though, how scared I am to go back home and not be able to speak English and be filled with culture shock - I've received a few emails from my freshman friends that have gotten home in the last few months and said the same. Glad to know that will be normal :) As long as we're on that topic - our mission is really going to be taking a hit the transfer I go home and the transfer right after. There are a lot of elders and sisters in those december and january groups. Our mission is officially huge. There are roughly 250 missionaries - they keep splitting zones so we now have 11. New areas are being created all of the time. Transfer news - haven't gotten the call yet (probably will in  a few hours) but Willes shimai is going to be training up a little bean! She is opening an area for sisters - Beppu, which is down by Kumamoto but off on the coast. We are pretty sad that we won't be companions anymore, but this is going to be an awesome opportunity. Beppu is the only other place in our mission that is really similar to Saijo. It wasn't even an elder area when we first came to the mission. It is a little group - only a handful of members, not even a branch yet, and it is next to a big international university. I really am so excited for her and excited to be staying here in Saijo, but I am sad to see her go. I'll find out in a bit who my next companion will be - stay tuned for next week! 

Our week was great - but had some interesting moments to be sure. We received the call from the APs on Friday that Willes would be training (they call if you have never trained before) so she had to head down to Fukuoka on monday. Crazy part was this - They normally take the shinkanzen (bullet train) for meetings like that, about a 2 hour train ride, but they decided to have her take the bus instead so she had to leave Sunday afternoon - take a 45 minute train into Hiroshima, city tram to the bus station, then 4 1/2 hour bus ride to fukuoka and stayed the night in my old apartment. I basically went on splits with the other sisters here for a day and a half. Fun times!

Biggest miracle of the week - we taught Tomikosan the law of tithing, with a Japanese member, and it went really well. She has been worried about money since day one, because she had a pretty awful experience with a church and money in the past. Her faith hasn't been quite up to where it needed to be until now to teach it, which has been why we've been holding off a bit. She really understood it and said she will pray about it and try her best. We know The Lord was helping us through that whole lesson.

Takedasan - we finished up teaching the plan of salvation and it was really powerful. Her mom passed away a few years ago - it was such a happy, hopeful lesson to be able to tell her that this life is not the end - that she can be with her mother again. I love this gospel so much! I feel so lucky to be able to go out every  day and spread this happy, joyous message. In Japanese, the word for gospel, fukuin, is literally translated as good news, or happy news. I love that, because it is so true.

We visited a lot of less actives this past week, but most of them were pretty set on telling us they were Buddhist and had never been Christian before in their life. That was a little hard, but we are praying for their hearts to be softened. I have seen so many miracles from The Lord every day here on my mission. I know he can and will accomplish his will in his own timing.

We had an open house this past week - our mission president gave us training on this in zone conference and asked us to put it on in each of our areas. We did a big introduction to our church kind of meeting saturday afternoon and invited everyone we knew. We talked about what programs we have in our church, that we do a free english class, a bit about what we do as missionaries - then had a big meal and talked and played games. It was a lot of fun. 

As far as your questions - yes, we teach our english class twice a week, wednesday night and saturday night. It is a wonderful opportunity as a missionary here. Everyone wants to learn english, and we have 9 native speakers teaching a free english class. When we tell that to people on the street, a lot are really surprised and ask why we would be doing that when we could be getting good money for it - it usually leads in to  a pretty good discussion about what we do as missionaries :) We have regular students, and are always looking for more. Sometimes they are interested in learning more about the gospel, sometimes not, but it is always a good time. I love it. I just sometimes feel bad because I feel like my English is really going downhill the longer I'm here - I think I was a much better Eikaiwa teacher as a bean :)

Like always, I have way more things that I want to say but no time. I hope you know how much I love each and everyone of you and am so grateful for your support. I hope you know that we can feel those prayers, and see the blessings from them every day. This gospel is so true - we are so blessed to know these truths! Thanks for everything, and I hope you have a good week!

Ai shite imasu!

Flake Shimai