Week 20: Teaching English and Ninjas in Wakayama!

The zone

Wakayama

Okonomiyaki

Sword of a ninja

I'm becoming a ninja

Sakai

Nakamoto Shimai and Chimu(team)

みなさんこんにちわ (hello everyone),

This week has been a really fun and tiring week. The other day we
biked over 20 miles in one day. It's crazy how much as a missionary
you bike, walk, and talk. I love it! I love being a missionary.

The other night we were biking down a hill, I dropped something out of
my pocket and thought that I pulled on the right break, but I pulled
on the front one, which your not suppose to do. Haha... but, when I
pulled on it, I like almost flew forward. Luckily I didn't haha..

On Friday we had Zone Training meeting! I learned so much, we talked a
lot about changing our way of thinking and becoming who God wants us
to be. It was really fun! I received so much inspiration! After most
of the zone went out for okonomiyaki! After we headed to an
appointment with a family that came to church last Sunday. They were
more interested in learning English, but we shared a spiritual
message. Their family was so nice. We have another lesson on Friday.
Later that night we had Eikaiwa(English class). After Eikaiwa we had a
lesson with an investigator who I really don't know if he has interest
or if he just wants to bash us with Buddhism... but e lesson went
alright, we have another lesson on Friday as well. Hope things go
better.

Saturday was incredible! I have recently noticed that if you start to
look at the things they way God sees things, you will find more than
you thought you would. More miracles, more inspiration, more
everything. We had 9 lessons that day. We talked to over 20 people,
but we had 9 of them that listened and talked with us! How cool is
that?
We were walking around the Jou(castle) and we came up this hill, and
we saw a ninja! A legit ninja... just chilling and talking to people.
We found out later that there were ninjas at the castle that day, not
sure why.. but it was legit!

Oh I tried black ｔhunｄer ice cream! And that ice cream changes your
world... it is so good. Basically if you didn't know Black thunder
cant really be explained, but it kinda taste like Oreos , but 10x
better! But, they have it in ice cream!

Yesterday though we went to Sakai to my first Stake Conference in
Japan! It was really fun to try to understand what people were talking
about haha and see President and sister Welch! We got a ride with one
of the most amazing members in our ward Nakamoto Shimai, she is so so
nice, and practically my best friend, beside my companions!

Such a great week! I hope all of you have been having a good one, I'm
so grateful for my family, friends, my companions, and the gospel!
Love you all! Have a good week!

あいしています！

ロケット姉妹

Week 19: Spanish and Snow!

Cowdell Shimai

Johnson Shimai

>
 Minasan konnichiwa,

 What a week.. full of laughter, snow, and miracles!

 This week went by really fast and I can't believe that I'm going into
 my 10th week, I can't believe that I'm almost not a trainee haha.. but
 wow what happened.. on Thursday we went to Obeno to listen to Whiting
 Kaicho (one of the 70 in charge of our are). We got so much good
 advice. One of the things I really liked what he said was opening your
 mouth, I really took what he said and tried opening my mouth more,
 even though my Japanese isn't the best. But, it was good to see some
 of my dokis (people that I came into the mission with). It was also
 really good to see some of my kohai(people who came into the MTC after
 us).

 Oh one of the most exciting things that happened this week, is that
 some of the Elders in another area found a family that are Spanish speaking and we're pretty interested and we're wondering there were
 any sisters, and we are he closest ones to them, and they were
 wondering if any of us spoke Spanish, and well yah there's me who took
 Spanish for 7 years and didn't think it would be used anymore, but I
 thought wrong. I'm he only one who speak Spanish. So, we might be
 helping out and teach in Spanish! How cool is that? I am so so excited to see what happens!

 The other day it snowed! Not very much though, but my companions are
 both from warm places so they don't have snow, so they kinda freaked
 out hahah.. but it was fun to watch them run around screaming and
 jumping around in a parking lot! It kinda felt like home!

 Yesterday was probably one of the best days that I have had in the
 mission so far. We invited an investigator to come to church awhile
 ago and yesterday he came with his FAMILY! How cool is that? They came
 for just a little bit, and we talked to them and we will be teaching
 them English and the gospel! It was really amazing! I think if my
 favorite parts about being a missionary is seeing families come closer
 to the gospel! I love the quote of what a missionary is "one who
 leaves their family for a short amount of time so families can be
 together forever" it's so true!

 Love you all!

 Love ロケット姉妹

Week 17 San Nin life!

There are so many changes now in Wakayama!
I have a new companion named Dayley shimai! She is from Australia!shes
21 and she practically the funniest person I know. She's only been in
Japan for about 4 1/2 months so she's a 4th transfer!
We had a really fun week! We did this thing for the beginning of the
new year called mochitsuki! It's where you pound rice into Mochi! I
love it so much! It was really good! I tried pounding some, the whole
ward came out for it!

Lately we have been trying to find more investigators, but not really
having any luck, but we keep trying!

We now have a SAN NIN in WAKAYAMA! A san nin is three people! I am now
in a companionship with two companions, it doesn't happen often, but
it is so much fun having two people to talk to. We all get along so
well! We keep seeing so many miracles of people stopping and
listening. One of our investigators is starting to progress more in
the gospel! He is reading the Book of Mormon and has questions for us!
I'm really excited to see what happens! We got to go over to his house
and saw his daughters new born baby! We also went on a kokan(companion
exchanges) in 怖地長野(Kowachinagano). It was tiring, but I learned a lot,
I also could start seeing the gift of tongues working in my life! I
can tell you that God does call people to places for a reason, and he
knows that we can do anything. I have so much faith in my Heavenly
Father that I was sent here for a reason.

Oh and yes I tried RAMEN! It's really good actually! I really love
food in Japan! I've been trying some really interesting food in Japan!
I've been trying ramen, raw eggs, sushi... man what more can I get I
am so excited!

Last night my companions and I to break our fast, tried some thing
called Tim tams with hot chocolate called a Tim tam slam! It's from
Australia! Thank you Dayley Shimai you have changed my life! You bite
off one corner off and then the diagonal corner and sip your hot
chocolate!

Lately what's been on my mind is the challenge that we have been given
by our mission president. We were told to read the Book of Mormon
again and look for the faith and repentance sections of the Book of
Mormon, and basically the Book of Mormon is faith and repentance and
more faith and repentance. So, I mean basically read the Book of
Mormon! It is so interesting how our eyes can changed and turned to
look a different way on the Book of Mormon! I'm learning so much! God
works in mysterious ways!

Love you all so much!
あいしています！
ロケット姉妹

Week 16 New Years and Tenrikyo

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!

Wow I can't believe it's already 2017! This year I realized the other

day is the year that I will be in Japan serving for the whole year. I

love that feeling! Wow, what to say.... my Christmas was great saw two

people get baptized! If you thought New Years was a big thing in

America, think again! New Years in Japan is crazy awesome! One of the

things that I love is that New Years ever is dedicated just to

cleaning. Everything is cleaned for the new year! Also New Years is a

four day long holiday! Another cool thing that happened is that I am

now a 2nd transfer, which means that I have been here for 6 weeks, and

I'm freaking out because where has the time gone?

Last week on Monday we visited this old castle that apparently is

really famous, but it's called the Wakayama castle it was amazing to

go to and I learned a lot about it!

Probably one of the craziest stories yet ... but,

This past Wednesday night I was in the kitchen something to eat, and I

started hearing these like plywood clapping or something and it got

louder and louder, I decided to look out the window, to my

astonishment, I saw a group of people with bright yellow jackets and

candles or flashlights can't remember, hitting wood together and

chanting something. I shut the curtain and ducked, now me being a

almost second transfer only 6 weeks in the field, had not a clue on

who they were and what they were doing. In my mind all I could think

was maybe they were coming for the Mormons you never know. After they

started to leave I ran and told my companion, I thought maybe she's

heard of it, but she hasn't so that was weird. We then called the

elders and they told us it was probably this religion called the the

"Tenrikyo". Hey said we would be find, they were like chanting away

bad spirits for the new year!

Wow, we have been going near and far to see members find people to

teach. It's such a great time to be a missionary! We have met so many

nice people, last night this cute couple asked if we wanted to go have

New Years dinner, we felt bad because it was Sunday night but we

thanked them!

Also I was just told tonight we will be a san nin which means there is

another sister with us now! We pick her up from the eki tonight! Her

name is Dayley Shimai I can't wait to meet her! Wow... this is going

to be fun!

Love ロケット姉妹

Week 15 Christmas miracles!

Merry Christmas all the way from Wakayama, Japan!


  Well I looked at the email that I sent last week and I forgot to say
that the thing I told his daughter that I wanted to buy was a Kimono. How
embarrassing, I guess you can tell how tired I am. But, that's okay you get
the point.


Oh happy belated birthday to Megan and Merle! Love you too!


Well, I wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! Today is the day after
Christmas in Japan, but I spent my Christmas by watching two people be
baptized which just brings sunshine to my soul. I couldn't be more happier
than I am now. Oh how wonderful it is to be a missionary, to be a member of
the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, to be a child of God. It
always amazes me how crazy it was a year ago, that I had no idea I would be
in Japan for Christmas away from home and family now.

 I think that this Christmas is one that I will ever forget and is so dear
and special to me.

This week has been nothing but exciting and fun activities. This past
Tuesday we taught an investigator about the Book of Mormon, she is having a
hard to,e believing that the Book of Mormon is real, she kinda  that God is
an alien later that night we went out with a few of our members in our ward
and went and did some Christmas caroling! I never thought I would miss
that, but I really did miss caroling with the ward this year. But, we went
out and had some really yummy food! One of the things that I learned on
Sunday in gospel principles class was 'Making room for Christ'. It talked
about how before Christ was born people didn't make any room for Mary and
Joseph in their inn. They didn't have any room for him. Then it talked
about how now people still don't make time to read their scriptures and say
their prayers, they just don't have any room for Christ. I've been trying
my hardest this past week to set goals and make plans on how I am going to
make more room for Christ in my life, and I hope you do too.

On Wednesday we had a Christmas Taikai (conference)! We had a talent show,
games, and President and Sister Welch talked to us. One of the greatest
things I have learned on my mission is from the Welchs. Mission presidents'
and their wives are called for a reason. President Welch has a way of
bringing in the spirit and telling us what God wants us to know at that
point in time. One thing he talked about which he actually also talked
about in our zone conference was 'giving everything you got to the Lord
this Christmas'. He actually served in the Wakayama area during Christmas
when he served many years ago. He told us of a Christmas miracle.  He told
us that miracles still happen everyday, we just have to look for them. I
believe that to be so true, but I know without a doubt in my mind that
miracles do still happen.


This week has been just a week of miracles. On Friday we had a Christmas
party at church with the ward, and it really turned out great. So many
people attended and quite a few no members came. We were able to meet them
and get to know them a little. One of the Miracles that happened is that a
man and his two twins sons came, and we got into talking to him about
English, he actually knew quite a bit of English and he was looking for
teachers. We gladly excepted to teach his sons English. We also started
talking about the gospel and Jesus Christ with him. He said that some of
his family was Christian and he would really like to know more about
Christ. So needless to say we will be teaching him and his sons English and
about the gospel. We also met a really nice lady with her daughter. She
remembered the Elders from awhile ago, when her little daughter got hurt or
something and the Elders helped them.I really don't know the whole story,
but they got an invitation to come to the Christmas party so they came. It
was a really good turn out there was so much food! Gusman Shimai talked to
the dad and I talked to the mom. After the party Gusman Shimai said that we
will be teaching his boys English and the gospel. And I laughed and aid
well I tried talking, but she was really hitting it off with a member so I
really don't knows how to get in there and talk, plus my Japanese isn't the
best hahahaha. But all in all it was a great party.


Saturday which was Christmas Eve was one that I will never forget. We spent
the day finding, finding, and some more finding. There was not a dull
moment. We just wanted to spread the Christmas cheer, and we did! We spent
Christmas Eve dinner at a restaurant that makes amazing giyoza
"potstickers". They were so amazing! We just went out and tried our best.


Yesterday was probably one of my favorite days here in Japan. Yesterday was
Christmas! And it was definitely one I will not forget. We gave everything
we had to the Lord. We tried the hardest that we have tried yet! And that's
saying something, I thought we have been giving our all, but yesterday took
it to another level. We started the day with going to church a little early
and watching two investigators that the Elders taught get baptized. That
was such a testimony builder to me oh how miracles do happen. After, we
went out in the freezing weather and shared as much of the gospel that we
could. We taught people on the streets the true meaning of Christmas. We
biked near and far, we housed, streeted, and above else, we shared this
restored gospel to as many people as we could (that would talk to us). We
even sang Christmas hymns at the Eki (train station). We did get quite a
few people talk to us, but they are always busy. Japan is a very busy
place, and people are always doing something. But, above all else I think
the best part of the day was the last house that we stopped at. We ping
ponged (rang the doorbell) and I introduced who we are, she then opened her
door and started listening. It was a miracle that she opened her door and
talked to us. Even though she turned out not to be interested in the
church, she did listen and answer questions that we had for her. For me
that was my Christmas miracle. Even though we were having a hard time
housing, just having one person stop and listen is one of the greatest
gifts that someone can give.


I am so blessed to say at we ARE GIVING EVERYTHING to the Lord this
Christmas season! I truly have been blessed to talk to my family as well,
and see how they are doing! I love them so much! I hope that everyone is
having a Merry Christmas, and don't get too cold! Go out and serve someone!
Love you all!


Got to go back out and serve the Lord!


Love you all!


Love ロケット姉妹

P.S. thanks to everyone that send me Christmas presents!

Week 14 メリークリスマス (merīkurisumasu)

 Merry Christmas!
 What a week!!!! This week has been really long and really interesting!
 I really am having a hard time remembering what all had happened this week. But, I have really had such a really great week. We have seen so
 many miracles! First of all I have really been working on being exact
 obedient and these past few weeks have been a little hard , no one has
 wanted to talked to us and listen to our message. But, we decided to
 go off of faith and listen to the prompting of the Holy Ghost. And I
 can tell you that blessing come and miracles are real. We have been
 trying to get a hold of all of the old investigators that are here.
 And we did! They are all very nice and we will be going and visit them
 more often!

 One of the crazy things that happened his week was that we met with an
 investigator and his family the other day. We had some hot chocolate
 and we met his wife and his two daughters, they are really nice, and
 I'm pretty sure that Gusman Shimai told her that I wanted to buy one,
 but I told her to tell her I wanted to try one on.. haha... but then
 she started like asking what color and what kind.. so crap... hahaha
 but they had to leave half way through the talk. So after the sisters
 left we talked to him and his wife. He asked a question about if we
 believe in hell... and then we talked about the plan of salvation with
 them. It was great!

 I love you all have a good Christmas I will email a lot next week!

Love lockett Shimai