Week 59: new baptism, new trainer?

Sent from my iPad


Sent from my iPadDear friends and family,

So much has happened this week.

So, Shumway Shimai and I knew that sometime our companionship would
have to end, and it was this week that we had to be split up. I was
really sad to leave her. She has taught me so much. We have seen so
many miracles together. But, we couldn't leave each without a bang.
And I'm sure that through our obedience this past transfer that God
gave us miracles.
Wednesday we met with Donna. She is one of our former investigators,
she is from Brazil but married a Japanese man, but little by little we
have been keeping in touch with her. We had a lesson set up with her,
so we left and walked to her house. I asked Shumway Shimai, "what do
you think we should commit her to do? To help her faith and to start
repenting?" And she said "lets go BIG! Let's ask her to be baptized!"
My eyes got a little big, you think that's what we should ask?" "Yes!"
"Okay, let's go big or go home!" So, with that thought in our minds we
walked into that house.

We talked to Donna about her life and a lot of things she is wanting
to change in her life. Everything she was saying was centered on being
forgiven by God. She has a few things she is working through right
now... but I was so grateful for her honesty and wanting to receive
help and learn more about Christ and his healing Atonement. In the
most spirit filled part of that lesson. I turned to Donna and I said
"Donna, you can be forgiven." I just love giving people that amazing
message. And we asked her to be baptized. And Donna looked at us,
especially me right after asking and just blank stared into our souls
it seemed like, and said "YES!"
I have never felt so much love and purpose to the work that I am doing
as a missionary. Even in Japan we can find some of the most prepared
people!

Well after that lesson, Shumway Shimai and I still couldn't believe
what we had just witnessed and we knew that God does give those
amazing miracles to those who really really are obedient. Words of
advise: Be Obedient to God!

Well... Monday I received a call that God has other plans for me and
that he needs me to TRAIN! I was called to train a new sister fresh
out of the MTC. And to make things even better, I get to train with
Catron Shimai. One of my old companions Catron Shimai who I was up in
Yonago with. She is also training another sister as well. We were so
happy. When I found out sat Monday I emailed her and she emailed me
back and said... I'm training too! We were soooo happy! So, Wednesday
night Shumway Shimai and I got on a train, and I dropped her off with
the sister training leaders in Okayama and I took off towards Kobe. It
was a long ride over, but it was so awesome. I was able to talk to
this amazing girl about the Book of Mormon half of the way to Kobe. By
the end of our talk I gave her my card and a Book of Mormon. I was so
grateful for that ride. When I got into Kobe I found out that I would
see two of my favorite people. I got to spend the night with Catron
Shimai and Nomura shimai. They both stayed in the Kobe sisters
apartment. It was great to see both of them again. This time I was
able to fully understand Nomura shimai and talk to her. It's crazy how
you can change from a 3rd transfer to a 9th.

The next day Catron Shimai and I walked up to the mission home. We
then were trained by President Smoot and the assistant to the
president. Then I got my bean chan! My little trainee! Sister Smith
ｽﾐｽ姉妹! She way cute and ready to work. She's a little shy, but she is
amazing! It was great to see like 4 others of my doeki (the people
that I came into the mission with) also training. I also got to say
goodbye to Quirce Shimai too!

After we left the mission home. We headed home. Also some of my old
friends from Kouchi came up to say goodbye to a missionary. The next
few days were a little more difficult. We did a lot studying and
trying to get a bike. I don't know why but ever since I became a
trainer I can't find anything.ll so the other day we were trying to
find a potential investigator and I got us lost in the rain hahaha...

But, yah I'm the worst trainer ever haha... we had stake conference
yesterday. We rode up with some members to a city called Niimi. It was
great I was able to talk to and see all of my family from Yonago. I
love those people. We were going to listen to some talks by the
president of the stake, President Smoot and others as well as a Elder
from the 70. Anyways, well it was really good to watch President Smoot
get up and speak in Japanese... he has grown so much. The elder Elder
Gay I believe started speaking. And he started speaking about opening
our mouths. It was more centered on the me,here. He asked all the
missionaries to stand, we stood, he said it again, and said all of you
stand, you are all missionaries. It was so powerful. He then told all
of the full-time missionaries to stay standing. He then asked "how
many of the missionaries brought an investigator to keep standing?"
All of us sat down. He then said how the members need to be opening
their mouths. He then asked a couple of sister missionaries to come
up. No one was standing so I jumped up and said "let's go". My poor
bean chan looked st me with big open wide eyes.. "are you kidding?"
"Nope, lets go." So we walked up there. I thought he was going to ask
a question, but instead said. "Okay, you sisters bare your testimony
of why we need to be apart of this church." I then went like big eyed
too... oh dang it. *gulp* so I stood on this stage big eyed and told
them why they need to be apart of the church. In English, there was a
translator. After my companion gets up and does the same. After he
says "okay which one of you is the senior companion?" Another gulp..
raising my hand slowly.... "okay, you can't leave without giving your
testimony on Japanese." So, you guessed it I gave my testimony in
Japanese. It was a moment in my mission I will never forget.

But, after all of this I realized that it wasn't too bad. Well, now my
bean is not afraid of housing.

Great week! Life is great! Keep smiling everyone.. there is good
things too come.

ロケット姉妹

Week 56: The Spirit: He's the True Converter

Minasan Konnichiwa,

Yep.
Today is about the SPIRIT!
Who is the spirit? Yah well I'm still trying to master him. He's the
one who comforts you when your sad, he helps you make hard decisions
when you stuck, he is the one who whispers in you ear when you are
studying EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT THE BOOK OF MORMON IS TRUE! And you
can't deny he's there with you! Yah, he's the one telling you which
way to go to either go visit one of you investigators or to go see a
less active member who is having a hard time even knowing if the
church is true. He's the one who understands your problems, who tells
you what your doing is in line with Gods, that you can't just want to
cry because if you don't say that prayer together before you go into
that lesson, you won't have the spirit to be with you! And when you go
to church every week and partake of the sacrament, you sing praises of
joy and remember the covenants you have made with HIM! And you feel
his presence and just smile from ear to ear, because that's the best
feeling in the whole world.

Kurashiki is definitely a little peace of heaven on earth. I feel
like all my areas have been just a small peace of what heaven really
feels like. And what does heaven feel like? Well, you really can't
explain. Kurashiki by far has been probably one of the most fast pace
places I have been in. All of Japan is fast pace, but Kurashiki is a
little bit more fast then I guess I'm used to. But, boy is it fun!
Being the only two missionaries in all Kurashiki puts a lot of things
on your shoulders. But there good things. Less actives, members,
investigators, Eikaiwa (English class), you aren't Sharing that with
the Elders but just you and your companion. How lucky are we?! But, as
of right now we really are low on investigators, but lucky for us,
because we are happy finders! We also have been told that our members
are sharing the gospel and are talking about the missionaries coming
over to share the gospel, how nice are they?!

Kurashiki is also like the most kiseki(miracle) area ever! We have
been finding people right and left! We are going to visit one of our
potential investigators tomorrow that we find last week. She told us
how her family is Shinto, but her parents passed away about 2 years
ago and how she is just sad and lonely. But, lucky for us because
Jesus Christ's message is all about hope and love and eternal joy! Met
a guy from India 🇮🇳 who actually came up to us while we were giving
out Eikaiwa flyers and asked if we could teach him Japanese and we
said "sure, we will do that." We are going to do the 30/30 program
with him!

This past week I was able to have a great kokan(exchange) with one of
my good friends Quirce Shimai, I have known that girl for so long.
Back in my times in Kyoto. One of the best sister trainig leaders I
have ever had. I learned so much from that girl. I lover her!

This week we have been given more chances to teach about the Plan of
Salvation. We were able to share a little bit about the gospel of
Jesus Christ as well with a referral. I can feel every day the Lords
hand in my life and in the Kurashiki area. We got to listen to the
women's session of general conference. President Uchdorf's talk on the
3 sisters was definitely one to remember. One of my favorite quotes
:"My dear sisters, please let these divine truths sink deeply into
your hearts. And you will find that there are many reasons not to be
sad, for you have an eternal destiny to fulfill."
But, honestly remember friends and family that The spirit is the True
converter. I have realized that on my mission and keep realizing. I am
only an instrument in God's hands, I am a mouth piece for him, and the
spirit is the one who does convert! That is why we baptize converts!
People who are converted to the gospel!

Love you all! Have a great week!

愛しています！
ロケット姉妹

- members
- more members
-Thailand friends(literally came up to us and asked to be friends, and
gave us their phone numbers and said if we ever come to Thailand to
say hi)
-Kokan
-Kaori chan, Quirce Shimai and I
-my beautiful companion and I