Nov. 19, 2015
Time is flying by here, my companion is still wonderful, Japanese is
still hard, the food is still wretched (pb and honey sandwiches are my
best friend) and the gospel is still miraculous!
The food here has no fiber, so last week I asked mom to send me some
fiber supplement and she sent me a little bag of fiber. Then, on
Monday I got a package from dad. If you have been in our home more
than about two times, theres a good chance my dad has talked to you
about his love of fiber. He's slightly obsessed with it, and the whole
family likes to give him a hard time about how much he loves his
fiber. So, when he heard I asked for fiber, he went to work. On Monday
I got a package of fiber, cups, spoons, electric hand mixers, and "the
fiber challenge." He challenged the whole district to start drinking
fiber after each meal. He was sure to mention that fiber is not for
old people and is not a laxative. My district was a little wary but
all agreed to do it and we've been having fiber parties two times a
day since! There's an elder in the district, who shall remain
nameless, that has horrible gas all the time so we are all praying the
fiber helps him. This is a weird topic to put in the email I guess but
there it is!
Thanksgiving is Thursday, aka pday, so next week we don't get a pday
which is a bummer. I think we will have a little time to email and do
laundry on different days next week, so I'm not sure when the next
group email will come. Also, on the thanksgiving day schedule it says
we will be eating "sack dinners in your classroom." Your prayers are
much appreciated. I've heard that thanksgiving here is amazing, so the
spirit must be pretty incredible to make up for the fact that all our
meals are in a brown paper bag that day. I'm a little skeptic, but
I'll keep an open mind about it.
The mtc is difficult sometimes. And I'm sure the field is going to be
more difficult. However, the love that I feel so often here completely
overshadows the difficulties. This gospel is so incredible! Its so
rich and abundant, yet so simple. There have been many times where I'm
overwhelmed by all that I want to improve about myself, but these
times are always followed by beautiful spiritual experiences that
remind me of my potential and of God's help and love.
On Tuesday we had a devotional by Kim Clark, and he told a few
miraculous mission stories from around the world about being guided by
the spirit. The more mission experiences I hear, the more my testimony
of God's guidance is strengthened. This is His work, and we are truly
being led by His hand. We are all brothers and sisters, and we are all
God's children. It's so amazing to have the opportunity to serve my
spirit brothers and sisters in Japan! I'm so excited to get there! And
also terrified to leave the mtc because I don't know Japanese. So that
should be interesting.
Mckenzie shimai and I went to the temple this morning and did
initiatories and a session and it was so wonderful! I love the temple
with all my heart. If you're reading this right now and haven't been
to the temple in the last two weeks, GO! And if you don't have a
recommend, do whatever you need to do to get one. The blessings of the
temple are limitless and the love and peace there is incredible. It
really is the place where we can be the closest to God.
The mtc is really so amazing. It's hard sometimes being so
disconnected from the world, but it's also a blessing. We're not
distracted by any technology, news, current events, etc. so it really
makes an environment that is perfect to learn in. There are no
distractions- just us and the Lord. And Japanese.
My teachers (3) are so wonderful. Every day we have 3-6 hours of
instruction time by them, and it's so helpful. They care so much and
are really inspired in how to help us improve.
I love this gospel with all my soul and I know it is true! Our Savior
loves us, and is always there for us. Christ's way truly is "the path
that leads to happiness in this life, and eternal life in the world to
come."

Love, Sundell Shimai

Also, read The Living Christ!

Turns out the mtc walls are the perfect width to balance between! (We've got a lot of time on our hands)

I still struggle staying awake (I'm waking up in this one, I don't sleep with my eyes half open) (mom dad, I"m working hard when I'm awake, promise)

First fiber party.