December 19, 2016

My new missionary is steed Shimai! And she's an angel! Wow I can't say enough good about her! She's 19 from California, and the youngest of four girls. She is absolutely fearless. Our first time dendoing together she stopped 6 store employees outside hanging up posters and invited them all to eikaiwa! What! She is not afraid to talk to people and always tries her best. She serves more than anyone I've ever met. Seriously she is always asking what she can help with, doing dishes, unfolding our futons. Everything. She's nothing like the helpless, homesick, exhausted new missionary I was a year ago! I'm so excited for the next two transfers with her. 

This week we had two Christmas parties, one for the American branch and one for the Japanese branch. Sadly our investigators didn't come, but it was a great time with the members. At the Japanese one, elder Bryans dressed up as Santa and all the little kids walked around calling him Santa san and my heart almost burst. I got so so sad that this will probably be the last Christmas I experience in japan. I love it here. 

Yesterday in church we saw one of the biggest miracles of my mission. A member brought her friend to church with her (miracle!) and we were able to teach her a lesson the second hour. She has so many deep heartbreaks from her past that she's burdened with and is seeking relief. It was the greatest feeling to get to promise her that all pains and sorrows she feel from the past can be healed through Jesus Christ's atonement. She can really comprehend how that's possible right now, but is trusting us and going to meet with us again Wednesday! By the end of the lesson we were all sobbing and hugging. I love her so much already and know of the happier future  free from past burdens that awaits her. 

Sitting in church yesterday I was overwhelmed with gratitude for this opportunity to serve in sasebo. These members feel like family, and it feels like home being at church with them. 

We are so excited for Christmas sabbath this week! It's the perfect opportunity to invite any of your friends to church, and share the message of our Saviors birth, and life. 

Merry Christmas from Japan! 

All my love, Sundell Shimai 

Saying goodbye to Jorgensen Shimai went about like this.

Right after meeting Steed Shimai

Dinner with Nishura san for her birthday! She was so embarrassed we were taking selfies in the restaurant.

Hakata lit up for Christmas

December 12, 2016

What an incredible last week of the transfer! So many fun and amazing things happened! 

Funny story from the week. Jorgensen Shimai and I were teaching English class and had two students, 30s ish guys and the lesson was on clothing. We had to go around and describe our outfits. I explained mine and said I was wearing ugly shoes (plain BLACK comfortable shoes I wear for proselyting.) we had to explain to them what ugly was and they thought it was funny. Then later in the lesson we taught them how to give complements and one of the guys looks at me and says "I like your ugly shoes. Nice color." We just bursted out laughing and it was so cute. 

Other news of this week: I HELD A BABY. FOR A WHOLE MINUTE. 

Backstory: last week we were streeting and stopped to talk to a sweet young mom who just moved here from MAEBARU! my bean area! She lived right next to the missionaries but never talked to them! Then of course a couple months after moving to sasebo she runs into the sister missionaries. She gave us her address and we set up a return appointment for this past Thursday. She lives an hour bike ride away, but we made it out there and she was there waiting for us! She has a three month old asian baby who is the cutest thing on the planet. We went into her home and talked with her for a bit and started the lesson we prepared. A little bit in her baby got fussy so she started to walk out of the room to get something from upstairs, but as she walks out of the room she chucks the baby into my arms and runs up the stairs! Jorgensen Shimai and I just froze and started laughing/crying of joy. And What was I supposed to do, put him on the floor instead of holding him? NO. So I just bounced him on my lap and enjoyed every second of holding him till his mom came back downstairs with a baby carrier. Tender mercies :) 

This week we got to teach our progressing investigator a few times, and one of them was on repentance. We read Alma 36 together and when explained Alma the younger's situation and how heart broken by sin he was. We got to verse 17 and the spirit flooded the room. "17 And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world." The only thing that saved Alma from his despair and sin and gave him any hope was the thought of Christ, our Savior! A knowledge of the savior, and obedience in following Him, can save us from any circumstance. Repentance is healing, and one of the many ways we use the power of Christ's atonement in our lives. I'll never forget that moment in the lesson when we got to share the power of repentance with our sweet nishiura san. She loves loves this gospel and is progressing towards her February baptismal date. Please pray for her. 

Also, please pray for the new missionary I will be training next transfer! We got a call from kaicho with training calls yesterday and I will be training the next two transfers here in sasebo. The past week in kept feeling like there was someone really special, and that I was going to be really good friends with, that would be entering the mission this upcoming transfer. I get to meet her tomorrow night! Please pray for her! 

It's crazy that exactly a year ago I was in the same place she is. Where did the last year go?! These next two transfers will be stretching, and so fun! 

It's been such a blessing to get to serve with Jorgensen Shimai. She will be going home this week. It was completely inspired that we were to serve together and we were able to grow so much together. Onto another companion, and new adventures! 

All my love, Sundell Shimai 

Visited a members kids school for a program they put on and these were our cute little guides! 

Elder and sister Henry, the senior couple, came and helped us clean the apartment a couple weeks ago. Elder Henry and I tackled the balcony.

Cute sato Shimai again. We love her!