There's a road here in Maebaru with rainbow street tiles and this weird sign above it, and it reminds me of a much smaller version of Fremont street, so we took a picture with it. My new companion Anderson Shimai.

Feb. 1, 2016
Transfer weeks are so hectic! A couple days last week were spent by Komatsu Shimai packing and saying goodbye to investigators and members. On Thursday I met my new companion, Anderson Shimai! She is 19 and from Kaysville. She did a year at BYU before the mission and she is transfer five, which means she got in Japan in August. She is so bubbly and happy and is incredible at building relationships with members and investigators. It's so fun learning from other missionaries and seeing the slight different ways they do things. I'm very excited to serve with her and know as we work hard and smart we will see miracles!
Saying goodbye to Komatsu Shimai was hard, and I've missed her a lot, but now I get to take everything she taught me and implement in this new companionship! It's so strange being with an American all the time, I was so used to being completely surrounded by Japanese people.
The past few days we didn't have Anderson shimai's bike yet, so we were walking dendoing. We were able to meet so many people and have a ton of totsuzens! (Small a lessons talking about two or more gospel principles with someone) Even though most contacts don't lead to anything, it's so humbling being able to at least spread Christ's name and the amazing truths of the gospel.
My favorite thing about being a missionary is hearing investigators pray. Shigeharu San (refer to last weeks picture) is our main investigator right now. He's busy a lot, but when we do get to meet with him he always has the best questions and insights. He has been praying and reading the Book of Mormon and wants to know for himself that it is true! At the send of lessons when we ask him to pray, he is always completely willing. We kneel down together, and he offers the most beautiful prayers.  It's so beautiful hearing people converse with their Heavenly Father for the first time, or for one of the first times. Hearing them voice their concerns and desires to Heavenly Father always makes me emotional. I feel so blessed to be able to witness these people learn about prayer, and hen develop a relationship with Heavenly Father through prayer.
I love Maebaru, I love the ward members, I especially love our investigators, and I love this work.

And I love you all!
Love, Sundell Shimai

Saying goodbye to my incredible teeny nihonjin trainer 

Jan. 26, 2016
Konnichiwa friends and family! This week was crazy in so many different ways. First, the weather. I think a couple weeks ago I mentioned Helaman 5:12 in the weekly email. This week I have a whole new appreciation for that verse. It says "that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you" yeah this week I experienced a little degree of that kind of storm. On Tuesday it was insanely windy and cold. As we were riding our bikes, we could hear the wind winding up in the sky above us, then a few seconds later it would down and hit us. Not ideal dendo weather, but I think if we can dendo in that, there's nothing we can't do! So Tuesday was stormy and windy and the rest of the week has just been really cold and also snowy! When I was preparing for my mission and getting all the clothes and whatnot, I was convinced that Fukuoka would be warm and that I wouldn't need winter clothes. Good thing my wise mother made me get this black coat and scarf that I now wear all day every day. Thanks mom, you're the best!
A couple nights ago we were walking to some nearby houses to house at. It had been snowing all day and there was no one on the roads. We ran into three teenage boys in the street, who invited us to a snowball fight! We happily agreed, and played around for a few minutes. One of the boys even practiced his impeccable English skills on me by calling me 'cutie honey'. Whatta charmer!
But besides the weather, the other big news of the week was transfer calls. Komatsu Shimai has been in Maebaru for four transfers now. The mission president has said before that the longest you could be in an area is four transfers, but he also really wants to have trainers train the same companion for the full two transfers, so we really didn't know what to expect from transfer calls today. Turns out the four transfer limit took priority, and Komatsu Shimai is being transferred. I cried when hearing the news, which shows how amazing of a companion she has been. She is so devoted to this work, and has such a deep love for all of our investigators. She's worked so hard in this area, and I'm honestly a little terrified that it's being turned over to me and a new sister. I've got big big shoes to fill, and will be relying on the Lord even more in the coming weeks. My new companion's name is Anderson Shimai and I will meet her on Thursday. That's all I know about her, so stay tuned next week for more about her and how the transfers go. And on transfer weeks, pdays get changed to Tuesday's, so that's why this email is coming a day late.
I'm loving this work more and more every week. This time feels so sacred, being able to focus solely on the Lord's work. I feel His love and guidance every day, and know that through following His example, we will never be lost. How blessed are we to know this life's purpose of coming to Christ and being perfected in Him!

All my love,
Sundell Shimai

Random fruit tree grove we found while dendoing

Walking to church in the snow with a million layers of clothes on (how cute is Komatsu Shimai)

Komatsu shimai's birthday dinner with the Kobe family (not pictured) and our amazing investigator! First time at a sushi train and it was a blast!

Jan. 17, 2016

Happy because my wonderful parents sent me a real raincoat and because komatsu Shimai is amazing! Can you tell how short she is from this picture?

On New Year's Eve we had dinner at a members home and this view was just five minutes away! Yeah Japan is gorgeous.

Konnichiwa friends and family!

This week was amazing and hard and amazing.
First, let me just say how much I love Maebaru, my area. I love the people here, the city, the ward members, everything. I know this is where I am supposed to be right now. I was reminded of my love for this area because this week we went on splits, and I was in an area about an hour away. The whole time I missed komatsu Shimai and the people of Maebaru. Everyone here is so kind and polite. We are truly meant for the areas and companions we are assigned to!
I had my first mission heartbreak when a lady we had met with a few times expressed to us that she had NO interest in believing in God. We tried to give her a Book of Mormon and she refused to accept it. She is a single mom and has the most beautiful daughter. She said how she doesn't want to rely on anyone or anything and how believing in God would change her whole life, and how she can't think about that right now. We tried to express that She can rely on God through anything and how He can help her in every situation. She said she doesn't want to rely on God and that she only wants help from her family and friends. She was so kind through everything, and I just loved her and her daughter. While we were talking to her, her daughter brought us out a bag of origami that's she had made us and it was the sweetest thing. After she assured us she wasn't interested and politely thanked us for our time, we left. As we walked away, of course I started crying. I just felt how much love God has for these people, and how He is waiting for them to come home. Komatsu Shimai and I then prayed for this lady and her daughter. Praying after this heartbreak brought so much peace and comfort to us. Although we can't teach her anymore, we can still pray that this will be a steppingstone in her and her daughters conversion.
Another day this week I was listening to Larry r Lawrence's talk from this past conference entitled 'what lack I yet?' I've been a little overwhelmed with all that I have to learn, do, change, and become. It's so easy to look at everything we have to do and get overwhelmed and feel like it is impossible. But, we have to start somewhere! That's where this talk came in. He says,
"I would like to suggest that each of you participate in a spiritual exercise sometime soon, perhaps even tonight while saying your prayers. Humbly ask the Lord the following question: “What is keeping me from progressing?” In other words: “What lack I yet?” Then wait quietly for a response. If you are sincere, the answer will soon become clear. It will be revelation intended just for you."
He gives examples of some funny simple answers others had received in answer to this question. Read or listen to the whole talk for those. But a couple weeks ago, I prayed and asked this question, however, I didn't receive an answer very quickly and I was tired so I went to bed. This week though, I 'waited quietly.' I went into a room alone and prayed asking what lack I yet. I had to wait a while, really concentrate, and have a Sincere desire, but my answer came. 'Make and stick to plans for study. Show the lord your devotion.' Personal revelation is real! I'm very grateful for this counsel, and know it is exactly what I need to be focusing on right now. I know that everyone can receive an answer to this question if they seek earnestly. I've been so much happier and more motivated since receiving this answer. Isn't this gospel amazing? That we can always be improving and refining ourselves according to the Lord's will.

Today is komatsu shimai's birthday and we have lots of fun plans! I'll be sure to take lots of pictures and include them in next weeks email. The weather today is terrible though- the strongest wind I've ever experienced, and tons of rain, so our groceries should be interesting riding home with on our bikes!

I love you all!

Love, Sundell Shimai

This week I really loved the same scripture I used in my farewell talk, Alma 7:11-13
We used it in a couple different lessons, and the spirit was so strong.
Read and ponder it! 

Jan. 10, 2016
Konnichiwa! I hope everyone is doing well and is happy and healthy. Things here in the land of the rising sun are going well. Im settling into the culture and am becoming closer with the members, which I love!
Hopefully no one tried to google the member of the seventy's name that we had dinner with a couple weeks back for Christmas.  I wrote that his name was Imashita choro, but it's actually Yamashita choro. Embarrassing. Japanese names are a slight struggle for me to remember/hear. They all kind of sound the same and it's also confusing because they say their last name first, but I'm slowly catching on! So sorry for that.
I experienced my first earthquake! It was about a week or two ago around 8 pm and we were talking with a teenage girl we had just met. The earthquake was only about three seconds long and pretty mild but it was terrifying! I was worried for a second that I was being called to repentance like alma the younger, but I think the earthquake he experienced was a little more severe. (Refer to Mosiah 27)
Funny moment: Komatsu Shimai and I were dendoing one night and were talking about random things, music I think. She asks me, "do you like Lapping?" I was confused and asked her to say it a few more times and finally I figured our she was asking me if I like Rapping! It was so funny the way she aid it, so now I always give her a hard time about liking lapping. And we are slowly making up a 'dendo lap' which is quite entertaining.
My favorite two scriptures right now, and the whole time I've been here, are Helaman 5:12 and Alma 18: 30-32. When Komatsu Shimai and I are planning messages to share with people I'm always drawn to these two scriptures- they apply to so many situations! Helaman 5:12 is Helaman's promise to us, that if the gospel is our life's foundation, we cannot fall. This gospel is truly a perfect foundation for anything that we have or will ever experience in this life. This scripture was one of the first scriptures to really stand out to me as a child, and I love being able to share it with others who are learning about God and Christ and this gospel for the first time.
Alma 18: 30-32 teaches that we were all created by Gods hand. Gods love for us is incomprehensible. He created us, He watches over us, He helps us, He cares for us, He wants us to follow Him and live with Him again. This week I was so overwhelmed by the love God has for all of His children. I felt the perfect love that He has for a specific family and in turn I loved that family also. In going onto verses 33-35, Ammon explains his calling as a missionary called of God. I love those verses because it shows how sacred of a calling all missionaries have and how much trust the Lord puts in us to take care of his beloved children. I do not want to let Him down.
Family, friends, this gospel is perfect. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love each and every one of us, and if we put our faith and trust in them, we need not fear. This gospel is a message of happiness, peace, and love, and I'm so thankful for this opportunity to devote all my time, energy and heart to sharing it.

All my love, Sundell Shimai

John 14: 15-19
Also, I've been complimented multiple times on my chopstick skills. And my ability to eat anything weird put in front of me. Looks like all our sushi dates paid off! I'm definitely adjusting to the food here, and can eat most all of it.

Yes I got my package.

Dinner with imashita I mean Yamashita choro and Shimai!

A super yummy dinner made by the Kobe family- meatloaf, raw fish, deviled eggs, not pictured rice and miso

This little girl is Mia! Her dad is white and he and his wife met at buy Hawaii and now live here with her parents! Have I mentioned Japanese (and half Japanese) babies are so stinking cute?

Super ghetto makeshift raincoat/trash bag.

Dec. 31, 2015

(Also, it's freezing here. I don't know how Robi survived in Sapporo.)

I have a cold and started coughing a little bit during study, and komatsu Shimai quietly went and got a mask and put one on then handed one to me. Yep. I'm definitely in Japan and I definitely have a Japanese companion!

Happy new year Family and friends!
I hope everyone's Christmas was filled with Christ's love and joy.
Before my mission when people would ask where I wanted to go, I would always say I didn't really care but that I wanted to learn another language. Now, I'm not so sure why I wished for that. Want a humbling experience? Learn Japanese. It'll kick your butt. It's a good thing I am on the Lord's errand in this work and He is helping me. Progress is very slow but coming.
Japan is kind of obsessed with English. There's English everywhere and most of the time it is incorrect and hilarious. My favorite is definitely the hair salons. I've figured out the basic formula they all use. It's always three words, the first word is always hair, and the second two words are just random. We live next to a place called "hair space time" and some of my other favorite names have been "hair make leaf" and "hair make FERICE". Love the spelling of fierce. I've enclosed a couple pictures of the other cleverly named hair salons!
This week at district meeting, we learned a lot about charity. I've been having a hard time being homesick and thinking about my family and friends. At district meeting we read Moroni 7:45 and went around the room each reading aloud a different charity character trait. When it came to me, mine was 'seeketh now her own.' Basically Heavenly Father was telling me I need to stop thinking about myself so much. So since then I've been studying charity and really trying to develop that Christlike attribute! Charity really is the pure love of Christ. In all the scriptures I've read charity is associated with service, love, compassion, selflessness, and purity. In Japanese, charity is 'jiai' and 'Ai' is love, so in kanji, charity has the symbol for love in it. For being such a pain in the butt, kanji can be pretty beautiful and symbolic. So I'm really concentrating my efforts on developing a love for the people here, for the language, and for this work.
We were housing a couple days ago and scheduled a return appointment with a lady and her four kids! This is the first solid return appointment i've gotten so it's really exciting! We have been practicing for her lesson and praying for her ever since. It's so exciting getting to introduce people to the greatest most perfect message to ever be shared!
I love you all and pray for everyone's safety, health, and happiness!

Love, Sundell Shimai

Read Moroni 7:45!