March 20, 2016

This week wasn't quite as eventful as last week, but I guess every week can't be pure success! Having the down weeks/days humbles us and makes us even more thankful for the miracles we do see. 

Days here are filled with lots of housing, streeting, praying, and interpretive dancing on our bikes. 

We had a lesson with Keiko San this week and taught her the restoration. She stayed focused pretty well the whole time and I definitely think she felt the spirit strongly at a couple points. But how could the spirit not be there when teaching about the restoration of god's priesthood power and church upon the earth again? What a miraculous message. 

We asked Takahashi San, the lady who came to church last week, if we could meet her for dinner this week and she invited us to her work place for dinner. It's a teeny place that's only open for dinner and it was incredible. The owner and Takahashi San both speak a little English so we just sat and talked with them both as he cooked. I'll include a picture of one of the dishes he made us- he was a hoot! Last week after church Takahashi San texted us and said how much she loved our eyes and how beautiful they were. It was kind of a strange text but as I thought about it I realized it was the spirit that she saw in us and loved. The first thing she said to the owner of the store after she introduced us was 'look at their eyes! Look into their eyes! Aren't they beautiful' It was the sweetest thing. I don't feel like we have a particularly special look about us, but she was sensitive to the spirit enough to recognize the spirit. She has a very special kind spirit about her, and I know that will just be magnified as she continues hearing the lessons and progressing towards baptism. 

I want to share a little quote from Brigham young about missionary work. 

"Go in the name of the Lord, trust in the name of the Lord, lean upon the Lord, and call upon the Lord fervently and without ceasing, and pay no attention to the world...This is the way to go; and if you do not do that, your hearts will ache."

For me, one of the hardest things about being a missionary has been completely focusing on the work and not getting distracted by memories of home or the past. It's sometimes very difficult to 'pay no attention to the world,' but the times that I have been completely immersed in the work have been the happiest times. It's a constant effort to not let my mind wander to my family and friends. However, I have felt the Lord patience, loving kindness, help and grace as I strive to center my mind on my mission. I know that as I, or any missionary, pay no attention to the world, that our hearts won't ache with regret. 

All my love, Sundell Shimai 

A gorgeous lake we dendoed by. Japan is stunning, and it's about to get more stunning with the cherry blossoms booming soon!