May 1, 2016

Well friends, missionary life is still missionary life. We experience and see incredible miracles from the Lord, we get rejected by a lot of people, we are watched over and protected constantly, and we ride our bikes a ton! This week was still a lot of adjusting to the area and people. 

We were housing and housed into a lady and when we asked her what happiness was to her she replied 'family' in English. Sister Luczak said wow do you speak English?! And she said yes how did you know I speak English? Ha well you kind of just spoke English to us. But this lady is incredible. She, Naoko San, lived in America for about ten years and had Mormon friends that she went to church with! She never received any lessons but knows so much about the church  and respects our values. This lady is so in tune with the spirit and is so humble in recognizing the God in her life. She said 'I have been wanting to speak English because I was worried I was losing my English, then you guys showed up! God knew I wanted to speak English and he sent you two!" Yeah he did! We came back for our return appointment with her and she had invited a friend over for the lesson too! When we took out the Book of Mormon and asked them if they knew about the Book of Mormon she said 'of course I know that book! That book is following me! I can't get away from it. I had one in America and I left it there but there it is again. This church is following me! When I was in America I was really having a hard time and then I was introduced to the church. This church always shows up when I am having a hard time. It's incredible.' Luczak Shimai and I just sat there absolutely speechless and assured her that God really loves her and wants her to be happy! We told her that He really did lead us to her because when we were in her area we weren't planning on doing the apartment she lives in but we were prompted to! She said wow that's incredible that he brought you guys to me! She's so so prepared to receive this message and we are so excited to keep working with her! It's really moments like that when people just know of the majesty of this gospel that makes every single rejection worth it. The miracles of missionary work are incredible! Then yesterday as we were riding our bikes to a far away area, guess who we ride past at a stoplight... Yep, Naoko San! She rolled down her window and yelled 'what are you doing way out here? Did you get here by bike? This is crazy!' And Luczak Shimai said 'it's a miracle!' And Naoko San yells back, 'wow it is! It's a miracle!' It was so sweet and funny and I just love that the Lord cares enough to give us little miraculous experiences like that! 

Yesterday we had dinner with a sweet family in the ward that converted about three years ago. They shared their conversion story- he was an alcoholic, their marriage was absolutely shattered and about to end, everything was going wrong, then the sister missionaries knocked on their door. They opened their hearts to the message of the gospel and now are sealed for time and eternity in the temple, and enjoy all the blessing of faithful membership in the church! The spirit was so strong as they were telling about their conversion and how the gospel truly saved their lives and family. I sometimes forget the power of the message we are called to share every day, so I was so thankful for that special reminder yesterday. 

On another note, I forgot how to talk to kids in English. It's been a good six months since I've talked to a child in English and it was quite the struggle during dinner yesterday. I was just so overwhelmed being able to understand everything they were saying the whole time- it was strange. So please pray for me to have the gift of tongues in Japanese, and English too I guess. 

All my love, Sundell Shimai 

D&C 88:80 - came upon this in study this morning and loved it! 

Japanese politician ads are our favorite! 

We streeted into these girls and prayed with them and the first thing they said after we prayed was 'can we take a picture together?' Spiritual fail.