May 8, 2016

Hello family and friends that I love so so much! Happy Mother's Day!

Getting to Skype home was the biggest blessing and such a sacred time. I just love you all so much!

This week was so hectic and crazy but the highlight was getting to see the other sister's investigator Jorge get baptized Saturday and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday in church. His conversion story is incredible and his love for the gospel is already so deep.

Getting to see him make that first covenant with the Lord through baptism was such a blessing. And then thinking about all the happiness that awaits him in the future, it's just all so incredible! I love being a missionary and having these experiences.

   We met a young boy housing this week and we taught him about baptism then set a return appointment for Saturday. When we went back his mom answered and told us they weren't interested but the boy kind of shot back at her that he was interested in this message and that he wanted to learn more. We told him that his Family relationship was more

important than hearing our message right now, but we told him when he meets missionaries like us in the future to please listen to them again. He softly agreed and walked back into the house sadly. It just broke my heart that we couldn't share this message with him right now, but I know Heavenly Father will guide the missionaries to m in the future when we will be able to choose for himself to listen.

   This week was a little rough. We don't have any investigators right now, and we were just having a lot of rejection and it was all kind of just building up on us. I was pretty overwhelmed and feeling down and started thinking about my mission as a whole and I realized if nothing else were to come of my mission other than hinata chan and Shinobu San, that would be okay. I love and cherish them with all my heart.  When times are hard, I cling to my memories and friendship with them and then everything feels okay. I'm so thankful for this time of stretching, growth, success, rejection, joy, heartache, and devotion. I am forever indebted to my Heavenly Father for giving me this time to

serve and learn. This time is so sacred, and I love it with all my heart.

   I know our Savior lives. He loves us. He died for us. He knows we are all imperfect, yet he loves us still. He is perfectly patient with us and knows exactly how much to give us to help us grow. I love my Savior and I love this sacred time that I get to serve Him.

Have a beautiful Mother's Day!

All my Love, Sundell Shimai

We did transfers for a few days this week because another Shimai was sick, but this was our awesome sleeping arrangement for a night! It looked a lot more fun than sleeping with crunched up legs turned out to be, but it was still worth it!

This is brother Rasmussen, who baptized Jorge who you can see slightly in the background! I was still crying from watching Jorge get baptized...

We saw these three boys yesterday walking home from the store where they had each bought their mom a bouquet of flowers! See them in their backpacks? 

Japan politician ads pt. 2

Getting to wake up on my birthday as a missionary! Once in a lifetime experience! I was so so lucky to get to Skype on Mothers Day in America and my birthday in Japan! Not many people can say that! And a sweet member made me a cake today also. 

Sweet sister Luczak