July 18, 2016
Transfers
week was crazy as always, with getting two new Shimai in the apartment, and
having elders move into the area. There were a lot of changes going on here in Iwakuni!
My
new companion is Butikofer Shimai and she's from Idaho. She runs about twenty
times faster than me when we go running in the mornings, and I have decided her
spirit animal is a gazelle. I'm stoked to work with her!
Hilke Shimai is now
living in the land of endless p-days, and I'm thankful for the time I got to
spend with her and for the best friend she became to me!
This week we were blessed with four
new investigators that I love and adore. One is a young couple with two kids
and the other, 26 year old twins! We had incredible lessons with both. With the
twins we shared Alma 36:3 and had them replace their name with Helaman's name.
After one of them read it she just kept reading it over and over again in her
head, and I'm pretty sure she got teary eyed. We were able to testify of the
truthfulness of the scripture, and how through prayer and reading the Book of
Mormon they can experience that support through trials and afflictions. The
spirit was so strong and my testimony was strengthened through seeing these two
beautiful girls feel the spirit through that scripture. Have I ever mentioned
before how much I love missionary work? It's the most rewarding thing I've
experienced. We have a lesson with them tomorrow and
I can't wait to see them progress and more readily feel of their Savior's love.
We taught the
restoration to the young couple and it went amazing. They were both so
attentive And open to the truth of the restored gospel. He had work yesterday,
but his wife and two kids came to church! Everything was just so natural and it
was a perfect miracle from the lord. All the members fellow shipped them well also.
This branch is full of people with deep conversion and a love of serving and
sharing the gospel. I'm so blessed to be able to serve here.
Missions are
heartbreaking sometimes. We haven't been able to have contact with some
potential investigators and less actives lately and it's been really difficult.
Growing to love people, share deep experiences and thoughts with them, share
testimonies and learn and grow together, then have no contact with them is so
sad. I've been praying for them and just trying to focus on trusting that the
Lord is gradually softening their hearts and preparing them to someday fully
accept or come back to the gospel.
Yesterday in relief
society the lesson was entitled "Come Back and Feast at the Table of the Lord."
It was talking about how to help lost sheep come back to the fold. We all ended
with the consensus that the most important thing we can do is love them and
serve them. When I had just gotten to Japan I looked through the Maebaru ward
book of less actives and my heart just broke seeing how many people had strayed
from this perfect hope filled gospel. A couple days later I was reading and
found 3 Nephi 18:32. I get so emotional every time I read this scripture
because of the beautiful promise the Lord makes to us. He promises us that as
long as we love and administer to these lost sheep, that He will heal them. I'm
so thankful for that promise and for the hope it Brings to all those we love
who are temporarily away from the church.
Keep on keepin on
friends! This gospel is the way to happiness and peace in this life! And
eternal life in the world to come!
All my love, Sundell
Shimai
