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