March 26, 2017

Sorry in advance if this email is a little scatterbrained, I just saw a picture of my best friend with an engagement ring on her finger and my heart is freaking out! 

You'd think transfers would get easier the more times you do them. I guess to an extent they do but it was still hard leaving Sasebo that I love so much. 

Wednesday nights we teach English class and the last one was so special! So many of the students I love came and we got to spend a great last class together. After eikaiwa the members had prepared a  big meal for Elder Bryans because he was going home, and me because I was transferring. There were a lot of members and all the eikaiwa students participated too. At the beginning we said an opening prayer and then Elder Bryans and I got to share some thoughts and testimonies. It was such an amazing opportunity to get to express to our eikaiwa students the joy and peace that the gospel has brought into my life. Normally in eikaiwa we don't talk about religion, so it was great getting to share with them my testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ. I love and miss them all! 

And now I'm in Taniyama! With Henderson Shimai who is a hoot! We have a ton of fun together and are so excited for this upcoming transfer. 

The members here are so gung-ho! We were able to meet with them and talk about ways to strengthen the branch and they were all for the ideas we had! 

Funny story this week: so Henderson Shimai is full Chinese but was adopted and raised in California. Most of the time we contact people they assume she is Japanese. So we knocked on a home this week and an old grandpa answers the door and I think I I'm having a pretty decent conversation with him, but then he sees Henderson Shimai standing behind me and says "I don't understand what you're saying, can you move over and have her translate for you please" and motions me away with his hand. So I feel that will be the general overtone of this transfer! 

Despite being in a different area with a different companion, dendo is still much the same, which is so comforting. Though I don't yet feel comfortable in this area, I feel so all home being able to  bear testimony to those we talk to about Jesus Christ and his perfectly restored gospel! I'm very thankful and excited for the next while in this area and for more time to serve as a missionary. 

All my love, Sundell Shimai 

Millet Shimai and her mom came back to Japan an miraculously visited her old area, taniyama, they week I transferred here! 

Hopefully more pictures next week...

March 20 2017

Transfer calls came and I will be going down to Kagoshima in an area called taniyama! My companion will be Henderson Shimai, which I am SO excited about. I was so nervous to find out who my last companion would be, but was thrilled to hear it was her! She and I were in the same district together in iwakuni, so I'm really excited to get to serve with someone I'm already so close with! I remember after one district meeting walking with Henderson Shimai to lunch and telling her, 'I think we are going to be companions at some point' and now we will be! It brought me a lot of peace about transfers and I am really looking forward to it. 

Yesterday was Steed Shimais birthday! It started with making French toast and homemade cakes and ended with us both getting separated for an HOUR as we were biking to an area. We were biking up a hill and somehow got separated and it took us an hour, with the help of the Henry's, to find eachother. I have never questioned the safety of Japan as much as in that hour at we were separated! Luckily all turned out okay and Japan maintains its incredible safety. It made me realize how thankful I am that we get to have companions and preach the gospel two by two. It would be so lonely and scary if we had to do it alone. I'm thankful to now have Steed Shimai by my side again. 

This week we had probably a last lesson with one of our investigators that we have been teaching basically since I got to Sasebo. She wasn't able to get work off on Sunday's and had kind of stopped reading the Book of Mormon and praying so we just had a last meeting with her and bore our testimonies. She was a referral from a recent convert, and we did the lesson in his restaurant. After the investigator left, the member came upstairs and talked to us. He could tell I was feeling a little down. He talked about all the missionaries instrumental in his baptism, the huge progress our investigator had made up until this point, and many other comforting. He reassured me that she now knows about the blessings of the Book of Mormon and prayer, and that in the future she will be ready to fully accept the gospel. It was a very special experience with him and I was thankful for the reassurance he gave that we had done everything in our power for the investigator we love. 

I love Sasebo with all my heart, and am thankful for the time I have had to spend here with Jorgensen and Steed Shimai. We did not have many investigators in my time here, but am indescribably thankful for the relationships and friendships I have been blessed to have with members and less actives. As we have biked the hills of Sasebo for hours on end, I feel I have grown to greater understand the love our Heavenly Father has for each of his children. He knows exactly where each of us are, and desires each of our happiness, peace, and success. Because He loves us so perfectly, He sent His son, Jesus Christ to provide a way for us to return to our heavenly home. It is truly through following our Savior, that we find peace in this life, and eternal life in the world to come. I'm thankful for the gift and blessing of getting to serve in sasebo for six months of my mission, and life. 

All my love, Sundell Shimai 

The sweetest English students ever! We had been volunteering at a Japanese self defense force English class for the past few months and this week was the last class. Our four sweet women that put all the guys English to shame! Such hard workers.

March 13, 2017

Konnichiwa friends! 

Steed Shimai and I are working hard over here. And it feels like the harder I work, the harder I am on myself. But we are both working on focusing on the Savior and what it is He wants us to accomplish each day. Our days are full of countless little miracles that show us how involved the Savior is in our lives. 

So I wanted to share some cute little miracles/fun things we saw this week. 

There is a seven eleven down the street from the church building that we go to a lot (keep in mind Japans 7/11 are no rundown gross establishment like most of America, they are very classy and have gooood food). We made friends with one worker there and it was fun to get to see him most every time we went in. But one day we rode by the and the 7 was gone! Devastated! But luckily they were just rebuilding it, and it came back a few months later (this week.) so it opened for the first time at 7 am on the 9th, so what did we do for morning exercise? Run to the seven and be the FIRST CUSTOMERS.  It was magical. Everything perfectly gloriously stocked and sparkling clean. Best part was that our favorite worker was there! We walked in at 7 sharp and said 'hey long time no see!' And he laughed and waved at us. It was cute. When I checked out I told him we were worried when it closed but were so relieved it opened again and he just laughed and said thank you and that he was happy it was open again too. Friends everywhere. 

There was one night this week we walked out of the apartment after dinner to dendo and we were tiiiiired. But the first thing we see as we open the door was a beautiful sunset. Tender mercy! Then we bike down the hill our of our apartment and there is a line of little preschool kids walking past that all said hi to us and my heart just burst with gratitude for a Heavenly Father that shows us in every way He can how much He loves us and is aware of us. 

Steed Shimai and I have started to every night, think back on the day and write down two things we think we did well and one thing we want to improve on. It has been so cool to do. It's nice getting to reflect back on the day and then see where we can improve. One thing I have been working on recently is talking about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as we talk with people. I had started just talking and getting to know people more than focusing on doctrinal things in our conversations. I've been focusing on still getting to know people and find out things about them, but always connecting back what we talk about to the Savior. It's felt so good always having His name on my lips and getting to share the message of hope that His gospel brings. 

Spring is coming and there are beautiful flowers blossoming everywhere and it smells beautiful. My favorite season! I'm so thankful to have another spring in Japan and experience so many of our Saviors beautiful creations. 

That all sounded really scatter brained. But know that Steed Shimai are happy and engaged in the greatest work! 

All my love, Sundell Shimai 

We were in get middle of missionary correlation meeting and one of the members knocks on the door, asks if she can come in, and then brings two HUGE plates of dinner for us to eat. So cute. Have I ever mentioned I love the members here?

Zone pday at bio park 

March 4, 2017

There was a baptism in Sasebo this weekend and it was beautiful! It was a guy the other sisters found a while ago then passed to the elders and he is incredible! Seeing how much he has grown to love the gospel and the teachings of the gospel has been such a blessing. He gave up and changed everything that was keeping him from being worthy to join, such as Sunday job, tobacco, alcohol, etc. the baptismal service went really well but the most spiritual part was when he received the Holy Ghost on Sunday. President Hamaguchi, one of my favorite people alive, performed the ordinance and gave him a beautiful blessing. At one point he talked about from here on, daisuke san was to forget himself, and get to work in service in the gospel. The spirit was so strong and I pondered the rest of the day on that one sentence. I admired daisuke san's courage to truly devote his life to our Savior. This gospel really is about forgetting ourselves and immersing ourself in service to others. It's teachings are in such stark contrast to that of the world. The world teaches to focus on ourselves, build up our own power, become greater than those around us, etc. But the gospel is all about putting others first. I'm thankful that though it is a constant effort to put aside our pride and humble ourselves to the Lord, He helps us every step of the way. 

We also had a big mission conference this week with Elder Whiting of the Asia area north presidency. I was able to have a short interview with him afterward and it was really interesting. He asked about me, my family, and my plans for the future and that was it. He closed with a prayer and thanked Heavenly Father for the support and love of my family in this time in my life. He also asked for a blessing to be over my family and those I love. It was a reminder to me to verbally express our thanks for the things we have been blessed with. I've been blessed in the family and people I love department as much as can be imagined! And I'm very thankful for each one of you reading this, even if I haven't heard from you my whole mission ;) 

Japan is the greatest place on earth, being a missionary is my favorite calling, and I'm still madly obsessed with Japanese babies. 

Till next week! 

All my love, Sundell Shimai 

The training was in Kumamoto so we stopped by the famous Kumamoto castle, which is a little crumbly since he earthquake. Sasebo missionaries and sister Henry! 

Daisuke kyodai's baptism!  How proud and happy do the elders look! 

Our morning sunrise view .

February 26, 2017

We had the best week! So many cool experiences and so much growth. It's been an adjustment getting used to the new schedule but we feel we are figuring out how to be most effective! 

Most exciting part of this week:

I was on splits with macfarlane Shimai and we were going up to hill from our apartment. We saw a cute mom and little boy with their grandma allllllmost walking into their gated apartment complex but we stopped them just in time! Talked with them and set up a return appointment for the next day at a park! AND THEY SHOWED UP. We taught them both separately- while the mom played with the boy on the playground, we taught the grandma, then they switched. It was so incredible! The things we talked about to each of them were pretty different, which meant the lessons were both by the spirit to the needs of each of them. We became so close with them so quickly and it was beautiful. The grandma said that after we met them yesterday they were talking about how incredible the timing of us meeting was. They were walking from a bank, back to their apartment, which is literally a 30 second walk, but we perfectly collided paths! The grandma said that they both thought it was fate! 

They were going to come to church but something came up, and they couldn't, but promised to meet again in the future. In the lesson I told them I had a talk in church and that if they came I would really appreciate it: but when they texted saying they couldn't come she said "good luck on your talk! Even though we can't come, we are sending power your way!" It was so sweet. 

Cool experience about the talk I gave yesterday: 

The branch presidency told me to pick any topic so I decided on service. Then it turned out that the branch presidency was changing after ten years. It was cool getting to talk about the blessings of service, especially through church callings, to men who had diligently served the branch for the past ten years. 

We have been challenged recently to go out and find 'the one' every day. 'The one' meaning someone we talked to who we really felt Heavenly Father needed us to talk to that day. It's been really cool looking back on our days and seeing who the Lord guided us to. He truly leads this work! 

I'm thankful this week for the energy and joy we receive as we serve. There and many times when we stand at the door to pray before we leave and I just feel completely drained of energy, but the second we start talking to people we just come alive! The power of service. 

All my love, Sundell Shimai 

A members non member husband came the the church yesterday and asked if we could come and heart attack his home for his wife's birthday the next day. It was so cute. He had an old heart from Shimai who knows how long ago that said 'we love you' and he told us to put a bunch of hearts up just like that for her again! He recognized how happy the church and missionaries make her. 

Wallyball activity with Elder and Sister Henry.

One off our incredible families!

February 19, 2017

Best part of the week: our beloved sato Shimai and her daughter yuuko Shimai came to church!!! We had district conference in Nagasaki, a two hour drive away, and they both came! All the members were so excited to see them both and they were all talking and laughing and smiling. It was the most heartwarming thing to witness! We got to sit with sato Shimai during the hymns and she was just so happy. She feels the spirit most through music, so it was special to get to share at with her. 

We also got to go over to one of our American family's home for dinner last night- and they invited a friend! It was a fried sister Callahan had talked to about the gospel before and even gave her a Book of Mormon! We got to have a lesson/discussion on the restoration. It was cool getting to discuss questions she had about the restoration, book of Mormon, Jospeh smith, etc. It strengthened my testimony of the truthfulness of the restored gospel on the earth. 

I feel like my weekly emails quality has been slacking, but know that steed shimai and are are working hard and experiencing many of the tender mercies and miracles along the way. This church is true and we are having a blast getting to share it with everyone we see! 

Refer to flower pic from a month or so ago. Look how much they've bloomed!

Went to much with One of our best friends!

Sight seeing on the car ride home from Nagasaki.