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.

February 13, 2017

Most exciting day of this week was once again Friday! It was snowing, and we had to go to Ainoura again, so instead of biking we took the bus. Once we were in Ainoura we then walked to and from appointments. It was so beautiful and serene walking around in the quiet cold. 

We, as usual, visited with Shimai which was, as usual, amazing. We then decided to visit a less active member that Jorgensen Shimai and I had tried to visit a couple times before, but she had said she didn't have much interest right now. She answered the door and we gave her a little Valentine's basket, which broke the ice. She was pretty shocked we had come to visit her in such bad weather and she kept apologizing for how cold it was. We got talking about some experiences in her life in which she felt the spirit and ended up singing I am a child of God with her. Though she hadn't been to church in many years, the words slowly came back to her, and it was incredible to watch. Heavenly Father truly never forgets about any of his children. That has been shown to me time and again on my mission. 

On the way home steed Shimai and I both felt like we should get off the bus stop a few stops before our apartment then walk the rest of the way home. We did and ended up running into one of our investigators we haven't seen in two months! We were SO overjoyed to see her and nearly crushed her with hugs. 

There are so many exciting things coming up this transfer, and I'm so excited to continue working with and learning from Steed Shimai. 

All my love, Sundell Shimai 

February 6, 2017

I get to stay in sasebo for another transfer with sweet steed Shimai! We have been seeing some progress in the work recently and are so excited for the upcoming transfer. My beloved Matthews Shimai is transferring out, and I'm sad to see her go, but so blessed to have gotten to live with her! 

This weeks most eventful day was Friday. We biked an hour away to volunteer at the Japanese self defense force English class, which was a blast. Afterward Stopped by a convenient store to use the bathroom before going to a return appointment in twenty min . Walk out to find my bike tire completely flat. We, (I, steed Shimai is never frustrated) did the best I could not to be frustrated. Asked a college student where the closest bike shop was and he pointed us to it. We started walking and then the boy pulls up on his bike next to us and said he biked ahead to make sure the bike store was open- how sweet! So we kept walking and I just kept thinking, of all times for me to get a flat tire, that there must be some reasoning why it had to be now. An American on a bike pulls up behind us and asks if we need some help- which we did. Long story short he fixed my tire with a new tube on the spot! Coolest part: he works with and is good friends with many of the members here. It was really cool getting to be blessed by the good image and example other members had shown him in the past. 

Showed up at our return appointment an hour late but got to still teach her a lesson and she became a new investigator! 

Visited sato Shimai and painted her toe nails for her and it was so cute. She was so so excited. 

Went to a convenient store for dinner and sat down next to an 18 yr old boy, who we got into a good conversation with. We ended up giving him a Book of Mormon and he was SO excited about it. He said one day he wants five children, and to be a kind parent to his kids. When we explained the purpose of the Book of Mormon as a guide in our lives, he was very interested in it. I told him that we don't just read it once, but over and over again and constantly learn more from it. He had a huge smile on his face and said, 'okay, I'll read it a lot!' 

The day was all just such perfect timing that was all orchestrated by the Lord. 

All my love, Sundell Shimai 

One of the Japanese self defense force students. Notice his pointer finger. I had my nails painted a dark brown color and he complemented me on them, then proceeded to pick up a marker and paint his nail to match mine! Then we were talking about how he lived in Hokkaido and I said my brother lived there ten years ago. I told him all the areas Robi had served and he drew a very detailed map and dotted all the areas Robi lived. It was so sweet and we were just laughing together the whole time. 

Cherry blossoms are coming! 

Another one of the endless beautiful Japanese flowers that bring me so much joy! 

Jan. 29, 2017

Konnichiwa all I love! 

This week had so many fun unique experiences! 

Craziest one of all: we were on splits and I was with Macleod Shimai, who is in her first transfer just like steed Shimai. We were walking around in a outdoor shopping mall contacting people and there was a guy sitting down playing a guitar and singing in English. His accent was perfect and he was so good! So we stopped and talked to him and complemented him. Though he actually speaks no English, we got into a conversation about what we are doing here, and ended up discussing happiness. He expressed how he doesn't know what happiness is, and we were able to share with him what happiness is to us. We asked if we could meet with him again  and he said he would be in the same place the next night, so we agreed to meet again! We showed up yesterday and he was there! We got to sit down and share a message with him and even give him a Book of Mormon! We shared 2 Nephi 2:25 and it really struck him. We were truly created that we might experience joy.  Though there are many difficult things in this life, and a lot of tragedy in the world, our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ created us so that we might have joy through all experiences. The spirit was so strong as we testified and promised him happiness and joy through reading the Book of Mormon and relying on God. Before we left we asked if we could pray together and he agreed. We explained prayer and said that if he agreed with the things we say in the prayer, to please repeat 'amen' at the end. We prayed for him and his situation and happiness and through prayer, testified that this man was a son of God. And at the end of the prayer he said amen! Such an incredible experience. The craziest thing about the story is that I have seen this guy countless times before in the shopping center. Every time we walked past him I told Jorgensen Shimai how cool I thought his hair is. And now we are teaching him and helping him feel of our Savior's love! What incredible timing. It reminds me of the line in PMG that states 'You are surrounded by people. You pass them on the street, visit them in their homes, and travel among them. All of them are children of God, your brothers and sisters. God loves them just as He loves you.' How many times we have passed him on the street! PMG knows what it's talking about. 

One thing I've learned this week is how easy it is to focus on ourselves and become selfish. Often when investigators stop contacting us, I get impatient. Countless times, as we come to understand their situation and things they are going through, we find out that there are a lot of really difficult things going on in their lives. One investigator we had that I instantly loved has been having health problems and that is why she has been to overwhelmed to contact us. There are always things going on in others lives that we do not see. Our job is to just love others and show support. It's much easier said than done, but I know as I have focused on showing Christlike love, I have felt more peace and joy in my life. 

All my love, Sundell Shimai 

Finally found a new political pic!

View from our convenient store dining table

Junkai sleepover

Got a ten pm haircut from Rogers and Matthews Shimai 

'Cutest Japanese kids I've ever seen' said after every Japanese kid I see.