JUNE 19, 2016 - I'M LIKE IN JAPAN

Hello everyone! How ya doing? I don't know how to write letters...like I wish I could just tell y'all in person, the feeling would be so much better. I'll just stick to my awkward daily updates haha.

Monday - We had an adventure to this katsu place (like frenchies onion chicken but different...like way different....) well, actually we also had an adventure to the hospital. Apparently I'm fine! Woah! And really kinda annoying. Now I have my Japanese mom, Fisher Shimai, and the missionaries in my area on top of my health...then we go to a fried chicken restaurant, very healthy, but outside the restaurant, the owner came out while we were deciding to go in or not and she was trying really hard to get us to buy. She seemed like a strange gypsy, kinda looked like one too. We also cleaned the gutters of the church which wasn't too terribly exciting except for the fact that I found a mysterious gold tie pin.

Tuesday- so on Tuesday we go to the other area that is attached to ours, Habikino. On the way there we stopped to have sushi for lunch. The sushi place was recommended to us by Brother Kimura, who I trust with my life, 'cause he's way too good at ping pong and martial arts.  So we walk in and the there are plates that cost from 100¥ to 500¥  (1dollar-5dollars) and the 100¥ ones were so good. There is one that was $5 right, and I asked my comp if we could split it (two pieces on a plate) it was a huge piece of tuna and when you ate it, it melted in your mouth. It was the best piece of sushi that I ever had in my whole life! So good that I got a second one, now I was paying full price. It was too good. We've started biking again and the last few weeks have been so humid. Rainy season is here and it's hot.  Actually not that hot but the humidity is killer.

We were trying to find this potential investigator and turns out her address is the address of another church and so we felt a little awkward right I front of it...we were like should we knock? And then ended up running away when the door started to open as we stood out side. It was too crazy. 😅 At English class I told everyone my call letter story and unintentionally taught a lesson. The spirit was so strong and everyone was so happy at the end, also sister Kono gave us peppermint tea. So good!

Wednesday we helped Nagatani Shimai, (she is from the Philippines), with moving stuff from one apartment to another. She told us about one of her bajillion jobs, and how she helps with crime investigations. I think she is a detective of sorts and then also like an English teacher. She's way cool. We ate curry with her which was sooo good!

After that we went to Mama Fishers house and she proceeded to tell me all the things I need to do to eat healthier. She informed us that it is not "rice cheeks" but "cookie cheeks". She gave me a list of foods I am allowed to eat. She told me, "I know if you're eating bad foods so don't cheat," she is way serious, part of me is "yeah, food coach" and also a little nervous because she'll know that I ate Oreos on my comp exchange last week. Her daughter would never let her mother over, so I have become the substitute since she left for college.

Thursday was Kokon, and it rained. It really rained.  I only had my rain coat which works and also simultaneously doesn't. It down poured.  I had no rain pants so my skirt was soaked. It was fun though. We went to this place called Korea town and visited this girl who works at a shop there and taught her about the Book of Mormon and she said she was way excited to read. After that this man in monk get up and straw hat came up to us and was like, hey you're Mormons, and I was like yes we are (he spoke English so that was also another surprise). We asked where he was from and in kind of a really creepy voice he said, "Can you guess?" Turns out he lived in California and other places, we never found out where he was from.  He also was like look I don't want to fight, you need to go home, sit on your couch and ask your self who am I, who am I, who am I, until you figure it out.  In my head I was like well I don't need to do that to find out, that was a nice reassurance.

Then immediately after that another guy, a whole lot nicer guy, came up to us because the first one did and we taught him the whole restoration.  Way cool.  He was kinda cute but in a teddy bear kinda way. I feel like as I have lived here several things have happened . One, everything in this country is cute, like men, women, children, cats, everything, and so I think I have started calling people cute partly because of that and partly because I love people and I want then to progress with the gospel right?  I think God is constantly looking down at us and saying with his hands to his face, "Oh, oh...oh my goodness gracious me! Look at him he did a thing! Oh look, she got married, and he oh he just got a Book of Mormon from those two adorable sister missionaries. Oh my gosh! ...he's getting baptized!"  Yeah, something like that.  He's still a parent; have you ever seen grown adults freak out over a small child because he was walking towards them?

Anyway, later after that, we went to visit an old man at a fruit stand and we also taught him about the Book of Mormon.  He has read all of the intro and loves it! So cool! Then he gave us free watermelon!  Heck ya! While we were teaching him there was a mosquito, huge! Just flying around him and he slapped it onto his coat and then just left it there, it was very comical but then about five mins later it popped right back up brushed it's self off and then flew away! I was dying. It was so hard not to laugh.

Friday, we met up again and then biked to district meeting. All of you who drive cars in the summer, count your many, many blessings! After district meeting we had crepes. They were so delicious. 'Nough said.

Saturday happened. Sunday was Stake conference and it was a nation wide broad cast from HQ. it was way cool.  We got to listen to Elder Bednar tell us that we need to be better members and such...oh my-lanta that was intense. He's such a cool cat that is also very scary, but it was good. We met the other Elder's investigator that day and she is seriously the most wonderful person ever. She was asking if we would come to her baptism next Tuesday.  She is so sweet and outgoing and likes to call Elder Weakly over to ask him things. Right before everything started she saw them (theelders) and shouted, WEAKLY CHŌRŌ, KITE KITE! (Key-te it means come). It was so funny, I about died. She held my hand and thanked us for sitting with her. It was a real good week.

Happy Father's Day! Now, I'd like to write to you all about my dad. But before I do that I want to thank all of the dads and fathers I've ever had in my life. My grandfathers, Tony Rowland and Bob Oswald, my uncles, my leaders and my teachers, Brother Mike McNevin, Nathan Garza, Brother Ray, Brother Culebro, Brother Richardson, Bishop Chipman, Brother Gary Gibb, Brother Shannon, Patriarch Jensen, Patriarch  Gill, any many others, including some brothers here in Japan, I would write more but I just don't have time to write them all...but these men all have one thing in common. The gospel. They are testifiers of Christ. They believe in Christ and they have taught me about Him in one way or another. They hold the priesthood and they are worthy and they are protectors of their family. Thank you and I love all of you so very much, I wish I could give all of you a hug. Now to my dad.

I love this man. He is one of my best friends of my whole life! My whole life, People! This man has teased me, pulled pranks on me, put ice cubes down the back of my shirt, he has taken pictures of me while I sat in the ER just chillin' cause of all my random bike accidents, he has let the dog mall me to wake me up in the morning, he has shouted my name for no reason while I passed by in the house, driving in the car and other such places. He has bounced on my bed till I smiled even when I wanted to just sit and pout. He has the best laugh in the world, especially when we're watching Mash, Star Trek, How it's Made, and other tv shows and movies. He smiles with his whole heart and soul. He lifts others when they are down. He is kind. He listens with all that he's got. He makes the world best mac n tomato (don't know what that is? go ask him to make it for you, also the worlds best peach cobbler}.  He knows how to set a fishing line five times over and still smile when you've caught a fish before him. He knows that speeding traps are real and they are of the devil. He likes listening to my music even if it's weird. He likes to listen to books on long road trips. He knows how to fix things. He fixes things. He knows everything! His brain is like a text book! He knows so much about everything! He is deaf as a door nail. He fixes cars. He rebuilds Volkswagons. He spends hours and hours in the garage just so that his kids can have a car of their own. He builds decks! He speaks words of life. He loves my mom. He takes care of us. He is my hero. He knows that sometimes we just gotta tuck and roll.  He takes care of me, I love him. He has a testimony like no other. He believes in Christ, he loves others. He always lifts and inspires, at least me! He relates the gospel to video games. He is my dad. I am so happy to have him as my dad. He is the greatest man I've ever known in this life.

I could talk hours about the times I've had with my parents, I love them. Ask my comps, they know I love my mom and dad.

I love my father, but I love him most of all because he loves our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Pop,  I love you. I love you so much. You mean the world to me. You have taught me so much and I can't wait to see you again. I miss your sillines and car rides and pretty much everything written above, but  I'm so grateful for you and your example to me. Thank you for serving me, loving me, and taking care of our family. I love you!

Happy Father's Day!

Your daughter,

Madeline

JUNE 12, 2016 - Well when God tells you he loves you but you be singing a song for sacrament and it's like bad timing cause then you can't help but cry. Come on Dad!

Hello. I love you. Yes,  you reading this right now. I love you. Your soul is a gift and oh man, oh man, do you even know what that means? I can't full explain it because it's just to intense...anyway. How are you?  I'm pretty good, I mean spiritually and mentally heck yeah, I can do anything.  The gospel is true, Joseph Smith flipping (I know this isn't that reverent but this is how I feel about it) saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ right in front of him! Say what! And and the Book of Mormon! Don't even get me started...wow I'm such a missionary...I can't believe I've been doing this for this long!  Woah, it must be true (it totally is). Well what did we do this week? Well, I'm gonna tell you!

Monday....things...

Tuesday! Was our day in Habikino our other area and we tried to visit people with Brother Kono and I found a picture that translates really funny.   I'll just tell you what it says, "How would you like it if a dog pooped in front of your house, you wouldn't like it! Your dog is stupid, he won't know that he is being rude but you are! That's a rough translation. It also has picture of the guy walking his dog. I thought at first it was about a neighborhood creeper but no it was some old grandma who freaked out over doggie doo. Then we  ran into an old woman, whose hair was pink and when we tried to talk to her she shouted, "I can't hear you my ears don't work," she was like 89 or something...it was kinda funny.

Wednesday! I died...ugh I hated it. Just wanted to go out but couldn't. I was so physically exhausted I slept for like 5 hours...so bad...but then we went to eikaiwa and met our investigator (finally, she was from the previous sisters) and she came and played ping pong with us! That was fun. Love ping pong. I also love Brother Kimura who is wicked good at ping pong and watched him destroy Elder Westhoff.

Thursday we did planning! And sang to old people. It was fun. Also played with a 2 year old. She was so cute. I have pictures.

Friday was Zone Training Meeting. We all had french toast together that morning and turns our my first trainer got transferred into my zone! AHHHH so happy! She only has like a transfer and a half left. Edwards Shimai is the best, I love her so much! Then we had our meeting. We let members come to see what we are working on and this one member came and raised his hand and commented on our goal of getting 20 lessons a week. And was like why aren't you focusing on your investigators. And he went on but his points were off, and didn't make much sense. There was lots of tension with him and Takahashi Chōrō. Yikes.  But then he left.  Also Westhoff Chōrō talked for like 40 minutes on tech....he likes to talk...oh man. Then after the meeting we went to a burger shop. Oh man.

I have to start a new paragraph because it's so awesome!  We went to this new place to eat lunch and this guy, his name is Yo, who runs the place, studied English and surfing in California in Huntington Beach and Orange County!  Say what?!  And so we talked about California and VWs and he is now my new favorite person who needs the gospel. Also he makes the best burgers in a Japan! Wow. Like so good, a good, fried burger.  It was like stepping back into America! I loved it! He also played some great music by Babylon.

Saturday we had a really good day! We first had ice cream with Chiara our investigator from Italy. She's interested in the logistics of our religion the next step is spiritually. But she is way sweet!! I love her! Then we went and dendo'd with sister Kokura and we taught an awesome street lesson about the atonement to this guy and it got him so excited to help us in the future! Yay! Then we went with two sisters and they took us the missionaries out to eat some delicious sushi :3 AHHHH so happy!

Sunday was the highlight of the week.  Yesterday in sacrament meeting my doryo and I sang "I feel my Savior's love," and it was in Japanese at first then the last verse was English. And as we sang, the piano stopped playing and it was just our voices. With each word the spirit engulfed us ten fold. We got to the chorus where it says, "He knows I will follow Him, Give all my life to him," at this moment I realized that this is what we have done. This is is so important, He gave us everything and in return, the least I can do is give it all to Him, my heart, my soul, my pain, my joy, everything. We got to that line and it was so intense. It was so hard to sing. It was the truth. Because we were crying, Larsen Shimai dropped out and I was left alone to sing the last like, "I feel my Savior's love, the love he freely gives me." My heart leapt inside my chest . He loves me! I know it!  Give it all to Him and you will Feel with great intensity, the Savior's love for you.

Well that's it my loves,

You are wonderful!

Love Oswald Shimai

JUNE 5, 2016 - ALOHA!

Aloha!

Aloha everyone. Am I in Hawaii? No, still Japan, but that would be nice to sit on a beach for a few days ha ha, but alas I have no time, no money and there is a greater work to be done here.  So in sacrament whenever I speak I always say aloha to every one and so everyone
after is like aloha back for the whole rest of the day. Woo!

We had...a week. Monday as you know (or at least I think I wrote last week) we went to Akame! Wow so pretty! Clarkson almost died. (???)  That was scary but also fun. This weeks letter must be short because I owe my parents a longer letter than normal, so that means not much time to write this one. 

Updates: 
1. I'm not dying so that's good...I think. I don't like Japanese health care....the doctors are great(ish) but the system is 'not good'...(I'm trying to avoid using the word screwy even
though I just used it, just pretend that I didn't).

2. We went and ate out with this awesome girl and we gave her a Book of Mormon and she
was so excited to read it so we'll see how that goes YAY! 

3. I lost my comp for like 45 mins....oh man. She bikes too slow I bike too fast and some how we get separated even going down a straight path, gotta love the city! 

4. I stayed in Osaka! I love the city it's so much fun! I'm so happy because that means I don't have to pack! WOAH! Also I get to stay with my lovely Hispanic comp, Sister Larsen! WOAH! We have lots of brain bows (a thought you have at the same time it's a rainbow
between your brains :) 

5. I had a win the other day when a Japanese elder couldn't tell that I was American over the phone, it means I sound Japanese! Yuss. 

6. What even happened this week?

8. I met a band at the train station called Star T Rat....they had cross necklaces but knew nothing about Jesus, which was a little disappointing but such is life. ( I'm not saying life is disappointing okay sometimes it is but, life is also actually pretty darn interesting...) 

7. Because I forgot it up there.  We met an interesting woman at English class. We
were talking to her and next thing we know a member was like, "everyone go home please" (this is afterwards) and she was being so strange (the interesting woman) and then the elders were like, 'listen to her,'  (the member) and then we got our stuff and went home. Turns out the "interesting" woman was actually really bad influence on elders before...it was kinda scary...

9. Our Ward mission leader is really funny. That's it. 

10. I conducted the music in sacrament meeting and that was really nerve racking but also not too exciting.

11. When people turn to you and expect you to be able to translate the word fore-ordained and other deeper topics in relief society....so sad.

Okay y'all I hope you are having a good week. Remember to look for the miracles, they are always there your just have to remember that theyare there, like your nose! Isn't it a miracle you have a nose! None of you really remember that it's there but it is. It allows me to
smell...flowers and food. What a blessing! But really look for the ways God gives you gifts it could be a little laugh from something you saw that day or anything!

Love,

Oswald Shimai

P.S.  Every one thinks I killed JFK.

Me at the Pokemon Center

Us with the band Star T Rat

MAY 30, 2016 - NINJA WATERFALLS

Wow what a week...I felt like I did nothing...but I did do things so my brain is just a little messed up. So last Monday. We ate food. That's about it, then we had a lesson with member which was very insightful on missionary work so that was good. 

Tuesday I died. Like it felt like I had run a marathon and so I stayed in. That was such a wasp-sack day...the worst part is that I still feel bad. YAY, first the elders thought it was low iron, so then Wednesday we went on an adventure to find it. 

Afters (I meant to type afterwards but I just went back and read this and saw that my English is slowly failing me) I felt better.  We had an interesting English  class. We had a new student come and that was happy. So we start talking to her and turns out she's Christian so that was cool and she speaks enough English. At the end of class she gave a self introduction and the class is allowed to ask her questions, one student Kenji, who I love so much (little on him, he has been coming to eikaiwa for like 10-15 years, he learned English through the church, he  knows almost everything about the church (almost) and he is in a wheel chair and he is awesome), asked her a question, "Have you read the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ?," another question from another student, "Are you a member of this church? Are you going to join," it was crazy! Her response was ya I kinda want to join do you know how? Like what!?! So we're trying to help her out ;) but she is kinda mystery not sure what her native language is...amongst various things. The next day we met her and attempted to talk about the gospel and for some reason it was really hard...and stressful because her answers weren't clear, they didn't relate to the question. So well see about her.

We then biked out to the bishop's and another appointment but when we were done with those it was pouring. Down pouring. Like buckets of rain! I've got videos :) what else happened...oh oh went and had Zone conference , some of you may not know what that means but it just means that the missionaries in my "zone" which is Osaka, come together and listen to the mission president tell us awesome things. The homework that we got from apostle Elder Stevenson, was to read Acts 10. We went over it and oh man it's good. Also Welch Shimai (presidents wife) told me to go get a blood test. So that will happen soon. I hope. 

Saturday we went to a family's house with the Elders and listen to Brother Kimura tell us all the similarities from a religion called Shinto, to Christianity and also told us that the Ark of the covenant is hidden in Japan. There is some solid facts backing it, so I believe it. Then we went and picked slaw berries:) (I meant strawberrys but whatever) there we enjoyed small children speaking Japanese and holding your hand and ahididicnf children! Our investigator came with her daughter and the elders fell in love with her. 

Sunday was crazy as usual. I'm sorry this is short there hasn't been anytime to write because we went to a place called akame today. It's this hike with a bunch of waterfalls and where ninjas trained :) ya that's my day. I love you. Also transfers are this week and  am now a 7th transfer missionary which means I've been on my mission for 10 months! What?! Crazy! Eep! 

I love you all! 

The wizard of oz

Seo Kyodai