NOVEMBER 23, 2015

Monday: We went to this temple and it was packed with so many people!

When you go to town in Kyoto you wear your kimono and kinda dress up.

It's so cool to see all the pretty colors and how normal it is to wear one. I want one and I got one so that's exciting! Yay for recycle shops! We met up with my comp’s old investigator. And we went up to get my mission ring it makes me happy :)

This morning while working out I started playing some upbeat music

(Hercules) and next thing I know my dōryo and I are having a dance competition. It was a fun work out. In other news, today it rained.  (Today being Tuesday) it was lovely and pleasant until it got to be about five and a half hours into it. We had a teaching appointment and we were soaked through by the time we got to the church. Okay not soaked, my rain coat does work but it's cold and wet and to top it off I crashed! Yay! I’m fine, I promise. I was kinda in shock afterwards because I got flung into the road and my helmet came off...I promise I'm safe!!! But now my hand is just a little busted. But it's okay ‘cause I'm surprised I went this long without biffing it.

Wednesday it rained again. I don't like being cold and wet. But today was so busy! We started our day by meeting with a JW at her home and she was actually very nice. She didn't expect us really because she thought she was texting the Elders. We had lunch with them and they played this recording about some over seer.  Then we showed them a Christmas video (afterwards realizing they don't celebrate Christmas so that was only a little awkward ) but no Bible bashing!  Yet...we'll see. So that happened. Then we did splits with members cause we over booked lessons. And I taught by myself! Ahhhh that was little nerve racking but it worked out and it was a really good lesson. We taught an English class which is always a blast! There is this one brother that every time we see him he gives us cake or sweets and I swear I'll gain like 8kilos and I’ll be a balloon when I get back! So we've been getting up earlier to go run.

Friday we went to seminary! We got up at four in the morning because we had to shower and get over to the church. Luckily there are no cars on the road so it's fun. Afterwards we played ping pong. I'll send a video.

Saturday and Sunday we had stake taikai (stake conference) it was so good they really focused on missionary work! There were so many members but the stake number is about the size of our home ward...it's sad, but it got us all pumped. Welch kaicho and Welch Shimai both spoke and Sister Welch doesn't speak Japanese, speaks in English and then has translator. I love them both so much!

Sometimes I feel like I've known them my whole life or I know someone like them. They are so kind to us, and they are the best! We were talking to them afterwards about life and they are like my family.

There is a sister in our ward who just got married and her and her husband are going to have a baby!! It's so happy! She told us last Sunday and we screamed for her! She knows English pretty well and her hubby is American, Ako and Joey Brown are seriously the cutest couple.

Everytime I see a couple, I turn to Edwards and we're both like, "I want that!!!' And we cry in our soup. But anyway the welch’s know her and when they found out president Welch shouted yes and jumped up and down it was so great!

Tomoko is the best, but she won't be able to be baptized while I'm here so it's really sad, she has to go to Sendai for work and it'll be too hard for her to go to church consistently because she'll be in the mountains. But she's so funny I'll send some of the texts she's sent us.

Somethings we learned at stake taikai:

When I child does something right we are so happy (baby) it's similar to Heavenly Father when we do things correctly. When a baby takes his first steps we shout and laugh and get excited. Heavenly Father does the same thing - He is first our Father! He loves when we do things right, when we do things that he obviously can do we get closer to becoming like him, closer to what we can achieve at our full potential. Also something about trials,there are three kinds of trials.

Natural disasters: faith and patience, faith that this is God’s will is needed.

Individual trials: accidents and health, faith and forgiveness is needed.

When we commit sin: we need faith, forgiveness and repentance.

I like that, can't remember why but I like it.

Answers to your questions mom: Love my ward, bishop is awesome and is a truck driver and has about thirty guitars! Our goals are on track!

Members feed us and it's always delicious! I'm so happy the

Fukuchi's sent you a letter!!!! Yes it's a city-city. It's so much fun!

Streeting is the best because there are so many people. Yes, I got the package and I loved it, Thank you!!!! Also the videos, I don't have access to YouTube it's restricted. But just send the transcript.

I felt to tell y'all to invite the missionaries over for dinner you could even have the neighbors over! Missions aren't just a thing you do at age 19. Members are so important! Missionaries need doseki's or I guess member lessons! I know y'all can do it!

Food for thought: Do you have a enough faith to make changes in your life?

Peter was able to walk on water because he had faith that he would not fall but if we allow ourselves to let the storm put fear into our heart, we will sink into the depths. The best thing is that even if we do begin to sink or even become underneath the water, Christ will grab our hand and lift us up.

Seek for revelation from God

Make time to serve

Feel the Holy Ghost

I love you all so much!!!!! Till next time!

-Oswaldo

NOVEMBER 15, 2015

Hello!

It’s awesome when your investigator texts you ,"Hi,  I'm thinking of my baptism, I really need it. Thank you!"  She was going to get baptized on Christmas but things came up with her job and so now she wants to be baptized sooner.  She is seriously the sweetest thing ever!!! Tomoko San can speak English and so our lessons are a mix of both Japanese and English.  She just kept saying last time we met, "I just need paputesma.  I really want it.  I know Satan doesn't love me.  I support God.   I don't support Satan” and other good, sweet, loving things.  She loves the gospel.   We hope she can be baptized on the 27th but we’ll see.  It's so EXCITING!

So we visit this woman who is this famous haiku artist and she can't leave her house, or really chooses not to because she believes she'll die.   It's so interesting to visit her because all we do is fix her food, buy her groceries, get her prescriptions.  I know we are supposed to do service but it doesn't feel like we are serving.  She needs help and we aren't the ones that can help her.  It's very frustrating but we hope to get help from the members soon.  When we are there it's so hard to feel the spirit.   But we made it up when we made dutch chocolate crepes and put yellow pudding in them.  Oh they were so good.  We're trying to eat healthier, but it seriously it's so hard because we just bought pancake mix Monday because it was on sale!  But back to this person, we don’t have the ability or the time to help her in the way she needs.  We're missionaries not house-aids.  Anyway hopefully we can get some help there.

Today we visited this less active couple, the brother said he was willing to fix our bikes (according to him my bike was made by Chinese and therefore crappy) but I'm poor and it gets me a round so I didn't care.  Also he's like a bike expert!  He has this beautiful French bike hanging in his front hallway.  Anyway he has a purple beard because he doesn't want to look like Santa Claus.  His wife came out to talk to us and she is an English teacher and she was so kind to us!  She spoke to us in English because she doesn't have anybody to practice with.  She told us a few jokes like, as a kid you want to meet Santa, as a parent you become Santa and as an old man you are Santa.  It was funny because she referred to her husband.  He reminds me of Japanese Robin Williams.

Anyway they were so kind to us.

Lunch with the APs is always a blast. Takahashi Choro is this famous runner in Japan and he's also an AP. He's so funny and he's Japanese so he knows enough English to communicate a joke.  He air dropped some photos to me at lunch and I'll send the funny ones with explanation.

Oh, in other news my back is jacked up.  YAY, more like ow,  I'm a creaky old woman. It hasn't gone away even with Advil so it's off to the chiropractor. To be honest I'm a little nervous.  Okay I went and came back.  Now it hurts more because I have bad posture and he started to try and fix it...sigh. It still kinda hurts (actually hurts a lot).

Question, how long do you boil eggs? (Maybe some healthy food recipes quick and easy? )

So some awesome members: this New Zealander, who is the leader for our senkyoshi and kyudosha activities.  Mom if you ever get a chance read up on some mauri history and compare to the Book of Mormon, like mind blown what he told me, but I can't say it all because it takes too long.

Another member I'm pretty sure use to be a part of the mafia.  He has this x shaved into his head and he always wears these huge shades during church.  He also shakes people hands just a little too long but he's a nice guy, there is another member who also looks like he could be in the mafia, these two brothers are friends. :)

Pancakes are so delicious and you can by them at 7-11. Have I told you about 7/11?  It's like the best place ever you can by anything like laundry detergent or pancakes or make copies, it's very useful.  Come on Circle K- step it up!  Well, I meant to say that we had pancakes for dinner the other night...I'm so healthy😬

Pingpong.  I love it.  It's so much fun!  A few of our kyudosha came and recent converts and we played and had pizza!  Not that we were already full from the pancakes.  Tomoko San told me I needed to practice my smash and next thing I know I have her, Gen (Chinese recent convert), another nihon gin and Elder Goseny teaching me how to smash which was fun.  I asked Gen how his day was,  me he told me it wasn't good because his date fell through.  We ended up talking about dating and I gave advice. He's a sweet guy and so funny, He knows English, Chinese and Japanese.

So we went and visited less actives on Sunday (which actually these people love the gospel but they just don't come to church).  But anyway, Fujii Shimai is an English professor at the university and so her English is super good.  We went over and talked with her and she told us some more jokes.  Here is one, what does Brazil make more than any other countries?  Guess and I'll give you the answer at the end.  We left her with a sweet message and she told us every time she lost something she would pray and then find it, how she would write it down.  Then she told us how she recently prayed and it didn't work and she was wondering why.  Then she pretended to be God and she said that he's working on a bigger blessing for her right now.  She said that he was busy working on that.  She has so much faith and love for the gospel, it's sad that she doesn't come to church anymore.

Then there is this one Shimai who we visited who reads auras.  My comps aura color is a light pink and the elder’s are light green and red.

After we shared a message she told us how she thinks the second coming is near, which was actually hard to follow, but then she somehow connected it to me.  First, she asked if there were 3 siblings in my family.   I've never met this woman till today so that was surprising.  I said yes,  and she told us that my parents are real close and are trying to work hard towards something, and that our family is close too. She also asked if I had an older sister but I don't.

Sooo...but she was so cute and sweet and just funny when it comes to talking about Nephi.  My aura color is a light orange/ light yellow mix, or gold take your pick :)

I can't tell you how happy your letters make me.  Y'alls letters make me laugh out loud and I'm so glad that y'all are mine.  

My ponderize scripture for this week was John 14: 18-20

18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me:

because I live, ye shall live also.

20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

I love these scriptures.  They are so dear to me.  He will never leave us comfort less.  We say a lot that we need to walk to him and with him.  This is true but he will also come to us in our time of great need he will be waiting patiently at our sides till we turn and ask under our breath, “ help”.  The world does not see we how we see.  The world has forgotten that there is one person who we can depend on.  With this gospel we can see him through clear view.  Christ is truly my friend.  I can see the way he wants me to see my brothers and sisters.  I know that sometimes it's extremely difficult but it's possible.  I get to see people for the first time understand what it means to love Christ.

Tomoko San our investigator told us the other day, "I did bad things before I met you. I smoked and I wasn't a good person," which is like so hard to believe, "but I changed and I know God loves me."  This girl reads the BOM (Book of Mormon), Ezra Taft Benson, Bible, Liahona, almost anything she can get her hands on about the gospel.  When she said, “I know God loves me” the spirit hit me like a train.  It's true!

It's so true and I love it.

Thank you to all who have sent money and things that are so incredibly helpful, and thank you to those who fixed my bank account.

Also we don't get earthquakes really where we are it's more in Tokyo.

I'll pray for your seminary kids!  I love you all so much, Missy I love you.  Don't be so stubborn. Christ wants to help you.  As you read this now (I hope you are reading it) He is at your side, He wants to pick you up in his arms and just hold you close.  He is your brother and he's here to protect you and he will protect you more than any song lyric or post could.

Chipman. So close haha :)

I miss the temple.

Thank you for always working on my blog I love you for it!

I wish I had more time to answer all your comments and questions.

Y'all are my sunshine.

Love,

 Oswald shami オズワルド姉妹

P.S.  Brazilians

Just "popped" over for a visit!

My mission presidend, his wife and Elders

NOVEMBER 8, 2015 - FIRST TRANSFER

So,  a lot has happened in the last week.  Let's start with Monday.  As you have heard I am transferring to Shimogamo, Kyoto area.  I'm way excited but I am also super sad to leave. That night we visited Hirano Shimai, the Relief Society president, she gave me a huge hug.

Tuesday was fun.  We biked an hour and a half bike ride up the mountain to visit Pi and a member that I was very close to.  But she wasn't home so we heart attacked the outside of her house.  The best part about hills are going down.  I was going so fast!  I just love that feeling.

Eventually I want a motorcycle.

So we had dinner with brother Naganuma, mission leader for Kitarokko, and we met him at the church. He made us this huge meal (us as in chorotachi and shimaitachi ) and we taught him a lesson and we had a good time.  He's such a funny guy, always making jokes and such.  We took some fun pictures that I'll send.  Afterwards we went and taught eikaiwa.  We teach a kids class,  we had one student and his parents.

His mom always comes, because she wants to learn English.  They were so sweet.  Afterwards at refreshments, there was announcement of who was leaving, and she came to me and thanked me for teaching and that she was so grateful.  I got a picture of her and her son together.  All the people there wished me good luck, some members some non but I just felt like I belonged and now I was leaving. These people, the Japanese, are so loving, so caring. Then that night, the bishop and his wife brought us ice cream and told me how happy that they got to know me.

Then the next night another family came by and I got to hug them all.

Each time my heart melted a little.

So my new comp is awesome!!!  I love her so much! I can see us being friends forever.  She is so absolutely gorgeous and has pretty ringlet curly hair and she cut it short two transfers ago and now it's same length as mine.  She's from  Connecticut, but lived in Japan few years back.  Her name is Sister Edwards.  There is lots of pilla-talk.  We got to Kyoto and the station is huge.  Like sooooo big. I'm in a city area now and I absolutely love it!  Foreigners everywhere and people!  I love it!!  We also had an actual appointment today and we talked to these two college students who are studying Christianity and we went had dinner with them (curry :3) and just answered their questions and it was awesome because I could understand and respond!!!  Also another thing,  I love speaking English to my comp, we have gotten along so well!!!  I'm so excited to dendo in this area!

I have a feeling my letters might slowly become shorter this transfer just because we now do too much dendo to talk about it each week and for me to write it in my other journal.  I actually feel like I’m doing something like I'm an actual missionary.  We're making goals and completing them!  We have investigators, we teach lessons, I speak to people.  We're in the city and I love it!  The only down side is that we're broke and we have no food. Yay!!  But we make it work! We also have a woman who is getting baptized and has a date!!  She will be baptized on Christmas! AH! Isn't that the best?  Tomoko is her name and she speaks English. I haven't met her in person yet but we have spoken over the phone and she is the sweetest thing!  She loves the gospel so much!

We both (comp and I) want to be healthier this transfer but it's been difficult seeing how all we have to eat at the moment are sweets and radish, cabbage curry salad, which actually isn't that bad. When y'all get here we're going to Kyoto so save your money!!!  Also I want a kimono soooo bad!!!  At this one place they sell rings that we can get our mission theme written on it.  And there is a golden palace and the city of a thousand gates ooohhh ⛩ speaking of money....I don't know I hate asking this but there are a few Japanese things that I can only get in this area.  Also the heat tech I don't know how much I suspect 60?  And the uke . Recently I'm wishy washy on that.  Not sure if I would rather have money for other things than a uke to buy here or even if you sent it.  Tell me what you think because you know me, I stress out about money.  If anything could you put some in my account before next Monday? (Ps I hate asking for money but if I could work and save my own I would I'm hfuebfisksidjajdhdsj)

(Let's see how many times I can say I love this area)  I love this area!  Things I haven't mentioned,  I don't think....this email is all over the place but oh well.  We live on the fourth floor and thankfully in my laziness we have an elevator which some person keeps spraying his cologne in there so it always a nice smell to walk into.  Also there is a fantastic view outside our apartment.  Best of all, no hills!!! And  the people! I don't know, maybe it's a change In Attitude but missionary work is actually fun here!

We managed to get 21 lessons this week and it was awesome! That may not seem like a lot for other missions but that is the missions standard of excellence to get 20 lessons a week and when I was in my last area it was soooo difficult.  But I love streeting and talking to people and I love teaching.

So jealous Liam gets to go to Peru!

I COMPLETELY LOVE YOU FOREVER AND EVER!!!!!!!!!

This is my new companion, Sister Edwards and her Arnold impersonation.

Bishop, Elders, Sister Oswald and Sister Uchida

My First Companion - Sister Uchida

I didn't get the straight face message!

She wanted her picture with Joseph!

My new area - Kyoto

4th floor view from my apartment in Kyoto

Another shot from my new digs in Kyoto - 2nd Area

Madeline with new member

With English student and his mom

NOVEMBER 1, 2015

🍙 let me start by saying I love Sister Johnson and she is an amazing person and she is so lucky because she's with Heavenly Father! Also I am sort of better health wise, that humanitarian efy sounds like fun! So jealous!   

Give my love to grandpa.  And Emma, you are amazing.  No one I mean no one is like you, you are so beautiful, hilarious, sarcastic, crazy talented and supa smart! You can be fearless if you put your mind to it and believe that you are a daughter of God.  Believe that Christ knows exactly how you feel.  Believe that in your prayers to him.  He does listen.

Also transfers are this week so will see if I stay or go but probably stay.  I'll say at the end of this letter :3

So I realized today that I really, really don't like asking for help. I didn't do it in high school and consequently my grades suffered as did other things because I'm either too prideful or too chicken to ask for help.  Now as a missionary up until this point, I really have been trying to do this work with just me, the good book and God. But I can't allow myself to think that way because I have a companion now.

I don't know what I was thinking before, that I could just handle this stress and anxiety on my own but I have an amazing companion who set me straight today.  I do not like asking for help.  I feel like I'll get shot down or told I'm wrong or that they'll say no.  I'm not sure why I think this but today I came to the conclusion that another important part of missionary work probably just as important as the spirit is to work with your dōryo towards the same thing and not just next to them on two different things.  Your companion is there to help you in the ways Heavenly Father can't.

Other news for Monday,  I have found a doughnut that tastes better than any doughnut I've ever had! Seriously. Ohh...so good.  And when we sat at a park to eat the glorious doughnut these kids saw me and they were like, "gaijin?" And I said hello and waved and they were so excited that after we sat down they kept shouting hello in English and I said hello back.  Then they ran over to talk to us.  They asked me to speak English and when I did they laughed and kept asking questions.  Like who are we?  What we were studying(we were looking at the iPad's at a pamphlet) and we told them. They were so cute and funny and silly!

Ahh! I have pictures :3

Wednesday to Friday meetings, trains and no money!

So this week we had TTTM (trainer,trainee,training meeting) in Okayama and it's about five hours worth of travel taking a bus and three trains.  It was so convenient of me to acquire a cold right before traveling, so loud trains and moving was slightly painful. BUT, I had fun. We traveled with a few chorotachi and all though my throat felt like fire I enjoyed talking to them in English.  I have realized that I am so sassy/snarky/sarcastic in English now.  Just because I don't actually use English that often.  We had a lot of laughs on the train. We also met a guy (American and not LDS) who knew more about the church history than anyone I know in the church.  He meets with Evelyn Choro, senior elder who works at the mission office, for a bible study so he told us on the train, hey I know y'all.  He's like a walking text book.  It was cool.

We finally get to Okayama and we go to the sister’s apartment (this is Wednesday night so we could make it to TTTM onThursday) and it was the sisters in Kobe zone and a former MTC district member, her apartment, Pickrell Shimai.  I was so happy to see her.  We talked lots.  Actually I talked a whole lot that night with two Shimai, one from New Zealand  and the other from Australia.  They were so funny and  I found that talking to them I have mimicked in a weird way the way they talk cause that's what I did for my kiwi friends in Hawaii.  There was 13 of us that all slept on the floor and Jeo Shimai was my buddy.  TTTM was good and I got to see some people from the MTC.  

On the way back to Kobe, I talked with Jeo Shimai, my former comp. the entire time and I swear I haven’t spoken this much English in a long time and it destroyed my voice and felt so nice at the same time.  Thursday night we stayed in Kobe with Jeo Shimai and Zhou Shimai and I was able to talk and enjoy my first companion.  I realize how much I love her to pieces and how much better and happier she is now out of the MTC.  The MTC was like a cage for her and now she is happy, goofy, with strong testimony and they have baptism this Saturday.

YAY!!!

We did splits this morning to go up the hill, with massive incline, and at the top is a field and we went and played frisbee with some other sisters and elders.  It was literally the best.  We were shouting, running, diving (which was hilarious to watch), and just good old fun.

We had Elder Barr on our team and he's this crazy Australian AP and Elder Williams another crazy Australian.  They were hilarious and it was so much fun to be with other senkyōshi and just goof off. Elder Done and I (he's in Kitarokko with us) decided that at least once a week we need to go and play frisbee or something.  

Anyway ZTM which was today (Friday) we learned a lot.  I have come to love our zone and I just cannot believe this first transfer is over.  People say by the fifth it starts to really pick up speed and I can't believe that because this one went by so incredibly fast!  On our way back to our area we fell asleep on the bus and I had a thought that I needed to wake up and at first I was like why I've only been asleep for 10 minutes.  The bus is  a 45 minute ride and I woke up first,  looked at my comp who was also asleep and then outside to see our stop was the next one.  I pressed the stop button and woke Uchida Shimai up and we managed to get off.  That thought wasn't my own, though it was the spirit.  Some will beg to differ but it was at the exact time we needed to get off,  just in time so that it wasn't stressful.  I don’t believe that any good thing that happens "by chance" is chance or coincidence.   In D&C 6:32 it talks about how when two or more are gathered in his name that he is there with them.  Yes we were sleeping but that doesn't demote us from spiritual protection, enlightenment, it doesn't stop me from hearing that whisper.  He is with us always.  And not just us, being missionaries, he is with all that have been baptized and taken upon them his name.  We all hold his name and he can walk with us if we are ready to listen.

Today we went to a party and a baptism, Best Halloween ever! So start with the party. A Shimai in the ward, a new convert actually, had us elders and sisters come over to help with her Halloween get together.  She was in charge and so we decorated their drive way and dressed up.

I was a witch (I only really had a clip on hat) and Uchida was a pumpkin (pictures to come).  The chorotachi however were mummies. We wrapped them in rolls of toilet paper and it was  1.) super fun/funny 2.) also felt so awkward because I was like ,"I shouldn't be this close to an elder, DAME DAME”  In actuality it wasn't at all close.  See what the mission has done to me!!!  Anywho!  I have pics of that too.

Neighborhood kids came by and we played few games and then took them 'trick-or-treating',  or really selected houses that gave them candy.  This one little girl held my hand as we walked her mom thought it was so cute and so did I because my heart was melting on the inside!  We skipped together to each house. 

 After the party Hisahara Shimai drove us to the baptism that was in Kobe. The Kobe sisters, Zhou and Jeo shimai (yes they are both joe shimai) had taught the mother of a recent convert and she was baptized tonight.  She was so sweet!  Her son got to baptize her but she had to be dunked four times.  When we were there I could just feel the spirit overwhelm us in the room!  I could feel the truth of this righteous desire to be a part of the true church! I loved feeling the spirit testify that this is only the beginning.  Over all this Saturday was the best.

Happy November!!!  Church was amazing!  Or really I just enjoyed it more today.  I see these people and I love them sooo much! They laugh with me, we can talk even though it's short conversation, we can be silly(like arm wrestling;), an over all they are like my family, like my own home ward.  They have the happiest smiles and the most Genki, and Christlike light in their eyes! Ahhhh!  So I got up and bore my testimony today.  It was short and not as detailed as the other missionaries but I got up and I looked out to see these faces and I realized I don't want to leave them!  We'll see if I'll stay...Anyway..

Another thing today is we climbed up the mountain to visit some members.  It was more fun on the way down going like 35 on a bike, woah!

So I got a ukulele from a member so I could play in a talent show in a few weeks for the ward.  I was so happy.  I made a video of that too:)  So I figured out what I want for Christmas. Just one thing. I want my ukulele.  I miss it so much.  I've turned two hymns already into uke jams. If it's too much just send peanut butter but really I just want my uke.  It's missing a string so that’ll need to be fixed.

Okay, so I can't wait any longer. The transfer result is...........I'm leaving!!!! NOOO!!!! I'm so totally in shock!  Uchida Shimai and I both thought we were staying.  She's training again.  I am going to Shimogao, Kyoto.  My new comp is sister Edwards.  I'm so sad to leave.  I don't want to leave these members at all!!!  I love it here!  The hills, the people, my comp, everything!  I literally just sat in shock for like 2 minutes, the elders and Uchida kept telling me it's a great place but I'm just staring at the iPad waiting for the name to change to stay.  I am happy though, and excited:)

So not okay, but doing the Lord’s work,

Love, Sister Oswald

The following video is in two parts, it didn't all fit, when the first stops, hit the second.