JANUARY 8, 2017 - JAW DROPPING EVERY WHICH WAY

With each passing week I get a little more insane, weird things happen and miracles do not cease! .... I also have lost all ability to speak English. For example I was trying to ask my district leader about how many months before his mission did he go through the temple and it, no joke, took like 5 minutes to ask because I couldn't figure out what the order of the words and such. It came out like, "before you entered the mission, going to, no, through the temple how many months did you before you started and went to the MTC, wait....how long did going through the temple take before going into the MTC...is that right?"  My district leader just stared at me and said with a very confused,"No". Complete struggle bus...

Anyway! Monday was a thing!  We actually did something!  We took Chika Shimai with us and we had a fun sandy time at the beach and sand dunes! The drive home though was so quiet because we were so tired!

Tuesday was my companion's birthday!!!! YAY! She is now 2 decades old!!! So we went out for Indian food to celebrate!  Afterwards we got to play cards with our favorite old people and they are so funny just telling each other, "Wow your blind," "...what...?" "your so old I could push you over with my finger," "a chan its your turn,"
"watashi?" "I can't play a card, PASS," moves on to next person, "oops I lied, I can play here!" Looks like she just won the whole game...yeah, it's a party every week for an hour :) I love them so much! 

Then after that we visited Sonia our investigator and she gave us vegetables, a long root that is the size of my leg and a radish. It was an interesting gift and but I don't know how to cook it, it's called gobo.  Then after that we were to go visit some people but we felt we should change the plan (it honestly was like me trying to figure out time and not sure if we'd have time for dinner...it's funny how the spirit works through our stomachs) and as we were heading to a potentials house, instead we passed by a guy and he seemed to look at us differently like he knew us. But we didn't stop...that was a mistake because the spirit was like, "Hey, he's right there! Hey, hey! Oh fine I'll just crash your companion then!" Next thing I know my companion is hunched over her bike and in pain.  As I go to help her, that same man runs across the street and says, "Hello, I'm a doctor, can I help you?" This was in some English and some Japanese.  She told him she was okay but right after we said it he asked, "Just visiting? (No) "Students?" (No, we're volunteer missionaries for the
Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints), "oh I have interest, please teach me," (what?)  "Yes, when I was younger the missionaries came to my house, except they were boys, please tell me about your church," (uuuhhhh), "By the way my name is Kazu," (uuuuhhhh) "I like American thinking," (uuuhuuuh), "I also want to know about God because Japanese people are Buddhist but they don't know about God so please tell me." (Uuuuuhhh...what?) Seriously I was so dumb shocked that I just said...."Wait really? You want to learn? " " Yes, I have interest.  Do you have time now?" My face simultaneously had a look of complete utter shock and a idiotic grin plastered on my face. I was half attempted to ask what's the catch? We unfortunately didn't have time to but we gave him our number and he said he'll come to eikaiwa next chance he gets and we were so happy till it hit me later after we had left....you didn't flipping get his phone number!!!!!!!  When this realization hit I nearly melted into a puddle..SO PLEASE PRAY THAT WE CAN MEET HIM AGAIN!!!! I PROMISE I'M REPENTING AND ALWAYS ASKING PEOPLE FOR PHONE NUMBERS.....IT still hurts to think about.

On Wednesday the adventures didn't end. We went out to an new area that's all the way out by the beach, a little ways, but we'll be fine we have bikes right? So I thought, yet again the spirit tells me things but either I was a little too slow to notice OR he tells me right as it happens. We were going over some gravel and I thought to
my self, you have never gotten a flat on your mission, that's an accomplishment but it would really suck if you got one right now, haha-funny we'd have to walk miles and miles home....well, I didn't get a flat.  I look behind me to check my companion and she has a punk (puncture) on her front tire....I was like gosh dang it....You're really funny Heavenly Father. Well because we had time and we were so close to the beach...we went! It was our ten minute break before our many hours long walk home. It was fine at first but by the end we were exhausted. Except for our one stop for dinner, it took us from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. to get home. The last 30 minutes we sang primary songs and hymns and man....those truths of the prophet or Jesus Christ or the infinite love that God has for us...awesome...spirit is so good!

Friday we had district meeting with Swasey Kyodai! Such a good meeting :) then we all went out to sushi and the man was so sneaky and paid for it all..silly man...gosh I love sushi!  Well, after lunch we had service for a member that our Elders were helping us with and maybe this was wampaku (naughty) but he stuck in a CD that had funny songs on it and one was about a streaker....yes, I know not the most missionary appropriate pastime but man we were all crying out of laughter...Swasey Kyodai is the man... I love him so much!  After, we went to clean Kameya Kyodais house......gross....that's all I'm gonna say about it....it was.....sigh, everyone keep your house clean!!

Saturday - pretty busy.   We visited a less active Kotake Kyodai and his pretty cat. Then we headed over to Omae Kyodais and had lunch with him and his wife. She made us okonomiaki. So good but I didn't need to eat the rest of the day I was so full! Later we housed and visited investigators and probably the highlight was when we taught Kyoko and Natsumi Yamamoto. We stood at their door and taught the whole Restoration to them.   Natsumi is like 12 but she knows.  She knows this is the truth and her mom may seem a little unsure but when we asked them to read the Book of Mormon and pray, Natsumi was like yes we'll do it!  She is so on top of it!  I love them! The spirit was so strong when we talked about Joseph Smith and the fiery (I meant first, but auto correct) vision. When that lesson ended...and the door shut. Again my jaw was on the floor, time and time again the Lord blows me away with
these miracles!

Man this week was so good! O how awesome it is to be a missionary!!!! I love it!!

I love you all and now a cool scripture,

17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. 
(Proverbs 8)

Love Oswald Sister

JANUARY 1, 2017 - HOW GREAT WILL BE YOUR JOY!

SO this week was absolutely crazy!  Not really, but it feels like it was!  We taught so many lessons and found four new investigators this week and they're all like in middle school/high school! That's awesome!!! We just found them and every time we ask, "Do you want to be happier in your life and do you want to learn more?" they say YES!  WOW! One kid Hamada said, "Of course, I want to learn.  I am in middle school, so yes please!" I wish I had a camera on me this week capturing how many times my jaw dropped open in awe at the wonderfulness of what had just happened. It was a lot and I make some pretty funny weird jaw drop faces, that have happy dances that go along with them. 

Natsumi and her mother Kyoko have agreed to take lessons from us as a family!! WHAT! SO happy!  Man I was so doubtful on that one.  I never said any of this out loud but in my head I really didn't think they had interest and I didn't think anything would really come of it but my awesome companion the entire time had so much faith. It was amazing to be humbled and I am so happy now!  HOW GREAT WILL BE YOUR JOY! 

Now with that open headliner of this email, let me tell you about the rest of the week. 

Monday we skyped my companion's family and that was fun!  They seem way awesome and they told me that they loved me and that made me feel good inside...ya that's it.  We were also able to visit Ito Shimai, a less active who I've only met once but we were able to teach her a really good lesson and the spirit really touched her. It was nice and I think she really needed to hear what we had shared with her. 

Tuesday we had lunch with Omae Kyodai and his wife who isn't a member, but someday!  She has had the lessons before and all of the sudden she decided to take us out to eat and were like uhhh... yeah.. okay! So delicious! I don't know why she stopped receiving lessons from missionaries but she seems to like us so I feel like it could turn into something good!  Also she wants to make us food and I am so not opposed.  Along with our service and eikaiwa it was a long cold, windy, frozen, rainy, wet day. Burr. Oh man. So cold. But we pressed on!

We were able to talk with Asami (eternal investigator) after English class and we started talking to her about taking the lessons again we were able to teach to the best of our ability.  We testified and the spirit was really there with us!  BUT ALAS SHE STILL HAS NOT TURNED HER HEART TO GOD!  Man agency is tough....

FRIDAY, because we skipped the other days because there is too much to write in the next five minutes.  We are going to the beach today so not much time but I'm making the best... now only four mins... okay.

Friday we went to visit another less active and she took us out to eat!  She was so kind to us all of the sudden.  We were able to talk and teach her about Nephi and his amazing example (also heads up I really didn't like Nephi before my mission. I thought he was too perfect but not anymore because I really really love him!) It was such a great change that we were able to see in her!  SO happy!  Then we went out and taught more peeps. Like FRANCO!  I love him he, is so good! 

The next day the last day of the year! WOAH! and it was warm!!!! This was the day we got Natsumi and her mother to agree to take lessons from us and then like an hour later another girl just about to start high school said she too wanted to learn more! OH, I can see them all dressed in beautiful, heavenly, white now! 

The next day was Sunday, the new year!!!! YAY! Church was just good! So good! I love my members so much!!!!!!! SO MUCH! 

Miracles every where!!  I love you all!  Thank you so much for the prayers! I KNOW this is the true church and that Jesus Christ is the head of it! 

Love, 

Oswald Sista 

DECEMBER 25, 2016 - LIGHT THE WORLD!!!

Well where do I start?!  FIRST OFF, HAPPY MERRY CHRISTMAS! Seriously this has been on of the best Christmas ever! Let's start with the beginning as usual because were else would we start? 

The week started off with a MultiZONE Pday. All the missionaries off the Island of Shikoku came up and we all got to play some basketball and just chill like normal human beings, but SEGREGATION IS STILL A THING!   One stupid Elder (he's not really stupid but his comments were) said "Let's just play elders with elders and sisters with sisters." -_-.......all of us sisters were bummed...mainly because we're no fun.....yes girl basketball is still really girly even if you want to play hard core, at least in my case.  I can steal the ball pretty well but because of the lack of ARM span shooting is difficult....But over all it was still fun :) 

Later on that night we were able to go to the train station and sing carols. Yamamoto Choro played his violin and it was awesome!  We all met in Okayama and then stayed the night in the sister's apartment.   I serenaded everyone with my ukulele playing. 

The next day, Tuesday, if you forgot that Tuesday comes after Monday, we had more sports and then set up for the Christmas Conference.  It started with the talent show, which included the Beefiest Elders Arm Wrestling, that included my district leader Wheeler Choro...he is such a weirdo...and then battle of wits were some elders tried to solve a Rubik's cube as fast as they could.  Then we got to see four elders put them selves through some intense mental, physical and emotional pain....they ate wasabi. The challenge was to eat a whole tube or really who could last the longest. Inaba Choro finished the whole tube and just dropped it on the floor like a boss... but all of them were coughing and it was painful to watch.  

Later I got to sing the song I wrote. It was awesome. The spirit was so thick you could cut it with a butter knife.  After I finished, the whole room stood, clapping and I felt this seriously overwhelming feeling of love from them and from My Heavenly Father. I sang about the tree of life.  It was essentially my testimony and it was awesome! From then on the rest of the conference was really spirit filled. We ended up staying again the night because we missed the bus back so we left in the morning, finally getting back, hitting the streets. 

Thursday it was 70 degrees...wooo...and then it rained and we got soaked all the way through. 

Friday we went to Tottori for District meeting and it was cool.  It was about enduring to the end, mainly directed towards me because this is now my last transfer.....WOAH, there is that bomb shell....12th TRANSFER! yesh.....that's scary.   Anyway moving on. Friday night we had our Christmas part and we had fun together. A ton of nonmembers came and that was cool.  There was so much food!!  My absolute favorite part was when Swasey Kyodai came up to me as said, "I need you to guard the door while I go find Santa."  "Aye Aye, Captain," I say saluting him.  Next thing you know there HE IS! SANTA SAN!  It was awesome!  He handed everyone gifts and then we got new neck warmer scarf things....so soft!!! 

Saturday was so busy!!  We went all over the place.  We visited less actives and investigators and managed to find someone. We were biking towards an area to try to visit a few potentials when I looked over to the side and saw this apartment and was like I should knock on that door.  We walked up to the first apartment door and a girl answered the door.  We told her that we have a message about Jesus Christ and that through him we can feel happy and return to live with God again.  We asked her if she wanted to learn more and feel more happy.  She nodded her head yes vigorously and told us, "Yes, I do!" Oh my goodness, when she said yes the spirit hit us so hard! I could only think of the words to a song I had been singing all week...

"You step into your genkan, after a day of doors slammed in your face

You turn to your companion, and say it was a really good day

Your companion thinks you're crazy, but you swear you saw the hand of the Lord

When someone came up to you, and said, "I want to know more."

Oh, how does it feel to see the one you've come to love dressed in white?

Now you remember what was said,

You are called to serve, go give it all you have

And leave all other personal affairs behind.

You are called to preach, and teach and search and love

The people of Kobe Japan (you know you said it) 

You're walking with the Lord, and raising the light

So open up your mouth, and give your heart to God,

'Cuz after all, you are called to serve!"

Background. I sang this song as well at the Christmas Conference.  I wrote a song, shared it with another Elder and he wrote this taking from my song.  It's about the Japan Kobe mission.  I really felt these words ring true!  

SUNDAY IS A SPECIAL DAY IT'S THE DAY WE WORSHIP JESUS' BIRTHDAY! 

Woah, this was a really good Christmas!  Sacrament meeting was awesome!  Amazing testimonies and love from the members.  They are seriously my family! I love all of them so much!!  I handed out candy canes that my mom sent and they loved them! After church I got to skype my WONDERFUL family and it was full of laughter and tears.  Later we went over to Brother Swasey's and cooked Christmas dinner.  There was so much food! So much butter, three pies, and actual turkey! oh goodness....

Man it was such a wonderful week! I love you all! I love Jesus Christ! I love that we get to celebrate his birth!! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Oswald Shimai

DECEMBER 18, 2016 - BONZAI!

Dear Friends,

Hello, once again I am on a bus to Okayama for our Multi-Zone Pday and our Christmas Tai Kai tomorrow. Yippee!  That's exciting!  It's really cold. Like really, really cold.  I have so many heat warmers stuck to my legs, that I might get cancer later.  I have a nice coat though that keeps wind out and actually gets a little hot sometimes. I have given in and started using my snow boots.  It hasn't snowed but my feet were getting too cold at night.  But enough about the weather, except for the wonderful sunny day that it is and that it snowed for two seconds on Friday! Woah!

Last Monday we lost our phone...chotto yabai...and then we go it back! Yay! It was in a member's car.  It fell out of my hand some how and I didn't notice...awkward. 

Tuesday is just service day.  Every Tuesday as you know we go and visit old people and play cards. Same four old ladies every time. One is so funny.  She cracks jokes about being old and being slow.  We also shouted bonzai! when we lost really hard core.  I love them so much!  Then of course we have eikaiwa which is also the best.

Man it was cold Wednesday.  Like really cold.  We visited a less active named brother Okudaira.  He was home because it was raining that day so we got to see him.  We talked about Christmas and Jesus Christ. He was so touched by us coming all this way.  He thanked us for coming.  We were able to testify of our love for Christ and the Spirit filled his genkan.

I love Jesus Christ, and that I get to share that love with others. Then later we had an interesting lesson with our investigator Aritomi San....it was obvious that he was under the influence of a certain drink the Word of Wisdom prohibits....he was drunk. We were actually planning on teaching Word of Wisdom in that lesson.  He had misconceptions about baptism and the spirit, and wouldn't stop his habits....sigh. It was a tough lesson.  We told him if we are going to meet with him again he can't be drunk.  No one can feel the spirit that way....sigh...but on the bright side of all of this we had a awesome doseki (member present)! And she helped us out a ton!

Thursday we finally fixed my companions hair and the lady who did it was Christian! Say what?! That was cool and unexpected. And then we were able to teach so many people-yay!  

Friday we had district meeting....our sad district....it's so small. But we're doing a skit in the talent show tomorrow so that will be fun! It snowed and it was more like hake than anything and it didn't stick... :( Later that night we got to go to another old persons home and sing Christmas carols to them!  With our ward!  It was so fun! When we sang our last song, Silent Night, the Spirit hit me, testifying to me of the Savior.  It was a great experience, also there was this old grandmother who was like 125 years old and still looked 75... No joke. And another kept cat calling our branch president ...so funny!


Saturday we had another awesome lesson with Kiyoshi San, he's in Alma now in the Book of Mormon! Our doseki, was so surprised and was awesome at explaining the law of Moses which he had questions about along with, "What is baptism?" It was a great lesson! Then on Sunday that member announced to the whole ward how awesome this investigator was and that we need more dosekis for him!

Later on Saturday we visited with Omae Kyodai as usual. We sat down on the pillows he had set out and in front of the space heater that was ready! My companion told him a joke about a cockroach.   Now he calls her, "my cockroach daughter..." He also freaked out that she doesn't like tofu...it was funny and he told her that she won't become Japanese with out eating tofu. He's so funny :) That night we taught about prayer by watching a talk by President Eyring.  Afterwards we committed him to pray more specifically for his family.  Then at the end of the lesson he prayed and again another beautiful, wonderful prayer that just brought the spirit.  His prayer was sincere and so loving.  He prayed for his family and for his friend, his grandparents, and then he prayed for us and how much he loves the missionaries, and asked for our safety, and thanked that we could teach him about prayer.  It was amazing! I love him so much!  He means so much to me!

Sunday we had another opportunity to go caroling but this time our whole ward went, which isn't huge but pretty decent sized. We went and sang at an orphanage. Oh my heart hurt for a split moment, when I saw little boys and older kids, girls and boys, and how they just live here. They have no family...the babies were hard to see. There was this one little boy- he and I got along.  He had the sweetest smile and he just laughed! After we sang we played a gesture game and he tugged my skirt and I came and bent down to where he was and he did the gestures to me. My heart melted! I wanted to take him home with me! But it made me realize two things: one that I'm so grateful for the family I have and how much I love them and that Heavenly Father gave
them to me! Two, was how grateful for the knowledge that Heavenly Father loves these children! He loves them so much and you could see it all in the members faces when we got the chance to play games with them.

Later that night we went housing and man it was like everyone rejected us....it was the only time I felt like Joseph and Mary.  I was bringing to them Jesus Christ and they would say, there is no room.  All last night I sang Joy to the World, the Lord is come, let earth receive her king, let every heart prepare him room and heaven and angels sing! Glory to the new born King!  Ahhhh I love it!  It was still hard to be rejected but it taught me how important my message really is!

I love you all and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Love, Oswald Shimai

DECEMBER 11, 2016 - WELL, THIS WEEK WAS FILLED WITH MIRACLES!

The brisk air hits our faces with an icy tinge.
The rain seems to be as endless as the eternal life I be preaching.
I swear I look like a Umpa Loompa with my get up but its all worth it! 

As the title states this week was filled with miracles! 

So many times we saw the hand of the Lord and man there is definitely not enough time to write them all in this email. 

This last Monday we had great FHE (Family Home Evening) with our Branch president and a few other sisters in the ward. All of them are under 26 years old. Our branch is so young and also very old...we do have a few dinos but their just as spry and genki as our 9 year old, Kouta. Anyway! NONE OF THEM ARE MARRIED!!! UGH! It is frustrating....for us and obviously them. Anyway, at Keishi Kaichos apartment we listened to some jazzed up primary songs and met his girl friend....which is really his pet rat....sigh....hey at least they are all return missionaries! The miracle of Monday was that I didn't completely destroy my companions hair! Why is this a miracle?! Well....let's just say that I have no plans of becoming a hair dresser, and I don't do bleach.....I'll send pictures, I promise it looks good now. 

Tuesday we played cards with my favorite people at the old folks home and of course...it rained and we went out to go find some possible investigators that other missionaries before us had housed.  Anyway, so we were going and it was getting kinda late and we were about to head back.  We passed by our investigators house and the thought comes to me...stop and say hello...and I was like...but....fooooood.. I want to go home and get out of this rain....but I know better than to argue with the messenger of God...aka the spirit....man he's like that friend that says, "Foo! what are you doing eating that jelly filled doughnut! you know if you eat that you'll feel bad later...." Well I turned around, and we rang the door bell. nothing. wasn't home.....well I'm not mad it's what-eves...I listened to the spirit and I feel better for doing so.  I pulled a paper out to write a note when all of the sudden after like 10 minutes she opens the door! WHAT! SO COOL! And kinda scary, we scared each other ...like woah.. anyway, we were able to finally meet her and teach a great lesson about Christ and Christmas! Also she gave us hot cocoa and cake, and tasty fruit things. So good!  God is good.  Later that night we finally had Eikaiwa for the first time in a few weeks. When Omae kyodai came in he was so happy to see us! I seriously love him so much..he is such a punk. 

Wednesday our miracle was meeting Nishimura San. When we showed up at her house she was outside and was about to leave but she listened to us teach and testify of the 'good book' aka the Book of Mormon. We shared with her our favorite verses and she loved it! She said she would read it and asked us to come back! AHH! YUSSS! She is so cute...I think if Christine, my cousin, were older this old woman is what she would look like. She had crystal necklaces, really steky (nice) clothes and she was soo cool! She is our new investigator now :)

Thursday's miracle was way cool! So we were down in Misasa visiting a less active and we were actually able to meet her and she was so sweet but after we visited her we get this phone call. I answered in Japanese and I get a, "Hello? this is Ayaka, I'm in front of the Church right now, can you come meet me?" "Uhhh ya..but were a little far away right now can you wait for 15 minutes?" "okay!" *closes the phone and looks at companion* "okay so we need to make it back to the church in 15 minutes or less..." 

"but its a 25 min bike ride..."

"but someone called us and actually wants to meet!" 

We took off and might  I add that we made it in 15 minutes on the dot. yosh! When we got there we met Ayaka. She was a previous investigator but couldn't meet because she was busy and she was telling us about how " I'm a child of God" is her favorite song and how she stopped smoking and drinking and hanging out with her bad friends. She said that when she was sick she prayed and God told her to come to church and to call us...say what? She has had all the lessons, all she lacks is baptism!!! Oh my lanta! she is so sassy! She also sings with as much soul as Aretha Franklin. She is so cool! I love her already and the amount of faith she has! 

Friday we went to Yonago for Zone Training Meeting and we made a human pyramid and I didn't die! YES FAITH!! Anyway...we used it for a an example of how the younger missionaries will lean on the foundation of the older missionaries. I was on the bottom row...sad...but also not too sad :)  Miracle of that day was that a member gave us a discount at his Ramen shop and it was delicious. Ohhh i love ramen.....YUMMMMM

Saturday's miracle was first that Kiyoshi san (another recent investigator) read all the way through Jacob!!! AHHH SO AWESOME! He thinks Nephi is cool and that Laman is an idiot and that Sam is also a good brother...ya.. that was awesome. THEN later that night we visited and found a new investigator, Tokuoka san! who LOVES JESUS! SHE LOVES HIM! She told us as soon as we opened the door that she reads the Bible and we invited her to the Christmas party and she was so excited! Gosh I love her enthusiasm when we showed her the video for Christmas she was like, Oh look at Jesus, he's cute, he also is doing miracles! She's like 70 plus...then later that night we visited Omae kyodai and he bought us chocolate (he knows that dark is my favorite :) and i actually happened to do the same ( i bought him chocolate). We shared the Christmas video with him as well.  

Sunday, we had a mochi party at a members house which in actuality is just mini America. Swasey Kyodai's house is huge and pretty much the whole branch came over to each mashed up rice cakes. So fun! SUCH AN AMAZING WEEK! Wouldn't you say so?

Do you know why this week was amazing?! Recently there was something said in Zone conference a few weeks back by our mission president, "If i asked you to work your absolute hardest just so Wakayama can see a baptism would you do it?" and I said to myself well of course I would! While we were out and about this last week I thought to myself, who is working so hard so that I can see these miracles? because as hard as I am working...it isn't just me or my companion....then it hit me that the faith of the people I love most are helping me. Often we hear of stories of the faith of the missionary blesses the lives of the family and although this is true it also works the other way around. Of course this isn't the whole reason for when and why miracles happen when they do, but I believe the faith of my parents have helped me find the people and serve them the way I have been given the opportunity to. My parents, Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. teachers, leaders.  All of them have helped me to see miracles hourly!   I love you all!  Thank you! 

Love

Oswald Shimai 

"Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently.."

1 Nephi 2:19

DECEMBER 5, 2016 - I TOOK MY TEMPERATURE AND I AM DEFINITELY COOLER THAN MY COMPANION

This is Kokun that I wrote about last week. 

Wow to even describe this week...we did everything and also nothing all at the same time!

 As you know Monday we had a zone Pday. We played soccer and basketball and it was so nice to act like normal group of young adults together, but seriously everyone was so tired afterwards, also sore, very, very sore. We ride bikes all day but we don't move the way we normally would for a sport. The whole zone was hurting-haha. 

That night we stayed at the STLs apartment and had zone conference the next day with Welch Kaicho and the assistants. We received training from them and a new Book of Mormon challenge. We have been asked to search for faith and repentance in our book of Mormons.  I just barely started but man the whole Book of Mormon is all about that too!  I'm so excited to learn moe!  We also had a mogi!  Also known as a role play lesson. The APs asked the two members to come demonstrate and one of them act as a member and the other investigator and the APs taught them about coming to church.  It was really good mogi, just sitting there watching them teach about church and its importance but that wasn't the coolest part.  Elder Griffiths extended the commitment to come to church this next Sunday and normally mogi's go down like, "Well of course, I'll come and I'll just get baptized while I'm at it," but no she instead said, "No, I'm okay," we all were like wait what? That actually was a really good lesson, used some good scriptures, examples, a doseki (member present) and you said no?  Believe it or not this is sometimes how it works out but that's when they asked her,"What would be preventing you from coming to church?"  She gave her reasons and that's when our doseki stepped in.  She began to testify of God and Jesus Christ, the importance of church, how she cared for her friend and wants her to feel the same peace that she has. That testimony was so powerful the whole room shouted for joy when the faux investigator, said yes!   All clapped their hands and were like man that was good.  It was good because that member was like a missionary and had near the same spirit too.  And it was a really good mogi, kinda silly when you hear a bunch of young men and woman getting happy over that but the spirit was there.  

The most striking part about this story is when I turned to the sister next to me, Miller Shimai had tears in her eyes, "She is not a member," she said quietly and a smile on her face, "Her parents are against the church so she can't get baptized but she wants to serve a mission!" As soon as the words left her mouth tears on my own face fell, this girl was completely converted and desires more than anything to be obedient to her Father in heaven.  She is wonderful and amazing!  Someday when she is able to
be baptized, the Angels of heaven will sing!  I will sing!  Ahh so good! I gave her the biggest hug later and told her, "Someday!"

At the end of the day we took the train with a bunch of other missionaries and then realized that our train wasn't going to make it in time to go buy our tickets to the bus, the last and only bus to our area.  I turned to Laxton Shimai and said, "You need to run like a bomb is about to go off and your about to save the world in four minutes, got it?" As soon as the train doors open I was out! There were people everywhere and I got ahead. I looked behind me and saw Laxton Shimai trailing behind. I ran as fast as I could, put my ticket through the gate and just booked it.  Everyone was staring! It felt like a movie and a few people even cheered us on!  Finally got to the booth for the bus tickets and I said something and the lady somehow understood me and I payed for both Laxton Shimai and I.  By the time I was done Laxton Shimai showed up and I was pounding on the bus door. We made it on the dot. It was crazy!

Wednesday I got sick.  Giant head cold.  And I was out for the count. For like two days.  It was miserable.  I slept for most of those two days except when we woke up and had a lesson with a new investigator and signed him up for a baptismal date which he accepted and then the next day another guy asked us for the Book of Mormon.  So that was cool. 

Then Friday off again to Okayama, another five hours on a bus (that's over all two bus rides, there and back) for a companion exchange.  I switched with Miller Shimai, she is a fire cracker! I love her!  We did some awesome dendo and visited an investigator of theirs that is an x sumo wrestler but seriously is the kindest man alive! He is a giant (quite literally) teddy bear that is very, very interested in the gospel.

Before we ended the kokan I got to meet my trainer (and first companion in the field)!!!!  UCHIDA SHIMAI! She has long since gone home, and finished her mission, but she came back to visit Okayama and I got to see her!  We had such a happy, tender reunion!  She told me I got better in Japanese and I actually can talk to her now!!! Oh my lanta such a happy day!  But the sad thing is now my comp is sick. Nooooo! The struggles continue.  But that doesn't mean we didn't have a bad week! We learned more about the atonement and faith and repentance and man it is amazing!  I love you all!

My Trainer and 1st Companion in Japan, Uchida Shimai

Romans 13:11-14

11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out
of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast
off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and
drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and
envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the
flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

This is by far my new favorite scripture about repentance!

Love Oswald Shimai