Konnichiwa!
Today is the castle day, our day is packed full of fun stuff. Sister Heatons dad served in this same mission like 30 yrs ago and so a lot of people know him…he is also the director of the MTC right now. Anyways a man who is now a member of the 70 here in our area called us up last week (he served with her dad when he was here) and wants to take us to lunch today with his wife. So that should be fun! Afterwards we are going to the castle with our district! I will take some pics of everything!
MIRACLES:
I just heard from my old companions who are still in UBE and guess who has a Baptism date?! Muranaga!! Another girl named Tsugumi has a baptism date too, she is way cute and was being taught the whole time I was there also. Sister Pinzon and her companion made contact again with Kaneyasu but she is still having a hard time committing to anything, but I was just so happy to hear that she was letting them back in the house! YAY!! MIRACLES! I guess Muranaga and her friend Yoshiaka both went to church yesterday for the first time. I'M so HAPPY!!!! WOOO!
Last week Sister Heaton and I went to Kumamoto on junkais (exchange) and we had a blast with the sisters there!!! Two of them are nigonjin (Japanese) one is a philipinjin (Filipino) and the other is amerikanjin (American) I absolutely love them all! I haven't lived with a Japanese person on my mission yet but just for the two days we were there, they taught me SO much about humility and how to treat others if they are a guest in your home. Form the moment we walked in the door they were serving us and making sure we have everything we needed to sleep well. They pulled out brand new futons and sheets for us, made our beds for us and gave and us all their extra padding so at the end all they had was one thin futon without any padding under it and one thin blanket. Sister Heaton and I were so touched by their love. They cooked every meal for us and always offered us to eat first and have seconds…they were amazing and I love them so much!!!
Sister Heaton and I still feel like brand new beans in our area, we don't really know anything that is going on or where to go because its all so new and the boundaries for our area haven't really been explained to us so we just go out and start finding…turns out we have been finding in the wrong area (not our assigned area in other words) for the last week. The work has been a little slow, nothing to amazing but we have been meeting really prepared people on the street who are way interested every time we talk about Joseph Smith and the first vision, but they won't ever commit to meet with us on a specific day so that has been hard. We WILL find a new investigator this week!! We are determined!
I do feel that there are many people here who are prepared but its going to take some time, lots of prayer and reliance on the spirit to find them. The other sisters who are here are seeing miracles, they are about to have a baptism with one of their investigators Seguchi San, so that is exciting!
I have been learning a lot about honest communication the last few weeks. I think I am afraid of starting a confrontation with my companion so I don't really say anything at all thinking that I am going to be avoiding the problem, but it only gets worse. Sister Heaton and I shed a lot of tears this last week together and I THINK we are just about on the same page as far as communication goes. There are still things that drive us crazy of course, but we are more united in our willingness to swallow our pride than we were a week ago which is progress. Basically, amazing things are going to happen and Satan always tries to ruin a good thing so I think that's why this transfer has been so difficult. I think about the first vision and Joseph Smith…
He was seized upon by the adversary. SO much that his tongue was bound and he couldn't speak…He felt as though he was going to self destruct by the power of an unseen, but very real being. I know that the key to the story is that he, 'called upon god' in his moment of complete despair. That is the key. He called upon God and he was delivered. I have relied so much on prayer this transfer and I know it has gotten me through the hard times. If we can train ourselves to turn to the Lord in prayer in ALL trails, the burden and suffering that we go through will become so much lighter. I challenge you all to humble yourselves and in times of anger, frustration, sadness or confusion, STOP what your are doing…shut your eyes, and say a simple prayer and tell Heavenly Father exactly how you are feeling (good, bad or worse) and ask for his help for the feelings to pass. They will and you will once again be able to have the influence of the spirit in your heart. I know this simple principle is true :) I have come to learn that its the most simple thing in life are the things that can give us the most joy.
I love you all so very much! I am so grateful for the doctrine of eternal families!
Until next week!
Love, Sharp Shimai
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Monday, January 20, 2014
Lift Where We Stand!
Konnichiwa,
Updates:
Sister Heaton and I went out finding last night and found a Muslim family, they are way nice and said that they are way open to other religions especially Christianity, he agreed to let us come back in 2 weeks and we can talk about the message. I taught two Muslim families in Ube last transfer and they were both wayyy nice, so I'm looking forward to doing it again. The chances of them getting baptized are pretty low because its not safe if they return to their country, (which they are in like 3 years) so that's a bummer but you never know!
We also have an investigator named Okamoto San right now and she is super nice and prepared. We met with her last week. She was a referral from the other Sisters that we are living with. Okamoto is Catholic and really wants to strengthen her family. She has a way pure heart so I'm excited to see how she progresses this transfer. We are meeting with her this Friday again so I will let you know how it goes! So far I really like the new area that I am in. Kumamoto is really big, I'm not use to being in such a big city with so much traffic. Riding a bike is different here, but I'm adjusting. They have a way huge castle here that Samurai's use to live in! Its pretty famous, so if you google it I bet you could find it. Kumamoto Castle is what it is called! We are going to go to it on our next pday.
Tonight we are going on exchanges with the sisters working in Kumamoto and then the next day we are doing the sisters in Nagamine! They all live about 30 minutes from our area so that is a huge blessing, we can just go by bike yaay! Ill let you know how it goes I'm sure we will see lots of miracles with them!
p.s. my language is getting better but i still don't know a LOT of Japanese. The dictionary is amazing, I use it all the time thanks so much! I'm feeling like I can express more of what is in my heart which is nice but there are still sooo many times when I can't and its way hard. Streeting is getting easier but its still not as natural as I wish it would be. Its okay…patience right?
I need to get going but I love you all. Keep praying, reading and standing as a witness of the truth! We may not be able to do much, but we can lift where we stand, and I feel like that's all the Lord really asks of us.
All is well :)
Love, Sharp Shimai
Updates:
Sister Heaton and I went out finding last night and found a Muslim family, they are way nice and said that they are way open to other religions especially Christianity, he agreed to let us come back in 2 weeks and we can talk about the message. I taught two Muslim families in Ube last transfer and they were both wayyy nice, so I'm looking forward to doing it again. The chances of them getting baptized are pretty low because its not safe if they return to their country, (which they are in like 3 years) so that's a bummer but you never know!
We also have an investigator named Okamoto San right now and she is super nice and prepared. We met with her last week. She was a referral from the other Sisters that we are living with. Okamoto is Catholic and really wants to strengthen her family. She has a way pure heart so I'm excited to see how she progresses this transfer. We are meeting with her this Friday again so I will let you know how it goes! So far I really like the new area that I am in. Kumamoto is really big, I'm not use to being in such a big city with so much traffic. Riding a bike is different here, but I'm adjusting. They have a way huge castle here that Samurai's use to live in! Its pretty famous, so if you google it I bet you could find it. Kumamoto Castle is what it is called! We are going to go to it on our next pday.
Tonight we are going on exchanges with the sisters working in Kumamoto and then the next day we are doing the sisters in Nagamine! They all live about 30 minutes from our area so that is a huge blessing, we can just go by bike yaay! Ill let you know how it goes I'm sure we will see lots of miracles with them!
p.s. my language is getting better but i still don't know a LOT of Japanese. The dictionary is amazing, I use it all the time thanks so much! I'm feeling like I can express more of what is in my heart which is nice but there are still sooo many times when I can't and its way hard. Streeting is getting easier but its still not as natural as I wish it would be. Its okay…patience right?
I need to get going but I love you all. Keep praying, reading and standing as a witness of the truth! We may not be able to do much, but we can lift where we stand, and I feel like that's all the Lord really asks of us.
All is well :)
Love, Sharp Shimai
Monday, January 13, 2014
Transferred again!
Konnichiwa from….Shimizu Kumamoto!
So, we got transferred again a little more up north from Taniyama we are now in the Kumamoto Zone and we are way close to all the sisters that we are over, in fact we are living with 4 of them in a house now so its way better. This area is actually way bigger than Taniyama was. Kumamoto is a huge tourist place I guess so there will be lots of people to find. We are excited about the change :) Sister Heaton is from Provo Utah and her dad is the director of the MTC.
I don't have anything to exciting to update everyone on, we are getting settled in and getting ready to find a bunch of new investigators. All we do as sister training leaders is go on exchanges to the other areas that we are over and work in the other sisters areas for a day and try to help them with the work they are doing in their area. We do trainings at Zone meetings with the zone leaders and we are the link between president and the sisters in our areas. We will be in our area for most of the transfer, we just had to plan out when we wanted to travel to the other areas to spend a day or so with the other Shimai that we are over. Its not a huge deal :) Sister Buhler was traveling way more because she lived so far from all the Shimai that she was over when she was an STL but I won't be gone nearly as much as her. The areas that I'm over with Sister Heaton are Nagamine, Tsuboi, Shimizu, Miyazaki and Kumamoto. The only one that is far is Miyazaki but we probably won't be able to do exchanges with them this transfer.
This last week was really interesting with all the quick changes that were made, and getting use to a new area/responsibility/companion, but I think this is the closest I have ever felt to the Atonement since I have come on my mission. I know that its comforting and healing power is real. I have felt it more than I ever have since I have been in Japan. Thank you for all of your prayers in my behalf, I know that the Lord is answering them every single day.
I love you all, know that I'm safe and doing well. I will have more miracles to share next week! :)
Love, Sharp Shimai
So, we got transferred again a little more up north from Taniyama we are now in the Kumamoto Zone and we are way close to all the sisters that we are over, in fact we are living with 4 of them in a house now so its way better. This area is actually way bigger than Taniyama was. Kumamoto is a huge tourist place I guess so there will be lots of people to find. We are excited about the change :) Sister Heaton is from Provo Utah and her dad is the director of the MTC.
I don't have anything to exciting to update everyone on, we are getting settled in and getting ready to find a bunch of new investigators. All we do as sister training leaders is go on exchanges to the other areas that we are over and work in the other sisters areas for a day and try to help them with the work they are doing in their area. We do trainings at Zone meetings with the zone leaders and we are the link between president and the sisters in our areas. We will be in our area for most of the transfer, we just had to plan out when we wanted to travel to the other areas to spend a day or so with the other Shimai that we are over. Its not a huge deal :) Sister Buhler was traveling way more because she lived so far from all the Shimai that she was over when she was an STL but I won't be gone nearly as much as her. The areas that I'm over with Sister Heaton are Nagamine, Tsuboi, Shimizu, Miyazaki and Kumamoto. The only one that is far is Miyazaki but we probably won't be able to do exchanges with them this transfer.
This last week was really interesting with all the quick changes that were made, and getting use to a new area/responsibility/companion, but I think this is the closest I have ever felt to the Atonement since I have come on my mission. I know that its comforting and healing power is real. I have felt it more than I ever have since I have been in Japan. Thank you for all of your prayers in my behalf, I know that the Lord is answering them every single day.
I love you all, know that I'm safe and doing well. I will have more miracles to share next week! :)
Love, Sharp Shimai
Monday, January 6, 2014
Transfer Call!!
Konnichiwa from…TANIYAMA KAGOSHIMA!
Yep, I transferred! Its the farthest city south on the Kyushu Island…anymore south and I would be going to Okinawa. Its pretty warm, not hot (I definitely am still wearing tights and my coat, but its not windy like it was in Ube so I'm way happy about that!) I traveled for about 7 hours in total by bus on Thursday and I caught a way annoying cold so I have been sleeping the last 3 days to get my strength back. My new companions name is Sister Heaton, she came from a city called Nagasaki, she actually was living with Eddy Shimai (the same one I lived with my first transfer) they were not companions though. Oh, guess what, Sister Heaton and I have both been called to be Sister trainer leaders over the Kagoshima Zone and the zone next to us which is called the Kumamoto Zone. We are over about 10 other sisters…which is going to be interesting because most of them are all on their last transfer and way strong missionaries so I feel weird only being on my 6th and Sister Heaton is only on her 5th so we are both WAY young to have this calling, but it should be fun. Taniyama is a WAY bigger city than Ube, but there are still not a lot of people out on the streets. Fun little fact about the area…we live RIGHT next to a VOLCANO! It smokes every single day, and there is ash all over the streets because of it haha. CRAZY.
We haven't done a lot of proselyting yet because I've been sick, and our bikes aren't transferred here yet. So i don't really know anything about the area or what it really looks like, but to come and do email we have to take a 25 minute trolley to get here so I saw a little bit more of the city. I think there are going to be lots of prepared people here to find! Our bikes should be here tomorrow. Today we have to go all the way back to Fukuoka for a training in the Honbu tomorrow, so we really won't be able to get working until Wednesday.
Sunday was way awesome though, the members are sooo nice here. There is a HUGE family named the Kaneko family, there are eight kids and they are all basically married with a bunch of kids, they make up most of the branch. They are all amazing though and way willing to do missionary work so i'm way excited. There is just Sister Heaton and I here in Taniyama with two other elders, Sister Heaton and I both white washed so we have no idea what we are doing…this transfer is going to be an adventure eh?! The two elders that are here are way new to the area also, one of them is on his 11th transfer and his companion is a BEAN, so yeah, we are all pretty much brand new to the area.
I don't have much time, but I just wanted to update you all on the crazy news. I miss Ube, transfers came up so quick and I miss Sister Pinzon, but a Japanese girl replaced me which I was WAY happy about, Ube needs a JAPANESE speaker for SURE!!!! Im excited to be in Taniyama and see all the miracles that lie ahead. Continue to keep me in your prayers, I will need them. I can feel that this transfer is going to be way humbling because I feel like a Bean ALL OVER again…but the Lord will help me, not too worried. :)
I love you all!!
Love, Sharp Shimai
Yep, I transferred! Its the farthest city south on the Kyushu Island…anymore south and I would be going to Okinawa. Its pretty warm, not hot (I definitely am still wearing tights and my coat, but its not windy like it was in Ube so I'm way happy about that!) I traveled for about 7 hours in total by bus on Thursday and I caught a way annoying cold so I have been sleeping the last 3 days to get my strength back. My new companions name is Sister Heaton, she came from a city called Nagasaki, she actually was living with Eddy Shimai (the same one I lived with my first transfer) they were not companions though. Oh, guess what, Sister Heaton and I have both been called to be Sister trainer leaders over the Kagoshima Zone and the zone next to us which is called the Kumamoto Zone. We are over about 10 other sisters…which is going to be interesting because most of them are all on their last transfer and way strong missionaries so I feel weird only being on my 6th and Sister Heaton is only on her 5th so we are both WAY young to have this calling, but it should be fun. Taniyama is a WAY bigger city than Ube, but there are still not a lot of people out on the streets. Fun little fact about the area…we live RIGHT next to a VOLCANO! It smokes every single day, and there is ash all over the streets because of it haha. CRAZY.
We haven't done a lot of proselyting yet because I've been sick, and our bikes aren't transferred here yet. So i don't really know anything about the area or what it really looks like, but to come and do email we have to take a 25 minute trolley to get here so I saw a little bit more of the city. I think there are going to be lots of prepared people here to find! Our bikes should be here tomorrow. Today we have to go all the way back to Fukuoka for a training in the Honbu tomorrow, so we really won't be able to get working until Wednesday.
Sunday was way awesome though, the members are sooo nice here. There is a HUGE family named the Kaneko family, there are eight kids and they are all basically married with a bunch of kids, they make up most of the branch. They are all amazing though and way willing to do missionary work so i'm way excited. There is just Sister Heaton and I here in Taniyama with two other elders, Sister Heaton and I both white washed so we have no idea what we are doing…this transfer is going to be an adventure eh?! The two elders that are here are way new to the area also, one of them is on his 11th transfer and his companion is a BEAN, so yeah, we are all pretty much brand new to the area.
I don't have much time, but I just wanted to update you all on the crazy news. I miss Ube, transfers came up so quick and I miss Sister Pinzon, but a Japanese girl replaced me which I was WAY happy about, Ube needs a JAPANESE speaker for SURE!!!! Im excited to be in Taniyama and see all the miracles that lie ahead. Continue to keep me in your prayers, I will need them. I can feel that this transfer is going to be way humbling because I feel like a Bean ALL OVER again…but the Lord will help me, not too worried. :)
I love you all!!
Love, Sharp Shimai
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Why wouldn't you?
December 30th
Happy New Years Eve!
Today is transfer call day, everyone thinks I'm getting transferred but I bet I stay for one more here in Ube. I don't really know whats going to happen. If i have a chance I'll send another email before the day is over letting you know the news.
We spent a lot of time with members last week. We have one member named Nakamura and he loves the missionaries, he took us around caroling to a ton of members houses and that was way fun! Im not one for caroling but all of our members appreciated it a lot so it was fun to bring them the love of the Savior through music!
Last week we went to Kaneyasu's house and Masuda's house and caroled the both of them. They both seemed way happy to see us so that was good! We still haven't taught Kaneyasu for a long time but we occasionally drop in to see how she is doing. If I stay in Ube for another transfer we will definitely push for the lessons again. We love her :)
We were able to teach Muranaga last week and it was SO good! We read from Alma 30 together and she understood everything! This is one of my favorite chapters since I have come on my mission, Alma's testimony of God is so powerful! It is way useful in teaching people that God does exist and that he is our Father and that Jesus Christ is our Savior. She said that she would try to come to church in 2 weeks if she can get work off, YAY miracles!!!
I have such a strong testimony of the importance of church. I think about the significance of the Sacrament and why it is so different than from any other church. I am not even sure if many members in the Church understand why the sacrament is so important?… Yes we go to think about the Savior, but its our opportunity to receive a remission of sin and be cleansed from all transgressions from the previous week. Do we really understand what a sacred opportunity that is?? As missionaries we spend weeks, months and sometimes even YEARS preparing ONE person for baptism so that they can feel READY, PREPARED and WORTHY to take upon them the covenant of baptism..they have to first have faith in Christ and have repented of all their sins. We wouldn't spend so much time with investigators if this process of repentance didn't matter! Would we baptize anyone into the church if they hadn't repented first? Baptism means nothing without a broken heart and a contrite spirit…so like the sacrament, would we go to church not having prepared at ALL to renew the SAME exact covenant that we took upon us at Baptism? The blessings and promises are the exact same. We need to come with a broken heart and contrite spirit every week to church or the Sacrament means nothing, and we cannot receive the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. Just like Baptism to the unrepentant sinner does nothing (as far as receiving a remission of sins goes) so does partaking of the sacrament unprepared. I pray that each of us can understand what a miracle and blessing it is to renew our covenant of baptism each with our Heavenly Father. ONLY in this church can you come to worship the Savior, AND feel the cleansing, redeeming and forgiving POWER of the Atonement. That is why we are so unique and blessed to be members of this true and living church with Gods priesthood authority that can actually confer the gift of the holy ghost, and bless the sacrament. Both are critical for salvation and both are critical for salvation and both are critical in our journey to becoming like our Savior and Jesus Christ.
I am SO grateful for the scriptures and the light that they bring into my life. Without them I would know NOTHING of spiritual truths such as the importance of the sacrament. I am especially grateful for the Book of Mormon and the powerful witness of truth that it is. It bares record of the Savior on every single page. Don't take this book for granted pllllease! Read it, STUDY it, ask questions, pray, and ponder. Feel its power come into your life as you begin to repent and partake of the sacrament each week.
As part of our Heavenly Fathers plan of salvation he has given us the gift of agency, or the gift to CHOOSE for ourselves between good and evil. We can each choose to walk various paths, but there is only ONE path that guarantees happiness, peace, safety and eternal life. This path is called the gospel of Jesus Christ and it includes having faith IN CHRIST, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost and enduring to the end.
I know that this is the ONLY way. There is only ONE Savior. He loves us all and is beckoning each of us to get on the path and stay on it. If we stray off this path during the week, we can get back on it each Sunday, AS WE repent. What a blessing a miracle of GRACE. I know this is true!! Please pray and ask Heavenly Father to teach you this wonderful truth of love, repentance and forgiveness. He will, and your lives will continue to change and improve! You can feel the love and peace of the gospel in your life every single day. Why wouldn't you?
I love you all! Have a good week!
Love Sharp Shimai
Happy New Years Eve!
Today is transfer call day, everyone thinks I'm getting transferred but I bet I stay for one more here in Ube. I don't really know whats going to happen. If i have a chance I'll send another email before the day is over letting you know the news.
We spent a lot of time with members last week. We have one member named Nakamura and he loves the missionaries, he took us around caroling to a ton of members houses and that was way fun! Im not one for caroling but all of our members appreciated it a lot so it was fun to bring them the love of the Savior through music!
Last week we went to Kaneyasu's house and Masuda's house and caroled the both of them. They both seemed way happy to see us so that was good! We still haven't taught Kaneyasu for a long time but we occasionally drop in to see how she is doing. If I stay in Ube for another transfer we will definitely push for the lessons again. We love her :)
We were able to teach Muranaga last week and it was SO good! We read from Alma 30 together and she understood everything! This is one of my favorite chapters since I have come on my mission, Alma's testimony of God is so powerful! It is way useful in teaching people that God does exist and that he is our Father and that Jesus Christ is our Savior. She said that she would try to come to church in 2 weeks if she can get work off, YAY miracles!!!
I have such a strong testimony of the importance of church. I think about the significance of the Sacrament and why it is so different than from any other church. I am not even sure if many members in the Church understand why the sacrament is so important?… Yes we go to think about the Savior, but its our opportunity to receive a remission of sin and be cleansed from all transgressions from the previous week. Do we really understand what a sacred opportunity that is?? As missionaries we spend weeks, months and sometimes even YEARS preparing ONE person for baptism so that they can feel READY, PREPARED and WORTHY to take upon them the covenant of baptism..they have to first have faith in Christ and have repented of all their sins. We wouldn't spend so much time with investigators if this process of repentance didn't matter! Would we baptize anyone into the church if they hadn't repented first? Baptism means nothing without a broken heart and a contrite spirit…so like the sacrament, would we go to church not having prepared at ALL to renew the SAME exact covenant that we took upon us at Baptism? The blessings and promises are the exact same. We need to come with a broken heart and contrite spirit every week to church or the Sacrament means nothing, and we cannot receive the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. Just like Baptism to the unrepentant sinner does nothing (as far as receiving a remission of sins goes) so does partaking of the sacrament unprepared. I pray that each of us can understand what a miracle and blessing it is to renew our covenant of baptism each with our Heavenly Father. ONLY in this church can you come to worship the Savior, AND feel the cleansing, redeeming and forgiving POWER of the Atonement. That is why we are so unique and blessed to be members of this true and living church with Gods priesthood authority that can actually confer the gift of the holy ghost, and bless the sacrament. Both are critical for salvation and both are critical for salvation and both are critical in our journey to becoming like our Savior and Jesus Christ.
I am SO grateful for the scriptures and the light that they bring into my life. Without them I would know NOTHING of spiritual truths such as the importance of the sacrament. I am especially grateful for the Book of Mormon and the powerful witness of truth that it is. It bares record of the Savior on every single page. Don't take this book for granted pllllease! Read it, STUDY it, ask questions, pray, and ponder. Feel its power come into your life as you begin to repent and partake of the sacrament each week.
As part of our Heavenly Fathers plan of salvation he has given us the gift of agency, or the gift to CHOOSE for ourselves between good and evil. We can each choose to walk various paths, but there is only ONE path that guarantees happiness, peace, safety and eternal life. This path is called the gospel of Jesus Christ and it includes having faith IN CHRIST, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost and enduring to the end.
I know that this is the ONLY way. There is only ONE Savior. He loves us all and is beckoning each of us to get on the path and stay on it. If we stray off this path during the week, we can get back on it each Sunday, AS WE repent. What a blessing a miracle of GRACE. I know this is true!! Please pray and ask Heavenly Father to teach you this wonderful truth of love, repentance and forgiveness. He will, and your lives will continue to change and improve! You can feel the love and peace of the gospel in your life every single day. Why wouldn't you?
I love you all! Have a good week!
Love Sharp Shimai
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Christmas in Japan!
Merry Christmas!
Okay, love you all! Have a Merry Christmas, ill send more pics later, we are going to a park tonight that has a ton of lights, so I should have some cool pictures from that! Loved hearing all your voices today :) Stay strong. The church is true!
Love, Sharp Shimai
This is our first Christmas party!
Cake making contest, I made this one :)
This is Muranaga San! (the one that was referred by her friend as we sang to her.) Her friend is on the far left. Muranagas son is the boy! They all came to the party :)
I assumed that you sent me a horse :)…The branch showered us with presents!!
Christmas morning yay! Thank you :) Love you all!!!
Sister Pinzon and Katelyn
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
What a Blessing!
December 16th
Konnichiwa!
I was able to watch the Christmas devotional by the first presidency yesterday! It was soo good, loved all the music!
SO! This last week we were really blessed by the members, they are always so nice to us and they give us so much food! One member always goes to the Costco all the way in Fukuoka and buys us a huge jar of peanut butter, nutella and tortilla chips. Mmmm bless her soul!
Miracles:
We met with Kaneyasu San for a little bit last week, we didn't teach her a lesson we just dropped by to say hello in the Genkon woo woo! And she doesn't hate us so that's good. I don't know if I mentioned what happened the last time we had a lesson with her…we taught her the gospel of Jesus Christ again, and brought up baptism and she kept saying that it was really difficult for her to receive baptism because of her husbands family…there was a bit of a language barrier going on when she was explaining this , and me being impatient and assuming that her reason was Buddhism, just like everyone else's excuse, I said 'well, if you know its true, then you should be baptized'…she kept saying that she couldn't, and kept saying something about her husbands brothers and I said THEY NEED THE GOSPEL TOO!…i didn't yell at her at all, but I was getting a little frustrated. She quickly rapped the lesson up with us and didn't reschedule the appointment like she normally does.
In district meeting last week I found out what a common problem here in Japan is…if a woman is married to the Oldest Son in the family, then she CANNOT be anything but Buddhist because they have to carry on the culture and all the not so great things that come with being Buddhist. She can't change, or become anything else if the husband doesn't so THAT'S what she was talking about her husbands brothers…he is the oldest in his family, and therefore she can't get baptized or his family will shun her. HOWEVER when she took the discussions 20 years ago there were pictures of her AND her husband taking the discussions with missionaries. But I found out that her husband had and probably still has a drinking problem and that's why they stopped the lessons…when they found out about the word of wisdom they stopped meeting with the missionaries. SO CRAPPY. And sad. We aren't giving up though! We are doing 9 days of Christmas and leaving little gifts on their doorstep…I hope this softens her husbands heart and allows us to get to know the BOTH of them not just her. Miracles can happen :)
This unfortunate little tradition that is in the Buddhist culture was also the same reason another one of our investigators didn't continue the lessons with us. Her husband is also the oldest. The most frustrating thing is that they DON'T even believe in or practice Buddhism. Its sad that they are stuck in something that they don't even believe. I'm grateful for the ones that convert anyway regardless of what their family is going to think.
I am sooo grateful to know the gospel, accept it, and be able to LIVE it because its MY choice. What a blessing this is in my life, and I hope in the life of yours. Please don't take this wonderful gospel for granted! There are many people here who I know would accept this gospel without a blink of an eye but because of cultural pressures, they are not getting baptized. Breaks my heart. The good news is that this is the Lords work and he is preparing the way for the elect to be gathered in and those who hear his voice will readily accept it. They are far and few in between, but I know they are out there waiting! I love this gospel, my appreciation for it grows every single day. I am so blessed. I am grateful for the Christmas season to reflect even more on my blessings and the wonderful gift of the Atonement. Remember that this is the real meaning of Christmas! I love you all!
Sharp Shimai
Konnichiwa!
I was able to watch the Christmas devotional by the first presidency yesterday! It was soo good, loved all the music!
SO! This last week we were really blessed by the members, they are always so nice to us and they give us so much food! One member always goes to the Costco all the way in Fukuoka and buys us a huge jar of peanut butter, nutella and tortilla chips. Mmmm bless her soul!
Miracles:
We met with Kaneyasu San for a little bit last week, we didn't teach her a lesson we just dropped by to say hello in the Genkon woo woo! And she doesn't hate us so that's good. I don't know if I mentioned what happened the last time we had a lesson with her…we taught her the gospel of Jesus Christ again, and brought up baptism and she kept saying that it was really difficult for her to receive baptism because of her husbands family…there was a bit of a language barrier going on when she was explaining this , and me being impatient and assuming that her reason was Buddhism, just like everyone else's excuse, I said 'well, if you know its true, then you should be baptized'…she kept saying that she couldn't, and kept saying something about her husbands brothers and I said THEY NEED THE GOSPEL TOO!…i didn't yell at her at all, but I was getting a little frustrated. She quickly rapped the lesson up with us and didn't reschedule the appointment like she normally does.
In district meeting last week I found out what a common problem here in Japan is…if a woman is married to the Oldest Son in the family, then she CANNOT be anything but Buddhist because they have to carry on the culture and all the not so great things that come with being Buddhist. She can't change, or become anything else if the husband doesn't so THAT'S what she was talking about her husbands brothers…he is the oldest in his family, and therefore she can't get baptized or his family will shun her. HOWEVER when she took the discussions 20 years ago there were pictures of her AND her husband taking the discussions with missionaries. But I found out that her husband had and probably still has a drinking problem and that's why they stopped the lessons…when they found out about the word of wisdom they stopped meeting with the missionaries. SO CRAPPY. And sad. We aren't giving up though! We are doing 9 days of Christmas and leaving little gifts on their doorstep…I hope this softens her husbands heart and allows us to get to know the BOTH of them not just her. Miracles can happen :)
This unfortunate little tradition that is in the Buddhist culture was also the same reason another one of our investigators didn't continue the lessons with us. Her husband is also the oldest. The most frustrating thing is that they DON'T even believe in or practice Buddhism. Its sad that they are stuck in something that they don't even believe. I'm grateful for the ones that convert anyway regardless of what their family is going to think.
I am sooo grateful to know the gospel, accept it, and be able to LIVE it because its MY choice. What a blessing this is in my life, and I hope in the life of yours. Please don't take this wonderful gospel for granted! There are many people here who I know would accept this gospel without a blink of an eye but because of cultural pressures, they are not getting baptized. Breaks my heart. The good news is that this is the Lords work and he is preparing the way for the elect to be gathered in and those who hear his voice will readily accept it. They are far and few in between, but I know they are out there waiting! I love this gospel, my appreciation for it grows every single day. I am so blessed. I am grateful for the Christmas season to reflect even more on my blessings and the wonderful gift of the Atonement. Remember that this is the real meaning of Christmas! I love you all!
Sharp Shimai
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