week 30: all these things shall give thee experience
A beautiful day heading to Kumamoto for training and interviews!
こんにちは！
So this week we had some crazy miracles! We found a new investigator, so hopefully that will be even more amazing. She is a little old grandma who was born at the end of WWII, and she has studied with the Jehovah Witnesses. She invited us in and gave us ice cream. We talked about the Book of Mormon and she wants to learn more!
I have been learning a lot of how the Lord gives us trials to help us. "...my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." D&C 122:7. Trials come in lots of forms. Sometimes it's school, learning a language, friends, family, relationships, etc. God gives us these hard or uncomfortable times to help us grow, because no growth happens in the comfort zone, and there is no comfort in the growth zone. I have felt this a lot. I rely on His help with relationships between me and my companions, investigators, members, and people I meet every day. I'm learning Japanese and at times it is really uncomfortable, especially when I have no idea what they are saying but each time I try, I learn. I learn to rely on our Heavenly Father and through the Spirit, He helps me know what to say...whether it is in English, Japanese, or Japanglish (Japanese and English).
Funny keiken: So my district leader is Elder Campbell and he is an older missionary (he returns home this transfer). He always says "Strictly Obedient" in a funny way and he says it a lot! At our interviews this week with our mission President, Elder Campbell gave a training. The STLs were there and Sister Cordero started to keep track of how many times he said it. By the end of the hour and half training, he was up to over 20. It was so funny! We all laughed and then quoted him the rest of the day!
Spiritual keiken: So one of my favorite things is to go and knock on random people's doors and interrupt their life with this amazing gift called the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Well, Sister Hayward and I were out and I saw this beautiful house. After some discussion on whether or not it was a house or if it was the house of the shrine owners (we were really close to a shrine), we decided to try the door. We started walking to the house and this cute lady opened the door. I explained who we were, and she stopped me and said, "I'm a Catholic". I was shocked but we started talking about Christ and about the Bible and the Book of Mormon, and it was a really powerful discussion. She didn't have any interest in continuing with lessons, but it was amazing that even though we had different beliefs, the Spirit was able to testify of Christ! Another one of my sayings is "no rock unturned, no house unknocked."...even the least likely of places can have some of the most prepared people.
New words:
しょうじき(shoujiki):honesty
がまん(gaman):patience
ちゅうほしゃ(chuuhosha):mediator
The words today all have powerful meanings. Honesty is how we can help others and ourselves. When we are honest, we don't have to worry about being caught in a web of lies because we aren't making one. Patience is something I am learning a lot about. My companion has been sick most of this transfer and that takes a toll on everyone involved. I have had to be patient and wait for her to get better. There is a lot of patience involved in God's timing. That one is hard because you love all these people so much, but you have to be patient with God's timing and their agency. By the way, all of our invesigators are great!! Waka Chan has progressed so much and her mom really wants them to come to church! The last word is mediator. That is one of the things Christ is for us. He pays our debt when we cannot. He is honest and He is extremely patient. He waits and helps us get back up after we fall down. It is amazing how much He loves you!
So this week we had some crazy miracles! We found a new investigator, so hopefully that will be even more amazing. She is a little old grandma who was born at the end of WWII, and she has studied with the Jehovah Witnesses. She invited us in and gave us ice cream. We talked about the Book of Mormon and she wants to learn more!
I have been learning a lot of how the Lord gives us trials to help us. "...my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." D&C 122:7. Trials come in lots of forms. Sometimes it's school, learning a language, friends, family, relationships, etc. God gives us these hard or uncomfortable times to help us grow, because no growth happens in the comfort zone, and there is no comfort in the growth zone. I have felt this a lot. I rely on His help with relationships between me and my companions, investigators, members, and people I meet every day. I'm learning Japanese and at times it is really uncomfortable, especially when I have no idea what they are saying but each time I try, I learn. I learn to rely on our Heavenly Father and through the Spirit, He helps me know what to say...whether it is in English, Japanese, or Japanglish (Japanese and English).
Funny keiken: So my district leader is Elder Campbell and he is an older missionary (he returns home this transfer). He always says "Strictly Obedient" in a funny way and he says it a lot! At our interviews this week with our mission President, Elder Campbell gave a training. The STLs were there and Sister Cordero started to keep track of how many times he said it. By the end of the hour and half training, he was up to over 20. It was so funny! We all laughed and then quoted him the rest of the day!
Spiritual keiken: So one of my favorite things is to go and knock on random people's doors and interrupt their life with this amazing gift called the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Well, Sister Hayward and I were out and I saw this beautiful house. After some discussion on whether or not it was a house or if it was the house of the shrine owners (we were really close to a shrine), we decided to try the door. We started walking to the house and this cute lady opened the door. I explained who we were, and she stopped me and said, "I'm a Catholic". I was shocked but we started talking about Christ and about the Bible and the Book of Mormon, and it was a really powerful discussion. She didn't have any interest in continuing with lessons, but it was amazing that even though we had different beliefs, the Spirit was able to testify of Christ! Another one of my sayings is "no rock unturned, no house unknocked."...even the least likely of places can have some of the most prepared people.
New words:
しょうじき(shoujiki):honesty
がまん(gaman):patience
ちゅうほしゃ(chuuhosha):mediator
The words today all have powerful meanings. Honesty is how we can help others and ourselves. When we are honest, we don't have to worry about being caught in a web of lies because we aren't making one. Patience is something I am learning a lot about. My companion has been sick most of this transfer and that takes a toll on everyone involved. I have had to be patient and wait for her to get better. There is a lot of patience involved in God's timing. That one is hard because you love all these people so much, but you have to be patient with God's timing and their agency. By the way, all of our invesigators are great!! Waka Chan has progressed so much and her mom really wants them to come to church! The last word is mediator. That is one of the things Christ is for us. He pays our debt when we cannot. He is honest and He is extremely patient. He waits and helps us get back up after we fall down. It is amazing how much He loves you!
I miss you all! Have a wonderful week!
Love Thompson Shimai
Love Thompson Shimai
Bits and pieces from family emails:
I read a talk my momma recommended by Elder Pace from November Ensign, 1992. He compared the gospel to a train ride...go read it! My favorite line said something like "This painful friend breaks our hearts, drops us to our knees, and makes us realize we are nothing without our Lord and Savior". It spoke to my heart.
My stalker called again...yikes! Hopefully he loses interest SOON!!
The weather was cooler Sunday morning, and when we walked out to catch the bus to church, the feel outside reminded me of home....I was hit hard with a wave of homesickness...how I miss home!
We were able to dendou just a little this week, and it was wonderful! It was therapy for my soul being outside in the sun and sharing the message of the restored gospel.
We stayed with the sisters in Kumamoto for training...they had peanut butter AND nutella!!! HEAVEN!!!
Sometimes a good long cry helps you refocus and recommit...a mission is the hardest thing I've ever done, but I know through my Savior I can do this.
the view from the mall we visited last pday
Oita really is lovely!
Sunshine is good for my soul!
on the way to zone conference
Cute little shrine just outside our apartment!
Awesome biking pic requested by my momma...
we are headed out to email!
Japan is just an incredibly lovely place to be!
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