week 41: the voice of the Spirit

- November 21, 2018

こんにちは！愛しています！

Okay so this week has been a long one. We didn't have p-day until Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving! Last pday we went to the beach! Just as we were stepping onto the sand, a part-member family saw us and ended up kidnapping us for ice cream and ramen. Super yummy and so nice! Then Tuesday we had DTM and institute. Wednesday we we met a cardiologist and he was pretty nice. Thursday we had a lesson with Uema Shimai in the morning and later one with Kozue San. She is a new investigator that was referred to us by a returning member. She is awesome and is on a baptismal date now! Amazing miracle! Friday we had exchanges in Naha. We headed down there. I was on splits with Baquinquito Shimai. She is amazing! We had so much fun! Then Saturday we had a lesson with Tamahara San and she accepted that when she knows more she will be baptized! Right after her, we went to the Hanashiro famiky and had dinner. Okonomiyaki! Then Sunday we only went to the Japanese ward (the American branch had district conference). We met Katie again! She is amazing and we were so sad that she hadn't been able to meet. But she was home and this time we exchanged numbers and facebooks! And she is amazing! Then Monday we had zone conference and a member meal. Tuesday we had interviews with President Mack! Wednesday I went back to the doctor. They said I'm healing really well so only if it hurts or feels wrong do I need to go back. But I'm still forbidden to ride a bike. 😭😭

Funny keiken: On Monday we had a member meal with the Michels. We were way excited. At zone conference we found out that the family we would be eating Thanksgiving dinner with was also the Michels! When we went to dinner and told them, we all started laughing! It was so super funny that it just happened to be them twice!

Also, when we went to the doctor the first thing he asked me was if I'd been on a bike. It was pretty funny. He seemed pretty concerned about it, and literally didn't want to know anything until he had that answer! I laughed and said no. He is an awesome doctor!

Spiritual keiken: Interviews are always a spiritual adventure. I had a question for Mack Kaichou that I have been pondering on for a while: "How do I become fluent in the voice of the Spirit?" So we talked about and he said it was the same as learning Japanese...you have to study, you have to try to use it, and you have to be aware when you are trying. The last part was new to me, but I can definitely feel a difference when I pay more attention to the Spirit.

We had the opportunity to mogi (roleplay) with the zone leaders. We practiced teaching the atonement (in English). During the mogi the spirit was so strong and I used a lot of たとえば (examples, object lessons みたい(kinda like)). One thing I used was Alma 7:11-13. This is one of my favorite scriptures and I love to switch the word his people for their name. So I did this in the mogi and we both sat there for a minute in silence because the spirit was testifying that the atonement was done individually for us.

New words:
じしん(Jishin): earthquake
たとえば(tatoeba): for example
みたい(mitai): like, sort of

I know that Christ performed the atonement for each of us. He had the choice and He decided He loved us more than himself. I know that through the atonement we can change and no matter what He will always love us. Please go read Alma 7:11-13 and put your name in for "his people". I love you all! I love this mission and the miracles that are here in Japan!

Love Thompson 姉妹

Bits and pieces from family emails:

We did a lot of teaching this weeks, investigators and members and it was wonderful!

At zone conference I saw Hippolite Shimai!!! We talked so much...it was soooo good to catch up!!

Tamahara Shimai is in our English class. She is around 70 years old and she lets us teach her extra after class.

I have tendonitis in my ankle from all the walking....because we should be on bikes. It's not too bad...I just need to ice it 3 times a day for the week, take ibuprofen, and hopefully all will be well! Pray for me to be able to get on a bike again soon!