WONDERFUL!!!

Hello again everybody!

Today has been wonderful. Each day goes by even 

faster than the last (I think).  Sometimes the days 

blur together, I don't have any clue what happened 

when. But anyways....if I have time i'll send pictures, 

but if not then. Well. I won't!

So. One of our investigators--- Nagashimada Shimai (San)---she's not a 

hugger. Like most of the Japanese people I hear. So I decided that I wouldn't 

have it, and I was going to give her a hug whether she wanted one or not. So 

at the end of our last lesson, I tried to get out the phrase "May I hug you" and 

I just ended up saying "huggy mo yoroshii desu ka?" while I was coming at her 

with arms open wide and a big smile on my face. Needless to say I think I 

frightened her, and no. That is not how you say 'to hug' in Japanese. My 

companion just stood back and laughed. I gave her a hug anyways... haha.

Okay! So there is there Elder in my district, and I just figured out who he 

reminds me of! Jake Siaosi!!! It's so funny. Anyways, just had to share. Oh. We 

are adding a new name to the list of AWESOME names. This one is brought to 

you by an australian that arrived in the mtc last week. My companion and I 

were picking him up with the Zone Leaders, and he taught me how to speak 

with an australian accent. I think i'm not half bad at it. Coles Shimai begs to 

differ hahaha (she doesn't like when I do the whole accent thing). Anyways, so 

the point of all of this, is that he has a little brother...named MAGNUS! Need I 

say more?

So. Music. Music is a wonderful thing. It can lift spirits like none other, and 

brings the spirit faster than anything I've ever experienced. So since we're not 

allowed to listen to music in the mtc at all (at all at all) I've become quite the 

little record player. And it's fun, because I get to sing the songs that are 

actually stuck in my head from the time when I actually listened to music. Lots 

and lots of hymns, which is awesome. But other than that, honestly just TONS 

of musicals. But this week, there has been ONE SONG I cannot get out of my 

head. The one that goes "if you wanna be happy for the rest of your life, never 

make a pretty woman your wife...so from my personal point of view, pick and 

ugly girl to marry you". Anyways. Almost every single time i've gone to take a 

shower, I whistle the song 'it's a wonderful night for a moondance'. It just 

comes naturally. Didn't know I was so attatched to the song but I can't get it 

out of my head!

Oh, it's adorable. The Elders in our district always try to look as professional as 

can be, and so they listen to anything we tell them. Some sisters told a couple 

they should part their hair, and that's what they've done since. We told them 

the Always Sometimes Never rule, and the always never rule (with suits) and so 

since then they've stuck to it. Also, the dimple rule with the ties---I notice it all 

the time here! So it's funny because they all try really hard to have a dimple in 

their tie. It's pretty funny.

mmmm So we had the best devotional EVER on Tuesday. It was Janice Kapp 

Perry----the music lady---- anyways. She's absolutely adorable. Let me tell you 

why I feel in love with her. Her husband spoke first, and starts off by saying 

"hello! I'm Mr. Janice Kapp Perry" haha he's a cutie. We'll get back to that more 

in a second though. So then when Sister Perry gets up (their really old by the 

way, I thought I should add that. Not really really old, but grandparents) 

anyways, she starts off by saying "want to know what his first line was to me?" 

so apparently they were in four music classes together at BYU, and she didn't 

really notice him much, and then he was behind her in line for the midterm and 

she was getting all ready, totally focused. She had to play a clarinet solo for her 

midterm and so she was getting her reed ready and everything, and he goes 

[and I quote, word for word] "Those lips were made for something much better 

than playing the clarinet"-----everyone started laughing SOOOOOO hard, and 

brother perry got up from where he was sitting, walked straight up to her at 

the microphone, and GUESS what he did!!!! Just guess!!! I was dumbfounded. 

It was awesome! He just got up there, and gave her a great big kiss! It was 

soooo adorable, and sooo funny. Then he did it again hahahaha it was probably 

one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Nearly everyone stood up and 

cheered. Then once everything calmed down a bit, sister perry goes "I know 

that man like a book, but today I have no idea what page he's on" hahahaha 

anyways, we ended up singing primary songs she had written, and it was a 

really really awesome meeting. Also--I don't know if it's like out there, but if 

anyone can find the Janice Kapp Perry Family song, it's worth the search. I 

can't describe it, but it was adorable. And she recommended that every family 

write their own family song. It's cute. I'm so going to do that.

Okay, I don't know if I have time to explain all these, but here are some 

scriptures that I particularly loved this week. Matthew 18:10----So cute. "Their 

angels do always behold the face of my father which is in Heaven"....I thought 

of anytime I ever had a frustrating babysitting experience haha. Oh, another 

thing, Something that I learned this week is how important eye contact is. It 

really really is. When you're teaching an investigator, you should look them 

straight in the eyes. Yes it's a little intimidating, but it shows the person you're 

talking to that you're confident about what you're saying. It shows respect, and 

you connect with people so much faster if you just look into their eyes!!! It's like 

part of the Elder Busche devotional thing- says something like 'if you can't love 

someone, look into their eyes long enough to find the hidden rudiments of a 

child of God in them' (not a direct quote....). But eye contact--it's a beautiful, 

powerful thing!

Here's another idea i've been thinking about this week. My branch presidency 

said it, (well, Brother Willes) he said "Turns out love is a gift of the spirit". And 

how true that is. If you're every having difficulty loving someone, don't just 

ignore them or something....expand your ability to love by praying for the 

ability to love them. With prayers and faith, you will end up loving them, and 

your ability to love will be that much grander! Love everyone around you, and 

make sure they feel loved. That's what Christ focused on when he was here, 

and that is what He wants each of us to feel everyday. Loved. Loved of 

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. If you ever feel distant from Heavenly 

Father's love, all you have to do is pray.

Alright, one last thing- "Being Accepted of the Lord" is an absolutely wonderful 

talk from last conference. Read it and study it. I can't explain it all, but read it! 

Even if you don't feel like it. Just humor me! It's awesome.

I'm sorry this letter is a little lame....this week has been a bit crazy. Good and 

crazy! I got to see Aly today right before we went to the temple, and it made 

me so happy. Hugs are the best. All I want is a huge pacific islander to be by 

my side always, ready to give great big hugs. that's all I ask.

I love you all very very much! Thank you SO MUCH for the Dear Elders, and the 

letters. Be happy, smile, and give lots of love! Choose the right and think of 

Christ always!

I leave for Japan in 16 days!!!!! and BOY I cannot WAIT!!!!

Love you all!

Sincerely, Lane Shimai

ps, I get to pick my name today (how they'll say it in Japan) so I have to come 

up with the combination of katakana characters that sound most like my name 

(katakana is the alphabet used for foreign words, like the names in the Book of 

Mormon) anyways. Right now I'm thinking it'd be pretty awesome to be 'header 

E rain' for the next year and a half. We shall see! I''m pretty excited. Also---the 

language is DEFINITELY coming along. Don't overestimate me, all I'm saying is 

that I finally feel like I'm at the point where I will be able to teach myself, and 

through TONS of praying, things are finally starting to make sense. Nathan 

(Tanner) told me languages just take some time to sink in, and he's so right! I 

think everything I've been studying is finally sinking in. :)

ALRIGHTY!

Alrighty!

So this whole conference thing tomorrow with the mission presidents...so they took over 1M, which is the building I can send pictures on. Goodness gracious the things I gotta put up with...

Alrighty so no pictures! That's alright cause I didn't really have any good ones this week. Less of a visual week. EXCEPT all the birds! There are the cutest little birds here who just chirp away and drink from the tiny little puddles and they're just the cutest things ever. They have become my best friends. Also, I've discovered a tree that makes ANGEL wings. Of course I've been under Oak trees before...but I've never realized that they are angel wings! Go pick up some angel wings. They will make you so happy. I used to put them on my nose, but I haven't done that in a while. 

My companion gets embarassed of me really easily, so I try to give her a break every now and again. Speaking of embarassing, sooooo Coles Shimai and I were on a little walk while we were doing companionship study, and there was the house!!! So I look really quick across the street....lo and behold ERYN crawls out the window and starts cleaning the window or something. Naturally I tried to get her attention, so I did a little cat call (highly innapropriate...) and she doesn't look....so I get closer and do it louder with more meaning. No looks. So then we start walking and we look behind us, and there's a man. A man who looked like he had some authority...just staring at us, wondering why I'm bothering the poor lady in the window. FUN! Anyways...HELLO ERYN!!! I SAW YOU!!!

Brother Angus. Never have I ever told anyone about Brother Angus. He's this huge guy (really tall, and he has the looks of a giant so that makes him seem even taller) and he's the guy in charge of the security for all the devotionals and stuff. He's my best friend but he doesn't know it. I got to work with him the other week and I felt so awesome. So official. Like I was on serious business. Reminds me of the days where my dream was to be an assasin. We'll have to see. Point is, look out for Angus---anyone who comes to the mtc. He's a firecracker. I'll try to get a stalker photo before I leave. Should be exciting.

Heard of a movie that's good---'Pioneers of Africa'? Watch it. Cause I can't. And I heard it's good.

Soooo something that is so funny. As missionaries we get all sorts of pamphlets to hand out right? Word of Wisdom, Chastity, Gospel of Jesus Christ, etc. So naturally these pamphlets have pictures right? Otherwise they would be dry. Soooo. Scouting through all the free boxes, my district and I have come to realize that each language has DIFFERENT pictures. They're always in the same pose, but they are different pictures. I'll try to send home a german, italian, and english one sometime. It's pretty funny.

So. The MTC has made me pretty competative with sports. I know it's supposed to do the opposite, but I've been way into Volleyball since my district started playing together. We play with no rules, so it's awesome, and I'm still not good, but it's SO much fun. Anyways. Best part of my week...when I hear these words coming out of my mouth "Are you serious??? Try harder!". I've hit a new plain. Gone to places i've never gone before. It was quite entertaining. I don't expect this to make sense to anyone else, but it was a hilarious moment. (Note: the person I was yelling at understood that my intentions were joking. No missionary was hurt emotionally in this outburst of mine)

So. I don't know if i've told everyone this already. BUT. Every Sunday there are no talks assigned, your branch president simply picks people from the congregation to give a talk in japanese. NO I have not done this yet, but you all know that day will be full of uncontrollable laughter. Anyways, I heard a genius idea. So lots of people try to go up there and be all impressive with their Japanese and what not, so this one missionary put together a talk (you always write a talk on the topic each sunday just in case you get called) and he just looked up a whole bunch of random words in the dictionary. And he gave that talk. From what I hear it was pretty funny. The only problem is, is that Butler kaicho (pres butler) knows japanese, and one of the councilors do not. So if your speaking japanese that is at all understandable, you'll hear him translating it. So it's super funny when he is sitting there...not translating....and you know the poor person giving a talk has no idea what they're doing haha. Church is fun.

Best new japanese word: sugoi. It means terrible, awful, ghastly, beautiful, and wonderful. And It's used in both ways. Sooooo anytime anyone asks you some question you really don't want to answer. Just say 'su-goy". It'll come in handy.

OH! Thank you Henry for the bubbles!!! They made me so happy!

Note: before I forget. The broadcast thing is tomorrow! I'M SO EXCITED!!!! Anyways, I'm in the choir along with pretty much the whole mtc. But I''ll be wearing a purple shirt and I'll have the most expressive face out there. Look for me ;) Oh, and my doryo is wearing like green or something.

Here's what I've been waiting to share ALL WEEK!!!!!!! Personal study has been the BEST this week. Here it goes.

Peace.

"We all long for peace. Peace is not just safety or lack of war, violence, conflict, and contention. Peace comes from knowing that the Savior knows who we are and knows that we have faith in Him, love Him, and keep His commandments, even and especially amid life's devestating trials and tragedies" --Elder Quentin L. Cook

John 16:33

Matt 9:37-38

John 14:27

D&C 6:34-37

Phil 4:7,13

D&C 6:20

Look them ALL UP!

Also, D&C section 6 is a jackpot! How come I haven't realized that till now?? Read it!

Also, remember to

"Lift up your hearts in praise to God.

Let your rejoicings never cease.

Though tribulations rage abroad,

Christ says, "In me ye shall have peace"

 (Hymn #122)

Read Elder Cook's talk 'Personal Peace'. It'll help out a lot. This whole week I chose other topics to study during personal time, but everything I read was ALWAYS connected back to peace. I don't know if the Lord is preparing me for something, or if it's meant to be shared. But read these scriptures, write down your thoughts in a journal. I PROMISE it'll make you happier if you do! Really study each scripture, go beyond the surface, and figure out what it means for you personally. Those scriptures are alive and true...they're not just adivce for the people they were given to first. Remember that! The Book of Mormon is a powerful tool that helps explain the doctrines of the Bible so much simpler and deeper. Read both!! And WRITE down your thoughts. I can't express how important journal keeping is. DO IT! Write down the good AND the bad. Write down everything. It'll bless you more than you realize at the start.

Another quote that I loved from this week:

"My promise to you who pray and serve the Lord cannot

 be that you will have every blessing you may wish for

 yourself and for your family. But I can promise you

 that the Savior will draw close to you and bless you 

and your family with what is best"

-- Elder Eyring, "Come Unto Me"

God gives you everything you need. Don't worry about it, just learn everything you can from the things that happen. And be happy! Heavenly Father never gives you anything to be sad. Be happy at all times, through all things, and you will be blessed!

OH! Look up the HomeFront videos the Church put out in like the 70s or 80s or something. I promise you, you will laugh. OH! One AMAZINGLY simple quote:

"Never compare yourself to others. It'll either tear you down, or build your pride". SO TRUE. Just don't do it. be happy with who you and and be satisfied with the progress your making personally.

Alrighty. Super exciting. I'll share this. So we get to do service once a week right? So we went from cleaning showers (which was actually so so amazing) to being assigned to 1M, which is like the main building. What do we do in 1M you may ask? Well. The first week, we were assigned Eliza Doolittle duty. At least that's what I felt like. We were scrubbing walls. YES, the walls need to be scrubbed. Anyways, it was so so so much fun, and I kept thinking "all I want is a room somewhere...far away from the cold night air....da da da dum....one ginormous chair oh wooooooodn't it be lovely?" anyways.... don't know if I know the real like lyrics all that well, but I'm pretty good at substituting reality with my own thoughts haha. It was awesome. We had lots of fun. THEN, this last thursday....they let us put up the flags!!! We got to pick which countries were represented it was SO COOL! I felt so official. And THEN, we folded rags. And the guy gave us permission to rip up the rags and through them away if they had holes. Goodness knows that I went all Hulk-ness on those rags. Who knew I had so much strength. Now, I have a technique for ripping rags...that I'm sure I could transfer to shirts, towls, sheets, or really any type on linen. It was pretty amazing. Then, the guy liked us so much he gave us each our own set of keys and let us strut around the building. I can't explain how much joy that service assignment brought me. Oh! Ps I made sure that Fiji (william), Mexico (Nathan), and the Dominican Republic (Nate), were represented. Yoooouuuur welcome.

One of the best parts of the week.

Here it goes.

I hope you're all ready.

Soo. There is this shimai from england here going to Japan on her mission. There are also a group of real Japanese people. (I know, super duper cool right?). Anyways, so all the nijonjin (japanese) people found out that she's from england, and they apparently came up to her and begged her to saw Harry Potter spells. (half of them don't speak english at all, and the ones that do speak, speak very little...which makes this so much better). So she finall agreed, and started spouting off spells from Harry Potter, and get this, they would react according to the spell. So when she said 'Avada Cadavra' (no idea how to spell it) all the nihonjin fell to the gound dead. SOOOO funny. If only you could have seen it. I didn't see it, but just hearing this sister recollect it was SOOOOO FUNNY. They think she's a celebrity. They pretend to flip their hair the way she flips her hair, and when she shook their hand they were DYING with excitment. Almost identical to when we (Kimber, Emma Allen, Rebecca Lonas) were at the He Is We concert and the singer touched Kimber's hand. Similar reaction. For those of you who can't make this comparison because you weren't there, by all means....make one of the three of them reinact it.

Which reminds me. I almost forgot! This is the funniest part of my week. It was just Tuesday. But I was starting to loose it a bit. And we went to a devotional at the marriote center. So there are TONS of people. So naturally singing was cool because there are so many people. Then. The best thing of my life happened. They announced we would be singing 'Put your shoulder to the Wheel'. If you don't know all the words pull them up RIGHT now on your computer. Before I continue, you must all realize one thing. When Kate Bokovoy (one of my very very best friends) was getting potty trained, he sweet parents used to sing this song to her to well...help her out. I've never ever EVER forgotten that. So. just imagine. This WHOLE stadium of people singing 'Put Your Shoulder To The Wheel'. I was dying. Crying so hard. It was SO FUNNY. Anyways, I told my companion why I was laughing, and now she says the song is ruined for her hahahahaha. So I hope the song isn't ruined for any of you, but I hope it brings a great big smile to your face when you hear it next! :)

Guess I'm out of time. Well....Have a great week everyone! I love you all so much!! ps. I don't have time to tell this story, but doing laundry at the temple is SO MUCH FUN! If you ever have a chance, go do it. And ask them what the sock turn-a-lator is. I'm curious to know if it's exclusive to Provo. They got all kinds of cool gadgets. And I learned how to fold socks in a way that revolutionized my laundry folding. needless to say I'm pretty stoked.

Anyways, Good bye for reals. I love you all. Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who wrote me letters/ dear elders! They are the best!!!! Oh! And I got Chopsticks this week! It was so sweet!!!

Love forever and ever--

Sister Lane/Lane Shimai/ Heather! I still don't know what I should call myself....

Sister Carter (Aly) and Sister Lane (Heather) celebrating Kate's birthday in their own special way.

AWESOME week.

Super duper awesome.

I can't tell you all the reasons cause no one will think they're as awesome as I do, but miracles. PURE miracles.

First off----Happy Father's Day! To all the father's and almost father's! (William & Ben :) ).

And---Happy 19th Birthday to Kate Bokovoy!! Aly and I saw each other on your birthday. It was awesome.

Happy Almost birthday to Capri!! I'm not so good with counting. I don't usually know what the date is. But I KNOW her birthday is on the 19th! So Happy Birthday to the little princess!! I want pictures!!

First off- this week my world was turned up side down. In the most dramatic sense. Only not really. Here it goes. Sooooo these girls in my district... they're pretty hilarious. So for weeks they've been planting words ( I suspect there are more than one). What they did is at dinner one day, they asked us to pass the mohekians (napkins) so we were all (naiively) like "wow cool! Napkin= mohekian, let's use it all the time!". So. We did! then one late night the truth came out hahahaha they have been making up words and planting them hahaha it's pretty awesome. It's funnier if you were the one being tricked I suppose hahaha. They told our sensai and he thought it was hilarious haha

So- the Canadian in the district. She was talking to this girl, let's call the girl Blank Shimai. So Blank Shimai has a really thick accent, (australian or something) and so canada was trying to ask her about her passport. "Have you turned in your passport yet Blank Shimai?" --"Uhh I mailed it in like a long time ago". ---"what? how does that even work?"....----"Uhhh they told me to turn it in so I did....?"----"wait, how in the world did they let you into America then?"....Blank Shimai: "Umm...I'm from North Carolina..." hahahahahaha I don't know why, but I thought that was hilarious haha. Mean girls moment haha ...."we have a new student from Africa..." anyways. Ooooooh Canada....

OH! BEST PART OF THE WEEK! (in some ways). There I was, just standing outside of the bathroom for my doryo, and I saw a real live nihonjin! (I don't know how to spell it. Quite embarassing...but she's a legit Japanese Shimai) so I tried talking to her in English of course. She didn't understand. So I had to resort to Japanese. It was awesome. They her Doryo came and I was talking to BOTH of them and both of them were sooooo sweet. I told them I was from California and they were so excited. And then we were all just there smiling at each other. Cause that's how I communicate. Not with words of course. But yeah, then I continued to ask all the questions I actually know how to say, and they responded, and they UNDERSTOOD me ( I think they were probably just nodding their heads) but anyways, THEN (get this) they THANKED me for learning Japanese. Best moment of my life. When one of the Elder's heard that, he was like "are you kidding me?!?! Everytime I go past their classroom and I say hello, every single one of them just laugh at me and none of them ever talk to me" hahaha. Yeah. That's write. The Japanese love me.

I met two Elders speaking Mandarin, and they told me their biggest mistake they ever made in a lesson. it's pretty funny. The poor red headed elder told his investigator NOT that he was from America (like he was trying to say) but that he was from the Devil. Yup. Poor poor elder. I'd make a ginger joke here but I'll just let it be. I think it speaks for itself.

This other companionship of Japanese Elders are pretty funny. One of them is super intense and serious, and the other is not as serious as he probably should be haha. So the serious elder goes "Everytime he tried to commit someone to baptism he promises them the gift of tongues" hahahahaha so the not-so-serious elder goes:

 "what? It's just so easy to say, and I sound so smart. It's just so easy to say 'igen no tamamono'. It rolls off your tongue. The only other phrase that rolls off my tongue is 'so desu ney (kinda an all-encompasing phrase you can use in any situation, like 'you don't say' or something like that) my companion likes speaking Japanese, so he'll speak to you now".

It's just really funny hahahaha.

Okay. Coolest video EVER on Sunday. It's called Recognizing the Holy Ghost and it's by Elder Bednar (a devotional he gave here so I don't think it's on youtube or anything) but here's some of my notes/thoughts from it. It was SO great.

Question: How do you know when it's the spirit, and how do you know if it's just you?

Answer: Quit worrying about it. Quit fussing. Press forward with fath. Follow the commandments, remember your covenants, be a good boy, be a good girl, and your steps will be guided.

He said that people too often now just sit, and try to analyze their thoughts. Quit doing that. Just get up and work. Just do it! Don't worry about it, because if you're doing what you should be doing, then you will have the spirit with you in everything you do. He said that very very rarely do you know it's a promting from the spirit before you act on it. It's usually somewhere down the road that you realize it, or sometimes you'll never know.

He told a story of how he was supposed to conduct a big stake meeting, and he was promted to travel two hours to get to his sons basketball game, and take a brother who was sitting in the audience because their sons were playing each other at this high school tournament thing. So he did. He just got up and left before the meeting started and put someone else in charge. So they went to the basketball game, had a good time, but elder bednar wondered (and assumed) that the feeling he got that he should go to the basketball game, was just him wanting to get out of meetings. So he assumed that. 6 months later, the father of the other son called him and asked him to come to the hospital because their son had been in a terrible accident. By the time elder benar got there, the man's son had passed away. And one thing he said, was that he was so grateful that elder bednar took him out of that meeting and had him go to the basketball game...because little did he know, but he wouldn't have ever had an opportunity in this life again to see his son play in a game like that.

He shared two other amazing stories, but I don't have the time to write them all down. They're amazing though. So just little things like that. Don't worry about it! Go forward with faith instead of sitting back and pushing away thoughts that come to your mind.

Another quote I love that has to do with this--- "never supress a generous thought"-Sister Kimball. Just do what you feel is write, and the Lord will be with you. Section 80 of D&C says "it mattereth not" somewhere...it's the Lord speaking to someone, and Elder Bednar pointed out that when the Lord says "it mattereth not", he doesn't mean that he doesn't care. It means to be a good boy, be a good girl, choose the right, and your steps WILL be guided. Anyways. Love elder bednar.

Another devotional--- this lady gave. She was so cute. But quickly--the message she shared was mostly just 1) Know your purpose... someone who knows their purpose will do everything they can to get back to their Heavenly Father. People who truly have the love of God with them, will also want others to feel that love. So yeah. Know your purpose. If you don't know your purpose, ask the missionaries!!!

Another thought I had this week---I think this is a quote somewhere--- but the only gifts that grow when you give them is Love and Charity. So remember that!!

Oh. By the way, thanks family for NEVER telling me that I ate weird hahaha. Everyone in my district comments on it. They say their all going to send their kids to me to learn how to eat properly. So yeah. I guess I eat weird hahaha. Good to know. One of the elders came up with the nick-name 'princess peach'...........I have no more comments on this.

Oh! Today is my month-a-versary. So i'll take a moment so say how awesome my companion is. She's awesome. I don't know what else to say other than that, but she's awesome, and I've learned so much from her! She's like a little beam of sunshine. And she smiles at everyone. She's a hard worker, and she's a sassy little country girl when she gets tired hahaha.

Speaking of tired, on fridays, (usually the most tired days) I tend to start loosing it. So friday when we got to class, before it started I made the agenda like they normally do, and I said 1) eat, 2) sleep (because we don't drink...and I was really tired), and 3) be merry. So my teacher didn't notice it for a really long time, and I was surpressing my laughter that entire time. So when she saw it and started laughing, I was laughing soooooo hard. best laughter of the week. I'm not sure if anyone else enjoys my nerdy sense of humor as much. But someone reading this probabaly does. Even if that someone is just Kimber and Emma hahaha.

Well, I love you all! And I'm about to send pictures maybe? I think? Have a great week! SEND ME DEAR ELDERS! AND LETTERS!

CHOCOLATE

Sooooo we got out of the temple late, and my companion goes "well, we'll have less than an hour to write our families...oh darn" and I'm like "mmmm no i'm taking an hour" hahaha "yeah...I thought you might say that". Anyways, she's a sweetheart, and she loves me, so we're taking the hour!

 

Let's see.... so I'm GOING to send pictures today if it kills me. Sounds like I can only send one at a time. So this may be a really short email.. Alright, first off, I had a dream. Emma had a little cat, and I loved this cat, and I could talk to this cat cause we had some weird connection. (note: in real life, I really really dislike cats) anyways, so this cat showed me this secret passage in our house, and then had me open a little drain, and there was this ity bity little kitty. It was sooooo cute, and I was so excited. I thought it was sleeping. So I picked it up, and I was just holding it and I was SO happy. And then I was like "emma! Emmma! she found your kitten!" so emma comes in, holds the kitten for a second, excuses the cat and the cat leaves. Then Emma goes "heather, the kitten is dead. You're going to need to bury it". I was devestated. I've never cried more in a dream in my whole life. That was the reast of the dream. Me crying my eyes out. It was the worst thing that could have ever happened to me. Anyways, that was one of my dreams, and I woke up and scored my 4th head bump point! So that was a plus. (I'm on the top bunk, and sometimes I forget there's a ceiling).

 

Soooo this Elder. In my district. the one that says funny things but doesn't know--- he said another funny thing. He was talking about this play his uncle wrote that was about Adam and Eve, and then in the play there was Christ and Satan to. He's all like "yeah the music was phenomenal (sp) and Satan...MAN did he play his part". Me-"what about Jesus?" him- "oh...well, he was alright and everthing, but Satan? ---Wow! That's all I have to say".....

I don't know if anyone else thinks that's funny, but I still think it's hilarious hahaha.

 

So. Me and languages. It's a funny thing. The first day (i forgot to tell you before) the Canadian sister in my district was like "is that honorific or what?".... I thought 'honorific' was some weird/ 'cool' canadian thing to say. ohhh canadians, right? anyways, turns out it's a legit thing. She was asking me a grammar question...and my response was a "hahahaha". 

Yeah....

Alright. So one of the ladies in charge here informed us of lots of dress code stuff, but one of them is that as sisters, we HAVE to wear no-show socks. You know, the socks that aren't supposed to show. So I went to the little store here (which I love) and bought some more pairs. No-show socks? I was under the impression that they weren't going to be showing. But they are, in fact, made like normal socks, fit the same was on your foot, then are just the nylon fabric. So everytime I look at my feet I feel like a dork. I love it haha.

 

I've seen sooooo many people here!!! Zoe hart got in wednesday, i've seen kate Woolley a few times, matt Conley, Zac Farr, bennett Peterson, Rachel Bumstead (we have like everything scheduled at the same time, I see her EVERYWHERE haha it's awesome). But yeah. Oh!!! HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY SPENCER!!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

 

the australian kid in my district, get this...his little brothers name is Pheonix MacGyver Joseph Poole. Coolest name in the world or what??? Also, my branch president just got a new grandson, his name is Rush Mattew Butler. SOOOO cute. Also also, I think Melvin is the cutest name for little boys. ps-Anyone looking for a cool little boys name, Mugen in Japanese means 'limitless'. Just saying.

 

Okay--cool note. Someone in the branch presidency came in and talked to us, and we all had a disscusion about personal revelation and prayer and stuff. He said that when he was a mission president in Hawaii, one of the Apostles came and talked to all the missionaries, and told them that if they went to the scriputres with a question (the Book of Mormon), their question would be answered within two pages. He tried it out himself and found out that promise really is true. Sometimes it's the words on the page, sometimes it's the spirit manifesting to you through the Book of Mormon the answers to you're prayers. Try it out. It works. Just have faith enough to follow the promptings! Also, the guy that wrote 'the infinite atonement' came for our last devotional. It was wonderful!! He has a crazy great mind. Callister? ps- dad the scripture that you referenced in your letter i got that day was the first one that he used. It was really cool haha

 

By the way, thank you to everyone who writes me letter and sends me dear elders!! They are the best! And they're the most wonderful thing! To be able to go back to our room and read letters at the end of the day is AMAZING!

 

I don't know if I've ever told you about sisters. Missionary sisters to be specific. They are so funny. In different ways. One way, is that they have this thing about eating. I don't know, it's weird. Like they don't think they can eat all the dessert they want. So I liberate them. Everytime their little sheepish voices go "I don't know...how many calories does it have?" I go "it doesn't matter!!! I've had 3!". Basically that's how the meal times go. Once they feel like their not being fat or something, they'll go for it. Sooo it's hilarious. And that may sound mean- that whole thing, but they all know they do it hahaha I joke about it with them. Last Sunday, I just wanted 1 bowl of ice cream. I was so full, but obviously...it's ice cream. I'm not gonna not have ice cream. So I get my one bowl. And then the sisters started "that looks really good. can I just have a bite?" me--- "you should get a couple bowls actually, I'm planning on having five" and if they believe me---they'll go for it. I cheer them on. I think I'm being a good influence.... :) anyways, point of the story, I ended up eating 3 bowls of ice cream because these sisters kept wanting more but wouldn't go up to get any unless I went with them. It's hilarious hahaha.

 

a couple of the sisters in my district really are hilarious. You would all love them. But one thing they made up, was that they are going to make two films when they get home "Finding Doroyo" and "500 days of Doroyo" (Doroyo means companion). Also, the australian always quotes movies and stuff and then goes 'oh, it's an australian film'. So they've added, "Finding Doroyo, an American Film" hahahaha I think it's hilarious. Don't know about any of you hahaha.

 

So the gym time here, is one of the best things ever. It helps SO much relieving stress. So we go in to the gym this week, we're the first ones there so the guy explains all the rules, and when he got to explaining the weights, he goes "...and if you lift over 50 pounds you'll need a spotter hahahahahaha" (yeah so he started laughing). And we were all standing there like "what? hahahaha" it was really funny, cause he tried really hard to hold it in but couldn't, and then he goes "none of you even weigh 50 pounds" and continued to laugh. it was pretty funny hahaha

 

OH! Everyone needs to watch the worldwide broadcast on the 23rd!! WE GET TO SING IN IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!

 

Oh. In my lesson. This was the beginning of the week. One of our investigators asked about the sacrament because he went to church. So we were explaining that we take the sacrament to REMEMBER (oberu) Jesus Christ. Only I didn't say oberu apparently, I said beru... which is beer. Try to explain yourself out of that one in Japanese. Yup! Not soooo easy. But the moment he looked confused and repeated it, was one of the happiest moments of my life. because 1) I understood him enough to understand what was going on in his mind, and how I made the mistake. Not feeling lost is the BEST thing in the world!!! but 2) I just broke down and started laughing like crazy after I said ie ie (no) about a milllion times and he was laughing his head off. It was a good moment.

 

Something else I always mess up. I've realized that this is a common occurance. I go to teacher. Ask teacher a question. Example question in this case will be "I'll be right back". So I ask them how to say it, and they'll repeat it back to me in Japanese. But they add things like "do you understand" or "does that make sense" etc. But most of the time I don't catch it. So I go around left and right saying things like "I'll be right back, do you understand???" anyways, I've been learning more Japanese and all, and this happened...and I realized I think i've been doing that all along. Oh how the teachers must laugh when they leave the mtc. I can't even imagine hahaha.

 

Psycho, means 'the best'. I don't know how to spell it in japanese, but that was a fun side note

 

My companion is hilarious sometimes hahaha. So we were writing this letter to an elder in our district who was feeling down, and so I was writing and she was coming up with things. I go "oh, he's a gentleman" and she goes "Yes! And Elderly Gentleman" hahahahahahahahahahaha I'm still laughing about that one. SO funny. It made him laugh too, but he called it a 'jessie joke'. That's australian for 'the kind of joke parents tell'. I don't know what he's talking about though because my parents are hilarious..... ;)

 

Realization: Faith of our Fathers is, in fact, a hymn. Not a Christmas song sung by Bing Crosby.

 

Alright, well I'm going to end this and HOPEFULLY send pictures. I love you all!!! Search the Book of Mormon, it's the best! Be happy, smile lots, eat lots of chocolate. OH! McKenna and Nathan gave me ANOTHER thing of sees candy!!!!!!! PLUS they gave my companion kit kat bars (her favorite). It was pretty much the best surprise ever.

 

ah yes. Be happy and smile lots! have fun! Go to the beach, have a great summer off from school, learn lots, etc. Love you all soooooooo very very much!!!

 

Be safe!!!

Sincerely,

Lane Shimai :)