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. :)