Alright.

Here it goes! Deep breath in while I try to remember my week....

Well. My companions talk in there sleep! That was a big part of the week hahaha. One of them (Sister Roberts) its every night. Occasionally Sister Andaca will sleep talk back. And there I am. In silence hahaha. So this week Sister Roberts sheduled an appointment with a new investigator all in her sleep! Quite marvelous. Sometimes all she says in her sleep is `oh. mmhm! Hai hai. Dijobu-(its all good) (sp?)` which means shes probably listening to an investigator hahaha some nights are really funny. Oh! She can also make the sound of a ROUS (like from The Princess and the Bride), and man nothing lifts my day better than that awful sound hahaha but really, it makes me laugh every single time, and you cant not be happy when youre laughing!!

I had a lot of moments this week where I just stood there and smiled and said Konnichiwa over and over again. I feel bad. The members are nice though! They just laugh. Sometimes on the street when I am in the middle of teaching a lesson and I forget how to say something---people arent as sweet hahaha. I swear. The old ladies here- they just plain dont like me! Which makes the days so much more interesting cause I am never expecting it hahaha. And its so much better when old ladies are mean than young people. I dont know why, but when old ladies are mean its just really funny hahaha

mmmm its hot here! And I love it! Whenever I am sweating like crazy (which is in fact all the time) I feel so good cause I know I am working as hard as my mental and physical capabilities allow! I step outside and its like a layer of sweat is already on me. Aquarius` have become my best friend. They are kinda like gatorade- but delicious. And they are everywhere. The have vending machines here on every corner! Its awesome!!! 

Alrighty I wanted to do this a while ago but I forgot, and then just remembered again. Here are the lyrics to the song they sing in the MTC! Its the same toon as `As Sisters In Zion`, but the lyrics are changed! here they are. Enjoy!

The Sisters in Zion are called to God`s labor,

we willingly serve Him in spirit and might

We go to the natinos with truth everlasting

We teach of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ

We Thank thee o God for a prophet to guide us

We trust in his words and our purpose is clear

The angels of heaven are walking beside us

we`ll share our glad message with all who will hear

We go forth enlisted with Helaman`s army

in numbers much greater than ever before

with power and spirit we`ll faithfully witness

the heavens have spoken and truth is restored

Anyways, its really cool to sing it with a huge room of Sister Missionaries　:)

Oh--Sheenhan sensei---if you read this-- Futon stretches are REAL. Thanks for the warning!!

Alright- So i have been thinking a lot this week about HOPE! And how vital it is. Without hope, life is just awful. But with hope its the best thing ever! And the greatest gift :) I just want to be able to wake up every morning excited beyond excited to start the wonderful day! So. Hope. Hope is the key! I want everyone to commit to reading The Infinite Power of Hope by President Uchtdorf this week!!! And I mean everyone! I dont care if you have no clue who `President Uchtdorf` is. In short, he is one of the most awesome guys ever. Go to lds.org---type the title into the little search bar and you will find it! Its not long, might take 5-10 minutes to read it. So everyone should do it. Even if you have already read it, read it again!

Here are a couple things I took from it. First off---hope. Hope comes when you understand the promises that Heavenly Father has made to us, and its not knowledge but the "abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises to us". Hope is manifested in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance. Soooo how can we get hope? We build it one step at a time. By praying daily, reading the scriptures daily, obeying the commandments, and for me--it has come a lot when we show heavenly Father that we trust Him! When you feel prompted to do something- just do it. When a random thought comes into your mind--if its a good thing---just do it! Dont worry about where the prompting or the thought came from. If it is good, then do it! "Never suppress a generous thought!"

I also love this promise-- "Hope-lends promise to the future and purpose to the past"---Just think about that. Study the talk! It will make you happy. And then read all of Uchtdorf`s talks cause he`s a sweetheart haha

Another quote I love-- "In the depth of winter, we find within us an invincible summer"-Albert Camus

"The love of the Son of God pierces all darkness, softens all sorrow, and gladdens every heart"

This talk, and just reading scriptures about hope and studying it--has helped me so much! I can honestly say that I am super happy when I wake up in the mornings now, and every time I feel that hope slip away- I say a little prayer and I find strength to keep it by my side. Heavenly Father loves you, and He wants you to be happy no matter what! All the time, and in every situation. Sometimes all you have to do to receive that strength is simply to ask in prayer! You dont even have to stop everything you are doing and go somewhere to kneel down and pray---keep a prayer in your heart. Pray silently to Heavenly Father. When you are walking, sitting in class, patiently waiting for Emma to come out of her friends house---the days will be brighter, the dark moments will be lighter, and the light moments will be so much more meaningful!

What else is going on...I feel kinda bad these emails are always so long- I just type super fast and I am always saying random things. But whatever!

uhhh what else....oh- yeah. So raw eggs are big here right? So this week I actually ate one. It is absolutely disgusting hahaha. We were at an investigators house, she brings out a bowl of eggs, and I decide its high time for me to just go for it. So I did! You just crack it in your bowl, and then add random things to it. Slimiest thing you can imagine. Mushrooms and noodles. Mushrooms are big here. The whole time I was just telling myself that it was the same as eating brownie batter, or cookie dough. It kinda helped. 

Speaking of food, Roberts Shimai was kind enough to make a chocolate milkshake for us this week- here it is!!

It was pretty good haha

OH! The little japanese babies here are SO CUTE! I cant barely stand it. We taught baby eikaiwa this week, and man. This one little girl--she is like 2 or 3, and she has the bangs just straight across her forehead, and she has got such a personality. I love her. And then, this adorable little baby boy....Harihito---He has got chubs like none other. He was sitting on his moms lap- just smiling at us with his tongue sticking out, and we had this perfect side profile of all his rolls. His arm  is essentially 2 big rolls, and then his stomach has rolls like you wouldnt believe. He is 7 months old, and I want him to be in my life forever. Wont happen though. But when Roberts Shimai and I are having a hard time, we think of him and just smile. He is really that cute. Andaca Shimai just laughs hahaha. Oh! Who knew? They dont have rootbeer here, or popcorn!

Anyways. oh! I am learning how to cook lots of delicious stuff! Im not gonna brag, but man. We eat delicious food every single day. Oh, and we dont have an oven, so when we want brownies we fry them in a pan. Its really pretty effective. Also- banana pancakes are my new favorite thing. Anyways. 

Oh! i shall tell you about a funny lady in our life. She lives right across from the church, and she loves the missionaries, but she wont listen to them. So everytime she sees the elders- she waves like crazy, and then she says (in english, but with a thick japanese accent) I live right here! I live right here!!!! And then we saw her in the street the other day and tried talking to her, and she just smiled the whole time but wouldnt listen. I constantly hear her voice in my head- "I live right here! I live right here!!" I dont know why I think its so funny, but it really is haha

Oh! Music- So we listen to my cds in the apartment, and I love them All. Recently we have been listening to the Lion King cd a lot (broadway version) and man. Those songs---are sooooooooo good. Its become a dream of mine to see that on broadway now. I have the songs stuck in my head all the time. Mostly just "Im gonna be a mighty king! So enemies beware...." I sing it to myself when I get glares hahaha

Alright- Sorry this was so long and it didnt have much meat. I guess all I need to say is I am safe, happy, and progressing!

I love you all! And I hope the best for you :) choose to be happy everyday!!! Smile lots at strangers! Give winks to the ones that glare- it`ll make their day interesting and Im not allowed to do it.. so do it for me! And then if youre feeling down, sing lion king at the top of your lungs and say a silent prayer. Ta ta for now!

Looooove,

Lane Shimai

ps- I didnt talk about this at all- but the youth of the church are amazing. I really really love all the youth, they are all so strong! Here and back in Carlsbad. You are all the best. And the youth programs of the church---are amazing. Anyways. Love you all!