Life

Life just happens sometimes....

How to explain my week? I dont know if I can. But i shall tell you a few things about it!

First of all, I have SUCH a strong testimony that Heavenly Fathers knows us individually...SOOO well. When people get called to certain places on their mission, I think i have come to realize that it will be 1-the place they are needed the most, and 2- the place they will be challenged the most!!! Challenges are awesome. Even if they kinda suck the whole time you are in them, all you have to do sometimes is endure and let yourself learn!!!

I dont know why im so weird sometimes, but I was going to bed the other night and had the BEST idea ever!!!!!!! Christmas of memories. I understand that Christmas is a little ways off, but...its my favorite. And how can you not think about christmas when your job is to testify of Christ all day? Anyways. I am so doing this when I get home. But the idea is that for christmas presents, instead of buying anything, you wrap up different memories in beautiful boxes. there are a few different kinds of memories. 1-memories you have had with the person you `give` the memory to, 2-memories you hope to have with that person, 3- memories you have had in your life that have changed you are helped you a ton, and 4- memories of others that have changed you. Anyways. Its just an idea. I dont know if anyone is excited about that idea, but I sure am!!!

We went in the grocery store last week, right?...turn the corner. Find a little kids finger pointed in my direction...`Look mom!!! A white girl!!!`. And thats what she did. She just looked hahahaha I love it here. Funny things happen.

My companion Sister Roberts likes to test me sometimes hahaha. Not in like bad ways, just in good ways. She knows that food is my weakness. So we were eating Ramen, (i am all relieved because its just normal and not scary or anything) but yeah so she looks at me, opens the fridge, and cracks a raw egg into her ramen....ewwww ewww ewww hahaha she is nuch more brave with the food than I am, but I am improving!! I ate sushi at a members home the other night!　Didnt even flinch. That same member had chips and salsa on her table, and I have never been more excited to see chips and salsa. I dont even like salsa. but that night, I LOVED it.

We have this investigator, and shes amazing. Shes like a saint. Her life goal had been to go to indonesia and follow mother thereseas followers. But, she also wants to be bapstized. We shall see. She is one of the few who actually understand my Japanese hahaha. Speaking of my Japanese, Emiko (the old lady who just got baptized) started making fun of me and my companions this week. She started immitating our japanese. The sad thing is, is that I couldnt tell the difference between normal japanese and when she was immitating us hahahaha. But to pay her back, we taught her how to say `peace out homie`. She doesnt really know what it means, but she says it to the elders whenever she sees them and it makes their day. So thats all that matters, right?

Speaking of Emiko, she is an awful driver. I am just going to say it. never have I ever seen a more awful driver than she. never have I ever been more scared for my life hahaha. We have diven in her car like 4 times now. You would think i would be used to it... but yeah, so we get in her car on friday, and she goes `I did not sleep last night, bery tired`. I dont know what I thought it was a good idea to get into that car.　But we did!!! Hahaha. To cope with the stress I decided to close my eyes, and what do you know, I fell asleep. So when I wake up we are rushing out of the car for some reason, and into this room with a million old ladies in uniform kimonos. So they stripped us down and dressed us. I was already in a daze, it was like one of the weirdest dreams I had ever had. Only it wasnt a dream haha. Ill show you a picture.

We went to this festival in our kimonos, and we got a song dedication to us. it was pretty awesome, i am not going to lie. But the highlight of the evening was when this band of middle aged japanese men sang Country Road (West Virginia)...It was one of the best things i have ever heard haha.

oh. and sister andaca was swing dancing with a drunk man. hahahaha he just grabbed her hand and started dancing, and she didnt know what to do hahaha its so funny. We tease her about it all the time now haha.

So sometimes, I kinda wish I was a painter! I read these scriptures in the Book of Mormon and this pictures come into my mind, but all I can do is scribble them on my notebook paper. I`m not saying theyre bad though. Probably would have won me some kind of honorable mentioned in a kindergarten art show. but yeah. The one I read this week was Alma 37:45---its beautiful. Kimmi!! You should paint it. I wonder if we would come up with the same picture. but the scripture is like a poem! So much of the Book of Mormon is like a poem. It says "...the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise". Thats a promise. The Book of Mormon, the Bible, the words of the Prophets and apostles....its all scripture. It is all the `words of Christ`. READ THEM! Study them! In Sister Bokovoy`s last letter, she told her family to read the Book of Mormon everyday!!! I second that!!!! I cant tell you how vital that is. Make it one of your goals, because without it...life is just so much harder. If you have a hard time understanding it, or enjoying it, make sure you pray beforehand. And when you can, make sure you are reading with a question in mind!!! 

Oh, and read Alma 34:38-- "Live in thanksgiving daily" I think that means you should always be grateful and show the gratitude you feel...and that you should eat delicious food daily. So do it!!!!

I have been thinking a lot about the Atonement. Finding lots of good scriptures about the Atonement. Alma 33:23 is my favorite one at the moment. Study it! The Atonement was Jesus Christ overcoming our sins, and overcoming physical death so that we could be with Heavenly Father again. It is as simple as that. The depth of the Atonement comes when you realize exactly how far-reaching the atonement is. It is INFINITE. In every way. Sometimes people make it a lot more complicated than it needs to be, and sometimes people have a hard time accepting it because they think they dont deserve it. Accepting the Atonement simply means that you repent. You stop doing the things you are not supposed to do, you say your sorry, and you replace it with good things! You keep moving forward. EVERYONE deserves the healing power of the Atonement. It can take away your guilt, but you have to let it. You have to trust in Christ enough to know that it can work for you. Know that you can drop your burdens at His feet, and that he will lift you up and help you continue to be the best you can be. The Atonement is the most loving, most hopeful, most vital message anyone could ever come to realize. Its power is real. If you dont understand, or if you dont fully feel it for yourself...study it! Study up on the Atonement. Look up talks. Read the testimonies of the Prophets and Apostles throughout time. 

All I want to say again to everyone----is that Heavenly Father loves you! He loves you so much! More than you could possibly realize. Christ loves you. He KNOWS you. He knows the thoughts and intents of your heart. Dont let Him down. And dont doubt His strength. He can be there no matter what, if you just let him. Remember the poem `footprints`. Remember that if you need to feel the spirit as you pray to heavenly Father, just visualize  the most peaceful place you can think of. In the middle of a snowy, quiet forest at dusk! Anything. I know it sounds kinda funny, but it really works, and it really helps out. 

Heavenly Father loves you so much, and I do too!!!

:) have the bestest week ever!!!!

Sincerely,

Lane Shimai!! :)