SakuraSakura!

Its been a journey! Dendoed in my sleep last night. Yeaaaah thats right. Found a couple new investigators. In my sleep. In real life we also found a couple...but got stood up. I constantly feel like the girl in Never Been Kissed...when she is standing on her doorstep...if you havent seen it- just look up that part on youtube. I promise it`ll be worth it. And I promise you will laugh.

Anyways, we got another new investigator yesterday! It was incredible. We asked her on the street if she would want to be baptized if she knew our message was true- and she said yes! Incredible people! Pray she doesn't break out heart! haha Cook Shimai and I are constantly joking about how we are the people no one wants to talk to. Dont worry, in a funny way. Like those kids that are like "hey guys! Hey guys! I wanna hang out. You are so cool...what about right now? What about tomorrow? do you think we could be friends forever etc.etc." its a lot funnier in person right after someone shuts the door in our face hahaha. This all sounds really sarcastic, but I promise its not. Life is good, full of good things, and full of things that can make us laugh!!

I gotta beef with all of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO ONE told me that Shirley Temple died a month ago. We were sitting there in Eikaiwa in little conversation circles, and I asked them if they knew Shirley temple (they hadn't! blew my mind...a life without shirley temple?) anyways, I was just building her up, man shes so awesome...singing songs, etc. and then I told them to look her up on their phone- so they all get out their phone and then they just look at me- and go "....she died." hahahaha saddest moment ever haha Anyways, im giving you the benefit of the doubt. You probably didn't know either. But you do now!!! Go watch her movies and curl your hair or something!

We are on October 1971 and going strong!

Dad!! How was your birthday?!?! :D

Yesterday was such a good day.

Japan is super cool! and Japanese is amazing!

Life is good! I love being a missionary! Have you ever read the Susan Fulcher article? You should see if you can find it online- if not just tell me and I can send it to you. Its really good! We are trying to get these members to be a little more excited about missionary work! They are wonderful, they just doubt themselves when it comes to sharing the Gospel with their friends. but they all treat the missionaries so well. There are some members who just love the missionaries as soon as they meet them. They are just so happy that you are a missionary, and they remember all the missionaries that have served in their branch ever since they were baptized. I cannot tell you how much that has helped me! Because I go to church- and you already know these people love you unconditionally, and so you never want to do anything that would break their trust. Makes me realize that because I have been blessed to have people treat me like that- I need to treat everyone like that. I should love people automatically, believe in them, and see them as someone great with infinite potential. because that's what everyone is! Everyone has infinite potential. Some people just forget that. Anyways, just smile at people! Love them! I love you! So Much!!!

oh! By the way its heating up! And its sakura (cherry blossom) season!!! It is absolutely beautiful everywhere we go. And when the wind blows and the petals fall, I feel like im in heaven no joke. its beautiful.

have a great week everyone!!!!!! Ps I managed to gain a ukulele. Its super cute. don't know how to play it, but the elder didn't have room so guess who has it now!! Im learning today. Along with my ocarina. Life is good haha ps! Forgot to mention- last week was transfers and nothing changed with me! Same wonderful companion, same area, same shimai in the apartment, everything is the same! Its wonderful!

Love you all!

Sincerely,

Lane Shimai

Where Be the Fire Hose?

 me and cook shimai last pday

Good Morning {insert your own city}!

Life in Nagasaki has been a roller coaster this week, but MAN I can always count on the little old ladies to fawn over us. They giggle like little girls. Its the best thing in the world. Well, some of them do haha. We have this relationship with this one lady- she is super old. And she likes chocolate. So we go by her house every once in a while to bring her chocolate...but mostly just to check and see if she is still alive. Thats kinda a thing here. People dying in their houses and no one knowing for a while. There are a lot of houses that are completely abandoned- just sitting there with vines growing all through them. Pretty cool!

It is SAKURA season! The beautiful cherry blossoms are out at last! We are going to go check them out for pday. They are beautiful :) I got a few good stories from this past week! Right after we emailed last week we went down to the dejima warf to dendo. Right before we crossed the street, Cook shimai got the hiccups. normal right? Then this lady comes up and laughs a little bit and in english says "I can fix that" and she starts waving her arms in front of cook shimai. We thought it was a joke at first, but she kept doing it. And then she got more into it. So I started laughing at the situation- she breaks her trance- hits me- and continues hahaha I cant stop laughing... Cook shimai is just paralyzed- looking at me like "do something!" but I'm just enjoying it too much. So finally cook shimai was like "...they are just hiccups...im okay. Please stop" hahahaha it was good. There are this group of people in Japan- Mahikari?- who

think they have power to control everything and to heal people. Its interesting. They feed off of the energy of others. We met this one lady who ran right up to us and was so excited to talk to us. She told us we had very strong energy- and we were just talking to her, getting SO excited that she was so interested. Then when we asked her if she had a religion, she told us she was mahikari haha. Silly us, thinking this lady was ACTUALLY super excited to talk to us. No no no...she just be trying to steal our energy! Its interesting. They think they can erase clouds and stuff.

One of the best moments ever- alright there is this guy the elders (were) teaching, expect his father was apposed and so they had to stop. It was really sad, and really hard for the elders. But this week we were walking across the street and passed him! So we stood at the other side of the side walk trying to get his attention (he stopped

what we have to do (supposed to do...) when we go into
changing rooms because ALL THESE JAPANESE WOMEN wear LAYERS of makeup haha

and was waiting at a densha stop) and so Cook shimai was yelling- but he was looking down reading a book. And so I yell with her and he finally looks up- sees us- gets SUPER excited (which is not like him- he is probably one of the most shy people I have ever met) and he smiles real big, closes the book and hold its up---yup thats right. It was the book of mormon. Cook shimai and I get so excited- she gets out her English book of mormon, holds it up, and we both just have this moment where we are smiling from ear to ear, jumping up and down and waving our book of mormons. It was such a good moment. That boy is gonna be baptized someday!!!

Kitagawa came to her lesson this week! Brought potatoes. So we sat for the first ten minutes. Just sitting there, eating potatoes. Thought came to mind- only in Japan hahaha. She is doing great! We talked about the Book of Mormon a whole bunch and asked her if she prayed about it. She said

this man in the branch....brings the missionaries CRAZY
amounts of food

she hadn`t, and so we were trying to explain how important that is to pray about it. She was like "wait, I already know its true"....us-"ehh?" her-"its the word of God right?" us-"Yes!" her-"then it is all true!". Anyways, she is so backwards from the people we normally teach, so its super fun!

New rules for music in our mission- no disney, no nothing except Mormon Tabernacle Choir, BYU Mens Chorus, and classical music authorized by the church. So.....we started listening to talks more- and I have a new goal!! listen to all the talks in all the general conferences that lds.org has to offer!! (which is from 1971-now :) we listened to April 1971 last week, and it was so good. Learning so much! I just put it all on my sd card and we listen to it during meals, in the morning when we are getting ready, and at night before bed. Its fabulous!

One night this week I woke up to these insanely loud sirens, and a city-wide announcement. It was like a scene from a movie- this is how the story begins. so I ran into the other sisters room- it was a fire. Super huge fire. When big things happen in Nagasaki- they have a big announcer the echos through the whole city. It reminds me of hunger games or something. The fire was in the elders machi- so we call them up and they tell us to look out the window. The biggest fire I have ever seen in my life was there- tried to get a picture but it didn't capture it. Anyways- it was all good, they put it out really fast, and I haven't heard anything about it since.

You might be wondering about Yuu Chan- She wasn't baptized on Saturday. There is a lot going on with her right now, but long story short- she is not going to get baptized in the next few weeks. She goes to America at the end of the month of April, so we will be passing her off to missionaries there. 

This week is Dad`s BIRTHDAY!!!!!! I'm so excited for you!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you so much! Have the best birthday Dad!! Get lots of  Carlsbad strawberries and watch a good movie. I'm sending you a billion hugs in the mail!!! and they arrive as soon as you open all your other presents. Its like magic! 

Have a great week everybody! Dont forget the lyrics to How Firm a Foundation! They came into my mind this week randomly and I haven't been able to get them out since. "Fear not, I am with thee of be not dismayed- for I

 yamamotto shimai with her kids :)

am thy God and will still give thee aid. Ill strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand; upheld by my righteous omnipotent hand". Remember that All Things Denote that There is a God! (alma 30:44). If you doubt that- just look around you!

I love you all so much! Life is so good! Adventure this week and enjoy the weather warming up! nearly time for the first picnic of spring!

LLOOOOOOOOOVE YOU.

-Lane Shimai

Nagasaki Relief Society

Nagasaki Zone Conference

Chubby Maggee

Chubby Cheeks Maggee

man I didn't leave a lot of time for this email. SORRY!

Here it goes!

We see miracles everyday, even when things dont seem to be going our way. Yesterday Yuu Chan didnt come to church, when she had committed to coming to all three hours- and she usually does what she says she is going to do. But She didnt show up, or call us or anything, and when we messaged her she just kind of blew us off and said she would see us on wednesday. So we were kind of bummed, but we decided before we went home to do our studies we needed to drop off a note for someone-she wasnt there. So we decided to knock on one door- and the cutest old couple came out to talk to us. they were so sweet, and so open. Even though they didnt want to meet again and they didnt accept the Book of Mormon, they were angels in my eyes. Gorgeous little giggly, sweet angels haha

awkward photo

japanese people have the coolest names. Lilly Twobottles, Firstdragon Targetfield, Ricesprout Bank, Mountain Pear, etc. I really think McKenna and Nathan should consider this route when you decide your baby girls name. Mugen means infinite, limitless...its an option.

BEFORE I FORGET!!!!!!! HAPPY ST.PATRICKS DAY!!!!!!!!! Hope you are all wearing green!!! And if your not, I hope all the forces of nature pile up against you and (sorry I dont know where I was going with that, my brain is a little fried haha) If your not wearing green I hope you get pinched. Lightly. But pinched nonetheless.

We had some funny people talk to us this week. The lady in one of the pictures I sent is adorable. She is a sassy sassy lady. She tells us all the time we need to study Japanese more haha.

best family ever

Oh! Anyone know what New Speak is? Yeah well with that same kind of theory, I sound awful dumb whenever I speak in english- Im sure you can tell in my emails haha because I only know SIMPLE words and structures in Japanese, and so whenever im thinking its alllllways simplified. Anyways. If anyone cares to help me expand my vocabulary- it'd be much appreciated.

Week of miracles! Hope everything back home is going well! I have to get off now- next week I will try to be better at remember the funny stories too- and the things that actually happen haha 

I love you all so much!!!! Have a great week!

Looooooooooooooooooooooooooove,

Lane Shimai

heart attacking the Elders on White Day

Another beautiful sunrise

Wam. bam. Alakaaaazam. Wonderful you walked by.

3/10/2014

Another beautiful sunrise

Scripture case a sweet sister in the ward gave me.

special cake for Princess Day

Man this week was wonderful! Had some of the best studies.

We found two new investigators this week!!!!

1-Aiko, she is a single mama with another on the way, she is super smart, loves to read, and we taught her about the restoration! When we asked her to pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true, she thought about it for a loooooong time. And then told us she would, and asked where our favorite parts were. I love people who love to read. They are so great to work with haha. She is going to Australia this week! So we wont see her for a bit. But we are way excited about her!!!!

2-Sachiko- she goes along with a miracle story-- we dendoed down this long road for about 4 hours last monday, talking to everyone we could. It was great! talked to a lot of good people, but didnt find any new investigators. So the next day we were planning on dendoing somewhere else, but after praying about it we felt like there was someone we missed on that road- and that we needed to do it again. So thats what we did! Met a lot of angels on our way (we started keeping an angel count). Its funny, because sometimes you get kekkoed (rejected) over and over and over again, and then this really nice person comes along. Like REALLY nice, and patient. But they wont make a return appointment or give us any of their information. Im convinced they are just angels heavenly father sends to give us the umph to keep going with all our might! but yes, so the day was going great we were about to turn around and walk back down the road when we saw two girls- on on the right one on the left. We could only talk to one though! so cook shimai was like which one which one?? and I was like PONYTAIL. so we started talking to her, gave her a Book of Mormon, and she was so excited. She asked us where it came from, and she read Moroni`s promise- we asked her if she would like to know more. She said Yes! and then she said "how about on wednesday at 4:00". and then we told her we could meet her right there, or we could meet her at the church (showed her a map) and she told us she would love to come to the church. She is amazing. After we walked away, we were just beaming. So excited, SO happy, feeling SO GOOD! Anyways, miracles right and left. Its wonderful.

YUU CHANS BAPTISM IS COMING UP! I am getting so nervous! Nervous something will go wrong, BUT I do believe that everything will work out. She gave me a heart attack being out of town all last week, but we are meeting with her today. Her baptism is in two saturdays! Im so excited. She is so excited, now we just gotta make sure her mom is so excited.

Alrighty I want to explain a couple of the things I studied this week, it was marvelous!

Just go read Ether chapter 6- its wonderful. and full of metaphorable (I know its not a real word) verses. I love Ether 6:5 where it talks about how the furious winds blow towards the promised land. It is so beautiful! And so true! Sometimes things are going crazy, life gets crazy, life gets hard, sometimes you feel like your acked up into a corner-- but you can remember-"furious winds blow towards the promised land". You arent backed up into a corner at all. You are progressing and moving towards something greater! Trials are like refiners fires-- but it makes no difference if the glass turns back into sand! I was just thinking about how-for example- I learn things in training meetings- and im like "yeah...thats good...I`ll do that...." and then I dont. or I start to and then I stop. Drives me crazy! But im trying to build up my dilligence so that I stick with things. Anyways...another verse I love is Ether 7:13. Simple, but beautiful! Anyways, dont want you to think im trying to preach at you, im just sharin what I learned!

Something crazy cool though--Alright! So we are teaching lesson 3 to yuu chan today, and I wanted to make sure that she understands. Obviously. and I LOVE visuals. so. I wanna share this one with you that came to me during study yesterday. 

Imagine you are climbing a mountain- the top of the mountain is eternal life-or eternal happiness. But you need a guide. Christ is your guide! along the way, you see these rocks. You understand that they will make your journey harder- but they are just so beautiful that you pick a few up, and then you start to realize you dont want them anymore (in this fictional world you arent allowed to just put the rock back down) so Christ takes them for us. We need to have FAITH in christ that He is leading us in the right direction. That faith will grow with every step- as we see the beauty around (our blessings, miracles, angels in our lives) because we will understand we are going in the right direction. Then, the times that we pick up the rocks, we need to REPENT by apologizing, making a determination never to pick up that rock again, and handing it over to christ. Instead of rocks we can pick up flowers :) and give people flowers! BAPTISM is the point where we promise Christ we will follow Him, tell Him we believe this is the right way, and that we want to follow in His footsteps. The HOLY GHOST is like the sunlight on our path, guiding us so that we can see more clearly, and so that the flowers will grow more beautiful. Gives us more strength to carry on- resist the tempation to carry rocks because in the light of the sun- we see how beautiful the flowers are! ENDURE TO THE END: make it to the top! sometimes you stumble, sometimes other people put rocks in your pack, sometimes you feel lost. BUT. if you keep moving forward, one foot in front of the other (da doo da doo) then you will make it to the top!!! When you are at the top, you will see Christ and Heavenly Father. They will be able to tell what kind of person you became, and you will also have a perfect knowledge of the kind of person you became. Are you fit, energetic, happy, strong?? 

Anyways, it makes sense in my mind- im not sure if it does in email. I know its not perfect, but it will be fun to be able to describe to her! 

General Conference is coming up. I am SO EXCITED!!!!!! 

McKennas birthday is this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAPPPPPPPPPYYYYY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its also white day on march 14th, which means that all the guys are supposed to give the girls valentines now. We shall see if that actually happens. 

I should end my emails with recipes or something. Im collecting so many.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!! Im sorry I didnt have time to write many stories- oh! investigator list--

Yuu Chan!!!!! Yukari, Aikawa, Kitagawa, Aiko, Sachiko, Shimizu :)

ps we arent allowed to procelyte to men or anything, dont know if I ever mentioned that. Super funny though- this past week we were housing- and a man opened the door, we talked to him for a bit, and he said something (dont even rmember particulars) but then Cook Shimai was like ie ie...ooooso! (no no, thats a lie!) and then she goes "japanese people are always liars" (but didn't realize what she said until she said it). I was laughing my head off on the other side of the door-- he didnt catch it. good times haha. No old grandmas yelled at us this week or haunted our dreams! thats a plus! 

Have a great week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go skipping down to the beach or something. Ride your bike up the big hill you live on and then think of me. hahaha 

I LOVE YOU ALL!!! HAPPY WHITE DAY! I EXPECT YOU ALL TO CELEBRATE IT! 

Sincerely,

Lane Shimai

Happiness Princess

Thats the name of a hair shop here or something. Today is some sort of princess holiday! all I know is that they have tons of dolls, they eat cereal, and sing a cute little song. Its so cute! Trying to dig out a deeper meaning in it. But at any rate, CELEBRATE! Cause you are a princess!! I tell people on the street that all the time. You would think no one has ever told them that before haha

Alright this week! We are getting ready for the scariest zone conference known to man. We got a list of the things we are supposed to prepare for it...its going to be a doozy. But, itll be great! its so weird, because at this point a ton of the people that I have been around are dying (mission dying....not really dying). its so sad! But its all good. Reminds me that im lucky I still have time here.

We were housing a lot this week since there was lots of rain and nihonjins dont like to get their skin wet. SO we were at this apartment complex, knocked on the door, and one of the creepiest, shrillest voices shouts "nan desu ka?" (what is it/ what do you want?) and everytime I started to talk she said it again. So we stood there for a minute or two in silence while she said it over and over and over again, and then she started getting angrier. So we ran. I know it was an old lady, but man it scared us to death haha. We went a floor down, and then we though we heard her coming and we just stood paralyzed, crying because we were trying not to laugh and because it was one of the scariest moments haha. Anyways, really a unneccesary story but I like to include things like that for some reason. 

Yuu chan is doing FABULOUSLY!!!! We threw a little party for her this week because she graduated high school! wonderful wonderful. She told us that she wants to be a missionary someday just like us. My heart melted haha she is so perfect, and such a sweetheart. Pray for her! We have been trying to meet her mom but havent had any luck yet. Her baptism is supposed to be on march 22nd! 

Things are coming along! We are meeting tons of people, spreading the love! Sister Cook is hilarious, sometimes the way she approaches people makes me want to die laughing haha she wanted to talk about eternal marriage on the street right? So we walk up to this lady and cook shimai goes "are you married?" nihongo de... and the lady was like "uhhh...yeah... umm I have three grandchildren....im happily married.." except sister cook just kept going cause she didnt understand everything she said, and she was just being super friendly and haha I wish you could have seen it. I died laughing afterwards. BUT, the lady did go away feeling pretty good about herself haha.

Keiko- she is the other shimai`s investigator, but we talk to her all the time too. She just found out that her arthritis is getting worse, when she thought she was doing alright. She was so upset- she called us crying this week. We talked to her and then we went to go heart attack her and made her cookies, but while we were craning her door she came around the side and saw us, so she invited us in. She is such a great inspiration! She knows that in a couple years she wont be able to do much, or move much, but she told us she is just trying to change her attitude and see everything that God is giving her. She is one of the coolest people. Super active, super knowlegable, super believing. Super strong. I dont know what I would do if I knew that in a couple years I wouldnt be able to function on my own. She is young to. In her 40s. I love her. Pray for her! She is amazing. We are hanging out with her today for pday. She is going to help us find.....OCARINAS!!! They are a thing here apparently, and when I heard that I went crazy. Ima gonna be gettin so good! We are so excited.

successfully made chocolate chip cookies in our microwave that an turn into an oven. first time in japan having chocolate chip cookies. I was in heaven. 

I got some great things from personal study this week. I love personal study. With my whooooooooole heart and soul! here are some thoughts that probably wont connect, but you can make your own connections!

"The Lords delay is not the Lords denial"

"Who hath made man`s mouth?"-Exodus 4:10-12

"The Brighter our hope, the greater our faith. The stronger our hope, the purer our charity"

Truth Abideth forever and ever

Dad asked me to write the names of our investigators at the end of each email so you guys can pray for them, here it goes!!

-Yuu Chan!!--march 22nd baptismal date

-Yukari 1 27yrs.

-Yukari 2 29yrs.

-Kitagawa 60yrs.

-Aiko 30s (We really want to teach her whole family!!)

-Yamamotto Shimai (recent convert) 30yrs.

-Tomomi 20s

I love you all! Im praying for you like crazy! I am loving missionary work out here, and everyday out here is a blessing! thank you for all your prayers- I know that it makes our days even better. I have felt sooooo many times that I have the help of others out here on my mission. I know that Im protected, and safe. Its incredible, and it is so apparent. I LOVE YOU ALL!!! I LOVE LIFE!!!! Be happy! supa genki! have a great week! Love all the missionaries that are serving in your ward! Its so cool being a missionary and meeting all these incredible missionaries who are going through so much but they are still out here serving diligently.

SMILE LOTS!!!! 

looooove,

Lane Shimai