Oh hey!

Oh hey...didn't see ya there....

alright. 

huh...

this week...

Went by crazy fast. Yuu chan is gone. She is in California now! If you are ever up in Fresno---please visit her! She is an angel. And she is definitely going to be coming down to Carlsbad to visit sometime. You will all fall in love with her! It was so hard saying goodbye to her. And so weird. I felt like she was a dying missionary. She is like my little sister here. But she is gone now. She is going to do great. And you will all meet her!!!

So there once was a cute little grandma...who boarded the densha and so I let her have my seat right? So she starts talking to me in English, we tell her our purpose as missionaries, and she was like "if you want, I can give you my address, phone number, and name!" and we were like uuuuuuuuhhhhh YES! (this seems to happen a lot with us and old ladies) anyways, so we set up an appointment and we were way excited. so we go to her house and she smuggles us through someones apartment building and to her house, shows us her garden and everything, and then tells us she made us dinner, but that we need to eat it in the genkan because her house was dirty. (everyone here always says that they made us a little snack, when in actuality it turns out to be a feast), which was the case this time. She gives us TONS. Let me try to remember....stew, rice, edamne, juice, boiled egg, more beans, watermelon, umeboshi, nato, cake, and then apricots. she brought them out one by one by one. It didn't matter how much we told her we were okay...it just kept coming....anyways she was a super sweet old lady, we chatted for a moment and then we started talking about the Book of Mormon. I don't know if I have ever seen a smile drop so fast haha....yeah. She told us we could talk for a moment about it. So we did. After which we got quite the earful haha. After she was done she told us our bus was coming, and literally ran with us out of the house, through the apartment, and to the bus stop. (she is I think 67 years old). That appointment didn't go exactly as planned....but! Boy it was fun! I actually think she has some potential.

anyways...

living in an apartment with all Japanese people is quite wonderful! I try to speak only Japanese except in Doryo benkyo, which does a lot! 1) helps me realize I actually know a lot more than I thought, 2) fixes the mistakes I make all the time, and 3) I learn a TON everyday. I love Japanese. I think its beautiful. Mostly because these people are beautiful. Every single last sassy old lady. I am so lucky to be able to be in Japan. Hey Kimmy, maybe you will get called here too! they would just eat up your huge blue eyes and blonde hair. 

It poured this week. Thank you thank you! It was beautiful. We were on this one super busy road (so it was super load) only there were no people. You best believe I sung primary songs in Japanese at the top of my lungs, and loved every minute of it. Heavenly Father gave us load voices for a reason! And its not in order to yell!! Its to SING!!!!!!!!!

I will share a quick little thing! Its from president Kimball, and he is talking about an umbrella, and comparing it to how if we know we should do things like daily family prayer, FHE, etc. but we don't do them---that's like having an umbrella but keeping it closed. But when we actually do those things we know we should be doing---when the umbrella is "spread out", it "makes the silken material taut. When the rains falls, it runs off; when the snow falls, it slides off; when the hail comes it bounces off. When the wind blows, it is diverted around the umbrella". Heavenly Father gives us guidance whenever we look to Him!! Just cause he loves us! He knows us better than we know ourselves, and He knows how we can be eternally happy!!! if you aren't reading your scriptures everyday, going to church every week, and saying your prayers morning and night---just try it! Set a goal...tell yourself that for one month you will do these things and see if it makes ANY difference in your life. And I promise you, I promise promise promise that you WILL be happier, and you will feel stronger than ever how much God loves you. There is a God in Heaven, and He is our eternal Father. 

Love you all! Have a great week! Dad- I am waiting on pins and needles to get your letter!!

LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To the moon and BEYOND!

Sincerely,

Lane Shimai