MINASAMA

imagonna start off with a WHOPPER of a quote!

"In the Gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil, and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike- and they will- you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far and the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham's seed" ---Read 2 Kings 6:16-17.

Visualize THAT. If you are having a hard time-- just watch the Lord of the Rings (Return of the King?) where Gandalf just brings in all those ghost things.

Man. We got armies just all around us trying to help us when we are doing the right thing. That is incredible! 

So. This week I we got rejected quite a bit. Quiiiiite a bit. Hard slams. If I was allowed to go onto youtube I would insert that scene from the movie "Never Been Kissed" where she is standing on the stairs in her big poofy prom dress...so excited to go to prom, and then her date comes by in a limo with his friends and throws eggs at her. 

So that is a BIT of an exaggeration, all im trying to say is that we were let down a little bit this week. I wont dwell on the particulars, but. A lot of people who had a lot of potential decided they didn't want to listen. Its sad. Really sad. BUT. I just hope and pray that at some point they will want to learn more about they relationship with Heavenly Father, how to be the happiest they can....everything. And then they will remember the Book of Mormon on their shelf and call the missionaries :)

On the bright side. We got armies all around us! And free agency is a glorious thing!

I have been learning so much- so many new things. My brain forgot how to keep track of time. So I dont know what was last week, yesterday, or last transfer frankly...ps next week is transfer week-so I will be emailing Tuesday instead of monday. but don't you fret! I am just betting I get to stay in Nagasaki for the rest of forever!! 

good quote from stevenson shimai this week--- I am going to try to remember the exact words...."yeah...its weird...a lot of americans get sick with they eat watery fruit. Like oranges". Everyone here has their own idea of what americans are like because of past missionaries. Its really funny. I dont know why I thought it was so funny haha. Alas...my humor..

so. Its hot here right? Like really hot. Its quite the experience...we dont have an air conditioner-so this week I prefected my sleeping plan? I dont know what to call it. I freeze a wet towel, and two waterbottles. So as I sleep I use the frozen towel as a blanket, and I just pretend like the waterbottle is a teddy bear. It is like magic. All you can do is learn to LOVE the sweat. And man I do!!

Everyone looks so happy and healthy from the pictures! I love you all so much! Sorry I havent taken pictures in a while...but I will try my best next week!!

Dont forget to pray! I looooove you all to the moon and beyond!!!

--- Rein shimai.

It's Hot!

Magic.

Juuuuust like magic. My attempts at making Stevenson shimai believe that I am a witch hasn't progressed as much as I would have wished this past week. Pray for me.

We found a new investigator!!! A SOLID one!! She is a college student, Chinese, and tall and gorgeous just like Suen. She lives in the same apartment as Suen. Crazy right? Anyways, she is golden. Aaaaabsolutely golden. Super sweet. Her name is Kyo San.

We had these days last week back to back where I SWEAR everyone listened to us. It was INSANE and it felt SO GOOD! Granted there were a lot of kekkoes, BUT....so many people listened. 

I want to share on of the best quotes:

"No pain we suffer, no trail we experience is wasted. it ministers to our educations, to the development of such things as patience, faith, fortitude, and humility. All that we suffer and all we endure especially when we endure patiently builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable. More worthy to be called the children of God, and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation that we gain the education that we came here to acquire"--Orson F. Whittney (unfortunately I don't know how to spell his name...)

If you got time you should all listen to the CES devotional by Bednar--"that we might not shrink"

https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/ces-devotionals/2013/01/that-we-might-not-shrink-d-c-19-18?lang=eng

douzo

Did I tell you about the drink that lady gave us? The one that is 1/3 pickled prune juice, 1/3 vinegar...then 1/3rd milk? yeah. So. she fed us another drink a couple weeks ago. Don't know what was in that one...BUT! this time before we saw her we prayed that she wouldn't give us another drink. And she didn't. Some people might say its a coincidence but I think it was a MIRACLE.

Nagasaki had a baptism this week! A man from Eikaiwa--Masuda san. man is he adorable. he has got to be one of the most timid, shy people you will ever meet. Stevenson shimai and I saw him on the street one day-invited him to church-and he hasn't missed a day since :) he is adorable. I shall send a picture. 

If you are looking for a cool adventure story- read Alma chapter 2. If you don't have a Book of Mormon, find some Mormon missionaries.

So one of the New investigators we found last week dropped...kind of a weird experience. She dressed me up in a kimono, gave us cookies, asked us if we wanted to enter a kimono wearing contest, and then dropped us. Almost didn't even realize it happened. She is a cute little old lady. She'll come around.

So there was supposed to be this HUGE typhoon last week---there were warnings about it every like 5 hours...telling us there were emergencies storehouses opened up...that this was the biggest one in 50 years...nagasaki was supposed to be in the eye of the storm...that we shouldn't go outside, etc. etc. We had orders from the mission president not to leave our apartment that day....and it skipped right past Nagasaki haha. I heard it was pretty bad in Okinawa though. Anyways, it was an adventure! Rained a lot, which was fun! Always love an opportunity to get my rain suit on.

oops. No more time. Well! I love you all! Hope life is great!!

Loooove,

Lane Shimai

ginger drinks that Komori kyodai gave us...

Lane Shimai there is poop on the stairs...can we take the elevator?

Great week.

Well! You know what we did all week! Housing :) My companion likes elevators right? but we always take the stairs. So. We were about to go to the stairs- and she just every so sweetly says "Lane shimai, there is poop on the stairs, can we take the elevator?" haha I don't know why but I thought it was the funniest thing in the world.

Well goodness! This week was amazing. I got a project for you all to do.

Read these talks--

President Monson (his talk about love from last general conference)

Elder Eyring--his talk from a while back that has the quote "I gave him to you because I knew you would love him"

Elder Eyring--(his talk from last conference--the general womens broadcast)

And then ponder about these things:

What do people need to live emotionally, physically, spiritually?

What exactly does it mean that God is "all-knowing"?

What lessons do you think you may have learned in Heaven before coming down to earth?

What questions would you have asked Heavenly Father before coming down to earth?

What is the purpose of our life on earth?

Why do some people have plenty of food, people who love them, everything they would ever want and need while others are suffering in every way?

Why did I come to earth at this time, with my specific family, in this situation?

What lessons do I think Heavenly Father wants me to learn here?

What is my ultimate goal in the eternal scheme of things?

How does Heavenly Father help me?

How does our life effect the lives of our ancestors, and how do their lives affect ours?

What things did we get to bring with us from Heaven when we came to earth?

After we die, when we see Christ again, what questions will He ask us?

Write it all down. Its amazing! I had the greatest personal study yesterday- and I was going to write down everything I learned, everything I think--but instead I want you all to just have the same kind of experience. It is a lot to think about-it might take a week to go through-but try it! And then tell me everything you think! I would love to hear it!

kaishudan is going great.

Aiko is the best.

Yuu chan is going to come back a visit soon :)

Yukari is so cool.

The Book of Mormon is so powerful.

Heavenly Father loves you!

The rain is getting cRaZy awesome. Thunder and lightening galore. 

I love this gospel! 

I am the luckiest person in the world.

I love you all so much!

Have an amazing week! See miracles! Ask questions! Smmmmiiiiiillllllllle.

looooove,

Lane Shimai

KisekiDA

June 29, 2014

KisekiDA!

Alrighty.

So.

Things have been going great here in Nagasaki right? But this transfer, Stevenson shimai and I decided that we KNOW there are people here in this great big city that are just waiting to be baptized- we just need to find those prepared people! So. We started our 24 hour fast. about 2 hours into it-we found a new investigator on the street. in the 24th hour-we taught her her first official lesson, and made a baptismal date. She is going to be baptized on July 27th! She is so prepared. She is 19, a nurse, just moved to Nagasaki, and she has never learned about Jesus Christ before but she has a ton of interest. She is amazing! Her name is Rina :) Shida Rina. Sounds like a princess.

 Today is Stevenson shimai's birthday!!!!! She is ADORABLE and I love her!!! She is the big 2-0 today!!!! 

mmm

what happened this week?

YUKARI IS BACK! I talked about her forever ago...probably 6 months ago. She completely dropped off the face of the earth---yeah well she is back! And so ready. We get to teach her today- and man I am so excited. Ever since she left we have been praying and praying and planning and praying for her- and she is finally back!!

We had an awesome Zone training this past week- Gustafson kaicho and shimai are incredible. She is an absolute angel- and he really knows his stuff haha. He is super straightforward and a no excuse kinda guy. I love him. Here are a couple quotes from conference that are going to be bara-bara, but you can make your own connections!

"A flower does no think about the flower growing next to it, it just blooms"

"I have noted, most revelation to the children of God comes when they are on the move; not when they are sitting back waiting to know what to do"

"If you want to change the world-make your bed in the morning"-----alrighty this one I absolutely love. I know it sounds silly-but this is from  commencement address from Admiral William H. Mcsomething at the University of Texas---and he talks about how when he was training to be a navy seal-the first thing they had to do is make their bed in the morning. Perfectly...anyways he goes on to say that when you make your bed in the morning-you have succeeded at the very beginning of your day. And no matter how your day goes, at least you come back to a made bed. 

wow I explained that poorly. Just go look up his speech and read it for yourself, Sister Gustafson used it for her training. So I haven't actually read it yet but I will in a year or something.

We had a testimony at the end- and I loved something that one of the Elders said in his testimony. He said that after we die, we will be able to meet the people we tried to teach- the people we touched in our life. They will have a clear understanding of what we were trying to teach them- and we will have a clear understanding of how exactly we changed their life- even just in the slightest. It is not exactly doctrine, but I do like that thought, and I do believe that someday we will be able to see everything so clearly. That's true for everyone! Not just people serving full time missions right now. So don't forget to smile!

oh! Last pday we went to a thrift store...I may or may not have bought a kimono for an equivalent of 4 dollars. yup. That's how cool that place it. Im officially japanese. I washed it traditionally in the bathtub and everything. Might as well call me nihonjin.

I shall send some pictures!

MiraclesMiraclesMiracles. OH! THE TEMPLE WAY AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!

Thats all I got.

Aiko is doing great.

Michiko is doing great.

Yuu chan is coming back to visit in a couple weeks :)

Suen is being a stink to be honest but we are seeing her today.

Love you all!

------Lane Shimai

I is You the Yellow One

June 22, 2014

Hey! Nathan! Happy belated Birthday! I love you! I hope it was way fun! Tell me what you want me to get you here in Japan!

This week.

Aiko is awesome, we decided to wait off on her baptism until we can meet with her fiancee and begin teaching him. She gave him a Book of Mormon, and a couple pamphlets right before he left on his business trip. I am so excited to have them become and ETERNAL FAMILY! Miracles are going to happy, Miracles!

Oh! Transfers by the way- I am here in Nagasaki still! Couldn't be happier :) Still with Stevenson Shimai! She is wonderful. 

We started a new project in the branch- since I love hearing about Dads conversion story, and the members conversions stories we decided we would make a book! So we have been going around asking the members to write their conversion stories--we have specific points for them to cover- and we are going to make one big book from the branch. And translate it during language study :) I am so excited. The ones we have already heard are amazing. Everyone's story is amazing!

hm.

Guess what?!?!? Guess who gets to go to the temple on Saturday?!?! THIS girl. I am so happy.

alrighty.

well I guess that is about all my brain can transfer for the right now.

Love you all tot he moon and beyond!

Sincerely,

Lane Shimai

we try and try...english sentences our class came up with.

Helmets, Sheets, and Suen!

June 16, 2014

Here we go here we go---MCKENNA HAD HER BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Happy Birthday Capri!!!! I love you to pieces little missy!!!!

I thought you all would enjoy this-- Played a little trick on my companion this week, it was so good. just read it. enjoy it. I will send pictures. She thought it was so funny but she thought it was legit and so she was like Lets take a picture!!! so boy did we take pictures. Not passin up an opportunity like that.

">hey,beautiful zls! we have an important onegai.

> recently it has been reported that there is a growing possibility that an earthquake is going to hit the western part of Japan. so we would like you zls to tell your missionaries to wear their helmet when they are sleeping for safety. and please tell them to sleep in a safe room.

>thank you for your awesome work! we will inform you of the information in detail ASAP.

>

>Honbu"

>

>ゾーンリーダーのみなさん。こんにちは。大切なお願いがあります。最近、西日本に地震が起こる可能性が増えているという報告を受けました。なのでゾーンリーダーの皆さまにお願いしたいのは、ゾーンの宣教師たちに寝るときに安全のため、ヘルメットをつけるように言ってくださいませ。そして安全な部屋で寝るように言ってください。

>皆さまの素晴らしい働きに感謝しています。私達は出来るだけ、その情報について詳しくお伝えします。

>

>本部

Anyways, as promised--I am going to write Suen's story!!!!!

So. Cook Shimai and I met Suen on the street on the way home one day, and talked for about 30 seconds about English class. She told us she would love to come sometime- but that she had to go. So we gave her a little chidashi with our number on it and the address of the church......buuuuut didn't hear from her.

Five weeks later, we get a call from an unknown number (our favorite) and Cook Shimai couldn't understand anything she was saying (she was speaking Japanese but with her chinese accent, and it was on the phone so it was a bit rough). SO. I switch, and try to talk to her....I cant understand what she is trying to say other than that she wants to meet with us so im like Hey! We have church tomorrow at 12 , can you come? And she agrees.

So we were super excited that this mystery lady was coming to church, and we were waiting outside as long as we could-almost missed the sacrament, and we were so dissapointed. But anyways, we have sacrament, the first person starts to talk, and in walks Suen! And THAT is when we remembered her. She is kind of hard to forget. She is tall, beautiful, and chinese! After Sacrament meeting we talk with her, she tells us she wants to learn English. So we set up a time to meet with her-- the following Tuesday. So we were a little disapointed she was only interested in English, but we decide that there is a CHANCE she will want to hear about more. So on Tuesday we explained our purpose very clearly, (we studied How to Begin Teaching like bosses haha) and in the end she said "yeah, I would like to learn more about Jesus Christ". She never mentioned English from that moment on. As we taught her she had a ton of questions- all really good questions. It was amazing to see her go from not knowing anything about God, to praying every single night and loving it. She loves praying, and boy when she prays she pours out her heart and soul haha. It is so sweet. She really Felt everything we were teaching- because she was actively trying to learn. After every lesson we would just FREAK OUT praying and thanking Heavenly Father for sending her to us, because we KNOW we don't deserve her. There is so much more I want to share-- but I will save that for another day. I want to write down her testimony so you can all here it. Investigator and recent convert testimonies are my favorite. They are so pure. Right up there with little kids. Here is is--she wrote it in Japanese (she was nervous so she had to write it down) and so I translated it! Here it is :)

------------------------------------------------------------

Church Speech-Gen Sho Chi

Hello! In my opinion today is a very meaningful and important day. Today I was baptized and became a member of Jesus Christ's church. Up till now I have received lessons from the missionaries and members about Jesus Christ. Thank you for always greeting me, listening to my worries, and cheering me up. Truly, thank you.

  The first time I prayed was the first time I thought that I wanted to become a part of this Church. On that day I started studying the Book of Mormon with Lane Shimai and Cook Shimai. Even now I still remember what they said on that first day. "We are children of Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us. He watches everything we do. He is always on our side. Because of that, when we have temptation or we are going through a hard time-if we talk to Christ He will always listen. You can talk to Him. Therefore if you are ever lost-if you pray- you are never along. We are never in solitude". After I heard that, my heart was still and calm. I felt peace. Jesus Christ loves us all. When I feel like Christ is watching over me, I don't feel any fear. I start to feel strength in my heart. I am truly grateful for Jesus Christ.

   I know now that it is important to have a loving heart to people. Even when offensive things happen, when I stand in the other person's place, I understand their feelings. When I forgive others, I am forgiven myself. When we have grudges or hatred, our hearts are heavy. The most important thing is to have a happy life.

   Right now Cook shimai is in Kumamoto City, but we email each other sometimes. I am praying for her to have a happy life. Lane Shimai and Stevenson Shimai have been teaching me for a while. the two of them are very kind, and I am grateful to them. That's all.

2014.6.8

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I love being a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and I love how being a missionary helps me see just how lucky we are! I find out more and more everyday. Don't ever forget all that we have as members of the church. We have truth. Knowledge of things as they were, are, and will be. We know we have a loving Heavenly Father who created an incredible plan BECAUSE He loves us and He wants us to be the happiest we can be. We have Jesus Christ, who lived and died for us so that we could know how to live. SO that we could have support in this life, and peace in this life that could not come through any other source. We know that our families can be together forever- throughout the eternities. We have the Book of Mormon, and the Bible---which contain the great mysteries of God. That is amazing!  

I know my Savior knows me perfectly. He love me, and He loves every single on of you. Some people dont know they have a savior! That is so sad! Tell them! Maybe they would like to know! This video is amazing, and it was working miracles out here in the mission--watch it! :)

https://www.lds.org/youth/video/because-of-him?lang=eng 

No more time! I love you all so much!!!

loooooove,

Lane Shimai

ps McKenna and Nathan----I HAVE TO SEE MORE PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!

ps I forgot to tell you- I got my death call- I am going home December 5th. No more talking about it. Figured I should tell you before I forget to tell you.

And today is transfers! I shall let you know next week what happens! :)