Chi Channn

10/26/2014

my NEW COMPANION!!!! Yup thats right. Cook shimai came back to me.

Heya everyone!!!

So guess what?? I was a bit nervous about who my new companion would be...we were standing on Miajima just chillin with the deer, and then the call comes! And GUESS WHO IS MY COMPANION!!!!!!!!! COOOOOOOOK SHIMAI!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's right, she came back to me!!! I cant tell you how happy we were. Screaming like mad. She is AWESOME.

I shall tell you about my FAVORITE miracle from last week. Chi chan :) She is from Eikaiwa, and came to the Halloween party on Saturday night. She was SO outgoing, which surprised us a lot (cause she is just a little tiny nihonjin girl). Anyways, she loved it- and came to all three hours of chuch yesterday. AND stayed afterwards. She made an appointment, she is bringing a friend, and she is coming to church next week. uhhhh KISEKI!!!! We hope to meet her parents soon and be able to teach all of them together. Anyways, in each one of my three areas there is always a young girl who is INCREDIBLE and we found her. Chi chan. In Nagasaki is was Yuu chan. In Fukuoka it was Koko chan. im in love. During Sunday school, she took out paper to take notes, took out her book of mormon, and took notes all class. She asked what 'amen' meant. Once we explained it, after every prayer she would say amen so confidently. It is the cutest thing in the world. When we asked her what she thought about church, she said that she felt so GOOD, and there were a lot of nice people, but there was a lot she didnt understand. We told her not to worry- cause that is our job!!! And she got really excited. I LOVE her. pray for Chi Chan's family to want to hear the Gospel!

I am sorry this is so short...but I love you all!!!

Sincerely,

Lane Shimai

  Our new investigator. who is an angel. like unto Yuu chan.

"I NEED TO GO DENDO!"-"DADDY'S gone MAD!"

10/20/2014

Souuuuupa week this week. Went by in a flash...

Saw our favorite old lady again yesterday. man I love old people. Ever having a bad day- go find solace in an old folks home. You just sit there and they will tell you what a babe you are. Never received so many compliments in my life hahaha they are adorable. Yanashita san sung us an old traditional song about making beer. She is so adorable.

Well. It is Nigh shimai's last pday...It is SO weird to think she is leaving. I have no idea who my new companion is going to be- but we will find out today! I am a bit nervous about this transfer call! We will see...pray that they like dendo, love adventure, love to talk, has a lot of stories, and likes people!

So. I learned that part of Skyfall was filmed on the little battleship island off the coast of Nagasaki. NEVER knew until we met a Russian man who is from Switzerland who travels around the world going to cool places like that. anyways...as if Japan needed a reason to be any cooler!

Another adorable prayer from this past week! Little Seiji's prayer...."Thank you for the cookies, and for papa Jesus, and for the juice, and the sisters, and the popsicles, and the food, and the book of Mormon, and..."(etc.) it was so cute. He was so sincere. I love how they all call Christ 'papa Jesus'. Gonna use that for the rest of my life!

Most random event from the week- We were talking to a lady on the street- giving her a lesson- when this man passes by us- stops at the corner and turns around to look at us- and then gives us a deep bow, turns back around, and walks away. We were having a rough day but man that brought it RIGHT back up hahaha. I love Japan.

Yesterday we ate at a members house- and they made LASAGNA! YEAH. LASAGNA. It was pretty much JUST cheese with spaghetti sauce- best thing of my life. When we went home yesterday, I was SO happy. I attributed it to the cheese. Never had so much cheese my whole mission. Heck, never really had any cheese my whole mission. Best meal ever.

So missionary work gets more and more exciting everyday I feel like. It is the best. More and more people are saying things like "oh yeah my friend is Mormon" or "yeah I talked to the missionaries when I was younger". I get SO excited every time someone says that. The work is moving along so fast, and I love it. We talk to people all the time when we are on the street that look like they have absolutely no hope- and nothing to live for. It wears on your soul. But then you see the members- and you see how happy they are- and it just stands as a testimony of how this Gospel blesses lives. Japan has more than its share of sad faces, but that is part of the reason why dendo is so fun in Japan. Cause you get to give people hope that they have never heard of before!!!

I love life. I love missions. I love cheese. I love Japan. I love EVERYTHING!

I will email you next week and let you know who my new companion is.... :) I am hoping and praying that either Flake shimai or Cook shimai will come back to me! Don't think that will happen...but anything is possible right? ps did I mention Flake shimai is in my Zone right now- and her "group" (it isn't a branch yet) is branches off of our ward- so we see them all the time. I love her to death.

Love you guys!!!! Here is some food for thought that I may or may not have sent last week... 

"small minds discuss people, average minds discuss events, great minds discuss ideas"- Eleanor Roosevelt.

Have a great week!!! Filled with adventure, love, life, and LIGHT!

Loooove,

Lane Shimai

Did I drop Black Thunder?

10/13/2014

Dear Family,

Conference was great. The six points was prime. Callister was prime. Bednar was prime. They were all prime! I love conference. I am so grateful for a latter-day prophet!!!

hmm. Well one of my favorite moments from this week-- we were working with a Filipino family who just moved into our ward- it is a mom and three kids, right. The youngest just turned 8 and he is the cutest, chubbiest little man ever. So, we were talking about Christ- we showed him a picture and said "who is that?" ...he just points up to the ceiling. So we go "what is His name?"...."Papa Jesus!". Need I say more. Little kids are the best.

I shall take you to the other end of the age scale- our favorite old lady...she is in a rest home- anyways, she is a sweetheart. We asked her to say a prayer to close, and here is what I remember--

"Dear Heavenly Father,

Hello. My name is Tanaka Eiko.

I am 88 years old, and I was born in Nagasaki.

I grew up going to a christian church with my Dad, 

but when I go married the man was Buddist...so I am really sorry but I took a little break.

But I am here now! and I love Jesus!"

My heart melted. I love her. She says the same things every time we come see her, but man. I love her to death. 

Anyways, basically this week from those two experiences and others....I have learned that Heavenly Father LOVES little children! And every single one of us IS His little child. Prayer can be as sincere and spiritually uplifting as we make it. 

So we were supposed to have a huge typhoon---that is why I am emailing on Tuesday here and not Monday. It came! It was glorious! We were completely safe! Definitely took the opportunity to decorate for Christmas. 

Hikari is great. This is Nigh Shimai's last week of being a full time missionary. Needless to say we are bustin it out!

Next week is transfer week- I will be emailing on Monday for you next week! How much you wanna bet I get to stay in Hikari? :) Have a great week!

Love you all so much! keep the pictures coming!

Sincerely,

Lane Shimai

She lets the small ones sing.

10/6/2014

mmmmyes.

Visited a memeber this week who really likes cats. A lot. This poor cat is 17 years old. Throws up all the time. Weazes like a mad man. She has a sign on her wall that says "Cats are just little people with fur coats". If anything that really increased my fear of cats. Have I ever mentioned- the streets of Japan are FULL of them. Now all I cant think about is these creepy little people hiding in fur coats- reeking havoc. Think about that next time you walk down an alley way- and at the end all that awaits you is a cat...

More important things though from this week! Got an email from the sisters in Nagasaki and they said that in Aiko's confirmation blessing- they said that she would be able to be sealed in the temple someday with her family. I want to go to the temple with her so badly!

So. I don't know if I have mentioned how TERRIFIED I am of Hakujins these days (white people)....missionaries are a different story for some reason. But I think that Heavenly Father sent me to Hikari to get over my fear. There are 3 families here from Boise Idaho. Week 1- didn't talk to them at all. week 2- made an attempt to talk to the kids week 3- actually talked to the adults. They scare me so much. They can speak...English! So perfectly! And they aren't Japanese, Chinese, Nepalese, or Filipino! It is crazy. I am trying to get better though. Pray for me.

So! This week was quite an eventful one. Wont go into ALL the details but long story short- poor Bicycle got ran over. I wasnt with her when it happened (bad owner) but yeah...we were in visiting with a member- and all the sudden we here a man YELLING because he is SO angry. Scared me to death. So we go outside and I see poor bicycle in a ditch...and he is pointing to a little scratch on his car- yelling at me so fast and with so much slang none of us have any idea what he is saying. So I walk out and immeadiately go "oh nauh. That is NOT our fault" in english, right? He storms up to me, screams in my face- I tell him I dont understand, and he says in japanese "of COURSE you understand, I know you understand, you are not a child"....anyways, I ALMOST reacted, I almost gave him quite a bit of sass, but the first thing that entered into my mind was "Lane shimai...you are a MISSIONARY". So I bit my tongue. Went inside to get the phone and call people... and get my camera to take pictures of the car and my bike and the man and everything. Long story short- he had backed into the parking lot we were parked in (nothing wrong on our part) and he quickly realized when he cooled down that HE was at fault....but! What I got out of this exciting story was how incredible the church is. Within minutes of making that first phone call, we were on the phone with the mission president, the man in charge of dealing with accidents, and a local member telling us he would be right over. I felt so taken care of. I WISH I had more time to explain it. but yeah! Bicycle is doing pretty good, everything worked out well, and I guess this is a story I will have to finish another time! Probably gonna make the man cookies. We were all buddy buddy by the end. 

Anyways, 

dah! This week was fabulous, and it is going to continue to be fabulous. quote for you allllll!!!!!

One of my favorite quotes--"Never suppress a generous thought"---keep it in mind while you read this one I found this morning!

"When we act in faith to do Gods work, He goes with us to serve others and blesses us to say just what they need to hear...what we actually say and actually do might feel a little awkward or not very polished...but the Savior takes our words and our actions and He carried them through His spirit into the hearts of the people. He takes our sincere but imperfect efforts and turns it into something that is just right, indeed, into something that is perfect"

Go rub some backs, take an old ladies arm, deliver a pie....something! Just go crazy!

I cant wait for conference.....YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAA parrrrrrrrty.

I love.this.mission. SO much. I love you all so much. Life. is good.

Looooove,

Lane Shimai

AIKOS BAPTISM!!!!!!

9/28/2014

Yes that is right! Aiko was baptized yesterday. I am waiting on all the details. I just got one picture I will forward to you! It was incredible. Yesterday was one of the best days of my mission. Aiko has been so much of my mission. So many prayers and so many miracles. Something Kimber said in her email reminded me of this- I will just copy and paste it here because I could not say it any better!

The following event took place in a ward in Salt Lake City in 1974. It occurred during a sacrament meeting and was told to me by a Regional Representative of the Twelve who was in the meeting. A young man, just before leaving on his mission stood in sacrament meeting and bore in essence the following testimony:

Brothers and Sisters, as you know, the past two weeks I've been waiting for my mission call. During the time I was waiting I had a dream. I knew it was not an ordinary dream. I dreamed I was in the pre-existence and awaiting my call to come to earth. I was filled with the same anticipation and excitement that I had before I received my mission call. In my dream I was talking to a friend, and I felt a special closeness to him, even though I've never met him in this life. As we talked a messenger came and gave me a letter. I knew it was my call to go to earth. In great excitement my friend and I opened the letter. I gave it to him and asked him to read it aloud. It said: "You've been called to earth in a special time and to a special land. You will be born to the true church and you will have the priesthood of God in your home. You will born into a land of plenty, in a land of freedom. You will go to earth in the United States of America."

My friend and I rejoiced as we read my call, and while we were rejoicing the messenger returned. This time he had a letter for my friend. We knew it was his call to earth. My friend gave me the letter to read aloud. His letter said: "You've been called to go to the earth in circumstances of poverty and strife. You will not be raised in the true church. Many hardships will attend your life. Your land will be fraught with political and social difficulties - which will hinder the work of the Lord. You will be born in Costa Rica."

We wept, my friend and I, as we read his call. And my friend looked at me with tears in his eyes, and said, "When we are down on earth, you in your choice land and me in Costa Rica, my friend, please come and find me."

The this young missionary, with tears in his eyes, said, "Brothers and Sisters, I have received my mission call. I am going to Costa Rica."

There is a sequel to the story. About a year after the sacrament meeting, the bishop received a letter from the missionary in Costa Rica. The letter had one sheet of paper in it and on that sheet written in capital letters were four words: I found my friend

Aiko's whole life is different now! She made the leap- and she is so ready. She is an angel. You all need to meet her. I love her with alll my heart and soul! I cant explain how much I love her, and how lucky I have been to be a part of her life. Keep praying for her! She had to go through some rough things to get to where she is!

By the way---happy birthday Henry and Kimber this week!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you both SOOOO MUCH!

We saw some pretty great miracles this week- I love the moment that people feel the spirit so strongly in lessons- and they open up and tell us their real concerns. We watched the Testament with a lady from the ward who hasn't been coming to church- and she cried and cried. She told us that she knows that God loves her, and she believes that the church is true, the Book of Mormon is true, and the Prophet Joseph Smith...but she doesn't really feel it in her heart. She has never opened up before and up till now didn't really share much of her own feelings. It was incredible though...sounds small and simple, but it was a miracle!

Our grandma investigator is doing awesome. Her name is Chiseko- she is super sweet. She is praying about baptism!

We had one lesson this week with another investigator we just started teaching---and she just laid her LIFE on the table. It is scary- the things she is going through. Mentally, emotionally, financially, physically. She texted us yesterday and told us she couldn't meet with us anymore. Keep her in your prayers! She has no good influences in her life right now. Literally none. It was heartbreaking but we are hoping we will see her again soon!

uhhhh food miracle from the week....we had PIZZA HUT!!!!! Yeah. Thats right. PIZZA HUT! We went to a dinner appointment (my whole mission we would get like 2 a month, here in hikari we get like 1-2 a week it is INSANE!) anyways, just show up- and there it was. Just sitting there. Pizza. Hut. I don't know if I have ever tasted anything so delicious in my life. 

ALSO! last pday we went to Miajima dayo!!!!!!! An Island with the famous red gate, and deer that run wild and aren't afraid of humans. It was the coolest. I will send lots of pictures! We also went to a CARPS BASEBALL GAME with our investigator Kasumi. Didn't have a seat... but MAN was it fun. I love baseball games. I love the carps. I love Japan.

eventful week....the stake had a BBQ- and I found myself a little boyfriend! This little boy- I think he was 7? has down syndrome- he just immediately walked up to me and held my hand. throughout the BBQ he would just walk up, take my hand, and lead me to the waterside to just sit down next to him. It was the cutest thing in the world. We were saying a prayer, and he walked up and started rubbing my elbow. I'm in love with the boy haha. Dont remember his name for the life of me-and might not ever get the chance to see him again, but man he has got my heart!

Best quotes from the week!

"Life your life in such a way that those who know you but dont know Christ will want to know Christ because they know you"

"Bury your weapons of war, and leave them buried. Forgive, and do that which is harder than to forgive: forget. And when it comes to mind again- forget it again"-Holland

"Spend Cheerfully on things that matter" -Holland

I love the last quote because he talked about spending money cheerfully on things that matter, but also time. Anyways. Not much to expand on that but I just love them!

I scored like a hundred points for Gryffindor this week and scored a pokemon sticker from some little boys in the ward.

mmmkay I will just send pictures now! Love you all to the moon and beyond!!! If anyone is looking for a couple golden talks--look no further! here ya go.

http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=869 (For Times of Trouble- Holland)

http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=1819 (Remember Lot's Wife-Holland)

ps I am super jealous that you all get general conference this week--Japan is a week later. But its the whole getting to save dessert for last right? Have fun!!! Think of questions for it!! Rub a couple elbows! I know from experience it will make someones day!

Loooooooooove forever and ever and ever,

Lane Shimai

Hermana Lane......Whaaaaaaat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9/21/2014

uhhhh KIMBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! COOLEST CAT EVER. I am SO excited for her. And I made a plan to hope on that plane to Chile with you and shadow you for a year and a half while I begin to build my resume for my future top secret career. Sound like a plan? Sounds like a plan.

I Cant think of anything right now except kimber in chile like salsa dancing. goodness.

uhhh this week? This week was incredible! I love dendoing with Nigh Shimai. It is super fun. We found a whole bunch of new investigators this week! Had a lot of great experiences. One of the highlights of my week was the phone call I got on like friday---it was stevenson shimai telling me that everything is okay with Aiko, things are going great- and she is on track to be baptized next Sunday!!! It has been a long time coming, and she is an angel. please pray for her this week!! She needs a lot of support!

Next Sunday is also Nigh Shimais birthday...I would ask you to all call her and wish her a happy birthday....but I suppose that is kind of a no-no haha. Just send her some hugs and smiles in the form of brain waves. I will make sure she takes some time to sit down and receive them...

Speaking of Nigh Shimai- she is incredible!!!! I love being her companion- but we do have one problem. Both of us have this laughing problem. We were at a members house last week- and Nigh shimai decided to tell me a story -while the member was in the kitchen-. Mistake number one...mistake number 2- she cant stop laughing when she tells this story. She told me all about this dog in her former area- who is blind and deaf...and lame....wore a diaper. When it wanted to go on a chair it would cry and the owner would pick it up. When it wanted to lay on the floor it would cry...it had a huge growth on its stomach...yeah so she told me this and man. We lost it. I cannot tell you how many times we have burst out laughing this week. Yesterday we tried to start companionship study- but we couldn't stop laughing. It was getting baaaad. But man, I am SO happy haha. Canadians are the coolest!!

Also, we had an incredible opportunity!! I don't know if you heard about the huge mud slides in Hiroshima- I think 74 people died. It was huge. We got to go volunteer for that- getting rid of all the mud. It was crazy to see cars piled on top of each other- houses completely destroyed. We get to go back again next week! they will be cleaning up for a while.

hmm. appears I have a tiny bit of time left. I will send pictures!

Love you all!!!! The church is true! It can heal hearts and lift you higher than anything else in the world! Book of Mormon is the best adventure story there will ever be. Heavenly Father loves everyone like crazy!!! He is patient, loving, and well aware none of us is perfect, but He loves us anyways, and helps us every step of the way! Life is GOOD! I love you all!! Have an incredible week filled with adventure, studying, and things you have never done before!!

Love always and always and always,

Lane Shimai

ps sorry, maybe next week instead of telling you about the saddest dog ever- I could share a miracle story....I will try to organize my thoughts a bit better next week!

Transfer Call

9/9/2014

I'm transferring. Going to Hikari (which means light in Japanese). Used to be where the Hiroshima Mission Home was located. I heard its a city- to be honest I don't know anything else about it! I will be with Nigh Shimai---if you look back at my MTC pictures you will see her. She is Canadian....black hair, beautiful....basically she is an angel. I'm excited to be with her! She is actually dying next transfer.

I don't know exactly how to feel- sounds silly but I feel kinda numb. I don't really know much else besides Nagasaki. I love this town, these people. It will be good though. Prayed to Heavenly Father to be able to feel peace about no matter what happens, and I know He would never let me go somewhere I wasn't supposed to go. For some reason or another this is the place im supposed to go! I will be leaving on Thursday. I haven't told Aiko....or yamamoto shimai....or the matonos....anyone.

We had a miracle week. Let me be the first to tell you! (not that anyone else would....) Aiko is going to be baptized on September 28th, 2014. I cant tell you how happy I am for her. She is getting her life in order, she is going to be able to have this new start she has been wanting so badly! I wish I could tell you how incredible her story is from the beginning! But I dont got time....another day.

man im sorry I dont know what in the world happened this past week. it was awesome, I know that!! We found 4 new investigators streeting. Which was awesome! 

Hey I don't know where I read this....but it was the coolest thing ever! Ralph Waldo Emerson (kana?) called the stars the -City of God-. And said that if the stars came out just once in a thousand years- everyone would be passing it down from generation to generation- in the hopes that they too would one day be able to see it. Just like Christ- people prophesied before and testified after. Only the thing is- stars don't just come out once in a thousand years. They are always there. Christ doesn't just come once in a thousand years. He is always here. As long as we are in the right place- and we look up- we will always be able to see. I thought that was supa cool!! something to think about next time your just walkin out under the stars!

Anyways, hope you all have the best week. Next time we talk I will be in Hiroshima Japan! crazy crazy...wish me luck! Ready to have a bombdig transfer!

Love you all!! To the moon and beyond!!

---Lane SHimai

ps i will send pictures in a second

...and then the monkey proposed.

8/31/2014

Well we had an eventful week!

let's see...I suppose we can start with last pday which was the BEST DAY EVER!!!!!!! oh goodness. Best pday activity ever that is. We went to go PET MONKEYS!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a biopark, about an hour away, and the animals are just there. You can pet them feed them hold them, whatever you want. It was incredible. Monkeys were by far my favorite part. Oh my GOODNESS I fell in love with them. But im not the one that got pooped on. That was Bush shimai. Tip for the future: when going to make friends with monkeys, keep all the shiny things on your fingers and wrists. Not in your hair. :) While she was getting pooped on, I had a couple aggressive monkeys clawing, and one super cute monkey obsessed with my ring (thanks Cook shimai :)) He would just not let me go. Had to break his heart and move on to the kangaroos though. Anywho.

Have I mentioned how much I love Nagasaki? It is big enough that everywhere you go- you will see people on the streets, tons of houses...and yet still small enough that we see people we know everyday. I LOVE it. Every morning we have been doing Radio Taiso---look it up. It is the cutest thing in the world. A whole bunch of old people and little kids gather at 6*30am and go do this adorable little exercise program. SO.CUTE. and now we are friends with all the old people in our neighborhood. They love us. Dream come true.

Gave a talk in church on Sunday! Went pretty darn well. For me at least. Didnt get too red, bail out laughing, or get distracted...so all in all I would say it went well. Talked about mama, Jesus, and missionary work. :) 

We had an incredible experience on sunday in class- I cant say names or too many details I suppose but we were sitting there in the young womens class (there are three young women that come occasionally, so we help with young womens) and one of the sisters in the branch came in and was talking to us. She and her family have been out of town for a month, and when she sat down she told us she was seriously considering just not coming to church again. She said she doesn't know why she comes anymore- she doesn't get anything out of it, she thinks that people in other churches are just as happy, and she doesn't see why or how in the world people in our church can say that they "KNOW" this church is true. ---in the past when things like this happened, it always shook me a little bit. Made me really sad, and I felt in my heart that these things were true but I had no idea how to share that- articulate that, or what to focus on, etc. But when she told us all of this, I got excited. Because I KNOW she can know for herself, and she is in a perfect place. She is wondering! and wanting to know. Either this church is true, or its not. It is as plain as that. Being about to bear my honest testimony, and helping her through it--talk it out, was a really incredible experience. We challenged her to search- she knows this is up to her- but she says she will search. After we talked to her I was thinking a lot about it, and I was thinking about all the millions of things that have helped shape my own personal testimony. What helped me find answers to the questions and concerns I had. And I got way excited. Im going to make it a little side project to collect things that have really helped me resolve my concerns, find answers, etc. and put them all in one place. It just got me excited. But I love how in this church, we encourage people to find out the truth for themselves. No one can do it for them. it is definitely a personal journey. You, God, Christ, and the Spirit.

It also made me think of you Mom and Dad- your testimonies, examples, everything. And I was thinking about what got you started Dad----and from you sharing bits and parts of your conversion story it is obvious that you were being prepared long before you met anyone from the church. But. the big turning point was when you saw a member of the church, living a clean life, and you desired to know more. Thinking about that made a scripture come to mind--John 10:27 (my sheep know me) and D&C 29:7. It is the same way! When people are being prepared- they will be able to recognize the truth when they come across it. Whether it is through the example of a member, a book, the scriptures, a conference talk, a boss, etc. 

Hey-supa cool scripture I found this week---Zech 13:7---Smite the shepherd and the sheep will scatter...Bam. 

Hey I am really sorry I have been so bad with happy birthdays! I love you all!!! It is September now...but happy birthday to all the August birthdays!!!!

Hey everyone should buy, read, study, and memorize the "Power of an Everyday Missionary" book. It is incredible. Life changer!

I love Nagasaki. I think I might say that every week. but it is true. I come to church and it feels like I family. I love these people and this town SO much. Next week is transfer week- emailing on Tuesday (Monday for you). I actually kinda feel like I am going to stay for another transfer or two. Maybe its wishful thinking....I don't know if it would be blasphemous to ask you to pray for me to stay in Nagasaki...maybe.

Anyways. I love this mission! I love my companions! I love the members, and nonmembers we get to work with, I love Japan, I love Japanese, I love you!!!!!!

Have a great week! ps look it up and see if there is anywhere in the US you can just pet monkeys and let them crawl all over you. Sorry mom, I totally harassed you with a million pictures this week---but at least now no matter what happens to my SD card they are still going to live!! 

I looooooove you!!!

-----sincerely.

Lane Shimaiyo.

I love bus.

8/24/2014

Alrighty,

uhhh today is going to be the best pday ever. my pictures I send next week will tell why.

Didnt leave a lot of time for emails. i am so sorry!! 

I will share a little quote...

--What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us--

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

--He that conquereth himself is greater than he that taketh a city--

--All things are possible to them that believe--

this week was great! Had an open house! the first one in nagasaki since they built this building I believe! It was great!

Had a great week! thunder and lightening galore. Just brightened up my life a little bit! 

I hope you guys have a great week! I will send pictures because I honestly dont remember what was this past week and what was a month ago...sorry this is probably the least interesting email in the world.

Maiguma shimai was super genki this week. So was everyone else. I love my companions. Im a happy camper! 

I love this super mission Heavenly Father has let me go on! I love Jesus Christ, I love everything that He taught, and I love that I get to share it with people. I love sassy old grandmas. I love tiny old japanese grandpas. The Book of Mormon is the best book in the world! Heavenly Fathers love is real!

Have a great week!!

IbelieveIbelieveIbelieveIbelieve

8/18/2014

..in a thing called love!

Man.

Alive.

Life.Is.Good.

Alrighty, I gotta talk about miracles. Miracles Miracles miracles. First things first though! in order for you to understand my stories you gotta understand the past week! So one sister in our apartment went home (long story, she got really sick), and so we were made a tri-companionship. So I have two companions! Luckiest sister in the world! Bush shimai to iu no shimai and Stevenson shimai. (still going strong). So we were dendoing- and we went to these two specific blocks we had prayed about and had miraculously both chosen-out of all of Nagasaki. So we were super pumped to go to these two specific blocks. So we knocked on all the doors, talked to everyone outside-and nothing. So as we were leaving (we were running a little late), I saw this especially intriguing green door--not in either of the blocks we had prayed about. (I have been trying to follow the spirit more, and recognize it, and one common theme that I have been trying to learn for myself is that it isnt this HUGE STRONG feeling all the time. It is a still small voice, that is often times a thought that pops into our head). So. we knock on it- someone talks to us through the kekko box- but then tells us to wait!! They were coming to the door. So he came to the door and listened. We told him about Jesus Christ, how much God loves him, basketball, etc. etc. And he made a return appointment. He had so much interest! And it felt so good teaching him. We were all so excited. 

I was thinking about it later that night, and I wondered if we had made a mistake. The Shotaro (the guy) hadn't been in either of the blocks we had prayed about. But then I realized NO. We didn't make a mistake- Heavenly Father was guiding us the whole time. We just needed to show that extra measure of faith by acting on a prompting we weren't sure was a prompting or not. And we saw MIRACLES. We got to tell this guy-who had no idea--that God is his loving Heavenly Father. He wants to help him, he can be happy, he can find comfort-he can be strong. I realized that YES we need the spirit in planning, but the spirit in the moment is just as important, and sometimes that means changing your course. It was just a really cool story.

But it connects with the other thing I have been thinking about! My whole mission- we have seen things happen that we always call miracles- and then when it doesn't end the way we want it to-I disregard the first miracle. Like Kitagawas dream. that was a miracle- but she didn't decide to listen to the advice and get baptized. THAT DOESN'T MATTER. Once a miracle, always a miracle. Whether or not things work out the way we want them to. I have been ungrateful for miracles without even realizing it. Poor Heavenly Father is probably so frustrated with me. So. I am glad I finally realized that. Makes life a lot happier.

Here is a quote that says exactly what I want to say----it is INSANE. Heavenly Father just puts these things all in a line for me to learn. They all relate. I love it. Here it goes. I paraphrased it a lot--it is from Jesus the Christ. It is way good.

"Achievements made possible by modern invention of telegraph and telephone with or without wires...development of the gasoline motor...these are no longer miracles in man's estimation, because they are all in some degree understood, are controlled by human agency, and, moreover, are continuous in their operation and not phenomenal...all nature is miracle...[in relation to Christ's miracles] science has not yet advanced far enough to analyze and explain...to deny the actuality of miracles on the ground that, because we cannot comprehend the means, the results are fictitious...[implies] that what man cannot comprehend cannot be...to comprehend the works of Christ, one must know Him as the son of God...to the honest soul who would inquire after the Lord, the invitation is ready; let him "come and see" " p.148-9

Wow. That is all I gotta say.

On a lighter note- today we were all talking and Bush shimai said she doesn't really like Labor day. Then Stevenson shimai said "what is labor day? Is that like onion day?".... oh man I love her hahaha

We had a great lesson with Aiko this week. We asked her all about her testimony, if she feels like she recognizes the spirit, ect. etc. She shared experiences of getting answers to prayers, feeling the spirit. I asked her how her life has changed from before the lessons, and she said she is happier. She feels peace where there used to be frustration and anger. She said she has so much hope. She is an angel. I thank Heavenly Father everyday that He let me meet her. She wants to be baptized the beginning of September. We need to get her finacee on-board. Pray for her please!

I have never been so happy! I swear! Heavenly Father just lifts us up, one day at a time. Trials are like big steps up. Takes a lot of energy but the end result is incredible! I love you all so much. SOOOOOO much. If I had the biggest arms in the world I still couldn't give you a big enough hug. Have fun the last few weeks of summer! Or the last week? Wakaran.

Love ya! 

To the moon and beyond!!

Love,

Lane Shimai

ps we organized a super fun youth activity about the plan of salvation. I shall send pictures.