August 22, 2011 -email

Dear Fam-

Wow. I just can't tell you how wonderful it is to be a missionary! Life is pretty great.

Mom, I loved your story about the roses! That was fun. It’s always good to hear about life at home. As to which of the good books you should read, I don't know how to help you pick. That's something I still haven't figured out how to prioritize : )

It's been unusually rainy and cool here lately for this time of year. Kind of strange. Japan sure is a pretty place. The area I'm in right now reminds me a lot of England. It sort of has a village-y feel. They play music in the streets where everyone shops... I have no idea why. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a movie and that's the background music.

A couple weeks ago, Saiki Shimai and I went to a train station and tried to talk to people on the street there. It wasn't going very well. A lot of other missionaries must have proselyted there before because everyone seemed to see us and immediately do all they could to avoid us. When things get like that, I usually just start handing out fliers for our free English classes. I was walking down the sidewalk and this guy passed me and instead of looking away he actually kept looking at me and my tag. It was right as I was walking by him, so I took about 2 more steps and then looked back and he was still watching me. I realized he probably wanted a flier. I said sorry and handed him one and thought I would just turn back and walk away, but he started to talk to me. He had a New York Yankees cap on and we started talking about English. He said he used to speak it but had forgotten and he said he would come to our class the next day. He did come that week and last week, and yesterday he came to church. The Elders have started teaching him but they travel a lot so we will probably start teaching him. I'm pretty excited.

Most people we talk to here stop just long enough to hear that we are associated with a church and then they keep walking. But every once in a while we meet just one person who just looks hungry for the gospel. Those people make my whole life happy.

I've been thinking especially lately about the call of a missionary and trying not to forget the importance of that. I've seen a lot of manifestations of that in my life this week. They've actually been there all along but I've seen them lately because I've paid attention. Specifically, recently on a day when my weaknesses were especially apparent, I remember thinking that being a missionary isn't really that different from being a normal person who wears a badge. People always talk about the spirit that missionaries have with them and I have wondered if I ever have that kind of spirit or not. I still don't understand Japanese, and I have realized through experience that teaching is not a strong point of mine.

Then, last night I had a dream of me just living normal life, doing and worrying about the things that I would be concerned about now if I weren't on a mission. It was very detailed and reminded me of specific situations that I used to be in. It reminded me of a lot of the things I used to think and stress about. I woke up from it and couldn't stop thinking about it for a long time. I kept trying to figure out how I was going to deal with that situation once I got home. Then I finally fell asleep and had another similar dream. It was a completely different scenario, but still it was about me being home and trying to make a decision that was really hard. I woke up again and couldn't stop thinking about it for a long time. It was like I was not a missionary and had all the concerns I used to have. I hate to say this to you who aren't on missions, but it was a terrible feeling. It really impressed to me the uniqueness of being a missionary. There are so many big things I don't have to worry about for a while: school, money, other big decisions...

There is so much peace in being able to lie down at night and know that you've given your whole day to the Lord. No regrets. I've realized that being able to feel that is a once in a lifetime experience. Not that there aren't ways we can improve as missionaries -actually most days it seems my weaknesses are magnified here more than ever, but it's a good feeling to be able to give what little you have. Anyway, I just hope you know that this sure is a wonderful experience. The 'setting apart' of a missionary is real.

In one of the letters from Cam that mom sent he shared an experience about how he had been bearing his testimony one day and as he did so he was thinking of all the times he has seen the Lord's hand in his life. That really struck me and now, every time I bear my testimony about something I try to think of a specific time when I saw blessings from following that certain commandment, or that certain gospel principle. It has changed the whole way I teach. It is so much easier to be sincere and help the people I'm talking to feel the spirit.

I just read what I wrote... sorry this week's letter is on the somber note. I didn't mean it to be! I just hope you know how happy missionary life is!

In Aunt Amy's words, Have a Happy.

-Waite Shimai

PS- Mom and Dad, I thought of you on your anniversary!

PPS- Read the Bible Dictionary's entry under the word 'Miracles'.

August 15, 2011 -email

Ausuru Kazoku!

Kyo wa atarashi tenkin no hajime desu! Totemo tanoshimi ni shiteimasu! Atarashi doryo wa Asai Shimia to imasu. Kanojo wa konno Yokohama area ni kimasu, desu kara, watashi wa area Sempai ni narimasu... choto wakai to omoimasu.

Hello fam! It is so good to hear from you all and know your lives are going on as normal as ever.

Well, today is the first day of my 3rd transfer in Japan. I was thinking about that this past week and realized that means my mission is 1/3 over. BAH!!! That's hard to believe. Today was transfers and Saiki Shimai was transferred to another area. My new companion is Asai Shimai and she is from New York, New York but is Japanese. Her parents were born and raised in Japan and then moved to the States. I think she'll be a pretty good companion, but can already tell she doesn't work as hard as Saiki Shimai. Not a lot of people do, but I just hope we can accomplish some things this transfer.

I don't have tons of time to write since we had transfers this morning, but I will say that we have seen a LOT of things happen this week. 3 brand new investigators came to church this week. That's not saying much for Mexico... but in Japan that's called a miracle. We are pretty excited. Here's the new and updated prayer list (thanks in advance): Sano, Bat and Tomii, and Sumire! Sano and Sumire are both about my age and Bat and Tomii are a couple from Mongolia.

Well, gotta run. Love you tons.

-Waite Shimai.

PS - lately I've been reading the greatest book, highly recommend it. It's called the Book of Mormon...

August 8, 2011 -email

WOW!!!
Hello Family!

This seems like the first real P-day I have had in Japan. All the others have been so busy we've hardly even had time to do get our laundry out of the washer... truly. That's because Saiki Shimai is probably the hardest working missionary in our mission. Not that I've had the opportunity to work alongside every single other missionary in Tokyo, but she is hands down the hardest working Sister missionary we've got here. I didn't realize that about her last transfer, but I do now. I used to think all missionaries worked like we do, but lately I've learned differently.

This transfer I had the opportunity to go on an exchange with Hooker Shimia, who is from Logan and is going home in about a week now. Then, this past week 2 other American sister missionaries came and worked with me in our area while Saiki Shimai and the other Japanese missionaries met for a meeting with President Albrecht. Anyway, Hooker Shimai was fabulous but more of a normal paced person. And then this week I felt like I was dragging those two American sisters all over the place! Since I've been with Saiki Shimai this long I've gotten used to basically just running places (seriously, she doesn't waste a second), and being with people who walk at a normal pace was almost depressing. I sure am grateful that she has been my trainer - she is a 'tough'-ey, but I know I'll be blessed for the rest of my mission because of her.

So my birthday was absolutely fantastic! I woke up and Saiki Shimai had decorated our study room with hearts that all had little messages and drawings on them. She had bought me a little toy flute and a rain cover for my bike basket (so that when it rains the stuff in my basket doesn't get wet) which I desperately needed. Also, she had bought a pretty little postcard she had seen me admiring the day before in a shop we had visited after going to the temple.

After waking up we went for a jog. Saiki Shimai gave me permission to jog for an hour but I'm so out of shape that after about 20 minutes we came home (Saiki Shimai doesn't like to jog so she biked alongside me). We came back and Saiki Shimai made me a salad for breakfast. I don't know if she had planned to do that before because she knows I like it, or if she just decided she wanted one and would make me one too... but either way it was tasty. Our breath stank the whole rest of the day though because we used garlic dressing on it:) (I've included a picture of us immediately after the jog - sweat and all!)

For my birthday I think I got about 2 cards from each of my younger sisters plus Ainsley! Thanks a bunch for those everyone! I stocked everything away under my desk and then opened it all that morning. Mom the packages were SUPERB! It was great to open everything and think of you picking all of it out. I kept thinking as I tore open the paper that that exact paper had been sitting under my parent’s bed... a strange thought, I know. It's odd to be so far away and think about that. Anyway, I snacked on the raisins right away. They tasted strongly of mint because they had been sitting in the same package as the life savers together for so long. They were actually pretty good that way!

Then we had a normal study time and after that we went to district meeting. All the elders gave me little candies and presents, and our district leader gave me a bag of apples because he knows I like them so much. After that we all went out to eat at a Chinese restaurant. It was a fabulous day.

Mom, I'm sorry to hear that you can't open my pictures very well! I'm was going to just e-mail them all to you and not waste the postage mailing my SD card because now we have a laptop and I can send things so much easier... but I'll make sure to send my card.

So I just read the e-mail about the hike. Sounds like quite the adventure! Pink eye and all. I sure thought a lot about you all this past week! I had a little adventure of my own though, just to make up for the fact that I wasn't there. I had one of the most fantastic bike wrecks. I wish you all could have seen it. We were going down a hill, pretty fast (this area has the most hills out of all the Tokyo mission areas), and I saw a girl so I decided to get off the street and onto the sidewalk so I could talk to her. Well, the curb was higher than I had anticipated and instead of being able to go over it my front bike tire just skidded forward down the hill. I, however continued onto the sidewalk, along with my backpack, missionary fliers, and water bottles. It was great. I ended up a good 6 feet away from my bike and stuff was scattered everywhere. The girl didn't actually even look at me, she just walked on by, which is a shame. I suppose now I know that THAT way of getting people's attention on the street isn't the most effective one.

Also, I made a mistake a couple weeks ago in our ward mission meeting that you will appreciate. I had prepared the report we read there and was talking about a part member family I had written that we had visited -- homon shimasta. But I forgot one little teeny line on one of the characters and it actually read that we -------- hamon shimashta. Everyone started laughing and Saiki Shimai informed me that I had said we had excommunicated them. Great. I'll never forget that word now.

Mom, I gave away 2 of the CTR rings you sent to 2 little boys who come to our children's English class. They asked what they were and a little girl who is a member told them about primary. It was perfect timing. (ps- did I tell you we teach children's English classes too? Yep. Once a week.)

Something I've realized since writing this letter is that I'm starting to lose my sense of sarcasm. Japanese don't use sarcasm at all and I remember being surprised by that when I first came here. They like more obvious humor.

Something else I'm getting more used to is earthquakes. I used to wake up in the night whenever the ground was shaking a little, but now I just sleep right through them.

So, I read in a letter from Jordan Cox that Ted is engaged, and in the Relief Society report from Sister Rider it said Lacey had a baby??? Wow. People sure do like to get on with their lived don't they! : ) Tell both parties congrats from me.

Dad, I just can't tell you how grand it's been to get your reports about the various activities the family has been involved in. It sure sounds like there have been a lot of really good experiences that everyone has been involved in. Thanks so much for every letter you send. Mom, a big thanks for sending Cam's letters. It’s good to know how he is doing. The number of baptisms he has been able to have is inspiring.

Speaking of baptisms, I have a little miracle to tell you about and then I better wrap this up. Not last week, but the week before on a Friday we got a call from a number the phone didn't recognize. I answered it and didn't recognize the speaker but they said they could meet us at the church sometime so I made an appointment for the next day. Since my Japanese barely could do that much, I wasn't able to get much more info. SO the next day we cautiously went to the church to see who would show up. It turned out to be an 18-year-old girl named Sumire. She had come in contact with the missionaries a year earlier but then her mom got in an accident and she hasn't had time to pursue much since then. She is amazing. We invited her to be baptized after teaching her lesson one at the church and she said yes. She is doing great. She said when she has more faith she wants to invite the missionaries to teach her family. It feels great to have a solid investigator who is actually ready to learn the gospel.

Ok. Well. This is pretty long. I hope it makes up for all the letters I can't address personally to each and every one of you (Mom, Dad, Hannah, Ruby, Hallie, Ainsley, Sadie, Janie, Grandpa and Grandma Waite, Grandpa Wadsworth, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, Friends (that's you Anne Holliday!) ).

Have a great week. I love you all. Especially big thanks to those of you who have e-mailed and written lately. Prayers are headed your way from Japan

Love, Sister Mariah Waite

PS- Mooze, I have every intention of seeing Les Mis with you and Cam and Ruby. I hope you are still planning on coming to BYUI with Cam and I. And I hope you and whoever else wants to is still planning on coming to see Lion King with me once I get back

August 2, 2011 -letter

Dear Fam-

Right now we are sitting in the temple lobby, waiting until we can go in to an Endowment session. This will be my first session in Japanese. We'll see how things go.

Yesterday I got a letter from Uncle Ethan and one from Grandma and Grandpa Waite. Uncle Ethan has a wonderful way with words doesn't he? It was so good to hear from both parties. Sounds like Nathan is doing good at Grandpa and Grandma's house.

Well, right now you are all on the HIKE! I hope. I've been thinking of you and what you might be doing and seeing this week. I know you'll all have the time of your lives whether or not things go as planned :). I'm remembering the hike Waldron's came on... oh wow. I think the Adin and Eve Waite Family motto should be, "We WILL have a fun time... Come hail or high water!" :) It's great to think of all the fun you are having together.

Well, today is the eve of my 22nd birthday. I don't feel much of anything about that. Tomorrow morning I'm going to wake up and open the presents in the package mom sent, and read all the cards and letters you've been sending for my birthday. Thanks so much everyone! And then I think I'll eat some oatmeal and raisins, and maybe some grapefruit and yogurt. Then we'll go about our usual day :) oh - for lunch I want to eat an apple. Other than that I don't expect it will be a very unusual day, which I'm kind of happy about. I haven't had much time to think about it actually.

Mom thanks for the letters from Cam. Sounds like he is doing great. This whole mission experience is just evidence to me that the Lord is serious when he says his purpose is to bring about the salvation of our souls! One of the first things I learned coming to Japan is that the Lord is just as interested in me as He is with my investigators, and He certainly isn't through with me even though I've already become a member of His church and received baptism. I've thought a lot, "The Lord isn't very good at picking effective people to share His message." Usually I'm thinking that when I realize how much I still have to learn about missionary work. I feel like I waste the Lord's time and resources because I'm still learning so much... why doesn't he just hire some professionals? Well, I've learned that it's because He wants me to become professional. He is just as interested in helping me become better through this opportunity as He is in my investigators accepting the gospel. WOW.

So we are out of the temple now. Actually while we were in the temple there was an earthquake... everything just went on as usual of course, but that's something I won't ever forget.

WOW - I just wish I had time to tell you each individually how much I love you. Thank you for all of your letters! Sister Hobbs at the mission office says I get more mail than anyone else - I'm SUPER lucky.

Miracle: on Friday we got a call from a person (we didn't know who) who wanted to meet us at the church the next day. We met and had a lesson and she has a baptismal date! Her name is Sumire and she's the most fabulous 18 year old I've ever met! Lots of faith. Anyway, gotta go. Just know how much I love you.

Love,

Waite Shimai

P.S. I just got Dad's letter about the TREK... wow! Sounds like it was quite the experience! I'm so excited for you all.

August 2, 2011 -email

Fam -

WOW! Lots of great e-mails!

I can't write much but here is what I sent to Cam this week (He emailed me wishing me Happy Birthday).

CAM!!!

Thanks a billion! I love you so much! I've been thinking about you and the family especially this week because they are on the hike, and you are in Mexico... wow! Everyone is having such adventures. We don't have tons of time to write today because we went to the temple... you know how it is. But at least we both know that we have legit reasons for not being able to write more. What could be more important than what we are doing? Doesn't it feel great to wake up every morning and know for sure that EVERYTHING you are going to do that day is EXACTLY what God wants you to be doing? Good Feeling. Missions are so fun. Lots of prayers are headed your direction from Japan!

Love,

Waite Shimai

PS- I LOVE YOU!!!

Well, thats about the sums of it. I know you are on the hike anyway, so you won't be able to read this for a while anyway. My next P-day is Monday as usual...

THANKS EVERYONE FOR THE BIRTHDAY WISHES!!!

-Waite Shimai

PS- the second picture is me and a recent convert and Sister Hooker, who is from Logan and returning home in a couple weeks.

July 25, 2011 -letter

Dear Fam

I just wrote you 1/2 an email and then we had to run. We were at the church and the R.S. was having a scrapbooking activity (scrapbooking is just starting to get big here :) it was fun to see all these Japanese ladies "ooh and aah" when they saw an embossing machine for the first time...). Anyway, one of the members had brought a nonmember friend and we wanted to meet her so we had to go.

Last night I woke up because of an earthquake. I fell back asleep and had dreams that the earth was spinning up and down. It felt good to wake up and feel gravity's power again.

Today I received a wedding invitation from Levi Morrison. Unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to attend. Send the Morrison's my best. It's odd to think that I'm here in Japan having the adventure of my life while other people are settling down. I'm sure glad to be doing what I'm doing right now, that's for sure :)!

Recently both of our wards held Ward Conference. Afterwards, they all gathered in the Cultural Hall for a ward picture. Good tradition I think.

Ruby! Thanks for the letter! I laughed when I read "you old foggie." I love your letters-it was fun to hear about girl’s camp, too. You are a really good letter-writer. Lots of tone.

Recently Saiki Shimai pointed out that when we are on the street I always testify about the same thing. (of course... the gospel! that's what I first thought when she said that). But then she said that no matter what I always end up teaching the plan of salvation. WOW! She's right! I didn't realize it, but my whole testimony is mainly based on the Plan of Salvation (through Jesus Christ) and all other gospel principles are an appendage to that in my mind. So lately I've been trying to gain a stronger testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon-as their own subjects. Interesting.

Well, gotta go. Love you lots from Japan! (Cool, huh? I'm in JAPAN!!!)

Waite Shimai

July 24, 2011 -email

Dear FAM!

Mina genki desu ka?

Oh wow. This week... Well, Monday is our P-day from now on. We just found out last week that we were switching. So from now on, I’ll be writing to you on Mondays unless we go to the temple and then it will be Tuesday. (Not next week, but the next week, August 2^nd I think we are going to the temple. But you’ll be on the hike then right?)

Oh the HIKE!!! I’m kind of excited to know that for my birthday some of my very favorite people will be in one of my very favorite places. If you happen to be at Hidden Lake on my birthday, go find that old dead tree and carve my name on it will you? The one I’ve carved my name on 2 times already... anyone remember where it is? Probably not. : )　I think Anne Holliday would probably be able to find it.

Well, Kurowawa has sort of dropped us. We had a dinner appointment scheduled for last Wednesday evening with her at a member’s house and she didn’t show up. Granted, that was the day of the "typhoon" (which just amounted to various spurts of heavy rain throughout the day), but she hasn’t contacted us since then either. We usually meet her at a park at 5:00 if the weather is good, so the next day we went to the park, but she wasn’t there. I thought maybe she was avoiding us. The next day we went again and didn’t see her. We ran into some members though and started talking to them. While we were talking, I spotted Kurosawa walking on the sidewalk outside the park. It was pretty far away, but I could tell it was her and I thought I had seen her glance our direction but she just kept walking. So we said bye to the members and darted through the park towards an exit that was in the direction she was going. When we got there, we looked down the sidewalk in the direction she had been going but she wasn’t there... then we looked the other direction, the direction she had come from, and there she was walking back. I’m pretty sure she had seen us and turned around. We followed her from a distance to see if she might go back into the park but she just headed back to her apartment... I felt like a stalker and a fool. Good times. We are going to try to go find her one more time this week, but I don’t think it will go anywhere.

Tomorrow we are getting laptops! (The exclamation point is more out of surprise than excitement.) President Albrecht has been trying to get them approved for about 2 years now and apparently the Quorum of the 12 finally said yes, we could try them. So Tokyo mission is the guinea pig... they are going to see if it helps the work or not. They will be especially useful for our elders because men here go to work early in the morning before we are out proselyting and don’t come back until after 10pm usually.

Ok, sorry gotta run - I hope we can come back later to finish writing but we need to head right now... sorry if we don’t make it back!!!

I love you all!!!

-Waite Shimai