March 22, 2011 -email

Hello Flammy-

Can you do me a favor? Can someone PLEASE record Janie singing 'You are my shunshine'? I miss that little stinker.

Yesterday, after talking on the phone with dad and mom about Aunt Amy, I was sad for about an hour afterwards. Sad that she is no longer with us, sad for her children and Uncle Rick, and very very sad that I wouldn't be at the funeral to see everyone gathered and to gain closure from the whole thing. I had been praying for her all week, praying that Heavenly Father would bless her and her family with any and all miracles that he could see fit to bestow upon them. Each time I felt re-assured that all would be well, but I didn't know what that meant. Sunday night, I prayed for her and wondered if my prayers were even needed anymore - so many things could have transpired since the last time I had been able to hear any news. It was an odd feeling and I just wondered what had happened since I had last received an update. When I was called to the office Monday morning I was pretty sure I knew what I would hear. Anyway, I haven't had much time to think about it all since yesterday morning, but it crosses my mind and I know I don't need to worry. Dad's family especially has always had a way of knowing how to pull together and give support after events like this, and I can picture it all happening at Uncle Caleb’s house: people sharing memories, and then funny stories, and then maybe jokes and laughing, and then discussing what needs to be done next, and finally retiring to bed at an hour much later than usual, but feeling better about things none the less. I so wish I could have been there. Tell the Shumway kids I'm thinking of them. And give Uncle Ethan a hug from me- it was so wonderful to be able to talk to him right before going into the MTC.

Change of topic: Japan. We don't know what is going to happen with all of us who have been called to the missions that have currently transferred all their missionaries to other areas. It's interesting to note, though, that currently there are more missionaries in the MTC that are Japan-bound than there ever have been before. Now we know why. One of my teachers said that many prophesies have been made about Japan. One of them, she thought was by Pres. Eyring, was that Japan will one day be a/the highest baptizing country. Unfortunately, no one ever hoped that events like the past ones would lead to the fulfillment of that prophesy, but those of us who have been called there are all praying that they will be much more receptive to the gospel now. It's sort of odd to think about how much I think about and pray for those people that I haven't even met. And it's also strange to think that the Tokyo that most of those people know and remember, is a place I will never see. I will never see Tokyo the way most people know and love it.

I hope this week goes well for you all. I love learning Japanese. My companion is better than I could have ever asked for. The MTC food still never settles quite right, but I'm doing spectacular.

CAM: Thank you SO much for the Japanese Hymn book you gave me for Christmas. I use it every day here. Good luck with that new companion. It cracks me up to think of the two of you walking around surrounded by a bunch or short little Mexicans. : )

Love you all.

-Waite Shimai
PS- My class is at the top of 5 flights of stairs. We think we climb an average of 1,500 stairs each day. Not counting the ones to our bedrooms...