FAMILY!
I’m in Japan. The keyboard here is really weird so sorry about errors. We are at the church right now.
So...
AAAAHHH! I am so sorry. I have been diligently documenting and taking pictures but i just realized I forgot my camera cord...sad. Ok, well, I am in my area (Kanagawa) and with my trainer: Saiki Shimai. We live in an apartment with just the two of us. Address: 21-0075 (I think that this number is a sort of zip code), Yokohamashi Kanagawa-ku, Shirahatakami-cho 15-31. It’s pretty close to the heart of Tokyo. At night I can see the cityscape and the lights from the buildings. Our area goes to the coast I think, but we haven’t gone that direction yet.
So we got here on a Wednesday, were picked up at the airport by Pres. Albrecht, brother Hobbs, and the AP’s and got on a bus. We drove about 1 1/2 hours to the mission home and had dinner there. Sister Hobbs greeted me and said she was sorry she wasn’t the pope (inside joke with Mom), and then gave me an envelope with a letter in it from Mom. Thanks mom! The next day we had training and then at about lunch time a lot of other missionaries started arriving - missionaries who haven’t been in Tokyo since the earthquake. We had a big huge party and dinner and everyone was bouncing off the walls to be back and see each other, except all of us who just got to Japan were almost asleep because of the jetlag. Everyone stayed at the mission home that night (the elders slept in the church on futons) and the next day we got our assignments and transferred to our new assignments. Saiki Shimai and I took my carry-on and walked from the mission home to the train station/subway and rode to our new area. I don’t even remember how long it was - I was super tired. Then we walked from the station to our apartment. That night we proselyted and went to meet the bishop of one of our wards. We have 2 wards we are working with; Kanagawa and Kohoku. Saiki Shimai says it’s because we have so many sins that we need to take the sacrament twice. That’s probably about right. The next day we proselyted and that night we taught part of lesson 1 to Ko (she’s about 50 I would say) and her son Nie who is about 11 and LOVES food. Then I taught Nie an English lesson. Here, English lessons are a really big way to find people to teach. We offer English lessons and we also teach a spiritual message. Anyway, Ko and Nie: Ko is from China and her family still lives there. I guess it’s a tough situation because she can only go there every couple of years. Ko and Nie (pronounce nie: knee) both came to FHE last night. Next time we teach we are going to ask them to be baptized. I think Ko is really interested in the gospel. Pray for them if you can.
The members here are fantastic. They certainly seem like the missed having missionaries since the earthquake and they are really lighting a fire to get the missionary work rolling. We are really lucky that they are all so willing. I can’t believe how supportive they are. They will literally bend over backwards for us- it’s amazing.
On Sunday I bore my testimony and the members all made sure to tell me how great my Japanese is, which of course means it’s terrible : ) A lot of them speak English pretty well. And surprisingly, a lot of them know where Idaho is. When I tell them I am from there they ask “where in Idaho?” I usually tell them I live south of Pocatello, and quite a few of them know about the area... a couple of them mentioned Blackfoot. Weird.
Big news; this Thursday night, all the Tokyo missionaries will board a bus (actually 4 buses) and ride all night to Sendai and do service all day on Friday. It’s going to be an amazing opportunity to get to see the aftermath of the earthquake. We will probably be shoveling mud out of houses and stuff like that. Crazy that our whole mission gets to go. I’m really excited to be able to go see what things are like. We will ride home and probably get back late so we will most likely be sleeping at a church and then go back to our apartments on Saturday.
Oh- my apartment: coming in the door you walk into a kitchen area with a table and fridge and sink. Straight ahead there is a room where we sleep. Friday night was my first night sleeping on a futon. There is an office sort of room adjacent to the kitchen and sleeping room, and off the kitchen is a sort of hallway that is about 4 feet long with a sink and washer in it. Off of that is a TEENY room with a toilet in it (My knees hit the wall every time I sit down), and there is a little shower-room at the end of the hall. Wow. I am SO SO sorry that I don’t have my camera cord with me.
Saiki Shimai is good. I can’t tell you a lot about her because I don’t know much. She speaks a little bit of English, but definitely not enough to clear up miscommunication. Communication between us is pretty sketchy, but I like her. She’s from somewhere south of Tokyo. I take it she is shocked with how much I don’t know about Japan, and probably missionary work too. She couldn’t believe I had never slept on a futon until Friday. The funniest thing about her is that she LOVES pancakes. The members all give her pancake batter and every morning she mixes some up and cooks it all at once in a pan. It ends up being a big huge pancake that is about 2 inches thick in the middle. She cuts it in half and that’s breakfast.
Sunday after church we had a potluck dinner with some of the members. I was pretty excited to try some real Japanese food. But when I went to get some food they wanted me to try some of their potato salad since I was from Idaho. I knew I would probably have to eat a lot of things here that I really don’t like, but potato salad wasn’:t what I was anticipating. Sort of funny.
Investigator to pray for; Lilly - she and her husband moved here from China and she is pretty strong, but can’t come to church because of work.
For my bike- one of the elders here is on his last transfer so I am going to ride a bike that one of the members offered for the next 6 weeks and then I will buy the elders: bike from him.
Ok, I need to go. LOTS of LOVE from Japan!
Aishiteimasu!
P.S. I AM DOING GREAT!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
May 13, 2011 -email
Hello Kazoku-
I have so, so much to say and not even 15 minutes. I hope you get the e-mail I just sent Cam and Cody. It was amazing to get a letter from Cam and 2 letters from Mom (about Cam and Cody) all in the same day. And then that was joined by a DearElder from Dad. Wow.
Dad you asked about Hope and Faith (PLEASE spell-check my letters!!!). I'm glad you asked because those are two specific things I have been focusing on since I got here. My comp and I taught a lesson on hope too, so that helped. Hope and Faith have always sort of confused me. I couldn't ever really distinguish the difference. Finally, one of my religion teachers said that faith is reliance on assurances given. Ex: we are assured by the Lord that if we pay tithing we will be blessed. If we ACT and rely on that promise by paying our tithing, then that is an act of faith. But what is hope? And how is it different? Right before I left, Bro. Winward said that hope just means to EXPECT. Wow. That's perfect. Read Ether 12:4-6 and Jacob 4:4 and 6 and replace the word hope with the word expect, or expectation. It makes sense. Also read D&C 138 (I think) when Joseph F. Smith received a vision of righteous people who had passed on and 'hoped' for their resurrection and salvation. They were able to expect those blessings because they had acted in faith and knew that the lord would keep his promises. I feel like Faith is knowing that the Lord keeps his promises, and Hope is planning on the blessings to actually apply to you and your life. I've learned a lot about it being here in the MTC. Every day, literally, I think about Hope, and how I need to trust/expect heavenly Father to give me the miracles I need (which are many) so that I can share the gospel with those in Japan. There have been a couple days when I haven't had hope. Those days are few, but miserable, because I just don't see things working out, I don't feel like I have enough time to learn all I need. Well, it's true. I, myself, alone, don't have enough time, or enough of anything actually to learn and do and be what I need to be. Those days are hopeless. But, when I realize that thankfully it's not me that I am relying on, and that I need to ACT in faith on the promises I've been given, I am SO hopeful. Confidence and Optimism are by-products of hope.
Ok. I didn't mean to use up all my time but I just did. I will write about all else in my letter. Sorry about all the errors. I type like a mad-woman these days.
Much love. Soak up sunshine for me!
- Waite Shimai
I have so, so much to say and not even 15 minutes. I hope you get the e-mail I just sent Cam and Cody. It was amazing to get a letter from Cam and 2 letters from Mom (about Cam and Cody) all in the same day. And then that was joined by a DearElder from Dad. Wow.
Dad you asked about Hope and Faith (PLEASE spell-check my letters!!!). I'm glad you asked because those are two specific things I have been focusing on since I got here. My comp and I taught a lesson on hope too, so that helped. Hope and Faith have always sort of confused me. I couldn't ever really distinguish the difference. Finally, one of my religion teachers said that faith is reliance on assurances given. Ex: we are assured by the Lord that if we pay tithing we will be blessed. If we ACT and rely on that promise by paying our tithing, then that is an act of faith. But what is hope? And how is it different? Right before I left, Bro. Winward said that hope just means to EXPECT. Wow. That's perfect. Read Ether 12:4-6 and Jacob 4:4 and 6 and replace the word hope with the word expect, or expectation. It makes sense. Also read D&C 138 (I think) when Joseph F. Smith received a vision of righteous people who had passed on and 'hoped' for their resurrection and salvation. They were able to expect those blessings because they had acted in faith and knew that the lord would keep his promises. I feel like Faith is knowing that the Lord keeps his promises, and Hope is planning on the blessings to actually apply to you and your life. I've learned a lot about it being here in the MTC. Every day, literally, I think about Hope, and how I need to trust/expect heavenly Father to give me the miracles I need (which are many) so that I can share the gospel with those in Japan. There have been a couple days when I haven't had hope. Those days are few, but miserable, because I just don't see things working out, I don't feel like I have enough time to learn all I need. Well, it's true. I, myself, alone, don't have enough time, or enough of anything actually to learn and do and be what I need to be. Those days are hopeless. But, when I realize that thankfully it's not me that I am relying on, and that I need to ACT in faith on the promises I've been given, I am SO hopeful. Confidence and Optimism are by-products of hope.
Ok. I didn't mean to use up all my time but I just did. I will write about all else in my letter. Sorry about all the errors. I type like a mad-woman these days.
Much love. Soak up sunshine for me!
- Waite Shimai
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
May 6, 2011
Flammy!
First of all: Happy Mother's Day this Sunday Mom! I'm sad I won't be able to call. Hope it's a good day. I love you much.
Well, guess what... By the end of this month I'll be in Japan! That's a little odd. Life is good right now. Really, extra-super good. Things are going swimmingly in the 'incomparable compound'.
Uncle Greg said in his e-mail that Tyler was called to somewhere in Mexico that I've already forgotten... when does he leave? Wow. So excited for him.
Mom, I got your package last week and it was great to hear everyone's voices... and exciting that I could completely understand Aunt Sara! I suppose I may have learned some Japanese after all. I hope Women's Conference was great - Did you hear Sister Beck's talk? Some of the Branch Presidencies' wives here went to Women's Conference and they all have been talking about how great that talk was, so if you did hear it I would love to know what she said and what you liked.
The sun is finally beginning to really shine here and I love it! We've been studying outside lately which has been really nice. Whenever we study outside I think about the last Saturday before I came here when we all came down to the last BYU home basketball game. We walked along a sidewalk that is just outside the MTC and I remember looking inside and seeing missionaries studying and thinking how weird it was that I would be one of them soon.
Dad- a million thanks for all the DE's. I love them. But don't feel bad if you are too busy to write some days - I still know you love me! By the way, what was the list of Cam's simple things that he appreciated...? Sounds like he isworking hard.
Oh- Mom: I was walking into my Sacrament meeting building last week and ran into Elder Sears. He looked really happy to be here. He shook my hand and said as he reached into his front pocket, "This is from your mom." Wow. I can't believe all the vicarious means by which you are able to send me little things! I love it. If I ever run into the Pope, I'll expect him to greet me and reach into his front pocket and say, "Oh by the way, Eve wanted you to have this," and pull out some little thing with a sticky note attached to it that has an 'I love you' sign on it.
I have been thinking about the Missionary section of the Family website and will send something to add to it soon. Life as a missionary is fabulous.
Girlsies: Have fun with your last few weeks of school! I bet the week school ends is the same week I go to Japan, so we're all hanging in there for a few more weeks. Finish strong! Love guns!
Takusan Aishiteimasu! -Waite Shimai
First of all: Happy Mother's Day this Sunday Mom! I'm sad I won't be able to call. Hope it's a good day. I love you much.
Well, guess what... By the end of this month I'll be in Japan! That's a little odd. Life is good right now. Really, extra-super good. Things are going swimmingly in the 'incomparable compound'.
Uncle Greg said in his e-mail that Tyler was called to somewhere in Mexico that I've already forgotten... when does he leave? Wow. So excited for him.
Mom, I got your package last week and it was great to hear everyone's voices... and exciting that I could completely understand Aunt Sara! I suppose I may have learned some Japanese after all. I hope Women's Conference was great - Did you hear Sister Beck's talk? Some of the Branch Presidencies' wives here went to Women's Conference and they all have been talking about how great that talk was, so if you did hear it I would love to know what she said and what you liked.
The sun is finally beginning to really shine here and I love it! We've been studying outside lately which has been really nice. Whenever we study outside I think about the last Saturday before I came here when we all came down to the last BYU home basketball game. We walked along a sidewalk that is just outside the MTC and I remember looking inside and seeing missionaries studying and thinking how weird it was that I would be one of them soon.
Dad- a million thanks for all the DE's. I love them. But don't feel bad if you are too busy to write some days - I still know you love me! By the way, what was the list of Cam's simple things that he appreciated...? Sounds like he isworking hard.
Oh- Mom: I was walking into my Sacrament meeting building last week and ran into Elder Sears. He looked really happy to be here. He shook my hand and said as he reached into his front pocket, "This is from your mom." Wow. I can't believe all the vicarious means by which you are able to send me little things! I love it. If I ever run into the Pope, I'll expect him to greet me and reach into his front pocket and say, "Oh by the way, Eve wanted you to have this," and pull out some little thing with a sticky note attached to it that has an 'I love you' sign on it.
I have been thinking about the Missionary section of the Family website and will send something to add to it soon. Life as a missionary is fabulous.
Girlsies: Have fun with your last few weeks of school! I bet the week school ends is the same week I go to Japan, so we're all hanging in there for a few more weeks. Finish strong! Love guns!
Takusan Aishiteimasu! -Waite Shimai
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