I can hardly believe another week has
gone!! All missionaries say that the days seem like weeks and the weeks
seem like days. That's a pretty valid statement. Thank heaven for a
journal entry every night or I wouldn't be able to keep one day
separated from the next.
Yesterday, I had one of the coolest experiences. I love
the scripture in D&C 19:9. The Lord has told us that if we have
even the smallest desire in our hearts, let that desire work within you.
We had the opportunity to role play asking someone to be baptized. The
investigator was asked to say that they didn't want to at first and then
we had to let the Spirit work from there to tell us what to say so they
would want to accept the invitation to be baptized. I role played with
Ipson Shimai. I started out as the investigator. When Ipson Shimai asked
me if I would be baptized, I said, "I don't want to." I was immediately
caught up in the Spirit feeling exactly like an investigator and really
recognized how truly hard this news may be for someone. However, our
only purpose as missionaries is to make others happy and help them get
closer to Christ. We would never ask them to do something that wouldn't
benefit them because we love them. I then had the opportunity to be the
missionary. I really focused on what Christ would say if He was me. I
asked her how she was feeling right now-she ended up saying that her
family was very important to her. I asked her why and she said, "I don't
know what I'd do without them." What the Spirit then prompted me to do
was a miracle. I said, "Your Heavenly Father doesn't know what to do
without you either. He needs you." Wow! We both started crying and she
said, "Oh my gosh, that was for me." Let me tell you, I have no idea
what's going on in anyone's life but my own. We cannot read into
anyone's feelings or know what they need and when they need it, but the
Spirit knows. Often times, we think we know what we are doing and try to
understand our investigators by ourselves. Missionaries must learn
their role in this work!! The Spirit has an intricate way of working
with people. Everything has to be just right and fit just perfectly for
things to work. The Spirit is quite literally like a surgeon. The
missionary's job is to hand the Spirit the tools it needs to work on a
certain individual. If we try to play the role of the surgeon, we can
really mess things up. The Spirit is what converts!!
This week I decided to get a brand
new Book of Mormon and write one question inside the front cover. Every
day, during personal study, I read it in hopes of finding answers to
my question. I'm four days into this process and it has been a HUGE
blessing in my life. I would highly recommend doing this if you're
looking for a new way to study the Book of Mormon.
This past week, I have started reading the Book of
Mormon in Japanese. I'm sooo slow, but I know that I will be able to
read faster as I practice and rely on the Lord.
The
speakers at the MTC have been incredible. This past week, we heard from
Sheri Dew and Janice Kapp Perry (the lady who wrote many famous hymns
and children's songs like "As Sisters in Zion," "I love to see the
Temple," "The Army of Helman," and "A Child's Prayer").
DSCN00087.JPG: Yesterday was Canada Day. Keith Choro is
from Canada, so he had his parents send him lots of Canadian food and
we had a little celebration together.
DSCN0081.JPG: Elders of the District (from left to right: Buhler Choro, Wheatly Choro, Keith Choro, Shumway Choro)
DSCN0083.JPG:
Sisters of the District (from left to right: Ipson Shimai, Smith
Shimai, Dunn Shimai, MacArthur Shimai, Yamauchi Shimai, Tenorio Shimai,
Willden Shimai, Cheney Shimai)
I am so grateful for this time of year to
celebrate the faith of our fathers. I am so thankful for the many
difficulties and triumphs of those who brought America to be. Because of
the many events that transpired, our Heavenly Father and Savior of the
world appeared to Joseph Smith to restore the truth of His gosepl. The
Lord has His hand in this work. He knows what He is doing. May we
forever trust Him. Trust in His timing, trust in His grace, trust in his
mercy, turst with our faith. There are no accidents.
I love you all so much!! Mom, Dad, Kelsey, Riley,
Reagan, and Rhett, you are my everything!! I have THEE greatest support
system on planet earth! I know that Families can be Forever. How
thankful I am for each and every one of you!
Enjoy the holiday and remember that in the strength of the Lord, we can do ALL things!
Love,
Yamauchi Shimai
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