I am thankful for... November 24, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Here in Japan, we don't celebrate
Thanksgiving obviously because it is just about Columbus coming to
America...or something like that. So I figured the way I would
celebrate thanksgiving the best with you this year is to tell you all
of the things I am thankful for from this week. Here goes...
I am thankful for...
Akiko san. She is the one we found who was walking her dog that speaks
English. We actually didn't end up getting her number right, and so we
couldn't call her. But we knew where her house was, and so we went to
visit her this past week. She said that she even thought about coming
to church this last week! It was incredible to find out that she has a
lot of our same beliefs. For her first lesson, we ended up teaching
her the word of wisdom and the law of chastity because she is takes
her body as being very important. I have to say that is the first time
I have ever taught that for a first lesson. She told us that she would
love to learn and talk with us and go to church, but she said she
probably won't get baptized and wanted to know if that was okay. I
told her, the reason that I came to Japan was not just to make friends.
I came to help people get closer to Christ. As we teach you, the
purpose will be to help you be baptized. She seemed okay with it. I am
so thankful that I feel so strongly about just telling people how it
is. There is no sense in beating around the bush with God's work. We
are going to meet with her tomorrow and I'm really excited. She is
super cute. I'll have to send you pictures next week.
Ko san. Picture 1.

She met the missionaries about a year ago and we
called her up to see if she would be willing to meet with us. She said
that was okay. She said she would bring her son as well. As it turned
out, Ko san just wanted to talk, but not about the gospel. However,
her son was very nice and interested in what we have to say. I know
that The Lord blessed us so much because even though she wasn't
interested, she was prompted by god to bring a family member that
would be. 
Hasegawa san. Picture 2 and 3. 

If you put Hasegawa san and Nakajima shimai together you've got yourself 

a wonderful video, all you need is popcorn. I love these two so much. 

Hasegawa sans mother is 97 and in the hospital right now, so she spends 

quite a bit of time taking care of her mother.

However, if she is home, we are able to visit with her.
We had two lunch appointments with her at Nakajima Shimai's house this
week. You know how sometimes when you plan a church activity and you
know you have to have food in order to get lots of people there. Well,
in missionary work, we do that a lot too. :) I asked her this week
that if if she knew the message we taught was true, would she be
baptized? She looked at me for a few seconds and then said, yeah I
will. Then she said, I just can't say "no" to Sister Yamauchi. In my
heart I was thinking, "oh, yeah!!" :) 
Hasegawa Mari san. She is Hasegawa sans daughter. She is one of my
best friends. So sweet, super stylish, and has a way smart head on her
shoulders. She came to eikaiwa with us this past week and had a blast.
She is like my long lost twin. We are both perfectionists and we both
know it. 
Ayabe family. Picture 4 and 5.

We went with Horie shimai this week. It
was a really good experience. They learned about the temple. Shoma kun
finished reading the children's Book of Mormon. Amazing!! Also, isn't
saki chan the cutest thing you have ever seen in your life?! 
Your prayers and the Lords allowing a huge miracle to happen this
week. I am also grateful for fasting. So we go this past Tuesday to
see Okada shimai with Nakajima shimai prepared to share with her the
lesson about tithing. We get there and I can just feel that something
was wrong. I asked if there was, and she said there was, but it was
private. But she said she couldn't be baptized. I felt like it was dei
ja vu with ueda shimai. So, in order to open up her heart, we allowed
for a little silence and questions just a little at a time. She ended
up saying that her husband and her aren't getting along too well,
money is a little hard, she doesn't know how she is going to live in
the future, her husband had been in the hospital for so long that his
employment was in jeopardy. We just talked it out and she felt better
by the end and we commited her again to baptism and told her she would
need to talk to her husband. So we set the date she could talk to her
husband. The plan was for on Friday, so we were all going to fast for
her that day. But then on exchanges on Thursday, me and Sister Chander
and Nakajima shimai go to her house and she said she met with her
husband today and told her her desires in her heart and the husband
didn't understand it too well and kind of thought she was crazy, but
was okay with it and said that when he gets out of the hospital, he
wants to hear what we teach!! I am so excited!! I am so thankful for
everyone's prayers in her behalf. You made a huge difference. I know
it. She came to stake conference with members. Mom, I remember when
you always had a baby bag for us at church. I made one for toma kun.
Picture 6 and 7.

Cute, right!? Had her interview Sunday night and she
is all good!! Pray for her to safely receive baptism and confirmation
this next week. I am so excited!!! 
Service opportunities. Fun times with the relief society and Okada san
this week. We made cute Christmas tree ornaments for the senior
citizens. Way fun. Picture 8


Friends who are so sweet. I have had so many people tell me this week
so many wonderfully nice things that have really helped me to feel
good. Lots of people telling me I am their best friend or that they
want to be more like me or that I am able to see right into peoples
souls for what they need. People know my love language :) 
Sister Howe. Picture 9.


This is Sister Miyaki's companion. I am so
grateful to live in the same apartment as her. She is such a
sweetheart. We can feel each other's love without saying anything at
all. 
Exchanges. I feel so fortunate to be able to go on so many exchanges
with the responsibilities that I have held during my mission. I learn
so much from every single sister. This week, I went on exchanges with
Sister Chandler. I love her so much. She is adorable and so good at
using the Book of Mormon in missionary work. 
Second chances. Picture 10 and 11.



 So me and Sister Chandler rode the
train to Kiryu for our zone conference, I sat next to this girl and
after we started talking for a while, she said that she things she
knows my friends. She pulled out a picture from a few months ago of
Sister Jack and Sister Edwards. Wow! 
People who have a brain still. Me and Sister Chandler also talked to a
girl who was amazingly smart. I think Japan school is the way to go
maybe. She was studying science in English. She asked us a few
questions about chromosomes or Mieosis or something like that, then I
would turn to Sister Chandler and she would help...yeah, I have no
idea. I forgot everything except how to do missionary work. ;) 
The train application on our phone and google maps. I can't tell you
how many screen shots I have taken of google maps and train schedules.
I feel like The Lord has really blessed me with the ability to get
places fast by giving me a talent with directions. If you give me a
map, I can go anywhere. So thankful for the scriptures too, which have
been huge guides for me. I have come to cherish the Book of Mormon
even more this week. I know that we can go to the scripture with any
questions and receive an answer from God. I have learned that it is
not always what we read that gives us the answer. I think if we really
want an answer and believe he will give us one, we can just read and
revelation will come, in text or out of text. 
Zone conferences. For zone conference, I was asked to translate, do a
training, sing a special musical number for our Christmas concert, and
give my final testimony to everyone (because it's my last zone
conference). I was crazy busy, and I love it. Translating is just so
much fun. I wish that all of our meetings were in Japanese, but they
are in English, so I always translate for the Japanese missionaries.
Picture 12.


Final Testimony. Here are some of the things I said in my final
testimony. The Lord makes the impossible, possible.  Miracles happen
every single day. Before your mission, if someone said it was a
miracle, it was a pretty big deal. Now when I say something is a
miracle, it's normal. When you are on Gods team, miracles happen every
step you take. You just have to take a step. I love obedience. It
unlocks all blessings. I have learned the meaning of Charity. True
charity is hard to find, but When you find it, there is nothing
better. The importance of parenting/skills of motherhood. Testimony of
the savior. It's all about an act of faith. You just have to keep
acting for good and things will work out. 
The much success The Lord has allowed me to be a part of. I went to
the Saturday session of Stake Conference with a member and a bunch of
recent converts. I sat in hue he back seat and got to see all of them
as they joyfully talked as we went on our way to Kiryu for stake
conference. My heart was so touched. As I saw the sunset that we saw
on our way, I thought about how the sun is a big ball of fire.
And...Koga is on fire!! Yeaaahhhhh!! Picture 13 and 14.


 
The gift of tongues. I got asked without warning at the stake
conference to translate from Japanese to English for all those who
were listening in English. It was quite the deal. I had on this big
headphone set. I know The Lord helped me so much. I love translating
and am so thankful the gift of languages. P.S. I am a little better at
translating from English to Japanese than I am for Japanese to
English. 
So we wanted to pass off Ken Son to Elder Killpack and Elder Higbee so
I set up an appointment for this past Sunday night. On the way there,
we ran into Tsukahara Hiroshi san, the deaf man. He ended up coming to
the church and me and Nakajima shimai taught him while the others
taught Ken Son. And...we had the best lesson yet with Tsukahara san.
He actually understood a lot. We even got a baptism date with him!! In
April. A ways away, but he will need a little time to absorb things I
think. Picture 15.


Everyone keeps telling me that I can't leave, so I guess I better be
obedient to them. I don't know when I will be home, but I'll see you
someday ;) 
Love ya all,
山内姉妹
 

I am thankful for... November 24, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Here in Japan, we don't celebrate
Thanksgiving obviously because it is just about Columbus coming to
America...or something like that. So I figured the way I would
celebrate thanksgiving the best with you this year is to tell you all
of the things I am thankful for from this week. Here goes...
I am thankful for...
Akiko san. She is the one we found who was walking her dog that speaks
English. We actually didn't end up getting her number right, and so we
couldn't call her. But we knew where her house was, and so we went to
visit her this past week. She said that she even thought about coming
to church this last week! It was incredible to find out that she has a
lot of our same beliefs. For her first lesson, we ended up teaching
her the word of wisdom and the law of chastity because she is takes
her body as being very important. I have to say that is the first time
I have ever taught that for a first lesson. She told us that she would
love to learn and talk with us and go to church, but she said she
probably won't get baptized and wanted to know if that was okay. I
told her, the reason that I came to Japan was not just to make friends.
I came to help people get closer to Christ. As we teach you, the
purpose will be to help you be baptized. She seemed okay with it. I am
so thankful that I feel so strongly about just telling people how it
is. There is no sense in beating around the bush with God's work. We
are going to meet with her tomorrow and I'm really excited. She is
super cute. I'll have to send you pictures next week.
Ko san. Picture 1.

She met the missionaries about a year ago and we
called her up to see if she would be willing to meet with us. She said
that was okay. She said she would bring her son as well. As it turned
out, Ko san just wanted to talk, but not about the gospel. However,
her son was very nice and interested in what we have to say. I know
that The Lord blessed us so much because even though she wasn't
interested, she was prompted by god to bring a family member that
would be. 
Hasegawa san. Picture 2 and 3. 

If you put Hasegawa san and Nakajima shimai together you've got yourself 

a wonderful video, all you need is popcorn. I love these two so much. 

Hasegawa sans mother is 97 and in the hospital right now, so she spends 

quite a bit of time taking care of her mother.

However, if she is home, we are able to visit with her.
We had two lunch appointments with her at Nakajima Shimai's house this
week. You know how sometimes when you plan a church activity and you
know you have to have food in order to get lots of people there. Well,
in missionary work, we do that a lot too. :) I asked her this week
that if if she knew the message we taught was true, would she be
baptized? She looked at me for a few seconds and then said, yeah I
will. Then she said, I just can't say "no" to Sister Yamauchi. In my
heart I was thinking, "oh, yeah!!" :) 
Hasegawa Mari san. She is Hasegawa sans daughter. She is one of my
best friends. So sweet, super stylish, and has a way smart head on her
shoulders. She came to eikaiwa with us this past week and had a blast.
She is like my long lost twin. We are both perfectionists and we both
know it. 
Ayabe family. Picture 4 and 5.

We went with Horie shimai this week. It
was a really good experience. They learned about the temple. Shoma kun
finished reading the children's Book of Mormon. Amazing!! Also, isn't
saki chan the cutest thing you have ever seen in your life?! 
Your prayers and the Lords allowing a huge miracle to happen this
week. I am also grateful for fasting. So we go this past Tuesday to
see Okada shimai with Nakajima shimai prepared to share with her the
lesson about tithing. We get there and I can just feel that something
was wrong. I asked if there was, and she said there was, but it was
private. But she said she couldn't be baptized. I felt like it was dei
ja vu with ueda shimai. So, in order to open up her heart, we allowed
for a little silence and questions just a little at a time. She ended
up saying that her husband and her aren't getting along too well,
money is a little hard, she doesn't know how she is going to live in
the future, her husband had been in the hospital for so long that his
employment was in jeopardy. We just talked it out and she felt better
by the end and we commited her again to baptism and told her she would
need to talk to her husband. So we set the date she could talk to her
husband. The plan was for on Friday, so we were all going to fast for
her that day. But then on exchanges on Thursday, me and Sister Chander
and Nakajima shimai go to her house and she said she met with her
husband today and told her her desires in her heart and the husband
didn't understand it too well and kind of thought she was crazy, but
was okay with it and said that when he gets out of the hospital, he
wants to hear what we teach!! I am so excited!! I am so thankful for
everyone's prayers in her behalf. You made a huge difference. I know
it. She came to stake conference with members. Mom, I remember when
you always had a baby bag for us at church. I made one for toma kun.
Picture 6 and 7.

Cute, right!? Had her interview Sunday night and she
is all good!! Pray for her to safely receive baptism and confirmation
this next week. I am so excited!!! 
Service opportunities. Fun times with the relief society and Okada san
this week. We made cute Christmas tree ornaments for the senior
citizens. Way fun. Picture 8


Friends who are so sweet. I have had so many people tell me this week
so many wonderfully nice things that have really helped me to feel
good. Lots of people telling me I am their best friend or that they
want to be more like me or that I am able to see right into peoples
souls for what they need. People know my love language :) 
Sister Howe. Picture 9.


This is Sister Miyaki's companion. I am so
grateful to live in the same apartment as her. She is such a
sweetheart. We can feel each other's love without saying anything at
all. 
Exchanges. I feel so fortunate to be able to go on so many exchanges
with the responsibilities that I have held during my mission. I learn
so much from every single sister. This week, I went on exchanges with
Sister Chandler. I love her so much. She is adorable and so good at
using the Book of Mormon in missionary work. 
Second chances. Picture 10 and 11.



 So me and Sister Chandler rode the
train to Kiryu for our zone conference, I sat next to this girl and
after we started talking for a while, she said that she things she
knows my friends. She pulled out a picture from a few months ago of
Sister Jack and Sister Edwards. Wow! 
People who have a brain still. Me and Sister Chandler also talked to a
girl who was amazingly smart. I think Japan school is the way to go
maybe. She was studying science in English. She asked us a few
questions about chromosomes or Mieosis or something like that, then I
would turn to Sister Chandler and she would help...yeah, I have no
idea. I forgot everything except how to do missionary work. ;) 
The train application on our phone and google maps. I can't tell you
how many screen shots I have taken of google maps and train schedules.
I feel like The Lord has really blessed me with the ability to get
places fast by giving me a talent with directions. If you give me a
map, I can go anywhere. So thankful for the scriptures too, which have
been huge guides for me. I have come to cherish the Book of Mormon
even more this week. I know that we can go to the scripture with any
questions and receive an answer from God. I have learned that it is
not always what we read that gives us the answer. I think if we really
want an answer and believe he will give us one, we can just read and
revelation will come, in text or out of text. 
Zone conferences. For zone conference, I was asked to translate, do a
training, sing a special musical number for our Christmas concert, and
give my final testimony to everyone (because it's my last zone
conference). I was crazy busy, and I love it. Translating is just so
much fun. I wish that all of our meetings were in Japanese, but they
are in English, so I always translate for the Japanese missionaries.
Picture 12.


Final Testimony. Here are some of the things I said in my final
testimony. The Lord makes the impossible, possible.  Miracles happen
every single day. Before your mission, if someone said it was a
miracle, it was a pretty big deal. Now when I say something is a
miracle, it's normal. When you are on Gods team, miracles happen every
step you take. You just have to take a step. I love obedience. It
unlocks all blessings. I have learned the meaning of Charity. True
charity is hard to find, but When you find it, there is nothing
better. The importance of parenting/skills of motherhood. Testimony of
the savior. It's all about an act of faith. You just have to keep
acting for good and things will work out. 
The much success The Lord has allowed me to be a part of. I went to
the Saturday session of Stake Conference with a member and a bunch of
recent converts. I sat in hue he back seat and got to see all of them
as they joyfully talked as we went on our way to Kiryu for stake
conference. My heart was so touched. As I saw the sunset that we saw
on our way, I thought about how the sun is a big ball of fire.
And...Koga is on fire!! Yeaaahhhhh!! Picture 13 and 14.


 
The gift of tongues. I got asked without warning at the stake
conference to translate from Japanese to English for all those who
were listening in English. It was quite the deal. I had on this big
headphone set. I know The Lord helped me so much. I love translating
and am so thankful the gift of languages. P.S. I am a little better at
translating from English to Japanese than I am for Japanese to
English. 
So we wanted to pass off Ken Son to Elder Killpack and Elder Higbee so
I set up an appointment for this past Sunday night. On the way there,
we ran into Tsukahara Hiroshi san, the deaf man. He ended up coming to
the church and me and Nakajima shimai taught him while the others
taught Ken Son. And...we had the best lesson yet with Tsukahara san.
He actually understood a lot. We even got a baptism date with him!! In
April. A ways away, but he will need a little time to absorb things I
think. Picture 15.


Everyone keeps telling me that I can't leave, so I guess I better be
obedient to them. I don't know when I will be home, but I'll see you
someday ;) 
Love ya all,
山内姉妹
 

This week's reflections -November 17, 2014

I can't remember if I told you this last Monday or not, so I'll tell
it again. Sorry, if I told you last week. Nakajima shimai called us up
on Monday and told us her son and family were coming over and she
wanted us to meet them. Cute, right?! Love this steki family. Got to
share about the plan of salvation and Book of Mormon a little bit.
Wonderful testimony builder. Oh, how I long to be as good as Nakajima
shimai. 

 

District meeting. Always great. I taught everyone how to make
baptismal calendars for our investigators with baptismal dates. That
was great. I love training!! Also, I think I might have told you this,
but Koga is known for getting flat tires. It is such a big area and we
use our bikes everywhere we go, so we get flats super easy. So, the
elders helped us learn how to fix it on our own. That was great too.
Itou san. This is Nishi Shimai (mother of Usui shimai, Usui kyoudais
wife). Love her so much.

She is adorable. She helped us with Itou sans lesson. Itou san is kind of 

an eternal investigator.Found him in the area book. First time meeting him

this week. It is so important to always teach with a purpose. I feel like most 

eternal investigators that I have run into have been taught by previous
missionaries just for a knowledge, and not with a purpose of baptism
in mind. You are never pushing someone when you are inviting them to
come unto Christ and be saved. 
We went to visit one of our investigators this one day totsuzen. It
took us about one hour to find the place. Well, the it turned out she
wasn't home. I told sister Owens we were going to find someone I this
area because wherever we go, we are on the lords errand.  Mounted our
bikes and I saw a lady with a cute dog and said, she is the one. Went
up to her. Turns out she speaks pretty good english and is very open
to learning about religion. Showed us her house, gave us her number.
She doesn't have a job and we can visit whenever! Wow! Cool, right?!
The gospel is true! Her name is Akiko san by the way. 
So we found out last monday that we missed Okada Shimai's bday by a
few days, so we threw a little party/lesson on Wednesday. So much fun!

Weekly planning. I have become quite the fan of planning. I remember
at the start of my mission I just wanted to go out and do, do, do.
Although that is still my desire, I have learned the value of
planning. It helps everything go along so smoothly. I don't know how I
survived without a planner before my mission. I love my missionary
planner. That and my iPad. If I have those two things, I pretty much
have everything.
I think you will all enjoy this next story. So I called the office
couple that are at the honbu to get my card number for money that I
wanted. Elder Evans checked on it for me and replied in a shocked
voice, you have tons of money on your card! Some missionaries have
quite a bit, but that is the most money I have ever seen left on a
card. I had to just giggle and say, yeah, my family wouldn't be
surprised. :) 
Went to Toma kuns Undoukai (sports day) and Nakajima shimai came too
to support him. Just spent a little bit of our lunch hour there and
left. Japan school is just too fun looking!!


So the same Filipinos we met last weekend that I
told you about, well, we met them again is week on the same day at
pretty much the same place and time.


Guuzen janaiya!! Way cool. And the best thing about it is that we
couldn't find their Facebook names that they gave us, so we got to
again swap information so we can be friends with them and help them
come closer to Christ!!


Ayabe family. Shoma kun could not keep his eyes out from
the children's Book of Mormon. It was awesome. Even when we started
the English lesson, he was still reading like crazy. So thankful for
children's examples. 
We had family night and me and Sister Owens were in charge of music.
We had ueda shimai and Nakajima shimai sing a famous Japanese song.
Love these two so much.




After family night (Saturday night), I got together with
Sora san (on the right of this picture) and ueda shimai(on the left
side) and taught about god. Sora san isn't sure if god is there or not
and it was awesome to hear ueda shimai testify about how she knows god
is there. Ah, please pray for ueda Shimai. Thanks :) 
I am amazed at how many people don't know how to cook. My companion
said she was going to make everyone pancakes on Sunday morning, but we
all ate our own food for breakfast. Then she was making pancakes for
herself and all of the sudden our house gets super smoky and my pan
that I bought about a month ago for cooking was completely burnt! That
was the first time I have seen her cook.  Pretty sure that might be
the last. I always cook for her. At the start of my mission, I
preferred just doing separate meals because I can make and eat super
fast. But over the last little while, I find it very fulfilling and
service oriented to cook for my companion. So thankful that my mission
has helped me develop skills that I will need going forward in life. 
This Sunday we had our Primary program (interesting that you had yours
this last weekend as well). We have about 9 kids in our primary.
Crazy, right?! Very small. Hopefully soon we will be able to get 10
because of Okada Shimai's son, toma kun. :) They did so good. I love
learning from the children. They teach such simple truths so well and
their hearts are so pure. 


Okada shimai came to church again! So excited for her
progress. She has slowly been climbing out of her shell and talks
really well with all the members. Oh, how I love her. This week she is
going to ask for permission from her husband to be baptized. If there
is one things could have you pray for this week in every prayer
possible, it would be that she can get permission. This is so
important. We are doing all that we can to help her prepare to ask.
She goes to visit her husband once a week in the hospital. He got into
an accident a little while and is still nyuuinchuu (sorry, forgot the
word in English). Dad, help me out if you remember. We are still
aiming for November 30. Everyone, let's unite in this great case.
Okada shimai needs your help!! 
We had a lesson and dinner at the Nakamura family's house. Oh, how I
love that family. I always forget to take a picture with them. I will
try to remember next time. When they come to America for General
Conference in the future, I am going to go with them!! 
We had a lesson with Ken Son again. I still can't figure him out. He
believes this church is true, but isn't willing to act on what he
believes.


Your weekly dose of Nakajima Shimai and me :) we went
to visit a new investigator right before shopping, but she wasn't
home. Well, that happens. But you have to learn to make the most of
what comes, so we took a funny picture together. :) we spent pretty
much all three ours of our dendou time with her visiting people. Got
to love it!! :) 
This week I am looking forward to Zone Conference (Friday) and Stake
Conference (Saturday and Sunday). All three of those will be in
Kiryuu, which is a LONG way a way from here. It will be interesting to
go three days in a row. Excited to learn lots from our church leaders.
️Lots of loves️
山内姉妹

This week's reflections -November 17, 2014

I can't remember if I told you this last Monday or not, so I'll tell
it again. Sorry, if I told you last week. Nakajima shimai called us up
on Monday and told us her son and family were coming over and she
wanted us to meet them. Cute, right?! Love this steki family. Got to
share about the plan of salvation and Book of Mormon a little bit.
Wonderful testimony builder. Oh, how I long to be as good as Nakajima
shimai. 

 

District meeting. Always great. I taught everyone how to make
baptismal calendars for our investigators with baptismal dates. That
was great. I love training!! Also, I think I might have told you this,
but Koga is known for getting flat tires. It is such a big area and we
use our bikes everywhere we go, so we get flats super easy. So, the
elders helped us learn how to fix it on our own. That was great too.
Itou san. This is Nishi Shimai (mother of Usui shimai, Usui kyoudais
wife). Love her so much.

She is adorable. She helped us with Itou sans lesson. Itou san is kind of 

an eternal investigator.Found him in the area book. First time meeting him

this week. It is so important to always teach with a purpose. I feel like most 

eternal investigators that I have run into have been taught by previous
missionaries just for a knowledge, and not with a purpose of baptism
in mind. You are never pushing someone when you are inviting them to
come unto Christ and be saved. 
We went to visit one of our investigators this one day totsuzen. It
took us about one hour to find the place. Well, the it turned out she
wasn't home. I told sister Owens we were going to find someone I this
area because wherever we go, we are on the lords errand.  Mounted our
bikes and I saw a lady with a cute dog and said, she is the one. Went
up to her. Turns out she speaks pretty good english and is very open
to learning about religion. Showed us her house, gave us her number.
She doesn't have a job and we can visit whenever! Wow! Cool, right?!
The gospel is true! Her name is Akiko san by the way. 
So we found out last monday that we missed Okada Shimai's bday by a
few days, so we threw a little party/lesson on Wednesday. So much fun!

Weekly planning. I have become quite the fan of planning. I remember
at the start of my mission I just wanted to go out and do, do, do.
Although that is still my desire, I have learned the value of
planning. It helps everything go along so smoothly. I don't know how I
survived without a planner before my mission. I love my missionary
planner. That and my iPad. If I have those two things, I pretty much
have everything.
I think you will all enjoy this next story. So I called the office
couple that are at the honbu to get my card number for money that I
wanted. Elder Evans checked on it for me and replied in a shocked
voice, you have tons of money on your card! Some missionaries have
quite a bit, but that is the most money I have ever seen left on a
card. I had to just giggle and say, yeah, my family wouldn't be
surprised. :) 
Went to Toma kuns Undoukai (sports day) and Nakajima shimai came too
to support him. Just spent a little bit of our lunch hour there and
left. Japan school is just too fun looking!!


So the same Filipinos we met last weekend that I
told you about, well, we met them again is week on the same day at
pretty much the same place and time.


Guuzen janaiya!! Way cool. And the best thing about it is that we
couldn't find their Facebook names that they gave us, so we got to
again swap information so we can be friends with them and help them
come closer to Christ!!


Ayabe family. Shoma kun could not keep his eyes out from
the children's Book of Mormon. It was awesome. Even when we started
the English lesson, he was still reading like crazy. So thankful for
children's examples. 
We had family night and me and Sister Owens were in charge of music.
We had ueda shimai and Nakajima shimai sing a famous Japanese song.
Love these two so much.




After family night (Saturday night), I got together with
Sora san (on the right of this picture) and ueda shimai(on the left
side) and taught about god. Sora san isn't sure if god is there or not
and it was awesome to hear ueda shimai testify about how she knows god
is there. Ah, please pray for ueda Shimai. Thanks :) 
I am amazed at how many people don't know how to cook. My companion
said she was going to make everyone pancakes on Sunday morning, but we
all ate our own food for breakfast. Then she was making pancakes for
herself and all of the sudden our house gets super smoky and my pan
that I bought about a month ago for cooking was completely burnt! That
was the first time I have seen her cook.  Pretty sure that might be
the last. I always cook for her. At the start of my mission, I
preferred just doing separate meals because I can make and eat super
fast. But over the last little while, I find it very fulfilling and
service oriented to cook for my companion. So thankful that my mission
has helped me develop skills that I will need going forward in life. 
This Sunday we had our Primary program (interesting that you had yours
this last weekend as well). We have about 9 kids in our primary.
Crazy, right?! Very small. Hopefully soon we will be able to get 10
because of Okada Shimai's son, toma kun. :) They did so good. I love
learning from the children. They teach such simple truths so well and
their hearts are so pure. 


Okada shimai came to church again! So excited for her
progress. She has slowly been climbing out of her shell and talks
really well with all the members. Oh, how I love her. This week she is
going to ask for permission from her husband to be baptized. If there
is one things could have you pray for this week in every prayer
possible, it would be that she can get permission. This is so
important. We are doing all that we can to help her prepare to ask.
She goes to visit her husband once a week in the hospital. He got into
an accident a little while and is still nyuuinchuu (sorry, forgot the
word in English). Dad, help me out if you remember. We are still
aiming for November 30. Everyone, let's unite in this great case.
Okada shimai needs your help!! 
We had a lesson and dinner at the Nakamura family's house. Oh, how I
love that family. I always forget to take a picture with them. I will
try to remember next time. When they come to America for General
Conference in the future, I am going to go with them!! 
We had a lesson with Ken Son again. I still can't figure him out. He
believes this church is true, but isn't willing to act on what he
believes.


Your weekly dose of Nakajima Shimai and me :) we went
to visit a new investigator right before shopping, but she wasn't
home. Well, that happens. But you have to learn to make the most of
what comes, so we took a funny picture together. :) we spent pretty
much all three ours of our dendou time with her visiting people. Got
to love it!! :) 
This week I am looking forward to Zone Conference (Friday) and Stake
Conference (Saturday and Sunday). All three of those will be in
Kiryuu, which is a LONG way a way from here. It will be interesting to
go three days in a row. Excited to learn lots from our church leaders.
️Lots of loves️
山内姉妹