Blog: Members Help The Work

So this week was just one full of miracles!

The Lord works in the strangest ways sometimes :) But they are also the BEST ways ever!

So the beginning of this week was kind of crazy. One of the elders in our area returned home (in missionary terms ``he died``) And his companion was going to be a trainer. So on P-day we just kind of hung out with some members who wanted to take us out to eat and some of the other elders in the next area that were also returning home. It was fun, but crazy. Then we went and ate at that members house again. The one that let us wear her kimonos! They are seriously such a nice family, really an example of the believers.

Then we kind of just did a lot of regular dendou, housing and such. Don`t get me wrong I like finding, but lots of finding can be a bit tiring. And lately, to me, at least it felt like we had a LOT of finding time. So I prayed to God that we would be able to teach more lessons to people. I was thinking that maybe we would find a new investigator on the street or something. But of course His ways are higher than mine. And we got a surprising call on Friday morning. So a member who got baptized with her daughter back in August had been jointing for us lately. And her and her daughter are just really awesome members! Her husband and sons would also come to church occasionally, but whenever we asked if other family members wanted to receive the lessons or do activities with us, she seemed apprehensive. So we didn`t push to hard, but we kept trying to think of ways we could get our foot in the door. Then Easter Sunday :) One of the most marvelous times of the year came and we invited all members to invite non-member friends. We challenged this sister and she asked if non-member family could come as well. And we were like YES, YES, BRING YOUR FAMILY. So they came on Easter Sunday and some of the members were just awesome and sprung right into action. So anyways, back to this call. She called us and said her son wanted to be baptized. On his birthday. This Sunday the 19th. So we were scrambling making calls to AP`s to see if the church attendance counted and such. And we scheduled dates to teach him lessons. We basically teach him a lesson everyday this week then he has his interview. So does God answer prayers? Heck yes he does! So we are super excited to help him receive baptism. He is a wonderful kid and he might not understand everything, but he does understand that this gospel is good and will be a blessing to his life. So we are very excited for that and pray all goes well :)

Also conference happened. If any of you remember that far back. It was wonderful! I have never enjoyed conference so much in all my life. Why might you ask? Because I came with questions and they were answered! Plus every time I listen to the general authorities speak I can feel their love for their savior and his love for me. I was reminded countless times that even in my state of inadequacy the Savior loves me all the more. He just needs me to grow and progress. He came to this earth to help ME with my inadequacies in hopes that I can use my experiences to help others. And a mission has been the greatest eye opener to me since the day I was born. Although still very much imperfect I can feel a light growing within me that I think all missionaries understand. Whether you be a full time, or just giving a simple hello to your neighbor next door. When your on the Lords work he is there to guide you through. I know that this church is true. Although the members may not be perfect, we are all trying to be better people and that`s what counts. Progression my friends, it`s the best gift God has ever given. I am very excited to continue on this journey and get yelled at by crazy old people, doors slammed in my face, the hand and see all the MIRACLES that come as people find that change of heart and see the light of Christ in what may seem like endless darkness! So grateful that I know I am a child of God. I hope you all know that whatever life throws your way, you don`t go through it alone. Happy Easter and April everyone!

Love,

ジョンソン姉妹

Eating out with a member (mine shimai)

Shiro kuma! One of the best things I have eaten! Transfer P-day!

zimmerman chourou`s last eikaiwa!

Oota kazoku shokuji

conference (beer, ratzlaff, me, and kashiwa)

 Blog: Easter Week

So this week has been both crazy and not really. Well actually just today was really crazy. It`s transfer P-Day! And I`m staying here in Taniyama with my same comp. We`ll be going on three transfers son!

But anyways this week we`ve been running around cause of Easter, one of the elders investigators got baptized and just a bunch of finding. We have had a lot of finding time lately. We`ve have been able to teach so many people on the street and we are getting God`s word out there :) The only problem is Japanese people are very busy so it is very difficult to make return appointments. But of course the path doesn`t end there so we continue on until we find a heart of Zion!

Also we were able to make another baptismal date! Our zone had an Easter goal of two baptismal dates per companionship. And to be honest I didn`t think we would have been able to get two, but I kept the hope and my companion told me we would so I put it up to the Lord. And of course he delivered. She is a former investigator, and a very funny lady! She cracks me up. Her understanding is really difficult and when we watched the YW broadcast she said her head hurt afterwards. As did mine, not quite that far up on my Japanese. But she said that she wanted to work towards being baptized again. So we will take it slowly with her. And of course our other investigator is just amazing. We have become closer friends and I can see the light of Christ blooming inside of her heart. It`s the craziest thing ever!

This week was just good. And i realized that as we tried to accomplish the Easter Goal, I think it is the hardest I have ever worked on my mission. Which just reminded me how important very specific goals are. Sometimes it is hard on a mission because there are so many goals you could do, and it`s hard to just focus on one. But when you find a goal prayerfully you know God will follow up on His end. So gonna try and find a new dream, I mean goal :) 

That`s pretty much all for this week. Gonna keep trying to listen to the Spirit, but sometimes the only answer I get is go to work. It`s easier for the Lord to direct moving feet! Thank you for all the prayers in my behalf. Hope you all had a fantastic conference and Easter!

love

ジョンソン姉妹

The giant okonomiyaki we ate! It was huge!

The sakura tree`s are starting to bloom here in paradise :)

So this week we did a lot of dendou. Since like more than half our investigators moved we have had a lot of time freed up. And so now we are basically doing a lot of finding and looking for investigators. Which can be quite difficult at times. I would also be quite apprehensive if two foreigners came up to me and asked me about my religious beliefs. But you meet some really nice and prepared people because of it, so dendou is pretty fun! We haven`t found that diamond in the rough yet, but we`ll keep looking!

But yep, this week we had district meeting which went super well. And afterwards we ate Okonomiyaki (cabbage/seafood/pancake very delicious) it was at least twice the size of my face. Very delicious.

We were also able to teach a Less Active this week who came to the branch meeting on Sunday, and although she fell asleep she did tell us that she realizes the good influence church has on her. Unfortunately she didn`t wake up yesterday morning and didn`t come to church. But we`ll get her next time!

Then we started teaching our investigator the commandments, she seems like she really wants to follow the prophet and get her own answer for herself whether it is true or not. Which is awesome, I love how she always decides to find out if it is true for herself. That is how I know it is her true conversion. She also wasn`t able to come to church though because she got sick :( But hopefully we will see her this week and teach her.

Then on Sunday they asked the missionaries to teach a combined relief society and priesthood lesson. I think it went pretty well. We didn`t have a lot of time to plan but with the spirit we made it through. Which is also what we taught on! In order to understand those promptings from the spirit we need to build a relationship. Because the spirit is the most important part of anyone's missionary work. Whether it be a full-time or a member. Which is basically just doing the basics. Reading scriptures, praying, fasting, obedience. It really got me thinking that I really wasn`t good at those before my mission and is definitely something that I want to take back with me when I get home. Definitely developed better study habits here! Anyways that`s all i have for this week!

Thank you so much for all the prayers on my and our investigators behalf! I have definitely seen blessings that come through depending on our Savior and hope to do Him proud!

Anyways hope you have a good week!

OH! WAIT! I forgot to tell this crazy story! It actually happened like two weeks ago, but I keep forgetting to tell it. So we were riding our bikes to the train station and were crossing the street on our bikes and this old woman just like fell almost right on my bike. Because she was so close to my bike I kind of ran her over. But the lady was just unconscious in the middle of the street! I got off my bike and ran over to the lady. I didn`t want to move her not knowing where she was hurt or anything. But the lady was out. Then we saw blood coming from her head and told someone to call an ambulance. My companion went and grabbed a towel. Then she finally started to move. And I was like, hallelujah! She`s not dead! But ya, then a close by hotel brought a wheel chair over and we just sat there holding this towel against her head that was still bleeding and waiting for the ambulance. It was crazy! There are too many old people out and about. I can`t look at old ladies the same. But ya, that is my crazy story.

-Johnson Shimai

Blog: Witness of the Spirit

So today I don`t have a lot of time to email, but we had some pretty awesome miracles this week.

I`m going to start off with yesterday, because it was amazing. Ah-meh-zing. Oh, by the way we have another baptismal date. This girl is the best. Let me tell you why. So she is actually a referral from another investigator. Unfortunately we haven`t been able to meet with him since that lesson, but we`ve met with his friend like 3 times after that. And she asks the best questions. Some I can`t even answer because she is very smart and I don`t understand everything from the scriptures, haha, whoops! But the last lesson we taught her about the plan of salvation and asked her if she thought it was true. She said she wasn`t sure, but it makes sense to her and she thinks it would be awesome if it was. All throughout her lessons she was asking some really awesome questions, but we kind of felt like we were lacking the spirit as we taught and it was making sense in her head, but she wasn`t feeling it in her heart. So this week we really focused on Faith in Christ. We watched the DVD and just bore testimony of who Christ was as a person and who He is to us today. And she just cried. Her tears wouldn't stop. It was AWESOME! Like 10 minutes of non-stop tears, she told us she feels like she is not alone now. And oh, it was just awesome, the spirit was so strong!

Then we taught a lesson before that to a girl who we have actually known for a long time, but recently started taking the lessons. I think I`ve talked about her before, she has come to church for like a month, but is moving to Tokyo next week so this was our last lesson with her. She also asks awesome questions, but it seemed she was lacking a spiritual experience and was just learning for curiosities sake. But our last lessons again I really tried to focus on the spirit to bear the truth. I prayed and prayed that he would bear witness of our testimony and the testimony of the members. And through out the lesson she was taking notes on the steps to repentance, and she was really trying to take in what we were teaching. Then we watched the ``He is the reason`` video and after that the spirit really entered the room. Of course, I cried. And she didn`t, but she came close! I could just really tell that she was feeling the spirit. Just the look on her face you could tell something changed inside her. She also said she will meet with the missionaries in Tokyo! They best be ready for an awesome investigator to come their way!

But yep that`s all I really have time for. We also helped a ward member clean up her house to get ready to move and found a secret side street, and pretty sure we saw big foot. And also went to a professional Japanese basketball game, which was pretty awesome! 

Just want to let you know I love you all! And will continue to work hard in Japan!

Love,

Johnson Shimai

 

The secret tunnel we found while walking in the mountains to a members house.

Us at the basketball game! (Me, Kashiwa, Asako, and elder Bailey)

Me with the cheerleaders. They have accepted me as their leader.

 

Kashiwa shimai bowling! Haha, she kept telling me to stop taking pictures, but obviously I did not listen.

The whole group of us bowling

More bowling pictures (elder zimmerman, beer, hyde, and... I forget the last elders name... he`s new, and nozomi (investigator), and me and Kashiwa shimai!)

This really freaky baby doll we found outside of someone`s house.

And us eating cake from a member! Yeah members! Yeah cake!

 Blog: Staying Put

So this week we went bowling on Pday! It was pretty fun. I lost the first time, but then beat everyone the next time. And one of the elders bowled 140 with his left hand! It was really fun!

But yep, can`t believe I`m already a third transfer, that came about quite quickly. But the mission is way exciting and I stayed in the same area, which is nice. Transferring only after one transfer is a bit rough, so it`s good that I`ll be getting to know my companion and the ward and area better :)

But this week it rained, a lot. But we were still able to get around and do quite a bit of stuff so that`s good. We didn`t have as many lessons this week as we had last week, but that gave us more time to find which was good.

But the lessons we did teach went pretty well. The first was to a member who struggles with faith. He finally decided to start reading the book of Mormon for the second time. And it seems he is enjoying it so far. But he still doesn`t want to pray. So the lesson just kept going around and around in circles as all the missionaries bore their testimony on the importance of prayer. And how we can receive our answers through prayer. But it didn`t seem like anything was entering his heart. The whole time I basically stayed silent, I had no idea what to say to him that would get through to him even slightly. So I kept saying little prayers and thinking about my own experiences and how my prayers have been answered and have strengthened my faith. So the lesson was about to close and I kept getting the prompting that I should say something. Then I suddenly remembered this small experience I had when I prayed to have my computer fixed, but in return I knew I had to do something. My faith was weak, but I told God that if he fixed my computer I would write in my journal everyday. So I did for a couple of days and yes indeed my computer was fixed! So I asked him to think about what he wants from God and what God wants from him in return. It seemed to spark some interest, so hopefully he really thinks on it this week and his heart can be softened and opened to prayer.

Then we had another lesson with a girl who we`ve known for a while and decided that one day she wanted to come to church. It seems it was more out of curiosity rather than soul searching but hey we`ve all gotta start somewhere. But, yep, did my first baptismal invite. She said no, haha! But that`s okay I to be honest I would`ve been surprised if she had said yes. But I decided to invite her anyways because at our zone conference meeting we are always encouraged to invite people to be baptized before the second lesson, so that they know kind of the purpose of teaching them lessons. But ya, I still love that girl like crazy! She is so nice and so smart. I think as she comes to understand more about the gospel and recognize the spirit she will start following the path Heavenly Father has laid out for her :).

We were able to meet some great people this week, and my teaching is getting better, little by little. But yep, that`s pretty much all folks. Hope you have a good one!

Love,

ジョンソン姉妹

Blog: Always Be Teaching

So this week was pretty eventful as far as teaching. It was a fantastic week!

So to start off our week on transfer P-day we were able to go to a members house and put on Kimonos for girls day. It was way fun! But super cold. Then we ate curry, tonkatsu, karage, and a bunch of other stuff. We were stuffed, beyond stuffed. But the food was so delicious so it was worth it!

Then we were able to teach our investigator with a baptismal date one last time before she goes to Nagasaki for a month. And she is just so ready for this gospel. We literally taught her all the commandments in three hours split between two lessons. We were praying strongly that things would go well. And it went better than well. She told us that she wanted to know if these things were true for herself and would try her hardest to follow all the commandments. She is seriously such a prepared daughter of God. Pray that all goes well in Nagasaki for her. We are wanting to do skype lessons and have the elders there visit her once or twice. But she is already prepared, if anything she has taught me more than I have taught her without a doubt!

We also had the chance to teach our young high school student investigator. He is also super prepared. For some reason whenever we teach him lessons we can`t explain it very well, but the spirit is strong with this one and he understands it in the end. And he said he really wants to know if these things are true by April, and if they are true he wants to get baptized. People who want to find the truth are just amazing! 

Then we taught our two Chinese investigators. It has actually been a while since we have seen them, because they went back to China for a month. We actually had only met one of them, but he said he wanted to bring his friend to his next lesson. And it was a day full of miracles!!! They asked super fantastic questions with true intention to know. And they are both so smart. They speak Chinese, Japanese, and English, so if I couldn`t explain it well in Japanese then I would switch to English. Which they actually liked because they are still wanted to work on their English! But it was just fantastic! And the friend wants to come to church! Seriously　金人 (golden).

We also taught a member who was baptized a long time ago, but struggles with the concept of faith. But last time he said he wanted to read the book of mormon again. And all before that he said he had read it but not received his confirmation, so I think he was a bit angry with God. And I also think he is nervous that if he reads it again he won`t receive that confirmation, but I know if he really tries his hardest and trusts in God his answer will come and his faith will grow stronger. But after the lesson in which he told us he wanted to try reading it again he told us he had opened the book but not read it. But this week he told us he read it! And he had some awesome questions and insight. He is seriously such a kind and considerate person. And his faith is strong he just needs to realize it!

We also taught two new investigators. One is a daughter of a current investigator. She told us that she has some interest in Christian churches. She has been coming to activities for a while, but after talking to a teacher at church who told her if she was curious to go and check it out, she came to church! Coincidence? Definitely not! We taught her about Christ and the restoration of the church and she was taking notes in her BoM next to scriptures we were sharing. I think she is still a bit hesitant about religion, but I know if she continues she will realize how happy the gospel can make her! And the second investigator was someone we met on the street. Unfortunately she doesn`t really like people, but she still came and we were able to teach her. She is very, very nice and does want to know if these things are true for herself. Japan is really just full of prepared people!

This last week was also transfer week. I will be staying here in Taniyama with my same companion Kashiwa Shimai, who is the greatest! She is seriously fantastic and we always have a good time! But one of the elders did transfer, which was sad, but he will continue the work elsewhere, so it is all good :)

Well that is pretty much my week. We saw so many miracles this week, and hope to see a lot more this transfer. The church is true!!!

Johnson Shimai

 

 

Me in my companion in our kimonos taking pictures outside. It was so cold!

All of us in front of the dolls they set out on girls day, it was so cool to look at!

We got to eat out with one of our investigators. Kind of awkward because we didn`t have a plan, but it was still really fun!

 

 Blog: Follow the Promptings of the Spirit

So this week was pretty long. Week before transfers! Haven`t gotten my call yet, but pretty sure I am staying here in lovely Taniyama.

But this week was pretty eventful, even though for some reason it doesn`t feel that way. 

So our investigator that had a baptismal date just finished her big test! Because of said test we weren`t able to teach her this week, but hopefully this upcoming week we can meet her. But even though she was crazy busy (studying from 5:00am to 10:00pm) she still read some of the BoM and is still keeping the WoW. She is amazing really. And we also made a new baptismal date, which is awesome!

We also found two new investigators this week! What a miracle and blessing! So here`s the story:

We went housing at this neighborhood on top of a mountain! It was terrible, too steep to ride our bikes so we had to walk them :) Yay for mountains! And we got some pretty hard kekko`s (no thank you`s). Needless to say we were pretty tired by the end. So we rode our bikes all the way back down the mountain and went to the church to prepare for English class and we streeted on the way back. Still no takers. Then I got this feeling to stop and talk to this one girl, I was pretty tired and really didn`t want to, which is means that I absolutely HAVE to. So I did and she became a new investigator! Something that I have learned very strongly is that the blessings usually come after the trial of our faith. To be honest, in Utah I didn`t really have much opportunity to have a trial of my faith. I was surrounded by good friends, family, and my situation was more than great. But how grateful I am to have the opportunity to serve a mission and grow so much!! The mission field can be hard, but it`s only the good/weird times I remember. Such a blessing.

The second investigator we met was actually the daughter of a current investigator. The one mentioned before whom we were having a hard time teaching, then watched the Faith in Christ video. Her daughter is really nice and super awesome! She told us that she wanted to come to church. So she did. And afterwards, she said that it wasn`t scary and that she is curious and wants to know more. Which we are happy to oblige! We will meet her again this week and I will let you know how it goes. 

Then to top off our week the elders had an investigator get baptized! It was a way awesome experience and my first baptismal service I have attended in a long time. The spirit was so strong and we all knew he was making the right choice. The Elders were super nervous, but all went well :)

Well that`s all I really have for this week. Enjoy the rest of your February! I can`t believe it`s almost march!!! Gah!!

Love,

Johnson shimai

Us at one of the members houses for FHE. We played a super fun game! It was awesome! Like Poker/signs

District picture before tenkin calls

Us at Ikeda-kyoudai`s baptism! He has his eyes closed in the other picture we took too, haha!