Sept 8

Hi Family and Friends!

 

Thank you for your letters, and thank you Mom and Grandparents for the lovely package. Certainly brightened my whole week. Let's see, This week we did a lot of teaching to investigators. (last week also) Most of our investigators are learning about Faith and Repentance, so it seems we are teaching the same thing, but in reality that is so wrong. Each investigator had different questions and different levels of Faith. One investigator has knowledge from a lot of different churches and can read the Book of Mormon with no problem, while another is finding Christ's words a bit hard to understand. We can't know everything about how to help an investigator, however the spirit can. As it says in the scriptures (this is paraphrased...) God doesn't send his most learned and successful bit top business man to go serve missions. He sends 18 and 19 year olds, as well as senior couples to go and preach the gospel. The Spirit works through the weak and humble. Through the Spirit's promptings we can be able to help those we teach, and get them closer to Christ and Baptism.

 

Good news! I haven't crashed since that one time I ran into a sign! Interesting news-- apparently everyone in the whole mission knows about how I ran into that sign and won't let me live it down. :3 Kind of ok news, I think I'll have this scar on my face for quite some time XD eeeee, Mission memories.

 

On Saturdays we are teaching an Eikaiwa class to 3 young men. One less active, and 2 of his friends. They like the Beatles so during the lesson we learn how to sing it in English. Note the subject on the email. Good thing we have great hymns to get inside our heads afterwords however.

 

This week has been quite cool here in Sendai, which is odd because everyone says it's usually hot till October. Apparently there is suppose to be a typhoon coming... or it already happened, I'm not quite sure what is going on half of the time. We have a member that calls us everyday to teach us about the weather the next day. haha, at least he cares. Next Wednesday is Zone conference where we will be teaching lessons in front of people. I'm a bit anxious but I think it'll be a great learning experience.

 

Apparently the fact that I can make homemade brownies is something of a miracle here, so next time we meet our old lady investigator I'll be making Oreos. Hopefully I can remember how. I have a bit of a reputation of the "gaijin that can't cook" Honestly, I'm really not that good. but I can at least feed myself. However here EVERYONE is an amazing cook and serves top notch meals everyday. So yes, I am that one gaijin that can't cook.

 

I need a better system for remembering what I've done in the week so I won't seem so frantic when I type to everyone. :/ One of my lifetime goals. Being organized... and remembering things. Kind of important ne? oh, for those who are wondering if I'll have a weird accent when I get back. I can promise you this. No accent, but a lot of weird words, and actions. :3 I love Japan.

 

I'm so thankful for my companions and for our district leader. Transfers are coming up, and I'll probably be leaving. Not 100 percent sure however. It was hard to leave my "Investigator" In the MTC, and I wondered how I'd manage in the field... guess we'll find out. I know however that I've helped in someway getting them closer to God, and for that opportunity I am grateful.

 

Thank you everyone for your support and prayers. I have felt them strongly here in the field. I don't think I could be the little sister Alicia Money I am today without my family.

 

I love you! Stay well! .... and play with my birdy! I bet he could be lonely :3

hee hee,

 

Ja, raishyuu made

-Money Shimai