June 1

Hello Mom!

 

Guess what?! It`s super hot in Aomori! I can`t wear my trusty cardigans anymore! noooo, oh also. TRANSFERS! .... I'm still in Aomori! haha. I have a new companion though. Her name is sakuma shimai. I hear she is very genki! I will see her on Wednesday! Iwasa shimai was such a pleasure to work with. She taught me so much about love and individual growth. I wish her luck on the rest of her mission. She is going to the most southern part of the mission in the dead of summer. Hope she will be OK.

 

This week we had Music Eikaiwa on Saturday! Lots of students, members and less actives came! It was a very fun night, and we were able to be strengthened together as friends. I played in 3 numbers.

 

I want to share an experience about an LA (less active)  I played with. She loves music! She is a member, but is so busy because her father is very sick, and can`t take care of himself. He has a brain problem, and just can`t respond to anything. The LA`s home is labeled  "Don't visit" so we can't enter the house. However,  this week we decided to practice together (music) so I was invited! While we were practicing she wanted her parents to hear us play. We played our piece, and the father just seemed to stare off in the distance, the mother called me over, and wanted me to show him my violin. I played a short piece for him, "O my Father".   I will always remember his reaction. His eyes shot right up at the violin, and they began to water. He was able to feel the Spirit. The mother and LA realized that this was a special moment for him. Through this experience I realized how the language of the Spirit is the same; even in music. The family thanked us for playing, and invited us over to practice again sometime. During fast and testimony meeting the LA gave a testimony about this experience. She is coming to church more often. Miracles are happening in Aomori with the members!

 

Since this week was transfer calls and fast Sunday, the mission leader invited the missionaries to his house for dinner. We also invited one of the sister`s investigators. It was her birthday! We sang a special song for her, and gave her cake and a card. She felt so much love that she began to cry. In her life it`s been so hard to trust people, but little by little, the light in her eyes is glowing brighter, I know that is because of God and His love. I hope she can realize how important she is to Him someday.

 

also... My mission leader lent me his guitar so I can practice on P-days XD haha, pretty productive right?

 

Being in Aomori for almost half of a year has been tough. I have learned so much about the importance of service, and forgetting yourself. It is important to always want to improve, but when you ignore the people around you, the light begins to dwindle. When you lose yourself, you find yourself. I have been able to come to love Aomori so much! Transfer calls really scared me, because I didn't want to go. We have no investigators... our eikaiwa student is also turning out to be a bit iffy... but God works in mysterious ways, and if I can help lay a foundation for Aomori, I will put my whole heart into it. I am still a young 21 year old sister missionary, but God has a plan for all his children, and if we are listening to the Spirit we will never be lead astray. I love this mission and I love biking in hot, hot weather all day! I love not being able to speak perfect Japanese and making a fool of myself, and I love sleeping on hard futons. Why? I have no idea, but I`m happy! I know this gospel is true, and I know it is the only way to eternal happiness. I love everyone, and I wish you have a wonderful week.

 

愛しています！

Money shimai

 

 

ps. I got your package mom! I ate some of the dinners! it reminded me of those late lazy nights watching movies... unfortunately I couldn't eat the beef jerky (customs wouldn't let it come through), but that`s ok! I have some pretty good cheap Japanese food here. So I am one happy missionary!