August 25

WHOA! it's been a while! like 2 or a week? I can't remember. Time is flying here.

 

This week has been full of long bike rides across mountains to see members. Honestly members are what keeps Dendo work going. *mission work.* we had a fun time trying to read the map and figuring out the best way to get there. We didn't quite see the main road, and we were led into what looked like a forest national park. It had no paved roads, so we had to be careful. If I saw a cougar, I wouldn't have been surprised. Anyway, That was fun.

 

Since It's hard to get people to listen to us, and since about 80 new missionaries are coming in by the end of this year, people have been a bit worried about the language barriers. I've been worrying since day one, but you know me. However because of the members help, we are able to practice a bit, give a spiritual message, and learn the language. They really want to help the missionaries.

 

For those of you who haven't heard, we have been trying to help this one Old lady get baptized. It's been hard because the husband is being REALLY stubborn, *yet... nice?* with the whole situation. We'll see by next week. I know however, that even though the closer we get to that baptism date, Satan shows his ugly face. With faith and prayer everything will work out for the best. Even if it takes more time. I believe that. :3 My trainer has been quite overworked with the whole deal however... I wish I could help at least talk. I will someday! My Japanese isn't perfect, and it's hard to see if it's even improving... but I think it is? haha, People keep telling me that but I think they are just being nice.

 

Last week was very hard, But this week got a lot better! Thank you everyone for your prayers, It really does make a difference. In sacrament meeting we learned about honesty. How it is hard, but we can strive to have perfect honesty. It's obvious to see the big lies... but it's usually the subtle, and the *not telling the whole truth* that are the real dangerous ones. The devil is full of deceptions, and temptations. But if we realize that we have a responsibility to listen to the spirit, and to search for those good thoughts, we can become triumphant in the face of sin. It's just like when we were little. Our lies were so obvious, our parents knew when we were lying, but let it happen for us to learn the lesson. Just like our Heavenly Father. He knows when we lies, and is disappointed, but let's us have our agency. However when we come clean he always welcomes us with love and open arms. I love this gospel it truly is the best thing for families. I know my life has been blessed by this gospel. Please remember that I love everyone, and know that I'm not forgotten :3

 

Please have a good week! I'll see you sometime! ^-^

Love money shimai

Aug 15

Hello family and friends!

 

This week has been a bit crazy, due to transfers and everything. Of course I didn't move, or anyone in our district because we are all green beans being trained by trainers... but lots of people came to stay at our apartment and we had to change a bit of our schedules to accomodate. Our little apartment, usually fitting 4 to begin with, now with 5... but with the transfers we fit 10 people! yep, our little room fit 10 people where people slept on the floor. We sleep on the floor normally, but it was more like the room was one giant pillow... and by pillow I mean tatami mat.

 

Just want to say whoever said it was cold in Sendai.... AHA! it hasn't been cold since I've gotten here. Of course there have been rather suzushi days, but now that we've hit august, it is blazing humid hot :D might cool down by October and get really really cold, but for now i'm not convinced. It's so hot that probably most of the pictures I will send to the fam will have me being a sweaty mess.

 

Other than the weather, i've been having a hard, but fun time. Riding bikes is always tough because of my area, being only massive hills and narrow roads. However I get to see so much of the beautiful Japanese countryside that everytime I go out all I say is "wow, that's beautiful" We didn't teach too much this week. It was a lot of just going around to less active houses and seeing how they are doing. We are working with this one loving investigator Baa Chan who is so close to baptism. I'll keep you posted of course, however we need to get permission from the husband. It's a hard and scary task, but with our Heavenly Father's help, anything is possible.

 

It is President Rasmussen's birthday this wednesday, and on that day we are going to a SMYC somewhere in Japan. I think it's like an  EFY (especially for youth)  kind of deal. I had to memorize two songs and we are going to sing it there and teach from PMG (preach my gospel).... Memorizing things is a lot easier when you know what you are saying. XD haha, that's for sure! but that's ok! It sounds pretty. I'll do my best.

 

No more bike accidents! Not even close encounters. Everything is going well there, so I thank everyone for your prayers. They really mean more than the world to me. ^-^ wish to hear from everyone soon, so if you have time please email or write me. Thank you for all your hard work, and for your love of the gospel. Share it with those you know. It truly is the best thing for them. I know that through this gospel I have found happiness in my life. The spirit can touch anyone's hearts, just do your best to bring the spirit.

 

I love you all! have a good week!

-Money Shimai

August 3: I can ride my bike with no handle bars.

**NOTE: Alicia's email didn't come through last week, so here are two emails from the last two weeks***

Subject: I can ride my bike with no handle bars.

Except I can't in Japan... because i have a basket with lots of Morumon shos in it.

Konnichiwa! how is everyone doing in the hot hot sun of July/August? Me? oh you know, just biking in the rain almost everyday. Honestly I think it's fun! my companions don't... awe well. It's quite cool over here actually. I'll enjoy it while I can because in August I found out it gets horribly hot.

This week has gone by very fast. Let's see if i can recall a few things. Yesterday is what comes to mind first. We had sacrament meeting as always, and because I'm still a new missionary they like to pick on me a lot to say the opening prayer. We also sang I love to see the temple. I thought it was going to be in Japanese, but they wanted to sing it in English. ee hee, so much for Japanese practice. After we were going to visit a members house. It was a very long bike ride, so we were going to hitch a ride in a members car. Though... there wasn't enough room because our companionship has 3 people. SO WE BIKED ANYWAY! and holy cow if i sent a picture of where i was at the end of it, you would ask, how? Yes, we biked for about 2 hours up a hill. It was very hard, however I got to see a lot of Japan, and the visit was great. On the way up, i prayed to one: not crash on my bike (when we just got started i ran into a man and went flying into some bushes, it was fun. Don't worry dad... the bike is ok) and 2: to let this be a wonderful spiritual experience for the Imano family. I got to talk about how God doesn't just send us here to fail, that he always provides a way for us to do the things we must. I shared my 3 favorite scriptures. Ether 12:27, 1st Nephi 17:3 and DC 112:8? (oh shoot) I'm getting the language better. So I was able to say all that i wanted to say. Also found out that the family's daughter is into archery! If there is one thing I ever wanted to take up... it was Japanese Archery.

we went to a Gym activity and got to talk to a lot of non members. I got to play Frisbee, and played some soccer with them. It was so fun! All the Japanese people were very into it, and got excited whenever we would score a goal. I got to eat my favorite type of bread this week. Melon bread! Tastes sort of like a sugar cookie. I also ate some... I think it was squid, but it was purple. It was very good.

Earlier in the week I was able to volunteer at an old persons home and massage hands... haha! I wasn't very good so they taught me how pretty much the whole time. Maybe next time I can help. It was great talking to people... couldn't understand much however.

I have a few investigators and all are on different levels. There is a woman who believes all religion is true, however is feeling a bit different about our church. Not that it isn't true, just the spirit is touching her heart differently. She is studying the book of Mormon and loves to learn more. I hope I can help her see the difference.

We were studying a bit on effective study, and i figured out that before my mission I wasn't doing a very good job at it. I can see now how Joseph's smith's example in JSH, really is the key steps. Read, Ponder, Pray. Just think of the power of Faith works in the scriptures, and how we can strengthen our faith through our studies. Joseph smith's prayer changed our world today, Even though experiences say you can't change what is, Faith always over powers fear and disbelief.

Thank you everyone for your love and emails. They mean so much to me. I'll send pictures... when i figure this out and have more time.

LOVE YOU!
money shimai

 

ok, so last week's didn't send, so there is that!

 

Now for this week! Today's topic: SPLITS!

 

This week 3 sisters from Akita came to our apartment for 3 days so we could go on splits. It was amazing because 2 of them were from America ^-^ I got to be able to speak like a normal person and actually make sense. With one sister (the sister training leader) we got to do a lot of streeting and housing. I was scared to death. I literally just walked on the street and talked to as many people as I could. At first I was scared, but then It got easier as time went on. Oman shimai gave me some pointers and now I'm able to progress even more. Since these sisters are from Akita, I got to try to find my way to one of my appointments at a members house by myself. I got to ride the subway and make my way through the bigger city of Sendai. I didn't get lost! It's a miracle! I have the sense of direction of a 12 year old, who gets distracted at everything and turns a wrong corner, usually not realizing that they are going the wrong way till it is too late.

 

Last week was Luk shimai's birthday! so to celebrate we went to a sushi restaurant. Let me tell you, sushi is REALLY different here than it is in America. It's just rice and a piece of raw fish on the top. Which... surprisingly is very delicious! I got to eat Takoyaki as well. Which is just raw octopus inside a breaded cake ball. Super good.

 

Time for some random facts about Japan. Not sure If I mentioned this at all. They aren't any garbage cans anywhere, so you have to carry your garbage. The garbage trucks play ice cream truck music as they go about the streets. You can't read while you eat or else that is very rude. I think I've seen about 10000000 spiders here in Japan just walking around housing. :U eeeeee....  Everything is self automated! The sushi place we went to as well. You just pick what you want, and the cooks send it to you via a transportation device right to your seat.

 

It rains like... everyday XD However this makes the mountains beautiful. This week was actually very tough for me, because I got into another bike accident (don't kill me dad! it's hard riding a bike in Japan!) There was a man walking in the very narrow way, and I slowed down to go around him, the ground was still very wet, and I slid and ran into a sign. Because of my helmet my head was perfectly fine, however my face got banged up a bit. We went to the doctors and he didn't say I needed stitches. Just two little cuts on my cheek and eyebrow. If I get scars... well then, it will be a constant reminder and how important it is to listen and FOLLOW the spirit. Heavenly Father wants his missionaries safe, but if they don't act on the warnings they get, it can become a problem. I heard the spirit warn me to stop, and not to try to get around him, but i didn't listen. They really are very subtle. If the prompting you receive is a good prompting, don't take time to ask if it's from the spirit. Everything good comes from God.

 

I love it here in Japan. I'm getting the language better than I did before! (still doesn't mean I can speak like a native) but I can try to wing my way around the lessons. Everyone has trials in this life, but I've learned that if we do as much as we can, God really will help us the rest of the way. That's what makes life so beautiful. I may not know everything there is to do with the gospel, but I do know that it is the best thing for our lives, and for our family's lives. When we go to church, we get to remind ourselves of that beautiful gift and blessing. We get to feel peace, and clean through the Atonement of Christ. This is why we are on earth. To prepare to one day meet God. I want the people of Japan to know their purpose, and to give them hope in this hard life.

 

Thank you everyone for your love and prayers! (maybe more bike specific ones are needed XD ) I'll see you all next week, and hopefully this one sends...

 

apparently i need a separate thing to post pictures on this old computer. We'll get it next week! So stay tuned for some amazing pictures!

 

I LOVE YOU ALL!

If Alicia were a Pokemon.....

My son, Nate, made this for Alicia.

July 15

o mom and dad:

 

haha, thank you so much for getting a new email. I hope this one works out. If you need anything else just ask me. Turns out Email time is shorter here in the field; so if it's very important, email my branch president. He is such a wonderful man. This email is separate from the others. This week has been good i'll give you the details to those later. Since you are my mother and i know you worry, I'll give you some heads up~ I'm doing great! I haven't gotten sick yet, i love the food, my companions are nice to me. Gets hard to understand what i'm doing and why i'm going some places, but it's ok. I got a letter from sarah's family through dear elder. I didnt know they send it across seas. that's cool. I want to send a lot of pictures to you, but i dont have time ever... or know how to figure it out on this japanese computer. It's ok, you'll get lots of pictures soon! i might just print them out and send them via mail. Thank you again so much for all your weekly emails, it gives me something to read. Im having a great time. During the lessons I am able to bare my testimony and give simple truths. again. Its so important. Love you mom!

 

I love you Dad!

This one is for you. Today I took a lot of pictures of the sea and small islands for pday. It reminded me of you and how you love taking pictures. I have 3 investigators who are over 80 years old. one who is 94. It's interesting to think what kind of time eras she has lived, and i wish i could ask her all about it. Tell the grandparents that I love them, and hope them all the best. I have my trials, we all do, but they only make us stronger! Love you!

 

To everyone!:

Phew! (*climbs up a giant hills via bike, only to realize that we went the wrong way and have to climb another hill) sometimes directions can be tough here in japan... This week I finally learned how to read a Japanese map! it is SOoooo different than in the states. Just being able to find cities is difficult for me... cuz everything is in Kanji. I still cant read Kanji yet. just the basics... like... Eternal life, The Savior, Family History, and doctorine and covenants, everyday use right? This week was a lot of planning! I got to research about a lot of Less actives, investigators, and overall EVERYONE the missionaries ever talked to. Most of it was written in english so i tried to translate some to my japanese companions. My bike wounds finally healed, except it appears to have a lot of bruises... my legs are looking a lot like Janelle's feet... I mean that with all the love in the world :D Lets see, I can remember today well because it was pday. we got to ride a ferry to a matsuri (festival) and it was amazing! it rained a lot! but my gaijin friend law choro convinced his trainer to let us go anyway. It cleared up fast. during the ferry ride we got to feed seaguls. yep. best part. I have a video of me putting a cracker in my mouth and seaguls snatching it from me. No, seaguls are not disgusting, they are beautiful! 

Anyway: 

 

This week I've been learning alot about humility. Not just because Im learning a new langauge and can't say all that I want to, or that Im not the greatest missionary, it's because of how much I need the God's help. Through trials we can go through it will strength, but if we deny that we need help, it just shows pride in us. Accepting God's love for us, and that he can help us is a great blessing for me. I will try my best to Pray more specifically. God knows what I need, and it means a lot for us to tell him that. Thank you for all your love! I'll give you a better update soon. Remember not to read and eat at the same time... that's rude. And replying with a "huh" to a question is scary. eehee.. 

 

I love everyone, I love this country, and it's kind and loving people. I love the rain! and I love seaguls! 

 

I especially love octopus! 

Love 

Sister Money 

Rain, rain, and more rain!

Hey Family and friends and whoever reads this!

 

Thank you for your Emails and Letters... and by that I mostly mean Emails, because I don`t really get letters. No prob. Anywho, I'm again, rushed for time today as there is only 1 computer for ALL the missionaries in the Nagamachi ward. <--- yes, that is where I'm serving. This week has gone by pretty fast, but the days were long.; like the MTC. Turns out that changes. Even though Im a missionary, I haven`t done a single minute of tracting... aha. our ward`s missionary goal has a lot to do with working with members and less actives. Hopefully we can see some miracles happening in Japan as Elder Erying promised. I`ll do my best.

    It rained this week for the first time. Yes, It was pouring, yes I was on my bike. Pretty much the happiest day of my life. Its fun to ride in the rain... not so fun when you get wet and its impossible to dry it. Thankfully we have a dryer here in our apartment, which is quite rare. Its not often that we see dryers in Japan. Also: fun cultural fact. There are no garbage cans... anywhere. You pretty much have to carry all your garbage around with you til you might maybe find one someday.

 

I still have no idea how to speak Japanese, which is really tough when both of your companions are japanese... no big, I`ll just do my best and try not to get discouraged. I`m so glad we pray at least 100 times a day.

 

How was the 4th of July? we kind of celebrated it here... pretty much I wrote happy 4th of July in my journal and called it even. Let`s see, We had a stake BBQ, and I got to see some of my district, and lots of ward members. We really had no idea what was going on with the food, but it was way fun! I got super sunburned, which is odd because I didn`t see any sun.

 

We talked to a less active recently. She wants to go to church but is too sick, and gets dizzy around alot of people. (and in a japanese ward there arent many memebers, but the building is tiny I sometimes get dizzy.) People make sacrifices for obedience however. Her faith is strong, and she told us a story that I had to figure out from my companion after the lesson. I dont have time to really explain it, but it taught me a lot about Faith. Faith is such a huge thing to have. Without faith, there is no way I would be able to be a missionary, let alone a member of this church. The language is hard, but as it states in D&C, the gospel will be taught in the language of the land. Japanese. For me to fulfil my calling I must learn Japanese, and God did not send me here to fail. He will provide the means if I do my part.

 

He didn`t send us here to fail. He will provide us with  the means, if we do our part. Never forget that our Father in Heaven is a loving Father who wants to see all his children come back to his presence. I love this gospel, and the light it`s bringing to the people of Japan. I love everyone, and Can`t wait to hear from you all.

 

Ai shite imasu

I think I'm turning Japanese

haha.... not really. How can i turn japanese... If i can`t even speak the language? eeehee...

 

So even in the mission field I really don`t have anytime and its very hard to type apostrophies on the computer so guess what? im not going to put any of them here. OH ya... guess what? im in japan now! who would have thought. Frankly, everything happened so fast I woke up in the morning throughly confused out of my mind. Then realized... oh ya, Im on a mission in Japan. The airplane ride was very long. TOO long. I want to say, about 30 hours until I got to sleep. eehee. We said goodbye to an Elder in our district. Brown Choro, then left for the plane. Coincidently, we found that Choro in the Tokyo airport :D. We got to stay at the Rassumensen`s home the first night and have orentation at the church. Futons... are confortable. As quickly as I came, I left to meet my trainer, and apartment. I have 2 companions. Sister Shuto, (trainer) and sister Matsumoto (she was on the airplane with me) Can they speak English... AHA.... not really. Can I speak Japanese? We already went through that. I hope to pick up the language even faster now that I have this opportunity.

 

I don`t have much time, but i will tell you a few great experiences. The first lesson we taught was to an old ba chan. She is about 84, and lives alone in a great house. She has her own garden with coi fish and everything! really beautiful. She is accepting the gospel, and loves the idea that she can return to her father in heaven, We taught her the word of wisdom, and she said she will obey it. The only problem is we already taugher her this lesson, but she just keeps forgetting. She comes to church every week though, and loves everyone. After that we rode our bikes far far across nagamachi to some apartments. We talked to another woman. We talked for about 1 hour, while standing up. When we opened the door to say hello she jumped back because there was a random american standing outside from her door. hee hee. apparently im scary. I tried to explain to her what the book of mormon was, and bore my simple testimony, then my companions took over. So grateful they were there. During both of the lessons, we asked who they wanted to say the prayer... they both said me. :D ... good opportunity I suppose.

 

On sunday we went to church, Its quite small, but everyone there is so friendly. I gave a 3 minute talk in church which pretty much consisted of me saying who I was and my testimony, frankly that`s all I could do. Thats fine though. I think I was in the church for about 6 hours. lots of meetings and gatherings. while coming back, my companion forgot her bag, and we had to go back to the church. On my bike I hit a curb and kind of scraped my knees up pretty badly XD but its ok, my bike is fine, and i can still kneel.

 

Just know, that even though its going to be hard for me to speak the langauge, Im not scared. In situations like this, it:s important to choose faith over fear. Even though past experiences said that you can:t do it, just know that with Heavenly Father, anything is possible. What I`m doing is for the lord, and for God`s kingdom, if he needs to me do it, I will. Wish me luck! things are about to get crazy. I`ll try to send everyone letters soon! I love you all!