June 15th - one more week in the MTC!

Konnichiwa, or Ohaiyo, or Konbanwa,

Depends when you are reading this.

 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week. I'd love to say thank you for your support and letters. (You'd think we'd get sick of saying this... but we missionaries really won't) Let's see if i'll be able to recall the weekly events here at the MTC. On Tuesday we had the first ever devotional at the mariot center in Provo. All the missionaries got to get some breath of freedom and hike the long way of about 3 minutes to the center. I got to get there early because I get to participate in the chior~ No big deal really, I'm pretty sure the whole MTC is in this chior. We got to hear from Elder Arnold of the 70. His talk really inspired everyone, I think. He spoke alot about using our gifts as missionaries to not, take away who we are, but to raise up and do what we can to spread the gospel, and invite other to come unto Christ. He also spoke about how the light of Christ can change anyone who choose to believe. He brought up 3 different kinds of metals. One that wasn't cleaned, one that was just a plain old sheet, and a clear glass dagger. It really was beautiful. Even though you may see people as the first two, you must change your expectations to what God wants them to be. See everyone as Children of God, and everyone who needs Christ.

 

  There are some pretty exciting events coming up soon, so I'll try to have some organization to this letter. I think there are about 1500 missionaries singing. HOWEVER on sunday's devotional (on the 23rd) It will be different. There Is going to be a world wide broadcast missionary... conference... thing, and I'll be singing in that. The first Presidency and 8 of the 12 will be there. YA! I'm super excited. I've never been in a choir, or got to sing for the General Authorites. After the devotional on Tuesday Elder Arnold came into our classroom to shake everyone's hands. Honestly when he first came into our room I thought he was just one of the branch counselors from different branches... it wasn't until I looked up at his face as he shook my hand as I realized who it was. He talked to us for about 2 minutes about what we learned during our talk and left. That was so amazing!

 

Oshima Sensei left us T-T... He had to go teach the Nihonjin missionaries upstairs on short notice. It was sad at first, but then It just meant that we got to meet a new teacher. Now we have Holister sensei. He's pretty cool, I don't know much about him yet. I hope Bailey Choro won't be too harsh on him. Oshima sensei comes down every once in a while to say hi.

 

I'm sorry this E-mail might be a bit short. I'm starting to run out of time. I leave to Japan in about 9 days. I guess that's pretty big news. XD So I hope I can get some letters out before I leave. Though, things might get tough. Wish me luck!

 

Ai shite imasu!

-Money Shimai

 

Oh~ Also I've attached a fail of Oshima sensei and his tie. It has blue pickachus on them. He seemed pretty excited about it. Also I want everyone to appreciate Thayne Choro. He's an elder from our district who brings a smile to everyone's faces. Here is one of his very famous "Thayne Faces" Thayne Choro is the one on the far left. haha, Man I love everyone. ANYWHO~ Until next week!

June 1, 2013

Konnichiwa Minasan~

Remember that time when I explained that time was moving at the speed of light here? welp, the fact that I'm writing ANOTHER E-mail just proved that fact. First of all I'd like to say: THANK YOU~ why? well one because everyone I know has been a blessing in my life, and that the letters really help my days out alot. Because "Dear Elder" connected all of the letters I got from everyone, I ended up with 7 at a time. Our district leader used this opportunity to play a prank on everyone, and place each of my letters on their desks... so it looked like everyone had mail T-T then they all went to my desk and just set it on my notebooks while I was sitting there. No worries, they were ok, cuz they all got mail at dinner.

On Saturday our teacher, Allen Sensei, left to go to China for an internship. That was hard. I'll post some pictures of us once I get to a computer that has card reading abilities. Once he left though I was reminded of that song. Can't remember the number, but I think it's called "each life that touches ours for good." Im so grateful I had such a wonderful teacher.

On Sunday we got the opportunity to go to a Devotional. (Oh no! I'm so bad with names...) We got to listen to one of the video programmers for the church. When he got up however he said that he decided to not talk about what he prepared to talk about, because he knew that we were going to see Sister Monson's funeral service. He spoke to us about how death was a part of God's plan for us. That it's ok to be sad, but to know that God has not left your side, but stands by you in your toughest times, wanting you to be strong. He then said a touching story, about a missionary and his father. How even once they died, they did missionary work in Heaven. I believe this is true, God's work doesn't end. Life doesn't truly end, we just "graduated" from this life, and will continue to do God's work in Heaven. I think every missionary needed that at that time. We then sang "come come, ye saints" with a recording of the tabernacle choir on youtube. I wish I could remember everything without my notes. I left them at home. (the dorms)

We got a new Sensei on Wednesday~ His name is Oshima Sensei. Is he Japanese? Yep! Could I understand him when he was talking to us? ... well... I guess I could pick out some stuff. He is such a great teacher, and I can't wait to learn more. Having a Japanese teacher really does help with the SYL'ing. Aaah! it makes me want to leave to Japan even sooner! (but then I remember I don't know Japanese) :'D .... good times.
Oh! Also, all the dai senpai are leaving, so that means we'll be the oldest japanese group in the MTC. D: kind of a scary thought. 

I wish I could recall all that has happened... but I'm not sure if he want to hear about every little thing that is happening XD so I'll just say that I'm happy another week has passed, but I'm also sad. I'm also sad that these dryers shrink your laundry. (I am in the Laundry room at the moment.) It's those little trials and snags that kind of make life awesome though. What if life was easy and we didn't get to experience all of this? pretty boring huh? I think so. Just know that I love each and everyone reading this, and that I pray for you. Believe me, I do. I think I pray everyday all day never ending. Half of it is in Japanese, but it all means the same thing. I know that God's work has been hastened with this new news. I wish I could have seen the MTC without all these missionaries to see the difference. It's wonderful. Everytime I open my scriptures I learn something new. It's always an answer to my prayer. Be careful though, because once you look at the scriptures it might change it's meaning the second time you look at it. God answers our prayers in so many different ways. 

 

Morumon sho wa shinjitsu da to shite imasu. Morumon sho ni naka wa, Kamisama no kotoba da to shite imasu. Josefu sumisu wa shinjitsu no yogensha desu. Josefu sumisu wa morumon sho o honyaku shimashita. Ginsei no yogensha ga Iru to shite imasu. Kono Jinsei wa muzukashi, demo, Kamisama no tasukete, kono jinsei wa mokuteki ga aru to shinjite imasu. Iesu kirisuto no aganai ni kansha shite imasu. Sono Aganai wa watashitachi o tasukeru koto ga dekiru to shinjite imasu. Kono fukuin wa shinjitsu desu. Kamisama wa watashitachi o ai shite imasu. Watashi wa mina san o ai shite imasu.

Till Next week Everyone~

-Money Shimai

More pictures from the MTC

May 18, 2013

Funny story about the last picture of the door, the Choro tachi got me a birthday card... but apparently the cards at the MTC bookstore were kind of... lame? so they got me an eagle scout award card instead that said "welcome to the eagle's nest!" and wrote something inside. I looked at the cards... they were pretty odd. ^-^

On Sat, May 18, 2013 at 2:19 PM, Alicia Money <alicia.money@myldsmail.net> wrote:

I'm an Aunt?! again!? Congratulations Coynes for the new addition! I was so excited to hear the news. I threw my hands in the air in the middle of the computer lab and went "I HAVE A NEW NEPHEW!" Yep, good day. I want pictures soon. Things are going great here at the MTC, weeks are starting to feel like days though... yet when I look back and realize i've only been here for 3 weeks, it seems like it's going by slower than ever. Time just doesn't make sense here in the MTC. I've accepted it though. The Nihongo is coming along. It's hard sometimes though and in the moment I tend to make up sentences and hope they are right... my teachers usually just smile and nod, like they are saying "atleast you tried, but I got it"

Anyway, I'm glad to hear the family is going well. Thank you everyone for your letters and Emails, they really do make my days sometimes. This morning I woke up at 5 AM to do my laundry because it just gets too crowded during our scheduled time. I finally finished drawing my pictures of all the members of our district. I laminated the pictures and taped them on our classroom door. So now we have some kind of decorations.

 

This week we really focused on the fundementals of Prayer, the Book of Mormon, and Church attendance in receiving revelation. I really am learning so much every single day. Hopefully I can retain most of this knowledge. In our investigator lessons we are teaching mostly about the plan of salvation or how I call it "Plan that saves families" It's very interesting because I am techincally teaching people who have never really thought about Jesus Christ or God. That means I really need to know the simple truths that bring the most power in testifying. Of course, I can teach all I want but it's the spirits power that testifies to those who are ready to hear it and accept it.

 

I wish I remembered what I did on separate days... but the schedules are kind of the same and as I said before it seems like this week is just one whole day :'D

このきょかいわしんじつとしっています、そして、イエスキリストのふくいのしんじつとしっています。いえんおいのちおうけることができます。いましめおまもるからけんこです。私の家族お会いしています、そして、家族わわたしおあいしていますとおもいま。ジョセフスミスわよげんしゃとしんじています。モルモン書わしんじつです。みちびきことができます。

 

Sorry about my broken Japanese, Not sure if the kanji is right... cuz it auto corrected it for me :'D

I love you all! and I love this Gospel! I can't wait to go share it with the people of Japan... just gotta make it through the MTC first~

できます！

愛しています、

マニしまい

(Money Shimai)

May 11, 2013

Ok, real letter time

 

Aaah! I have been so busy here at the MTC I kind of forgot that my Birthday was coming up. Thank you everyone for your birthday wishes, they really mean so much. Today is my Pday so I got to visit the temple. Greatest birthday ever.

 

This week has gone by so fast. I can't believe it. I really have to appreciate all the time I can get here. We are teaching 2 "investigators" now in Japanese. At first it was hard, and I mostly just wrote down lines I wanted to say... but that's not how you teach by the spirit! I've learned that if you are prepared in your studies, that during the lesson if a certain topic must come across, the spirit will prompt you to say what you must. There was a time where I was looking at my investigator just splurting out japanese words. Did they make sense? Of course not! but he could atleast piece them together. That was such a wonderful experience. I hope to improve everyday. Not just in studies, but also being able to recognize the spirit and have faith to follow it.

 

This week has gone by so fast that I can't even recall everything that i've done! All the days kind of just mesh together... On Sunday we watched a wonderful talk by Elder Bednar. "The Character of Christ" It's pretty safe to say that it changed my mission experience already! If you can find it, I suggest you watch it. Now I just want to go to Japan right now and serve those who need it. 

 

If you have question in your heart, I guarentee that you can find your answer in the Book of Mormon. We have so many resources in this world for lesson plans, any kind of studies, personal questions. Here at the MTC we have so many books, and dictionaries, PMG's etc... but the best resource you have for those important questions are found in Prayer. Communicating with your Heavenly Father is the first thing you must do.

 

I love everyone so much, and I can't wait to hear from everyone. Thank you for your support and love. (Also... did you hear about that Dearelder website? mmhm, it's pretty good) 

Aishitemasu!

Money Shimai 

 

I would send pictures, but I left my SD card in my room :'D I'll get those up soonish...

 

May 4, 2013

Wow, I can't believe i've been here for almost 2 weeks. The days seem to be traveling so slow, but the weeks go by very fast. It will be impossible to write everything that has happened to me in this Email seeing as I only get half an hour to finish everything.

The work is hard. Japanese is so different from English that sometimes I wonder how Japanese missionaries learn English! We are all learning however. My district is doing so well. We like to keep an upbeat adittude. How is everyone? I hope you all are having a great May. The weather seems so nice. We sometimes like to go out and just study.

 

My Sensei's are so great! Reading Sensei was our first teacher. He kind of reminds me of Spencer, but a little less goofy. ;3 We first met our 2nd teacher as the "investigator" Hiroki-san! his real name is Allen Sensei, but i'm too used to calling him Hiroki. I'm not the best teacher in the world, but I seemed to do ok on the first day. It helped that I could listen to Hiroki a bit more than I would if i had not studied the language. The members of my district are so amazing! Most of them came in without any knowledge. Most of them were fluent in spanish. So everything is going great here. I get so tired that I just can't wait to sleep at 10 or 10:30. (pretty weird huh?)

 

I'm re-reading the Book of Mormon and have made it to Alma chapter 18. This chapter meant a lot to me, mostly because of the way Ammon did his missionary work. He taught a king about the gospel even if he didn't have any Christian background. That's what it will probably be like in Japan. The spirit really is powerful. It's strong, but in a peaceful way. The more I study and pray the more I'll try to recognize that power.

 

 I've already learned so much from him in just a couple days. I won't lie, it was getting pretty hard, but he reminded me of the power that we had behind us, and the resources and help we can recieve if we only ask for it. I know I was called to Japan from God. This work is so wonderful. It was hard learning to be with a companion 27/4 and pretty much studying all day, but I can see how much it has already blessed me. I can't wait to teach and help the people of Japan. I know that I can bless their life in some way. Thank you everyone who wrote me, and who sent me emails. If I wasn't able to get to them, it's because I ran out of time.

 

But expect a letter someday~ or maybe write to me? ^-^ they really make my days or even weeks. (so what i'm saying is that I prefer letters than email. But I suppose email is more convienent to you, so it's ok)

I'll keep praying for everyone, and you are always in my thoughts.

 

LOVE YOU ALL!

-Money Shimai

Alicia's farewell and getting ready for the MTC

Today Alicia went into the MTC!!! We are so excited for her....but we miss her a TON already! Here are a few pictures from the last few days.

With the entire family at my dad's 60th b-day

With Grandma and Grandpa Money

Playing soccer with her nephew, Nathan

CAKE - and early 20th birthday party!

With some of her friends at her farewell

SISTERS!

All her bags are packed....she's ready to go!

Note: This is Sarah, Alicia's sister and I'm going to be keeping up this blog while Alicia is serving her mission. If you have any news or pictures that you want me to post, just send them to me at moneycoyne@hotmail.com