4am, IT'S RAINING! - Wk 10

Monday June 15, 2015

 

This has been another great week in Nagasaki!

Some fun things, happened this week.  Klein Shimai and I made banana muffins, which were super delicious. They don't have applesauce here so we used....baby food Apple stuff!! It worked out really well! You do what you can do here in Japan ;)

Also Wednesday night through Thursday morning, it was POURING Rain all night. And all of a sudden at around 4 am, I hear this jingle from a truck going by, like an ice cream truck, it's quite soothing and as I begin to fall asleep to the lulling of the jingle, this man starts shouting Japanese into a Megaphone !! It was so loud!!! I have no idea what was happening....I was half asleep and I don't speak Japanese...it was a bizarre experience. 

This week has been so incredible! We had an awesome District Meeting with Needs Choro. He based it off of The Fourth Missionary and it was so inspiring! [The Fourth Missionary is a lesson regarding building character - you can find it here http://www.scribd.com/doc/34660140/The-Fourth-Missionary#scribd]  

 

This Friday we had a lot of Finding time which was so good. We tried a different approach to street contacting by introducing ourselves and then asking them one question. From there we were able to testify to most of the people we talked to and even if they weren't interested in meeting again, we gave them one of the lesson pamphlets based on what we talked about and invited them to read it and come to church. While we were out we stopped a girl named Yuki and after the totsuzen, we asked if she had some time right then that we could teach her and she did! So we went and sat down in the Daigaku and had an awesome lesson. We are meeting her again tonight! And we are going to set up a baptismal date with her!

And then on Saturday we found two more new investigators, Hikari and Mirai, who are both studying Christianity in college right now! And are both really interested about baptism and becoming happier through following Jesus Christ. We are meeting with Mirai tomorrow and Hikari on Saturday! And then yesterday, right before we went home for the night, we found Nozomi Chan and gave her a Book of Mormon, she is super interested in learning more too! We are meeting her at the church this next Sunday! 

I am so grateful for Klein Shimai and her example of diligence. I know that the Lord is helping us see these miracles as we are doing our best to be obedient and diligent. 

I Love Japan. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love being a Missionary!!!

Lowe Shimai <3

 

This is me in my rain suit, which is called a Kappa. Looking pretty great huh? With my white helmet I represent America: Red white and blue! One time I was riding by and an old man saluted me...it was hilarious!

Nagasaki is truly wonderful! Week 9

Monday June 8, 2015,

Konnichiwa!

Sometimes I still can't believe I am learning Japanese...and that I am in Japan! I am of course reminded everytime I am invited into a home and we kneel at a short squat table and I begin to not feel my legs anymore...then I really do feel like I am in Japan! 

We were able to have an awesome lesson with the Lady who invited us over to dinner, Koga San. She is a really cool lady. She made us Takoyaki, and just kept making us takoyaki! She made a ton! And she made cheese fondue to dip veggies and bread in! It was delicious! We taught her about who Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are. She shared with us some trials she is experiencing right now. The Spirit was so strong as we testified that she could truly feel peace through the Savior's love for her. And I was just reminded about how wonderful of an opportunity I have to be able to be here, in Japan teaching people about their Savior Jesus Christ and how He died for each and every person's pain, suffering, sickness and weakness. And because He felt that personally, He truly felt that pain and sorrow, He knows exactly how we feel. And because of that, He is able to comfort us in ways that no other thing on Earth can. His Healing is pure and everlasting and irreplaceable. I have felt this in my life and I know that everyone can feel it in theirs. One of my favorite scriptures from study this week was Mosiah 7:33. All the Lord asks of us is to turn to Him with our whole heart, and do our best to follow Him and Keep his commandments, and if we do, he is always ready and willing to bless, support, heal, and love us. 

Mosiah 7:33: But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.

Thank you for all the love and support! 

Lowe Shimai

Shokuji at the Ohira's house!

We ate out last Pday, it was a nice place :)

We made our own sushi rolls at a members house,! Delicious! And Klein Shimai and I were craving American spaghetti and meatballs so we made them!

Miracles in Nagasaki! - Wk 8

June 1, 2015

So first up; we are teaching a man that just moved to Japan from Myanmar with his family, he is really nice! He is really interested in learning about Jesus Christ and how he can learn good things from Christ:s life and teachings! He speaks Barmish and English, so we are teaching him in English ;)

We saw an awesome miracle this week. We met a family and made an appointment to come back and teach them, but they were not there for the appointment. So we decided to visit someone else we met in the same apartment building. We ended up having a great talk with her! She had read the pamphlet we left with her the first time we met, which talked about where we came from, why we are here and where we go after this life, and she really liked it! She said that even though she's Buddhist, after reading the pamphlet, she's not so scared of death anymore! We set up an appointment to teach her next week and after we left her apartment, she called us and invited us to have dinner with her too! That never happens in Japan! People very rarely invite others into their home unless they are close friends or family! Klein Shimai and I are really excited!

I have been reading in Mosiah in the Book of Mormon this week and one of my favorites that really struck me was Mosiah Chapter 2:20-24 Which basically says `All that he requires of you is to keep His commandments and he has promised that if you keep His commandments he will bless and prosper you` How incredible is that! Our Heavenly Father, the creator of this magnificent Universe, simply asks us to Follow Him, to put our trust in Him and show our love for Him by doing what he says! It's like our parents on Earth!  I really loved this. Also another Chapter in the Book of Mormon that is AWESOME is Alma Chapter 26.  

Thank you for all the Love and prayers and Support!

Lowe Shimai

 

  Above: all the girls in the Nagasaki Zone. Below: all the missionaries in the Nagasaki Zone

 

Nagasaki Wk 7 - Mari's Baptism

May 24, 2015

Start of my Second Transfer!

So much to say and so little time!

We had an awesome week this week! The two highlights were Mari's Baptism and the Church Open House!

Mari w/ Parents

Mari is awesome! She is shy but super funny! Her baptism was this Friday and it was amazing! Her dad recently became active and was able to baptize her and they plan to be sealed as a family this October!  During the service a couple members from the Branch spoke about baptism and how it is such an important step in following Jesus Christ. And even though I cannot understand a lot of Japanese, I was just thinking about how awesome it is that this gospel of Jesus Christ is the same around the world! Everything that I studied in America, and that I study in my English scriptures every day is exactly the same as what the wonderful church members in Japan are studying too! And that has been such a testament to me that this truly is the Church of Jesus Christ. 

The awesome members of the Nagasaki branch! So many came to see Mari be baptized!

We also had an awesome Open House at the church where we simply explained our beliefs and what we do, and we made ice cream all together! It was so much fun! Some moms from Eikaiwa [English lessons that we teach] came and seemed super interested in learning more about the church!

Sorry it's short this week but I love you all! Thank you for all the prayers and support!

Lowe Shimai

Mari always bakes us treats; so we bought her an apron.

 I bought a Kimono this week! At the last Eikaiwa of the transfer all the missionaries wear Kimonos!

Making Japanese food w/Keiko!

                                                              Nagasaki Missionaries!

                                                        "spectacles bridge"; Built in 1634

Klein Shimai and me :)

He inviteth all to come unto Him - Wk 6

May 19, 2015

End of my first transfer!!

Hello Everyone!

So, the mission is split up into 6 week periods, or Transfers. And every Transfer there is the possibility of moving to a different area within the mission...or not! Today we get our transfer calls. Most likely I will stay here with my Trainer Klein Shimai, but you never know! 

This has been another great week in Nagasaki. Earlier we had an appointment with a Mom of four that we made a month ago, and had forgotten to get her number so we couldn't confirm the appointment. Well she ended up calling us to confirm!! We were so grateful! A lot of times, people just don't show up or aren't home when they say they will be, so we were so happy that she called! She is a super nice lady and I look forward to teaching her!

Also this week we went to Kurume so we could go on splits with the Sisters there. That was really fun, I went with Stevenson Shimai, and It was just neat to see how other missionaries do missionary work! We all have the same purpose but there are so many different ways to accomplish it! I learned a lot from them!

We also served with the local lions club, we pulled weeds outside of the train station and then afterwards went to a really fancy restaurant! So yeah, that was pretty cool. 

Some cool miracles we saw this week:

• So a while ago we taught a really awesome girl named Mihara, she came to church, but she has been really busy with school and hasn't answered our phone calls, BUT! We were riding to the church and I saw her backpack from across the street!! So we hurried and crossed and caught up with her, and we are meeting for dinner this Saturday!!! I am so excited, she is really special. 

• A couple of days ago, we were knocking on Apartment doors and we met a family from Myanmar! (Close to Thailand) They invited us in right away and it turns out that the Father is really interested in learning more about Jesus Christ and about the Bible! They are Buddhist but he said he wants to learn from the good things that are in the bible. We are teaching him for the first time this week!

• Also, we were walking around the College and we found a girl from China, we gave her a Book of Mormon and we testified about the peace and happiness we have felt from our message and she agreed to meet with us again next week! 

*Funny note, right after we talked to the Chinese girl, Zhou, a security guard came up and asked what we were doing...yeah apparently proselyting on Campuses is Bad...so yeah we won't be doing that anymore!

This week I have been reading in 2 Nephi, which is just all awesome! I would love to share with you all part of a scripture that really stuck out to me, its 2 Nephi Chapter 26:33 -He inviteth all to come unto Him and he denieth none that come unto Him- How powerful is that!! Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, invites all people to come to Him and He will not turn you away! I know that this is true. I know that no matter who we are or what mistakes we have made, the Savior will always embrace you with his arms of mercy! 

I love you all! And I love this work so much!

Next week I will try to send pictures!

Love! Lowe Shimai

Week 5 - Nagasaki

May 10, 2015

This past Wednesday, we had a special training about how we can be better missionaries. The training concepts were super simple but as Klein Shimai and I have used them this past week we have seen amazing miracles! We talk to so many people every day and before, we would only be able to testify and teach maybe 3 or 4 people but now we are testifying to about 10 or 15 people every day! Its been so wonderful!

Family Home Evening with member family & investigator

 

In a couple weeks, one of the ladies we are teaching is getting baptized! She is awesome, she reads her scriptures and prays every day, and everything we teach her she is totally fine with. She's hilarious too. It's been so fun to teach her about the principles of this gospel, and then see how they are blessing her life. 

 

 

 

 

One of the lessons we taught this week was about President Uchtdorfs Talk "Recognizing Principles of Truth and Light" *I think thats what it's called. It is so amazing!  Heavenly Father really does want to answer our prayers. And we just have to show Him that we want to know. 

Today, one of the ladies from the English Class we teach is teaching Klein Shimai and I how to make Miso Soup and Sushi from scratch!! I am super excited for that! 

Any questions about Japan or what I do here? Please email them to my mom and she can forward them, Id love to answer them!

Love, 

Lowe Shimai

Such a beautiful scene! I love the Nagasaki Mountains!!

One of the ward members, she gave us garlic pickles!

This is ChomPon, basically like noodles and veggies, it was delicious!

Week 4 - Nagasaki

May 3, 2015

There was no letter this week, but Sarah sent a ton of pictures!  I can't wait to skype with her on Mothers Day!

My bike! I call her Lady bug (:

  

View from the apartment window!

   

My futon! This is where I sleep!!

 We had FHE with some members! 

and these are two sons of a Recent Convert!

 we hiked and hiked and hiked and got to see this beautiful view!

 

 

 

View from the top of a Ferris wheel! There is one at the mall here!

  

 Klein Shimai and I inside the Ferris wheel

  there was an awesome ship festival here!!

Some girls from the English Class we teach!

 

all of the different coins they use here! 

500; 100; 50; 10; 5; 1