Week 32, April 27. 150 contacts this week, and seeing beautiful Sapporo on top of mountain at night

Hello everyone!

This week has been really good, the weather has gotten a lot warmer
but we do have some wind blowing. (skirts are so dangerous!)

We had a great Zone Conference, Aoyagi Elder came and talked to us,
after the conference we were so pumped that we ran from door to door a
few times, ha ha. Also at the conference we were told that Elder
Christofferson is coming next month to speak to our mission! I am so
excited! It's been a long time since we had an Apostle come, I am a
lucky missionary. :)

The other day while we were going down a hill on our bikes I stopped a
girl. She was super nice and funny and we were able to make an
appointment with her for next, next week. She wouldn't tell us her
address, but she told us she would meet us in front of the nearby
store, ha ha. We did get her phone number though!

This week we did a lot of contacting.. In fact, we contacted 150ish
people, which is a record for me! I am hopeful that we will find some
one to listen soon.

The other day a member took us to the top of a mountain to see the
view of the city at night. Sapporo is just beautiful. I am a very
blessed girl to be able to serve here.  I love this work and I know the
gospel is true.

And I can't wait to call my mom in a few weeks!

Love you all!

Week 31- April 21. A new Japanese companion and Springtime in Teine- the bikes are out!

Helllllloo! 

I have a new companion, her name is Fujita Shimai. She was Miller Shimai's trainer, and she went to school at BYU Hawaii and is very good at English. I love her as well, she's a great missionary with a lot of love for everyone. I think this is going to be a really great transfer. We made three appointments in two days! That doesn't really happen very often, I'm hopeful that they'll be good ones. I think that together we are a good combination, people seem to think we're interesting anyway and let us talk to them for a minute. 

The weather has been pretty good as well! Which is a good thing since we have officially (it actually happened this week, after all of my talk). And, I have realized a few things since beginning on the bike. First of all, it's pretty much all uphill to Teine from my apartment. And second, my morning yoga hasn't been preparing me well enough for the bike season. It's going to be a good thing, but it might kill me. 

We didn't really have any lessons or much this week, just adjusting to a new companion and feeling very blessed. I love being a missionary! I hope you are all well!

Week 30- April 14, 2014. Conference Love and Transfer Week!

Hello,

What a great conference we had this last week! I can hardly wait to get the Liahona so I can check them out again. We are so blessed to have a living Prophet on the earth at this time. I know that he, and his Apostles are really called of God, and that we can learn what it is that our Heavenly Father wants us to know from listening to their words.

My very favorite was President Uchtdorf's talk about gratitude. I loved when he talked about how gratitude is an expression of hope and testimony. I have decided that I am going to make a more conscience effort to have gratitude, no matter what circumstances I'm in. Sometimes I get caught up in looking towards, or worrying, about things that are coming but not actually here yet. I am resolved to keep my mind on the now and be grateful for every minute I'm given.

The sister meeting was really good as well! The little video clip they showed may have made me cry (I'm turning into my mother!) and of course President Monson's about love. 

I also loved Elder Scott, W. Craig Zwick and of course Elder Holland and Elder Eyring.

What a beautiful conference!

Besides conference, this week was pretty average. We were able to meet with Nunokawa san, but were not able to have a real lesson. She talked a lot about the church she's already a part of, and insisted on sending us with a magazine from her church. That was a bummer! She still loves the Book of Mormon. I don't know what to do yet, but we'll keep trying.

Transfers are are this week, I am most likely to be getting a new companion! Changes are scary, sad and yet so good.

I love you all so much! Have a good week!

Week 29- April 6, 2014. Hope and Faith, Ether 12:4.

Hello!

 

Spring is tricky this week. We thought it was here, and then the snow came back with a vengence. Today seems promising though, I feel like this next week will really be a good one.

 

While we were housing this week we found a very hard woman. She grilled us with questions from the bible in very hard Japanese. I had no idea what she was talking about most of the time. She ended up telling us to go away at the end saying that we probably didn't know what we were talking about and that we just were wasting our time. It was hard to take, but she was not willing to really listen to anything we had to say. I was so frustrated because I don't like my weakness in language to come across as a lack of testimony.

 

We were due for a little tender mercy from our Father in Heaven, and he was ready to give it to us. We had planned to go to For You, a member's cute little restaurant with the best food for dinner. When we got there we found Nunokawa san, an old investigator that Murray Shimai had re-found last transfer. She has been sick for awhile and I hadn't met her yet. She told us that she had just called us but we didn't answer. So she was just as surprised as I was to see us. We were able to talk with her for a long time and share some scriptures. She's had some hard things happen to her when she was younger, which has left her a little bit scarred. I was able share Ether 12:4 with her about how we can have hope in this life, and how it comes from faith in Jesus Christ.

 

That night she called us and thanked us but she had to leave a message since it was after 10. We called her back and we are trying to make an appointment with her for next week.

 

We also met with a cute little grandpa, Murehisa san, who speaks perfect English. He didn't really want to listen to our message, so it might be hard to meet again, but it was a lot of fun.

 

It was a good week here in Teine! I love you all so much!

Week 28- March 30, 2014. Les Mis, Paul McCartney loving grandma and dendo-ing with Evans Shimai.

Hello!

Spring is coming! The bikes have come to us too, we will be riding soon! It was really out of the blue, actually... one day it was blowing snow in our faces and the next it was all sunshine. Of course, we still have colder ones but for the most part we are in the clear! Good thing, It is April tomorrow, after all. :) 

We went and contacted a referral from the Elders this week, a little old Grandma named Tomita san. She told us pretty quickly that she wasn't interested in our message, but that she wanted us to come in and talk to her. That's always a really hard placed to be put in. We have to make sure that we are doing what we came here to do, teach, but on the other hand, people never usually even give us any time to talk to them. We went in and talked to her for a while, and I love her! She recently got back from a trip to England with her daughter. While she was there she saw Paul McCartney! It came and did a sudden concert and she just happened to be there! She also saw Les Mis. and started putting the movie on for us, which we couldn't watch, ha ha. She's also into art, so she asked me to draw her something and gave me some colored pencils to do it, ha ha. We now have a reason to go back, I just hope we can find a way to share some of the message with her... I want to hang out with her one day after I'm not a missionary! 

This week we also got the chance to work with Evans Shimai, it was a lot of fun! We visited an investigator who wasn't home, heart attacked a member and stopped by and saw an old NA who we invited to the RS party. Evans Shimai was so awesome though! She is so bold, she went to the next door neighbors or the not home investigator and tried to get them to come out and talk to us by telling them that we thought their house was pretty, ha ha. The NA that we visited, Sakai Shimai, also was able to go to the party and she had a lot of fun. Hopefully some of the members will be able to pick her up and take her to church from now on! 

We went to a birthday party and the Sawaguchi Family's place for Elder Takemura, it was a lot of fun! We ate "omrice" the most Mexican food-y Japanese food I've ever eaten (I will get the recipe) and chocolate cheese cake! Yoshizawa Elder also did some magic to end the night, it was a lot of fun! 

All is well here in Sapporo. I love you all! 

Week 27- March 24, 2014. A possible fifty year wait for baptism and the Holy Ghost at work. Too good Japanese food!

Hello Americans!

We finally were able to meet Sai san, a potential investigator from
the end of last transfer. She told us that she wanted to come to
church when the snow melted and the roads were safer. We're going to
go back and try to make an appointment to teach her before that
happens though. I am really excited about her!

Another thing I am really exicted about--during our Eikaiwa (English
class) prep at the Seiyu, big Walmart-y store that is also a small
mall, I almost ran into a lady when we were walking. It's pretty
normal to almost run into people here, since they are usually shorter
than me and walk really quickly, but this time it was different. She
just stood there and looked at me with this really surprised look on
her face. But we kept on walking, wondering why I got such a strong
reaction, when a few seconds later the same lady stops us and (in
perfect English) launches into a story about how she had listened to
the lessons 50 years ago, and is still in contach with her Elders. One
of them had emailed her recently and she just happened to have looked
at the email earlier that day. So then she ran (almost literally) into
us today, and felt like she needed to talk to us. We were a bit
surprised. We invited her to Eikaiwa, but she told us it was too far,
and that in fact, the Elders had called her earlier that week and
invited her. She talked to us for a minute and quickly made her exit,
leaving us a bit confused but glad all at the same time.

So, we were very excited when she ended up coming to Eikaiwa that
night. :) We weren't able to make her commit to anything, but we
talked to her about the Holy Ghost a bit afterwards, and how many
times things are not just coincidences. If she doesn't come to Eikaiwa
this week, we are going to drop by her house. I feel like her 50 year
wait for baptism has finally ended. :)

And one last good thing! When we were knocking on doors the other day,
we randomly found another potential investigator! She was the one who
came to church my first week in Teine because Evans Shimai invited
her. It was completely unplanned, but really awesome. We almost didn't
stick to our plan to go housing in the area, since we had gotten lost
and we were running out of time to do all the things we wanted to. We
stayed strong though and kept looking for the area, and boom, we found
her! Out of all of the places we could have gone, we randomly found
someone we'd talked to before. It was actually a bit awkward, ha ha,
we had no idea what to say to her, but I don't think we went there on
accident.

It was a week full of surpises. Also, I ate my first okonomiyaki. Oh
my goodness. It is sooooo good! I will be making it for you when I get
home! I will maybe put a picture in here. The food here is just too
good sometimes.

Well, I love you all, that is a wrap. Have a good week, read your
scriptures everyday. Bye-bye!

Week 26- March 16, 2014. Knocking and Member Meals in Teine :)

Hello Family and Friends, 

How is everyone! I am doing good here in Teine. We have spent a lot of time finding this week, I guess it's pretty normal here. We don't have any solid investigators, but we are doing our best to find someone to teach. I still miss Shinkotoni and Amada Shimai though! 

This week we spend all the time finding! It was sort of long, but what can we do? Just more finding until we find the right people. 

The ward members are so sweet though! We had so many member meals this week, honestly, we ate more out than we did at the apartment. We went to the Bishop's house for dinner, they made us homemade gyoza, so good. Bishop Onno told us that he wants us to have fun while we dendo. He feels like it's really important. And honestly, it's been a goal for me this transfer. I need to relax and just enjoy my time here. It goes so fast! I am already starting my 8th month! 

I wish I had more to say this week, but all we really did was knock on doors and eat meals with members! I hope you are all doing well. I love you all and I pray for you! Have a good week!

Love, Megan

Week 25, March 9, 2014. New area! Teine!

Hello all who read my letters! 

I am now a Teine Shimai! I'm still in the city, but just a new area. This place is actually right next to Shinkotoni, maybe I will be able to see my dear Shinkotoni members every once in a while. Watabe AP told me recently that Teine is the smallest area in the mission, ha ha. It actually opened to sisters four transfers ago, so the investigator pool is kind of small.. in fact. There are no real progressing investigators. But we are ready to work and see some miracles! My companion's name is Murray Shimai. She is from Washington state and is super funny. I think we'll have a really fun time. She knows a bunch of good, nerdy things. :) Our apartment is a four people one, its weird to have another set of missionaries around but its nice too! So, all is well. 

The view from the apartment is so pretty, You can see the city and all of the mountains from our apartment! We actually live in the Kotoni area, and have to travel everyday to Teine, it takes about 30 min everyday. Sort of a pain, but we will deal with it. 

Church was really great. I like the ward a lot. I guess the members always have us over. We have 4 dinner apts. this week, thats more than we had in a transfer in Shinkotoni! Evans Shimai had a friend come to church, she said she was going to come next week too. So I hope we are able to teach her! 

Thats all I have for this week. Love you all! 

Week 24, March 2, 2014. Last week in Shinkotoni and Baptism! Watanabe San (but first she almost froze outside trying to get in...woops!)

Konnichiwa!

My last week (probably) of Shinkotoni has been a good one. We saw a
baptism this Sunday. Watanabe san told us during or last lesson that
she was ready, and that she wanted to do it the following Sunday. We
were a little shocked, but needless to say, very happy.

The actual service itself was almost a fiasco though. I may have
locked Watanabe san outside of the church for 10 minutes. You see, we
always lock the door when we go into the church, for saftey reasons.
So when we went to go fill up the font early Sunday morning I locked
the door... and then proceeded to forget to unlock it. We were just
sitting in the Relief Society room, waiting for her to come, wondering
why she was so late when she shows up (followed by other ward members
who also were waiting outside in the cold..) being let in by the
bishop. Missionary failure at its worst! Then the font didn't have
enough water so we had to wait an extra 15 minutes to start the
service.

Let me just say, missionaries are not perfect.

All in all though, the service was great. She shared her testimony
about how she was ready to really change and learn more about Christ's
Gospel. I feel like she understands that baptism is really just the
first step, and that she has a very exciting journey ahead of her.

I shared my testimony during sacramet. My Japanese is still pretty
'ma-ma', but as simply and clearly as I could I expressed my love to
the members of the ward, and more importantly, to my Father in Heaven.
Missions can be hard and very scary, but they are wonderful. I love
this work and I love this area that I have been blessed to serve in.
And I'm excited for whatever I get to do next transfer! Even if I make
a fool of myself and almost freeze my converts to death.

We had our second Ongaku no Yube (music night) this week too, it went
really well! Evans Shimai said she was going to put it on Youtube. So
look for me.  I'm the third tallest girl wearing a bird scarf near the
back on the right side. :)

On a sadder note. We had our last lesson with Kaga san, she talked to
Shimada Kyodai, her less active member who is soon to be her husband,
and they decided that they don't want to have us come anymore.. I feel
like it is him talking, not her, but we can't make them listen. All we
could do is leave her a copy of the Book of Mormon for herself and our
testimonies that this church is true. I hope one day she will be able
to join.

Overall, I am great. I hope you all are too. As always, I love you
all! Talk to you next week!

Week 23, Transfers are in the air... time winding down in Shinkotoni. Book of Mormon has special powers :)

Hello,

Things are winding down for me in Shinkotoni, I can feel it! This week
has been very good, altough a little sad because a lot of the things I
do are the last time I will probably do them. New adventures are
waiting though, so it is all okay. I really am so sad to leave Amada
Shimai. I feel like she is a Japanese version of me, ha ha. I also hit
my seventh month mark this week, that was weird!

At zone training meeting this week I was asked to be one of the
missionaries that shares their testimonies at the end. I read to
everyone Romans 8:28, which I had rediscovered recently. I love this
verse because it simply says that for those that love God, all things
will work out. I know this is true, so love our Father in Heaven and
do what he says. You will not regret it.

This week we taught Watanabe san again, she so far is not having any
trouble with any of the commandments, including the word of wisdom and
tithing, it is really very outstanding. I feel like she has been
becoming a happier person as well. I really believe that the Book of
Mormon has special powers, and that it can improve the lives of anyone
who seriously studies it. Kaga san is doing good too! She told us that
after the wedding she would still like to meet with the missionaries.

One very good thing, lately it has been a bit warmer! The sun has been
out and it feels so good! Can't wait for a Hokkaido spring!

That's all for me this week. Love you all, hope you all are genki and happy.

Week 22, February 16- no letter!

Letter was lost this week when computer froze that Johnson Shimai was on- and letter gone!  Looking forward to next week... Proud of this missionary girl!

Week 21, Yuki Matsuri- Sapporo Snow Festival! Power of the Book of Mormon, Holy Ghost

This week we were able to meet with Watanabe san! She is more healthy,
but it could change suddenly. I felt like she seemed happier as well,
which I credit to the fact that she has been reading The Book of
Mormon, that book works miracles. She is still progressing, I think
she will be ready for baptism by the end of the month, as long as none
of the commandments slow her down.

Kimura shimai is wonderful, as well. She finished The Book of Mormon,
and is fitting in more and more as a regular member. The ward has done
a really good job of taking care of her,  esp the Relief Society. I
love the Shinkotoni ward members.

We had our first lesson with Kaga san this week too. She is the soon
to be wife of an NA, she was referred to us by the mother in law. Kaga
san was pretty nervous at frist (due to the inlaws, I'm sure) but as
we taught she seemed to calm down. She even made some comment about
how she felt good, thank you Holy Ghost. :) It was a good lesson,
although it was sudden. We had planned to just do an introduction, but
they are hoping to finish the lessons before the wedding next month..
just in time for a baptism! I hope! I wasn't ready to teach though, we
didn't have a plan or anything, so I felt really bad that I wasn't as
supportive as I should have been. But we are going to go back and I
look forward to it!

This week we also had zone conference. A couple mission doctors came
and did some workshops, my favorite was about dealing with mission
stress. They gave is a little booklet to fill out and do some self
evaluations, ha ha. I will probably be doing it, yes. I don't think my
level of stress is a problem, in fact, I feel really great. But I'll
probably check it out just the same.

After the conference we went to the Yuki Matsuri! (Sapporo snow
festival, you know, the giant snow sculptures!) It was so neat! I will
send some pictures! Sadly, my camera doesn't like the cold, so it was
hard to take a lot, and we really were able to see a small portion of
it, so I don't have as many pictures as I would have liked. I will
just have to come to Sapporo again after the mission and get the full
effect. :)

It was a good week, I love my companion and the people I work with.
The other day Amada shimai came into the very chilly study room and
said in a very serious tone, "its a cold world" and continued on with
what she was doing. She has no idea how much I enjoy her! I hope you
all have a good week and you stay warm. We are doing our best here.
Love you all. Have a good Valentine's day! <3

Week 20, Getting through the winter...Teaching a fiance' and learning to make Japanese food!

Konnichiwa minasan,

Coldest week yet, but it was great. :)

We spent pretty much all week outside finding too, so their was little
relief from the winterness. Everyone is getting sick too, so we had
both of our lessons this week fall through, but we have them
rescheduled for next week.

We were able to do an after baptism lesson with Kimura shimai though.
Since she has heard the lessons several times, we spent most of the
time going over words mostly used in church, it was a lot of fun. She
is so great, really. Since her baptism alone, she has grown so much.
Her testimony is getting stronger, and her aura is brighter. That's
the power of the Holy Ghost! Our lesson was the highlight of my week
for sure.

A member referral came too, a non attending member's mom set a lesson
up for us with her son's soon to be wife. We're going to teach the
couple together, it sould be really neat! If she accepts the gospel,
we might be part of bringing a whole little family to Christ. :) I am
really excited for that. :)

Amada shimai is doing really well too, I like being her companion a
lot! She has a great balance with her dendoing, and I have a lot I can
learn from her. Also, I'm learing how to make some real Japanese food,
which is a lot of fun as well as delicous! Our switching from English
to Japanese is good still too. Her English is really excellent, and
its fun to be able to help her keep improving. I know I will learn a
lot too!

Love you all so very much. I hope you have a nice, warm week! Thank
you for the constant love and support. :)

Love,
Megan