May 5th

Hello everyone!

Today we woke up to... An earthquake! It was at like 5 in the morning
and lasted a surprising amount of time. Apparently it was news worthy.
I have no access to the news but let me know!

We also got.... Transfer calls today! I'm staying in kichijoji and
getting another companion. Sister Hathaway! She is the sister training
leader for our zone. She is so fun and her Japanese is incredible. She
has just two transfers left of her mission so she will probably finish
it up in kichijoji! Sister Feist is opening up a new area and training
a brand new missionary. We are both pretty excited. The other two
sisters in our apartment are staying the same!


 
me being awesome at dodgeball. photo cred: the one and only president wada

 This week is something fancy called.. Golden week. So basically it
means that almost everyone has work off and they return to their
hometowns for the week or go on vacation. So... Almost no one wanted
to meet with us this week. But... There were tons of people out so we
got to have 150 new meaningful contacts this week. And a few new
potential investigators. We had some great dendou experiences this
week. Lots of rejection and lots of success. Yesterday the zoo was
free so we went there to meet lots of cute families!




 This weekend I did an exchange in Hibarigaoka. It was my first time
doing missionary work in a different area so it was really exciting to
see things from a new perspective and work with different people.
Hibarigaoka is way less city-like. The people there were really
friendly. We met lots of cool people in the park, taught a lesson to
one of their investigators, cleaned the church, and got our study time
in. Also... Their apartment is worlds nicer than the kichijoji
apartment. Haha we think we are dying from carbon monoxide and mold in
our apartment. During the exchange, I worked with another transfer 2
missionary (like me!) and a transfer 1 missionary. It was really fun
to gain experience in lots of aspects of missionary work with other
younger missionaries and see that we really can do it! I realized that
if I have to I really can speak some Japanese. It's awkward and way
simple Japanese but it communicates :) our lesson with their
investigator went way well. It was sort of scary because I had just
met her and I extended a baptismal date commitment to her. She was way
surprised, but certainly not offended. She had always said that one
day.... She would be baptized but had never considered having a
specific goal to work towards and never thought that it could be soon.
We focused the lesson on the atonement and her feelings about Jesus
Christ. It was way powerful. She didn't accept the commitment to
baptized on a specific date but she definitely wants to work towards
baptism and pray about when she should receive it.


Me ready for the exchange... with Sister Merstrand's fancy hiking backpack


Sister Feist and I did a transfer review for our companionship
inventory and called it the Tenkin jubilation! Haha we saw lots of
miracles together this transfer. We made this area organized and busy.
We met the prepared. We are working with lots of new people and
helping some of the eternal investigators to progress. We've focused
on using the PMG and worked lots more with members. We have gotten
lots of teaching experience. We have learned a lot about understanding
others and being better communicators. I love everything that I am
learning as a missionary. These experiences are so special and such
unique opportunities.

 
stopping for some flower picking! 

 I'm so grateful for the atonement of the Savior. Because of him, we
can change. We can make progress each day to reach more of our divine
potential and to become more like him. We can be strengthened through
the atonement as we repent. We can receive the strength to endure
trials and strength to do good works. His love and understanding is
perfect and eternal. I know he lives. Favorite scripture this week
comes from 2 Nephi 26:24 "He doeth not anything save it be for the
benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth
down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore he
commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation." His
love and mercy are available to all. His love and the message of the
restored gospel apply to all of Gods children. So happy to be sharing
this message here in Japan.

 
we tried to make sushi... haha 

 I love you all. Happy Children's Day! Happy Cinco de Mayo! (We are
gonna make quesadillas for lunch tomorrow with tortillas we got from
the import store!)

Also, Happy Mothers Day next week! To all the wonderful moms I know :)

Sister Reeves