August 18th

This week was full of miracles... Again! I will share some of the
miracles from my week. I would love to hear some of yours. God
performs miracles in everyone's life, no matter how small they seem...
They are there and He is there. "God is mindful of every people,
whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his
bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my
great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever."
Alma 26:37


            Dinner with Tomoe and the Kakiki family

On Tuesday morning we played tennis with our neighbor friends who used
to live in our house. Y'all definitely know my ability to play
sports... And this was my first time walking  on a court and holding a
racket. We played with Naomi and Teru and a few of their friends..
Everyone in their 50s and way good at tennis. Everyone was SO nice to
me. Each of them took turns coaching me and i learned how to play
tennis in Japanese! Haha... I was determined to learn and determined
to have fun. In the end i played doubles with my companion and the two
ladies who were there and didn't actually do bad at all. My serves
made it over the net and I was able to hit the balls that came my way.
Miracle... If I ever saw one!


Sometimes you must put your hair in pigtails and take a picture during nightly planning

Tuesday night we had dinner at the Kakiki home with our investigator,
Tomoe. It was great for her to meet an LDS family and talk with normal
Japanese people about what it's like to be Christian. The kakikis have
3 little boys... Onsuke, kanta, and kenshin, 9,6, and 3. And way cute.
They were rowdy and crazy and it made me miss my brother! We shared a
message about repentance with an object lesson using erasers. If we
repent, Christ will erase our mistakes and forgive us and forget that
we did wrong.

Wednesday: we taught Tomoe at the church and watched the restoration
video. It was a miracle to testify of the restoration. It's a story
that's way hard to believe. But I believe and I know it's true. I know
Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ and I know he was called to be a
prophet and restore Christ's true church, exactly the way it was when
Christ was on earth. It was powerful for my own testimony to share my
feelings about his experience out loud. And doing so is exactly what
my purpose is here as a missionary in Japan. In everything I do, I am
striving to invite and help others receive the restored gospel of
Jesus Christ. If I am teaching and testifying of this message, I am
doing my part.

Trying on a yukata at our friend, Angel's place

Thursday: we had the 10 week training and the focus was the Book of
Mormon. It is the most powerful tool of conversion. It has been one of
the most powerful tools in my own conversion as well. It is true.
Anyone can read it and know that Christ lives and he loves us and
because of him we too can live again.
Right after the meeting we headed back to Hibarigaoka to meet with
Terumi. We read the Book of Mormon with her and ended up setting a new
baptismal date with her for the end of October. She really wants to be
baptized! And we have the responsibility to help her prepare to make
and keep those covenants with God.

Friday: busy busy day. We did role play lessons at a couple different
members homes. It was amazing to teach the message of the gospel of
Jesus Christ with members who are striving to continually live it.
Members of the church are not perfect people. Life is hard and
enduring isn't always easy. It was inspiring and uplifting to discuss
the power of the gospel and Christs atonement with these wonderful
ladies.
We also met with Patrick. He talks a lot!! We spent a lot of time
answering his questions from the Book of Mormon and about Joseph smith
and the restoration. He shared with us how busy it is being the father
of a brand new baby boy and having a two year old girl running around,
too. He has a couple older daughters in America. One is going through
a rough time but didn't want to bother her dad across the world
because he is so busy with his young children. When she finally came
to him he told her to always come to her no matter what, because he
always has time for her and always cares. He brought up some concerns
he had and said he couldn't pray about them because he could find the
answer some other way and not trouble God because God has given him
enough and there are others who need more from God. We explained that
God is his father and he feels exactly the same way about Patrick as
Patrick does about his daughter in America. He thought that was
amazing and was so excited to pray to God after his children were in
bed. He will move back to America soonish... But he feels really led
to the missionaries and to the church.

selfie in the study room

Saturday: Regine! We are so excited about Regine. We were previously
teaching both her and her husband, Genki. We taught in Japanese
because we thought that was the common language between us. Anyway, we
stopped by and just Regine was home. She told us Genki was gone and I
think assumed that we were just Genki's friends... But we were there
for her! She invited us in and we prayed and shared the Because of Him
video in Tagalog and read from the Book of Mormon with her. We found
out that she actually speaks English pretty well.. At least enough for
her to understand a little and for the spirit to communicate the rest.
It was amazing. She came to church on Sunday and wants to come to some
other activities too. Sister Merstrand and sister eyring taught her in
another room during Sunday school and taught the plan of salvation and
used lots of scriptures in Tagalog in their teaching. Sometimes she
didn't know enough English to share her thoughts but they told her
Tagalog was just fine. They said the spirit was so strong. They didn't
understand the words but they knew that she wants to be baptized. It's
just so incredible. She is the first person Sister Bryson and I met on
our first day in the area when we were so lost and didn't even know
where our apartment was. I know we are in her life for a special
reason and I am so grateful to God.

Sunday: Terumi and Regine came to church! Happy :)
We went housing after church and met the best people. Sometimes
knocking on doors brings success :)

I love y'all a lot a lot a lot.

Sister Reeves

August 11th

Hey y'all!
Today.... I have been in Japan for exactly 6 months. Oh my goodness,
time flies!!
I love Japan so much. Home is where the heart is. I guess I have a few
homes now because my heart is with you and with the people here in
Tokyo.

                 Touma Shimai & Eyring Shimai

 I love being a missionary. God gives his missionaries super powers or
something, because I am able to do things that I know i could never
ever do myself. This is hard work and not glamorous at all. I feel
like I'm camping... Always SO extremely sweaty and tired haha. And
then sometimes you get caught in a typhoon far from home with only a
pancho from a convenience store. But I've never been more happy and
never been more connected to a purpose. The purpose I focus on right
now is greater than myself. The work doesn't always turn out how I
want it to because the work is perfect and my imperfect mind doesn't
comprehend perfection. I am eternally grateful to my Father in Heaven.
Our God is a mighty God. He is mindful of all his children and
performs miracles each and every day. I'm grateful to be a witness of
his miracles and grateful to be able to testify of his love to many as
I serve him in Japan.

Katsudon and Soba with Sister Toma(:

A chapter of scripture I really like right now is in the Old
Testament... Ecclesiastes 3. "To every thing there is a season, and a
time to every purpose under the Heaven." I'm grateful to know of God's
divine purposes and his plan for our eternal happiness. Eternal
happiness is to have a knowledge of God. D&C 132:24 "this is eternal
lives- to know the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he
hath sent." God has provided ways for us to strengthen our
relationship with him and come to know him. I know he lives and he
loves me and loves each one of you. I love teaching people about God
and how to come to know God. I love sharing this message of happiness
with people who have lived their lives without God. I love to teach
them how to pray to their Father in Heaven and be there with them as
they pray to him for the first time since they left his presence.

This was my dinner when we ate with Misako! Oishisou!

Highlights from the week:
There was a typhoon and the wind has been really strong. Biking has
been really fun... It feels like we aren't even moving! I'll send a
video!

We met with Misako twice and she came to church. She wants to go to
general conference in salt lake so bad. She says her passport is
ready. Not sure that she'll be able to get tickets but who wants to
meet her?! She is totally my best friend right now.

Sister Merstrand, Misako, and me

I live with President Eyring's granddaughter. Gotta be on my best
behavior or she'll tell the prophet! Haha just kidding, but she is way
cute and fun! It's her very first transfer in Japan.

We met with soooo many members this week. They have so much fire for
missionary work. It's amazing the miracles we can see together. Also,
I am eternally full... They are so kind to us and way good cooks, and
they expect Americans to eat lots.

We are starting to work more with recent converts and less actives.
It's fun to strengthen and teach people who have already heard and
accepted the gospel but are working on the "endure to the end" part.
In Japanese endure to the end is "saigo made taishinobu". But I like
to say, "saigo made tanoshimu", which is "have fun/enjoy to the end"!
Isn't that the point of our lives? Happiness. It's God's ultimate
desire for his children. Eternal joy.

Typhoon Selfie

We were way busy! Taught 11 lessons and we are getting more
comfortable and confident in our teaching and more natural and bold in
inviting. We have lots of new potential investigators and so many
friends in this area! Shooting for 15 lessons this week! We can do it
:)

Handouts for Misako

So there is a student at English class who is beginner at English and
pretty shy. When I was brand new in the area, I decided to reach out
and talk to her because she seemed to be the wallflower and looked
like she needed a friend. We would talk for quite awhile after class
each week and I was pondering how I could introduce something in the
gospel that would resonate with her. Anyway, I asked her if she would
want to get lunch some time and so we made an appointment! We went to
lunch this week and she asked if she could come to church to get help
from God. It turns out she used to take lessons from the sisters in
the neighboring area which is actually in the north mission. She had a
baptismal date but had to be transferred to the Hibarigaoka sisters
because she lives in our area. When she met with the Hibari sisters,
they got the vibe that she was only interested in English class so
they stopped meeting with her. She explained that she doesn't
currently read the Book of Mormon and it's been quite awhile since
going to church, but she is interested in meeting with us and taking
lessons again. We are excited to help her and be a friend.

Lots of love from your sister in Japan!

Sister Reeves

August 4th

Fam! Hello!
Tuesday: exchange with tachibana Shimai. We went to zone meeting and
then visited a recent convert to write her conversion story to share
with all the missionaries in the mission. We took time for her to pack
because she was transferring and I rested because I got an ear
infection! :(


New companion: Sister Merstrand

When we exchanged back, sister Bryson and I went to dinner at the
zeller family's. So fun!

Wednesday: last day with sister Bryson and very busy! We wanted to see
like everyone before she left! We taught Tomoe and then went out to
lunch with her and a recent convert and they hit it off way well. We
took notes and goodies to Genki and Regine and Yuko and Patrick. Then
we met Misako for dinner. And then English class!

          The district and ward mission leader last transfer:
Sister Barnes, Sister Tachibana, Sister Bryson, ME, Elder Carlini, Elder Nishidome, Elder Hansen, Elder Scott, Elder Menzawa, Elder Crandall, Brother Kohinata

Thursday: transfer day! Woke up way early to see everyone off at the
train station and then we traveled to kichijoji. I went to the doctor
with a Japanese sister and got medication for my ear. Sister Merstrand
and I came back and visited a less active for her birthday and talked
to people at the park. Then we met a potential investigator for
dinner. We ate at her home and her husband and son were there, too. It
was a really cool experience and they seemed interested in the family
English program. Weird connection... They used to live in the house
that we currently live in.

Sushi at Sister Takahata's house (Sister Barnes and Sister Bryson)

Friday: we went housing near a members house and then did a role play
lesson with the relief society president and her husband. Then we
headed to the church to teach Patrick... But he couldn't find the
building so we did a role play lesson with the member who came for his
lesson. Then he showed up an hour and a half late so the elders met
with him.

                              Tomoe!

Saturday: district meeting. We went housing near a members home and
then visited her and prayed with her. Did some weekly planning and
then had dinner with a member and three non-member grandchildren.
Sunday: way good missionary coordination meeting. English class.
Church! Submitted stats. Then headed to the park to meet some new
friends! We were dying. So hot and so hungry from fasting. Came home
and ate dinner and then I got way cold and was literally shivering.
Turns out I was way over dehydrated. Got way sick. I'll spare the
details. But don't worry... I learned my lesson. Drink water before
I'm thirsty. Also... Working hard is great, but working smart is also
important.


Training hard for the Tour de France.

Today: lesson with fumiyo and her little girl, kana. Way cute... They
prayed to their Heavenly Father for the very first time :) we are
meeting again on Friday.


English Class

Good week. Miracles every day.
I love you all more than you know. Thank you for your love and
support. Write me ;)
Love, Sister Reeves

July 28th

Hey y'all! This will be a quick one. We got transfer calls and Sister
Bryson is leaving meeeeee so we chose to just have fun and not take
time for letters/email/relax time! I will be staying in Hibarigaoka
and Sister Merstrand will be coming from Kichijoji to be my new
companion! I'm actually way excited :)


the BEST manly man ramen shop in Hibari. Delish.

This week was lovely. Of course.

We taught Misako about baptism and invited her to be baptized. She
wasn't ready to say yes right then because there is so much that she
doesn't know about Christianity, but she said, "please teach me!" The
member present sort of apologized for our pronunciation because maybe
it's hard to understand but Misako told her it's okay because she
"needs us". She wants us to give her more commitments... More places
to read in the Book of Mormon, more things to ponder, etc. She read
her assignment in the Book of Mormon twice before the lesson. We love
her so much!


Indian Curry with Sister Bryson, Barnes, and Hathaway

We began talking about the plan of salvation with Tomoe. It's hard for
her to believe she lived with God before. We focused on her
relationship with God as his spirit daughter and talked about how her
older brother, Jesus, is God's only begotten son, therefore he had the
power to atone for her and make it possible for her to return home.
She had lots of questions and was so interested in learning about
Jesus Christ and how he wasn't just an ordinary man. After the lesson
we practiced music together. I accompanied on the piano as she played
violin. It was so amazing... There is a language and culture barrier
in between us but we both read music and understand that language. We
will continue to prepare together for her to play in sacrament meeting
and the ward party!

TEMPLE

Patrick's wife had her baby. Patrick grew up catholic but isn't
satisfied with being a catholic. He wants to find out if our church is
the true church.. A church he could join and never be dissatisfied. A
church he could be a part of for his life and where he could raise his
children. This is the perfect time for him to be investigating the
church as he has two young children. His wife agreed to have their
brand new son baptized. We explained that his baby doesn't have need
of baptism, but he (Patrick) could be baptized by someone who holds
the correct authority and power from God to perform baptisms.

Thursday night Sister Hathaway came to Hibarigaoka on an exchange with
Sister Barnes and she slept over! Got to steal more knowledge and
training from her and say our last goodbyes. She goes home on Friday!

Anyway... Loving the work in the BEST area in the world. Seriously our
ward is amazing.

I love you all so much. Thank you for the influence you have been in my life.

Have a beautiful week and don't die in the heat. Oh wait... You're
inside and there is air conditioning in America. Haha :)