January 20th

Hello Beautiful Family!

It's been another week! The time just keeps going by even faster! I
can't believe how fast the time has gone on my mission. There are some
days that seem so slow. Some days that are so fun and some that are
really hard. But I am grateful for each day and each experience
because each one is teaching me and helping me to come closer to my
Heavenly Father.

Here's what last week was like:

We were finishing up our weekly planning last Sunday and we got to the
part where we prayerfully choose members and investigators to visit to
seek referrals and other teaching opportunities. We decided we needed
to visit Tokita Shimai. We called her right away to set an appointment
and she was so excited!! She had us over on Tuesday for lunch and her
non-member husband was there! He was so friendly and they are a way cute
couple. Tokita Shimai's conversion story is cool. She was hosting her
daughter's 8th birthday party when two sister missionaries came to her
door. She had been attending other Christian churches and had interest
in learning about what the missionaries had to share. She and her
daughter began taking lessons and were baptized within two months.
While their daughter was still at home they had family prayer and
scripture study and family home evening. So Tokita "Kyoudai" is pretty
familiar with some church things. We shared a message about Christ's
perfect example of loving and serving others and talked about the
service we do as missionaries and the service we can all participate
in. We asked if we could visit with them again and have family home evening
together. They were also way excited about coming to the upcoming Ward
activity. Tokita Shimai was so excited and grateful. She said when we
called she thought, "this is the chance!!" For her husband to accept
the gospel. We don't know what will come of us working with this
family but I trust in God's timing!

The Tsukada/Nakazawa family had us over again for dinner cause so many
missionaries were transferring and they wanted to have a goodbye! So
again... We ate lots... And ate even more for "repentance" when we
lost a game!

On Wednesday night before eikaiwa we had a gyoza party! All four
sister missionaries, a less active single adult, and a potential
investigator came! We made pot stickers together and shared a thought
about prayer and the peace it brings to our life as we make it a
priority. Our PI, Ma, is from China so she told us we could meet again
and she would show us how to make pot stickers from scratch! She was
excited that we invited her and said the timing was perfect. She had
lots of questions about our church and had a really good time at
English class and wants to meet again. She didn't accept the Book of
Mormon when we offered it to her on the street but we think as we
develop a friendship and teach her more, she will want to accept it
and join with us at church.

Thursday was transfer day!! Yamaguchi Shimai is the cutest and
sweetest. We met with another PI, Tomi. She lives way close to us and
loves discussing religion. We met at her house and made dinner
together. She is super devout in her religion. She is part of a
Buddhist sect called SoukaGakkai. She shared her experiences and how
her religion has helped her change her life and we shared our
testimonies as well. It was really cool. She said she couldn't pray
with us for the food because she can't participate in other religions
but her leader encourages making friends with people of all faiths.
She is way funny and cute and uses really hard japanese and lots of
slang, too. She has a dog full of energy who kept getting into my
food. Haha and an older brother who might be a little mentally slow
who kept coming in wanting to practice his English. She kept telling
him to leave but was really grateful for how I responded to him and
showed him interest. It was an interesting evening but she kept saying
how amazing it was that we were out here doing what we were doing.
We'll see what happens with Tomi!

Friday: long day and being terrible at reading maps, and lots of
finding! But we shared messages with a couple members who were home
and ended up having a way good and exhausting day!

Saturday: we went to the church mochitsuki! I'm not really sure how to
explain it but it's an activity where you make mochi, which is sweet
pounded balls of rice. Really chewy and delicious. Anyway, there were
tons of non members there and it was so fun! We found a new PI, a
referral from the elder's investigator. Her name is Mika, and she is
from China. She had so much fun and got along really well with the
other single adults. She came to church on Sunday and loved it and
wants to come from now on!
We had a lesson with Suzuki San. It was really interesting... She was
really hesitant about praying and about acting on the message. She
loves John 3:16 about God showing his love for us by giving us a
Savior that we might receive eternal life. She wasn't sure though if
she wanted that gift. I know she feels the spirit when she is with us.
She says she wants to be closer to God before she does these things we
ask her to do but these are exactly the things she needs to do to come
closer to him. She said she wouldn't pray but then started praying! She
has a happy family and a lot of gratitude for God. I think she knows
we have something to share that could benefit her life. Pray that
Suzuki San can understand the spirit she feels and that she will be
able to pray to her Father in Heaven!
We went housing in the evening and met the sweetest grandma! She came
out to talk with us and some of her grandchildren came out too. One
little boy asked her who we are and when she explained we were from a
church, he asked, "what's church?". It seemed like a really cute
question at first and then I realized... I am so blessed to have grown
up in a family who believed in God and worshipped him. How sad it must
be to not know God and not understand our relationship with him!

Sunday: Busy day at church! Brother Carlson visited Hachioji Ward and
brought the package from home! Thank YOU so much! :)
Between Christmas and this package I have tons of fun treats!

Monday: Lots of dendo! And then FHE with the Kawatani family! We
played a cute game we found in the Liahona and talked a lot about the
priesthood and how the ordinances connect us to God and bless and
strengthen our families. I know that God has all power. And the
priesthood is that power. God loves us so much. I know this is true!

We were able to go to the temple today! Always a happy day :)

I read a wonderful talk yesterday called Wherefore Settle This in Your
Hearts by elder gibbons. Speaking of pre-earth life he said,"You were
there with Him. Your spirit knows what it is like to live in celestial
realms. You can never be truly happy in an uncelestial environment."
We are children of GOD. That is our identity. Preparing for eternal
life is the way to the happiness we have the potential to obtain. I
don't exactly know what eternal life means and I can't imagine anything
"perfect" but I know it's the gift God wants to give to all of us. I
know it's part of who my spirit is to become like God and live the
life he now lives.

Thank you for your love. I love each of you so much! Have a happy week!

Cheers! Happy New Year!