March 1st

Hey! Just another update from your favorite Sister missionary(:
Are you getting bored of my stories yet?! What kinds of things are
your favorite things to hear? What would you like me to share more
of?!
Thank you for all your love and support. I feel so grateful and happy
to have you in my life (:
This week I spent half my week in Hachioji Sisters B with sister
Yamaguchi and half in Hachioji sisters A with sister Hotu! It was a
fun week(:
Yamaguchi Shimai and I experienced the coolest miracle on Tuesday
night! Our PDay ended and we were getting ready to head out the door
to do some housing. We had a few places in mind to house that week but
as we were ready to confirm our plan, we both paused and thought for a
second and at the same time, thought and said, "let's visit Kimura
San!" We had met her one evening after visiting a less active member.
She was the first person to open her door and she was so kind. She
didn't express a lot of interest but we kept going back and trying to
visit again and she was never home. Well... She was home on Tuesday
night! And she remembered us... We quickly referred to our unique
message and began teaching. We read from the Book of Mormon together
and prayed together right there in front of her home. The words and
message we shared literally just came to us... Unplanned and very
naturally! The spirit was strong and she accepted the Book of Mormon
and agreed to meet with us again to learn and understand our message.
She doesn't have a strong belief in God but wants to know. She chooses
the right because it brings confidence and happiness but not because
of any religious values she has learned. It was incredible! After we
prayed she said she felt calm and peace and said that was her first
time to pray. I looked her in the eye and said, "God loves you, Kimura
San." She said, "He loves us all, doesn't he?" Yes, he does!
Wednesday was super busy! We had back to back appointments and were at
the church basically the entire day. The kind of day I imagined every
day as a missionary would be like! Haha We had two lessons with
members, and a lesson with Ai chan. She is the cutest. She had been
reading and praying each night before bed and really liked the stories
of Nephi and his family. We reviewed the message of the restoration
with her and invited her to pray on her knees to know if the Book of
Mormon is true and if the message we shared was true. She figured it
must be true because there are so many who believe it. And she had
never knelt and prayed before but we knelt together and she asked! We
invited her to be baptized when she receives the confirmation from the
spirit that it's true. She explained that she doesn't have the courage
or faith to be baptized yet but wants to continue to meet to learn.
She set up the next appointment before we even said anything! After
her lesson we had kids eikaiwa, and then eikaiwa! After class we threw
a surprise going-away party for elder McCarty who went home on Friday.
He had served in Hachioji for over a year and so basically everyone in
Hachioji knows him and loves him! Members came and interacted with the
students and it was a defining moment for everyone as Elder McCarty
expressed his love for them and explained why we came to serve them.
Miracle of Thursday was the lesson sisters B had with Ishizuka San. I
wasn't there but I heard it was amazing! She committed to pray like
Joseph Smith each night and really ask if the message is true. She
believes the Book of Mormon is true, but she has never asked. I know
God will answer her prayer.
Thursday was the first day of the transfer with Sister Hotu! (:
Friday night we had a lot of fun housing. We housed really close to
the church and the station. One of the first homes, the lady came out
and said she had recognized my face! We had met before at a stoplight.
She has lots of interest in kids english class but doesn't want
religion pushed on her. We invited her to try the free family english
program and she said she would come to class soon! She then told us it
was a little late and cold so we should just go home and enjoy our
Friday night. Haha.... This is what we do to enjoy our Friday night(;
Then... We rang the doorbell of a room in an apartment complex. The
lady we met was really upset we were there and asked why we came! She
pointed us to a sign that apparently says something about no
proselyting. I hadn't even noticed it.. Plus I'm sort of illiterate in
this country. I bowed as far as I could and apologized and explained
that I could not read the sign. She said, "yominasai!" Which is a
strong command to read!! She kept saying that this is Japan and I must
speak japanese and read japanese to be here! I kept bowing as she said
she would call the cops....
Then we met this super nice lady riding her bike and putting fliers in
mailboxes. We invited her to church and she said she would come! We
ran into her about three more times on her route and she kept
promising she would come to church! And she did!!!! (: pray for hiura
San! She has some very strong buddhist beliefs but likes Christian
church. She said she would come again(:
We met some other really nice people who came out of their homes and
spoke with us and listened to our message for a bit!
As we walked home we met Rie San. She has lots of interest in learning
English and expressed a tiny bit of interest in church. We introduced
the free english/gospel program and exchanged numbers. She was so
excited to be our friend, she said she sees a lot of foreigners in the
area who are so friendly and always say hello and she wondered why!
Perfect opportunity to tell her why (: hopefully we will meet soon!
Saturday: we had a lesson with a member, Hizawa Shimai. She is a
really old lady with the strongest handshake. She was baptized in 2003
and has the strongest faith and loves to share it with everyone at the
hospital! We taught the restoration. It was powerful. I was able to
recite the words of Joseph smith's first vision by memory. It's true.
My testimony is strengthened each time I teach this message. We talked
with Hizawa Shimai and her daughter nakamura Shimai about their
missionary work and invited them to kneel and pray and asked for a
confirmation that the message of the restoration is true. I love doing
what Elder Ballard taught us... Teaching everyone!! The message of the
restoration. Invite the missionaries in your ward over to teach your
family the message of the restoration! They will be more than willing
and it will strengthen your testimony and theirs!
Sunday: We had two investigators at church! Then we were able to
attend ward council and talk with them about working with and
strengthening the youth. We shared lots of ideas and they want us to
attend the youth meeting and share the ideas with the youth and begin
proselyting together and visiting less active youth together. Our
proselyting time was so hard... It was freezing and rainy and I have a
cold and I was starving and tired. I began thinking... Wait.. I don't
get paid for this. I could stop and no one would fire me or pay me
less. Then I thought... Wait.. I am doing this because I love God! And
I have a desire to love his children. I do it out of love and for
love. Not for fun or for money. The rain and the cold is worth it for
love! We prayed and invited and testified and taught. We didn't find
anyone with tons of interest but it was worth it! Because they are my
brothers and sisters. We won't stop inviting them because one day,
when they're ready they may say yes.
Hotu Shimai and I are laughing and seeing miracles!! This week was
seriously miraculous. I'm excited for what else is in store this
transfer.
What miracles did you experience this week? I would love to hear from you!
I love you. SO much! Have a happy week. Remember... Happiness is a
choice! And Jesus showed us the way(:
Love,
Sister Reeves