May 18th

Dear Family, 

Konnichiwa! How are y'all doing?! 

Yesterday marked the beginning of the new transfer! Transfer 12. 

And here's your update on transfer announcements: 

There's a break in the pattern and I will be staying with Sister Wilson for another transfer! 

But... I do still get one more companion (: We will be training a transfer 1 missionary who will be coming on Thursday! Sister Wilson and I are both Sister training leaders over the other two sister areas in the zone. And since the number of sister missionaries will be starting to decrease, Hachioji sisters B area is closing and so we will be taking their area as well. I'm excited for this busy transfer! It will be fun to hopefully work with some of my investigators from the previous area's teaching pool as well! 

Highlights of the week: 

Monday: Met with Rie San and Kato shimai and taught the Restoration and Joseph Smith's first vision. The Spirit was there! It carried the truth of the message to each one of our hearts. Rie San often tries to understand things with her head rather than her heart so it makes believing a difficult thing. I'm grateful for my belief. It truly changes my life. I know Joseph Smith saw God. I know that God answers prayers. I know that Joseph Smith was God's prophet and this church is God's true church, restored on the earth again. 

Tuesday: Another long lesson with Yamauchi Shimai! We taught about the gospel of Jesus Christ and focused on repentance and the gift of the Holy Ghost. She is so sweet and cute. She studies the gospel on her own and works so hard to understand the message and do her best. We aren't sure how much she really understands, but her desire is strong! She is so happy and so grateful and she is sharing this joy with her friends. She tells everyone she is going to church and that it's the best thing! Yamauchi Shimai is a ray of sunshine! We are excited for her... The date is coming up quick and there's still lots to do. Please pray that she will continue to progress and accept the gospel! 

A typhoon came that night and our other investigator and member didn't show up for the lesson... So we didn't get to stay dry in the church... So we went out to proselyte. Sister Wilson suggested we return to a building we had started 3 days earlier but hadn't finished because we ran out of time. We went back and in that building we met a really sweet girl from Nepal. And she had just moved in... 3 days earlier. If we had finished the building we probably would have never gone back and never have met her. She is interested in English class and church and even gave us a referral. Another neighbor who is Christian! The Lord is always guiding us. Sometimes I have no idea if I am following the plan he has made, but I feel his presence and direction wherever we go. 

Wednesday: We had a lesson with Kojima shimai in the morning. We shared a message on mothers and family based on the lessons we learned from the last general conference. She continued to share the concerns she has about her family and how she must be the example and gospel teacher in her home. When asked about her personal prayers and scripture study, she said she could definitely do better, but it's so hard running around and being a mom. We testified that the Lord would provide a way for her to keep the commandments. And sure enough we found that an app on her phone would play audio of the scriptures that she could listen to as she cooked and cleaned and took care of other responsibilities. She was so thrilled! She said, Yes, I will read! I will! 

We took an adventure and returned to visit a Portuguese speaking woman we had met a few weeks earlier. This time we brought a Portuguese Book of Mormon and pamphlet and a google translated version of our testimony. We later had it proof-read by a Brazilian member in our Ward and he said it was pretty good! We practiced all he Spanish we could remember from high school as we walked there and prayed for the gift of tongues and we were so nervous. And then repented for thinking Spanish and Portuguese speaking missionaries had it easy! And then she wasn't home. But we left her the book and we hope and pray that it may be an answer to her prayer. 

We had a lesson with Shimizu Shimai before eikaiwa. She has been doing so well at making time for reading the scriptures and really doing her best to keep all the commandments and enjoy the blessings of the gospel! We had a really great lesson about the commandments and about how Christ is the great physician. 

Luke 5

31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mosiah 14 

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

I think all of us left feeling like we needed the physician and that our healing would come through repentance. I think healing is a difficult process but one in which we can find great joy as we are made whole through our Redeemer. I am grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ and the love He offers to each one of us. He loves us and heals us one by one. 

Thursday: I don't know why but this day seemed like the longest, hottest, most tiring day. We are trying to learn to be patient. And sometimes when you pray for that God answers your prayer. He keeps trying to teach us charity and patience and love by sending us old ladies who will talk at us for 30 minutes straight without giving us a way to escape or a breath for us to say one word. It has helped us try to let go of our personal agenda and just love. And smile until our faces hurt! 

We spent the day walking... And trying to talk to people. And trying to share the gospel. Also, we met a member for a message, visited 2 other members with notes and heart attacks, and visited 2 other potential investigators. And then did our weekly planning in our super hot apartment! :) 

Our day made me think of this quote from President Uchtdorf: 

"Yes, the road has bumps and detours and even some hazards. But don’t focus on them. Look for the happiness your Father in Heaven has prepared for you in every step of your journey. Happiness is the destination, but it’s also the path."

I promise that we can experience joy in this life! There is so much available all around us. Wish I could say that I always live by that statement. Wish I could always have it all figured out. But I like making mistakes because it reminds me that I still need Jesus. 

Friday: Dropped off a note with the less active older sister of a YSA sister in our Ward. When we asked if there was anything we could do for her she said Yes! And let us know about her sister and how we could help her. (: 

Later in the evening we had a lesson with Yamauchi Shimai and taught about following the prophet and obeying and honoring the law. She happily commits to live the commandments but says we are strict teachers ;) 

After the lesson she stayed for President Wada's Questions of the Soul Fireside. He showed the movie, Dead Poets Society and led a discussion based on Christ's Sermon on the Mount. 

Yamauchi Shimai was SO happy to meet President Wada and so grateful to have participated in the fireside. She learned a lot and really felt the Spirit. She went home really happy that night and sent us an email about all her grateful feelings that she would express to God. It was a great defining moment! She is progressing really great. We are continuing lessons, twice a week and she is serious about working toward her date. She has made a few friends in the Ward so we are really happy about that. This week we are planning on teaching some of the big commandments! Word of wisdom, Ten Commandments, tithing, etc. She has heard about bit about them just from coming to church and being around members. We don't anticipate any problems because she is quick to believe and accept the word of God as she is taught. We are praying that her commitment and desire will continue to grow strong. We truly love her. She is my best friend. 

Saturday: Study, transfer announcements, district meeting, delicious food, and Dendo! We visited Mineko and helped her cook and clean. It's actually a really good opportunity to talk with her and really listen to the concerns that she has. At this point she's not taking lessons and she felt like previous missionaries had really come in there way strong trying to teach her, but we want to listen to her, help her understand why we love her and why we visit her, and re-invite her to learn the gospel. 

In the evening we met Sho San, our Chinese friend for ice cream. We thought she might have more interest/potential for investigating. We still want to invite her to hear the lessons, but at this point she is mostly interested in social events and activities at the church. Which is a miracle because when we first met her she tried rejecting us by saying she is not a believer in Christ, so therefore........ But we didn't give up contacting her and she is still our friend! 

Sunday: Usually the most stressful and exhausting day of the week, but this one was nice. Great day at church, partook of the sacrament, feasting on the words of Christ, filled up on the Spirit. Then we studied and went out to work! We visited a woman who Wilde Shimai and I had met on exchanges. She had given us some traditional Japanese shoes that she makes and so we came back with a thank you card. She was so happy! She invited us to come back anytime to learn how to make them... She says it can be done in one hour, but she looks pretty professional to me! 

Our lesson in the evening was cancelled so we made it to the Tsukada family home for dinner. Always so fun to spend time with the Bishop and his family. They are so fun and real and hilarious. So happy to be in this Ward and be able to finish my mission here :) 

Monday: Transfer day/sort of Pday but not really so that's why we are emailing today. In the evening we met with a random group of missionaries and investigators and members and cooked and ate dinner at the church and then Yamauchi Shimai and Tokita Shimai came with us to Nakano to watch the BYU wind symphony. It was so amazing! Yamauchi Shimai absolutely loved it. She kept saying I go to a good school! Also way cool thing was... The lady behind us was the sister missionary who found and taught Tokita Shimai 28 years ago! She talked with Yamauchi Shimai and said, please keep listening to the missionaries, you will be so happy! It was so perfect! 

Well, life is good! That's all (: 

Y'all are the best! Love you, 

Sister Reeves 

Hachioji Sisters

Dinner at the Tsukada home (Miyu, Sister Wilson, Sister Yamaguchi)

Sister Reeves, Sister Wilson, Sister Yamauchi, Sister Sato, Sister Tokita 

Yamauchi

Yamauchi's first lesson 

President Wada's Questions of the Soul Fireside 

Zone Meeting

The District

Fancy Japanese Food

May 10th

Hey y'all guys!
First off... Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers! I think you are a
hero! God loves you and trusts you!
"In all events, a mother can exert an influence unequaled by any other
person in any other relationship. By the power of her example and
teaching, her sons learn to respect womanhood and to incorporate
discipline and high moral standards in their own lives. Her daughters
learn to cultivate their own virtue and to stand up for what is right,
again and again, however unpopular. A mother's love and high
expectations lead her children to act responsibly without excuses, to
be serious about education and personal development, and to make
ongoing contributions to the well-being of all around them. Elder Neal
A. Maxwell once asked: When the real history of mankind is fully
disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound
of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the
peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened
in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what
happened in congresses?" Elder Christofferson
This week went like this...
Tuesday: We met a cute YSA in the Ward for a lesson. Saori chan is the
cutest ever. She teaches primary, leads so many activities at church,
and has so much desire to help the missionaries and further the work.
We shared a message on families based on Sister Stephens' talk from
the general women's meeting. We have each been given a family from God
to learn and grow and prepare to return to our Father. We are all part
of His family!
"The final line of the song returns to where it began: This is how
He shares His love, for the family is of God. The Father's plan for
His children is a plan of love. It is a plan to unite His
children--His family--with Him. Elder Russell M. Nelson taught,
Heavenly Father has but two desires for His children  :
immortality and eternal life, which means life with Him back
home. Those desires can be realized only as we also share the love
that Heavenly Father has for His family by reaching out and sharing
His plan with others." Sister Stephens
Wednesday: My companion and I were both invited to Mission Leadership
Conference so we left our area for a day and headed to Kichijoji for
the meeting. It was way wonderful to go with my companion. I usually
come home from MLC and want to share Everything from the meeting but
it's so hard to share alllll of it! We always receive so much
revelation for our investigators, our wards, and the other
missionaries we serve. I always leave feeling like... There is SO much
more for me to do to be a good missionary... Always a call to
repentance. But, a call to repentance always comes from our loving
Heavenly Father who know us and accepts our efforts. To Him, and
because of His Son, we are enough.
We learned tons about how to use our time wisely... Setting goals and
making plans to fulfill our desires! And oh how I want more time!!
But... Now with these new tools and the revelation we received I can
magically make more time with the same number of hours because each
day will be full and fulfilling as they are focused on people and
their path to conversion. And not just work. Sister Wilson and I have
been asked to share the things we learned and present a training about
the daily planning session in our zone meeting tomorrow!! Wish us luck
and then say a prayer (: We are grateful of course for this
opportunity because we feel like we reallyyyy need to improve in this
area!
For MLC, I was asked to put together a sisters musical number. I sang
in a trio with 2 other sisters and we put together an arrangement of
The Lord is My Shepherd and Jesus the Very Thought of Thee (: It was
fun to be able to sing!
Thursday: We had a great lesson with Yamauchi Shimai and Kitahara
shimai! Kitahara shimai was the best! She is the RS president and
practically perfect. Anyway, we taught the plan of salvation and
really focused on Christ as the center to that plan. The lesson
focused on the Savior's atonement and what that means for us. Yamauchi
shimai said that now her prayers will change because now she knows
that she can pray to repent and receive strength and forgiveness from
her Savior. She's on track for her baptism and really wants to follow
and endure! She's so spiritual and prepared but also so spunky and
cool. She's our best friend! We can have spiritual moments together
and then 5 minutes later be silly and joking! Keep her in your
prayers(:
We later dropped by Kojima Shimai's house to see how she was doing and
wish her a Happy Mother's Day! We shared a quick message and prayed
with her! Then she came to the Ward activity on Saturday and church on
Sunday and had a great experience with all her members!
Friday: Exchange with Yamaguchi Shimai! Always so fun to work with my
ex-companion ;) She is the cutest. She is so quiet and chill and has
the sweetest heart. We went to radio taiso in the morning and worked
out with all the old ladies and then they invited us to walking with
them! So cute... I definitely want to be in a walking group when I'm
old! We had an interesting day of proselyting. But very inspired. We
met this lady from the Nishiren sect of Buddhism. We stood with her
and talked with her on the street for quite a long time, teaching and
testifying. She was sure that we were wrong and sure that we would
never be happy. But I felt happy and grateful as I testified of these
things I know to be truth. I LOVE the gospel. The mission increases my
love for  the gospel. Truth is always truth. And this church is the
same ALL over the world (:
We were able to visit with a member and share a message about letting
our faith show. Then we visited, Seki shimai, a recent convert, and
wished her a happy Mother's Day and then visited the wife of another
recent convert to bring her a card and chocolate, too!
Saturday: We attended the cutest activity ever. I don't know who's
idea it was but the men in the Ward planned a "thanksgiving" for the
women in the Ward in honor of Mother's Day. They put a lot of effort
into it and planned cute ice breaker activities for the sisters to get
to know each other. They made us dinner, planned an entire program,
performed music, made an arch and gave each woman carnations. It was
adorable. And delicious. And fun. And Yamauchi shimai and Hiura San
were able to come and it was perfect! Our Ward is so good...
Sunday: A potentially really crazy and stressful day but we put in the
work and planning to call the members and get their help and support
to fellowship the 4 investigators we had at church. It was great
because the members were on their A game and really helped a TON! Our
friends had a great experience at church!! Hiura San went home with a
Book of Mormon, given to her by a member. Yamauchi shimai went home
with a strengthened desire and commitment to be baptized and new
friends. Yokouchi San was loved and fellow shipped by members who have
supported her for months. And our friend, Sugawara San came for the
first time and made friends, and learned, and gained a desire to learn
more. And she loved the hymns and the testimonies! It was incredible!
In the evening we visited with Kusanagi shimai and her 9 year old son
and shared a message about building our foundation on the rock of the
Redeemer. She is a single mom with a really demanding work load, but
she and her little boy are building their firm foundation. They read
scriptures and pray together each day. Sister Kusanagi has such a love
for the gospel and strong faith and gratitude in and for her trials
and challenges. We learned so much together. She is SO busy and
literally has no time at all, but she invited us over because she knew
we could help her by bringing the spiritual nourishment she needs. How
are you building your foundation?
I love being a missionary. I love testifying. I love Japan and I love
the people I serve. I love Christ.
I love YOU <3,
Sister Reeves

My BFF Yamauchi

Me and sister Hotu on our last day together

Chino San's snapback. 

Mother's Day Activity 

Waiting for Pizza 

May 5th

Hey y'all! Happy Tuesday! Today was temple p day and also the temple
day for our stake so we saw soooo many familiar faces! And they did
the session in English for us...
Happy Cinco de Mayo and Happy Kodomo no Hi (children's day). (:
A bit from last week:
Monday: Rie San cancelled because she had to work late, so we went out
housing! We met this really old lady and helped her but not really
helped her put a cover over her bike. She was soooo old and really
looked like she couldn't do it herself but then she ended up redoing
all the parts we did! Haha. Anyway, she grows a vegetable garden and
kept telling us to come back in a few months when the veggies are
grown and fresh! We also met a way cute university student named
Miyuki. She is born and raised here in Hachioji and she is living with
her parents and studying business at a local university. She is
interested in learning about Christ and coming to church. She is busy
with school but says she will be able to come to church next Sunday so
pray for her!

Suguwara San 

 Tuesday: This was a day of lessons completely guided by the Spirit. We
know it was taught by the Spirit because we felt like we just sat
there and watched as the members and investigators we taught basically
taught themselves. We visited with Hatanaka shimai in the morning and
shared a message about the prodigal son and the lost sheep. She has
less active family members that she has been fellow shipping and
loving. She decided to share her favorite conference talk with them
when she visits them this week!
Our lesson with Shimizu shimai got cancelled, but Yamada shimai called
us and said she needed some help. She just moved into a new apartment
and needed some help rearranging her furniture. It literally took like
15 minutes with the 3 of us. So easy.... But we learned that we really
needed to be there for her. She has been really stressed and lonely
since the move, and she is also a little discouraged being the
spiritual leader in her home. She wants to serve a mission with her
husband and wants to raise her son to be faithful in the gospel, but
she doesn't want to force them either. Reminds me of the talk from
conference: the music of the gospel... The dance steps become so much
more natural when we can hear the music. We shared a message and some
thoughts from conference and just listened and she cried and said we
had been the answer to her prayer. I know God watches over and cares
for each of his dear children.
Then we had another super long lesson with Yamauchi shimai and
Kawatani shimai was there to help. She expressed so much interest in
Yamauchi shimai and shared her own conversion story. We taught the
message of the restoration and she said that she felt like everything
we taught was exactly what she was feeling. She loves and accepts the
message and she is so happy to share with her family and friends that
she meets us. She says she feels her father in law is in heaven and
feeling very proud of her. Please continue to keep her in your
prayers(:
In the evening we met a YSA, Mika, to share a message. We ended up
talking a lot about missions and how we received answers to our
prayers. She is 22 and really wants to serve a mission but still isn't
sure what her answer is. She has been dating a non-member for a few
years but says that she loves the light she can see in young men about
to serve missions and in recently returned missionaries. She has such
a desire to share the gospel! We have a great YSA program and tons of
great youth in our Ward. She is a great example... Always reaching out
to the investigators and making everyone feel welcome. She also
recently started listening to conference talks as she travels to and
from work and school because she learned at institute that the most
important prophet is the current prophet. We learn so much from the
people we teach!

at the Kitaharas with Ooishi Kyoudai's granddaughter 

 Wednesday:
I went on an exchange with Sister Wilde! Douki dendo! Sister Hatanaka
invited us to join her visiting teaching appointment with a less
active sister, Watanabe shimai. She was baptized without telling her
husband and once he found out, he got really angry and she had to stop
coming to church. But she has met with Hatanaka shimai for years. Her
knowledge of the gospel is still pretty small but she has a desire to
know and follow. She wants to continue to meet with the missionaries
and learn more about the plan of salvation. And she wants to slowly
share the things she learns with her husband so he can also receive of
the hope.
We visited lots of people!! And almost no one was home, but we did
meet another less active, Muramoto shimai. She is also old and has a
husband who is opposed to the church and the missionaries. But she
appreciates the visits and the prayers as long as he isn't home. We
went housing in the area and as always, it was really interesting....
One lady who talked to us outside, went back into her home saying,
"wait a minute. I have something rare." She comes out and hands us
each a pair of the wooden shoes you wear to summer festivals with
yukatas. She says the bigger ones are for me because I'm big and then
she waves and goes back into her house without saying anything... I
love being a missionary. Never really a boring moment. I wish I could
record and remember everything that happens!
We headed back to the church for kids eikaiwa but there were no adult
women there, just dads.... So we had to leave a set of elders there on
their own to teach! It was so funny and sad! They were so nervous and
immediately said they respect us so much more now for what we do! Good
thing we had planned a good lesson for them! Haha
So.. We set up for all the evening classes and then got pizza for
dinner. SO expensive. One large pizza, which is really like a small
one in America is $30! But.. It was buy one get one free. Haha.   
Thursday: We met Furui shimai and Tsukada shimai for messages. We
taught about small acts of service and how they open the door for
missionary opportunities. We showed them the Mormon message, flecks of
gold and invited them to look for a simple way to serve everyday for
the month of May. Then.. We went out to serve. We visited Mineko San,
and helped her in the kitchen and helped one of her students with his
English. She was grateful for our help and she really trusts us with
her concerns. She has been really worried about her relationship with
her son. She says she has a hard time controlling her temper and she
is worried that her son might hate her. She asked if she needed to
rely on Heavenly Father. Answer? Absolutely YES! He is the only
perfect parent. (:
Friday: We went out to lunch with Hayase shimai and Yuki chan. I think
japanese people either think Americans eat a TON or they think we are
starving, because they ordered tons for us. So full. Haha. We shared a
message with them from general conference and encouraged them to study
the talk together for their next family home evening.
Then we had a lesson at the church with Yamauchi shimai. We taught
about the commandments to pray often, study the scriptures, and keep
the sabbath day holy. She committed to follow and continues to love
the message and feel the Spirit strongly. She loves the BOM. She says
it speaks to her and teaches her simply. I know the Spirit is teaching
her. I am so grateful. She is a little nervous looking forward to her
baptism. Please pray that her faith will continue to grow strong and
she will be truly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Saturday: After district meeting, we shared a message with Ichikawa
shimai about Ammon and his example of missionary work and service and
his efforts to gather the King's scattered sheep. She talked about the
scattered sheep in her family and we looked at the scriptures to see
how we can follow Ammon's example to love and nurture our friends who
have left or cannot find the fold. I'm grateful to the Good Shepherd
who knows us and loves us. In his fold we truly can experience safety
and peace. After the lesson, she came with us to visit Goto San and we
taught a lesson together. We taught about the gospel of Jesus Christ
and focused on the doctrine of baptism and invited her boldly to be
baptized when she felt that the message was true. Ichikawa shimai was
the best! She taught simply and testified powerfully and showed
genuine interest and love for Goto San. Goto San said she wanted to
think about it. And we explained that our purpose was to invite and
help her but the decision would definitely be hers! She ended up
calling us a few days later and explained that she had thought it out
and talked with her mom and decided that she doesn't want to continue
to learn with us. We are sad but not disappointed in ourselves because
we know we did what God sent us to do: teach simply and with the
Spirit, and offer a clear choice.
Sunday:
Yamauchi shimai came to church and really enjoyed it! She had prepared
for church by reading from 3 Nephi about when Jesus instituted the
sacrament. She learned a lot and loved it!
After church we attended Ward council and then Tsukada shimai came
with us to meet an investigator at the station. Turns out Kurokawa
san's back started hurting so she headed home and couldn't meet, but it
was a great opportunity to work side by side with a member! We went
and visited a potential investigator and then housed a nearby
apartment complex. Then we had dinner at the Kitaharas. Ooishi
kyoudai's family came and they felt so much love and friendship and
they are gaining a very positive view of the church and the Ward
family. We hope they will continue to join us at church and then we
will invite them to hear the message as well(: and the whole Ward is
on board to help out and fellowship!
Monday: our friend, Noriko, invited us to her bbq out by the river. It
was a hot but gorgeous day. We ate way too much and then played soccer
and badminton and made lots of new friends. And maybe got a tan. In
the evening we visited a woman we met a few weeks earlier while
housing who had been to the church before but didn't express tons of
interest. But we felt like we needed to go back, so we did! And she
was so grateful that we would stop by again. We invited her to some
upcoming activities at the church and were able to talk with her a
little longer. I'm grateful for all the opportunities God has given me
here in Japan to meet his precious sons and daughters. He always puts
exactly those we need to meet right in our path!

Golden week bbq with Noriko and friends

  I know this church is true! I know God lives. I know he loves YOU.
Love,
Kinz

April 27th

Howdy y'all! 

Here's your update:  

Life is so good! God is so good!! 

Monday: Our investigator, Rie San, has a desire to know things and she taught us that to know is more than gaining knowledge, it's gaining experience. It's applied knowledge. But as we taught her this last week, she expressed that she has little to no desire to know if God is real. She also doesn't believe anything will change in her life if he was real. Therefore, she has no desire to plant the seed or apply what she is learning with us. But she loves meeting with us. She is intelligent. She loves the deep questions we ask and the discussions we have and always looks forward to it. She has interest in the message but no intention on practicing it. We plan on teaching her the restoration this evening. 

Tuesday: Zone meeting in the morning. We learned a lot about obedience and worthiness and earning the trust of the Lord. I had the opportunity to do a training using the scriptures and talking about the Liahona and how the story applies to the assignment we have as missionaries and how it applies to our investigators who are seeking answers. I love the meetings in this zone. They are always focused on the Savior and having a spiritual experience together. In the afternoon we went out to visit a few members and less actives and talk to everyone! And we did! And it was so fun! We had the opportunity to teach and testify of Christ and make new friends. One friend, Ito, invited us back to her tea party. We had watched the Because of Him video with her right on her doorstep as she was headed out to sweep her front walkway. She loved it! One friend, Riko, had never spoken with a foreigner before but was so happy to meet us! Another, Sumie, was a really crazy old lady who thought we were the prettiest people ever. She couldn't get over it and kept talking about how she was losing her brain but she wouldn't forget meeting us. Haha. 

Wednesday: 

We had a lesson with Shimizu shimai. She is awesome! She had just gotten back from her work trip to Guam and brought us yummy coconut cookies. We focused our discussion on the Book of Mormon and encouraged her to pray to know if it was true. She said she had never tried that before. We testified that the answer to that question would increase her commitment and help her to find the answers to all her other questions. The Book of Mormon is true! It answers all of life's questions and all the questions of our souls. 

Kids eikaiwa was fun! We did a sports theme and made flash cards with lots of sports, and taught them the song, take me out to the ball game! 

When we got home we saw a double rainbow from our apartment! It was beautiful! And surely a sign of God's love. It was the happiest! 

Thursday: 

We visited Mineko San. She made us lunch and we talked about her family and her relationship with God. We talked about how God had led the missionaries to her 5 years ago because he loves her! She said the missionaries had come looking for someone else and she let them in because they were sweaty and so she offered them water. Sometimes that's how it goes. We go out to work thinking we are looking for one person, but God leads us to someone else. It was no coincidence he lead the missionaries to Mineko's door. We felt as we met with her that she has a lot that's keeping her from progressing but she's so close! She has many concerns and we need to listen to her but first we need to build a relationship of trust. She is not super willing to make appointments to meet for formal lessons because she is really busy and lessons are not a priority but we want to show her that we care about her and want to help her and be a part of her life. She is not one to ask for help but she cooks and cleans every day at the dorm she owns. So we want to serve her each week and come over and just help! We believe that through service her heart may open to listening to the message we have for her and her family. 

Friday: 

Yamauchi San is our new investigator! Sister Hotu and I met her a few weeks ago and she expressed interest in coming to church and meeting us again but wasn't super eager to give us her number so we gave her a meishi and... She called us last week! We had a lesson on Friday. It was super long because she talks forever but we suffered long. And prayed and endured. Because we love her! and then she attended stake conference on Sunday, and then she spent like all day with us. We had another lesson and then she attended Ooishi san's baptism. Her husband was Christian so when she was married she was baptized into the Anglican Church and received a Christian name. We taught her about baptism and the correct method and authority. She felt the Spirit way strongly at the service and kept mentioning how she was thinking that she probably needs to receive baptism the correct way and wanted us to ask if she could get baptized too! We will be meeting her on Tuesday and setting the date! She is 82 years old and should be like our grandma, but she is 28 at heart, is tomboy and loves sports, used to be a catcher, loves talking, dresses like a teenager, and is super hip. So she wants to be called Noriko Onechan. Our older sister! She feels the spirit so strongly and she knows it's not a coincidence we met. She believes and she wants to learn and follow. After she prayed, she said she felt like she just entered pre-school again... Learning little by little. 

Later we met with Hidaka shimai, the young women president, to talk about how we could work with and strengthen the youth. We had a great discussion and have lots of plans to continue to get to know them individually and encourage them on the path. 

We visited the Watanabe family in the evening. They have 5 kids and 4 of them are youth or YSA age. We had a great discussion with them about the Book of Mormon and studied a bit with them. We encouraged them to pray about the Book of Mormon and write their testimony in the cover of one of the free ones we give to people we meet. It was so great! Two of their daughters who were a little less active have recently started coming back to church more regularly. One of them has returned because her non-member grandfather has started to pray. 

Saturday: 

Lots of time inside. Study, district meeting, weekly planning. But... We got out in the evening and visited a young family and shared a message with them about families and our responsibility to defend the sanctity of the family. We extended a challenge for them to share the family proclamation with someone they know! We also got way close to our SOS invitations goal this week. 68! 

Sunday: 

Stake conference. New stake president was called to replace President Tokuzawa. The new stake president is half Japanese and perfectly flawlessly fluent in both Japanese and English. Our friends, Hiura San and Yamauchi San were both able to attend! It was perfect. Hiura San rode and sat with a member family. She comes to church every week but has declined invitations to take lessons but this member family wants to help us out! Yamauchi San rode with us and the Ward mission leader and a couple other members. She loved it and met lots of members. And got to see sister Hotu, as well! Both Hiura San and Yamauchi San came to the baptism, too! An 8 year old girl and an 88 year old man were baptized. So cute. The old man's family came, too and it was a wonderful service. He has come to church for 10 years because our church is the closest to his house but the members finally encouraged him to take lessons and he agreed and got baptized and says he feels like he's started a new life. Yep! Endure to the end! 

Another woman who has been coming to church for years but doesn't think she knows enough to meet with the missionaries or get baptized called us up and brought us some sushi she had made for us! We are slowly being able to form a good relationship with her. She is a social worker and super busy but the sweetest old lady. A family in the Ward said they are willing to help and invite her to FHE! 

Anyway, it's been a good week. God is pouring out the blessings. 

Sister Wilson is a fantastic companion. We want to be obedient and work SO hard and invite everyone and teach everyone. And we have seen so many miracles and met so many amazing people. God is guiding our path and we feel his love and approval. 

Love y'all lots. 

Love, 

Sister Reeves 

photo shoot 

eikaiwa peeps: sister yamaguchi, sister wilde, sister wilson, maika, koji, me

honky tonk 

watanabe family 

Making wishes! And crazy new friend we met. Sumie San

New bff Yamauchi San

 

April 20th

Hey y'all guys! How's it going? 

I feel so blessed. God is pouring out the miracles like crazy! We feel so guided and it's just amazing and astonishing to participate in the work here in Tokyo South. Sister Wilson and I have set a goal to never second guess a prompting. So we follow anything that comes to our mind that seems like it might be from the Spirit. And it takes us weird places and down paths we never would have planned to walk. We meet people God wants us to meet! He puts us in all the right places at all the right times so we can tell his children that he loves them. And some people think it's so weird. But it's true! And we are his messengers. :) 

Here's my new theme scripture: psalms 118:24 

24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

It's the best! God made this day for you as a gift. He gave you breath and allowed you to live this day as a preparation to meet him. Time is a gift. It's precious. Be happy and joyful TODAY(: 

So here's what happened this week: 

Monday: Rie san's lesson was way good last week. We started out by reading 3 Nephi 14:8 and talked about seeking truth. We taught about how God knows our desires and is waiting to give us gifts and is waiting for us to ask! She said she wants to know things rather than learn. She said the difference between learning and knowing is that learning is knowledge and knowing is experience. We each shared experiences and testified of the Book of Mormon as a tool from God to know truth. All truth is from God and all truth leads to him. Hama shimai introduced the promise in Moroni 10. We promised that as she reads and experiences the Book of Mormon she will feel the Spirit and she will know. We taught about the Spirit and read from Galations. She desires peace and happiness. Tonight we will read from Alma 32 together and help her to understand the Spirit and how to discern truth. We want to emphasize humility, that God can only teach those who are prepared to hear the word. Those with inquiring minds, seeking truth. 

Tuesday: 

We visited a referral, a previous investigator who is the neighbor of a member in our Ward. They had zero interest in talking with us. :( So we visited this way cute member in the area, Hizawa shimai. She was so happy we came by and let us in right away. We read from Luke 15 about the lost sheep and invited her to share her testimony and find the lost sheep. When Elder Ballard came to Japan he extended a challenge to the members to fast and find one. Either a less active or non member, and introduce them to or invite them to church. Recently our Ward has been doing a fasting relay for missionary work and it's been awesome. Our Ward has 7 people with baptismal dates and we have been finding new people like crazy. So our Ward mission leader emphasized that we must be humble like so many times in our meeting on Sunday. We have like some of the best missionaries in our Ward. It's really intimidating and really hard to not compare when you are constantly hearing their stats or being compared to them. Anyway, we are working hard. Sister Wilson and I want to come home absolutely exhausted every night. 

Wednesday: 

We visited ishii shimai at the sushi place where she works. We hadn't seen her in weeks!! When her mom got sick she kind of fell off the map and stopped meeting with us and coming to church. But we kept in touch by phone a few times a week. Anyway, she was so happy to see us! We visited a couple less actives in the area and they weren't home but everyone we met along the way had some weird connection with the church. They always say it takes 7-8 times meeting the missionaries before one decides to hear the message. We think everyone should just have a number over their head so we can know who to talk to among the crowd. We also met these way nice Jehovah's witnesses who were out proselyting. They listened as we taught about Joseph smith and the first vision. They liked the picture we showed because they also believe that God and Christ are separate beings. And they shared with us some of the things they believe. And then they got super excited when I asked where their church is! We also keep meeting the best people on the trains. They say they really want to hear our message or come to church but they almost never live in our area. We have been sharing more of our message on the streets, inviting them to take lessons and giving them a Book of Mormon. We also meet a lot of men when we go housing... So we send the elders over there! That's what's nice about 10 missionaries... We can all juggle the work together. 

Thursday:

We had interviews with President Wada in Kichijoji. I love the Wada's. It's gonna be a really sad day when I have to say goodbye to them. 

We had a member present lesson set up with out 85 year old friend, Kurokawa San. When she didn't show up we walked out to the station to see if she was lost. We couldn't find her so we headed back to the church and on the way I noticed another old lady we had met a few weeks earlier. She said she really wanted to take a lesson and asked where the church was. We said, "we're heading there right now! Come with us!" So we walked to the church and she met the member we had waiting for us. She kept saying how it was fate and destiny that we had met! And surely it was. She comes to a doctors appointment once a week very close to the church so we are hoping we'll be able to meet again this week! 

Then we headed out to teach Goto San at her apartment. The lesson went way well! We read the Book of Mormon with her and reviewed the restoration. She struggles with reading and understanding but we broke it down really simply and we think she is understanding and retaining a little more each time. She has accepted the commitment to be baptized so we are praying about a date to help her work towards baptism. 

Friday: Really cool miracle: We met this girl from Vietnam, Huong, who was interested in the family English program. We called up the less active, Thuy shimai to see if she could meet us and teach together. She is always super busy and doesn't always answer calls and we rarely see her but she said she had time and came! Turns out the girls knew each other from language school and were friends. The lesson was amazing and Thuy bore powerful testimony of her Heavenly Father and the power of prayer in our lives. Thuy ran into a few members while we were at the church and said she was so happy to see them she wanted to cry. She misses church but just has such a hard time getting up early in the morning to come. She says she's just so busy and allows that to be a justification for not coming to church. We also found out that another less active, Mien shimai has moved into her apartment. Thuy has a testimony and she is a wonderful missionary. We are praying that she may continue to meet with us and work with us. Huong doesn't have faith in God but she trusted as we told her that he was our father. She said he was like a friend. She has never prayed to him but thinks she could pray morning and night because he can understand things she could never share with anyone else. So true. I'm grateful to be able to pray. 

Saturday: We visited our investigator, Mineko, and were able to set an appointment with her for this week! We decided to proselyte around her area and just followed the spirit! We ended up at a really old apartment building. We met a lady who said she wasn't interested but she directed us to a sushi place down the street. She said the people there are Christian. We went with it and "housed" a restaurant. Turns out the owner is catholic and she said she would talk more if she wasn't just about to open for business. She pointed us down the street further where there was a Methodist church. Sometimes when you follow the Spirit, you get referrals! In the evening we visited a lady I had felt impressed to visit. Sister Hotu and I had gone housing a couple transfers ago on an exchange and met a lady named Tsujimura San. I kept thinking about her so we went back. When we came she said, "Oh! I saw you two the other morning running early in the morning! And you said hello!" We stood on her doorstep talking, mostly listening, for forever. Sister Wilson told her that we came because I had a feeling we should. And God had sent us to her so we could tell her He loves her. She kept saying, "No, no. It's coincidence." So we said it again. "God loves you." It was an exhausting conversation. But I know it was no coincidence we were sent to her home. 

Sunday: 

Cool miracle happened when we got a phone call from a lady named Yamauchi San. Hotu shimai and I had met her on the street the previous transfer. She had lots of interest but was nervous of giving us her number because she just met us. So we gave her ours. Anyway, she was thinking she wanted to come to church so she called! We have an appointment to meet her this Friday and she is planning on coming to Stake conference on Sunday! 

We went out and did lots of proselyting. It's fun to work with Sister Wilson! Invited tons of people, gave out a Book of Mormon and found a new potential for the elders! 

Then we had a dinner appointment with the Bishop's family and his wife's parents. Always the most fun! :) 

Today we went shopping(: 

I love y'all so much. Talk to you soon! 

Love, 

Sister Kinz 

Our friends: Kitty & Yu

Housing

Our Chinese friend, Shou San 

Hachioji Sisters 

Miracle lesson with Huong and Thuy 

H for Hachioji...Roomies

Ako and Miyu 

April 13th

Hey y'all!
What's new these days?

So my new companion is Sister Wilson. She's Samoan but born and raised
in California. She is the coolest. She knows Stef from BYU Hawaii! She
is a fantastic missionary and we are having lots of fun (:

A bit about the week:

On Tuesday we met lots of foreigners! It was weird! One new potential
from Nepal who we referred to the elders. We also visited our
Vietnamese friend, Ho Thi Lan. She was on her way to school but we
told her we had a gift for her. A book that God gave us so we could
learn about him. And we brought it in Vietnamese and she was so
excited! She wants to meet us again! We also stopped by to visit Misa.
She is from Hong Kong. We brought her a Chinese Book of Mormon and she
graciously accepted it and said if she could she would read it every
night! Then we visited our Filipino friend who works near the Toyoda
station and bought cakes from her shop. A day of bringing the world
His truth! So fun (:

Wednesday: We had two member present lessons scheduled and both fell
through so we had some time open up. We dropped a daily message off at
a member's home and then went to heart attack a recent convert,
Kawatani kyoudai. It was so cute! As we were about to finish I heard
movement inside the house right by the door and then his voice calling
out to his wife, "someone is coming!" He was standing right in the
genkan and about to leave! We tried to escape but he caught us and
invited us in for some hot chocolate. It worked out perfectly though
cause we hadn't seen him in so long. He has been really sick for the
past several weeks and hasn't made it to church. Kawatani shimai said
he lit up to have the sister missionaries there. We love them!
We dropped by to visit our investigator, Mineko San. She owns a
dormitory so she was busy in the kitchen but we were able to sit and
chat with her as she worked. She has been meeting with missionaries
for years but doesn't have her answer yet. She said she learns because
she is curious and she has always wondered why youth come from far
places to serve a mission. We talked about the sacrifice we make
because we love God and we know it's true. She apologized for not
reading the Book of Mormon or praying but we explained that we don't
ask her to do those things to please us but to strengthen her faith
and help her understand her relationship with Heavenly Father. We
shared experience of finding answer to prayer and she shared about how
she recently read the Book of Mormon and called out to Heavenly Father
after getting angry at her son and not liking the feeling she had. She
said she felt his love. She knows deep down that it works!

Thursday was transfer day! Two more appointments cancelled but a fun
first day with Sister Wilson. We visited a referral from the elders, a
couple who used to take lessons and attend English class. Then we went
housing and talked to tons of people and finished our day with weekly
planning (: sister Wilson is so good at proselyting. She always
teaches and always testifies. Our contacts are full of the spirit. Her
japanese is also really great!

Friday was a cold and rainy day. We took a bus way far out and visited
a potential investigator, heart attacked a member, left a cute note
and general conference talk with another member, and then visited an
investigator who neither of us had ever met, Goto San. She is way
flaky with appointments but she was home and let us in for a lesson!
It was an interesting experience. She has some sort of mental illness
but loves God and Christianity. She has received baptism in another
church. We taught the restoration and asked if she would be baptized
by someone who holds the correct authority when she receives
confirmation that the message is true. And she said yes! Not sure how
much she understood... Because she kept saying, "I think so too!" And
then was completely confused when I used a really easy analogy. But...
It was great to meet her and share this message of happiness! And she
happily received it!

We woke up super early on Saturday to head to Machida. I attended the
meeting with the missionary leaders and stake presidency... Our last
one with President Tokuzawa! He has just been called as an area 70 so
we will be having stake conference and getting a new stake president
in the next couple weeks! Exciting! President Tokuzawa is the best.
I'm grateful for these few months I have had the opportunity to work
with him and learn from him. After SPM we had district meeting and
then straight into 2 sessions of general conference! A day of meetings
but it was amazing! There was so much to love. But I especially liked
the talk about choosing to believe. It takes effort and action and
choice to have faith. We don't just stumble upon it and we don't just
happen to know God is real. We must choose. I'm grateful for the
choices that have strengthened my belief and have brought me to light
and a knowledge of truth.

Sunday was the best. I love general conference. We thank, thee, o God,
for a prophet!! It never ceases to amaze me that God can teach each
one of us all over the world through his servants and their messages.
The Spirit teaches according to our understanding and because God
understands our hearts and desires he can teach each one of us
differently and perfectly through the words of his prophets. I felt
like the Sunday sessions really taught me how I can improve and become
a better person and disciple of Christ in sooo many different ways. I
have so many goals and so many new desires to change. And it's because
my loving Heavenly Father reached out through his chosen messengers to
teach me! What did you learn?!
Our trips to and from the conference included lots of conversations
with amazing people! One lady in particular was really touched by our
discussion. Tears came to her eyes as we talked about love and God and
families. I felt the Spirit so strongly as we spoke and knew God had
placed me in the seat next to her on the train that day because she
needed to meet a missionary!
On the way back I shared a Book of Mormon with this cute lady who did
her best to speak English to me. She loves Jesus and his teachings.
She studies a book that she believe contain his real teachings. She
showed me how I could order it online. I introduced her to a book that
has changed my life. A book that testifies of Christ and contains the
fullness of his teachings. I bore testimony and offered it to my new
friend. At first she was sure that she didn't need it and then she
said, "I have no reason to refuse it!"

Today we went on a Costco adventure with a couple members. We bought
pizza and muffins!! The best! Another rainy and cold day.... Sad
because now all the Sakura are fallen from the trees. :(

But everything is happy because God is our Heavenly Father and Jesus
lives. My belief in God carries me through each day. I know everything
will always work out.

I love participating in this divine work. I love my Heavenly Father.

I love all of you!

Have a happy week(: Dance to the music of the gospel even if you look
silly and even if you must dance in the rain!!

Love, Sister Reeves

Last SPM with President Tokuzawa 

Real American pizza at Costco! What?! The ice cream was def japanese though.

Lesson with Goto San