I may not make it to heaven after all...

Konichiwa!

 

What a week!

 

So. First and most important I wanted to share something with the youth that was given to me when Sherri Dew came and talked to us for Relief society. Casual.

Anyway, she gives a list of four things to learn on a mission. I figured if I gave this to you before your mission you would rock the mission field. (This can apply to not youth peopple too!)

 

1. Who I am. Read D&C 138, Abraham 3. Look for verses that talk about Noble and Great ones. Pray and ask our Heavenly Father how he feels about you personally.

2. Deep understanding of who the Savior is. Look up scriptures about what Christ did and will do. This one has to be personal- use your resources for this one! I would tell you what I've found so far, but that wouldn't make it personal!

3. Learn to recieve revelation. Ask the lord what it sounds/feels/etc. like to us personally when the spirit speaks to us. Study how the spirit communicates with us in the scriptures. Try to find references/ verses that teach about the Language of God.

4. Learn about God's power. 1 Nephi 13:37. The doctrine of the priesthood is only known through revelation. Sherri Dew suggests we study different keys. (This week I had a reall personal experience with this one.)

 I got a Priesthood blessing from an elder in my district. I can testify that I know that the Lord wants to help us even when we don't feel like we deserve it. He knows us each PERSONALLY and knows what we need. I am so thankful to have had the priesthood in my life and for the direct direction it has given me.

 

Okay, so for some funny stuff. and by funny I mean I may not be able to show my face anywhere again. So we were teaching a lesson about the word of wisdom. Our investigator is addicted to gambling and we were talking about other things we could do instead of going to a casinio. So I was all "I love spending time with my home ward and doing fun activities together." But what I really said was "I love excommunicating church members!"..........

 

OH MY GOSH.

 

I think I hear the lightening coming.

 

Anyway, my investigator LITERALLY laughed for five minutes while I just tried to figure out what blasphemy I had said. Wonderful.

 

Later that day my companion told him that we weren't girls...

 

So. yes the Japanese is going swimmingly. (did you like that joke--I can't swim! haha)

 

This week during lunch one day we sat with some single senior sister missionaries! There are so many of them its awesome. They were so funny and cute. If I never get married I think I will just be a sister missionary for the rest of my life. the old ones get to do so much cool stuff like reccord restoration! I would also love to work in a visitors center.

 

I think the best part of the week was when me and Sister Bush got reccomended to be a part of "the first teaching expereience" for the new missionaries on Wednesday night. So basically what happens is we have a room set up to look like an investigators home. The missionaries come in and begin teaching a lessons/ doing "how to begin teaching" stuff (check pmg for more about that one) while about fifty new missionaries are watching. As the example missionaries, we just go in there like we are doing a real meeting with an investigator and pretend like the new missionaries arent there. It was so so cool and we just had to completley rely on the spirit. I realized that I am only the vessel, not the teacher at all as the spirit relayed to me and my companion what we needed to say. It was such a testimony builder and I was converted all over again. It was a rare opportunity and only like ten companionships are chosen each week out of three thousand ish missionaires. What? How did I get picked?

 

This week I found a new favorite scripture. Luke 21: 19 "In your Patience posess ye your souls." I love this scripture because it reminds me to turn away from myself and to seek to serve others.

 

Also, Alma ch. 7 v. 19- the end is such a great scripture and has some wonderful promises, blessings, and truth. This little gem popped into my mind to give to an investigator and it was EXACTLY what he needed. Good thing God knows exactly what people need, because I sure don't. I love being humbled! it makes me realize how not alone I really am and how much god loves me!

 

THis week we studied a lot of grammar. We are teaching a new investigator. plus we have begun teaching each other (we role play different investigators) so we have a really full teaching schedule. It is awesome to practice my Japanese in a "real" situation and makes me really utilize what I have been learing. It is really hard to be an investigator becuase they ask us to be people that we know.

ALso, the new Zone Leaders and Sister Training leaders are from our district! yay district 71 B!! (Seriously both companionships are divine. ....a little celestial humor there.)

 

I am getting SO excited to actually go to Japan! Three weeks! Ahhhhhh! I love hearing from Mitch and Tara through their emails- thanks for sending them!

 

ALSO GOOD NEWS! the provo temple is reopeing so we will get to go for the last two weeks here at the MTC! Blessings!

 

Hope everybody has a good last few weeks of summer! Love to all!

 

 

Nelson Shimai

 

PS. DLAM.