Happy New Year!

I want to do more individual emails this week, but wanted to take a minute to tell you all how WONDERFUL it was to talk with you through Skype last week!  I feel like I mostly just gawked at your faces and got to hear what you`ve been doing over the break and in Mexico.  I was so surprised to see Elder Ben Williams join us.  Happiness!  Thank you so much for arranging all that.  It really was a Christmas joy for me.  I felt near and dear to you and hope that you felt that a little bit too. 

Japan--especially the Narita ward--continues to be welcoming, my mission continues to be wonderful and challenging, and my love for you continues to be more than all the eels in Narita--and that is saying something because their city mascot is the eel and there seems to be a resturant for the delicacy around every corner.  :)  I love you all so very, very, very, much! 

Tomorrow we are spending the day cleaning and then the next day reading the Book of Mormon all day together as a mission.  I hope that you enjoy the New Year festivities and look forward to 2014!  Happy New Year! 

Yours always,

Lindsay Williams shimai  :)

Oh My Dear Family...(A peek into the heart of Lindsay)

Dear Readers, 

This week Lindsay didn't write the traditional weekly email.  She wrote personal notes to everyone at home.  This gives you a little peek into the person Lindsay is and the relationship she fosters with each of us.  This is real. She is very loving and kind and GRACIOUS!  You can see why we miss her so much!  

Merry Christmas!

Lorene Williams

Ah my dear ones where do I begin?!  I feel like that is what I say at the beginning of every letter, but it stays every time!  Crazy, right?  I love reading your letters SO MUCH.  They are such characteristic boosts that give me a peek into what you are experiencing and learning and I LOVE it.  Thank you.

Christmas call questions!  So, we have 30 to 40 minutes to talk through Skype or on the phone.  While google hangout sounds like a dream, I`m thinking that Skype is the best way to go for us, and we can call anytime from the Monday the 23rd to Friday the 27th.  I was thinking of calling on the 26th here so that it would be Christmas for you all.  As far as time goes, I think I will call around breakfast time here so like 7:15 am our time, that means 5:15 pm your time on December 25.  I know thats kind of an awkward middle of the day time that  means you have to wait basically all day for a call--sorry!--but I think that would be the best thing.  I am SO excited! 

Steph, you survived!  WOOT!  I am so looking forward to learning more of your study insights and having jam sessions with you and our musically inclined family when we reunite.  It`ll be pretty great I think I am excited to talk with you!!!!!  And the letter is coming...soon I hope!

Samacus! (that's what the Greek/Romans probably would have called you :) ) I have been thinking about you today.  Thanks for being your awesome self.  I miss your enthusiasm and your spunk; your dedication and your silliness :); your brilliance and your kindness.  And SOOOO many other things about you!!!  Thanks for being an incredible brother who I can learn from.  Thanks for your lovely valentine!  It brightens my day to read it.  I know that you can persevere through whatever challenges you may have--you are one optimistic and determined fellow!  Stick to it bro, you can be the star of the show, even if on the ground there is no snow, you'll have fun-this much I know, even if your tooth decides to grow slow, you can still sing a beautiful middle do!  Whenever I hear the song Pie Jesu, I think about you!  :)Anyways, I LOVE YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH SAM!!!!!!!!!  YOU CAN DO IT!!!!
P.S. Prayer really is powerful!  Its awesome.  Have a fantastic day Sambo!!!!!!   

   

Josh, I am doing great.  I am kind of cold, but opened a Christmas present a little early and found some great Hello Kitty slippers that help keep my feet super toasty.  It sounds like you`ve had a pretty great Christmas celebration so far.  I hope that you continue to enjoy it! 

Sadie, I had no idea that you were on the second book of Harry Potter!  You speedy reader you!  That is awesome!  Merry almost Christmas to you to!  In Japanese, Merry Christmas is merri kurisumasu.  It sounds the same!  To say almost I think you would add sugu ni merri kurisumasu.  :)  It sounds like you had a lot of fun at school getting ready for Christmas break.  Yay!  I hope that you continue to enjoy the Christmas spirit.  Its pretty special isn`t it?  I am glad that its only two days until we talk too!  Kind of crazy! 

Mom, same.  I know just how you feel.  Thank you so much for expressing what has been going through your mind as you`ve contemplated this season and what it means.  When you don`t have a lot of fluff time, you really can see the big picture and why it all matters.  I love your insight and effort and just love you.  I am grateful that we are connected even though we are in different countries!  The power of the Spirit is wonderful.  I am grateful for your attentiveness to it and how you have taught me to love and seek after it.  Lately, I have been thinking a lot about what the Lord asks of us.  Training is really hard--I fall on my face daily!  In my patriarchal blessing, it reminds me that challenges are a part of life and must be mastered by me.  And as I thought about it this morning I realized that is only through challenges that we are able to grow and rely on the Lord.  And how much I need to rely on Him!  I am learning about the power of faith and obedience and diligence.  That was a focus of our most recent zone conference and I have learned that the Lord doesn`t expect us to be perfect but He does expect us to be diligent and work to be obedient.  I am so grateful for this life and the Lord`s way.  I am grateful to be sharing His gospel at this time--I feel like it is really a blessing to me; more than for anyone else and that is mind blowing.   

Hello Dad!  I love you!  Time is crazy fast isn`t it?  I love your testimony and focus on what truly matters.  Music truly is a gift and blessing and way for the Spirit to touch and teach us.  I am grateful for its power and influence and that you were able to receive the Spirit through the gift of others.  It is beautiful. 

Kia Kaha Poppa.  I love you.  So much.  I feel like words don`t really cover it.  :) 

Jake`s mission call sounds perfect!  I am excited for him to serve.  Thank you for sharing the news! 

OK, I gotta head but I love you all dearly.  Enjoy this Christmas season and the especially the gift of the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  He is the reason that we can celebrate and have joy.  I know that.  I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that through it He can speak to our needs and help us answer our questions.  I know that.

Love,

Williams shimai

Greetings from the quickly growing cold land of Narita!

 I cannot tell you how grateful for the preparation that so many people helped me with--spiritual and temporal.  I have been wonderfully warm and have not tired of my clothes in the slightest thanks to the variety that I have.  Thank you, thank you! 

Also, thank you for the package that you sent Mom!!!!  I love the various wrapped gifts wtih little sayings on them and so look forward to opening them and reading the letters that you all wrote.  Seriously, I treasure them.  I feel so richly, unbundantly, mercifully remembered and blessed because I get to be family with such great people.  I hope that I can somehow contribute to you each having a wonderful Christmas. 

So, my new companion is the fearless and determined and REALLY patient Sister Minson from Salt Lake City.  She is so willing to work and be flexible as I try and learn how to lead.  I am grateful for her and also that Jones shimai and Nagamine shimai are still in Narita--I call on their knowledge, energy, and kindness daily.  Leading and instructing when I feel like I hardly know how to be an effective missionary myself is kind of crazy but I really love what President Budge teaches about facing weakness.  He instructs that we can either become humiliated or humble.  It is when we are humble that the Lord can do His work through us.  One thing that I've noticed a lot in my personal study lately is that its not really about skill or ability or talent but diligence, faith, humility.  I know that the Lord responds to our faith and blesses our efforts abundantly.  I hope that I can choose to be humble and be like Enos who prays and labors with all diligence and then is given what he desires from the Lord because of his faith.  So I choose faith!!!!!  (Enos1:12)  Faith and obedience are a wonderfully powerful combo--those who labor in the vineyard with the Lord as described in Jacob's allegory of the olive tree have decide to follow the Lord's will and thus are blessed (verse 72).  I also really love how He knows and plans where He plants and brings forth friut even in the poor spots of ground--and often times I feel like I am that poor spot of ground, but He can make miracles happen even there (see verses 21-23). 

Sorry, I made this kind of a lecture rather than an email.  Minson shimai and I are already seeing miracles as we talk with people.  Really, its when we do the work that the Lord can guide us.  Today when we were walking, we started talking with a lady who wasn't really interested, but then when she walked on, another lady came up to us and said that she had real interest in learning about Jesus Christ and learning about charity.  She came up to US.  Woah.  People are so preapared. 

I love you all.  So much.  I pray for you.  I hope the best for you.  I hope that you feel the power and strength and JOY that is avaliable to everyone through the atonement of Jesus Christ.  Really, His life and sacrfice are the reason that we rejoice at this time of year. 

I love you all one by one more than sushi loves seaweed paper (nori),

Williams shimai

Transfers

Hello!  So we received a transfer call this morning and I have some news about where I will be serving next transfer.  My companions and I are all staying in Narita--WOOT!!  While that is the same, our companionship is changing.  Right now we are a trio but for next transfer, Nagamine shimai and Jones shimai will be companions and I will be with a new missionary who I'll meet on Thursday!  I feel so privileged and blessed to be training this transfer.  The elder who called to tell us what would be happening put it wonderfully.  He started out by boldly affirming that President Budge and he and his companion (as the assistants) received revelation.  I feel that.  While I am really insufficient as far as being a "profitable servant" I feel a deep peace--I know that God can do anything.  So, if He needs me to train a new missionary, I can do it because He can do anything.  I am grateful for the examples in the scriptures and President Budge's focus on being humble and relying on the Lord to do His will. 

I know that this is the Lord's work, the work of salvation and that it matters both now and in eternity.  I love you all so much. 

Williams shimai

JOY

Greetings my happy fam!  I send you my love and gratitude this December 2nd morning.  I hope you enjoyed one another's company, food, and the spirit of Thanksgiving this past week.  Gratitude really has a great power to focus us on how the Lord has blessed us and how He is directing our path.  So cool. 

While Thanksgiving not celebrated in Japan, our stake president and his family invited us for Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, and apple pie--along with Japanese style rice pilaf, corn rolls, sweet potatoes (called yakimo), and a jello sort of dessert. It was an intriguing and delicious meal and a time of gratitude and listening to the testimonies of the 2 investigators that were able to come.  We asked them to share a scripture from the Book of Mormon that they were grateful for and they did so with such happiness and love for the scriptures.  It was really, really a wonderful experience.

And then, guess what?  One of those investigators got baptized on Sunday!  Kumi chan (chan is sort of a nickname that often goes on the end of girls' names), our earnest and honestly incredible friend.  The elders found here while housing around the bishop's house and invited her to church and she came every Sunday after that.  She received all the lessons in about 3 weeks and seeing her change in that time frame has been so beautiful.  She has kind of a rough life right now--her parents passed away in a fire last year, her younger brother lives in an orphanage in Tokyo, she recently got divorced, and lives in a small, sparse apartment with her 2 year old son.  When we first met her, she was really tentative, subdued, and uncertain.  Yet after she started to pray daily, read the Book of Mormon, and come to church regularly, she changed.  She is radiant.  I am so humbled to have been a part of that.  Her son too--he has such reverence for the Book of Mormon now.  Before he ripped pages and dropped it, etc.  but now for the most part he treats it like a real book--one with a special purpose.  SO AMAZING.  

OK, well, the time is far spent, but know that I love each of you and pray for you.  Thank you for your examples and strength.  I know that I am truly blessed because of you all daily. 

Much love,

Lindsay Williams shimai 

Oh my people!

 I am so grateful for my family!  Thanksgiving is this week, right?  Its not celebrated here in Japan, but I've been trying to think about things that I am grateful for this month and one of the biggest things is you--my dear family! 

Thank you so much for the simple question "how are you" and for reminding me that you mostly want to hear the answer to that question!  :)  

I am happy and well. 

 I'm eating raw egg, seaweed, fermented soybeans, lots of rice, and more familiar foods (like peanut butter--Dad shoutout!) and sleeping really well after wonderfully long bike rides in refreshing weather. 

One change that we've been a part of is our friend K C's understanding of God.  When we first taught her about God, she thought that God maybe existed, 50% ish.  But after coming to church and praying daily, she told us in a recent lesson that God definitely exists.  SO COOL.  She has also really opened up to us and others.  Last night we had dinner with her and other investigators at our stake president's house and she willingly shared her experience with prayer as part of our lesson.  I am grateful for her and her faith and how her experience has taught me the power of prayer and faith. 

Another thing that I am so grateful for is the power of prayer. 

 It humbles me to think about how many people are praying for me and my mission--and the missionaries around the world.  Really, its powerful. 

Those prayers are being answered, I know it.  The power of faith is another thing that I am grateful for and have experienced this past week.  Opening my mouth is sometimes still really hard for me but this week I decided to just kind of go for it, even though I didn't know exactly what to say.  I'd done so before, but recommitted to that and say miracles as a result.  When we rode the train this week, I was able to talk with many people and even got contact information from one friend that I talked to.  Woot!  As a companionship, we decided that we would each ask 2 people to come to church or hear the missionary lessons after English class on Wednesday.  Even though I was a little nervous, when I let go of that and focused on inviting people in love and remembering that by receiving the gospel people can receive greater hope and strength, it became easier to open my mouth.  And when I invited people, they gladly accepted and gave me their contact info.  Seriously, faith has such POWER.

I love you all.  SO MUCH.  Enjoy time off of school and togetherness.  I am grateful for your examples of faith and righteous desires.  Keep it up.  Again, again, thank you for your individual emails.  I LOVE reading them and hearing your voices through them.  

Love higher than Mount Everest,

Williams shimai

Salutations!

So this week went by really quick, but here are a few photos and even fewer words to let you know what happened this week. 

I am happy, safe, and well.  I was so shocked and grateful to receive a package from David and Kelly!  So many thanks to them! 

Kind of like Grandma and Grandpa Brown, I had no idea that Tokyo would be so international!  Right now we have a few Japanese investigators, a sister from the Philippines, and a sister from the Dominican Republic that we are teaching.  They are so cool and I feel such appreciation and love for them when we teach.  I am so grateful for that gift in missionary work--feeling love for people.  I think that focus often helps me to forget myself and reach out to others by speaking to them on the train, on the street, or inviting them to make changes in their lives to come closer to Christ.  I know that as we focus on the Savior, our hearts change.  We can lay aside our fears and our mistakes and our sins and take up greater resolve, strength, and hope because of His atonement.  It is SO COOL.  And so abundant and continuous. 

OK, know that I love you all and am grateful for each of your examples.  HUGS! 

Williams shimai

More photoage

 So we decided to do email at our apartment this morning and the internet has proved to be impressively, even astonishingly slow.  Sorry about that!  I tried to send this email and pictures a few times, but the connection failed and lost the draft.  Sooo, I have a letter that I wrote to President Budge that I am hoping will get to you and give you a bit of an idea of what happened this week.

Dear family, thank you for your patience and prayers and love and faith.  We had miracles this week--investigators found, lessons taught, invitations extended, and faith built. 

I don't think I really realized how greatly blessed I am to be part of the Dave and Lorene Williams family before.  Thank you so much for your examples of faith, hope, love, and becoming.  That goes for the Williams family and Brown family as well.  Oh, I am so grateful!  I love you all. 

Sister Williams

Dear President Budge,

Thank you so much for your transfer email--it really boosted my hope, courage, and testimony that God is directing this work and lovingly and patiently working through us to bring His truth to those who do not currently have it. It is so wonderful! Again, thank you. 

As we worked to invite others this week, we experienced a lot of miracles! We had our first lesson with a sister and two of her children this week and in that lesson, Jones shimai recited the First Vision for the first time and I got to extend the invitation to be baptized, which they accepted--with the qualifier of more study. They, especially the mother of this family, readily received the message of the Restoration and we left the lesson feeling elated. The next time we taught them, we felt the same hope and joy. I am learning that teaching and sharing and testifying of truth and inviting others to know this truth for themselves brings real joy. Another miracle that we had this week is our friend, a 23 year old young woman who came to church for the first time last week and in a phone conversation with Nagamine shimai later in the week expressed that she wants to become a member. Woah! Sometimes we are not exactly sure how to teach her everything, but as we study and seek the Lord's help, I know that He has inspired us and will continue to direct us to meet her needs. Last one--our meeting with a referral. We determined to meet her at the church  and establish expectations. Some members  were there cleaning the church and guess what? They knew this sister! When they realized that they knew her, they invited all of us to lunch and we had a really good conversation about this sisters understanding of the church and what more she wanted to learn. So cool. 

The work is moving forward in Narita and I feel so blessed to be a part of it with Sister Nagamine and Sister Jones. They are great companions who strive to constantly improve. I am grateful for their examples and eager desire to help others. I also appreciate the time to study. I feel like that preparation is so key to my ability to focus on what really matters rather than my inadequacy and weakness. The perspective that the Lord can work through me to accomplish His work and help others strengthens me daily and I am so grateful for it. As part of that study this week, I read a bit in the Bible--including Luke 1:57--to find examples of those who had that perspective-including Mary the mother of Jesus and Elisabeth. These women are such heroes to me! There are so many heroes who give me strength and hope and direction and an image of who I want to become and I am so grateful. Thank you to you and Sister Budge and all the missionaries here that provide such examples as well. Seriously, I feel so generously blessed to be serving with so many wonderful people in this great cause. I look forward to going forward with love and courage this week! 

Happy and Well

*I don't always post the letters as some are pretty short.  Seems like it is a challenge to email everyone  in the allotted time.  

Hello fam!  Thank you so much for your emails!  I love hearing from you all SO much.  Thank you for your faith and love and joy! 

This week we got to go to the temple and have a sisters conference...and I neglected to take out my camera!  Sorry!  I learned so much about how we are not in this work alone and can ever rely on the Savior to help us in our efforts.  In 2 Nephi 9, Jacob describes the Atonement as infinite.  I love that idea so much and know that it really is true--that we can draw on the Savior`s goodness and grace and power ALWAYS.  It is such a gift. 

Until next week, know that I love you and am happy and well.  Sorry for the lack of detail! 

Love,

Williams shimai

End of the first "Transfer" in Tokyo

*Many missionaries begin to measure time by "transfers."  A transfer is a new area or companionship assignment and they come every 6 weeks not not all missionaries are transferred every six weeks.  Missionaries tend to stay around 6 months in any given area and companionship assignments vary in length.

Hello you lovely people!  I hope that October is going wonderfully.  For me it is flying by!  This is the last week of my first transfer--is that even possible?  While I feel like I`ve been here for a while I know that I still--and probably will ever--have a lot to learn.  That is what we do I guess.  Learn and move forward.

First a little bit of review/catch up/clarification.  Rather than serving in the heart of metropolis, right now I am in a suburb of sorts in Tokyo.  Its a fun mix of country and city with a lot of farms and some wilderness in between newly developed housing and shopping\business centers.  I am in a trio with another new missionary (Jones shimai) and our trainer (Nagamine shimai).  Some of the unusual things I`ve eaten are: whole squid, fish eggs, raw egg (dropped in a bowl of noodles just before serving), and sushi, and soy `meat`.  Kind of crazy, eh?  We are in the Narita ward--and they are such wonderful people.  I feel like they are family that I didn`t know I had until getting here.  This ward hasn't had sisters for several years and as such was really excited to see us when we got here--and they still are really excited to see us and work with us.  Its a real blessing. 

This week was kind of a usual one with lots of study, finding time with knocking on doors and talking to people as they come off the train, and visiting less active members who were not home when we stopped by. Sunday however, Nagamine shimai needed to go to a different area to participate in a baptismal service.  So we went to a train station where she joined a few other sisters and Jones shimai and I faced about half a day without her.  We made it through the trains back to Narita OK and I had a really great time at church despite maybe not understanding exactly what people said, but after church, I made a mistake navigating the train system and we got a lost.  Still, after calling Nagamine shimai and asking for some help from the train staff, we got to where we needed to be safe and sound and very apologetic.  Ah mistakes!  One of the best ways to learn.  

Tomorrow we get to attend the Tokyo temple and then we sisters have a sister`s conference!  I am so looking forward to gathering with these great missionaries and learning from one another. 

Right now we don`t really have any investigators so we often do practice lessons with members--and these are such sacred experiences.  I sort of hesitate to use the word sacred, but really, that is what they are.  When we share the truths of the gospel simply and earnestly, I feel a reaffirmation of that truth so strongly.  It is so beautiful.  I am looking forward to sharing these truths with those who do not know it yet!  

I love you all.  I hope you have a fantastic week!  Thank you for your strength, love, support, and examples.  I know that this is the Lord`s work and have found that as I seek to share it out of love that my uncertainty and hesitation sort of just dissipate and I am so grateful for that--love has such strength!   May we each try to be full of love and thus full of courage and hope as we share the gospel and become more like the Savior.  Again, I love you all so much!

Williams shimai

Hello, hello dear ones!  I loved reading what each of you had to say and the questions you asked this week!  Thank you!  Time is a little short this week, but let me start this by answering some of your questions.

 

Nah-gah-me (like will you help me?) ne as in nest  is how you say my companions name.  For the first several days, I had the hardest time saying it.  My brain thought it sounded like nagusame which means comfort and there were a few times I called her that or some other variation of her name.  She has been a comfort and so patient with me as I learn and ask her TONS of questions.  She is 22, went to BYU-Hawaii before her mission, and will end in January or March.  Kind of crazy, right?  The transfer dates are a little off then I guess.  This is her

10th transfer.

 

We stayed in the mission home for 2 nights.  When we got off the plane, most everyone was exhausted and that kind of remained the case for the next 24-hours.  That Wednesday we had training and then Thurday afternoon we got our new companions. 

 

The language is coming and I think the hardest part for me right now is comprehension.  Often times people talk to me and I nod my head until I realize that they finished and are waiting for a response.  Its pretty great.  They are really patient though, willing to repeat themselves, or attempt some English.  One of the favorite language mistakes I`ve made so far is when I accidently said Josh was 60 instead of 6.  :)

 

Nagamine shimai disassmebled her bike to send from her old area to Narita.  And speaking of bikes, because both were pretty new, guess what?  We walked out of our apartment on Saturday to find them missing.  I think I sent a photo of us walking to the police station to turn in our bike registration slips with sad faces.  Expect I look a little vengeful, borderline murderous.  I`m not that upset about them I promise!  While having our bikes go missing has been upsetting, we did get to talk with a policewoman at the station who showed real interest in coming to our free English class and may become an investigator.  If thats the case, its all good.  

 

The people who were helping in our apartment were church members--the bishop, his 2nd counselor, and the Relief Society president and her 1st counselor.  They are so wonderful, each of them.  There is such strength, love, and unity in this ward!  We had a potluck lunch after church yesterday and it was so delightful.  I just love being around them!  60 is kind of small, but hopefully we can add to that through our efforts! 

 

Short one today, but one last thing before I close.  When Nagamine shimai and I recite our purpose, Doctrine and Covenants 4, the How to Begin Teaching bullet points in PMG and the First Vision in English and Japanese, I feel the Spirit testify of their truthfulness.  It is so beautiful!  PMG is truly an inspired book and I am grateful for it.  Keep learning, living, and loving truth! 

 

Always love,

Williams shimai

 

PS--I think the SD card I have is the reason that I am not sure what pictures I send.  Thanks for telling me what you see.  I hope you enjoy these ones!  Also, Sam, I will think of the grossest things I`ve seen so far.  It may be the raw squid at the grocery store that are just lying in a bin...that is really not pleasant.  I`ll keep thinking and maybe take a photo for you.  :)  　   

Farewell

HI!!!!  

THE MTC has been delightful.  I am well.  My cough is nearly gone, my mind and heart still, and my suitcase not AT ALL packed.  Oh well.  I’ll get there.  It is a SUPER busy P-day.  But good all the same.  I am so grateful for it!  Last trip to the Provo temple and we got soaked running in the rain coming home.  Crazy, eh?

Thank you for your tips, enthusiasm, and joy at my going to Japan!!!!  I am so excited and so at peace and so tranquil it is miraculous.  I know that these feelings are a blessing that will help me serve whole heartedly and with all my might. Please don’t stress about the flight, or jet lagg--however long lasting it may be!  I am looking forward to doing it all!  YESSSS!!   I LOVE YOU SO DEEPLY.  Hooray!  

Time is almost out so...BYE!!!!  

 I look forward to greeting you from out of the MTC and in Japan next week!  

It's coming and we will be going!

  

OK, as per usual I don't have that much time, but I wanted to write a quick note to you all to just say hi and give a brief update.  

1.  I am happy.  So happy.  I love being a missionary and teaching people and learning and serving and all that.  It is great.  And I apparently love writing really short, simple sentences.  :)  

2.  I got the suitcase and was astonished to find all that love in there!  Thank you for the notes.  Ah, our family is just wonderful.  How deeply I appreciate and admire each and every one of them.  Thank you, thank you!   And thank you to Levi for so kindly playing courier for that!  

3.   I was a solo missionary for about 6 hours yesterday as the other international sisters went to temple square to tour it.  It was kind of awkward...I felt like an incomplete missionary.  Now though, all is well.  :)  

4.  I am slightly sick.  Nothing too awful, but I have a pretty impressive reservoir of stuff in my nose and a cough to disrupt class with.  Its getting better though and I think it'll be gone by the time we need to leave.  

5.  Speaking of which, we have travel plans!  In case you cannot see the photo, I am on Delta Airlines flights 1414 and then 283.  I'll have a 3 hour layover in Los Angles.  Calling party!  

OK, I gotta go.  Love you all so much!  More later!  Sorry that this is so brief!!!!  I run out of time every time!  

Williams shimai   

Ready

Hello

This week I felt like "OK, yeah.  I'm feeling like I'm ready to go."  I love the MTC and am so grateful for the experience that I have had here, I don't know the language super well, and I'm not packed, but I am getting ready to head to the land of the rising sun and serve the people there.  Woot!  I can't believe that I have just over 2 weeks before I head out.  Its just thrilling.

OK, brief recap of this week because I'm nearly out of time:  lessons, new teachers, goodbye to some missionaries, devotional with Elder Andersen, walking in a downpour, and just feeling so grateful and excited!  

I love you all.  Keep being the good people you are.  

Warmly,

Williams shimai 

Hello

Thank you so much for the letters and pictures that you sent!  I relished them, as I do each week.  It sounds like you are all getting ready for the change of season that is coming up soon.  Exciting, isn't it?  

Kinben ni means diligently in Japanese and it sounds so much like King Benny that every time I hear it I feel a need to reach for my scriptures and flip to Mosiah to read about King Benjamin.  As missionaries, we get to hear that word a lot, so its pretty great.  

I love being a missionary.  It is this wonderful blend of blessing, opportunity, responsibility, and privilege.  This week I have felt more deeply converted to our Savior Jesus Christ who suffered for my sins, my pride, my weaknesses, my sorrows, my insecurities, and my problems that I may be able to change and become better and truly love this life on earth.  It is so beautiful!  

That being said, missionary work has its ups and downs.  I had a lot of humbling moments this week that eventually brought me to a greater understanding of what the Lord would like me to become and how I can become so, but at the time, I wasn't so sure I appreciated it.  I know that the Lord knows my weaknesses and what will help me learn best and I am so grateful for His generous and perfectly fitted help to cause me to recognize what I need to change.  

As school is starting this week, we loose one of our teachers because of conflicting schedules.  Gardener sensei won't be our teacher soon.  When he told us, me being me, I started to tear up.  My appreciation surprises me with its depth and just comes out of nowhere sometimes.  Change is good though.  It helps us learn.  

All right dear ones, the time for emailing is coming to a close.  Good luck this week; I hope it is enjoyable for each of you!  

Love, 

Williams shimai

Oh dear ones!

  Hello! 

 I hope that this week has treated you well and that you are happy, healthy, learning, and enjoying every day in this amazing world.  I hope that you seek and find opportunities to love and be loved.  Love is such a central part of the gospel and for that I am humbled, grateful, and encouraged.  I want to share a few experiences that I had this week that taught me more about God's love for His children.  It is so deep, so pure, so rich, so abundant, so available, so graciously given, and just so beautiful.  Ah!  Being immersed in learning, teaching, sharing, and living the gospel here at the MTC grows my testimony of God's love and mercy for His children everyday.  Some days are more powerful than others and often His teaching comes in the most gentle, simple ways but my testimony of it deepens nonetheless.  It is miraculous. 

OK, first Richard G.Scott came to the Tuesday night devotional this week and gave a beautiful address on the gift of prayer.  Hearing him speak about that topic touches me--he has a really deep testimony and knowledge of it.  From him I learned that God is so patient with us in our prayers and so thoughtful and purposeful in the way that He answers them.  His answers often help us to grow, change, and become the people of character that He knows we can become.  His address was so instructive and I loved watching him leave as well.  Before he exited, he cupped his hands to his mouth and called out "Be good!"  and "We love you".  Such a dear man.  I love and am astonished by how dedicated and devoted he is.  

Also, President Eyring's First Presidency Message from the August Ensign is SO WONDERFUL.  I loved reading it and thinking about how God has taught me through His blessings and then feeling and expressing gratitude for it.  I know that gratitude is really a tue principle that blesses our lives.  Sometimes it blows my mind to think how generous God is to us. 

As you know on Wednesday, the MTC receives new missionaries.  They have an orange sticker on their tag so everyone knows that they are new and can especially welcome them.  In the evening, my companion and I were walking out of our classroom to go study somewhere else.  I noticed a sister sitting on a bench outside our classroom with that bright orange sticker on her tag and decided to say welcome and hello.  We had a brief conversation and then she was called away.  I clasped her hand and touched her shoulder before she left.  As my companion and I walked outside I thought about this sister and was surprised by the love that I felt for her.  It was so real and so tangible that it overwhelmed me a little bit.  I am so grateful that God encourages us to love as He loves and gives us that gift as we seek it--seriously, it is just incredible. 

Last one. I noticed in my study lately how many stories about only children or only brothers there are in Jesus Christ's ministry--Jarius' daughter, the man who is says "Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief", the only son of the woman on the outskirts of a town (I think this story is in Mark), Lazarus, etc.  I think its a really simple but profound way of Heavenly Father reminding the Savior that He loved Him.  So cool. 

The MTC continues to be wonderful.  Oh, I was going to write about our teachers!  Right.  OK--We have 2 teachers, Fowers sensei and Gardener sensei.  I am grateful for and appreciate them and while they are really different, I learn a lot from them both.  Fowers sensei is pretty tall, really energetic, teaches us in the evening when some of our district has the energy and nearly the focus of Sunbeams, and laughs often.  Gardener sensei is pretty short (I think he may be just taller than me), quietly funny, kind of subdued, teaches us in the mornings when some of us are really quite lethargic, and is really chill.  Perhaps I'll get a picture of them sometime, though I think they shy away from pictures until the last week for whatever reason. 

Anyhow, thank you so much for your love, support, and prayers.  I feel so at peace and so grateful for you, my dears!  Keep your chins up and know that I love you! 

Love kokoro kara (sincerely, litereally from the heart),

Williams shimai