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

Another One Coming Your Way!

I love my district, I really do.  It surprises me how well I know, love, and appreciate them and I think that will only grow stronger in the remaining time I have here at the MTC.  Woot!  I do have to think a little more before I write in English--no pontificating or fancy words (other than that one) from me these days!  I embrace the idea of making errors in my spelling and grammar because the requirement now is to be a speedy typer to try and get it all out!  Well, I probably still will be pretty conscious of how my words sound and look like, the emails will just be stream of consciousness--as that last sentence pretty much was. 

ANYHOW,  this week has been great.  I feel like I am learning how to be humble a lot more--more willing to make mistakes in speaking so that I may learn from them--and more accepting of myself and people as we are and of hoping for/working for/encouraging for who we may become through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  It is so cool, the doctrine of sacrifice, service, refining, chastening, and becoming.  I am learning more and more how to love and relish and seek these things. 

Ahh, this world!  Is it not beautiful?! (Apparently this grammar pattern is used a lot in Japan.  Sweet, eh?) 

Do you remember how my setting apart talked about me helping people with the language?  It is happening and I love it.  Every time I work on a translation or grammar principle or word recognition with someone, my mind goes back to that and I am gently yet powerfully reminded of God's awareness of us and how He can use us when we are willing.  It is AWESOME.  Such a gift, blessing, and responsibility! 

The theme for this week seemed to be preparation.  Preparing to teach, preparing to serve, preparing for lessons, preparing plans for study time, preparing plans for each day, etc.  This focus encouraged me to reflect on my own preparation for a mission.  For me, my preparation, like my decision to serve, was really gradual but also really generous.  I've thought a lot about how serving a mission, teaching, learning Japanese, and so many other experiences here have felt so natural or logical.  It is mind blowing and spirit lifting.  I've also reflected on how the Spirit works logically and reasonably.  We had Elder Jay E. Jensen come speak at the Tuesday devotional this week and he talked about teaching by the Spirit, how it is "presenting well what is planned, following reason and logic, speaking convincingly in a normal voice, and departing from the plan (as the exception  not the rule).  This way teaching by the Spirit starts with preparing with/by the Spirit.  It helped me realize how focused we need to be in this work, at every stage in it.  Sometimes, to be honest, it is really wearying.  BUT, the Lord strengthens us so that we can do it and help others come unto Christ.  It is so cool, dear reader.  So beautiful! 

Also, one of our teachers was out of town this week (and a description of teachers is coming soon, I promise.  They are wonderful.) and so we had a substitute teacher.  And he was FROM JAPAN!  Ahh!  This might sound kind of weird  but I was just fascinated by his Japanese-ness, listening closely to how he spoke, his mannerisms, his descriptions of Japan (our district plied him with questions, including "Are there ninjas in Japan?").  It was like a taste of what is to come.  I love Japanese people.  I am so excited to serve among them, to talk with them, learn with them, love them, and serve them.  It is thrilling.  I love the MTC and am happy to stay here (yay for practice and learning!) but I am looking forward to the time where I will go there. 

So, so, so much love,

Williams shimai

PS--HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOON STEPH! YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ENTER SWEEPSTAKES AND DO SO MUCH MORE.  WOO-HOOO! 

No tachimukau

Hello dear ones! 

First, thank you so much for making my birthday a truly remarkable one!  I loved the package, notes, thought, cake that you made and enjoyed, and CUTE card.  LOVED THEM.  I love you all so much and am grateful that I get to share my life with you all and learn from your examples and strength.  Thank you. 

On a lighter note, I hope you sang some T Swizzle for me about being two decades and two years.   ;)   Mmhmm, and maybe had a little dance party too--or did some yoga or swimming or running through sprinklers for me.  On Saturday or Monday of course. 

I SO enjoyed reading your thoughts and letters this week.  Seriously, if I didn't have the timer at the top right of the screen telling me how much time I had left, I would probably just sit and read, re-read, and relish them.  And draw attention to myself by laughing--I love reading what you say and imagining how everything you describe happened.  Also. thank you for the pictures and I'm glad thae ones I sent last week were mission ones.  Thank you for keeping me posted on the haps at home.  Sounds like you are all living up this summer time goodness!  Enjoy it.  :)

This week presented more of the same goodness and a little more challenge this week--Japanese is beautiful yet challenging and figuring out how to stay focused and not get carried away laughing when your district starts a dinosuar noise making contest is tougher than I thought. 
Still, its truly wonderful, and I mean that.  As I was bearing testimony about the Savior in one of our lessons this week, the Spirit confirmed the truth of the words I was saying, no matter how clumsily I expressed them, and helped me to realize more fully that this gospel is true--no matter what language it is in.  Ahh, it was such a beautiful tender mercy that I appreciated so much.  I'm not sure our investigator or my companion felt the same way, but if not, it was a real blessing for me. 

I'm glad that the Macdonalds have little Susana Amanda around their house these days!  WOO-HOO for little ones!  Thanks for letting me know--it brings me a lot of joy.

OK, the rest of this week kind of feels like a blur so I think I can deliver on the promise to describe the people in my district a little more.  If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me!  When I write these emails, sometimes I feel like my mind goes blank and I don't know quite what to relate.  As my companion says, its almost like an exam.  Though not as stressful.  :)
These descriptions will probably be short and sweet because I still need to find photos to attach.  Sorry! 

Elder Johnson--He's from Kayesville, Utah, tall and loves basketball, is really kind, genuine, and capable, though maybe a little unsure of himself.  He plays the piano so well and plays the drums even better and pats out rhythms without really thinking about it.    

Elder Baker--Our district leader, but he doesn't take himself too seriously, loves fishing, often sings (and in that way reminds me of our cousin Aaron).  He hails from California.

Elder Wineagar--From Rexburg, played football in high school, loves wakeboarding and snowboarding, makes one of the best Pterodactyl noises I've ever heard, is really open with our district and likes to have fun.

Elder Hawkes--The artist behind whatever drawings are on our whiteboard, Elder Hawkes is funny, earnest in trying to learn how to be a missionary and speak Japanese, and from Bountiful.  He knew our teacher before he came to the MTC and so they sometimes reminisce about people and the high school sports teams, which is always kind of fun to be a part of.

Elder Wiley--Tall, dark hair, a fan of Anime and knowledgeable about Japanese.  While a little tentative sometimes, he is so considerate and thoughtful.

Elder Poff--From Oregon, Elder Poff is a truly talented pianist and pretty laid back, easygoing personality.  He did a year of BYU before coming to the MTC and often talks about his experiences there. 

Elder Hamblin--A hard and thoughtful worker, from Roosevelt, UT (along with a few of the Japanese teachers here).  He has real dedication to doing hard things--whether they be physical or mental.

Elder Chun--An energetic and comic storyteller.  He's from Orem and often jokes about his being half Asian (Korean), but is really thoughtful and sincere at the same time.  He and his companion (Simmons choro) walk us sisters back to our residence every night. 

Elder Simmons-- A quiet but powerful missionary, Elder Simmons knows a lot of Japanese and can usually answer just about any question you put to him.  He's quite patient and subtly funny, which gives our district a good balance. 

  

OK.  I am nearly out of time for today.  I hope that gives you a taste of what life is like with those shimai and choro.  Its pretty fantastic.  Thank you so much for your prayers, thoughts, and love.  I feel them and echo them back to you.  LOVE YOU ALL TO THE MOON AND BACK!

Williams shimai (aka Lindsay--its kind of funny to see my first name, but its still who I am, eh?) 

PS--No tachimukau means to overcome--which is something that I feel I am learning more and more about here.  And its a really, really great word.  Sounds like ( no touchie moo cow).  YES!  I laughed the first time I heard it.