Return

Hallo all.  So I returned from my mission in Tokyo Japan a little over a month ago and am transitioning to not being a full-time missionary.

Nakamoto san's baptism and Sister Crane 

Li Bing  

Dear friends in Koiwa

While the jet-lag has worn off, the suitcases have been mostly unpacked, photos and stories shared, homecoming talks given, and long-time-no-see people have been greeted, I feel like I'm still not really caught up with it all yet.  You know how when you return something to a store its assumed that the item has been unaltered and you are simply returning it as is, without anything changed?  I guess I thought that is what I would be doing as I ended my mission, but found instead that I had changed much during my mission (and I am SO grateful that I did) but the changes didn't fully manifest themselves until I came in contact full force with the environment that I had before I left.  And while those changes are amusing at times, sometimes I find myself bewildered, and just really uncertain.  Its like I expected to go back and found a one-way sign instead.

And rather than just taking it in stride and having an adventurous blast of things, I get hesitant, sweaty-palmed, and sick-stomached, tied up in knots about what to do next.  I panic, to put it simply, but I feel like I try to mask that panic with feeble smiles, comments to brush off concern, and brainstorm to the point of over thinking.  For it just wouldn't do to have others know that I didn't know exactly what I was doing.  Ha.

Fortunately, there is One who knows all this and waits patiently for me to come asking for help--or rather finally accepting and acting on His invitation to come.  I am glad that He doesn't change and will help anyone who seeks Him with questions of what to do in this one way life.  It is beautiful.  It reminds me of a poem that I have loved for a long time.  

" 'Come to the edge', He said. 
'We are afraid', we said 
'Come to the edge" He said. 
And we came. And He pushed us... 
And we flew."
Guillaume Apollinaire

OK then.  To the edge I can come.  It might take a while, but I know that I can trust Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd who calls His sheep by name.  This whole thing reminds me of something my mission president shared with us and made our mission scripture.  D&C 128:22 "Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad."   Rather than turn back like I mistakenly thought I would-I am so glad to move forward with this one way life, seeking to have courage and love and joy.  Is it not good?  

Shortness.....

OK, so...err...like Ben says, I want to apologize for the shortness.  I read and enjoyed and was astonished and just really loved reading what you all had to say this week! 

This last Sunday we had stake conference and our stake president read a letter from his son who is serving in the Japan Fukuoka mission.  It went something like this: "dear family, I'm sorry, we've been really busy and I don't have a lot of time.  We had a miracle this week.  I'll write about it later.  I love you and sorry this is so short."  He then read another letter with more detail, but that is how I feel today.  Sorry! 

This week we had an amazing conference with Elder Whiting of the 70 and I feel more determined to seek revelation from the Lord so that I may teach with power from the Spirit.  Really, the Spirit is KEY to all that we do.  And I think that often times it is so quiet, unassuming, and gentle that I can miss it is I'm not paying attention.  We are entitled to revelation for ourselves and the people over whom we have been given stewardship.  WHOA.  That is a huge privilege and blessing. 

This week we have a mini zone conference in which we will receive training and i-Pads to assist in helping people progress towards baptism and hasten the work of salvation.  Join us next week to learn more about what that means--I'm excited to find out! 

I know that God is leading Minson shimai and I to people who are willing and ready to hear and receive the gospel.  We had a sister this week who told us that she couldn't meet with us on the day that she planned, but offered her entire days off schedule to us so we could meet.  I am grateful for the Lord's blessings and know that He is generously giving them to you, me, and all His children.

Much love!

Williams shimai 

Ask, & Invite.....Then Come the Miracles

These photos don't nearly compare to Ben's outpouring of pictures, but there's a bit of Narita statues (tiger for Sadie!) and also a new year tradition of calligraphy writing.  Its not the best, but its supposed to be the kanji for miracle.  :) 

This week flew by--as does much of our times these days!  I feel like I learned the importance of just opening one's mouth and having it filled.  We talked with people on the train, in their houses, on the street, and at different activities and found people to teach in each of those places.  One girl we met at the train station one evening, found her again the next day and invited her to church.  Then on Sunday, our Relief Society president surprised us by telling us that we had an investigator in the hallway.  Having no idea who it was, we quickly went upstairs and found our train station friend!  Seriously, ask and invite and then pray for help to see the miracles that the Lord has in store.  I know that the Lord is generous in His help and promises.  I know that He keeps His promises too!  It is really, really awesome. 

I thank you all for your love, support, and prayers.  I really feel them daily and am in awe of the strength that the Lord imparts to missionaries because of the prayers of so many faithful people.  I know that this is His work, that He is involved in it and will help each of us as we seek Him.  I know that He is willing and eager to help us especially as we ask Him specifically for that which we think we need; He will answer in the way that is best for us. 

I love you all so much--more than my companions love cake baked in the rice cooker (last week's experiment)!  May you have a joyful week! 

Williams shimai

I am happy and well and seeing miracles

My dear family,

How are you all doing?  As always, the time is drawing to a close this P-day.  Firs I want to tell you our transfer news--Nagamine shimai is going to Okinawa!  She is finishing her last transfer and thus will be returning home.  Hard to believe.  Nagamine shimai is an incredible missionary and I hope that I can become like her.  I am so grateful for her.  From the bottom of my heart.  Really.

As for the rest of us, Minson shimai and I are staying in Narita!  Jones shimai is too and she will be working with another Japanese companion named Miyama shimai.  Woot!  We will have 9 missionaries in our Narita ward--which consists of about 60 (maybe a little more) members.  Woah, right?

I am happy and well and seeing miracles.  I am trying to learn to not rely on myself or focus on what I know and don' t know, but rather rely on the Lord for strength and direction and help.  I am learning more and more that without Him, we can do nothing.  It is so true!  I am grateful for His graciousness and patience as He works with us.  One thing that I am learning more and more too is that He requires us to be humble and diligent and patient.  It is only when we are humble that we can experience and recognize His abundant help--and eagerness to help us do whatever it is that He asks of us. 

OK, a miracle of this week.  One of our investigators told us that she didn't really have faith in Christ and also didn't really like coming to church.  She was willing to come this last week for Nagamine shimai's last week, but still a little hesitant about it.  So Minson shimai and I determined to fast to ask for the Lord's help in helping her have a good experience at church and in our lesson following.  And she did!  Our Relief Society lesson was on Jesus Christ and she told us afterward that she had thought that Jesus Christ died for everyone for "us" but that Sunday was the first day that she had thought of Jesus Christ dying for her.  It is such a gift to hear that and bear testimony of His love and knowledge of each of us.  She also told us after that she is feeling more comfortable at church.  Gratitude! 

I know that God loves us and is able to help us in all things.  All things.  As we seek Him, He abundantly pours out His direction and love. 

I love you all so much! 

Williams shimai

PS--One more miracle from today.  We were walking back from the grocery store and started a conversation with a lady who happened to live just above us and had some interest in the church because she knew some members when her children were little.  She accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon and also an invitation to have us visit her.  SO AWESOME.  Open your mouth and it will be filled.  Really.  Be genuine, bold, and loving in asking people to hear God's plan for His children.  Unite your faith and prayers and experience the wonders that God will work.  I know that you are praying for me and I feel that.  Our stake is also doing a 40 fast for us and I know that it is because we are entreating the Lord that we are seeing miracles.  It is beautiful and astonishing!   

Learning, Loving, and Living

First, my apologies!  Every transfer we get to attend a session in the Tokyo temple and so our P-day changes to Tuesday instead of Monday the 6th week of the transfer.  I neglected to let you know that I would be emailing a day later and hope that the change didn`t case you any worry or distress.  :)  If it did, my apologies! 

In light of little time, I wanted to just do a quick catalouge of things that I have learned or relearned so far to give you all a recap of this week. 

1.  So I used to wonder why Ben`s emails seemed a little short and now I totally understand.  And hour and a half goes by so quickly my dear ones!  I just started and have yet to read your emails that I love every week.  Seriously, thank you so much for being such a supportive and kind family!  I know that my mission is a good experience in large part because of the prayers you offer and the love that you have--as expressed through words and actions.  I LOVE YOU!

2.  `Ask and ye shall receive` is a promise that we can count on anytime, all the time.  Anyone can count on it.  If we ask God sincerely and with real intent, He will kindly answer and direct us.  Minson shimai and I have been doing a fair bit of finding lately and we are learning how to improve daily.  We are getting more comfortable and bolder with our invitations to meet again and finding those who are willing to listen and learn.  This week we had a goal to give a copy of the Book of Mormon to someone and receive contact information from people.  When we were nearing the close of our planned streeting time, we still had yet to find someone who wanted to receive a Book of Mormon.  Minson shimai mentioned the fact and then the next person that we talked with listened and received a copy of the Book of Mormon when we offered it to her.  We have yet to set a next appointment with her, but I think that she has potential (as dangerous as that word is, my dear Mexico missionary brother, I think its OK to apply it in this situation.) 

3.  Layers are a blessing in cold weather.  Socks, tights, tights, clothes, scarf, coat, hat, pocket warmer things make one toasty camper. 

4.  Narita ward members are so wonderful.  We often find little bags of food or clothes left at our apartment and they are eager to help us in our missionary work. 

5.  I have such supportive friends and family.  Many thanks to you for your letters, packages, and goodness.  I draw on your examples and strength daily and so appreciate your outreach to me in letters and packages.  Seriously--they surprise me every time! 

6.  The Lord knows each of us personally and is so aware of our efforts to serve Him and become who He wants us to become.  Often times I am surprised when I find an answer to a question in the Book of Mormon or someone says something that I had directly prayed for or things connect in the scriptures that I hadn`t seen before.  It is beautiful.  I feel like I am benefiting from my mission more than any one else which sounds kind of arrogant, but its true.  I hope that I can work so that others can find this joy and strength that is available to all men everywhere.  

OK folks.  Thats all that I can do for now.  I hope you are each doing well, learning, loving, and living this wonderful life that is given to us.  I love you more than all the 7-11s in Japan (they are on almost every corner here its crazy!)

Much, much love,

Williams shimai 

Hello everyone!

I hope that you are doing wonderfully and enjoying this fresh start to a new year!  This past week was kind of a blur for me--we spent a lot of time with various members in the ward who wanted to help the missionaries celebrate the New Year.  We had a really interesting experience this week with a member whose daughter's boyfriend joined us for a meal.  He is an American stationed in the Marine base in Okinawa.  And we were able to share what we do as missionaries in English.  That was kind of different, but I felt like I learned that the gospel is for all people, not just one group or another--it is for all of God's children because He loves them. 

I love you all more than all the fish in the sea,

Williams shiami

Blast from the past photo.  More to come later! 

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