Cho Saikou!!!

Yaho!!! Konnichiwa!

 

ahhhh I am having the best time! I love Japan! I love my area! Chiba is so cute and we have such a great ward! I still cannot speak a single word of Japanese but daijobu! Its funny because everywhere I go, people want to speak to me in English! Everyone wants to practice their English with a real gaijin (foreigner)! hahah! So I speak a lot of English! which is awesome cause I talk to a  lot of people but I am not practicing Japanese.. its hard! But its nice to understand what people are saying! Even though all Japanese people's English is super broken but its the funniest and cutest thing ever! I have become a pro at the "how are you" missionary work. All I say is Hi how are you and almost everybody stops or at least smiles! Even if they don't stop a smile is good enough! That makes me happy! usually they get nervous and so all they say back to me is "hi how are you!!" haha! we just go back and forth and its hilarious! I love these Nihonjin!

This week we had interviews with the mission president and his wife! they are the cutest things! So sweet and made me feel so good! I told them how I really miss my family and they both said how blessed I must be because I have been given such an amazing family so it makes it hard to be apart. Budge Shimai said that when her kids were on missions her relationships with them actually strengthened! that was exactly what I needed to hear! I am sad that I am missing time with my family but so grateful to be a missionary! Great things are happening in Japan! The Lord truly in hastening his work and He is calling everyone to join him! This time will seem so short so I am grateful everyday that I get to be a missionary in Japan!

So in Chiba, we still don't have a ton of investigators so we still do a lot of streeting and finding! Wednesday we did a Blitz were all the sisters in our zone come to our area and help us find people to teach! There were 9 of us sisters going around Chiba! Such a successful day! We gave out a ton of Book of Mormons and made appointments with people we had just met! Such a miracle! Another new sister missionary and I were paired together. We were a little worried because we both don't know the language but we saw the most miracles and talked to the most people! Heavenly Father is on my side helping me every step of the way! Later that night we had our free English class! Seriously eikaiwa is my favorite part of the week! I guess I get a little weird but its funny to the nihonjin and so they just bring me stuff! This week at eikaiwa, one of my students brought me muffins, another brought egg plants and giant cucumbers (my fav) and someone brought me a dress! haha! they are the cutest people!

SO this week was seriously a week of miracles! at first we were a little discouraged when our appointments and investigators kept bailing on us. So instead of lessons we went streeting as usual. Bagley Shimai and I went together. We hadn't even gotten to our train station (2 minutes away) when we stopped someone. She was interested in our free English class so we tried to make an appointment of when we could meet and show her the church. with two busy schedules it was impossible. we told her we had time right then and so we gave her a church! We were shocked because this rarely happens! She loved the chapel! We sat in silence and let the spirit do the work! It was beautiful! We cant wait to meet with her again! So Bagley Shimai and went back to the street. This time we only made it a few blocks when we stopped another lady. We asked her if she had time and then took her on a church tour! Bagley Shimai and I couldn't believe it! We were stocked! The next day we went out jokingly saying we had more church tours planned. Well, I quickly learned that if you expect miracles, they happen! We gave another church tour! and this one was the best! She was super cute, and really wanted to learn more about Jesus Christ! She told us that we were best friends and that she loved us! I died! so adorable!

The next day Nagamine Shimai and I were back together and she wanted to do church tours too! so we went to the street! The first lady we stopped.. sure enough said she wanted a church tour! I couldn't stop laughing! It was too good to be true! After the tour we invited her to church and she actually came with a friend! Such a miracle! She loved the meeting and is coming again next week! Seriously this week was full of miracles! So thankful to my Heavenly Father who does all he can to help us out! We had such a great week filled with the spirit and people who are prepared to receive this restored gospel!

Saturday night we taught Hiyabashi San. She is not your typical Japanese lady. She has a million dogs, plants, listens to music super loud constantly and eats ice cream like no ones business! She is so American! hahah! and my kind of lady! We taught her an introduction to the lessons and are going back tonight! She really wants us to see her flower that blooms only once a year.. so we might be going to her house every night for the next week! hahah! She's great though and I cant wait to teach her! She has had a lot of trials in her life. She's not sure if she really even wants to live. But that's the amazing part of the gospel. Its for everyone! The gospel can help with anything you are going through, or struggle with. I know that is true with all of my heart! This gospel has blessed my life more than I can describe and I am forever grateful! I live a happy life because of the knowledge that I have of our savior's church! He will guide us and direct us in all things! All we have to do is ask for his help! He is more than willing! He already paid the price. In the end, its not us begging him to save us. Jesus Christ, our Savior, will be begging us to follow him. I want the people of Japan to know that their Savior stands by their side. I love my savior with all my heart! I can do all things because of him who strengthens me!

Hope all is well back home! Love you!!!!

Ai shite imasu!!!!

 

Christensen Shimai