Monday, October 27, 2014

Disappointments and Blessings

Hi everyone!

   Well things here are going good, except for the fact that we had so many appointments for the week and day by day all of them fell through. I was so mad and frustrated. At the beginning of the week, I felt like we did everything we could to make sure that we would be able to use our time most effectively so that we could get lots of lessons and lots of contacts. But then I felt like Satan was really working hard on us and on our appointments and everything got cancelled. I just kept asking myself, why? I know that sometimes we have really really good weeks, but at the same time sometimes we have really really bad weeks. And I know that as long as we tried our best, and then if things didn't work out perfectly and people use their agency and chose not to listen to us, then we can't say that it was our fault. Everyone has the opportunity to choose, but it is up to us to do all we can to help them make the correct choice.

   But we did have a really good lesson with Oota San on Wednesday! She said in the past that she has never felt the spirit, and every single time we ask her what she feels when she prays, or reads scriptures how she feels. She always says that she doesn't feel anything. But we watched the Finding Faith in Christ movie, and we had a really good discussion about how we should always be improving and striving to be more Christ-like in our lives. At the end of the lesson she said that she had a really good feeling inside and so we pointed out that that is the Spirit telling her that everything she is learning is true. It was a really amazing experience. 

   One other highlight of the week. This week we had stake conference, and Shinoro is in the same stake as Shinkotoni! Yep that's right! I got to see Endo family! Before this transfer I had been praying so hard to Heavenly Father that I would be able to see them one last time before I went home. I was hoping the answer to that prayer would mean me getting to back to Shinoro, but God truly does work in mysterious ways. I didn't get to go to Shinoro, but I got to go to a place that was in the same stake so that I would be able to meet them one more time. I know Heavenly Father listens to our prayers. We may not get the answer in the way we expect or want, but he truly knows what is best for us and that is how he answers us!

Love you all! Have a wonderful week! Don't catch a cold! :)

Morrison Shimai


The Endo Family

Bowling with Call Shimai and Dialogue Choro



Zone Activity - with Malmrose Shimai

Sunday, October 19, 2014

It is great having Investigators!

Hello everyone!

   This week has been good! We found 2 new investigators! The first one is Yoshida San. I think I mentioned her in my last email. We first met her on the street about 1 1/2 weeks ago. We talked with her a little bit about Jesus Christ and when we asked her if we could meet again, she gave us her phone number and her address and we were able to make an appointment for Tuesday. So we went to the appointment and she remembered us! Yes that's a good sign! :)  We were there for a long time and she just told us about her whole life basically. She really loves to talk, but she is so smart and so knowledgeable about the world. She lives by herself, oh she does have the cutest little dog I have ever seen! She used to be part of a religion called Sokagakai - which is a very strict Buddhist religion. She told us about how she never really believed it, but always thought that there was a God. We told her more about God and Jesus Christ and we ended up giving her a Book of Mormon. She took it and said that she was excited to read it! She really loves learning about other religions and so she says that she really wants to understand what we believe.

   The other new investigator is Shintani San. We met her while we were out housing on Monday night. She's about 30 years old, she's married and has 2 young sons (age 0 and 7) - super cute!! So when we first met her, she was standing outside of her house and she was smoking. I was a little hesitant to talk to her at first, but I just went right up to her and starting telling her what we believe. She didn't tell us to go away so I just kept talking. Basically she has never even thought about religion before, but when I asked her if we could come back, she said yes! So we went back again on Friday and talked with her for about 30 minutes about the Plan of Salvation and about Jesus Christ. Most people don't really understand what we are talking about, so I'm not sure that she really understood it, but she was willing to take a pamphlet and she said we could come back again! 

   One of our themes for the transfer is to 'Find the Elect'. And I know there there are people for us to find here. They may not know that they are looking for something more in their life, but once they hear it, they will realize that we have something good, and we want to share it with them!

Have a wonderful week!

Love you all!
Morrison Shimai
President and Sister Nakastuka


 Waiting for the subway

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Conference Weekend

Hello Everyone!
  So this past weekend we had the opportunity to watch general conference!  During the conference the prophet, all of the apostles as well as other leaders speak to us. This conference was so uplifting and hopeful. Some of the main topics that were spoken about was listening to and heeding the prophet's council. As well as finding out truth for ourselves through personal revelation from God.  As I listened to Thomas S. Monson I could just feel the Holy Ghost so strong, confirming to me that he truly is a prophet of God. I know that when he gives us council and direction, it is coming directly from the Lord.  However we also have a responsibility to find truth out for ourselves. I really liked a talk given about how it's ok for us to have questions about the truth and to have the desire to find truth for ourselves, but we need to look to God and truly study his word in order to receive that confirmation of whether or not it is true.  I know this church is God's church here on the earth today, and while we may not understand or know everything, we do know that we have a loving God who is our Father. He is always watching over and helping us, during our times of question and times of success. His love for us will never change.
   This week we also met with a few investigators. Oota San is an investigator who has a baptismal date for January 31st. She prays everyday, reads the scriptures and she even comes to church every week. This week we talked about Service and Enduring to the End. She was able to relate the good feelings we get when doing service to the Spirit. She really has a great desire to continue studying so that she can understand the church doctrine more fully. We also met a great lady named Yoshida San. We met her on the street on Friday. We had a great conversation about religion and apparently she has met with missionaries from many different churches before. She is definitely searching for the truth and it was such a miracle to have met her! We have another appointment to meet her next week so hopefully that will go well! I just know there are lots of people for us to find this transfer and I'm so excited for the opportunity to be able to work in the Heart of Sapporo for the last little while of my mission! 

Thanks for everything!   Have a wonderful week!
   
 Morrison Shimai

In Sapporo
With new companions


Dinner at Tony Roma's

Hello Kitty!

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Transferred!

Hello everyone! 

   So I finally made it to the city of Sapporo for the last few months of my mission! i never thought it would happen. but here I am livin' big in the big city! I was so shocked! But I know this transfer is going to be so much fun!!

   It was so hard to leave Hakodate! It was especially sad because me and Holt Shimai both got transferred out! ;( We cried a lot. We had to pass all of our investigators to the other shimai. But I know that they are all in good hands and Oonishi san still has a baptismal date so that is still super exciting! Please keep praying for her!

   So now I'm in Shinkotoni with Hojo Shimai and Yugawa Shimai. Yay a trio companionship! It's going to be so fun and I'm really excited. Yugawa Shimai is full Japanese, but she has lived in Hawaii all her life, but her Japanese is actually really good. Hojo Shimai is from Nagoya and she got to Japan the transfer after I got here, she doesn't speak any English but she is so funny! Sorry this is such a short letter, but I will be sure to tell you more about the area and the investigators and the members next week!!

   Love you all!!  Thanks for everything!   Have a wonderful week!!!
   
   Morrison Shimai

Last Week in Hakodate



 With Onishi San