The Last Blog Post - Coming Home Week!

Konnichiwa Minnasan!

   Sorry this will be a short letter, but I just have a few last thoughts that I would like to share with all of you. As I've been contemplating these last 18 months, I've had a lot of different emotions and thoughts. This last 18 months has probably been the hardest, biggest struggle of my whole life. I have cried so many times over things going the way I didn't want, feelings of inadequacy, and long days of feeling like I'm not making a difference in anyone's life. 

   But at the same time I have also experienced the greatest happiness and joy of my whole life. I have had the opportunity to meet amazing people who have so much faith and who are so strong in the gospel. I have had wonderful companions who have helped me to grow so much. We have had lots of fun times laughing and learning together. I have met wonderful members here who have such a strong desire to follow in the Savior's footsteps and share the gospel with everyone. I have been able to learn how to truly rely on my Savior and his help through the atonement. I have learned of the importance of daily scripture study. Heavenly Father truly speaks us through his written words and his living prophet. I know that through the power of prayer we can receive Heaven's help and strength for the daily struggles we all face. 

   I am not the perfect daughter. I am not the perfect student. I am not the perfect member. I am not the perfect ice skater (I still fall on the ice everyday. :)) And I'm not the perfect missionary. But no matter who we are, as long as we are trying our very best Heavenly Father will always be proud of us! As long as we follow the Savior and truly love everyone, we will be so happy in our lives, and I know that is true!

   Thank you so much for all you love and support! I truly love you all and hope you have a wonderful week! See you soon! :)

Morrison Shimai

 Endou Family

 Coming Home

 Merry Christmas from Yagawa Shimai and Jazmyne

Unexpected Miracles

Hello Everyone!!

   We had a pretty good week. A lot of our appointments fell through again. :( Oota San is still doing great! We are still helping her to be able to recognize the spirit. Whenever we ask her how she feels when she reads the Book of Mormon, prays, and goes to church she always says that she feels normal, not necessarily bad or good, just normal. I know that she feels the spirit when we meet with her, but I thought maybe it was because she just didn't recognize that it was the spirit. So me and Yugawa Shimai were talking about it, and she suggested that maybe Oota San feels the spirit pretty much all the time. Maybe she always has those sorts of good feelings and that is why it is normal to her. I thought that was a really interesting thought. I think she does feel the spirit a lot of the time and to her that is just a normal feeling.

   One really good thing that did happen this week was when we went to meet an old investigator. She wasn't home, but when we were leaving her neighbor called out to us and asked if we needed any help. He's probably in his 50s and he lives alone. He was really nice and when we told him that we couldn't go into his house, he stayed outside and talked to us for about 30 minutes. We talked about missionary work and a little about the church. He seemed to have some interest so we are going to give his address to the chorotachi (the Elders). 

   It's hard sometimes when we feel like we are working really hard, but don't necessarily see the kinds of miracles that we want to. We've been searching, and searching for new investigators all transfer and haven't found any yet, but we've been able to find some Potential Investigators for the chorotachi. I guess we have our miracles and sometimes they aren't what we expect, but they are still miracles and blessings from Heavenly Father. 

   Hope you all have a wonderful week!!

   Morrison Shimai

Teaching Christmas Music @ Eikaiwa (English Class)