I wish I were a Penguin

This week was quite eventful!
Apparently there was a hurricane and it reached Hokkaido which is crazy
because storms never reach us.
Well all the missionaries were gathered in Sapporo for transfers, but we
all got calls saying we couldn`t leave our apartments on Wednesday because
of the storm. Weird thing is it was such a beautiful day, so I think they
were just being cautious. So, we sat in the apartment ALL. DAY. LONG!
But, no worries everyone is safe!
I got my new comp, Osugi Shimai. She is so sweet!!! Sometimes I think we
both pretend like we know what the other one is saying just for the sake of
time. I usually just end up doing what she does becuase I have no idea what
she said haha!
We got to go caroling to investigators, had our ward Christmas party, and
last night the seminary students fed us dinner. So a really good start! Oh,
except I had to speak in sacrament, that is never fun!
So Asahikawa is nuts. It has not stopped snowing since I got here. People
keep saying it is the coldest area they let sisters go to... I slip every
single day. I just wish I were a penguin so I could get everywhere faster!
But, I will most definetley have a white Christmas!
Osugi Shimai is amazing! She is always thinking of others. This morning we
woke up at 5 so she could make cake for members because we wouldn`t have
time today. She is crazy!
Well, I can`t believe it is already Christmas! I hope you all have a
wonderful week and enjoy time with your families and remeber why we have
this season!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Sister Kempner

Hey look at how cool the moon looks! Oh, that`s a satellite dish...‏

Well, hello hello! Can you believe it is the middle of December? I can`t! I hope you are all having a really good Christmas season!

This week was kind of crazy. But first of all, I found my camera! Thank heavens for that!

Monday we went to Kushiro for a Zone activity and for Zone Training Meeting. We played a mean game of capture the flag with little nerf guns. Senior companions against junior companions. It was really fun! Zone Training Meeting was also really good!

On Thursday some of our friends took us to get sushi before transfers came. It was so good! I ate some eel and fish egg sushi. That was not my favorite.

Friday we had an awesome lesson with Tsuruno San. She has a baptism date so we started teaching her the commandments. The only one we thought she would have a problem with is the Word of Wisdom, so we decided to get that one out of the way. When we asked her to keep it she said `Well, if that`s all it is I can do that. I don`t really do any of that stuff anyway.` We were shocked and so happy! She is definitely prepared!

Saturday we had a really good lesson with two of our investigators, and a ward member fed all the missionaries lunch, so that was a good day!

Then came Sunday. We have been expecting transfer calls either Sunday or Monday. We have been nervous messes all week. If it came on Sunday that meant one of us (Johnson Shimai) was training. Well sure enough the phone rings Sunday night. Johnson Shimai is training again! I am transferring to Asahikawa and my new companion will be Osugi Shimai. I am kind of terrified because she is Japanese and my Japanese is not good! But, the Lord is  in all things and I know that I will learn a lot next transfer!

Oh, this morning while walking to email Johnson Shimai says, Hey look at how cool the moon looks! So I look and it did look really cool. Then she said, oh that is a satellite dish. And we laughed and laughed. Hence the title of this email!

Well I hope you all have a really good week!

Kempner Shimai

Sometimes the Elders in our district make us really nice Christmas Presents

This is cute Tsuruno San



Our ward mission leader gave us way cool Japanese shoes... everyones feet are too big for them haha.

 

Some things lost, others gained‏

Missions are extremely interesting experiences. Each week, each day is so different from the other. But, we had a really good week this week!

First of all it snowed. The first snowfall of the year is always so magical and Johnson Shimai and I were just tickled! 

We also had an awesome experience last Monday. We were going to visit and old investigator, but they weren`t home. We were kind of discouraged, and to add to our deflated spirits it was pouring rain and we were soaked! We decided to go knock on some doors. We ended about finding this man named Kato San. He recently moved from Tokyo. Well, he knows lots of LDS people, has met with missionaries before, and has the BOM and reads it occasionally! He wasn`t like Oh! Come in and tell me more! But, he has totally been prepared! It was such a testimony builder for me. This really is the Lord`s work, and He is in charge of it all. He puts us in the right places at the right time!

We also made a baptismal date with our investigator, Tsuruno San! She is just the sweetest little lady. She filled out the questions in the back of the pamphlets we hand out, all on her own and wanted to make sure she had all the right answers! We were so shocked! It might be slow going with her, but I am confident she will be baptized! 

We also, finally had some investigators at church! We are kind of doing this team up thing with some of the elders to teach this family. I am not sure why, but that is just the way it worked out. Anyway, the whole family came to all of church! And one of our other investigators came to sacrament. It was pretty great!

However, I am still me and do stupid things like lose my camera... So our ward mission leader is a saint and took us to the Police Station (because in Japan people are awesome and don`t steal things they find and turn them in to police stations!) and they think they have it. They will call us today. So you lose some things like your camera, but gain other things like investigators coming to church! Oh, so no pictures this week haha.

Also! Transfers are next week!!! Either Johnson Shimai or I will be transfered and we are so sad! She is such an awesome missionary and a stellar trainer! But, we are so sad because we have been getting so prepared and excited for Christmas, but we won`t even be together! Oh well, it is all up to Heavenly Father!

Well, that`s about it for this week! Sorry, it is kind of long! But, I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season! I am not sure if I shared this, but there is a video on LDS.org called Share the Gift. WATCH IT! It really puts this time of year into perspective, And once you have watched it, don`t forget to share the gift!

I love you all!

Sister Kempner

Mormon helping hands in Obihiro. They served at a home for old people. This is our annual activity.



They love this time to welcome people coming to church. People are cheered by their hand shaking.

They gathered together to visit less active members. A pair that consists of a missionary and a member is assigned to visit some less-active member. This regular activity is held once in about three months. We call it Shion dendo. Shion means Zion. Dendo means proselyting. The elder quorum in Obihiro ward started this activity about ten years ago. It has continued so far. This picture was posted by Brother Asano. Brother Kawada is assigning each pair some less-active member whom they should visit.

Tonight we had a gyoza-party with all the missionaries and four investigators. As you see, 21 people were in my small house. But it was fun and spiritual because Elder Dawson shared a spiritual message with us. He translated a letter from his home ward bishop into Japanese. His message was that through the faith unto Jesus Christ we can change our weakness to strength. It was perfect fit to me. Thank you, Elder Dawson.

Johnson Shimai and Kempner Shimai. What amazing missionaries these two are. And what a blessing they have been to each other.

Thanksgiving, Dog Cafe`s, Curry, and a baptism make Kempner Shimai a Happy Missionary!‏

What a week!

This week was pretty good! On Monday the Single Adults put on this quiz game thing. I`m not really sure. But, we all went into a room and had to solve puzzles in order to escape Babylon. I`m sure it was more exciting than that, but it was all in Japanese so needless to say I was of no help! But, two of our investigators came and the really liked it!

Tuesday we went on splits with the Sister Training Leaders. I was with the cutest little Japanese sister, but I was really nervous because I can`t speak Japanese and I had no idea where to go. But, somehow we communicated and navigated the streets of Obihiro! Splits are awesome, you always learn so much.

Oh, HAPPY THANKSGIVING last week... So I have a really great mom who sent us a package full of instant things like potatoes and stuffing and strange bagged chicken. So, that night we had a feast! It was really fun to be so American in Japan.

Saturday this sweet little grandma in our ward, Doyama Shimai, invited us to her house for her birthday. She made us really yummy curry and I just want to put her in my bike basket and take her home!

So, we have been teaching this little girl in our ward. Her family are all members, and she is only 8, but her parents wanted her to hear the lessons from the missionaries before she got baptized. So we taught her. But, she got baptized and sunday and it was almost like having our own baptism, almost.

We had to drop 11 investigators this week! It was really hard, but no one was progressing or make commitments so we needed to let them go and try and find those who are prepared and ready to hear the gospel. We are still working with a lot of people, but now we have finding time which is kind of exciting! The Lord always provides a way, especially when we are doing His work!

I hope you all have a really good week!

Oh, and Happy December!!!

I know thanksgiving has passed, but I encourage all of you to read President Uchtdorf`s talk Grateful in any Circumstance. Or something like that. It is golden

 

Thanksgiving package from the most amazing mom ever!!

Christmas decoration from home.

A beautiful glittery nativity scene.

Such yummy food here.

Our Bounteous meal!!

Koharu Chan and friend at the dog café.

splits with the Sister Training Leaders

The Beautiful Doyama Shimai.

Tsubaki Chan and her Family. I think Japanese families take the cake for being the cutest!

My cute companion on Thanksgiving.

 

A Blast to the Past!!

This week was awesome!

We went to Sapporo for Zone Conference. It was sooo good! Everything that was said was exactly what I needed to hear. Crazy how that happens! Unfortunatley we were late getting there (we are always getting lost and late) and my heels started to bleed while trying to find the church. Oh, the adventures of a mission! Our mission president gave an awesome talk about love! You learn so much about love on a mission!

But, I was able to see Cooper Shimai at the train station, and Adams Shimai is in my zone so I got to sit by her during conference! Also I stayed in Yugawa Shimai`s apartment, so it was just a little blast to the past!

It is also beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Just in our apartment mostly. We listen to a lot of Christmas music and make far too many snowflakes. But, I love it!

Saturday, we got to go clean an old folks home. It was really fun! Then that eveing we went to Elder Neilson and Fa`alafua`s inestigator`s baptism! They are really killing it!

Well, there isn`t much to say this week. BUt, I love you all and hope you have a great week!

 

I am taking this baby home with me

With Cooper Shimai at the train station (MTC companions)

With Adams Shimai, (MTC companions)

 

`We really focus on failing`‏

Ohiogozaimasu!

So sometimes you go and get curry and nan with your district. The nan is huge right? And sometimes and elder eats 7 of them! It was ridiculous. That same day you also chase crows through the Japanese forest and meet a bunch of people from the Netherlands. Oh, the life of a missionary.

 

It is also freezing here. Apparently in Obihiro we dont get a ton of snow, it just gets really cold. So wahoo! I had to break out my huge winter coat.

 

We had a really awesome team up lesson with a Sister in our ward. I also had to read a scripture during the lesson. Let me tell you, it was rough. But, this sweet investigator is so prepared! I am really excited for her! We showed her how to use the BOM to answer questions and she told us that the questions we asked were the questions she had, so I think she will really dive into it now!

 

We also got to go to a Young Womens activity. It was really fun and we ate delicious gyozas! The Young Women were so cute. And I still cant speak japanese. Instead of telling them my ward really focused on personal progress and told them my ward really focused on failing. So that was awesome. But, luckily my companion cleared it up for everyone.

 

That's all I got this week. Being a missionary is so cool! I am seeing peoples lives being changed through the BOM and through our Savior. I wouldn`t change it for the world!

 

 

We welcome people who come to church. Today many people felt their love.

Today's Mission Coordination Meeting. Our missionaries has been working hard to prepare their investigators for the baptism. Our discussion is so spiritual because they share their special experiences with each other.

It's a Small Small World

Nakamura Family invited all the young women and Sisters in our ward to their house and had dinner and many interesting activities. They made gyoza, which is Chinese food and is like Lasagna. Sisters said,"They are cute." Sister Nakamura found through the conversation with Sister Kempner that she were serving in the same mission as Sister Kempner's father was in the same period. Her name before marriage was Sister Shimizu Ryoko. Sorry, Sister Nakamura took this picture. It means she is not in this picture.

I still can`t speak Japanese‏

Well I will be honest. Email time is stressful! But I love it!

Every week I realize how blessed I am to be a missionary! I have such amazing experiences and meet extraordinary people.

I am also frequently humbled. This week I have come to learn that this truly is the Lord`s work, and He is preparing people, and things work on His time table. Not ours. I still really need to work on understanding that.

But this week we FINALLY had an investigator come to church! She previously had a baptism date that fell through and she started to fall away. But we kept visiting her and she came to sacrament and wants to go to FHE and we have an appointment with her. I am so excited for her!

We also work with a lot of interesting people here in Obihiro. But I keep thinking of Elder Holland`s talk from this last conference. Are we not all beggars? It is an awesome experience to try and show Heavenly Father`s and Christ`s love to those who need it most.

Oh, this week was transfer week, but because I am a bean nothing changed for me. Our whole district stayed the same except one elder transefered. He will be missed!

Sorry I don`t have much to say this week! But I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Kempner Shimai

Oh, and I still can`t speak Japanese :)

 

They put sugar on their corndogs here...  A cute member we did a team up lesson with gave them to us haha. But it was actually delicious

Hooray for packages!!

 

Happy 1 month in Japan, Happy Baptism, Happy Halloween. Happy happy happy!‏

So this week has been great!

We have been trying to get one of our investigators to read the BOM. She loves the bible, but she wont read the BOM. So last week she promised us she would. We asked her to read the first chapter of 1st Nephi. Well she misunderstood our Japanese. This week when we went to visit her she told us she read the whol book of 1st Nehpi!! We were so happy! It was awesome. She still wont come to church, but I have faith that good things will happen with her. We also prayed with her for the first time, so that was awesome! Sometimes you pray for the gift of tongues and sometimes that gift works in mysterious ways!

 

Saturday we had our Harry Potter Halloween Party. It was the best. I never thought Harry Potter would play such a role in my mission, but I am not sad! We had a lot of investigators come so that was really great! But they still won`t come to church. The Japanese are quite stubborn!

Nelson Choro and Fa`alafua Choro had a baptism on Sunday. It was a really neat experience!

 

Ok I am gonna be a missionary real quick. I have learned how important member missionary work is! We finally had a lesson with a member there and it was amazing! And when the members fellowship investigators they progress so much faster. I never realized how crucial it was before a mission.

 

I also read an awesome talk about the enabling power of the Atonement, which I never really understood. It is by Elder Bednar and called In the Strength of the Lord. So yup yall should read it.

 

Well thats about it! I hope you all have a great week!

 

Ai Shite Imasu!

 

Happiness

 

 

Baptism

GO GO GRIFFENDOR! (if thats how you spell it...)

 

Brother Kasahara's baptism and celebration

Yesterday, after Halloween Party Elder Nielsen and Elder Fa'alafua started to prepare for the baptism service for Mr. Kasahara. They cleaned the baptism font. When Elder Nielsen turned the faucet of the baptismal font, the brown rusty water came out. It told us how long we haven't seen anyone baptized.
This morning they came to church at 6:00 and put hot water into the baptismal font. Elder Nielsen wore a white shirt, pants, and tie. They worked so hard for Brother Kasahara. So tonight we celebrated on Brother Kasahara's baptism at my garage. After that, we talked in my house and heard a message from Elder Morgan. It was a wonderful message. He taught us that anybody had a good trait.

Halloween in Japan

So many people came to our Halloween Party. One of the church member advertised our party on a famous newspaper in this area. That is why we could introduce our church and missionaries' work to many people. Sisters got three investigators in this party. Elders could invite their friends who accept their messages to this party. I made a script of the play and made a plan for this party, but thanks to missionaries, it was beyond my imagination. We could unite to make the party a powerful mission tool. I was amazed at their power.

 

 

The Best Laid Plans of Sister Johnson and Sister Kempner often go Ary‏

We plan very well as missionaries, but those plans never quite work out. We are constantly lost. It is impossible to navigate the Japanese streets! But I have faith one day our cluelessness will lead us to someone who needs the gospel.

I went on splits this week with the STL`s which was awesome I learned a ton!

On tuesday we went to visit the members in our ward who live in a different city and ended up being put in real Japanese kimonos for far too long. But, it was awesome! Pictures to follow.

Then we had Stake Conference in Sapporo which is about 3 hours away by bus. It was really cool to see so many members there.

Our ward is having a Halloween Party and it is Harry Potter themed. I am far to pleased with this idea! So for a District Activity yesterday we made wands. It was the best! Our Ward Mission Leader is also making us do a play and lets just say I still can@t speak Japanese and I will never win an oscar.

The work here is slow, but we have several progressing investigators so that it great! We have been studying hope lately and I am really hopeful things will progress here in Japan.

I hope you all have a great Week!

 

Kimonos

 



Kimonos

Wands

We are so Japanese

 


The Real Thing

Our cute stls. Doesnt the japanese one look like penelope from wreck it ralph?

I love my district!