2nd Email August 7, 2014

On Thu, Aug 7, 2014 at 9:27 AM, Alexis Kempner <alexis.kempner@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Konichiwa!

Or I guess since it is only 9 AM it would still be ohaiyo gozaimus. (I'm not sure if that is how you spell it. Dad don't judge me.) So I have officially made it through my first week of being a missionary. People say the mission goes by so fast, demo(but) so far that is not true. My and my companions feel like this has been the longest week of our lives.

I am in a tricompanionship. Their names are Adams Shimai and Cooper Shimai. Adams is from Kaysville, Utah and Cooper is from Payson. We already have lots of plans to go horseback riding and boating at Lake Powell when we are home. They are so sweet and fun and I feel extremely blessed to have them as companions!

So, I am sick. Ya, that would happen. I never get sick, demo I do the first week of being at the MTC. But my companions have taken the role of being my mom. Adams gives me airborne and Cooper Shimai forces awful doterra oils down my throat. Mom, she has that little travel pack I think you were talking about. Anyway, I also took nyquil last night which was like manna from heaven!

Basically, Japanese is really hard. I get super frustrated because all the Elders in my district but one have some kind of background with Japanese so they are farther along than me and my comps. But my teachers keep telling us we aren't here to learn Japanese. We are here to learn to teach the people of Japan. Another thought I also really liked was that we don't need to learn the language of Japanese, but the language of the Spirit. I just need to have more faith that Heavenly Father will fulfill His promises and help me. He also is sending me to Japan for a reason and I just need to remember that. (But it is still frustrating.)

The elders in my district are all 18. They are teaching us to have lots of patience... Rees Choro and Birch Choro are also going to Sapporo with me and my comps and Smith Choro, Brodie Choro, and Spenst Choro are going to Sendai. Also my comps and i are the only shimaitachi (sisters) is our zone so we are already Sister Training leaders. So there is that. Oh, side note, Dad one of my teachers went to Fukuoka. I LOVE my zone and like all of the Japanese missionaries. Everyone is just so friendly and actually really really funny. So I feel very loved and it is like having one big dysfunctional family who are trying to speak Japanese.

Yes, the chocolate milk is as good as they say it is. But apparently something is wrong with orange juice. I guess it gives you the runs or something,.. no one will really tell us. So we are steering clear of that! 

Email time equals anxiety because you only have an hour and there is lots to say and many to email so it is stressful. But all in all, all is well. I am still alive. We are all already tired all day everyday and Japanese is hard. But the MTC is pretty awesome. I am meeting so many AMAZING people from around the world who I already love. The Spirit also just has free reign here. There are no distractions and if you let it it can just constantly flow through you.

AI shite mas!

Kempner Shimai 

PS Sorry this email is so long. Also write letters! They are missionary gold. And thank you for the letters and packages i have already gotten.

P.P.S Funny story. The other night there was a loud noise (I don't remember this.) But Cooper Shimai woke up and said what was that and I guess I said I'm scared and Adams Shimai just started yelling in Japanese "Wakarimasen!" Which is I don't understand. Oh, the happenings of the MTC.