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.