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Sunday, August 30, 2015

Today I am Happy

Well this is the last email of the transfer! What?
This week was once again crazy busy and crazy fast!
I was able to return to my homeland of Obihiro. It is the birthplace
of my mission life. I went on splits with Chambers Shimai and she is a
boss at missionary work. I also got to spend the night with Wallwork
Shimai who has the same trainer as I did. So mission sisters together
in our homeland. It was magical. So Obihiro is know for its food.
Needless to say we are too much while we were there.
Friday we were fed by one of the best people I have ever met. Her name
is Oda Shimai and she is the perfect example of Christlike humility.
The only way to describe her is an angel. After feeding us she gave us
a referral which we proceeded to visit after lunch! She is just the
best!
She also makes cheesecake out of clouds or something it is so good!
That same night we were fed by another member... So much food.
Saturday we ate once again! This time it was with a sweet new convert
named Mari Chan who is now working three jobs so she can save up and
go on a mission. She is my hero.
Sometimes at night my companion finds me beating our futons and
vacuuming out the room because I continue to find these disgusting
little silver bugs that look like aliens. She just laughs.
Almost got hit by a bus this week. I feel like I play Frogger everyday
of my life here.
Sorry this email is all over the place! But, one last thing. We
visited another recent convert named Ida Shimai. And one thing I
learned from her is that we choose to be happy. She told us her
favorite phrase she learned in English is "today I am happy." True
that Ida Shimai.
I love you all. I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve a
mission. The gospel is true! Keep the faith!
Kempner Shimai



Sunday, August 23, 2015

For the Beauty of the Earth

What a week. I cannot believe it is already Monday and I am emailing again. Time is crazy. 
Monday- Fed by a wonderful family who owns a whole foods store. Super delicious!
Tuesday- Our sweet Yugawa Shimai had a bike accident and had to go home so there was some scrambling and emergency transfers. We got to go pick up a sister from the bus station that day. Then we had Eikaiwa and we met the new senior couple. They are too cute. Married three years ago but still act like newly weds. Suuuuper cute. 
Wednesday- had Zone Conference. It was amazing! Heard everything I needed to hear. I am so blessed to be in a mission that is so focused on love. It is unbelievable the amount of love these people have. 
Thursday-We headed to Kushiro for Splits. Kushiro is a magical land. On the way there and back you ride right next to the ocean. One of the times I really know God lives and loves us is when I see the ocean. What a beautiful world He has given us to appreciate and learn and grow in. I hope we can all take a minute to appreciate everyday the beauty of the earth that Heavenly Father has so lovingly given us. Also when you sleep at night you don't die because it is sooo hot. And you wake up to the sound of seagulls instead of crows. It is a misty little land next to the sea. 
But, probably the biggest reason why it is so magical is because a little Fairy named Cooper Shimai is there. I had the amazing opportunity to go on splits  with Cooper Shimai, one of my MTC companions. The day started with a broken bike chain, we fixed like champs with the help of Heavenly Father and a little boy who lives downstairs. Next was Sushi(some of the best around) and then a visit to a sweet 16 year old less active. We sang hymns and talked about prayer. Long story short we saw lots of miracles that day. 
The biggest miracle was the opportunity to see Cooper Shimai at work. If there is one thing I have learned from her it is love. She loves everyone and lets them know it. From the minute we got there until the second we left she served and served and served us. She has had such an impact on my life and I thank God everyday to have a friend like her. 
Sunday- we were able to meet with our investigator Kaga San. She has had a very hard life, but she is changing. It is so amazing to see the atonement work in people's lives!
Today we went to the Sapporo temple for our district activity. I am so happy for the people of Hokkaido. What a prepared people and what a beautiful temple!
I love you all!
Kempner 姉妹
Zone Conference

Fixing that bike

Sushi!!

Chips and salsa to a whole new level

The Temple

 

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Crows are Jerks

I don't actually even know what happened this week. 
Well the heavens opened up multiple times with rain and blessings. 
Seriously it has been raining like crazy here!  
Tuesday I had the lovely opportunity of giving our district trading meeting workshop in Japanese. I survived. We also visited a member and talked about her conversion story. It was pretty crazy! But, the members here are so incredibly strong, it is very humbling. So, we had gone to this bakery earlier called Boston Bake(the bread here in Japan is ridiculously good!) Came out after visiting the members and the blasted crows stole it from our bikes. I hate the crows here! They are huge and numberless. They are like some strange mutant creature that should exist only in The Hunger Games. Crows are jerks. 
Wednesday we headed to my home Asahikawa for splits. Because it is summer break there were so many people at the bus station and we missed our first bus because there were so many people. But, we were able to get one. So it was on the verge of raining all day, we prayed so hard it would just wait a little so we could dendo. Miraculously, as soon as we got on the bus it came down! Miracle!✨
Wednesday I got to go on splits with Welch Shimai. She is a brand new baby bean and such a killer missionary. We had a ton of fun and she taught me so much about the urgency of this work. I was also able to see an old investigator, Ayako San and we had a suuuuper good lesson. Miracle✨ However after scarfing down some delicious Egyptian taco this we missed our bus to Suehiro. So we crashed in Asahikawa again!
The next day we went to Suehiro and I got to go on splits with Davis Shimai also a brand new baby bean. As we were praying to leave the apartment there was a huge crash of thunder and then the rain came. You know I love rain, but as a missionary it has become my enemy. Anyway, we suited up and headed out. 
Saturday we came home and met with another member and she told us all about her member missionary work. She is a stellar member missionary! Very inspiring and humbling. 
Also ate some SUPER good fried chicken and ran into a sweet little recent convert who actually works and the restaurant. I've learned to follow my stomach on my mission. It will lead you to Less Active Members, investigators, and new converts. 
Sunday I had to translate for this little girl who's family just moved into the Ward. It was a neat opportunity. Taught me how much harder I need to study Japanese...
We also did this thing called a Nagashi Soumen. They run noodles down pipes and you pick them out and eat them. It was quite the challenge, but way fun! 
Sorry I have so much to say this week! I love you all. 
Keep the Faith!
Kempner 姉妹

The crows took our bread. Note: this is neither of our bikes... Jerks. 

Splits with the Asahikawa Shimai

Splits with Suehiro Shimai. If you haven't noticed we are always eating. YOSO ( You only serve once...)

Nagashi Somen after church. Yum!🍜
 
 

Sunday, August 9, 2015

The Foreigners always come to Church by Themselves

I really can't believe I am already emailing again. I say this every week, but each week really does get faster! This was a good week though! Full of miracles!
Last Monday we had a double zone activity. It is fun to be in the city because you get to see more missionaries! We also found this cute lady on the street and she gave us her number and said we could call for an appointment. Wahoo! Miracle. ✨
Tuesday we were finally able to meet with one of our investigators. Her name is Nooda San. She has stage four lung cancer and she is awesome! She is so happy and kind and really loves the Book of Mormon. But her Health is just so bad it is hard to meet her. Please pray for her!
Wednesday was a normal day full of loooots of finding. 
Thursday same old same old. Finding. 
Friday we had Zone Training Meeting. We had some really good workshops on the Process of Conversion. And Remembering our Roots. Like the fundamentals of the gospel and stuff. Then we ate all you can eat yaki niku. You just get to cook your own meat. There are lots of different kinds and whoa did we eat. Then while housing we refound this lady we had talked to on the street! Miracle✨ she was busy but said we could come back!
Saturday was rough. We were finding all day. And everyone said no. It was super weird. Then we went to the big main part of the city to talk to people and still everyone said no or didn't even look at us. 
But, then Sunday came around! Sunday was a day of miracles!✨ 
First miracle. The ward mission leader showed up to our meeting on time. Haha really that is actually a miracle. 
Second. This kid named Isa Kun, he is less active and his mom is having a really hard time with him. But! He went to the young men and young women's camp and then bore his testimony about it in sacrament! Today he taught us a dance he is super cool!
Third after church this brother introduces a lady to us. She is from China but speaks Japanese and has lived in Japan for about twelve years. But she has walked past the church a few times and wanted to come. So we were able to show her the chapel and teach a little about the restoration. She said she would come to church next week too! Miracle!✨ For some reason people who aren't from Japan always just come to church by themselves. 
So I have a testimony that miracles do happen! I love you all and hope you have a great week!
Love Kempner姉妹
 



 

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Faith is the Power

Every week goes by faster then the last. It is weird!
Well Thursday I hit my one year mark! To celebrate me and my comp.
went out to eat like everyday... Hokkaido has GOOD food!
We have been doing so much finding this week! Basically all day
everyday we are out there looking for those prepared people. It is fun
to talk to anyone and everyone, but finding sure takes a lot out of
you.
I got to go to MLK this week. The leaders of the mission get together
and talk about how we can strengthen the missionaries and the mission.
It is always super fun(if I can follow what everyone is saying). But,
a really big plus is we get Costco pizza for lunch. Super good!
I have decided to focus on "faith is the power" this transfer. Moiwa
really needs to see some miracles and written up and down all over the
Book of Mormon is how miracles are wrought by our faith. Therefore, we
are really trying to have faith and give everyday everything we have!
We have already seen some miracles! An old investigator randomly
called us the other day. She is in her 20s and just wanted to say
hello. So she gave us a call and we have an appointment with her on
Thursday! We also got a referral from our Ward mission leader.
Referrals are few and far between so that was definitely a miracle!
I know that as a missionary and not as a missionary if we have faith
in the Lord we can see miracles everyday! Love you all! Have a good
week!
Kempner 姉妹
Shout out to my sister Chloe and her 18th birthday
Another shout out to my sisters boyfriend Hayden who joined the army