It's Coming!

Well, it snowed. It's gone already, but it snowed. It's coming. The
winter that gives us claim to being the "Frozen Chosen". It's coming.
But, I'm excited about it!
This week was good and of course fast. Here are some highlights. The
ones I can remember anyway. Seriously I can't remember what happened.
Monday- found a house full of people from America and England. They
weren't interested, but it was way cool!
Wednesday- visited a member. She gave us waaaay to many treats. But, I
left her house happy.
Thursday- had dinner with a member and the elders. She invited her
friend over who got baptized because she introduced him to the
missionaries when she got baptized. She is an awesome missionary.
Saturday we got two new investigators wahooooo!
And Sunday of course is great because the church is true and I love this Ward.
I can't believe it is already Halloween, but happy Halloween.
Love you all. have a good week!

Kempner Shimai

Shout out to my trainer who got married this week. Woop woop!

Be Happy! ALWAYS

This week we got transfer calls! And I'm staying in Moiwa with my
sweet bean Zollier Shimai. Our ZL became AP so he gave us our transfer
calls, but usually we get them from the APs so I didn't believe him.
Thought he was just joking, but nope it was real. A little
anticlimactic.
So Friday we had the opportunity to dendo with a member who is leaving
for her mission in November. It was way fun! Unfortunately they two
people we wanted to meet were busy, so we did a lot of finding! But
before we met up with the member we stopped this cute Grandma on the
street. And, she just starts talking to us in English and telling us
how she is 80 and starts reciting her favorite poems. It was adorable.
Then she asked why we came and missions and we told her because this
gospel makes us so happy. She says "yes, I see it in your eyes. You
look So happy!" As she was leaving she just kind of shout to us "Be
happy Always!" It made our day. This gospel really is what brings us
happiness and people can see that!
Saturday we went out to dinner with Mari Chan a recent convert then
had an awesome lesson about prayer with an investigator Mitobe San.
She was kind of closed off at the beginning but know she is really
open to us and always starts the lesson on her own.
We decided as missionaries to feed the bishop and his wife. So we sent
the elders to get stuff and we receive a call from the grocery store
asking what needs to be bought for salad... They actually ended up
making a good salad though! It was really fun though to work together
and show our love and appreciation for the bishop. And now they
invited us over to their house to feed us. It is crazy. No matter how
hard you try to give away you always get more.
I love you all and hope you have a great week!
Kempner Shimai

Love, the essence of EVERYTHING

And another one bites the dust. One more week gooooone! But what a good week!
Tuesday we had ZTM and somehow I got thrown into a musical number that
morning. #stillcantsing. Our district leader and one of our ZLs
decided to take on an eating challenge after the meeting. It was
disgusting.
Wednesday we conquered a mountain in order to decorate the little
American girl on our ward's bedroom for her birthday. Ya, that was
rough. If you don't have gears on your bike you end up walking.
Thursday we were graced by the presence of a tsunami. It wasn't as bad
as other parts of Japan, but whoa was the wind blowing. So walking
around in that was quite the adventure.
Friday, after being fed by a member at a very fancy all you can eat
hotel buffet, we went to try and contact a referral we had received.
She is by far one of the most energetic grandmas I have ever met. She
talked our ear off for 45 minutes. But, it was a miracle that we
actually found the shop where she works and that she actually talked
to us! We also tried, as missionaries, to start our own FHE for
investigators and members and stuff. The turn out was pretty small,
but that is how these things start and I think it will take off!
Saturday and Sunday were crazy good because of General Conference of
course! It is amazing to see how God calls His servants and how the
Spirit of Revelation works through them. And also to see how it works
through us when our prayers and questions are answered. Man I just
love conference! I am so sad it is my last one as a missionary!
Sunday evening we were fed by the cutest little family, the Domons.
They also invited over two other families one of which was the new
American family, the Tulls. It was so cool to see the boundaries of
language and culture transcend as we all tried to communicate with one
another. It was just a really beautiful evening full of so much love!
Love can overcome any obstacle.
I am so thankful to be serving here in Japan. I have fallen in love
with this place and with these people. I love sharing the gospel and I
know that it is true. I love you all and hope you have a great week!
Love Kempner Shimai

Tight Like unto a Dish

I am going to agree with my good friend Sister Maddy Rasmussen in the
fact that there is a conspiracy theory of the speeding up of time.
Well, I hope everyone got to watch conference! We have to wait a
whoooole week. Can't wait.
So this week was jam packed of goodness.
Monday we had a zone activity and we're finally able to meet some
investigators and a less active member.
Wednesday was my one year mark of being in Japan!!! I celebrated by
going on splits with Morishita Shimai. We came together from the MTC
so we celebrated by of course eating an obscene amount of sushi.
Thursday we were fed by an Angel of a member named Oda Shimai. She
feeds us hard core! Then we had a super good role play lesson with a
member. I am learning that members play such a big role in missionary
work. Part of our role as missionaries is strengthening the members
and we get strengthened right back!
Friday we had Mission Leader Conference. As always it was very good
and spiritual!
Saturday we had interviews with President Nakatsuka and he is the
best! He is really a man called of God. Somehow he is able to answer
all my questions and make everything ok. Love him. Also went to the
orthodontist because my stupid retainer broke. And had dinner with a
member who brought her friend. Her name is Tandou Shimai and she is a
better missionary than I am! Halfway through the evening she was in
her kitchen praying for her friend. This Ward is awesome!
So President Nakatsuka read ether 12:6 to me in my interview. He told
me how if we are tight like unto a dish whatever situation we are in
we will be ok because we have been prepared.
Well I love you all and hope you all have a great week.
Love Kempner Shimai