Japan

Japan

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Wake me up when September co- wait a second, what happened to August? / Week #65

Konnichiwa minasan! 

I cannot believe that August is almost over. Where did this month go? I guess I was just having too much fun. 

So this past week we have been getting everything Sister Welte needs to be a successful missionary in Japan. She has a bike now! (It's the same brand as mine:) So we are ready to go! 
I think this week has been a slight adjustment for the new missionaries but we are all learning together.

This past week we found a new investigator, Yamamoto san. We talked to him about Heavenly Father and gave him a Book of Mormon and promised him he can learn truth by reading it. I think he doesn't really believe in any one God or truth. But he has read the Bible so that's cool. He agreed to read the Introduction to the Book of Mormon and we are going to talk about it the next time we meet, which hopefully will be tonight!

We also met with Morioka san this week. He has to work for 10 days straight with no day off so he has been really tired. His work sounds horrible. But we talked to him some more about prayer and how it really can help him each day. So he actually agreed to pray this time! We will see how that goes...

As for Mitchell, I believe he should be back at the end of this week. So we are excited for that!

We also took over Sister Parmley and Sister Chapman's investigator, Kelli, who has a baptism date for September. She is in the Navy and she is super cool. I will tell you more about her next week!

Everyone have a great week! Thanks for emailing/writing me, I really appreciate it! If I don't get back to you I promise it's not because I don't like you!

Malone Shimai
                                                
                                          Me & my new bean - Welte Shimai

Me, Welte Shimai and Willson Shimai 

Zone Training - Aug 2015

The three of us at Eikaiwa

Before Stevenson Shimai left...
Kelli & Kevin

Me & Stevenson Shimai with the Manns

Thursday, August 20, 2015

It's pure craziness! It's missionary life / Week #64

Konnichiwa minasan!! 

Well this has been quite the week. I celebrated my birthday. I helped all 3 of my roommates pack and leave for their new areas, and then welcomed 3 new roommates, 2 of which are brand new missionaries in Japan. And then we all went to the Fukuoka temple this weekend. So it has been quite the week.

And because you are all dying to know. My new companions name is Sister Welte (pronounced well-tee). She is 21 and from Las Vegas (Brian and Lore you should be very happy right now). She went to BYU before her mission too! She is really eager to work and already loves the Japanese people so we are set to go!

It's funny all the things I forget that new missionaries don't know. So I am having to remind myself to slow down and explain things more. But she is being patient with me;) 

There is not much to update with investigators this week. We weren't able to meet most of them because of the craziness. But I hope to have many updates for you next week!

Have a fantabulous week!
Malone shimai


Our District's last p-day together on Miyajima Island

Soarin over Miyajima

Chapman Shimai, Parmley Shimai and Me!

Miyajima Island - Torii Gate

Looking over Miyajima Island

My Birthday Party on the base / Farewell Party

Me & Stevenson Shimai - Farewell Pic!

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Oops I'm training again / Week #63

Konnichiwa minasan!

So by far the biggest news I received this week was when I received a call from my mission president on Thursday. And I missed the phone call because I thought it was the other sisters' phone. Then I looked and my heart dropped into my stomach when I saw it was kaicho. Don't ever miss phone calls from your mission president. Anyways, he asked me if I became a trainer again if I would work hard, be obedient, and love my new companion? I said yes of course. And then he said "Ok, I still need to check with Heavenly Father and see what he wants, so we will let you know." Ok great. So it came as no surprise Friday night when I got a call from one of the APs and he informed me that I would be training. Honestly, training was not the easiest thing for me so to find out I am doing it again-let's just say I wasn't jumping up and down with joy. But I definitely feel a lot more prepared this time. And I went to the trainers training meeting yesterday and found out basically every sister who came in at the same time as me is training, again. We are all on our second trainee, except for Chun shimai. She's on her 3rd. (Yikes).

But honestly I know this next transfer will be full of miracles and we will have lots of fun! Because it you're not having fun in dendo, then you are doing something wrong!

And turns out all the other sisters are transferring out of Iwakuni so I will be the only one who knows anything about this area. Otherwise known as area senpai. 

Thanks for the birthday wishes! It will be an exciting birthday that's for sure. I will send you pictures of my new companion next week!
Love you all!

Malone Shimai

I finally rode the Shinkansen to Fukuoka!!!
                                                                           
                              Me & Chapman Shimai with our towels & vitamin water (nasty!)
                                               
                                                         Driving to our Pizza Party

                                                        We made the pizzas!

Us eating the Pizza - You can't really see me...

Fireworks in August

It was nice to see them since we didn't get any in July!

The fireworks were so pretty!

Stevenson Shimai and I being weird

The Ueda Family & Morioka Shimai

We heart attacked The Sakamotos

They loved it so much they wanted to take pictures!

Opening my Bday package from home
I was so excited to get my favorite!

The members on the base gave Parmley Shimai
& I a Birthday Party!!

                                                             

It was so nice of them and we had a great time!

We went to a pottery class on our Pday


I made a rice bowl

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

It's hot!!! - Week #62

Konnichiwa minasan!

So I just want to inform you all in case you didn't know that it is REALLY HOT in Japan right now. Just a warning for those of you who are thinking of visiting anytime soon. It's still a beautiful place though. Except for the cockroaches. We have had 2 incidents with cockroaches this week and I don't think I can take much more. Unfortunately, one of those incidents may be on camera. I hope it never reaches Facebook.

So last P-day we went to Kintai Bridge and Iwakuni castle and this P-day we went to a pottery class. I made my own rice bowl. So we are feeling very cultured lately. Don't worry I will send pictures...someday. 

We met with the Sakamotos again this week. We showed them Finding Faith in Christ. So we talked about why Christ died for all of us and his important role in the Plan of Salvation. However, next week there is a holiday called Obon so we won't be able to meet with them for a couple weeks. Bummer!

As for Morioka san, he came to church on Sunday!! Such a miracle! We called him the morning of to make sure he was awake. He kept saying he wanted to sleep, but we told him no. So we were walking from the train station to the church when a car drove past us with someone waving. It was him! He stayed for all 3 hours and I think he liked meeting the elders. He went with them to the 3rd hour of church and of course they had to go deep into priesthood stuff. But Elder Nygaard explained some things to him about the priesthood and his answer was "So what do I do?". I think that's a really good question. One we should always be asking ourselves.  We found out he also read the introduction and the testimonies of the witnesses in the Book of Mormon. Yay! He's super busy with work this next week though, so please keep him in your prayers.

This week has flown by and I feel like it's going to continue to fly by. I don't know where the time goes, but we are trying to use it the best we can. 

Have a great week!

Malone Shimai


Iwakuni Castle - July 2015


I can't believe they wore this in the heat!!


Crossing Kintai Bridge - It was so HOT!


Me, Parmley Shimai, Chapman Shimai and Stevenson Shimai 
on Kintai Bridge


Sometimes you have to jump on bridges!!