"Twas the P-Day before Christmas

This is what happens when you get sick in Japan.

Twas the P-Day before Christmas when all through Hokkaido not a missionary was... Well this would have been really cool but I'm not an author so.. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
 
This weeks Ponderize scripture: Luke 2:16
"And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger".  I thought this was very fitting for Christmas, but I like it because the shepherds came with haste to see the new born babe. This Christmas season am I going with haste to see Christ? Am I going with haste to serve someone? To share the special message of Christ? I want to go with haste to find Christ!
 

Funny Highlights: We were talking about how good the food was in Hokkaido with one of our investigators the other day and I got all excited because I remembered the name for Apple in Japanese so I looked her straight in the face and said "gringo daisuki" (I love apples) only turns out Apple is actually ringo.   Earlier this week I was thinking how funny it was that the name for Apple is the same name for a white man in Mexico and if anyone in Japan knew how funny that was. Guess I'm the funny one calling apples a gringo.. Whoops. 

Text from the party member...

The other day a member texted us and said come over for lunch so we said okay and she texted back, "let's party!!" We get there and she had little wine glasses out, we drank sparkling juice and clinked out glasses together. It was a real hoot. She was super funny though because she ran around her house like a crazy lady and showed us almost every picture she has. Love her!

This week has been so good! Sister Rigall and I made over 100 cookies this week (courtesy of the  package from Mom and Dad) for our investigators and members! It's been super fun delivering them and singing Christmas songs! Yesterday at church all the members made little cards and cookies for each other and ran around delivering them to people. It was so special. Then what we didn't know was that they had boxes sitting in the chapel for the missionaries. One for us and one for the elders and I guess for the past few weeks members have been putting presents in them for us. The members here are so loving! It like one big family. No one feels left out no one goes unnoticed and everyone is loved. It's so amazing!

Presents from the members!  So nice!!

I love Christmas and the special spirit it brings.
 
I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!
 
愛してるよ！
(I love you)
 
ゾリンジャ姉妹
(Zoringa Shimai) 

The potato truck!!

The roads this morning... All ICE!

Slippin and a Slidin

Hello all ya lovely people!

All the sisters got matching scarves from Nakatsuka Shimai!  Thanks mission mom!

I hope you all had a great week! This week flew by so fast! Someone tell time to slow down, thanks!

This weeks scripture is D&C 78:17
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you".  We cannot comprehend everything Heavenly Father has in store for us. I never would have imagined I'd be in Japan right now. Let alone serving a mission. When you plan out your life you never really know what blessings Heavenly Father is waiting to shower down on you. たのしみしています！(I am looking forward to it)

Funny Highlights: Who didn't knock on wood?  Last Monday we were walking around and I went down. It wasn't that hard of a fall but my companion got a good laugh (she fell later that same day) Then Tuesday we were on splits and I feel again. This one caught me so off guard I laughed so hard I snorted. It was fun. No slips since but there have been so close calls. Gotta love ice!

My companion likes to do this thing before we go to bed and say all the things the other person did that day that we're thankful for. Last night I was super tired so I decided to go first. So I told her all the things she did that day I was thankful for. Then she goes and I felt myself slippin. The next
thing I remember is waking up feeling myself snoring.. Asked her about that this morning. Sure thing I feel asleep and started snoring while she was telling me all the reasons she's thankful for me. Whoops...

We were finding the other day and we knocked on the lady's door. She didn't want to hear anything about 

the church but we gave us these because we're pretty and we've traveled far.  She so nice. 

She told us that she's turning 76 on Sunday so we are going to "heart attack" her door and make her cookies :) 

I named it  コキンメフクロウ (kokinmefukurou) it means little owl!   

Sister Rigall got a bunny. Yay origami!

This week has been so amazing! We were away from out area until Wednesday so we didn't has as much time to work this week but that didn't stop us at all. We saw so many miracles and meet with so many people in a few days. It was amazing! So many of our investigators are progressing. So many miracles this Christmas season. My mission president has a white Christmas goal. Only our white Christmas is baptisms :) There are miracles happening all over the mission. Everyone is working really hard and sharing the Christmas Spirit. I love being here during Christmas it really is the best time of year!

Thanks for all your prayers! I love you all!

Sister Zollinger

It looks crazy but we made applesauce! Thanks mom for all those years of making applesauce. I picked up a thing or two!

Christmas Time!!

We made a Christmas tree!

It's the Christmas month!! I love Christmas! Shout out to the people who sing Christmas songs all year round. Everyone else put out your Christmas CD's because it's Christmas Time!! There's a new Christmas Video from the church! Watch it!   It's so good. Sister Rigall and I show it to everyone!

https://www.mormon.org/christmas
 
This weeks ponderizing scripture is D&C 75:3-4
"Behold, I say unto you that it is my will that you should go forth and not tarry, neither be idle but labor with your might. Lifting up your voices as with the sound of a trump, proclaiming the truth according to the revelations and commandments which I have given you".
 
I really like this scripture because sometimes I forget that a year and a half really isn't that long. It's going by so fast. I think to many times we get caught up in when is this day going to come or when I go home I will do this or when I graduate I will do this. Or I'm
really tired so I'm not going to work as hard. We shouldn't do that. We should remember our time here is really short so we should go forthwith all our might and sound our Christmas Trumpets! :)
 

Package from home

Funny Highlights: this week I got the coolest package from my parents! One of the presents was Hershey Kisses. So I brought some of them to a lunch appointment we had. We has make cookies the night before because they are their favorite treat. So when we got there we said "we have homemade cookies and chocolate from America" he got so excited and grabbed one so quick. But it was so funny he took a bite and said "wow it's all chocolate. The whole way though!" It was so funny he was so excited. Then yesterday Sister Rigall and I where walking back and we both slipped on the ice at the same time and then stopped at the same time it was super cool. Lastly my new nickname is Zollie Poppins. Like Mary Poppins because I can cook, my bag can hold a ton of stuff (Laci you're the best), and I like to clean. Woohoo I'm Mary Poppins!
 

25 days of Christmas

This week has been super great! It's been really snowing but I haven't fallen yet! Everyone knock on wood right now! Okay thanks. I hope you all watch the Christmas video! It's so perfect for people in Japan. The first time I watched it I didn't really like it because it wasn't super Christmasy (is that a word? Cool) but at the very end it says what is the true meaning of Christmas. A few weeks ago I got an email from Nana saying I must feel like Santa bringing people the best  gift. Then in a letter I received from Caitlin she said this will be the year I will really understand the true meaning of Christmas. In Japan everyone just eats KFC and Cake with their families on Christmas because that's what they think everyone does in America. So when we show them the video we ask them what they think the true meaning of Christmas is. After we tell them it's always super special. Christmas isn't about all the presents and parties. It's about family's and the birth of Jesus Christ. Through him we can gain the best present imaginable. Living with our families forever! Who wouldn't want that under the Christmas tree? I love Christmas! It's the best!
 
Go spread the spirit of CHRISTmas! :)
 
I love you all!
Sister Zollinger

Letters to the people of Moiwa (Check out her Japanese!!)

 This is Hokkaida.

Ebetsu!!

Hello!

Beautiful Hokkaido snow

How was everyone's thanksgiving? Don't worry I got some pumpkin in my dinner so it kind of resembled thanksgiving. This last week was transfers! I'm no longer in training! I was transferred to a new area! My new area is right outside of Sapporo though. It's Ebetsu! It's super pretty here but it's a lot smaller than Moiwa which is right in the heart of Sapporo. My first night here we were walking back to the apartment and everyone I said hi to said hi back. That never happened in Moiwa! They don't see as many foreigners here so they get super excited when they see one. My new Companion is Sister Rigall. She's the best! Her Japanese is crazy good. Everyone thinks she's Japanese until they see her and realize she's gaijin.
 

This weeks ponderizing scripture is 3 Nephi 22:14 

"In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from oppression for thou shalt not fear, and from terror for it shall not come near thee".
 

In life it's really hard not to have a lot of fears. I know I have a ton, but having those fears doesn't do anything for us it just brings us down. I love the promise in this scripture that if you're righteous you have no need to fear because they will all be swept away.
 

Funny highlights: on Monday Sister Kempner and I were visiting a member in the ward. It was getting kind late but we live super close to her so we didn't worry too much about it. But before we knew it we had maybe 5 minutes to get home. So there we went sprinting in the freezing cold back to our apartment. We made it inside right on time though! It was a miracle. But the cold killed our lungs so we were coughing and wheezing like crazy people. It was great! 

Sister Rigall

My second night with Sister Rigall we were finding and then we started to hear the potato truck. She had always wanted one and like Sister Kempner it was an unspoken mission goal. When we were walking back to get on the train and come home we saw the flashing lights of the truck and then next thing I know Sister Rigall is saying I want one and we're go running through the ice and snow towards this truck. I don't know how but I always end up running after this truck with my companions. Yay for accomplishing mission goals! Seriously the best potato! 

 Goodbye Odori apartment. Goodbye Sato Shimai, Nishiyama Shimai, and Sister Kempner

This week has been crazy! I'm not going to lie it was super hard to leave Moiwa. I made some really good friendships with people there. But I was greeted with a really warm welcome in Ebetsu. All the members came up and talked to me. There aren't as many members here so I'm really going to work on remembering everyone's names. I'm super excited to work here. It's so funny how you can love people so easily when your a missionary. I never would have guessed I would love Moiwa as much as I do, as quickly as I did. But I never ever would have guessed how quickly I would love Ebetsu. Japan is amazing! The members are so nice and loving no matter where you go they welcome you love you and care for you. I have a lot to learn from the people here!
 

I love you all! I hope you're singing Christmas songs because I am!
 

愛してるよ！

(I love you)

ゾリンジャ姉妹

(Zoringa Shimai) 

This is Iida Shimai! She's so cute! She always prints pictures for the missionaries. Every time she sees us she gets the biggest smile on her face!

Oda Shimai! She's the best member ever! She does so much for the missionaries!

Transfer Spot! All the people I came to Japan with!

The Frozen Chosen

Hello everyone! Happy Monday, Sunday, whatever day it is where you are, Happy Day to you! Who's got their stretchy pants ready for Thanksgiving? They don't celebrate it here so eat a lot of pumpkin pie for me!





Ponderizing scripture this week is Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.

I love this scripture so much! Who doesn't want everlasting love? When I read this I thought about all the people in the world I love and how much love I have for them. Then I thought how the love I feel for people isn't anything compared to the love Heavenly Father has for us. Then it's not just love but an everlasting love. That's the kind of love I want to have for people. 

Funny highlights:

Because sushi is the best!

This week we went to a members house for lunch. Every time we go over there she has so many little snacks and treats to give us so I was curious to see what lunch would be like. Oh my goodness did she have so much food! In Japan you eat everything you're given, you just do. So there we where eating that food. We were almost done when she starts making another soup. Let's just say we didn't need to eat for dinner or breakfast. I'm thankful for the fact that I have food to eat and that I'm not going hungry. I'm also thankful for members giving us hungry missionaries food. They are the best! :)

Lastly this morning when we checked the weather it said it was going to be 3C degrees (about 37 F). That's cold! I was putting my coat on to come email when I hear Sister Nishiyama yell "Everyone be careful, today is VERY COLD!" The way she said it was so funny. I love her English too much.

This week has been too good! Too much goodness for one email so I'll tell you the highlights.

I got to see the Dearest Kuta Shimai, one of my MTC companions!

On Saturday we had Zone Conference. President Nakatsuka gave a really good workshop that I will never forget. The Japan Sapporo Mission nickname is the "Frozen Chosen". There was a slide in his PowerPoint that said "We are Frozen Chosen".

Then we talked about our calling to Japan. How Heavenly Father chose his strong and able to come here. Being a missionary in Japan is hard. There's a saying here "for every door you knock on there's a baptism in Brazil". But God knew we could do it. He knew we were smart enough to learn the hard Japanese language. He knew we could handle finding all day long with out talking to anyone. He knew we could do it. Then someone said a long time ago that Japan isn't just the land of the Rising Sun but the land of the rising church. It's so true. The members here are the best. All of them are so strong.

President went around the room and asked all the Japanese missionaries how old their parent were when they joined the church. Everyone one of them has convert parents. Then the Nakatsukas shared their ages. It's amazing to see how they are so willing to accept the gospel. To love it!

The Domon Family! And the Moiwa Missionaries!

Last night we went to a members house for dinner and for the spiritual message he had us all share why we served a mission and then the parents of the family shared theirs. Everyone's reason was different but we all had one thing in common. Love. Because we love the gospel, Christ, our families, we became missionaries.

Lastly yesterday we had stake conference. President Nakatsuka gave a talk and at the beginning of his talk he had all the missionaries stand up and sing the mission song. It was so powerful!! The church is true everyone. If it wasn't I wouldn't feel the spirit the way I do. I wouldn't smile from ear to ear when I see the old lady on the back row singing along to "I am a Child of God" with the choir, or when someone bears their testimony and not a dry eye is found. It's true, I know it's true!

Thanksgiving is almost here which means my Thanksgiving challenge is almost over! So

40 tortillas from a member of the ward

here's the end of the challenge. On Thanksgiving day take some personal time and get a piece of paper. Say a prayer and then write down all the things you're thankful for. It might be hard at first but I promise things will come to you. Then where you're done pray again and thank Heavenly Father for everything he has given you. I did this last year and it made me realize all the things I am really thankful for. How much everlasting love God has for me. Try it and you will see! :) 

I love you! 

ゾリンジャ姉妹

(Zoringa Shimai)

Hi Nana! I got your package! It was hand delivered at Zone Conference!

Everyone asked why I got pajamas and giggled at me a little bit but

after I explained the tradition they all loved it! Thank you so much

Nana! Question, can I open them on Thanksgiving here for Thanksgiving

there? ;) I love you!! xoxoxo