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

Smells Delicious!

みなさんこんにちは！
(Hello Everybody)

Splits! She knows zero English. But it was so fun!

Hello! Who's excited for thanksgiving next week? Did you all buy your stretchy pants yet? (Or skirt if your a Sister Missionary) たのしみ (fun)！

My ponderizing scripture this week is Matt 10:14

14 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

I love this scripture so much. I feel like you can relate it to any part of your life. When things don't go the way you wanted or how you expected your first instinct is to be upset to feel down and beat yourself up. I love the image of shaking the dust off your feet. To just let it be and know that it's not time for that or there's something better in store. As a missionary people tell me no a lot. Sometimes they do it nicely and sometimes it's not, but you just have to keep going. Because of his scripture every time someone says no to me or and investigator says they aren't interested anymore I picture dust falling off of me. It's so freeing to see all that stress and worry just go away. Thanks to the Savior and his atonement we don't need to worry about all of those feelings because He experienced them for us. Let the atonement work in your life. Let it shake the dust off your feet. 

Funny Highlights: the other night the Japanese Sisters made some cookies. When we were crawling into our futons for bed I said super loud, "it smells delicious!". Sister West Mountian (Sister Nishiyama) looked at me and said in English, "WOW! That sentence is wonderful! I want to use it!" Then the next day they went to dinner at a members house and she came back super proud and told me she used that sentence and no one understood it but she was happy. It was so funny! Her English is my favorite! 

In Japan they have this ice cream type truck but instead of selling ice cream they sell sweet potatoes. So this truck drives around playing music all day selling these potatoes. Sister Kempner has always wanted one but never got it. So the other day we were leaving the apartment and we hear the truck. Sister Kempner freaked out and got so excited, we came flying out of our apartment towards the truck. The driver didn't know how to handle these two crazy foreigner running towards him. It was the best sweet potato I've ever had! 

Then the other night we were finding and I rang this door bell. Then over the airphone that person said "hello" I did not know what to do so I just responded "hi" and then paused and after a second in Japanese said do you understand English, then the voice comes back and said, "I don't speak Japanese" I did not know what to do. My brain instantly flipped into English class mode and very simply and like I was speaking to a small child said "we are missionaries...." It was the craziest thing. Sister Kempner was laughing so hard. It's always rough when I meet someone that speaks English. 

This week has been so amazing! I have seen SO many miracles! We found 3 new investigators! One is a monk. He's super nice though and we got to talk a lot about families. Then I was on splits the other day and we met this lady. She's so cute and nice! She invited us into her house (never happens) and told us that she really wants religion and she's learned about a lot of different churches and now just wants to know what is true! I'm super excited to go back and talk to her. 

 

A picture I made for an elders case. I'm like the district fixer upper person. So far I've fixed two sweaters, a pair of dress pants, gotten bike grease out of a dress, red marker out of a white shirt, and made this. Thanks mom and grandma for teaching me how to sew!

Before this week I was having a hard time and it was just one upsetting thing after another but from seeing so many miracles last week and reading that scripture I've found a new sense of hope. I know I can do this. I know we can do this. Heavenly Father will not give us anything we can't do. He knew I could learn Japanese and I'm doing it. He knew I could come to Japan and here I am. He knows we can. 

I love you all! I hope you have a good week! Keep looking for miracles! Keep being thankful in this month of thanks!

ゾリンジャ姉妹

(Zoringa Sister)

A shout out to the Silver City RS for sending the best package! Cried when I saw the green chili!

Consider the Lilies

Hello everyone! 

Guess who went curling last week? Yeah dad that's right I did! It was so hard. I have so much respect for curlers now!  But it was so fun!  (My attempt at curling... yes, I fell)
 

 

This weeks ponderizing scripture is 3 Nephi 5:20 ...I have reason to bless my God and my Savior Jesus Christ...  I love this! All the time all we think about is how the Savior blesses us but we never stop to think how we can bless him. How we can repay him. As a missionary I see so many miracles everyday! Not a second goes by when I'm am not being blessed. When someone isn't helping me.  From now on I want to do all I can to repay Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Whether that's saying hi to everyone I see. Serving people around me or talking to everyone I pass by and tell them about their Beloved Savior.  

 
Funny Highlights: I always have all these funny things that happen but I always forget them when I email. But we went and saw this one Sister the other day. She was so funny! When she talked she threw her hands everywhere! I thought she was going to hit Sister Koyama in the face. But right before she left she said she wanted to get us treats, so she whispers to Sister Koyama (who is standing behind us) and says "they have rasins in them is that okay". It was super cute. I feel like I'm always laughing but I never remember why later. Missions are just fun!
 
Yesterday at church the Young Women's President came in and asked if we could translate for the little English girl. Sister Kempner was already translating for her mom so I said I would. But then I realized what I has signed myself up for. Yeah got a little scared. I walked in there with a terrified look on my face and after one sister asked if I was tired I realized I had better pull it together real quick. It was such a cool experience though. From translating I got more out of church than I have since I've been here. I didn't get everything. But I got enough out that we both could understand and feel the spirit.
 
Everyone is Japan is really good at singing so there are so many opportunities for me to sing. I love singing in Japanese. It's decided I'm singing in Japanese for the rest of my life! A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to sing at a little girls baptism with Sister Kempner and another sister in the ward. It was so cool! I love the special way music invites the spirit. When we ride from place to place I love to sing songs. It always puts me in such a good mood. I LOVE MUSIC! Lastly one of my new favorite hymns. Consider the Lillies. Basically it's talking about take time to stop and smell the roses. Don't get caught up in what's happening tomorrow, what your going to eat for dinner, and the little things in life. Take time to look around and see all the people in life that you have been blessed to know. Call your family and tell them you love them. Maybe take a second to thank the lady behind the counter at the store. Stop and consider the lilies.
 
Well I love you all! Thanks for all your prayers. Keep looking for miracles and writing down thankful things! You should have 9 by now ;)

I live with the best Nihongin ever! Translation: hey you two eat these. Also Sister Zollinger theres a shoe cream for you in the fridge eat it! :)

 
愛❤️ゆ!
(I love you)
 
ゾリンジャ姉妹
(Zoringa Shimai)

Happy Month of Thanksgiving

Who is ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas songs? Except I've been singing Christmas songs since July...whoops love them! How was everyone's Halloween? They don't trick or treat in Japan but they have awesome parties at the church! Everyone in my district dressed up together. It was super fun! 

Our costume. We were a Mariachi band! But no one really understood and said we were Mexicans..

This weeks ponderizeing scripture is Helaman 5:47
"Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world".  I love this scripture. It's so simple. All we need to do is have faith in Christ and we will have peace. Sometimes life gets really crazy and we feel stressed and like we can't handle everything that's going on but if we just have faith in Christ we will feel peace!
 

This was at a members house! It's super cool!

Funny Highlights: this week one of the Sisters I live with went on splits. When she came home she came running in the door yelling in English (she's Japanese) "I'm home" threw all her stuff on the floor and came and gave me a hug and said "I missed you"! I live with the best Nihongin ever. Love them both! Then I went on splits and while I was gone she introduced herself to a sister fresh from the MTC. Her name is Nishiyama Shimai and in English Nishiyama is West Mountain. So when she introduced herself she said "I am Sister West Mountain".  Super funny! Then last p-day Sister Kempner and I went to this park. We were riding past this lady when she saw us she laughed super loud and in English said where are you from. Then I looked over and saw her friend. This blonde haired blue eyed lady. Not a typical person you see in Japan. They are from California but they thought we were touring too and asked where we got the bikes. It took a little explaining before they understood where were missionaries. We told them to go find a church when they get home :)
 
This week has been super great! I have seen so many miracles. I know I say that every week but I do! Yesterday we went and did some finding with a member in the ward. She was so good. She did not let anyone pass her. It was so inspiring! Our ward mission leader wants us to start doing more work with the member so instead of passing a food calendar around they pass a missionary work calendar around so if people have time they can go finding with us. It's super great. Almost everyone in the ward is a convert so they love missionaries and missionary work. It's so great. 
 
I have a challenge for you. Since it's Thanksgiving this month take the time to write one thing your thankful for every day. Try and make it different every day! It's hard at first but soon you'll start to notice all the things you have that make life better. Let me know how
it goes!
 
I love you all!!
愛❤️ゆ！

 ゾリンジャ姉妹
(Zoringa Shimai) 

There's this food here called nato. It's super impressive if you like it and Sister Kempner and just happen to love it. It's fermented soy beans and you put soy sauce and mustard on it. It's super stringy and weird but it tastes pretty good!