Miracles, miracles everywhere!!

Cake for Sayuru Shimai (see below)

Hey-yo! How's life? That wonderful, me too.


This week has been so amazing! One of the best weeks to date. I wish I could list everything but I can't. Not enough time. But if you want to know call me in four months ;)

Ponderize this my friends
Jeremiah 1:6-9 (Sorry it's long. Actually I'm not sorry...I lied.(free shimai))

"Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.  Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth."

I seriously love this. It's me. Sometimes it's so scary to talk to people. I'm only 21 years old. That's so young! I'm a child. I know nothing of life. I haven't been living my life very long and I'm here telling all these people how to live theirs. It's a little intimidating sometimes. But the Lord says, don't be afraid. I'll tell you what to say. I will deliver thee. We really are so loved.

Saturday Keiko San was baptized!!! Ahhhhhhh it's so exciting! I wanted to go to Hakodate so bad but I got to call her. It was so special. We cried like babies together. And one of the first things she said to me in her cute English, she said, "I feel like one million dollars!" And then asked if that's okay to say. She's perfect! She was so ready! Yay Keiko Shimai! :)

Then Ozawa San is progressing so much! We were able to teach her twice last week. Monday we saw her and she said she wants to talk to us because she found Jehovah Witness things and had questions. I was so scared thinking she was going to drop up so yesterday when we showed up she could tell I was nervous. But then she just started asking all these questions. Like "if it's the same Bible and the same Christ why are there so many churches?" So we taught her the Restoration. The Spirit was so strong. In the end. We told her that we can't prove what we say is true. All we have is our words but I testify that it's true.  When we finished she thought back to when Muratta Shimai and I found her a year ago and how that shouldn't of happened. Everything that happened that day was out of the ordinary. It was so cool!

There's so much more but I'm out of time. So here's a quick funny for your day. Yesterday we stopped at a convini to go to the bathroom. Seriously the nastiest place I've ever seen, mold growing in the corner and shenanigans. So I tried really hard not to touch anything and then right when I was going to flush my ring slipped off my finger and fell into the dark crevices of that porcelain seat... Cried. Seriously. Cried. Good news my ring is safe and disinfected.

I love you all so much!  Make someone smile this week and then tell me how it goes!


You're the best!


Sister Zollinger

Itou San and her member friend from childhood! They are they cutest! We are going to teach her with Chayama Shimai and she's going to be baptized and then they'll,go to the temple together! 

We eat this ice cream a little too much... #addicted 

Sayuru Shimai taught us how to make tamagoyaki! Soooo yummy!  
We made her a cake but it was raining and we didn't have any tin foil or saran wrap sooo I walked it to her house holding the umbrella under my armpit. Got more funny looks than usual :)   

Ice cream with Moeka Chan! She's the cutest!

Desserts, Death and Dendo

birthday dessert number two (thanks Ebisawa Shimai)

Thank you so much everyone for all the birthday wishes and packages and desserts and things. I seriously love you all a lot!
 
This has been such a crazy week. First we had transfers! I will be staying with Hackett Shimai!! This is the first time since my training. Hackett Shimai gets to be my 10th companion on my 10th transfer :)  Buuuut Kotoni Area went from 4 sisters to 2 and I became a Sister Training Leader. So that means we have two times the area, two times the people to focus on, and half the time. I'm so excited! Seriously it's been so fun! This last week we ran everywhere talking to everyone! Having appointments and people to see is the coolest part of dendo! And to make it cooler we still had time to find! Miracles everywhere!
 
This week Free Shimai died (term to mean that her mission is complete and she is going home), her mission came to a graceful close. Seriously love her so much. Living in the same apartment for two transfers was so fun. I learned so much! We ate maybe 3 deserts everyday to celebrate :) then her angel family showed up at our apartment with bags and bags of groceries. Best present you can get as a missionary. It probably didn't seem like much to them but it meant the world to us.
Lastly Keiko San gets baptized this week. I want to go down to Hakodate so bad to see her but I got permission from Nakatsuka Kaicho to call her! She's such an angel. I'm excited for her to have the blessings of the spirit. I know it's going to change her life!
 
Oh ponderizing this week!
Pslms 119:111 "Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart".
 
I really love this a lot. This week I've been thinking a lot about papa and when he passed away. His testimony is a heritage I have taken. And that is where my joy is. Our testimonies come from the spirit through the words of people around us. Prophets, grandparents, friends, teachers, everyone. That is our heritage. That is what our heart rejoices in.
 
I love you all so much! Have a good week!
Sister Zollinger
 
Oh funny story, last transfer we all wanted to be a little more fit so we did 50-75 push-ups everyday. Then one day we were walking and saw a park with a bar perfect for pull-ups. I've never been able to do one in my life so I decided to try. 75 push-ups right, I got this!  Epic fail,... Couldn't even do one. This transfer is burpies...I'll try again in a few weeks ;)

number three same day we love ice cream!

Baskin Robins for Wednesday dessert number two

Lunch with the Free

And of course we made green chili enchiladas for my birthday!

21 Where'd you come from???

Thanks for the dress parents!

Happy Birthday to Me! 

My age is my birthday backwards..  I am officially as legal as I can be in America and Japan.   Next stop -  Senior Citizen Reduced Prices!
 
Since it's such a jolly day here's my scripture!
Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine..."
 
Isn't that cute? Life is supposed to be fun! You're supposed to be able to laugh and play. To feel joy. Also the best cure for anything is a good laugh! Unless you just got your appendix removed then use caution. But really Gods plan is a happy one. That's all he wants for us is happiness.
This weeks has been crazy.
 
Spiritual stuff first:
Last week we stopped this lady on the street and talked to her about church and Christ and invited her to church gave her a Book of Mormon but could not make a return appointment. But we got her number so it was good. Called her on Wednesday and she said I wanted to come to church but I couldn't figure out where it was. So we made an appointment to meet her and walk to church together! Saturday we were at a sports day for Ozawa San's son and she came running up to us yelling "Zolly San!" And told us how excited she was for Sunday. She came yesterday and she was sitting talking to a member saying how she wanted to see us again. How she felt so much love and happiness and wanted to feel that again. She also read some of the Boo of Mormon it was amazing!
 
Yesterday the Elder's investigator got Baptized. They asked me to sing at the service. It was so amazing. I sang I know that My Redeemer Lives. Every time I looked out I saw so many people singing along and so many crying and so much happiness but Uchida San was beaming. He was glowing so bright. It was all for him. After his baptism he looked so good. So happy. Goodness the church is true! (PS mom I want to take voice lessons again. I'm sorry I quit them..)
 
Then in other news on Saturday we were riding our bikes home in the pouring rain and I almost got hit by a car it was so scary. We just kept riding and then not even 100ft later Hackett Shimai went down. Got hit pretty bad by a car... She laughed so I think that means she was okay. We went to the hospital later that night. It was some pretty scary stuff but she's got no broken bones and is up and walking. We'll be on the bikes again tomorrow! I feel so bad for her beanhood. In the first transfer of her mission she got lost for 4O minutes and then hit by a car. I am the best trainer there is. Good thing my bean is a stud!
 
Last night for Free Shimais last Sunday we made s'mores.  We put chocolate in a pan with marshmallows on top baked it turned the lights on low and all said why we went out on a mission and while we are still here. It was so special. Then today we put in the birthday party hats and had a picnic in the prettiest field. It's been a good birthday! Hackett Shimai make me an omelet and the Elders know I don't like snacks so they got me vegetables for a present. :) they're the best! Birthdays in the mission are the best! Thanks for all the emails.  It's P-Day and my birthday so I'm going to go play and eat green chili enchiladas!  Catch ya in the flip side!
 
I love you all!
You're the best!
Sister Zollinger

My breakfast this morning!  Sooo yummy!!

S'mores!

Party Hats!!

Gift from the Elders

Temple!

Hey everyone! Happy Wednesday!

So sorry I'm emailing on Wednesday. Today the Sapporo sisters got to go to the temple! It was so amazing. Oh my goodness I love the temple!

It's my favorite place in the world. I ended up going into the celestial room before Hackett Shimai so I sat there and waited for her to walk in. It was so special to go there with her. Coolest bean trainer experience ever. We just sat and talked about the first time we went though, what we learned today, and cried like little babies. #sistermissionaryprobs

After I got to go inside the new mission home. It's beautiful! It's so big. The temple is huge too! We had to add chairs in our session today. The Sapporo temple is really serving a lot of people. Got a legit package from mom and dad. Kinda opened it already... Hope I wasn't supposed to wait until Monday. Buuuut if it makes you feel any better I shared my candy! :)

This week and a half has been so fun. So many things happened I can't remember them all. But I got a good scripture!

Ether 12:16 "Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ and also those who were after".  The only way to accomplish things is through faith. You can just expect to see miracles if you don't put work into it. I've been thinking about that a lot lately.

I love you all very much. Remember who you are and Jesus loves you!

Sister Zollinger

Where's my bean?

On the bus home from Otaru!

Hey everyone! How's life? This week has been insane! Seriously so much happened I can't even say it all if I wanted to.
 
Funny highlights:
One of the sisters I live with talks in her sleep almost every night.  She also happens to sleep right next to me and sometimes ends up on my futon. Anyways last night I was sleeping on my back with my legs folded criss-cross and all of a sudden I hear her yell "あれ⁉︎ *grab my leg* quick get on your horse, quick we got to go!" Scared me so bad but so tired I just rolled over and went back to sleep. We had a good laugh about it this morning.
 
My new nickname is Hancho. It means squad leader :) Then on Saturday we were riding our bikes and in less than a minute Hackett Shimai and I ended up getting separated for 40 minutes. Scariest thing of my life! We both didn't know what to do so we "hugged a tree" and our trees happened to be not even 20 yards apart. So here I was calling the Zone Leaders, Kaicho, members.. Pacing back and forth crying my eyes out because I'm the worst trainer in the world lost my 3 week old companions. Still wearing my helmet. Looking pretty great. Meanwhile Hackett Shimai is sitting perfectly fine on a bench reading the Book of Mormon in Japanese. It was quite a day.  Ending up finding her because this angel of a lady came up to me and said there was a foreigner sitting on a bench down the street.  Miracles happen everyone.
 
Here's my scripture!
1 John 3:18
"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth".  Isn't this cute? "My little children" just picture Heavenly Father's calm gentle voice call, "my little children" brings peace to the soul.  :) I've been thinking a lot about love this past week. It really does not come through your words but through your works. You can say you love God all you want, but do you do anything to prove that? You can say you love your mom but do you show it? (PS really love you mom. ;)) I read an article this morning, go read it! Please it's about the Sapporo temple!  Here's the website even!

Sapporo Japan Temple
 
When I was working in the temple I got to meet people that were at these meetings, here for these prophecies. People that worked with these people and even met some of them. God loves his children here. Just like he loves everyone else in the world. I know that you can feel that same one for anyone. No matter who or where they are. And through your works they can feel it too.
Another miracle for the week. We got to go visit some people that went to the temple and filled our comment cards. A lot of them were members but one lady wasn't. She was sooo excited when we showed up at her house and instantly invited us in. She was like wow how did you find me? I can't believe your here! And then she called her member friend and said you're never going to guess who's here! We had such a good talk about life and things. When I asked her if she knew without a doubt she could see her family again how would she fell. The room went silent and then instantly the spirit came and she started to cry. Then said so humbly "that's only my dream". We exchanged phone numbers and made plans to meet again. And she's called us like 3 times since then to see how we're doing. :) Heavenly Father prepares his children and doesn't ever withhold his love from them.
 
Go find His love and share it!
 
I love you all!
Sister Zollinger

Went on splits and ate the best indo curry of my life. Also Oka Shimai is a beast. Rode the bike and testified like a crazy person!

Angerhofer Shimai's birthday! I made crepes :) then we got sushi!

Heyooo

At the temple dedication

🎶I love to see the temple, I went inside yesterday. I felt the Holy Spirit. I listened and I Prayed🎶
 
The Japan Sapporo Temple is officially dedicated! Thanks to the prayers of your beloved Apostles. Elder Stevens and President Nelson graced our room in the temple just to say hi before our session started. There is nothing more beautiful then someone dressed in all white. Everyone was smiling from ear to ear and the talks were all so special. Heavenly Father really does love us. Yesterday was proof that no matter where we are God is showering his love down on us. It was something I'll never forget.

Speaking of rain, there was a typhoon this week. Both Hackett Shimai and my bags got so wet they unwaterproofed themselves. Showed up at the church for cancelled English Class literally dripping. Rung out my rain jacket.. Such fun when you live on an island.
 
More rain, got a cool story. I love kanji. Seriously obsessed.
So this is the kanji for Holy Ghost 聖霊 in the first kanji (聖) means saint, holy... but it also has the kanji for ear (耳)  then the second kanji (霊) has the kanji for rain (雨) So I looked this up after reading this weeks scripture:  

Galatians 5:22-23
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." 

All of these things are gifts, blessing from the spirit. If we listen (耳) to the Holy Ghost blessings will be poured (雨) down upon us! That's just Sister Zollinger's kanji interpretation for ya. Not sure if it makes sense to anyone but me but I think it's really cool!
 
The other day we were finding and we hadn't been having any success. I was about to get discouraged when I told myself you need faith and hope or you'll never help anyone. So it was our last house that night I found my hope Hackett Shimai pinged. I bore my testimony like I've never born it before and she said we can come back. She said I don't think you can give me this happiness you're talking about but I want to see if you can. Come back. It was such a miracle. It really is like that scripture in Alma. When their hearts were depressed and they were about to turn back the lord strengthened them. I felt so strengthened riding back that night. I kept thinking this is why. This is why I'm here. So Takahashi San can finally find that happiness she's been spending 80+ years looking for.
 
Lesson learned yesterday: two years ago I tried so hard to go on a mission. I wanted to be out at my 19th birthday no ifs ands or buts. Did not take no for an answer. If I had of gone out when I, me, Sister Zollinger wanted to I would have missed the temple open house and dedication. The timeline the lord has planned for us is better than anything we could ever imagine up for ourselves. Trust in that.
 
I love you all!
Sister Zollinger

How we looked when we got to the church Wednesday. Our waterproof gear kept us nice and wet :)

Dinner in our apt is always a party.

Carlile Shimai came to see me! Got to see so many MTC friends this week. Saw my first and second Branch President. Johnson and Daniels Kaicho! Also saw another MTC teacher. It was a weird trip down MTC memory lane. At least I'm not at day one Japanese anymore when Carlile Shimai looked at me and said "genki desu ka?" Still feel bad I yelled at her...

Hackett Shimais first sushi!!

Found this a few minutes ago... It's not this bad but sometimes your companion makes some weird food. Or you make something weird for your comp, so sorry Adams Shimai.

It's an email...

On Mondays we eat ice cream... Or maybe everyday but, yes.

Hello everyone! 


How are you doing. Still a little surprised at the fact that mom and dad ate dinner at my companions house. We have the same retainer case from the same orthodontist and the same green journal I got from Nora. The trainer bean game is a little too on point.
 



 

This weeks ponderizing scripture:  2 Nephi 27:30
"And the meek also shall increase, and their joy shall be in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel".
 
I found this scripture a few weeks ago and that it was super cute then was pleased when I refound it this morning! I feel like it describes me perfectly. I don't really consider myself very rich. Or someone with a ton of confidence. But my joy is in The Lord. Through him I can be made strong. And that's something no rich man can buy.
 
This week has been full of miracles, tears, mountains. You know dendo (missinary work).
Hackett Shimai and I biked to the farthest part of our area and literally pinged doors all day. We even pinged an assisted care home but didn't realize that's what it was until the very last house a nice lady informed us. We were wondering why everyone was a little slow. We also got to testimony punch an old man about God and his love. We hit him so hard he had nothing to say at the end but "I like Mormons, but hate religion".   At the end of the day we decided to go see a member. They are the cutest ever. Pictures of temples, prophets, and Jesus all over their house. But they live at the top of literally a mountain. Kinda wish we didn't do the 'butt of fire' work out in the morning.  #gettinfit
 
This week we also got dropped by an investigator that's been meeting with the missionaries for almost two years. It was really hard but in the end she said, "I know where the church is if I want it I'll come. Please go focus on people that will receive your message and want help from God" it was hard to hear but I felt so much love from her and comfort from the spirit I know she'll find her way someday.  

My favorite Udon Shop! Went here maybe every week with Kempy

This week we also got to go to an old folks home and sing like crazies. It was so fun. After this cute old lady ran up between all 8 of us missionaries and took a picture. It was another lady's birthday and she was catching some hard zzzz's the whole time them when we started singing happy birthday to her all the workers panicked to wake her up. She then stayed awake until the end and smiled like crazy. When I shook her hand she freaked out because she forgot to put back in her teeth. Cutest thing of my life.
 
This transfer just started and it already one of my favorites. Hackett Shimai is the best. Laugh until I pee almost everyday. I feel so bad for her because I mix up left and right almost every time. And make us turn around maybe every ten minutes because I realize we're going the wrong way. On the plus side she's learning the area real quick!


 

Odori Zone's only bean, dearest Hackett Shimai had a stellar bean shower! Snacks for days..

I love you all! Have a good week! Jesus loves you!

Sister Zollinger

Woke up at 5 this morning to go to seminary 45 minutes away from the apt, took this right after we made it. Nishida Shimai asked if we matched on purpose. Didn't even notice.

The Zollingers meet the Hacketts!!  Such a fun family!!