FOOSH

Hello everyone!

So I will start out with the turn of events that occured on Friday evening while on a kokan (splits? exchanges).  So we got a last minute lesson and were heading out to teach it.  I hoped on my brand new bike (yes dad, it helps the knees)  and we were maybe 1 minute from our apartment when I saw a nasty huge bug on my bike.  Not a fan.  So naturally, I tried to kick it off.  Well, in attempts to kick it, my foot got stuck in the tire and I flew over the handle bars.  I caught myself though... I rolled over in some pain, but not a ton, stood up, and tried to get back on the bike.  To my dismay, the tire was disaligned, so my poor bike needs fixing.  But we got a member to pick us up and join in on the lesson.  The lesson was great!  It was with Junior (a brazilian).  The Spirit was so strong in the lesson.  He knows this church is true, but he gets held up by how we worship and that he cant really speak Japanese (the church he goes to now has all brazilians).  Anyway, he showed us a video of a time he sang and played his guitar at his church.  The congregation was standing and waving their arms and singing randomly "Hallelujah!"  Ive seen videos like that before, but it was so weird this time I watched it.  The Spirit immediately left the room and the video just looked dark.  It was weird, but just another little reminder that this is the one and only true church.  Anyway, during the lesson, my arm started to hurt more and more.  My right arm hurt to move and my left arm was stuck at a 90 degree angle.  I thought it was just from shock, but the STL convinced me to call the doctor.  He didnt answer, but the pain kept intensifying (I refused to take ibuprofen)  so I had some members take me to the hospital.  The members were so helpful.  They dropped everything they were doing to help and stayed up late and were just so patient.  They were lifesavers!  Anyway, soon the mission doctor called and he said I had a FOOSH injure (fell on out-stretched arms).  I guess it is pretty common. Anyway they took x-rays on my arms and didnt find anything.  I didnt understand.  I nearly threw up and passed out due to pain and I couldnt move my arm the slightest with cringing, yet there was nothing wrong.  Do you know what these wonderful Japanese doctors suggested as treatment?  O-furu ni hairu...which means to take a bath.  I almost started laughing right there in the clinic it was so ridiculous.  No meds, nothing.  Just take a bath.  Scott, how often do you give that out as your only treatment?  Anyway, I did get a sling and that helped.  But today I went back in for another check-up and apparently I have a microfracture at the head of my forearm bone on the radial side (wow, I have a lot of brushing up to do when I get back).  So I have a little cast and it should be all healed up by next week.  Nothing too serious.  

Anyway, the rest of the week has been good.  The LA from last week took all of the missionaries out to sushi (still so gross) and then told us he was moving.  This guy is solid.  He is packing up everything and moving so he can have a job that doesnt force him to work on Sundays.  Thats dedication.  Also, yesterday I gave my second talk ever in Japan.  It went well.  I was assigned to talk on a lesson I learned from 1 Nephi.  I talked about the difference between Laman and Leumuel and Nephi and how we need to be grateful in times of trial.  I think it went okay, especially because I had a Nihonjin check the translation before I gave it.  

But thats really all for the week. Love you all and thanks for all the emails and support!

Love,

Ellsworth Shimai

New Shimai Dendo

Dear Family-

 

First off, the weather has been gorgeous out here for most of the week and we got to see the beautiful Sakura flowers blossoming.  Be prepared for  a lot pictures coming your way. 

 

So Yonago.  I love that it is by the ocean and mountains and not fully surrounded by cement buildings everywhere you turn.  I am slowly starting to get to know the ward and investigators, and they all seem great.  It is a bigger ward though, so it will be hard to remember all of the names. 

 

So nothing big as far as the week goes, but there was quite a big announcement at last weeks ZTM for how the mission is going to be run.  Zinke Kaicho has been doing a lot of thinking and praying, and he has decided to make a big change in the mission.  After realizing that around 90% of Japanese ward members are less-active, he is now switching dendo (missionary work).  The elders will go about their usual business, but the sisters full time and attention goes towards finding and teaching the less-actives.  We no longer have to make sure we have a member present.  They have already started it in one area and it has been really successful.  We will count LA as we would a normal investigator.  We can teach non-members as well, and most will be in a part-member family, so we can teach them all at once.  Then once the LA reaches certain requirements and seems fully activated, it is counted as if it were a baptism.  Kaicho realized that the sheep we are looking for may already be members who have just lost their way.  I am so excited to get to work on this!  Seriously, I think it will be so fun and successful.  We will be teaching more and finding less because we have the addresses of the LAs.  Plus, most of them already know a missionaries role, so they wont be surprised by that.  Anyway, it isnt into full swing yet, because we still have to get the members on board to help with finding out some of the information we need, but I hope it is in full swing by next week.  Seriously, I cant wait to get to work. 

 

Anyway, that is about all for the week.  I am jealous you all got to watch conference this weekend.  I cant wait until I get to this upcoming weekend.  It sounds like it was a good one....as always.  Anyway, I hope you all have a great week and start applying what you learn from conference to your everyday life starting now.  Love you all!

 

Ellsworth Shimai

Funfetti Cake

February 23, 2014

Dear Family and Friends-

 

So, lets see what is new.  So much happens in one week, but at the same time, all of the days seem to be the same.  But, yesterday little Yu Chan came to church!  She only came to partake of the sacrament because her brother was sick, but she came!  }Here are my current guesses on the situation.  Yu Chan had a bad morning and didnt want to go to church last sunday (a typical thing for a 9 year old to say).  Her mom then said that if she is going to be baptized, that she has to go to church.  So naturally in response, she said then she wont get baptized.  And then the mom told us she didnt want to get baptized.  If I think back to when I was nine, I can see myself doing a very similar thing.  She was smiling and everything when she walked into church.  I am a little worried about the mom though.  She is a strong member, and she was hoping Yus baptism would motivate her husband to become reactivated...but it hasnt.  Now with the baptism right around the corner and the husband not doing anything about it, I think she may want to try pushing back the baptism again.  I really hope she doesnt.  The husband will come around when he wants to and is ready, but she shouldnt put her daughters salvation in jeopardy.  But, that is only my best guess.  We will see how it all unfolds in the coming week or so. 

 

We got to teach Nana Chan on Wednesday.  She had lost her voice and everything with a cold and she still came (not very typical here- you get sick and your whole life shuts down...even with a cold).  Sadly I dont know if she will make her baptismal date in March because she seems to study way too much to attend church, but I definetely think she will be baptized soon. On Saturday we got to teach Tania (I love how they are giving us more responsibility to teach recent converts).  She is awesome and is really trying to put her priorities in order.  She was so funny.  She said these other two missionaries came and gave her a newspaper about their church and she wanted to show it to us.  But she told us to stay where we were and she would show it to us through the window because it wasnt allowed in her house.  When she came back in the house, she scrubbed her hands after holding something so filthy.  It was so funny to watch and so great to see.  I love seeing the testimony of this gospel sink deeper and deeper into their hearts.

 

So this week, the MP gave us a new mission training plan- it is only for 2 weeks.  Our last training plan was about us relying on Him.  Well he decided that we cant rely on Him if we dont know who He is.  So for two weeks, the whole mission is doing everything we can to really come to know our Savior Jesus Christ- not just facts of Him, but to really get to know Him and have a burning testimony of Him in our hearts.  Im excited for it!  We are to wake up early to study and cut down breakfast, lunch, and dinner, to focus on studying the life of Christ.  Every thought we think should be about Him or our investigators and same goes with the conversations we have with our companions.  It is really hard to train your thoughts in such a way, but it has been good.  Conversation is much more stimulating now as we ONLY talk about the gospel.  Im excited to see how I will grow and change over these next two weeks.  If you are up to it, I challenge you all to do the same thing.  Eat, breath, and sleep the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is occupying my mind so much that last night will I dreamt, I remember specifically thinking "Oh no!  These dreams arent about Christ- I somehow have to change them!" I dont know if they actually changed, but I was trying to.

 

Anyway, I hope you all had a great week and this next week is even better.  Keep trying everyday to be a little better than you were yesterday.  Focus on the eternal perspective and why we have everything that we have.  Come to know, or come to better know who Jesus Christ really is.  I love you all!

 

Ellsworth Shimai

Nana Chan and funfetti cake!

Her district this transfer!

The Trees are Starting to Blossom!

March 2, 2014

Hello Everyone-

 

So this week  was good.  Still working hard and doing everything we can, so we can step back and watch a miracle occur.  Something will come about.  Anyway, this week Elder Whiting of the seventy came and spoke to our mission.  It was really good.  Both him and his wife served in Japan, so it was nice to have people talk to us who know what it is sort of like out here.  However, they said that we couldnt use that as an excuse.  He said that hastening the work meant hastening the work everywhere and not just in Mexico.  Anyway, he talked about how we need both power and authority to be able to carry out this work.  We already have the authority, so now we just need the power.  We went through examples of different prophets/missionaries throughout the Book of Mormon and New Testament and wrote down some traits we need to make sure we are working on.  Then he went over how we get the power.  He said it comes from the Holy Ghost.  He then went over the unique wording that is used when we recieve the gift of the Holy Ghost.  It says "Receive the Holy Ghost."  He emphasized the fact that it was our choice whether or not to receive it that day, and how we need to make a conscious effort to receive the Holy Ghost everyday of our lives.  He then talked about grace and the enabling power of the Atonement.  He says that the only way we can become better and become the person we want and need to be is through the power/grace of the atonement.  He said that same power is what is needed to change the hearts of our investigators.  This I had all heard before, but it always rings stronger and gets you more motivated to access that power and change when coming from the mouth of a general authority. 

 

Anyway, as for our mission training plan on focusing on Jesus Christ, that is still going well.  At first it was really hard to focus your thoughts, but it is getting easier as the days go by.  One thing I did to help was I switched the music we were listening to.  I have always loved music (some may laugh and not believe that statement- you know who you are) and like to listen to it as I am getting ready in the morning or when I am making dinner.  Ususally I just listen to a random shuffle of songs that mostly consist of EFY songs.  But this past week, I decided to only listen to the Mormon Tabernacle choir.  I didnt think it would, but it has made quite a difference.  I decided to give myslef a break and go back to EFY music one morning, and I was just groggy and not as focused as I was when I listened to the MoTab.  Good, better, and best.  I need to remember that although something is good or even better, I need to make sure that I am always choosing the best choice. 

 

Anyway, that was my week in a nutshell I think.  Love you all and thanks for all of your love and support!

 

Love,

Ellsworth Shimai

Faith to endure

March 9, 2014

Hello everyone!

 

So, what to report for this week.  Nothing huge or big or exciting, just the norm.  We finished our cram session of getting to know the Savior more and more, and I think it actually has helped a lot (granted I still have a lot more learning to do though).  So this week, has gone surprisingly well.  Not as in numbers wise or the typical way you think of a mission, but as in myself.  This transfer has been pretty tough on me and there are days when I am almost postivie I cant do it anymore.  But this week, I havent had those days.  Somehow, I am able to push through it all with more faith than I ever have.  And I know that it is only through the power of the Atonement that I am able to persevere with so much patience.  Really though, I know for a fact I am receiving divine assistance because I would not be able to do this on my own.

 

Okay, so our mission goal right now is for every companionship to see a baptism by March 23rd.  Well, I have been working like crazy, and we just had two of our Yaks (people with a baptismal date) not make their date.  So sad.  One I know could make it (little Yu chan) but she cant get baptized until her dad is reactivated.  So as of right now, with two weeks left, that date seems literally impossible.  But everytime I pray about it, I just get the feeling to work, do everything in my power, and that the Lord will provide the miracle.  Sometimes it can be so hard to keep going strong when it seems impossible, but the Lord has been helping me keep strength.  For instance, yesterday, Yu Chan didnt come to church (she still looks like our best candidate for baptism) and everyone who said they would come, didnt come.  I was so disappointed and trying hard to stay strong.  I wanted to find peace, so I turned to the scriptures.  Now, first, let me tell you that I always want to be able to open up a random page, read a random verse, and have it be my answer, but those types of things never ever happen to me.  Ever.  But yesterday, for like the first time ever, it actually did.  I opened up the Book of Mormon, and the last part of Alma 36:27 was highlighted in green and just popped out at me.  "and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me."  Just what I needed to be reminded of.  I just have to remember that if I am doing all that I can, that the Lord will make up the rest- even in seemingly impossible times.  So, what I have been learning this week, is the power of the atonement to help you endure with patience, your trials.  This week has been so hectic and unexpected, and things arent going as planned, but I just have this calm reassuring feeling that everything will work out if I continue to work hard and put my faith and trust in the Lord.  And even if we dont see a baptism, that it will have been for good. 

 

Anyway, other than that, the week has been great.  The more I am out here, the more I realize that I am half child.  We went and visited Yu chan and her little brother and I did races with them in the parking lot and taught them how to sing in a funny voice- (that they practiced and mastered by the next time I visited them) while the mom and the grandma and my companion just stood there and laughed at me.  I love little Asian kids.  Anyway, that is all for my week.  I love you all and hope you are doing fantastic!  Keep being strong and moving forward with faith!

 

Love,

Ellsworth Shimai

March 16, 2014

Dear Family-

 

Sorry, this email will be short today, but thats probably okay anyway because you are all planning for the wedding this weekend.  Wish I could be there Stephen and Allison, but I send my love and hope you have fun and enjoy the day.  But today I get to go to Koyasan.  It is up in the mountains and a little buddhist community wiht lots of temples.  The cherry blossoms wont be out yet, but im excited to go.  I guess it is where Buddhism started in Japan.  We have been planning to go for three weeks now, but something always got in the way, but we actually get to go now.  So look forward to lots of pictures next week.

 

So this week.  Well the sister training leaders (STLs) came out and did exchanges with us.  Not going to lie, I was extrememly nervous because I know they evaluate us and then report back to the MP.  I knew an exchange was coming though because Kaicho (the MP) said he wanted to send them out there to assess the situation with my companion and give me a little break.  So in my mind, thats what I thought the exchange was for, but also acknowledging that I could learn and improve from it as well.  Boy was I wrong.  I think that exchange was specifically for me.  I learned so much and have so much to work on.  After the exchange I made a commitment to follow every piece of counsel they gave, and I can already see improvements.  It also helps with the companionship.  I think I was so focused on helping her and just surviving that I let some things slip.  But after the exchange I have other things to focus on and improve about myslef, making me feel better, and making it much easier to then uplift and encourage my companion.  I go through stages of how I want to help my companion each week.  Sometimes it is to talk to her and let her cry it out.  Sometimes I cant handle it and I would just have to ignore it.  But lately, know when it happens, I just tell her to piggy back onto my faith and get to work.  And to help her do so, I have us take a short pause and sing a hymn in English (much more powerful in your native tongue).  I feel bad because I finally have gotten a hang of my companion, and now someone else may have to go through the same trial I just went through.  Maybe, they may be much more patient than I am.  The transfer gets easier as it goes along, and I am finally starting to overcome it rather than have it overcome me.  I am excited for next transfers though to see what they bring. 

 

Anyway, for the most part, that is all.  Just trying to improve little by little everyday.  I hope you all have a great week and have a fun time at the wedding.  Dont forget to send me lots of pictures- and not just by email.  O and mom I got the girl scout cookies this week!  Thank you!!!  Everyone is very jealous.  Funny thing though, as soon as I saw them, I picked up the box to read it hoping I would find some funny Engrish, but then remembered that they came from America.  I was disappointed but found it fuinny that it has become instinctive to seek for Engrish.  Anyway, I wish you every a lot of happiness.  See you again.

 

Love,

Ellsworth Shimai

I love how you can tell that Martha's japanese is getting better because her english is getting worse. Always a true sign that she is becoming more immersed in the language. Love it!

A picture they took with some girls who were staring at them! haha 

Peanut butter pie for pi day! 

Little Leo. Martha loves her!

The whole crew, minus Yamada San

Welcome to Yonago!

Again, so sorry for the lack of updates on Martha. She's doing well and hit her year mark in May. Can't believe how fast it is going! 

Hello everyone!

So this past week was transfer week.  Its always kind of hard going to a new area and getting to know the ward members and investigators, but it should be good.  However, it was really hard to say goodbye to Kawachinagano.  I love the Yoshikawa family, and I seriously went through withdrawls when I realized that I wouldnt be seeing Tania and Leo anymore.  Those two are seriously my favorite people ever!  

Transfer day was a little hectic.  We were trying to get to our first meeting spot, but then got stopped due to an accident caused by an earthquake.  So that meant I missed the first traveling group, so it was approved to have just Muhonen Choro and I transfer together to the next spot.  Everyone thought it was a huge deal, but it felt normal to me.  Maybe it should have felt weird though.  It just felt like traveling with anyone else.  Anyway, I traveled to Yonago.  It took from 6am to 4:30.  It was a long day.  My area is beautiful and a little more countryside.  Plus I got to see the Sea of Japan, and I love the smell of salt in the air!  It reminds me of the beach house.  Anyway, the area and the ward members seem nice.  The last comp in the area took the bike keys so weve been walking everywhere but that okay because the weather has been mostly gorgeous.  Anyway, I think that is about all for the week.  Just adjusting and trying to get the hang of my new area and new companion.  

Anyway, GO WISCONSIN!!  Let me know how they do...Im sure Nathan will.  Hope you all have a good week!  Love you all!

Love,

Ellsworth Shimai

The Yoshikawas!

Blossoms in her new area! 

The ocean!

Transfers!

October 6, 2013

Hi everyone!

 

This week has been good.  A little slow, but I guess I should expect that when sent to a mission in Japan.  It definitely is not the Phillipines or South America.  Slowly but surely, the work will move forward.  We are promised at one time the work here will astonish the world, so we just have to keep working towards that goal.

 

So this week, I had a proud moment as a future dietitian.  My companion doesnt eat very healthy.  She has gained over 20kg since her mission and she is only 3rd transfer.  Yikes!  Its hard to sometimes sit back and just watch her eat a huge bag of chips everyday.  But lately Ive been teaching her about how to make meat a little healthier.  For instance, I tell her to drain the meat and cut off the excess fat (I swear in Japan, they sell fat with a tiny bit of meat rather than meat with some fat on it).  Anyway, everytime I would ask her to do that, she would just complain and thought I was so weird.  But then this week, she started draining and triming the meat without me even asking.  I know, it sounds ridiculous and nerdy to be happy over that, but Im glad she has made just a little step towards being healthier.

 

On Saturday, we got to watch the Relief Soceity Broadcast- family, remember, we are fifteen hours ahead and they have to translate it into Japanese for eveyone else so we watch one wee later.  This means that sadly I have to wait until next week to watch General Conferences, but Im excited to do so.  The Relief Soceity Broadcast was so good!  I loved Sister Reeves talk about Sacrament meeting.  President Zinke has been really pushing the importance of sacrament meeting lately, so it was cool to hear the same words coming from church headquarters.  Other than that, it has just been another week.  I think I told you last week, but our one investigator isnt getting baptized.  She couldnt give up smoking.  But its sad because now she is so ashamed that she may drop herself.  Our other investigator Joey is so ready for baptism and wants to be baptized, but still wont try to get off of work so he can come to church.  He hasnt fully put his priorities in order.  Anyway, thats all for this week.  I transfer on Thursday, but I dont know if Im going or staying- they havent sent that email yet.  If I get it soon though, Ill make sure to send out a quick email to let you know where I am going.  Love you all!

 

Ellsworth Shimai

So family, Im transferring!  Im going to fushimi which is in Kyoto- so excited!  I hear it is beautiful there.  Plus Im getting a nihonjin companion.  Im a little extremely nervous for this, but it will be good for me.  Hopefully I will get better at the language this way. 

Pictures from her area:

New Transfer, New location

I am sorry that I have not been posting about Martha's experiences in Japan recently. We have moved but I am not back on it and will be back posting this week. Here is Martha's most recent email. She sounds like she's really enjoying her new area:

So I am in Fushimi and it is absolutely gorgeous!  So mnay mountains and trees and all of the famous castles are in my area.  So I now with a Nihonjin comapaion.  Not going to lie, its rough.  They are strict in areas they dont need to be.  For instance, she kind of got upset at me for writing in my journal after planning.  I was not okay with that.  But luckily I dont really get too scared of people so I told her that it actually suggests we write in our journal in the white handbook and that even the prophet writes in his.  She backed down.  However, after　this short little time, I think my brain is about to explode with Japanese.  That first day was rough.  I had no food and I had been speaking and listening to 6 hours straight of Japanese.  Literally thought I was going to faint.  

Plus, imagine this- dad, i will use you in this example.  Imagine arriving to a new area and your bike was one of those beach bum bikes (called mamachatis).  Now imagine if it were moms size (for me, nihonjin size).  Now imagine if the tires were flat and everyday just to get from the church to your apartment (so at least once a day) you had to bike up 123rd.  And then to find places to go housing, you had to bike up highland drive twice.  Yeah, I thought I was going to die. To get anywhere here, you have to go through a mountain pass.  I was struggling to keep up.  I mean I knew I was out of shape but I didnt think I was that much.  My knees were dying by the end of each night and somehow I got shin splits.  I suppose I was try to use my feet more to take the pressure off of my knees.  Luckily, Scheffler shimai (roomie) was willing to trade with me.  Her bike is a bit bigger.  O it made all the difference.  Seriously, I was beating my companion up the mountain now.  Who knew just a small change in bike could make the world of a difference.  So then during conference, this is the connection I made to missionary work- and this applies to us all because we all are missionaries.   Both bikes got the job done.  I was able to go where I needed to go.  But the larger bike for me was much more effective and enjoyable.  So which bike am I going to be in missionary work?  The more effective and fun missionary or the tired, one that only works because it has to type of missionary/ person?  Will align my will with the Savior or will I do what He asks but do it grudgingling. Well Im trying to be the first.  Not sure if Im there yet, but Im working on it.  Anyway, sorry if none of that made sense.  It does in my brain so I guess that is all that matters. Anyway, conference was great!  I Elder Ballards was so motivating and i absolutely loved Gifford Neilsons from the Saturday session (exclamation point).  And then of course I loved President Monsons on Sunday.  I dont know if you can tell, but Japan is a hard mission- the language, the people, the culture, the weather,and just everything.  But itll all be worth it in the end. 

Anyway, the area is great.  We have a lot of young investigators which I love.  The older you get the more stubborn you are.  We got a referral this past week and she is amazing!  She just got a flyer and decided to come to church.  When she went to Relief Society, she bore her testimony. Plus she opens up to people (not a nihonjin trai).  She wants to get baptized, so we just have to teach her basically.  It just goes to show how much the Lord is in this work.  We didnt prepare her.  The Lord did.  `You will find them or they will find you.`  Anyway, I cant wait to teach her.  Anyway, I think that is all for this week.  Sorry, I know have to go to an internet cafe so I dont have as much time.  Love you all and thanks for your support.

Ai shite imasu

Ellsworth Shimai

Here are a few pictures from her last area. She is such a cute sister missionary!

Martha in front of osaka jou- eight stories high

Shin shimai and Martha overlooking the city

Bonjour...kidding Konnichiwa

Hi family!

 

So another week has gone by. Time goes by much faster in the field than it does in the MTC, thats for sure. Transfers are next week. My senior companion thinks Ill get a nihongin next transfer. Im a little scared for that, but it'll be good because I need to learn the language.

 

Anyway, last Monday, we got to go to Kiyomizudera. So beautiful!! I actually felt like I was in Japan, or the part of Japan that we think of. It was so pretty. T of Japan that we think of. It was so pretty. There were so many shops and I wanted to buy everything, but I don't want to lug it around. Therefore I am making a list of everything I have to buy before I leave. Mom and dad, if you are still planning on picking me up, you have to pack lightly so I can fill the rest of your space with my stuff. Also, besides the fact that they eat seafood and what not, another reason the Japanese are that they eat seafood and what not, another reason the Japanese are so healthy. Rather than selling hot dogs on the street at tourist places, they sell cucumbers on a stick. I thought that was interesting.

 

This week we ate at someones house, and I literally thought Heavenly Father was trying to kill me off.  I think I should have majored in dietetics after my mission.  So we went to their home.  It was a very traditional Japanese home.  Also, they are pack rats...to the extreme.  Laura you would hate it.  They have little houses and they are just filled with so much junk.  Anyway, so they decided to grill us meat and veggies.  They brought out their little skillet and to start off pulled off like 10 pieces of hair from it and then just put the food on it to start cooking it.  Then we pulled off even more while the food was cooking.  So disgusting!  Then I saw a spider run across the table.  Then to top it off, I had to eat octopus.  I about died.  You better believe I smothered that thing in sauce before I stuck it in my mouth.  I don't think I can survive much longer with all of this seafood. 

 

Anyway, this week we challenged an eternal investigator to baptism.  He was very hesitant, but he accepted.  This guy lived in Wisconsin for 6 years, so he brought pictures and books on Wisconsin for me to look at.  As you can probably imagine, I loved it.  But hes a great guy, but he has a lot of questions because he got a hold of some anti-mormon stuff.  So we have to get him back on track.

 

This week, while we were housing, a man from across the way came up to us and told us that the apartment complex we were at was no good because they were all old and buddhist.  He then offered us to come cool off at his house and grab something to drink.  Long and Shin shimai said no thanks, but I wondered why.  So a few minutes later, we went on a search for him.  We knew he was on the sixth floor of a certain apartment.  So we prayed to find him.  It was so cool because I got the revelation of the exact apartment he lived in- the number 614 flashed in my head. And sure enough, when we got to that door, he opened the door.  It really still continues to surprise me how much the Lord trusts me with revelation.  Anyway, we talked to him and said he was going to try to come to church, but didn't.  Then last night he called us (this never happens) and wanted to learn more.  This guy seems awesome.  We are just waiting for him to ask us when he can be baptized..just kidding.  But we were really excited to get his call.

 

Anyway, I think that is all for the week.  There is a dog near my apartment that sounds just like Jake, so often Ill be studying and have the urge to just say `JAAAKKKE  QUIET!!`  Also, just a side note, both of my companions received two letters last week and i got zero...just saying.  Anyway, I love you all and thank you for all of your support.  Dad I hope your recovery starts getting better and Laura and Derek, I hope you have a nice move out to Dallas- Im sure you'll love it there.  Also good luck with school!  Its just around the corner mom and Nate!  Ai shite imasu!

 

Love,

Martha (Ellsworth Shimai)

Kiyomizudera 

Me, Shin shimai, and Long Shimai 

Random shrine 

Octopus 

Yakuza at church?

Hi Family!

 

Im glad to hear everyone is doing well.  So dad, you should be proud.  This week was my first experience with seafood.  It wasn't ..horrible.  The worst part is the seaweed.  It is nasty.  It taints the taste of everything.  Maybe one day Ill get up to Erin's level and use it like salt.  So on Saturday a ward member made us spaghetti with oysters and shrimp.  It was hard at first to put it in my mouth, but the sauce did a good job of covering up the taste.  Then last night we went over to another members house and she made us sushi...real sushi.  I tried crab, raw tuna, and raw salmon.  Not a fan of the salmon but the tuna wasn't bad.  The seaweed is seriously the worst part so after two rolls, I started making mine wrapped in lettuce.  Little by little- although I don't know if Ill ever truly love seaweed.

 

But this week had a turn of events.  Since last transfer this area was white washed by the sisters, many of our investigators are guys from the area book.  Three of them have asked my companion out on dates...so now we have to refer them over to the elders.  We have been teaching this one investigator who has a TON of problems.  We felt like he was getting no where but wanted to so badly to help him.  Then during one of our lessons with him, a member told him that if he wasn't going to keep the law of chastity or word of wisdom to stop wasting the missionaries time.  So basically this member dropped him for us.  It made us really sad.  It also made us even more sad because the members reasoning was because the investigator took too many pills and he wouldn't be allowed to be baptized.  It makes me so sad that people don't see everyone as children of God.  This ward is known for having a lot of cliques so we are trying to work on that and strengthen the ward.  We wont see any baptisms if the ward isn't welcoming to the new investigators.

 

Also guess who we taught this week and he came to church?  An ex member of the yakuza (Japanese mafia).  He has two of his fingertips cut off.  He says he isnt too interested, but still wants to learn more. 

 

So here are some things I learned about Japan and its heat.  In the summer is when most people get sick because they get so hot and the dont use the air con.  In fact, some people refuse to turn on the air con and they end up dying in their home because of the heat and humidity.  And yes Kim, now I understand why you always wore a ponytail.  Seriously, showering is pointless here. 

 

This week Ive been struggling with the language..well I always do, but it has really gotten to me.  I feel like I want to say so much, but I cant.  I get so frustrated, adn it gets hard because my companion often expects me to know how to already say a lot of things.  Also streeting is hard for me.  Im not like dad who can go up to any random stranger and talk to them, especially in a different language where I can even more easily make a fool of myself.  So I start to question why Im even out here; Im not helping or contributing at all.  So I decided to just always listen to the Spirit.  That could be my contribution.  I was working really hard to figure out how the Spirit talks to me.  Ive heard that it is usually just thoughts in your head.  So I went off that.  Every thought in my head I would follow.  If I didnt, like I felt I should stop while biking and didnt, I would continue riding and say a little prayer and repent.  I needed the Lord to trust that I would listen to the Spirit.  So last Monday night we went housing.  We were having no luck and had no idea where to go.  I kept wanting to go to this one place, but it is full of drunks at night.  We wanted to go home because we had 20 minutes left but we decided to go to the bridge by our house and street.  I still wanted to go to the 7/11 where all the drunks are.  But then I thought, hey, there is a 7/11 by the bridge.  We should just stop by there.  So I told my companions and when we got there, they were just like, okay-now what?  I want to talk to this girl, but I couldnt muster up the courage and by the time I did, she had left.  So we stood on the sidewalk by the 7/11 trying to track people down.  I felt so stupid.  I just kept thinking, `awesome, I guess I dont know how the Holy Ghost speaks to me.  Fantastic.`  But then just as our time was up and we were about to go home, we stopped a girl and she actually said it would be okay to meet with her- no one ever does that.  It was so cool and made me so happy.  Then when I was teaching a lesson about the Holy Ghost it all hit me.  Sometimes as we become more like Christ, the Holy Ghost is harder to recognize.  Why?  Because our thoughts become one with the Lords so it makes it harder to differentiate.  So now, every good thought I have or any idea or feeling, I always try to listen to it.  Especailly right now because that is all I can contribute to this companionship.

 

Anyway, thats all for this week.  Laura and Derek I am so excited for you!  That will be a fun adventure.  I hope everything runs smoothly.  And thanks for the bing-a-la-ding-dong email derek.  I had a nice laugh.  Its a pillow. Its a pet.  Its a pillow pet.  Oh and Stephen- CONGRATULATIONS!  Youll have to email me with pictures of the ring and what not.  Tell Allison I am so excited to have her as a sister.  Anyway, I hope all is well.  Thank you everyone for writing me.  Your letters and support really help me get through the week^especially these beginning weeks.  Sometimes they can be rough.  Man sometimes I wish I went English speaking.  Anyway, I love you all!  Sorry, no pictures this week.  Siteseeing was cancelled due to rain so we are going today.  So look forward to seeing some Buddhist temples in the next email.

 

Love,

Ellsworth Shimai

Hot, Humid, and Free Ice Cream!

Dearest Family,

 

I am so sorry to hear about Uncle Mike.  Ill make sure to keep them in my prayers.

 

My address is just the mission home address.  They forward it to us very promptly:

 

4-6-28

Shinohara Honmachi

Nada-Ku Kobe-Shi

Japan

657-0067

 

So here is how the week has been.  I had my first culture shock on Tuesday when I went to the grocery store.  In France I can kind of understand most words or guess, but I cant read kanji so I kind of freaked out.  Plus I was so scared everything would taste like seaweed or fish.  So Ive been a little homesick this week, but Im sure itll get better.  I seem to only be homesick when we are studying.  Once I am out working in the blazing sun, things are good.  I love coming home exhausted and sweaty.  It is so hot and humid hear.  (oh fyi, I have the tan futon- I didn't want to copy the other girls and I think it kind of looks like me).  But Japan does not have central air systems.  It is always so hot.  Luckily, we finally decided to turn on the Air comm system every few hours during the night so we could actually sleep.

 

So On Sunday, I led the lesson for the one investigator who has a lot of problems.  He has frustrated a ton of missionaries because he just doesnt applu anything.  I got the feeling to reteach about God and his divine potential.  I taught the bulk of the lesson.  My sentences were very simple, but I think he actually felt the Spirit.  It was also nice because we had a member there who help translate his mumble and Osaka bin.  Also, FYI I am in Ibaraki. It is more inland and about an hour away from Kyoto.  We are going sightseeing today.

 

Anyway, as I said, it is so hot.  Well, when it gets hot, my face gets so red!  The Japanese, do not sweat.  They wear long sleeves in this weather and are completely fine.  But they take pity on me and my exhausted red face.  Therefore, we had one random person on the street buy us ice cream and and two people offer to buy us drinks.  The other day, we rode our bike to a lesson.  It was all uphill and took 1.5 hours.  It was so hard.  People just stared at me when we arrived because my face was literally almost purple.  Also, I don't know if you realized this, but streeting in Japan is kind of hard.  No one believes in God and doesn't have a clue who Jesus Christ is.  It is quite different then most other missions.  The restoration is usually the first lesson for most missions, but here we have to establish the fact that God is their loving Heavenly Father.

 

But the Japanese are very respectful and nice.  My companion says that they always stare at me, but I haven't really noticed it yet.  I sometime forget how tall I am compared to them until I take a picture or go to give them a hug. Anyway, yesterday during church we gave a mission fireside.  It was during their linger longer and no one was listening.  Kids were running around and the adults were talking.  They announced we had a message to share and my companions started talking but it was still so noisy.  Then it was my turn and I was just reading a quote in romaji.  About two sentences in, the whole room goes dead silent.  Even the children were so quite and still.  They were all trying to figure out what I was saying probably and felt so bad for me.  My face turned red while speaking and it was just a tad embarrassing  but at least it got everyone to quite down.  But I have noticed that throughout Japan.  My companions are fluent, and when we go streeting, I am afraid to talk so I let them do the talking.  Most people just want to leave as soon as they start talking.  But when I finally get up the courage to say two to three sentences, everyone stops and listens and actually considers what I say.  Its kind of cool, but sad at the same time because I know they are only listening so intently because they cant understand me and they want so much to help me with the language.

 

Also, Iwamoto Shimai is a little lady in the ward.  Her and her husband always help out with lessons.  I think she had adopted me as her child.  On Saturday, she dressed us up in Kimonos and we stopped by at a little festival and a middle school.  Everyone stared at me as a tall blond in a Japanese traditional outfit.  But it was a lot of fun.  Iwamoto just loved seeing me in it.  She is so cute and is always helping me with my Japanese.

 

Anyway, I hope you have a great week and enjoy the weather in Newport and then in San Fran.  I love you all and thanks so much for writing me.

 

I love you!

 

Martha

 

PS Sorry if you don't get a letter right away.  Ill try to write everyone eventually, but I dont have a lot of time.  Please forgive me.

The ice cream they bought her

A beautiful park in the area she's in 

Dressed in traditional clothes