Peace in Church

As some of you know from Martha's blog posts I have been in the middle of a move and house hunting and have been slacking on the blog posts for my sisters who are out serving The Lord. I am doing my best to play catch up so keep checking back this week for more updates on Jamie. Here is her most recent email.

Hi Family!

So I know that you already know because you were sent pictures but... Kara got baptized on Sunday! It was so great. She has just been wanting to get baptized for so long and so I am so happy for her that it was finally able to happen. It was so fun because the past couple of weeks we have just been really trying to get her involved with the ward and everyone has been so great. We took her with us for a couple of dinner appointments so that she could meet people. It was so much fun! For most of my mission I have not really gotten to experience the whole having dinner appointments.. so it has been really fun meeting with members and bring investigators along!

The work is still going just great. Honestly, we are so blessed and I am constantly amazed at how much the Lord really is in this work. He does everything. Haha we are just here because he can't be at the moment. He is preparing and sending so many people are way and it is just wonderful. He really is wanting His children to hear the gospel and He is getting it to them. So, there is this girl who use to be taught last January but she went home to China right before she was going to get baptized.. I guess there just wasn't enough time. Anyway, she is back! We met her yesterday and she is so wonderful. She is so excited to start having "classes" again. She is so cute. Our investigator Lee is still awesome! We love when we get to see him. It is so much fun! And actually, he is coming to Utah on the 28th of this month and he said if there is anything you want to give him to bring back to me that he would get it.... just saying. haha He is great. He is getting baptized on the 27th of this month and he is so excited about it. He is having a hard time because his family does not exactly support him with it but we have faith that it will still be able to happen. Also, do you remember the investigator we have, Maggie? Well she is just the cutest. She really wants to get baptized but there are some things that we are trying to figure out first. But it was the best moment ever. On Sunday we were sitting in sacrament meeting and during the sacrament she turned to me and this is what happened. Maggie: "I feel so peaceful when I sit in here. I just love it. How do you feel when you sit here?" Me:" I feel so happy and peaceful too." Maggie: "I don't like how it changes so much when I go outside and walk on the streets. I just want it all the time." Then I explained to her how that is what we can have as we are baptized and have the gift of the Holy Ghost. As we have that gift and remain faithful by keeping the commandments and studying, we can feel like that when we are just walking outside. She really started to think about it. Some of the commandments are hard for her, which I don't blame her it is a whole new change, but I could tell that she just really started to think about it a lot. It made me so happy just sitting there thinking that I am so blessed to be able to have the opportunity to help others come in to the gospel.

Okay so family, I have to tell you this story that happened... hahaha too good. So, there is a group of BYU-I students over here and I was standing at the front of the VC Sunday morning and they came and stood in the front. First of all, I got to see Kim who I coached volleyball with my first time coaching. It was the BEST thing ever. I just love her! But it was so fun because I saw so many people that I know on Sunday. Both of those people, then another girl and then I got to see the Andrus'. Ahh it was so fun!

Well family, I love you all so much! Thank you for being the best family EVER. And yes, you that don't write me, I guess I still love you too.... just kidding. I love you guys and I hope that you have a wonderful week! LOVE YOU!!

Love, Sister Ellsworth

Just started a new transfer a week or so ago and is still with Sister Sua! 

Her friend Kim, from BYUI was in London!

London is so beautiful! 

With their recent convert Kara

With the Andrus family from Draper, Ut, her home ward 

Having fun! 

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

Ella and Sui at it again!

Another transfer has passed for Jamie and she is still with Sister Sua and loving life. She's glad she stayed in the same area with the same companion.

Family!!

Another transfer is here! ahh so crazy. I tell ya, they just go by way too fast! But I will be staying in Britannia for another transfer!! Yay I am so excited! and I get to be with Sister Sua again! We just have so much fun together and I am so excited! Also, I think I was saying it last week.. I just love the people we are teaching right now and I did not want to leave them at all!!

So right now we have some awesome people that we are teaching! Last week we got a referral from a member in the stake. She rents out a flat and a cute girl from Poland just moved in! She asked if she could come to church with her and now she will be coming to the Singles ward! She is perfect. First of all, she is the cutest thing in the world. She is so pretty and fun and talks.. a lot. I love it. We taught her for the first time last week and she is so prepared. We asked her to tell us about her and she started off by saying she is like an 80 year old women. haha She hates partying, alcohol, smoking, even coffee. She is great! We are seeing her today and I am so excited!

Then there is Difei. So last week I told you how funny he is. Well I swear it just gets better every time we see him! This past time he wanted to know if we would be moving this transfer or not and we explained to him that we didn't know. haha then he told us to pray about it, get the answer, and then let him know. oh and then we tried to set a date with him.. and we did.. for.. haha he explained how he thinks his faith is too small and that we met him at the end of june so a year would be good for him. ahhh haha this guy. Well, don't worry we are trying to move that up!

Ploy! She is just great! I love seeing her. It is the best when you have a great friendship to start with and then go from there! We taught her last night and it was very basic but it was so good! I am so excited for this next transfer! I know that if we just press forward with faith and turn it into action, doing everything that we can, being our best self and pushing ourselves, the Lord really will bless us and we will continue to see miracles!

Oh and guess what? Remember my roommate Leanda from England? Well she is back!! She has been here a couple of times to visit and then this past Sunday her and her mom made us a ton of food! It was the best thing ever! Man I just love her so much and I love having her here!! I will send some pictures of us!

I love doing this. It is amazing when you see the Lord send his prepared children your way and to see them change and live the gospel! I have come to see how powerful the spirit really is if you just let it change you. I mean we all still have our agency but if we are truly willing to let it touch us it will bring so much happiness. I hope that you are all doing great and that you have a great week!! LOVE YOU!!

Love, Sister Ellsworth 

Working on taking more pictures

Loving the rain

Leanda made them lunch. It was Ghanan food and she loved it!

"So let me explain the story behind this one. There is this old Muslim guy that ALWAYS comes in to the VC. And every time I say hi to him he says the same thing... and he only says it to me.. haha he says, 'You should wear the veil'. So naturally this is what happened"

Her recent find in the closet of her flat

They found these hats while sopping on pday

Love life in London

Hi Family!

Well this week has been great. Honestly, I know that I say it every week, so sorry if it gets old, but I really love this work! The people we are currently teaching are so awesome! They are all so different from each other and have such different needs. It is so cool to get to know these people and to help them build their relationship with God. Each person is unique and I love seeing how other people work! 

haha funny story. So that guy Nick that we found last sunday.. he is just awesome! I can't really explain what he is like but he always makes me laugh. So, we had an appointment set up with him the other day and I sent him a text to confirm and he replied with "Hey, I;m not in the mood today. Thanks anyway" haha I just started laughing. Then we taught him and this whole time he kept saying, "I just don't fit in here." Turns out that the whole time this poor guy thought we were trying to change who he is. (He was part of the Jehovah Witnesses' and that is what they do apparently) Well, we got over that and now he is doing really great! ha

Avtar ended up not being able to get baptized this past week.... he is having a hard time with the word of Wisdom. So we are working hard on him and really trying to help him to stop! Jillian is doing well. We actually got her to commit to a baptismal date! But it is kind of a conditional date! But she is really wanting to push forward and I have faith that she will get baptized on the day :)

So saddest day ever... We taught Chris this last week and we ended up having to drop him. It honestly made me so sad but Sua and I knew that that was what we had to do. He was not willing to come to church and to keep commitments. We still keep in contact but we are no longer teaching him. That is probably the hardest part about a mission. Seeing people not accept this message even when you know they are ready! 

So this past week I had a work over with one of the Sister Training Leaders (they are new) and it was great. I realized that I need to be more bold in my missionary work. That is how people will know our purpose, that we love them, and they will be able to accept the message better. So I have really been focusing on talking about baptism in the first lesson and being bold but loving. I can testify from experience now that it really does work. People then know exactly what they are there for and our purpose. haha you think I would have learned this earlier.... 

So Sister Sua got sick again, poor thing. This time it was yesterday (sunday). It was so hard because we had investigators come to church but we were not able to be there! But thankfully the elders helped us out there. But pretty much I just got to stay home and study, study, study. It was so good for me tho. I really learned a lot. Then we went out and took a walk to get out of the apartment and we found a girl who we are teaching tomorrow! It is so fun to just always talk with people. That is the thing about being a missionary. You never just take time off because pretty much everyone you meet needs the message that we share! 

I love you all so much! You are the best family a girl could ask for! Keep being the best people ever and I hope that you all have a wonderful week! LOVE YOU!!

Love, Sister Ellsworth 

With her companion, Sister Sua

She loves London

So someone dropped a bag of clothes off to Jamie and told her they thought they would fit her. So her and Sister Bergstrom tried them on...

These two...always up to no good...ha