Japan Fukuoka: Weeks 19 & 20: #Shimizutemple

Out on the street

Spring is here. The elders down in Okinawa will take their suits off tomorrow. The Sakura blossoms are beginning to show. The sun rises the same time that we do now. Meanwhile, there is fresh rivalry...
In our district, there is a little rivalry between Shimizu and Tsuboi. Four missionaries are in each of these wards. It started off when one P-day, Elder Johnson said, "I've noticed that Shimizu has gotten more baptisms this year, so it's probably going to stay Shimizu district..." Little things. The hashtag #tsuboistake2017 was born. A note found in a bike basket read, "#shimizutemple." The Tsuboi sisters gave apple cinnamon bread to the elders, and they got a text that read, "Thank you for the bread. It is fueling us to continue building the Shimizu temple.... #tsuboistake u da best." Mac Shimai responded, "All the flavors and you chose to be salty." Later that night we return to the apartment and find chocolate swirl bread on the doorstep." When we thanked the elders, the text response was, "I didn't choose salty. I chose chocolate." All in good fun. 😂

Please pray for our Filipino investigators! Being Filipino in Japan is so hard. The cultures are so different. Filipino people are so warm and outgoing and the religious landscape is so different here from what they are used to, but Japan has better living opportunities. I know they are sacrificing a lot to live here in Japan so far away from family. Their family back home is telling them not to change their religion, but Tris came to church yesterday. She hugged us so tight and said, "I want to come back. I'll get my manager to change my schedule so I can have Sundays off."

When missionary work is challenging, that's when it feels right. To be able to teach by the Spirit, it requires 110% concentration and effort from both people. I'll look over at Brown Shimai as she is testifying or sharing a personal experience and if her ears are red--oh snap it's about to get real and my heart starts beating faster. When her ears are red, I know contributing to the lesson with anything less than my full heart, might, mind, and strength wouldn't work.

I think the fastest way to gain respect for the people of a country is struggling to talk to strangers in the native language. I am truly at the mercy of the Japanese people. I'm facing this huge language barrier, and to have people kindly stop and talk to us for a few minutes... well, I find it very humbling.

Missionary life is so fast-paced. My schedule is constantly changing. Sometimes, I go to church twice for investigators that can't make the 2pm time. Sometimes, I have to Kiki delivery service all the way home before curfew when the lesson takes longer than expected. Sometimes, we need two backup plans when appointments fall through or people just aren't home. That's just how it is. Brown Shimai's three adjectives to describe a mission: wonderful, hard, fun.

Also, going to a member's house for dinner feels like going to my summer home in Babylon. Riding in a car has become a great luxury. After dinner we have to go right back to dendoing in the cold and my body says, "zetai yada, baka!" (Absolutely not, fool!) But is it worth it? An investigator's prayer (paraphrased): "God I am a sinner. I make mistakes everyday, and I pray to you everyday that I might be forgiven. I don't know which is the right path for me, but I am so grateful you have given me this chance to meet with the missionaries. Thank you for them... God, I don't know why I live here so far away from family, so please help me know what to do. Thank you for my many blessings. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen." Yes, it is worth it.