Week 6: Nobody's Going Home

My mom sent a cute project for our district--Happy Thanksgiving!

こにちわ!

How many sister missionaries does it take to change a light bulb?
None, because they shine all on their own. 😄

Miller Shimai and Brown Shimai

So, I have to start off with some sad news. We have lost 2 choros (elders) in our district. The two that are in the picture below have been moved to different districts...it's kind of a long story. Needless to say, I had no idea the administrators could be so accommodating. They are doing all they can just to ensure that nobody goes home. And I can really see a change in the choro that was the root of this whole thing. His whole persona has changed. He's more grounded, humbled. Maybe it surprised him that after all those talks with the MTC and zone president about being sent home (because there
have been problems since we got here), they are giving him another chance. Now, this choro is in a district where everyone is native to Japan and speaks the language a whole lot better than him. He was so restless being with a bunch of beginners, teaching the other students, but now he's having to work hard to keep up with his classmates. Yesterday, I went up to this choro with some pumpkin spice hot cocoa mix that smelled like his cologne and said, "Here, I cremated your ego." Our district feels small now, but it's for the best.

 This moment was a highlight of my week. 😂

In a talk called, "Missions are Forever," by Elder Holland, the question was poised, "why is missionary work so hard?" Elder Holland is a very passionate speaker. He was asking why we don't have people just waiting outside our missionary apartments, dressed in white, and lined up to be baptized. Why is it hard to convert people if it's the truth? Why is it hard if this is God's work and glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man? Elder Holland's answer was that it's not easy because salvation is no cheap experience. Why should it be easy for us? It certainly wasn't easy for Jesus who suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane for all the sins of the world. He bled from every pore.  He paid the ultimate price. So missionary work is meant to push us to our limits. It's meant to push our investigators to their limits. I think all missionaries learn that very quickly. When we are pushed to our limits and still hold onto faith, that is where the miracles happen.
But geez this week has felt like it's just flown by! We get flight plans in just TWO short weeks. I'm playing therapist for two of my roommates, but I'm going crazy just thinking about leaving for Japan.
It can be terrifying to think, "I'm going to a foreign country where I don't know anyone, and I'm going to be teaching strangers about a god they have never heard of in a language I hardly know. Also I miss Apostate music!!!" I watch the "I'm Elaine Bradley and I'm a Mormon" video just for the music. Haha! Even though going to Japan can seem scary I have to keep this scripture in mind:

2 Timothy 1:7
"God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Word/Phrase of the week:
Ah! Shimatta.
means Dang It!

Love,

Rogers Shimai

It finally snowed!

Best photo bomb

Some of the departing missionaries, some of the newbies, and my
companion and I.

 Old picture from last week of our zone before half the people left. :,(

Askew Shimai has gained a food baby in the MTC, and here's the
lovely illustration of that.

Week 5: I Hate Goodbyes!

My favorite picture of Jesus

こにちわ!

People that I have come to know and call my friends in these past few weeks just left for Japan on Monday. On Sunday, the departing missionaries sang that "stupid, beautiful song" that all departing missionaries sing in our zone. In church sacrament meeting, I told myself, "I am not going to cry. I am not going to cry." But like the sun rising in the morning, it was inevitable.

Lyrics-
"There was this place called the preexistence where we lived with our friends so dear. A council was called and plans were made. Free agency is why we're here. Our Savior said 'Please find my lost sheep, And teach them and bring them home.' I promised my Savior I'd find them, And teach them the way to go. I'll go and find you my friend, I'll help you. Our Savior's plan is the way. Please accept me when I find you, And we'll be back with Him someday. Remember the worth of souls is great in the light and sight of God. Look and search and teach His sheep to find the Iron Rod. I'll find you there, my friend."

So I put this name tag on every day that means I am a representative of Jesus Christ and His church. Sometimes, I put about as much thought into placing that name tag on my shirt as I do brushing my hair in the morning. What does it mean to be a missionary for Christ? For one, we are united in a single purpose:

From Preach My Gospel:
"Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end."

But the question all missionaries must then ask themselves is, "How can I--with all my strengths and weaknesses--be successful in fulfilling that purpose?"

"If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, you will always be disappointed" (Einstein).  Richard I. Heaton from the Sunday devotional gave some amazing insight. He told us about when he was a missionary in Japan, he and his companion got completely lost. They're on top of this mountain, and they pray to God to give them some direction. After the prayer, one turns to the other and says, "Well, want to try that way?" As a missionary, I always want to have the Holy Ghost guiding me. I get stressed if I don't feel like my choices are direct promptings from the Holy Ghost. When these two lost missionaries knocked at the first door to ask for directions, a man answered the door and said, "I've been waiting for you. Please come in." In missionary tracting, that is so incredibly rare. It seemed as if the decision they made was initially rather uninspired, but Heaton asked us, "Was it really?"

My takeaway is to remember that this is God's work. He will ensure that I accomplish what needs to be accomplished. If I have faith, I don't need to worry. Even in ways I can't see, He is guiding my path. Seemingly coincidental occurrences can be by the hand of God and seemingly random decisions can be inspired by the Holy Ghost. If I have the right intentions, I can go forth in confidence knowing that God is on my side.

2 Nephi 7:7
"For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded. Therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed."

Word of the week:
Ganbaranba means "please try your best!" in the Okinawa Island "dialect." In actuality, the "dialect" is like a language of its own and though people on the island understand Japanese, many elders don't speak anything but the Okinawa Island "dialect." Ahhhhh, why did I just find this out???

Reporting to you live from the MTC,

Rogers Shimai

Food packages are like manna from heaven.

The elders discover climbing a tree is difficult.

My mom sent Tic Tacs to everyone, and so Miller Shimai pelts them at me with overflowing gratitude.

The MTC can be scenic.

I caught him trying to sleep.

My companion is da cutest.

 Yeah, o.k., don't trust google translate. 😂

Week 4: Like a Grandma in Skinny Jeans

Our zone in front of the Provo Temple (aka the cake temple)

こにちわ!

I could use an 12 hour nap right about now. For those of you wondering, I leave the MTC around December 13. We haven't gotten flight plans yet though!

Askew Shimai and I had our best lesson yet last week (see pic below). As far as teaching styles go, I've noticed that Askew Shimai is very good at defining key terms on the spot, and she structures the points she wants to make so that the lesson is straightforward and easy to understand. This anchors the lesson greatly, since I tend to latch onto analogies and can jump around a lot with topics. Together our lessons have the potential to be engaging and informative. Love the district! Love the MTC! Faith and testimony definitely being strengthened.

Our best lesson!

In Jesus the Christ by James E. Talmage, I was reading about all the amazing miracles Jesus performed, like healing the sick, raising the dead, and giving the blind man sight. But guess what His first miracle was? According to this book, His first miracle was turning water to wine for a wedding feast. "He was neither a recluse nor an ascetic; He moved among men, eating and drinking, as a natural, normal Being. On the occasion of the feast, He recognized and heeded the demands of the liberal hospitality of the times, and provided accordingly. He, who but a few days before had revolted at the tempter's suggestion that He provide bread for His impoverished body, now used His power to supply a luxury for others"(pg 146).  As we go about our everyday lives, remember this, and know that the luxuries we enjoy are actually miraculous blessings given to us. :)



Some memorable moments of the week:

-While playing indoor volleyball, the ball got stuck in the ceiling.  It's still there.

-I found out that I have a reputation for being that hyper Shimai that sprints through the residence hallways and bathrooms while everyone is getting ready. My poor companion broke the heel on her shoe when I was racing her to class one day as well.

-I tried to get a piggy back ride from Miller Shimai, but jumped so high that I yanked her shoulders back and made her fall backwards completely. She's a very strong person, so she was as shocked as I was.

-I learned 100 new Japanese words in a week. Yay! That's a goal of mine from here on out.

-My mom sent a package of homemade cookies with tubs of frosting. <3

The crazy kids that are in love with my mom for sending cookies.

Winner!

"You da best, Rogers Shimai's mom!"

-One of the choros that is really good at soccer was making passes with a little rubber ball in class between a few of the other choros, and I randomly took a kick and got the ball through his feet when no one else could! I consider this truly amazing because I suck at soccer.

-I got the strangest nickname ever this week: hidden lemon. Please explain to me what that means!!

-I told a Choro, "I like your neck tie." And then I busted up laughing, because it had just occurred to be that the word "neckutai" in Japanese means "body of flesh." Thankfully, he had no idea.

MTC VS Outside World:

-Romance in movies
Since the "canteens are dry," if an actor so much as LOOKS at an actress in a certain way, the elders go crazy.

-Wearing regular clothes
On P-day when we get time off, seeing classmates in regular clothes is like seeing a grandma in skinny jeans.

-Staying up late
So basically, if you wander around the residence halls at night, people will be scared of you and wonder if you are even human.

-Celebrating holidays
Forget it. If you have a pumpkin sticker, way to be a sparkling individual.

-Giving high fives
In our zone since high fives aren't allowed, people will cringe like they've just been slapped in the face because they are embarrassed that they forgot the rule.

-Giving compliments
"You're testimony is awesome!" "You are so in tune with the Spirit." "Thank you for being Christ-like!"

-Crying
Here in the MTC, it seems that the men are way more emotional saying goodbye to each other. They really like doing this "bye bye book" thing where everyone in the zone writes them a note and email inside a journal. The sisters don't care about it as much. Ha ha

Much Love,
Rogers Shimai

P.S. Sorry for the long email. When I'm out of the MTC, I'll write
every other week instead, since ain't nobody got time for this.

More Japanese memes: 

Angry bird

Askew Shimai done did my eyebrows. And yeah I'm a lil' ray of sunshine, but I won't give you cancer.
Translation: "Is Cara Delevigne a missionary?" Senkyoshi=missionary

It looks like she's slapping my face. But she would never do that. She would only slap me on purpose, never on accident;).

Hit you with the Spirit like...

This is the mission area of Fukuoka.

Miiiiiiiller Shimai! <3

Week 3: What's Water?

Konnichiwa!

Another week of spiritual boot camp complete! This was the first week where I had the thought, "Nine weeks is actually a REALLY long time." But my mom sends me awesome packages so it's all good. Genki fuiki (good vibes), as we like to say. Anyways, while some people have to clean toilets, our zone does this "act of service" every week:

The person that spoke at the Sunday devotional was my first religion class professor at BYU (Richard Hozapfel). Ahhhh! That made me happy. My amazing teachers at BYU definitely influenced my desire to serve a mission.

Our choir director is awesome here! He talks with us about dinosaurs, the size of the universe, W. W. Phelps, what it's like being a young dad, miracles that have happened in his life, and on and on. Sometimes we spend more time listening to his stories than singing. Heh. According to one of our choro tachi, I'm the most stylish shimai in the district so THANKS MOM. She picked out all my clothes.

There's an analogy I love: Two fish are swimming down a river and another fish swims by and says, "How's the water?" One fish turns to the other and says, "What's water?" Sometimes I think like that. "What spirit?" "What growth?" But maybe I'm swimming in it. Choosing to serve a mission has undoubtedly blessed my life already in ways I cannot see. I know the joy that comes from living the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I'm excited that I will spend the next 18 months sharing that joy with others! One of the choros (elders) said that a blessing we receive from the gospel is to live shameless before God. I love that!

To finish off, I want to share this poem I got from my branch president:

The Prayer of an Unknown Confederate Soldier in the Civil War--

I asked God for strength that I might achieve.
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

Aaaand there are Christmas lights up in the MTC!

 

This is Brown Shimai singing in the video clip. She has an amazing voice.

Much love,
🍂Rogers Shimai

Christmas lights at the MTC

"It's Autumn time, it's Autumn time, the leaves are falling down!"

Thanks for the candy sushi, Mom! The Elders especially liked it and wrote home that they tried sushi this week.

 

God playing His Sims game. (Askew Shimai saw this picture and said, "ugh I'm obsessed with myself." lol)

This photo deserves a little explanation. We got our rooms graded on "cleanliness," and Askew Shimai was mad her bed got "acceptable" instead of "commendable."

Just chillin' again

Askew Shimai loves this rock and I was confused.

Week 2: The Prophecy About Japan

Konnichiwa!

This is my second week in the MTC, and I haven't changed my mind about this being one of the best experiences ever. According to one of my roommates, the MTC has a higher language proficiency rating than the DOD. Too bad I can't fact check! But a couple of people vouch for her. One of the elders is trying very hard to take advantage of us having no access to google: "Do you know how much breathing we do through our skin? 30%. Frogs do 70%!" This is also the same guy who is convinced there's some sedative in the Utah water. Haha

Our teacher showed us how Henry B. Eyring had made a prophecy about the gospel in Japan. "You are only seeing the beginning." When more people in Japan are taught the gospel, they will no longer be afraid to tell people what religion they belong to when at their school and at work. The people are often ostracized for their beliefs and they are some of the strongest members you will ever know, according to one of the returned missionaries. And let me tell you -- God has not forgotten His children. The prophecy about the gospel in Japan was given in 1998. 18 years later, and guess what languages are most taught in the MTC?

1. English
2. Spanish
3. Japanese

That's right -- a language that only belongs to this island that's smaller than some US states is the 3rd most taught language here. Wow!

2 Nephi 29:7
"Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth beneath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?"

This week I had a really cool spiritual experience. Our teacher wanted us to understand the concept, 'teach people, not lessons' so we spent three minutes asking our companions personal questions before delivering a short message. I said a prayer after asking the questions, and immediately had a clear idea of what to say, even though it was on a topic my companion and I had never discussed before. So I gave my message and she said, "That's great!" But then I guess the words sunk into her heart because a few minutes later, she pulled me aside and was a little emotional as she said, "You have no idea how much I needed to hear that. You teach with the Spirit, otherwise you wouldn't have known to say that."

Miller Shimai and I get crazy hyper at night right before bed. A few nights ago, for example, I was shining a flashlight in her face and she said, "Gaaaah. All I can see are these shining dots of light." "Oh see, it's the plan of salvation. The dot on the far right is the celestial kingdom, then terrestrial, then telestrial. That's how to teach investigators."

"Oh that's an awesome idea if I want to BLIND my investigators." "They are already blind to the TRUTH!"

Then yesterday Askew Shimai was looking at pictures on her Ipad as it rested on the railing overlooking the basketball court and Miller Shimai grabbed the Ipad, tipped it over the railing (she didn't drop it), and said, "Let's air drop that!" But besides how awesome Miller Shimai is, I could not imagine having a better companion than Sister Askew. I love her!

In between study time, our district has fun making memes. Here are a few:

 Japanese memes:

The Elders in our District

Our District

My hair sticks to the walls.

Fall at Provo Temple

Sorry this email was REALLY long this week! Stay safe everyone!

Lots of love,

Rogers Shimai