Week 24

みなさんこんにちは!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, mine was amazing, especially because I saw my beautiful family. 

So much happened this week, I am not sure where to begin.

I just learned so much this week, one thing that has really just hit me is the Gift of Repentance. Which I am SO grateful for, I have really come to realize what my weaknesses are and how every day I have shortcomings, which can be really hard. But I have been so grateful that I have a loving Heavenly Father who loves me and helps me improve, and gives me the gift of Repentance through his Son, Jesus Christ. Sometimes we only feel like we need to repent when we do things wrong, but Repentance is also a daily action of striving to become better and more like our Savior. 

There have been a couple of times this week where I have been put in situations that I know will require me of doing things I am not very good at...and sometimes I think, "Woah, Heavenly Father, don't you know that I can't do this? or could possibly mess this up if I do it? don't you want me to do something that I know I can do well?". But he knows we won't grow or rely on his help if we do everything that we are comfortable doing. It made me think of Ether 12:27, how it is after our weaknesses are revealed, then we can become humble, and then be strengthened. Even though that process is sometimes hard and discouraging, I am so grateful for it. And I am so grateful that through His Atonement, I can accomplish the things he needs me to do.

 

I realize I didn't even talk about what happened this week, haha. But I love all of you. And without a doubt, I know that God lives and that Jesus Christ came to this earth, and is the way of finding everlasting joy and happiness.

Love, Christensen Shimai 

The 本橋(Motohashi) couple dressed up as Santa and brought us Fried Chicken and Chocolate Cake. Which is the Japanese Christmas meal. 

A classic bad English sign. 

Christmas 2018

We were able to skype with Ellie for forty precious minutes on Christmas day.  After telling us all about how she is doing, she and Grover Shimai sang us two songs.  Ellie also testified to us in Japanese.  She sounded so good, and so happy!  It was definitely the highlight of our Christmas! 

Week 23

Hello everyone! Merry Christmas! 

I don't even know where to start with this week, I have never been so busy, eaten so much food, or felt the spirit so much in my life. So it was a good week! 

Some highlights,
We had our Mission Christmas party! It was so fun being with so many missionaries, especially seeing my friends from the MTC, and of course Isom Shimai. We had so many amazing trainings, testimony meetings, discussed the goals for next year (which are so inspired btw) and we also watched the movie Cocoa, which was so weird, I felt so unproductive the whole time, but it was an amazing movie. 

Something that I loved was our Mission Presidents Wife asked us, sisters, what things are we certain of? We are certain that things like the Sun will always rise, that if we clap our hands, it will make a sound, and things like that. But are we certain that we have a loving Heavenly Father, who hears our prayers, that Jesus Christ did come to this earth, and atoned for our sins, or that Joseph Smith did see the father or the son, or that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God? It made me think of what I know is certain, and what are things I want to become certain of. She explained that Certain, means to be confident, firm, definite, positive, and convinced and that our testimony can become all of those things. The cool thing is we don't need to have a perfect Testimony, and it should always continue to grow through Jesus Christ. But I challenge everyone to think of something they want to be certain about and work to gain that testimony. And I am certain that Heavenly Father will help you every step of the way.

Saturday we had our Christmas party, and knowing Abeno, they, of course, went all out. We had a huge dinner, a live band, a Santa with Gifts, and a live nativity with props, music, lighting, costumes, sound effects, and everything, and my companion and I were both Mary......haha oh how I love Japan. The members wanted us to both have a main part, so that was their solution. But it was so much fun and sooo many people came. Also, we received so many presents it was ridiculous, we even had to have someone drive some of the huge boxes of gifts because everything wouldn't fit in our bags and bikes, haha. We seriously have been shown so much love here.

That was about it for this week, or at least all I have time to write about. Seriously soo many miracles
LOVE YOU ALL 
メリークリスマス
クリステンセン姉妹  

My two favorite people

Grover shimai and I being dumb

what one meal lools like at a members house (yes that is just for us) 

The two Mary's 

Sleepover with the 姉妹達

Kobe Christmas Card

Christmas Card posted on Facebook: 

Dear parents and families of our faithful Kobe missionaries,
We send our love and gratitude for a Christmas centered on our Savior, Jesus Christ! He is the Light and Life of the world. 
Warmly,
President and Sister Smoot

Week 22

Hello everyone!!!

Wow, where do I even begin, this transfer is going to be amazing! So we had kind of a plot twist this week, I am staying in Abeno but my new companion is Sister Grover, one of the sisters I have been living with and serving in Abeno with these past two transfers! We were both in shock, but we already are so close and know we will get along, so yay! 

We have already seen so many amazing miracles this week.  As for some highlights, we were able to go to a Special Needs Care Center and sing Christmas songs and visit the people there. It was so amazing to be able to represent the Church and share with these people some Christmas joy, and share our purpose as missionaries! They all took pictures with us and we taught the song, I am a Child of God, it was super special. 

One goal that Grover Shimai and I have this transfer is to do one act of service a day for someone. It has been so amazing to pray every morning for guidance and to have that mindset every day. We are always coming up with people who we need to help, and it has been so fun. There was a talk I read from last year's General Conference called The Needs before Us by Bonnie L. Oscarson, seriously so good. Sometimes we have this mindset that we need to just change the world or go do something amazing in order to make a difference. But Heavenly Father has given us the families that we have for a reason and has put people in our path, whether it is friends, co-workers, or neighbors, and they need our help just as much. She explains, "What good does it do to save the world if we neglect the needs of those closest to us and those whom we love the most? how much value is there in fixing the world if the people around us are falling apart and we don't notice?  Heavenly Father may have placed those who need us closest to us, knowing that we are best suited to meet their needs."  Especially with the Light the World program and everything else Christmas! I challenge everyone to think about the people that are in your life, and with Heavenly Father's guidance, see who needs your love! It seriously has brought me so much joy. 

I hope everyone has an amazing Christmas season, love you all! 

Love Christensen 姉妹

Christmas as a 四人

Grover 姉妹、me and Honee 姉妹

 our cute companions, leaving us

Hirata 姉妹 and her pin

Harukas- the tallest building in Japan

Tatsumi 姉妹

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Week 21

Hello everyone, 

This week is going to be a little short.  This week we really brought in the Christmas spirit, Christmas in Japan is so funny. People just eat cake, fried chicken, and then hang out with their boyfriend or girlfriend haha. Little did they know it is the best holiday ever. As a missionary, you really do think about the real meaning of Christmas so much more, and why Christ is so significant in our lives. Many people ask us why we need Christ if we are already happy. But what I have come to know is the difference of having fun in life, and then having joy. Because of Jesus Christ, we can have a happy life, and feel joy even when hardships come our way. It is that hope that no matter what, we can still be happy in our lives. That was poorly explained. But I am grateful that I can feel lasting joy through the gospel because nothing in the world offers that. 

Ether 12:41 

One day with the Osaka Zone missionaries, we did a Light the World activity. We passed out wrapped Book of Mormons, sang Christmas songs, and had a light the world sign. It was absolutely freezing, and people probably thought we were crazy, but it was super fun! 
This week we were able to meet with a lot of members. It has been really cool to gain trust from them. They even give us hugs, which is super uncommon in Japan. Even just our little notes or treats we make for them, go a long way. It made me realize how many people want to feel loved, and it is usually the people you least expect it. I have just grown to love these people so much as we have served them! 
Sorry that this email was all over the place, transfers are this week so we will see what happens!  

Love you all,
Christensen Shimai 

Osaka Zone Missionaries - Light the World Activity

Lunch with Hirata 姉妹 daughter- Tana

 Bishop Tanada's Family

Okonomiyaki with the 本橋夫婦(MotoHashi couple)