It's been a great few days in the Hodogaya area! Once again, my life is full of adventures, and wonderful things which I have been given. I have a wonderful companion, Hokanson shimai, and we are wonderful! Japanese food is getting easier. I think many of you would laugh if you saw what I eat. ^.^ if anyone had told me that one day I would be gladly eating Japanese food, I am sure I would not have believed it, but here I am. Eating squid pizza, and other random foods. (honestly, the squid pizza was a one time deal. I don't eat it all the time. Wasn't bad though.) So, there is a store that has an agreement with Walmart here. It's called seiyu, and it sells great value stuff too. Like the walmart brand great value. So learning lots of new things, about life, about myself, and about the mission. And I hope I go home a new person, and hope that I don't stay the same. You can never stay the same. You're always changing. Just be sure that you're changing for the better, and not for the worse. But if your desire is the same as the Lord's, He will help you become. Man, I have to close up the email, but just remember, you have my witness that the Book of Mormon is true, and that I know that my Redeemer lives, and loves each and every one of us. If you need assurance, just pray, and never stop praying. The answer will come. Love you all, Sincerely, Sister Blake >.< sorry! I really want to email everyone, but I'm so out of time! Know that I love you, and would email. I am so grateful for all your emails. I need to be better about spacing out time between individual emails and the main email, but really, forgive me. Here is a peace offering. Transfer calls came today! When they came, our district was all at the Tama zoo, looking at the giraffes. Since we were all together, we just passed the phone all around. I was last. ドキドキ。ワクワク。ワクドキ。。。。but, that morning, I already knew that I would transfer. I could just feel that it was going to happen. Don't want to transfer, but I know that God has plans for me, whereas I can only see the edge of my own perspective. But this week has been a really good week. We spent a lot of time traveling to visit less active members. Though some weren't home,others were there, and we were able to visit with them, and see how they are. Today, at Itoyokado, we were eating lunch at the food court, and I was waiting for my food, when I look over and there's a couple that we'd just visited last week! We ended up eating lunch together! I was so happy! Talking about miracles, let's talk about Facebook. It's interesting to use Facebook for missionary work, but I feel that I'm getting used to the point where it really is helpful, and not stressful. We had a visit with a family last Sunday, and that was really good. Also, streeting when you're on a bike is really interesting, because sometimes, you just stop and talk to someone, and they are at first a little scared, because it's a random foreigner stopping her bike to sit and talk with you. But that's the same no matter how you go about it. The fact that I'm a foreigner never changes, so it's a little strange for them whenever I want to talk to them. Or when you're biking behind your companion, and you stop to talk with someone, and your companion didn't see you stop. So she keeps going, and eventually realizes you've stopped to talk to someone. And comes back. We've had a good deal of rain, but the last few days hasn't been raining. Which is great! Rain is always great too, because from rain, you get miracles and rainbows. Everyone, remember who you are, and remember that if you give yourself to God He will make of you so much more than what you could make of yourself. He has said, "For behold, this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." Moses 1:39 Do your best! Love you all! Sincerely, ブレーク姉妹 Sister Blake Oh! Forgot the place I'm being transferred to. Sorry! My next area
will be Hodogaya. I actually don't know too well where that is, but I'll be on my way there on Thursday! 楽しみにしています! (I'm excited!) Happy (late) Father's Day, everyone! Hope it was enjoyable! Sincerely, Blake shimai Dear family and friends,
We received the privilege of beginning using Facebook, but in our training, the technology elder came and helped train us on the proper use of Facebook, and he started with a parable that I consider very appropriate. He told us a story of his own past, of when he was in high school. He was working on a wood project, and had to sand down all the rough edges, which took a long time. Instead of using a piece of sandpaper, he decided to use the automatic sander in the school's woodshop. It was, after all, a much faster and more time effective tool. But he let the piece of wood slip, and his hand hit the sander. He told us that it hurt. A lot. But then he explained to us that just as The Lord is hastening His work, and using this tool- Facebook- to do it, if we don't know how to use it, it's a very dangerous tool. With great tools comes great responsibility. I love it when it rains here! We were in a park today, and we saw a woman looking over the bridge at the river, overflowing with the water that came from the last two days (rain straight for 2 days, nonstop) and we stopped to talk with her. I love nature, and it seemed like a good place to just sit and think about life, and told her that. She had actually been thinking about life at the time we came over and began talking to her. She was really nice, and really great. Rain began falling in large drops, and I asked if she hated rain, but she said she likes it. Me too! Luckily, she had an umbrella, but my companion and I didn't have umbrellas or rain jackets, so we got entirely soaked, but because we were all having fun in the rain, it was a really fun experience. Ex had a lot of fun laughing with her in the rain, and such. I love rain, but most of all, I love rainbows. When it rains, there's always a chance that there's a rainbow. Just the same way, through hard times come the blessings. We can't have one without the other. We had an art night last week! That was really fun! There were only nine people who came, but we created something really awesome! And we got to share an inspiration message at the end, because our theme was nature. We shared the message that all things we have come from God, and because He loves us, He created us, and everything around us, and takes care of us. Many people who we talk to, when I introduce myself, they may ask where I'm from. They get people from all over the world, so I could be from Australia for all they know. But I am from America, which is a place many of them have been, on homestays or otherwise. I forget sometimes that I look different, and just think I'm a normal Japanese person. But I can't think that way and actually be aware of --- hey, an earthquake just happened! (If you wanted to know) only five seconds long. Just ended. The fact is, that when people stare at you, it means they want to talk to you. I get to talk to a lot of people. I'll just end this email here. I love everyone! Thanks for all the support and prayers! Today, I just pondered the words from the hymn "called to serve". "God our strength will be!" The reality of that statement is such an amazing thing to me. Remember where you stand with God. He loves us, each one of us, so deeply. That I testify of in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. I spent time emailing individuals again! No time for massive family
email! But the work here is going great. Lots of promise in Japan. Come out here with a spirit to work hard, and with a hope of finding many people. Working hard. We went to seminary this morning. That was great. So, my district leader keeps calling me Elder Blake. :) my cousin is famous. I sang on Saturday at a talent show. The same song I sang when I had my farewell. I sang I am A Child of God. I love that song, in Japanese and in English. So, not any time, maybe I'll record a quick video and that'll be my letter today. Love you all! Sincerely, Blake shimai |
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January 2019
Sister Blake
"You are hereby called to serve in the Japan Tokyo South Mission." Categories |