I recognize that a lot of people are still checking this blog!
Thank you for your interest! To help you prepare for Japan, I compiled a simple guide for living in Japan, complete with some personal experiences. The eBook is called Japanward, and is accessible on Amazon Kindle. Dear Family and Friends, My companion and I went to this really wonderful park with a battleship, and we sat looking out into the ocean, and my companion turns to me and asks, "Did you ever want to be a pirate?" :) That's where the title of this email comes from. So, I guess this is my last email. Haha. I don't feel like I'm leaving yet, although plans have been made, the flights been scheduled, I said goodbye to the church members yesterday, and I'm just having my last Pday.. maybe it'll finally hit me when I get to the Mission Home, or maybe when I'm on the plane, or it might just have to wait until my release... who knows. I wouldn't mind staying here until the day I die. ^.^ Except that my family is far away. That would be hard. But you know, Ammon was a good missionary, and he told the King, in the Book of Mormon, "Yea, I desire to dwell among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die." :) That's been a theme scripture for my mission. I loved all the wards I've been in, even the short ones. Each one marked a part of the road. For those who don't know my email, though, I think the one I'll use after my mission is [email protected] Well, this week has been pretty awesome. I got to experience teaching a less active who is working on coming back to church, and we taught repentance. It was a very good lesson, and I totally felt the Spirit as we went through the process together. I love feeling like I have good ideas, but then, I just realized, That's not me, that's the Spirit. I had another lesson this week, when I didn't know what to say, so I messed up a lot, and everything was just lacking. So I really got to learn the difference. So many baptisms happening this week in the mission, it's amazing! Many miracle stories. There was one I liked, so I thought I would share. I don't remember the area this family lives in, but I heard their story. There were two children, and they wanted to get baptized. The Mother was a less active member who decided it was time to go back to church. The father, however, was against the baptism of his children. It was hard for him to let them get baptized. But, the mother and her children fasted and prayed hard for the dad to change his mind. And he did. Then, the Sisters asked why he changed his mind. It turns out, he was an investigator himself, years ago. I just thought it was a cool story. I wish them the best from here out too! There were Companion Exchanges this last week, too. I got to go on Splits with Sister Watanabe! It was awesome! She is so sweet! She helped me understand a little more what I should be like. So kind. I want to be like her! Then, We had a crazy day, with getting back to our area, andthen having district meeting, and then a dinner appointment with a family working on the base, and then having a lesson with a newer investigator, all in one night! What a crazy day! and it rained, so we were pedaling everywhere on our bikes. ^.^ Oh how fun. The lesson went so well! The new investigator set up our lesson so that we could meet her daughter. Her daughter is also awesome! We hada great lesson about prayer and God. In Japanese, there is a phrase that says, "Kurushii toki Kami danomi" and it means "Calling on God is a time of suffering." And when they are in trouble, they call out for God, or something, anything, to help them. It's very common. But it meas that they know prayer. It was a sweet and simple lesson. Then we did Weekly Planning, and Had Eikaiwa (English Class) on Thursday, and on Friday, we had Zone Meeting at the place where all the missionary work in Japan began--Yamate. That's where it was all dedicated. What a cool experience. It was raining pretty hard that day, so we decided to have Zone Meeting inside the church building instead of outside at the park near the dedicatory spot. but still good. It stopped raining by the end. :) That night, we did a out of the blue showing of Meet the Mormons, and thanks to the help of all the members here it all worked out. We were worried for a bit about it, but everything worked out and we had a few people there. Including our progressing investigator. We also got to meet an older woman, around 82 years old, who loves to chat. We went to visit her for the last time before I leave, so that I would say goodbye. She said it would be hard for her to change religions, but that the missionaries could come back and share a message. That's all I can hope for. Though I do wish that she can accept at least a little bit of what they have to say. We also had a lesson outside at a park in Miura with our investigator. She's so nice. I'm sad to leave. We're good friends. We're meeting with her again tonight! Hooray! :) Yesterday, I had a wonderful day at church. Our friend Hotaru came! She was a little excited that we allowed her to take the sacrament. :) I guess in the Catholic church if you're not a member, they don't allow you to. They just pray over you. But in our missionary stuff it says nothing should be done to prevent investigators from taking the sacrament. So it was a good experience for her, I think. Anyhow I better wrap up. Yesterday, everything went well. And we got through it all. I'm excited for the stuff coming up. It'll be strange not to watch General Conference a week later. :) It was nice because I could read along. It'll be strange to be in America. I think I'll have a terrible culture shock and just never go outside for a long time. haha just kidding. I hope that the end of my mission is just a continuation of all the wonderful things I've had in my life up til now. See you on the flip side, Love you all, Sister Blake Dear Family and Friends,
My companion and I have been learning the importance of preparation. And following the Spirit. We learned first hand this week how to apply the circle of Planning for Lessons->Personal Study->Companion Study->Language Study->Teach the Lesson->back to planning. Which goes to daily planning, which comes from our Weekly planning, which can come with our monthly goals. Anyhow. This week has been great. We aren't changing the world, but we are working one sould at a time. Which this week, our focus was really getting lessons with those Recent Converts we haven't gotten lessons with for a while. :) So, there's a really great Recent Convert, and we haven't been able to meet with them all transfer! Her husband has been working overtime, and it's really important to her that he is there for the lessons, because she doesn't completely understand English or Japanese. So, we decided to just go. No more waiting for an appointment! And so we did. We rushed out there, and sat outside their apartment. Didn't look like anyone was home, so we called. Her husband answered, and said that he was working overtime that night, so we couldn't have a lesson. Well, we thought, maybe she's home, and we can leave a message, or just say hello. When we knocked, who was to come to the door but the member husband who said he had overtime! well, they kindly let us in, and we shared our simple lesson on the Word of Wisdom, and then went home. Great night, though! We met a really awesome girl who is 19, and works for a Karaoke Place. :) Also, we were able to meet Sister Miho twice this week! Hooray! She played so well for Sacrament Meeting, and I am excited for next Sunday! So, the Japanese Branch found out that this next Sunday will be my last. Haha... I thought I had told most of them, but everyone was surprised, and it ended up that they will do their normal Goodbye Party meal after church. >.< Haha. I love this Branch! It will be a great opportunity to invite English Class Student to come to church! Also, because it's my last Sunday, I'll be playing Violin in the Ward Sacrament Meeting! And, also, the Branch found out about it. And I was asked to also play in the branch. :) Double musical Sunday! And hopefully many people at church! I'm excited! There's a lot going on. I sat around the apartment today. Packing. To avoid the pressures of getting everything done next week. I just want it out of the way. On Friday, I got to see all the wonderful missionaries who are going home at the same time I am. President Wada gathered us up all together, and we had a study session. He told us how he wants us to continue on, and keep doing our best. With that, I end with my testimony. I know that this church is true. I love this church. I know that I can do so much more to help this cause. I will try my best for the rest of my life! Sister Blake Dear Family and Friends, Dear Family and Friends,
This week, I felt like I was going crazy out of my mind! Wow, what a busy week, and yet it was full of miracles! I am not sure which ones to focus on, and which ones to leave out, and I just want to be so grateful for my companion. and for the wonderful days here in Japan. Just today, my companion and I were walking on our way to the church, and we call out "hello" (in Japanese) to this cute old couple and they said hello back, and then the man said to his wife "Wow, their Japanese is so good!" Hahaha.. There are so many Americans here in Yokosuka, because of the military base. It has been fun to just experience that. I don't get a ton of weird stares because I'm not Japanese, at least, no until I start speaking! Then they are really confused, because they know many Americans, but there are so few who can actually speak the language. Then they ask why, and we tell them, we're church volunteers. Will you come to church to see what it's like? I realize how kind and soft the people of Japan are. Just the other day, I was on a train, and I watched a Japanese lady give up her seat so that a man could sit with his wife. He kept saying "no, please, please," motioning for her to take her seat again, but she was kind, and he was able to sit with his wife. I am so astonished at the kindness that is so embedded in the hearts of the men and women and children in Japan. I want to share an experience we had with an investigator this week. She has been taking lessons since January, and is slowly learning. She is so full of light. I was in Yamate on Companion Exchanges, but I told my companion to call her and tell her that I really want her to go to a baptismal service being held in Kamiooka. She called, and relayed the information, she did her best! Sister Watanabe helped out, and then the investigator asked when we should meet! Hooray! On Saturday we went with her, telling her that it was a field trip. I promised her we would teach about repentance that week, and Baptism is a great opportunity to use! The Sister who received baptism was so ready. and so amazing, that our investigator was incredibly touched. We talked after ward, and she really is happy she could go. Wow! Miracles! And I went on companion exchanges with Sister Smiley, who read my blog before coming out here. ^.^ And that was really fun. They have a few investigators themselves who are progressing. The zone is seeing a ton of progress and miracles. I am happy to be here. In my moments of craziness and braindeadness, I reflect on what I need to do. I just go back to the basics. Oh, and this last week, a really great thing was that we had Zone Conference! Hooray! It was a wonderful one. It was very much about repentance. I love repentance now! Alma 36. Ether 12:27. My last testimony. Wow. I had no idea what to say, so I testified of the things I learned from the bottom of my heart. I will be sad to leave the mission. Especially saying goodbye to President and Sister Wada. Yesterday at church, President Wada came. He introduced himself as the Elders' dad! Haha! Love you all! Sister Blake Dear family and friends,
This week felt like it was really really long! But not in a bad way! I felt like I am living, and not just surviving! My companion Sister Bangerter is the bomb, we are so similar, and it's crazy. She's like I was, but a year ago. Literally, since she is third transfer, she came the MTC in May, and she will be going home almost an exact year after me. ^.^ legacy. So let's think... What actually happened this week. It felt so long, I can't figure out what actually happened! Haha. Well, to start off, last Pday, I went shopping after sending emails. And I went to Daiso. It is a 100¥ store, and all things there are only that price (not including tax. With tax, 108¥, which equivalent to one dollar-ish). And it is the best place for shopping ever. So, I brought an older version of the iPod Nano with me to the mission (it is more square. Not the rectangle one!). But the charger cord is falling apart! I was so sad, because it wasn't charging right, I thought, so I looked for one at Daiso. And lo and behold. In Japan, they sell them at Daiso. That was something I wanted to share. As expected of Japan, right? Blessings. Talk about blessings, I was talking to my companion today during cleaning, and I offered to let her have my purse that I've been using, and she told me she was afraid it would fall apart on her. Then I realized, I have had this bag since my first transfer when I bought it at a recycle shop for 1000¥ (less than $10) and it still isn't showing many signs of wear and tear. Wow. I felt blessed. Ok, so what miracles happened this week? Well, let me tell you. This week was crazy because we had sooo many meal appointments! So much American food, which is nice, but a little strange. My companion seems to finally be getting over the culture shock of half Japan, half American land here in Yokosuka. On Monday, we had El Salvadorian food, which was really delicious. And we shared a message, and we had a commitment prepared, but the member was so focused on helping us keep time, we didn't get the chance to extend the commitment, haha! But they were so kind. We told them we had plans to go housing in their area afterwards, and they helped us find an apartment building that didn't have a sign saying that people who don't live there or have a relation to people in the building can't go in. So that was great, and that day, there was a thunderstorm! Which are so rare in Japan compared to Missouri, but it was exciting. :) We didn't have a dinner appointment on Tuesday, but there was a lesson with our progressing investigator. She is so sweet. She is my best friend. We are working on helping her recognize the Spirit, and we feel it so strongly in all of our lessons. She is so prepared. She also came to church this week! Kanae San has been taking lessons with the missionaries for a while, but only since January. We want to invite her to go see a baptism in Kamiōoka this Saturday! Which would be so awesome if she could attend! We really want to help her along. And then Wednesday we met with the Sasse (pronounced Zassa) family , and we successfully found their house, and we're there about fifteen hairs past 5. But the Yokosuka Military Senior couple missionaries had gotten lost! >.< oh no! Haha, they found it eventually, though. It's a lot to drive in Japan, especially for Americans. Although most cars will have GPS built into the car, it is most likely only for use in Japanese, which would require understanding the hiragana alphabet. ^.^ hahaha.... Well. Lots of members in the Ward have trouble with it, but they seem to make their way around. And then, oh! Wait. We also met with a former investigator on Wednesday. She spoke to us only in English, because her English is just that good. We asked her if she was interested in learning more, and she outright was straight and honest, and told us no. She was really kind, though, and we exchanged business cards. I hope after the mission too, when I come back, we can meet up. She's pretty cool. So on Tuesday, there was something interesting that happened. We met a really nice lady who also only spoke to Ius in English, and then ran into her again at the food court we were meeting the former investigator at! She was really kind, and said she loves to draw Americans' faces. Haha. So she drew mine, and it ended up pretty interesting. Remind me to send out a picture of it later. ^.^ We've been having ladies who are from Taiwan come to church. They came twice in a row, and the one came to English class, and brought another friend. It was a lot of fun on Thursday, because the one who brought her friend to English class had absolutely no knowledge of English! Wow! She was so excited to learn though. And she participated, and learned, and spoke what she could. We were suprised by her coming to church again yesterday. I hope hey come again. She said that she really enjoyed English class, and wants to come again this week! Hooray! Best ever! On Wednesday, we also met a really wonderful mother and her two boys. They were so cute! We called them the next day, and she had really thought about what we had talked to her about. She didn't want to ruin the relationship with her husband by studying about our religion, so she doesn't seem like she will take the missionary lessons right now. But we became really good friends. I want to meet up again with her! Well, I am being really all over the place today, with this email, but on Thursday before English class, the elders told us to go visit someone, and we did, and the person was home, and she came to the door, asking for us to exchange numbers, so she can call us when she has time to talk! Wow, and we also became friends. Ended up doing weekly planning on Friday, due to a lot of busyness on Thursday. But, another thing that happened on Thursday was Zone Meeting. This zone is really laid back. It's a little strange. But we enjoyed the zone meeting. My training was about the new What to Expect pamphlet, and Sister Wright really helped me out. We did it together. And we used a training that my cousin, Elder Blake used when he was still out here in the mission. My trainer, Sister Padelsky told me about how there's a cup, and a bucket of water. The cup is the investigator, and the bucket is us, and how much gospel knowledge we have. If we try to throw everything we know at the investigator, we might walk away thinking, 'that was a great lesson, we taught them all they need to know!' But really, the cup falls over, and all that's left it not even a tiny drop of water. well, it wasn't as cool as the original, and the cup actually didn't even fall over, but the zone members really got the point, I think. Haha. I "bucket" people, too much! I should learn from my own training. Saturday and Friday were so amazing! Friday, we met up with that same amazing family again, and the lesson was so full of the Spirit. We watched the video of Jesus Healing the Blind Man in Japanese, and it touched them a lot. I hope they went to church in Kamakura yesterday! They told the Kamakura Sister Missionaries they would come to see Sister Kaizaki (one of them) speak in church on Sunday. Saturday, was the Rucker Family dinner, and I found out that Brother Rucker plays the violin! I was so selfish, and I begged them just to let me hold the violin, and they did! I then yesterday spoke with Sister Crowther, who is over the music here, and she said we might be able to pull something together for my last Sunday with the choir and me and Brother Rucker playing the violin! I would be so happy if I could do that! Sunday yesterday was great. Set the alarm for 5:30, and woke up at 6:20 wide awake and ready to start the day. Oh, and this last week, my bike finally made it from my last area safely, after a lot of trouble, and calls to the mission office. They told me it was expensive, but they were able to get ahold of a teleportation device. The only problem is that you can only use it once, I said, and then you have to get a new one. Well, that aside, there's a member who drove it all the way from Hiratsuka to Yokosuka in the middle of the night. I am so grateful for that member! >.< Until now, I'd been using a different bike, but that person needed it back, so it came at the right time. I feel like I have some more humbling to do, but I realize that in my moments of frustration, prayer and writing down my thoughts to try to clear my mind, have been a big help. This work isn't mine alone. Well, I love you all! 愛しています! This week, I get to give my last testimony that all missionaries give at their last Zone Conference. It's strange because it's too early in the transfer. I still have quite a few weeks left, and it feels weird. Dear Family and Friends,
There was a flood warning this morning. And boy, was it coming down pretty hard. Haha. it's pretty much stopped now, though. No worries. Well, transfers, and lots of other crazy miracles happened this week. A ton of meals with members and lessons with people who were sad to see Sister Ogawa go, and then just a lot of meal appointments. the military ward is getting back into full swing. Since the transfer, I became companions with Sister Bangerter, and she is keeping me alive. "You old grandma," she called me. We are doing a lot of finding, and getting out there. We're pretty honest with each other. It's going to be a great transfer. Miracles: A member from the military ward invited us over, and invited their Japanese neighbors over. It was sweet! They are so nice, and so conversational. We have plans to meet with them this Friday and to talk more about Jesus Christ. On the way home from that appointment, we met a wonderful American on the train and her daughter. They knew our Ward Mission Leader! WoW! She used to work for him, actually! Crazy! She said she'd love to come and check out our church, and we said, yes, please do! Hurrah! I feel the love of God so much out here. I'm still working on the whole drink water things. Who knew how hard that could be! It's harder than taking medicine, but it's the natural medicine we drink everyday, our body needs water! Anyhow, love you! Exciting things are happening in Yokosuka, Japan. And it's gonna set on fire! (NOT LITERALLY.) Sister Blake Dear Family and Friends,
This week was dead! Wow! I actually reaped the consequences for not drinking water, finally.... You know what they say about choosing the action, but not being able to choose the consequence. Ahahah.... Well, That's what I got this last week. I have had a hard time drinking enough water my whole life, but I've never experienced anything worse than headaches, to which my dad would ask, "Are you drinking enough water?" Well, the answer was probably always no. On Friday, I got up on time, and exercised, and did all the study, and then when we got out the door, I started to feel dizzy, and not well. We got to the church and then I felt really not well. And then I couldn't get anywhere, and I just needed to lay down and rest. On Saturday, I had a headache, stomach ache, and a lot of other stuff going on, so I had to take it easy. Didn't feel like eating much or doing much, but the Elders gave me a priesthood blessing. I am glad I could receive one. Sunday was pretty much ok. Except sometimes my stomach would hurt from time to time. The week was a good one though. Sunday was good as well. We are doing what we can to find Paula. We hope she gets out of the hospital soon. Also, I have received my transfer call, and I am! Staying Hooray! So happy! MY new companion is Sister Bangerter, and she is coming straight from Kofu! I love Kofu! And I hope we will have the chance to talk about all the great things about Kofu. It is too bad she came out of Kofu right at the start of Grape Season, but I guess that's that. She has to leave in the morning to get here on time. >.< Kofu is so far away! So, I love that I can just open the scriptures and feel peace. Lately, I have just needed that extra peace, because my brains are going all over the place. Today, I watched the Mormon Message called "You Never Know". Its a bit long (ten minutes) but it reminds me that I just never know the good that comes out of what I do. By the way, I realize that maybe I should be less selfcentered. Writing this email every week makes everything about me, and that's hard. It gets information out to everyone, but I wonder sometimes if it makes it harder to have direct communication with a lot of people. Maybe it feels far away, just like a newspaper. Haha. Lol. So, I found out that people actually do read the blog... Haha. Thanks Melissa for keeping it up! Some of the Sisters who come here tell me, "Yeah, I read your blog!" And then when I show them pictures, they say, "Yeah I saw that!" Ahaha... And so, I'm offering this simple phrase, to kids from Utah and Missouri too. Though it's been said, many times, many ways, I love you, I do! Sister Blake Dear Family and Friends,
I went on exchanges with Sister Gazdik! She is awesome. She listened to me tell my life story (well, really my whole mission story) and we had a fun time doing missionary work together. We do missionary work a little different. And for a bit, I felt like maybe I wish I had always done missionary work her way. But then after the exchange, I got back with Sister Ogawa, and felt like it was ok for each person to do it the way they do best. That will be different for each person. That's why we all have different callings at different times. We may be needed for who we already are. And it's ok when we make mistakes. But keep your eyes on Jesus Christ. Today was a really good day. I feel once again refreshed. We got up, and went all the way to Mt. Takao. For those of you who have read all my emails, you may remember that I've climbed it before. Twice. But I went once more. We climbed up a more nature way. Just a little bit more dangerous than the way I've always gone. Didn't know that path existed. :) but fun. Don't worry, we all made it to the top safe and hydrated. Maybe. Anyhow, after that, I met up with one of my favorite people in the world. Sister Toshie! We haven't seen each other since I moved away from Kofu, in January. When it was decided that we would go to Mt Takao, I got a hold of her and her son, and asked them to come out and meet me in Takao. It took both of us two hours, but we had a happy reunion. I'll include the picture we took. I feel like lately I've taken he time to think about how my mission has shaped me. (Maybe I should take the time after my mission rather than now to get the whole picture, but I am pleased with how my growth has come.) I look forward to the day that I can see near the end of my time in mortalit and hopefully say the same things! Favorite quote of the week : But they also knew that "many of the things you can count, do not count. Many of the things you cannot count, really do count." - pres. Dieter F Uchtdorf Love you all! Sister Blake Dear friends and family,
Sorry for the hiccup last week. :) This week has been pretty good. We had a lesson with a recent convert, and we hiked up the mountain to make it to her house. There's a tunnel there that has chairs in it (pretty random) and so we sometimes sit there to take a break. This time, we were talking to a wonderful lady the whole way up the mountain. We were walking the same direction, striked up a conversation and were talking the whole way up. I really enjoyed the lesson, though sometimes I still have no idea what's going on. ^.^ The next day was temple Pday〜hooray! It felt like it had been forever since I'd been to the temple. Wow. Loved it. Got to meet a sister from the Ward I had been in last year, in Kofu. We talked a while and encouraged each other. Then I met up with a couple other sisters I knew. I had a good day. That day was awesome. The next day, we were in the middle of weekly planning when we get a call from a sister in the Ward, saying she signed up for a meal with us on the missionary meal calendar being passed around, but we hadn't contacted her, so she just wanted to call and see if we had received it. Ahaha.. We hadn't! So, we had a surprise change in plans, and rushed over to their house. I'm borrowing an elder's bike right now because mine still hasn't made it here from Shonan area. ^.^ that had been another adventure, an lots of calls to the missiona office, Shonan sisters, and just all over the place. It's not lost, just the bag is too small for my bike and it just wouldn't go in this time around, so they're sending a bigger bike bag. Well, then on Thursday , we were both way under the weather. Ended up having to rest the whole day! >.< but we went to English class. Brother Lewis, who is absolutely fluent in Japanese taught our class for us. Phew. He is a great teacher! Whoa! I was surprised. It made me want to work on my teaching skills. Yeah! Friday- Pioneer Day. We had a celebration near the base. What an experience, and I mean it. There were Japanese Eikaiwa students and also a ton on American children. :) we heard a great pioneer story from Elder Thunell, who's wife I love so much. They're the senior couple here on the base. They don't live on the base, but they teach member families and such. They do a lot for us. Yesterday, they fed us lasagna. It was so good. And messy! Haha. On Saturday, we had a zone blitz. We all got together and dendo-ed ! (Dendo is the word for proselyte but is also means just missionary work, too. Yeah. Well, it sounds cooler in Japanese.) Lots of miracles. We met a man who was not going to talk very long. We approached him, saying, "we're church volunteer missionaries of the church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints," and he immediately rejected us, saying that he was Buddhist. But he was a kind man, so we got to talk to him for a little while longer about family history. He has actually done some researching on his family, which I think is quite rare. He made it seem like it wasn't, but anyhow, we talked to him for a while, and then we handed him a "I'm a Mormon" flyer with the church address on it. And he saw that and asked us, "Are you Mormon?!" (we had actually been talking to him for quite a few minutes by this time, but) He seemed pretty surprised! Then he told us of how he had been to Utah, and temple square, and just all that stuff. I don't know how God works, but I do know that He loves us. Wow. So my companion met a man, too (for some reason when we stopped couples, the men seemed to be more talkative about religion..) and then he came to church he very next day, had a great experience, and even posted about it on Facebook, about how he cried. I gave a talk yesterday, on the first principle of the gospel. Which is faith. I honestly wasn't prepared, but I figured that even if I spent a ton of time on it, I would probably change what I wanted to say anyway... And I did, a little. I got up, and started tripping over all my words. Nothing was coming out right. And then I shoved the Book of Mormon I was holding out so everyone could see, and began testifying about how this book helped my life. The Spirit was really amazing, and took right over. Today, we went all around the end of the peninsula, and saw a ton of ocean. Whoa! Love you all!Sister Blake 1 and 2- today's adventure 3- temple Pday |
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January 2019
Sister Blake
"You are hereby called to serve in the Japan Tokyo South Mission." Categories |