Trick or Treat

Hey Family,

I hope you all had a good Halloween. But can you believe it is now November. Wow!! I don't even have a year left until I come home from this wonderful mission. That is weird to think about because when I think of the time between last November till now that year has gone by quick. That makes me worried. I still have so much to improve on and get better at. How am I to do it in a year. Well I will do my best and rely on the Lord.

So this last week has been pretty fun. Monday we were finally able to meet with an investigator who has a baptism date in two weeks and have a lesson with her about some of the commandments. It was my first time meeting her and I fell in love with her right away. Her name is Shushu and she is from China and has been living here in Japan for 5 years and going to school here. She has had a cold and had some trouble with work and finding a new apartment so we never could meet until last week. Sister Nishihara and her previous companion found her in June through eikaiwa and started teaching her. She is a golden investigator. She accepted everything that she was taught and was really excited about the church. Last week we taught her about praying often, reading the scriptures daily and obeying the word of wisdom. And what was awesome is that when we were teaching her about keeping the word of wisdom and asked her at the end if she would keep it she said that she has already stopped drinking tea. We were very surprised and asked her when did she start doing that. She explained about going to a party with the sister missionaries where she made tea cookies. She noticed that no one was eating them so she asked why. The Sisters explained about the word of wisdom a little bit to her. At the next meeting she asked more questions about it and they taught her more without really committing her to living it. After that she decided to stop drinking tea. “It's my health!” she said. Isn't that amazing. The Lord really does help His children and have the spirit move them to do great things.

She was also able to find a new apartment so she was able to come to church yesterday. Because of recent move she has moved just outside of our area into the Nakano area so we went with her to the Nakano ward yesterday. She loved it. Everyone was very sweet and welcoming and there were even a few that could speak Chinese which was a pleasant surprise to her. We also stayed for the ysa activiity after church. The Nakano ward has A LOT of single adults. 50 or so, so it works out great for Shushu. I am so excited to see her baptized and am honored to have met and be apart of this experience with her.

Tuesday we went and visited Sochiru in the hospital. She had her baby! It is a boy and they named him Eli. They are both doing well. She was released on Friday but they are keeping him in the hospital for another month or so in order for him to gain some weight. So right now she is living a hotel nearby because 1. she doesn't want to be far from the baby 2. for her own health (she got a C) and 3. because she needs to go every 3 hours to feed him. She said she is doing well the last time I spoke to her on the phone and that she just asks for our prayers. She did say that she would like to come to church but right now it is hard. It is great to see that she has an interest in our church and wants to learn more. But for right now we just keep praying for her family and visit with her as much as we can.

Wednesday we met with Sayaka and taught her lesson 3 – the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She accepted everything really well. During the lesson I asked her if she believes in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father and she said yes. Sister Nishihara then started telling her how we want to make a date for her to be baptized as a goal to work towards. She said “Ok!” then pulled out her calandar, looked at the dates and said, “November 18!” We were both taken aback by that because we had a date in mind for December and here she wants to be baptized in two weeks. We didn't realize that her desire was so strong. We set that date in our planners and told her that in order for her to be baptized she needs to attend church twice. She said she understood and would go to church on Sunday. She is another that lives outside of our area and because of confusion of where exactly she lives we have been coordinating with two other sets of Sisters. She was going to go to the Urayasu ward yesterday and the Sisters there were prepared to meet her and teach her. Unfortunately she didn't go. She had work and couldn't end up making it. So her date will probably be pushed back. But she still has a strong desire to be baptized and she is really willing to make a date. We are able to meet with her often so that is good. Now it is just helping her to come to church. That and start reading the Book of Mormon. She said it is hard to understand. So on Friday when we met we talked about the Book of Mormon and why it is important. We had a member from the Urayasu ward there with us and she and I both testified about how when we read the Book of Mormon, even if we don't understand things right away we focus on the feelings that come from reading it. And that through those feelings we can understand. I love testifying about the Book of Mormon. I have such a strong testimony about it. It really does pick you up and make your life so much better. Last summer was the worst for me. I felt so low and was not myself. Satan was trying to take full advantage of that time to try to discourage me to go on a mission. And even more then that. Have me question my own self worth. When I finally took a step back to see what I needed to do to feel better I realized what I have been doing wrong. I wasn't reading the scriptures. When I started reading the Book of Mormon my life saw light again. I was able to be happy and be excited about my mission. I am very very grateful to have the Book of Mormon and love every chance that I get to testify about it. :D

Also on Wednesday we had our Eikaiwa Halloween party. It was so much fun. Sister Nishihara and I helped decorating beforehand and I was drawing/writing on the balloons. I made a vampire and showed it to Nishihara. She asked if it was supposed to be one of our zone leaders cause it looked like him. I said it could be and put DOMO next to him because that is what he always says. I then decided to try drawing all of the missionaries (there are 6 of us total) and make a game out of it. Guess that missionary! So the picture with the missionaries and the balloons is us standing next to our balloons. I will say this right now. I AM NOT AN ARTIST. Hahaha I feel so bad for one elder because he turned out to look like a radish or something. I felt so bad haha. Then we played a game involving flour which is why I have flour over my face. I lost. Haha Eikaiwa really is so much fun. And even though I am not teaching right now I love the chance to try to get to know everyone. It is a great way to do service.

Thursday we had a 3 zone conference and always love those. I love being surrounded by other missionaries and learning how to be a better missionary. For example I learned that when it comes to myself I am a pessimistic person. Good to know. Now I am working on that. :) Trying to see my potential. That is one of the biggest challenges I am facing while being here but I also faced that problem a little bit before my mission. But I am learning a lot while trying to improve and I feel like I am improving. It is wonderful. Anyway at the conference President Budge told us that between these next 2 transfers we are losing 24 missionaries and only gaining 3 (only Elders I believe). He called it the quiet before the storm. Our mission right now has about 170 missionaries and the expect next year that it will go up to 250 missionaries. He also told us that the church is opening up 50 new missions around the world. And one of the missionary couples who works in the church office here and handles the missionary papers said that were there used to be (I don't know if the numbers are exactly right) like a 7% of sisters going and now it was up to like 18% or so. Again I am not sure if the numbers are right for that one but I just remember it being a significant jump. Everytime I hear this kind of information it makes me excited because I think of you Megs and how you are preparing your papers and will join the forces of God's army next year. It makes me proud. I have had a lot of people ask me what I think about the new age and I always reply with the news that my younger sisters wants to go. I am proud to tell people that. :) So yes I brag about you a lot.

I also want to let you know Mom and Dad that when I show your picture to people they always comment on how young you look and how you make such a cute couple. :D Oh and Mom I did get the coat last Tuesday and I love it. It will be perfect for winter. Which it is getting colder. But it is funny. Sometimes the apartment is colder then outside. So weird.

Well that is all for this week. I love you all and glad everything is going well. Next week my Pday is on Tuesday (Temple day) so that is probably when I will be doing e-mails. Just to let you know. I love you with all my heart and pray for you everyday. Until next week!!!

Kenzie

きせき、きせき、きせき！！！！

Hey Hey Family,

I am glad to receive e-mails from everyone. Jen, thank you so much for your e-mail with your pictures. Your family is sooooo cute and I can not believe how big the boys are getting. They must stop growing. I am not going to recognized them when I get home. It is insane. This Friday marks my 6 months being out on my mission. There are some days that I can not believe it is 6 months already because it has gone by so quick and then there are other days that I feel like I have been out forever. It is so weird how that works.

So I don't think I have really told much about my companion, Nishihara shimai, or how much I love her. She is from Hokaido (which is a pretty famous spot in Japan, it is in the sapporo mission). She has been out on her mission for a year and 2 months. She returns home in the middle of February and her and I are both hoping that we can be companions together here in Shibuya until then. She really is amazing. She is very patient with me and always willing to help me with Japanese. To be honest with myself, my Japanese really has become sooo much better within the last 3 weeks with being with her. I try to speak Japanese to her as much as I can. She is very creative with how she teaches. Always making little pictures to go along with the lesson. But then again a lot of the Japanese are like that. I LOVE HER!! I invited her to visit me after we are done with our mission just so you are aware Mom and Dad. :)

This last week has been pretty amazing and I feel very blessed especially after how it started last Monday. Before we went to a dinner appointment we decided to do some streeting/passing out flyers for Eikaiwa. During that time we chose two different sides of the street and started. I couldn't do it. I only talked to maybe 2 or 3 people or so. An overwhelming fear came over me. Before we went to the appointment and then after I bawled. I felt like such a terrible missionary and wondered how I could ever help the mission if I couldn't street. I felt like crap. I felt like I was letting down the Lord by having that fear and therefore not having a lot of faith. But I got better through out the week and received some answers that have helped. Plus seeing many little miracles.

The following day (Tuesday) while we were doing personal study I felt impressed that we needed to do call people from the area book and see if they were interested in hearing more of the gospel. So we planned to do that on Wednesday because we were busy that day. We went to the Congo embassy because on the Relief soceity list from the English branch it said that it was a sisters birthday that day. Neither of us knew who she was but we went anyway. Turns out that she hasn't lived there for 5 years or so. I found out later from another member who she was and that I have actually met her parents the previous Sunday. Their name is the Mwanda's and their story is really incredible. I will have to tell you another day when I have time.

Anyway, on Wednesday we did area book dendo and called around 10 or so people. One person, Yoshie, that we called told us that she would come to church this last Sunday (but she ended up not being able to because of work but she still really wants to meet with us) Another person Wuan, said that she would have time this next week to meet with us. It made me really excited. Maybe now is the time that they are ready to except the gospel into their lives. I have a lot of hope and I am excited to see where things go. Also on Wednesday, after area book dendo, we had exchanges. I was with Sister Kai and she came with me to here in Shibuya. She is awesome! She is very very very good at streeting and so I was able to learn from her. Her and I did a lot of streeting on Thursday.

Thursday during streeting when we were at the park across the street from the Temple we met a girl from Malaysia who is Christian and she said that she has been looking for a church recently to go to. We told her a little bit about our church and she was interested in learning more. She gave us her contact information and said that she would try to come to church on Sunday. That made us super excited. MIRACLE, a prepared person. We also visited Sochiru again and we were able to share with her a scripture during our visit and she said after wards that she would like for us to always share a scripture with her and that after she becomes better she would like to learn more about the church. Especially about prophets because that is really interesting to her. I love her so much and she is very very ready. She has a lot of faith. I pray for and her baby everyday.

Friday we met with an investigator who previously when she was taught would argue about everything and would ask really random, confusing questions and is Christian but believes that churches have bad people in them. But during our visit she said that she wanted to study the Book of Mormon and accepted Joseph Smith. She said that she was like Joseph seeking wisdom from God. And in her prayer she asked God if she could find the truth in the Book of Mormon. She is another prepared person. Which really surprised us. Especially Nishihara shimai because she knew her from before. The Lord has been softening her heart these last few months. It is so incredible.

I love working in Shibuya. It is a very busy city and very hard but I am learning so much. I feel so blessed after last Monday, seeing so many miracles. And I also realized that even if I don't ever become very skilled at streeting there are other strengthens that I have that have value on the mission. I am slowly starting to recognize those and seeing why the Lord called me. It is really hard and exciting and I love it!!! Missions are hard and very very tiring. I was surprised of how tired I would be. But I am growing so much. It is amazing. Megs you are in for a wonderful adventure. And I am so excited to share it with you even if it is only for 3 or so months. :D

Well that is all for this week. I love you all!!! Take care this week!!

Love,

Kenzie

P.S. A really good missionary CD that my companion and I listen to all the time is called The Work by the nashville tribute band. It is very good and recommend listening to it. :D

"Sisters, Sisters da da da da..."

Family!

As always thanks for the e-mails and Mom thanks for the package. I got it on Saturday. I LOVE the crystal light and the IB has been heaven sent. Thank you!

So this last week has been an interesting one. I have decided that streeting is very hard and can be discouraging at times. Especially when I hear of stories from the Elders in my district having great success. The people here in Shibuya are so busy and don't want to stop and talk. If we can get someone to stop and talk to us for even a little while it can be considered a success. Even a smile is a success. Haha and it doesn't help that I have a fear of it. In Oyama we never streeted because there were no people on the streets. So I am still learning the ways and it is hard and I must say I hate having a fear of it. But it does have a wonderful good side to it. I am learning to rely more on the spirit and the Lord to help me feel peace and joy and not to focus on the fears that would otherwise hinder me. On Saturday I even had a great time with streeting but I will tell you about that later.

Monday and Tuesday that is what we did for the most part streeting. Monday we were able to teach 3 lessons but none on Tuesday. Wednesday I ended getting a cold with that famous cough of mine that had Sister Nishihara and my district leader (who called in the morning and could hear me coughing) worried so they ordered me back to bed where we slept for most of the day until we went to Eikaiwa. It was probably a good thing we didn't go out because it was raining pretty hard and I might have gotten worse. As it is I was completely fine by the next day.

Thursday we went out to Lunch with an investigator of ours, Sayaka, and we taught her another lesson after we ate. Lesson 1, the restoration. We then went back to the church and watched the restoration video but Satan was at work and right at the part when Joseph was going into the woods and saw Heavenly Father and Christ the video was skipping and would stop and pause and it was a mess. We ended up just putting in the English so she could at least see it. She said that she didn't mind. She is really awesome. During our time together she said to herself but we heard, “should I receive baptism” and then asked “can I become a mormon?” She is so ready. Next time we see her this week we are going to actually challenge her. She studies the Liahona and goes to institute with her friend and is really interested in eternal families. She is 21 and I love her!!!

Friday was a great day. Sister Budge held a Sisters Conference for all the Sisters in the Tokyo Mission. They served us breakfast and lunch, there were great talks given, we learned some more workouts that we can do that are fun and did some activities. It really was great. The sisters in this mission are just WONDERFUL. We all work hard and have such a fire. It is fun to be with them. I really enjoyed it too because they had the psychologist for the entire north Asia area (who actually lives in my area and we had dinner with him and his wife 2 weeks ago) speak and he spoke about perfectionism. And let me tell you I suffer from it so it was great to hear from him the healthy and non healthy sides of perfectionism and how to work on changing the unhealthy sides. It was what I needed to hear especially after this last week because it was really hard. It gave me more confidence and encouragement. Yay!!

Saturday was also a really fun day. We did a blitz in the Kichijoji area. And if you don't know what a blitz is (because I didn't before we did it) it is when they get a big group of full-time missionaries and also those who have either returned home from missions or who want and are planning on serving missions and we go on splits with them. Meaning that I got a new companion for a few hours and I showed her how to street. And like I said earlier, I have a fear of streeting so I was getting pretty nervous about taking a 19 year around with me showing her how to street when even myself was still learning. I prayed really hard for help and strength before we left and as soon as I said amen, well actually even before then I immediately felt the spirit and felt peace and even a little excitement. And during the blitz I had a lot of fun and didn't have any fear really. I was even able to teach 2 lessons. My companion was Ueno shimai (she is in the pic with me) and she is 19 and wants to go now that the age has been changed and so will go next summer. Her English is really good so that took some pressure off of me as well. When we were streeting I said hi to this older lady (70's) and told her I liked her scarf. She looked at me and grabbed my arm and just kept saying KAWAII meaning so cute. I don't know how many times she said I was cute. She then asked if she could buy us a drink or something. So we went to a nearby cafe and sat down and talked for 10-15 min. or so. She asked us what we were doing for the day and we told her who we are and what we did. I asked her if she believes in a God and she said no she hasn't really thought about it. I then told her that in our church we believe in a god and that He is our Father in Heaven and we are His children and so He loves and wants to help us in our lives so much. She told us that she doesn't really care about religion that much but wouldn't tell someone not to talk to her about it. We gave her an Eikaiwa flyer and told her about the english classes and she said she would go and take a look. I really hope she does and even though she said she doesn't really care about religion I have faith that if she goes to eikaiwa she will want to learn more. She and her whole family are sick and the gospel can for sure help them feel peace and happiness. And it is my opinion that when she said Kawaii it wasn't just because she thought I had a cute face or anything. I think she saw something different in my countenance, which is the light of Christ. So I think if she sees more of that she will come around. I won't ever know because she is in another area but I still pray for her.

After the blitz we went with the Elders to visit a PI who has been in the hospital for 2 months for pregnancy problems. We wanted to offer her a blessing. She is from Mexico and her husband is from California but his parents were born in Japan and so they came to Japan to be with them. She and her husband are so sweet and so full of faith. She, Sochiru, is already a christian and has deep faith in God and Christ. So we had a great discussion about families and the church and one of the Elders read from the Book of Mormon and we explained a little bit more about it and gave her husband and english copy (she already had one in Spanish). They seemed really interested in it. Sochiru knows a little bit about the church but not too much because her sister is a member living in Texas and she is the one who called the relief society here and asked them to help her so that is how the Sisters here ended up starting to visit her for the last 2 months or so. I am so glad I had the chance to meet her. I love her!! She will be in the hospital for another month or so. This week they are taking her IV out and are hoping that the baby will stay for another 3 or 4 weeks. So she could use some prayers.

Yesterday we went to the Hiro-o ward which is the english speaking ward and that was so nice. It has been a long time since I could understand everything that was being said haha. The members in that ward are truly amazing. Always willing to have the missionaries over for dinner and always ready to fellowship people. I am really excited to be working with them. I was also able to meet some people from the shibuya ward (japanese ward) and they are awesome as well. I feel very lucky to be working with two amazing wards.

Well that is it for this week. I love you all with all my heart. Till next week!!

Kenzie

 

p.s. i couldn't remember the words to the rest of the song.....

SHIBUYA

Hello Family!

 

Thank you for everyones e-mail. I love getting them. One of my favorite parts of the week. I am glad to hear that everyone is doing well. I can't believe that you are actually building a house Just. That is way awesome. Where at? I hope you enjoy my room. Just to warn you, the matress ain't that great. Amanda, I think April sounds wonderful. It is a beautiful month and gives you plenty of time. So you have that figured out, do you have a baptism date chosen?When? If not, get on it girl. It is your soul we are talking about haha. :D So Megs, when can you start your papers? I would imagine sometime in April or maybe even late March???

 

So this week was my first week in Shibuya and it was great. My good sense of direction is kind of lost here. I get very turned around because a lot of the buildings look the same. So I just follow Nishihara shimai. She has been here for 3 transfers so she knows where everything is. Speaking of her I absalutly LOVE her!!! She is so cute and such a big help to me. I feel bad sometimes because I am always asking her questions about Japanese but she is very patient and kind and always willing to help me. This transfer is her 10th so she has 2 more left after this one and so will be going back home in February. She is from Hokkaido which is in the Sapparo mission. Her dad was released recently as a Bishop. She is wonderful!!

 

So this last week I learned how to street. That is basically the prime dendo that we do. And I will tell you what it can be scary. Well at first. Once I get over my first initial fear I am alright and can do it. And even though my japanese is getting better I still wish that I could speak more and understand more so that I could contribute more to the conversation. I just need to be patient with myself which isn't one of my strong suits.

We also had Eikaiwa on Wednesday and in this area the class is HUGE. They actually have 4 classes and they are very organized about it. Everyone sigsn in and fills out a form where they mark different areas of the Gospel that they are interested in learning about. That is how we find a lot of people. Tonight for example we are teaching a lesson to a new student that came last week. It is a great finding method.

Last Friday we taught a lesson to a girl who is friends with a member and goes to institute here in Shibuya. This girls name is Sayaka (the one we taught) and she is super sweet. We ended up teaching her lesson and even talked a little bit about baptism and the Holy Ghost. She wanted to see the baptismal font and she had a lot of wonderful questions. She is someone who we call kinjin (golden investigator). Unfortunately she doesn't live in our area but we will probably still see her sometimes. I didn't say much during the lesson and at the beginning that was really bugging me that I couldn't understand or speak as well as I wanted to. But then I put a stop to the thoughts and just focused on her and tried to focus on the spirit. I figured as long as I can feel the sprit that is good enough. The spirit can promt me what to say. So even though I didn't say a whole lot I know that I said what the spirit wanted me to say. That is the important thing.

Saturday and Sunday we watched conference and I LOVED IT!!! I've been longing for it for a long time and it was so good to finally watch. It was kinda of wierd not to be in Salt Lake but to see it on the screen. haha All of the talks were wonderful and I felt the spirit touch me deeply with some of them. What was everyone's favorite? For both the Saturday and Sunday morning sessions we had potential investigator come with us. She is from America and has been here for two years. She has been going to the Japanese ward for the last few weeks or so and came with us this last weekend. She watched both sessions with Nishihara shimai in Japanese. Her Japanese is really good and she wants to learn more. She is amazing. On Saturday I told her that the talks are online and she can read through them so that night she read through all of the sessions, including the priesthood and really enjoyed that. Next time we see her we are going to invite her to take the lessons. I am excited. Her name is Chelsea.

So having an English ward in the area is not a bad thing at all. We have a lot of dinner appointments with everyone and so that means home cooked american meals. So good. Like last night we went over to the relief society presidents house and she made us homemade pizza, real pizza!! They have pizza here in Japan but they put weird things on it like fish and corn. They love corn. Anyway, so last week I realized that what I have missed from home is chips and salsa. Yes I am my mothers daughter and miss it. We had it at a members house and I about died I was in heaven. So I like having a English ward. :D

 

Other then that there isn't much else to say. I am really excited about being in Shibuya and feel like we are going to see some amazing things this transfer. Wonderful miracles. It will be good. If everyone can just keep praying for me and to have success that would be appreciated. And I do thank you all for your prayers and love. I feel it everyday.

 

I love you all!! Until next week,

 

Kenzie

I got the call and I am...

Hello Family,

 

Wow!! Sounds like everyone had an amazing weekend and enjoyed conference. I will be watching it this weekend and hear the official announcement from the prophets voice then. But we did hear the announcement. President Budge put it on our portal and had the zone leaders tell everyone to take a look. It was a big surprise. I decided to serve my mission when I was 19. I would be home by now if I went. But I am happy how it worked out because I wouldn't be meeting the people the I am meeting if I came two years ago. Saying that I am so proud of you Megs and your decision to serve a mission. It made me so excited to hear that. Going on a mission really does make you grow a lot and you find your extended family. That is what is happening to me, I am finding people that are my family. People that I know I knew in the pre-existance. Someone is waiting for you. You are an amazing woman who has a very strong testimony that will touch many lives. And the time will go by fast between now and when you start your papers and when your papers are in and you leave. And the three years that we won't see each other will feel like nothing. And we will just draw closer together becasue we will be serving missions at the same time together. I am so proud of you!!!

 

Ok so for this week. I know you are all dieing to hear what happened with transfers. Well....you will have to wait a little longer. haha I will go over the week first then let you know what happened. So last monday we went shopping with Narumi and then went out to dinner with her and a member, Dani (american). Narumi took us to an amazing resturant. It was huge and looked like a Japanese old style estate and we were in our own room that looked out a garden and the best part, the food was cheap. So nice!!!

 

Tuesday we went to the temple and boy was that an adventure on the train. We missed the first one then when we had to transfer trains we got on the wrong one that took us bascially back the way we came (not my fault this time) and then when we got to the right eki (station) where the temple was we went out the wrong exit and had to walk all the way around to the Temple and at this point we were rushing to the temple and barely made it to the second session so when we sat down my heart was still pounding really hard and fast and it took me awhile to calm down. I would rather not repeat that kind of experience. It doesn't do well to invite the spirit. I did see Gabe at the Temple and he is doing really well. His surgery went well and we had to stay in a sling for a week and this week I believe he is starting physical therapy this week. But he is back in the field working hard. :)

After the temple we had exchanges and I went to Senzokoike which is the city and I had a lot of fun there. It was my first time really streeting because in Oyama we can't do that because there are not people on the streets. I found that I actually kind of like streeting. Stopping to talk to people, getting to know them, sharing with them why I am here. It was really fun, even if I couldn't speak or understand that well.

 

Wednesday we changed back. Thursday visted an investigator in the hospital (Sachiko) and had music night. Friday distric meeting and practice the taishoukoto at Ishizawas house.

 

Saturday was really fun. We went shopping again with one of our students from Eikaiwa-Tanaka and I was able to get things for everybody and sent it off. The package will take two months to get to the states so it is the christmas package. I hope everyone likes what I got them. It isn't a lot. Not like what Justin did but Japan is very expensive and I have limited funds. But I really wanted to get everybody things. :)

That night we had the music concert and I performed the taishoukoto with Sister Lundy and Sister Ishizawa. It was a lot of fun even though I messed up a lot. haha but I still enjoyed myself. The whole night was amazing!!. My favorite part though was when Dani and Sister Lundy performed. Dani sang a song that Sister Lundy composed that is about her mom. Her mom passed away three years ago and the song is about her. After they performed the song one of our investigators, Kaori (who also performed that night) asked me what the meaing was because it was in English. I explained to her what happend and then shared about the Plan of Salvation. It was amazing the spirit I felt. I told her that is why I was in Japan. Was to share this message that brings me so much happiness and peace with everyone else. I loved baring my testimony. It is such an amazing feeling.

 

Ok so on to the topic of transfers. We got the tranfer calls on Friday morning. I have been transfered to Shibuya and my new companion is Sister Nishihara (japanese). Say what!!!???!!! It was such a surpise. Not that I was being transfered, but that I was being transfered to Shibuya. It is the total opposite of Oyama. Shibuya is the city that people typically think of when they think of Tokyo because it is the heart of Tokyo. It has the huge cross walk - the scramble cross walk - Tokyo Tower and it also has the Temple. Ya, exciting right?! :) So that is where I am right now as I write this. So far I love it. I love Nishihara shimai already. She is so cute and sweet. And I am so grateful to have the oppurtunity to have a Japanese companion. It will really help my Japanese improve. A LOT!!! Shibuya is huge and exciting with sooooo many people. Japanese and foreigners a like. It will be so much fun. So in Shibuya there are 6 missionaries. 4 Elders and 2 Sister. 2 of the Elders are in charge of the Japanese ward and focus on the Japanese. The other Elders are the English ward and teach foreign investigators. The sisters cover both. So everyother week for church we rotate. Last night we had a dinner appointment with an american family living on the army base and we went with the elders who are our ZL's as well. One of them graduated from Olympus 2011 and says he knows Megan, sort of. His name is Elder Hogue. Do you know him Megs? He and his companion are way awesome. The family we visited was the Rob family and they are converts of 3 years. It was really fun being with them. They made us taco's. Boy it has been a long time since I have had those. They also shared with us their conversion story. They have such a fire for missionary work. It is really amazing. Shibuya. I still can't believe I am here. It is crazy. I am so excited to get started and work so hard here. We don't have a lot of investigators but I have faith that we will find those preapred people that the Angels are working with. :) Here goes nothing!! :)

 

It was very very hard to leave Oyama. I was crying through out the weekend (even though I was excited to come to Shibuya). Sunday they had me bare my testimony in church and that night Sister Adachi had a dinner party for me and the younger Tauchi (he too got transfered). That was soo much fun. Narumi was able to come and there were a lot of other people who are all precious to me. I did pretty well through the night not getting emotional, even when I started saying goodbye to people. But then Taguchi obaachan came up to me and said good luck and gave me the hug (she never hugs usually). So that was the end for me. I started crying so hard when I saying goodbye to her daughter and everyone else. My heart is just so full of love for all of them. I am so very very grateful to have met them all. They are my Oyama family.

Yesterday I finished packing and the Bishop and his wife took us out to eat lunch before going to the eki for us to catch the train. Sister Yanada is soo sweet and has such a big heart. She was tearing up during lunch when we were talking about the transfers. She is so very sweet. At the eki I felt so loved. There were a lot of people who came to see us off. Tanaka, Fusako, Narumi, Sachiko, Ishizawa, and of course the bishop and his wife. It was a wonderful send off. Oyama is truly a wonderful place. The people there are just so full of love and dendo fire. They are such a wonderful example to me. I learned a lot from them. :)

 

I want to encourage the family to get involved with Missionary work. Jen and Jareds new calling is so wonderful. It really is through the members that people trully come to Christ and not only that, they stay converted. So I urge you please get involved. Call the missionaries. Ask if they need joints for lessons or help in any other way. Or just have them over for dinner and let them practice teaching. We need it, trust me. Sometimes I don't even know what I want to say in English which makes translating difficult. haha Or if there are no missionaries working in the ward ask the bishop who the less actives are and help them come back to church. Sometimes it just takes a smiling face and kind words to get people interested in coming back. That is my advice for this week. Help the mission effort. It is a wonderful cause!!!! :) I like it.

 

I love you all so much and can't believe how quick the time is going by. It is wierd that in just three months it will be christmas and will be talking with you. That will go by like a snap of the fingers. Crazy!!

 

I am so glad that everyone is doing well. Have a good week this week!!

 

Love always,

Kenzie

Nikko

I have a Super Power!!

Family!!!

How are you? I know I am writing this pretty early, it is 5:30 here. My companion wants to start getting up really early from now on so she can read the bible and other books before her mission is over. So the reason that I am writing right now instead of later. I hope you are all doing well. I may have time later to check back and read your e-mails but for now I will just assume that everyone is doing well.

So this last week has been long and fun. On Monday we didn't have the lesson with Priti. Instead we had it on Tuesday and it went really well and we came to understand what he meant in his e-mail to us. He thought the whole book of Mormon was about a dream (Lehi's dream) and that it is through dreams that prophets speak to God. Whew! That was a relief to hear. We still kept to our plan though and taught more about the Book of Mormon and the spirit. He was very curious how God can speak to him and what it will be like when He does. He asked us if we could give a time frame for when it would happen. We of course said that we could not because it is between him and the Lord and it takes work to constantly be searching the spirit. He needs to try to recognize how the spirit speaks to him and and the different ways that it happens. I told him about how I am still finding different ways the spirit speaks to me and I always have to be searching for it. The lesson went really well but the best part was towards the end after we talked more about the origin of the Book of Mormon and how it came to be published. I bore my testimony of the Book of Mormon and said that it is a true word of God, a perfect word, and it is through the Book of Mormon that I have come to my Father and Christ. I told him that he too can have his prayers answered and come to the know the Father if he only reads the Book of Mormon prayerfully. After I bore my testimony he looked at me with wonderment and said, “I can't understand it. Your faith and the way you speak about God and your relationship with Him even though you have never seen Him. It is like a super natural ability. It passes my understanding. I want that.” That's right my testimony is a super power!!! hahaha I never thought of it that way before or my faith. We of course told him that it is very possible for him to have the same ability. I was so grateful for the opportunity that I had to share my testimony of the Book of Mormon. The spirit was strong when I was and I felt so happy telling him what I know, what I have found out for myself. That is what I am here for.

On Wednesday we went over to Ishizawa's house (a member) and she had a friend come over and teach us how to play a taishookoto, a Japanese instrument. There is a picture in the previous e-mail of me playing it. It was so much fun to learn and the three of us (me, Sister Lundy and Sister Ishizawa )will be performing together this Saturday at the music concert that the ward is having. It should be really fun and the song we are doing I have become pretty skilled at playing it. Haha But then again it is a pretty easy one.

Thursday we just had weekly planning and then went and visited another member with Ishizawa shimai. The member we visited (Moro shimai) has the most beautiful garden I have yet seen in Japan and an amazing beautiful house. She is such a wonderful home maker. She makes these really cute dolls and makes delicious home made jam that she gets from her garden like fig jam and raspberry jam.She also made for us the best yakisoba I have had. Yakisoba is a Japanese meal that I have come to very much like and I am determined to learn how to make it while I am here and come home and make it for everyone. Apparently it is really simple to make which makes me happy. I like simple. The visit with Moro shimai was so much fun and I loved the opportunity to get to know her. The members here in Oyama are seriously wonderful. They give the missionaries so much help and are such wonderful examples of being missionaries themselves. I love them!!

Also on Thursday at the music night I taught a small lesson to one of our investigators by myself. Her name is Kaori and she is the sweetest thing ever. She comes to music night every week and will be performing at the concert as well. Anyway, we had plans to teach her about Prayer that night and at first I was worried we wouldn't be able to because the time was coming soon to when we would need to return home. I prayed to have an opportunity to teach her and to my delight it was answered. I was telling her about transfers and how I might be leaving after this week. I told her I would love for her to write to me if she could. I pulled out a meshi card of mine and wrote a quick message on the back. While I was writing a thought came to also give her a little prayer card that a member always gives us that goes through the steps of prayer really simply. So after I gave my meshi to her I told her that I had something else for her, a special gift that I feel is important. I then started teaching about prayer. Who we pray to, how we pray, what we pray for, etc. I then asked her if she would pray and she said she would. I had so much fun teaching her about prayer and felt so happy doing it. Prayer is the way we communicate to our Father. It is so important and so simple. Its so wonderful!

On Saturday we went to Nikko again. This time we went with two of our Eikaiwa students, Tanaka and Fusako, and this time we saw different parts of Nikko. The famous lake and waterfalls they have. Tanaka was really nice and drove us there instead of just taking the train and buses which meant we were able to see and do more. The trip there was about an hour ½ to two hours so the car ride wasn't that bad. I loved driving through the mountains, it reminded me so much of home. The first stop we went to was a waterfall named Ryuzu Falls and Ryuzu is a dragon and the falls look like his head as he moves his head towards heaven. It was beautiful!! And we were really lucky because the weather was really nice in that part of Nikko so it just made it that more pretty. It was a nice 15 or so minute walk to the top of the waterfall but the whole time it is flowing past you. We also saw Japan's most famous waterfall which is called Kegon falls. It is 92 m. tall (I have no idea what that is in feet). It was breathtaking. It truly made me in awe of Heavenly Fathers creation and to see His wonderful artistic hand. We saw a few more things and the trip over all was wonderful. It also made me excited because I found things for Dad, Justin and Jared. The two boys is hard to find things for. I want something that is fun for them and something that they can enjoy but also have something that can last longer then just a year or two. I will just continue keeping my eye out.

Sunday the Elders had another baptism and it was a wonderful experience. I felt the spirit so strongly and as he was getting confirmed a member of the church and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost I could see Christ with the biggest smile (3^rd Nephi 19) on His face and could feel His love and happiness for Tommy. It made me start crying and even deepened my desire to see our investigators get to that point and have the Savior smile at the them and have Him be proud of them. It was wonderful.

Well, this week is the last week of my training. I will have been here for two transfers. We get calls on Saturday morning about who will be going and who will be our new companion. Wow. That time went by slow and fast all at the same time. It is weird how time does that. I am really hoping that my next companion will be Japanese, that way I will be able to learn Japanese quicker. I am actually jealous of those who have had only Japanese companions because now their Japanese is really good.

I am still having some struggles with my companion that I have now. I never realized how hard it would be to be with someone for 24/7 who is completely different then who you are. It has been hard because I have sometimes been a totally different person, someone I would rather not be. But through the experience I am being given my weaknesses on a silver platter and recognizing how much I need to improve. Sometimes I wonder if I am even a good person since I have so much that needs to be improved but nonetheless I am grateful for the opportunity to see what I need to improve on and make myself better. Even if it is really really hard.

Well, that is all for this week. I am happy because tomorrow we are going to the Temple again and you know how much I love that. How was the dedication by the way? I am very grateful for Temples and that because of them I have you guys for eternity. It makes being away from home easier.

I love you all with all my heart and don't worry about me. I am doing just fine.

As always all my love,

Kenzie