Monday Dec. 12, 2016 Light the Japan!

I really want to think that this is just a normal week, but this is my last email and this has truly been a week of tender mercies from Heavenly Father. I love my mission. I love these people and experiences and I cry anytime anyone mentions that I'm going home but that's just because I am so grateful, not to mention the wonderful family and loved ones at home. I absolutely love being a missionary,there's nothing better.

Last Monday we went to Joyo illumination with a member- not a lot of people there, but so grateful that she came and dendo'd with us! She's finishing up college finals right now and still makes time to work with us, love her so much!

Tuesday was such a blessing- lunch and lesson with a member- busy working RM but she also wants to make time to dendo on Sunday's! Then we did a Christmas kubari (handing out flyers) at eki and it was really successful- lots of people stopped to actually talk with us, not just take the paper and leave- some good PI's. Then we've really been praying and working hard for new investigators that have potential to really progress and housed an apartment building close to a member's house that we felt prompted to visit and of course after no one answering, found someone at one of the last doors- he's a college student who doesn't know what's true but said if there was one true religion he would want that...we had the opportunity to teach the whole Resotration, give BOM, set appt for later in the week- what a miracle! 

Wednesday was our recent converts- everyone's doing great, Masaki Kyoudai and Yamanaka Shimai are done with AB lesson! In the evening again prompting to visit some apartments and met the most adorable 12 year old girl who we showed the new Christmas video, she loved it and wants to learn more (needs parent permission) so asked her to get that, then we were moving on and talked to other people and as we were going back to our bikes she comes running out and had written us Merry Christmas cards- she melts my heart. It doesn't matter what age, Heavenly Father is preparing his children to hear the gospel. 

Thursday I koukaned in a Fushimi with Luczak and Kenney Shimai- 3people was a blast! We had to adjust a little but lots of miracles, worked hard, came home exhausted (which is the best feeling)Friday ZTM in Shimogamo- the Spirit was strong, we were able to apply various things we learned immediately to get new investigators later in the week! Plus Kanako Chan (member)'S work schedule was changed and she was able to come with us to visit golden kid from earlier in the week- turned out really well, talked about BOM and Heavenly Father. 

Saturday evening went to Kanako's house, Komatsu 'S had a dinner party partially for me going home and also her friend (referral!) who just passed some big college test. I love watching the Spirit work through people. Towards the end she basically said, I just feel so soft right now and started crying and talking about guilt she felt for not being better, wants to be better- that's exactly the help the gospel brings! She's really busy now until end of the year but basically she's ready to be baptized- she's been friends with this member for a long time, met missionaries a little before, preparing her to receive the full blessings! 

Sunday spoke, also sang with Larsen Shimai! Then YW Christmas Party, watched Christmas Devotional, went out for some more finding and evening was dinner party at the Nagashima family and lots of people! It was just one big happy family- food was simple and that's the best, just having a good time together. Miracles are happening here because this is Heavenly Fathers work for us, the children that he loves so much. 

I've just been a small part of the picture and I've learned how hard this is. We cannot do this work on our own and there are plenty of discouraging, rainy long cold days and yet we have the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We know that all things will work together for our good. If you want to be happy, look to the Light of the World. If you want to be even happier, follow His example and share the light.
I love you all, see you soon!
Wagstaff Shimai

See you soon! Love you all! Sent off my suitcases today, praying
everything gets there in one piece :)

This week I was with a lot of member families and they are the same
all over to world. The gospel blesses families, truly we have joy.

Dec. 5, 2016 Light the World!

This has been the biggest adventure- not done yet, and reminds me of a quote except I can't perfectly quote it but something along the lines of "the road is narrow, the way is rough, the companions are few, theGuide is reliable" especially that part about the Guide. Truly this week saw in little ways that this is Heavenly Father's work.

Also this will be short, not a lot of time... Monday after adventuring around Kyoto we went after a bunch of PI's
and were able to invite people to our Christmas Party! Christmas dendo  is the greatest thing ever, even in Japan- non Christian country, they know Christmas and it softens/opens hearts like nothing else!


Tuesday found City Hall and went looking after service opportunities. Then passed out fliers by a college with the elders in Santa hats and forgot to take pictures :( At first we tried singing Christmas songs (hymns) and passing out but that definitely didn't work but once we just had a good time, everyone was way more interested! Then an
investigator who we haven't seen in a long time mailed us and we were able to meet her! Plus top off the night with my companion making tacos plus homemade salsa !

Wednesday with recent converts and it's so much fun to literally see their testimonies grow. 81 yr old grandma is really starting to understand and retain, plus a less active finally did her BOM reading this week- that's a big deal!! Then Fujii Shimai, another recent convert read from 2nd Nephi clear to the middle of Mosiah this week,
dang!


Thursday was service day and tried to visit lots of lonely people then did a garbage pick-up project along a street by the church - lots of people smiled at us, so I'd say it was pretty successful.


Friday we had District Meeting in Fushimi- good stuff as always, with of course Indo Curry after. Even bettter that night was a recent convert who's been struggling a lot lately was smiling and even laughed a little tonight! Laughter is the best medicine- big testimony of that!


Saturday we had a really productive DCS which always feels good. Then Fujii Shimai took the next step in BOM and we were able to help her start to apply what she reads to herself, find answers, because it is more than just an interesting story. My love for the BOM grew as she's been going through for the first time and pointing out things like- Noah was a horrible guy wasn't he?!? But WOW Alma's so amazing- I can't wait to starting reading Book of Alma, it's long so it has to be good, right?? :) She just makes me so happy! Cool miracle seeing how
Heavenly Father guides us without us knowing. We wanted to stop by a\ former investigator who lives by a recent convert, Takeda Shimai, so we dropped by her first and found that her granddaughters were there. They come with her to church sometimes and we were able to teach a Christmas, Jesus Christ message and their grandma gave them the calendar the church made in Japan for the 25 days of service. They
love it!


Sunday  was a good fast Sunday after church received a kimono from some members- adorable grandma's! And then it was a big of a long day being out in the rain (we planned a day with lots of biking and finding, not realizing it would rain) so that was pretty cold, but made coming back at the end of the night feel better!

That's a really short version, plus didn't take any pictures this week, but truly so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ. I love Christmas! Relief Society president bore her testimony about how following the church's service Christmas thing has helped her remember Christ throughout the day in simple ways, I realized what a tremendous
blessing it is to be a missionary- a representative of Jesus Christ 24/7 for 18 months. The feeling is unreal. I have never been alone, I can always feel Heavenly Father's love come in various ways- sometimes it's that He gives challenges to help us grow but those are also just evidence of His love! I know He loves each and every one of you- please check out the video and campaign on mormon.org because it truly makes a diffference- first in you then in those around you!

Love, Wagstaff 姉妹

This week has been really interesting- somehow in my mind I had this image that there are tons of blessings at the end of your mission and it was smooth sailing. A lot of big miracles because you've worked so hard and that's how Heavenly Father shows he loves you.

Now what I'm saying isn't that Heavenly Father isn't constantly in this work and that I'm not seeing blessings- not that, just that the end is just like the rest, ups and downs. I think I like that. For some reason, all of our investigators dropped us and during finding time we've been getting a lot of no's. But that's okay, because we
still know God has a plan. He has perfect timing. One blessing is that we are focusing really hard on how to improve- constantly after reach lesson, how can he next be better. Something I liked about mom and dad's emails this week was that they are still constantly improving as well- that's what we're all doing.

Plus we had a big fiasco in Sunday Schooly that honestly I don't. Understand
all the details- recent converts mom is an investigator and everyone in the ward has a different opinion about how to help her and we taught her with a member couple during  Sunday school but then after church got interrogated by a member of the bishopric and Ward mission leader and still don't know why but it's okay because we can go back, apologize even though we don't know why and get more clarification. Really it's an opportunity to really be Christ-like. He asks us to love enemies as well as friends (and the members definitely aren't
enemies!!) but it takes work to become true friends.

Through every experience we can laugh and have a good time. We got wet then it got super cold and we were so cold but it's okay because came back to the church at the end of he Night to submit our numbers for the week and elders were there too and we could all laugh about how rough it is sometimes! Truly truly truly joyful. Plus I know that there are always prepare people out there. It's unlikely that I'll see a baptism in the next week, so I'll finish my mission without having physically seen an investigator baptized and that's okay because it's not the end- my work is just part of Heavenly Father's great plan.

Drew and Tash- I hope that you are preparing to become a missionary. I hope that you are solidifying your base in the gospel of Jesus Christ now because it will always be a blessing to you. I hope you come to love the Book of Mormon, I LOVE the Book of Mormon, I think more than any possession I'm going to take home with me, the copy that has been carried around with me this past year and is a little worn, very marked up is likely my favorite thing. I hope that you love Jesus Christ and through following His example come to know more of Him. I hope you aren't afraid to share His lights with the people around you- we are asked to invite and be an example. Others have their agency, but a missionary's purpose is to invite and help others to come unto Christ. I know that investigators I have taught will be baptized. I also know that someday, hopefully soon, a temple will be announced in the Kansai area and that's going to be a great day.

Love you guy! Katya