Dear family and friends,
If you can't tell, this week has been a crazy one, and I feel like a
lot of it wasn't actually in my area, but it was so much fun. Last
week I was emailing, Danielle, my sister, and just talking about some
of the things that were going on. She suggested that I get a
priesthood blessing, and I knew that it was inspired, because I had
thought of it before, I just hadn't acted on it. It still took me a
little bit, but I did.
Monday was pday, and we got just a little time to relax, we have been
trying to do that ever since week one in Nishiwaki, but things have
always just taken to long, and we haven't had enough time. A little
frustrating, but we got everything we needed to get done done, so that
is good. Hopefully this week we will have a little more. That night we
met with isogai Shimai, she served in Sendai, and is a member here in
Nishiwaki. We had a great mogi lesson with her, and it really helped
my companion. I decided to put her on the spot, with some preparation,
and have her teach it, and I was just a supporting presence, and help
if she needed. She did a great job.
Tuesday I got a powerful lesson. We went to the old folks home, and
did service, and it was a lot of fun, and then afterwards we met the
elders at the church and they gave me a blessing. One of the first
things that he said in that blessing, was that my Heavenly Father was
proud of me seeking the counsel that I felt I needed at this time. I
feel like I am not the only one who feels awkward asking for a
priesthood blessing, we are often prideful, and don't want to admit
that we truly need that help from our father in heaven, but he
rejoices when we give him that opportunity to speak to us through his
servants. Let go of your pride, when you feel you need a blessing, or
even think it, ask for one. It is definitely inspired by the Holy
Ghost, and you need it, it will make your trial go smoother. After
that we went and visited a member, and I was able to share that
experience, because I felt like I should. The inoues loves it, and it
really just brought the spirit to their home. That night we raced back
for eikaiwa, but this time avoided the hills. I like going up the
hill, but my companion was tired. I felt so much happier just by that
point, and this week was just full of happiness. That doesn't mean
that I don't sometimes feel overwhelmed with all of the things that I
need to do, or with all the expectations, but I have been able to look
at it from a brighter perspective, and shrug off the feelings that
tell me 'I can't do this', more.
Wednesday we got up early and traveled to Akashi, and had one of the
best Kokans I have ever had. I studied with saijo Shimai in the
morning, which was a lot of fun, just planning for the investigators.
Even though I had had no idea who they were, or what to study, I ended
up studying just the thing we were going to be using that day, which
was cool. We went crazy, and taught 21 lessons in just that one day,
and most of them were on the street, Akashi is a city, so there are
more people, but it was cool to learn from saijo shimais example, and
to just have a crazy awesome day of dendo. Made me realize more what
is possible, no matter where you are. Saijo Shimai was so bold, and
just open with people, and it was really inspiring to see her let go
of her own culture just a bit to share the gospel. I loved that kokan.
Thursday we had TTTM, trainer trainee training meeting, and it was so
good. I learned a lot more about the role of the missionary, spirit,
and investigator in conversion, and of course the member. Because
members are so important. It clicked very powerfully for me that
obedience is the key to fulfilling our roles as missionaries, and as
members. If we aren't being obedient, than the blessings that enable
us to achieve our goals, fill our roles are not given to us, we block
ourselves from receiving them. I think that really applies to
everyone, no matter your situation. I learned a lot from Welch kaicho,
and Shimai, and also from the assistants, it was a way good meeting.
On the way back from Kobe, we carried a fan, which led to a lot of
weird looks on the train, people were so confused. So we used it for
dendo. Everyone we talked to happily gave us their numbers, and wanted
to meet again, makes me want to carry a fan more.
Friday we had district meeting, and the APs came. It was so good, but
similar to TTT. We talked a lot about the spirit, but I was still able
to learn some new things. Jkaiwa was good, but stressed my companion
out, she just really wants to get good at the language, and is having
a hard time seeing her progress, but we have a plan. I wish I could
just tell her it isn't important, or to stop worrying about it, but I
know that it wouldn't help. The thing is, the language, Japanese, it
isn't important. The spirit fills in the gaps in our language, we just
have to be spiritually prepared to do as much as we can, and just
prepare our best. It is hard to recognize that though, because the
language seems to be this huge barrier looming between you and the
person, when really there isn't a barrier at all, except for your own
fear. That night we went to sasayama for eikaiwa, and it was really
good. The students there are all really nice, and have some good
potential to become investigators. The hard part is that it is pretty
far away, and we have to ride trains to get there. I want to go there
once a week though, because I know that it is possible with the money
and everything.
Saturday we had the talent show. It was a great activity, but
unfortunately with the set up and everything, it basically took the
entire day. That was sad, but it was a really fun activity, and we
were able to talk with some Nonmembers that had come, and got their
members. They are friends with whipple Shimai, the relief society
president, and are all young moms, so much potential, which is
awesome. That night we started SKK, because we just hadn't had a
chance to get to it yet.
Sunday we had church, which was awesome, I love Sundays. After church
we had ward council, and it was cool to see how much the ward wants to
help. The branch president has decided that he is going to start going
and visiting the less actives, and bringing the missionaries along
sometimes, plus they were trying to figure out how to make eikaiwa
more of a success for dendo. That was way cool. We tried to visit a
new investigator, with no luck, turns out that the address that she
gave us was not hers, and then we ended the night with SKK. It was a
good SKK, and we both felt like we had well planned through it.
This week was awesome, and I feel like I learned a lot. I love the
gospel, and I love all of you. Keep having fun, and stay safe!
Love, Sister Makin
If you can't tell, this week has been a crazy one, and I feel like a
lot of it wasn't actually in my area, but it was so much fun. Last
week I was emailing, Danielle, my sister, and just talking about some
of the things that were going on. She suggested that I get a
priesthood blessing, and I knew that it was inspired, because I had
thought of it before, I just hadn't acted on it. It still took me a
little bit, but I did.
Monday was pday, and we got just a little time to relax, we have been
trying to do that ever since week one in Nishiwaki, but things have
always just taken to long, and we haven't had enough time. A little
frustrating, but we got everything we needed to get done done, so that
is good. Hopefully this week we will have a little more. That night we
met with isogai Shimai, she served in Sendai, and is a member here in
Nishiwaki. We had a great mogi lesson with her, and it really helped
my companion. I decided to put her on the spot, with some preparation,
and have her teach it, and I was just a supporting presence, and help
if she needed. She did a great job.
Tuesday I got a powerful lesson. We went to the old folks home, and
did service, and it was a lot of fun, and then afterwards we met the
elders at the church and they gave me a blessing. One of the first
things that he said in that blessing, was that my Heavenly Father was
proud of me seeking the counsel that I felt I needed at this time. I
feel like I am not the only one who feels awkward asking for a
priesthood blessing, we are often prideful, and don't want to admit
that we truly need that help from our father in heaven, but he
rejoices when we give him that opportunity to speak to us through his
servants. Let go of your pride, when you feel you need a blessing, or
even think it, ask for one. It is definitely inspired by the Holy
Ghost, and you need it, it will make your trial go smoother. After
that we went and visited a member, and I was able to share that
experience, because I felt like I should. The inoues loves it, and it
really just brought the spirit to their home. That night we raced back
for eikaiwa, but this time avoided the hills. I like going up the
hill, but my companion was tired. I felt so much happier just by that
point, and this week was just full of happiness. That doesn't mean
that I don't sometimes feel overwhelmed with all of the things that I
need to do, or with all the expectations, but I have been able to look
at it from a brighter perspective, and shrug off the feelings that
tell me 'I can't do this', more.
Wednesday we got up early and traveled to Akashi, and had one of the
best Kokans I have ever had. I studied with saijo Shimai in the
morning, which was a lot of fun, just planning for the investigators.
Even though I had had no idea who they were, or what to study, I ended
up studying just the thing we were going to be using that day, which
was cool. We went crazy, and taught 21 lessons in just that one day,
and most of them were on the street, Akashi is a city, so there are
more people, but it was cool to learn from saijo shimais example, and
to just have a crazy awesome day of dendo. Made me realize more what
is possible, no matter where you are. Saijo Shimai was so bold, and
just open with people, and it was really inspiring to see her let go
of her own culture just a bit to share the gospel. I loved that kokan.
Thursday we had TTTM, trainer trainee training meeting, and it was so
good. I learned a lot more about the role of the missionary, spirit,
and investigator in conversion, and of course the member. Because
members are so important. It clicked very powerfully for me that
obedience is the key to fulfilling our roles as missionaries, and as
members. If we aren't being obedient, than the blessings that enable
us to achieve our goals, fill our roles are not given to us, we block
ourselves from receiving them. I think that really applies to
everyone, no matter your situation. I learned a lot from Welch kaicho,
and Shimai, and also from the assistants, it was a way good meeting.
On the way back from Kobe, we carried a fan, which led to a lot of
weird looks on the train, people were so confused. So we used it for
dendo. Everyone we talked to happily gave us their numbers, and wanted
to meet again, makes me want to carry a fan more.
Friday we had district meeting, and the APs came. It was so good, but
similar to TTT. We talked a lot about the spirit, but I was still able
to learn some new things. Jkaiwa was good, but stressed my companion
out, she just really wants to get good at the language, and is having
a hard time seeing her progress, but we have a plan. I wish I could
just tell her it isn't important, or to stop worrying about it, but I
know that it wouldn't help. The thing is, the language, Japanese, it
isn't important. The spirit fills in the gaps in our language, we just
have to be spiritually prepared to do as much as we can, and just
prepare our best. It is hard to recognize that though, because the
language seems to be this huge barrier looming between you and the
person, when really there isn't a barrier at all, except for your own
fear. That night we went to sasayama for eikaiwa, and it was really
good. The students there are all really nice, and have some good
potential to become investigators. The hard part is that it is pretty
far away, and we have to ride trains to get there. I want to go there
once a week though, because I know that it is possible with the money
and everything.
Saturday we had the talent show. It was a great activity, but
unfortunately with the set up and everything, it basically took the
entire day. That was sad, but it was a really fun activity, and we
were able to talk with some Nonmembers that had come, and got their
members. They are friends with whipple Shimai, the relief society
president, and are all young moms, so much potential, which is
awesome. That night we started SKK, because we just hadn't had a
chance to get to it yet.
Sunday we had church, which was awesome, I love Sundays. After church
we had ward council, and it was cool to see how much the ward wants to
help. The branch president has decided that he is going to start going
and visiting the less actives, and bringing the missionaries along
sometimes, plus they were trying to figure out how to make eikaiwa
more of a success for dendo. That was way cool. We tried to visit a
new investigator, with no luck, turns out that the address that she
gave us was not hers, and then we ended the night with SKK. It was a
good SKK, and we both felt like we had well planned through it.
This week was awesome, and I feel like I learned a lot. I love the
gospel, and I love all of you. Keep having fun, and stay safe!
Love, Sister Makin
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