Hi everyone!
Love you all! Sorry I didn't email last week... BUT I'm still in Asahikawa and still loving it.
Free shimai left which was hard but I know it's God's will. My new companion's name is Wo shimai and she is from Australia but is Samoan and she is a party.
We have a lot of fun together and she tries really hard to comfort me in the way I need and reassure me a lot. She is a good companion and always has such a strong desire to dendo and work hard. It's really admirable.
Since we've been together we've seen a lot of miracles and found some really promising people. Yesterday our dendo time was kind of short but in that short time we found a new investigator who is our age and felt the spirit and we set a solid return appointment with her so we're SO excited!! We taught her how she can pray and she said she would. Miracles, man.

It's been kind of hard this transfer but I was able to rely on the Lord and every time I have asked for strength, I have had enough to get me through. I know He answers prayers and am grateful for that. I have also been able to use the Atonement more this week, and am learning that I make mistakes and that is okay. And through being patient with myself and those around me, I can grow closer to Christ.
Love you all! Hope your week is beautiful. ❤

Hey everyone!
It's been snowing everyday since Christmas and the world is very white here in Hokkaido. We were fed so much by members recently. They all are such good cooks and spoil us. But we got to see the far parts of our area because a lot of them live far, and so we spent more time in the rural areas which was really pretty. When it was snowing you couldn't tell where the ground met the sky because everything including the air is WHITE.

And somehow we never run out of mikans. I don't think we've run out since Halloween. Everyone gives them to us, I can't even keep track of where they come from. It's like magic or something.
We went to the ふじたかぞく for lunch on the second of January and she made us おせち！

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

Hey all!
It's been a little while haha. Our pday was changed to New Year's Day since it's such a big holiday in Japan and people spend it with their families. Yesterday we read the Book of Mormon all day and that was really cool! I learned a lot and really felt grateful for the Book of Mormon and all the sacrifices the prophets in it went through to get it to us, that we can know how to get closer to Jesus Christ and comehome to live with God again. Tomorrow is an all day cleaning day. And the members here are so kind and are feeding us a ton this week and ton last week even too! When members feed us, they don't do it really often like in America but when they do feed us they go all out. I gained a little weight I think but maybe it will keep me warmer hehe.
Also it snowed a ton! We were walking to the other sisters in suehiro's apartment for splits and we took a detour but we went through a path that wasn't shoveled and the snow came up to my hip! We were kind of scared we wouldn't be able to get out but it was really fun haha. My tights were all white at the end and we left puddles all over their apartment. Oops.
Christmas was really magical. We had a little extra time after planning for Christmas Eve so we took baths and ate mochi and yuzucha at night. It was the best Christmas ever. We made sushi for lunch and got sushi for dinner and aside from skyping my family on Christmas Day, we dendoed all day. People here don't really think much of Christmas and a lot of people still go to work, but we felt a special spirit that day for sure.

Hey all!
Hope you're all doing well. I hear jersey is warm. Hope you're enjoying that haha but hope it still snows on Christmas.

It's really easy to talk about Christ during this season here because the people likecelebrating it but a lot haven't thought about the meaning of it, or that there could be a meaning. It means so much to be able to talk about Christ and the impact he has had on my life.

We have these two young investigators who are our age that we are teaching and that's really exciting. We were teaching them at the same time which kind of made us nervous at first because we've never done that before but it went really well, and when I asked if they knew if it was true, if they would get baptized, they said yes! We didn't set a date but I was so happy to hear that from them. We really feel like we can relate to them too and we desire the same things in life and are going through similar experiences, so it's a blessing to be able to teach them.

I gave a talk at church for the first time in Japanese this Sunday!  That was a little stressful but I think it ended up okay. It was a homecoming for a missionary who just got home from a mission called Adriatic north I think. He's American but grew up partially in Japan and Germany so he speaks like 6 languages now. It's やばいよ。

We also sang as a ward and with one of our investigators to a nursing home for blind people after church. That was really special.

I love my ward! I love the people and being able to feel the love God has for them! As I work harder and pray, I can better see the hand of the lord in my life and that is amazing. Missionary work amazes me everyday and I've already changed so much in this short time. It makes me sad that my time with free shimai is coming to an end but I'm also excited for the opportunity to see more miracles and see other people find more happiness in coming to Christ.

I love you all! Thanks for all your love and all that you do!

Heyo!! You guys are great. Thanks for the encouragement this week. It meant a lot. I feel better about myself this week and have really tried to focus on what I can do. I can't do a lot, and I don't have a lot of talents, but I can be really kind. And I've been trying to really do that. Also one new thing I've been doing is writing in my journal everyday about how I have seen the hand of the lord in my life that day. It's really helped me see how the lord has blessed me and the miracles I have seen that day. I'm also a lot more grateful now that I can see so much more of what he does. Our goal this transfer is to see two baptisms. I know it is going to be really hard but we are trying to make baptismal dates and we believe we can see them. These people are prepared.
In other news, we caught the sweet potato truck! It was delicious. As expected. We were on a bridge and waved him down and ran down to meet him and he's like, you guys aren't from Japan are you? Haha. But it was delicious so that is what matters.
Also it snows like every other day here. It's a bit ridiculous but it is a winter wonderland! When it snows, the air is so dense with white that the air looks white too. And the sky is white and the roads and sidewalks are all white too cause they don't plow. It's beautiful.
I love you all! I sang in a duet on Saturday at our Christmas concert which was really scary but I was able to do it to the best of my ability so I'm happy about that be safe this week!! Love you!
Love
Massey shimai

Hey everyone!
Hope everyone had a great thanksgiving! I sure am thankful for all of you.
We had transfer calls but we're both staying in asahikawa!! Yay!! I love this place so much. It's the second biggest city in Hokkaido but it really isn't big at all. It's very comfortable. People say this area gets the most snow and we sure have gotten some of it! We got about a foot. Some of it melted but what baffles me the most is that they don't really plow the roads or shovel the sidewalks so it's kind of treacherous to walk around. But it's been fun. I fell twice haha (はずかしい) but that was fun too.
Today is the birthday of another elder who is serving in my ward. On the way to his apartment, while we were running since time is always limited as a missionary, I fell and popped the only balloon we had. So embarrassing. We didn't run after that haha. Sister free had a cake in her hand and we were like clugging along in our winter boots. I'm sure it was a fun sight for the people around us!

Also there's this sweet potato truck that goes around kind of like an ice cream truck, but sells delicious sweet potatoes. It is our dream to eat from one since it's supposed to be so good and we got really close but couldn't find which street it was driving on. It sings in a really deep voice about sweet potato. It's really weird but strangely enchanting.

On a more serious note though, This week was kind of hard. Lately I've been getting down on myself. I've felt so incredibly happy since I've come out, but then I started wondering why and if I was serious enough about the work and my ability as a missionary. But I think I took it a little too far and got really discouraged. The other day was really hard and honestly I felt like a failure. It is hard for me to feel gods love when I feel like that, so I've been praying really hard this week. I've also been repenting every day this week to try and purify my heart more and that's helped me. I'm still figuring it out, but on Sunday during sacrament meeting I really felt gods love for me again. I missed that feeling and felt bad that I had forgotten it. In the end, I know that God loves me and I'm grateful that he's looking out for me and for everyone. I'm grateful for the atonement and that his hands are always open, pleading for us to come back.
We also met with a non active we found in old records which was really exciting. We click really well and I love her so much. I want her to come back to church because coming to church makes me happy and brightens my day through feeling the spirit.
I'm out of time again but I love you all! Have a great week this week!

My address is here if you want to send me anything!

Sapporo shi chuo-Ku
Kita 2 Jo nishi 24-1-25
Hokkaido Japan

Love,
Massey shimai

Zone Conference and Snow!

Hi everyone!
This week was a solid one. We had zone conference with our mission president who I love so much and left us with a lot of great advice, workshops, and his amazing testimony. It helped me strengthen my faith in the lords plan for Japan and in how much it has grown in not a lot of time. In 1949 there were no chapels, and in 1974 when kaicho served here no one thought there would be a temple in Hokkaido. And now there is one. God hasn't given up on his people anywhere in the world. You and I included.
I loved one quote from zone conference: "if you make an effort, blessings will always come. They are waiting around the corner to show you that you are worthy to receive it."
Just being out here is a blessing. I have already changed so much and I've gotten to testify of Christ and of this gospel I love that has blessed my life. This week we tried making more appointments so we can get more member presents and we got so many! We just worked a little harder and were blessed so much for it. Also we found 3 new young people to teach which is amazing. We're very happy. Tomorrow is transfer calls though and were a little nervous but hopefully we'll both stay in asahikawa.
Funny story: I left the house to an appointment with shoes from two different pairs, one heels and one flats, and both were left feet. Our investigator got a laugh out of it but boy it was embarrassing.
I'm out of time but I love you all! Till next week! Thanks for all the emails. You guys light up my week.
Love
Massey shimai

Asahiyama zoo and Miracle

Hi everyone!
I miss you guys! Thanks for your emails and prayers as always!

This week we tried really hard to make a baptismal date with one of our investigators because she wants to do it! She knows it's true and loves the gospel but is scared. It makes us sad, but we're hoping she can still feel that we love her. It was a really sad lesson, we're just trying to see where we can go from here so she can progress.

I went on splits in suehiro and it was so great! I really needed it.  We found a new investigator who was sooo prepared. Davis shimai and I both just sobbed afterwards because it was such a miracle. We really felt the spirit in that lesson. I'm grateful that we can feel that everyday. This week the things that bothered me before didn't bother me anymore. I was really happy this week and I think it's because I'm getting more into the work. It's true that when you forget yourself, you're happiest. I love you all! I'm excited to learn more how to show others love and completely give myself and increase my capacity to love as God loves.

We also got to go to the zoo today! It's apparently one of the top 3 in Japan so that's exciting. Here are some pictures:

SAPPORO TEMPLE IS BEAUTIFUL

Hi everyone!
You're all inspirations to me  こんしゅがんばてね.
Thanks always for your emails. They're great pick me ups and it's so nice to hear from you all!

This week was a little harder. I went on splits in kotoni and ebetsu which are both around Sapporo area. It was different and kind of stressful but I'm grateful for the experience and for the opportunity I had to learn.

Such a blessing to be able to see Sapporo Temple. I'll get to go in since it should open before next winter. Yay!

It's starting to get a little colder. Last night it dropped down to -6 C but it hasn't snowed too much yet. It'll be fun .

One scripture I loved this week: 2 nephi 26:23-25.
23 For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness.
24 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shallnot partake of his salvation.
25 Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.

I know that everything he did is for us to be happy. "Men are that they might have joy." And I'm so grateful for that. I'm so grateful to be here and share this gospel with those around me. The members love the temple so much and I love hearing them talk about it. Right now
they have to fly to get to the nearest one, which is in Tokyo. I'm so excited for them to have a temple pretty soon.

I love you guys! Have a great week this week! Don't forget that God loves you and is aware of you and is reaching out right now. I love love love you all!!

Love,
Massey shimai

Miracle Week!

Hi everyone!

First off, I love you all. Your emails give me so much strength and make me so happy!  Thank you!!

This week was a straight party. One investigator and her member friend taught us how to make some desserts and we were able to give her a Book of Mormon, which she finally is showing some interest in. We finished our area book records!! Yay! That was a huge blessing. We prepped for the Halloween party coming up and two investigators came to that! One is Mami chan who is the cutest. We get along so well and it was great to meet her and talk to her like forever. But reiko San　from our English class came too and brought her teenage daughters! She wants to start doing free family English program, which is means we teach her 30 min of English, and 30 min about the gospel. So that means she'll be a new investigator which makes us so happy. She's been　coming for awhile and for her to make this step is so cool and such a blessing. She's the funniest lady and her daughters are sweet and made us cookies for Halloween. At English class, eikaiwa, two new　people came. One of them was a lady we gave a flier to on the street and she actually came! We do that like everyday but we haven't seen much results from it so for her to come was such a blessing. Then we had the Halloween party on Saturday and we were afraid not many people would come but there were like 80 people and the church was packed.  I'd say only 25 were members so we got to talk to a lot of people about English class and spend time with the kids. So fun. Many people　were interested in eikaiwa so that was a HUGE blessing. This ward that I'm in has so much missionary fire in them, it's unbelievable. They care so much about this gospel and it's because they see how much it has blessed them that they want to share it with others. It's great to　be able to work alongside the members. And then we were going to visit one lady in the hospital but free shimai felt she should go visit an old investigators house even though she knew she'd still be in　Thailand, but we went and she was outside. Apparently she'd come out of the house just 5 minutes earlier and she didn't know why be she did. She's been through so much and it was good to be able to listen to her story and get to know her. I felt so much love talking with her yesterday. She doesn't think us meeting her was a coincidence and apparently it's happened many times before where it shouldn't have happened because she's never in Japan but every time she is for like a week or so, we end up at her house.  I love her testimony of the lord and his love.

I love the people here so much and it breaks my heart thinking that I'll have to leave them eventually. I know God has a plan for each of us and that he wants to be with us all the time, we just have to let him into our lives. This week was a hard lesson about not doubting the lord and not limiting what the lord can do. I do that a lot, maybe because it's easier, but I know that this is his work and he works to bring about his purpose, which is to bring his children back to him.  Because he misses us. I'm grateful to be a missionary and a member of this church and I know that when we turn our lives over to him that he works everything out because he knows us better than we know ourselves. I love you all! Have a great week this week! あいしてるよ！

Love
Massey shimai

PS sorry my English is so bad. It'll probably only get worse from here on out lol. Thanks for bearing with me