September 17th

Sept 17, 2017
From Yamaguchi

Dear Everyone,
This past week I have traveled to Fukuoka for a meeting! Here is the picture! I was also able to see my old companion from the MTC! Perkins Shimai!

This photo was taken at the Fukuoka honbu!

From there we had Zone Conference in Hiroshima Hikari! And the Zone Leaders hi-jacked my IPad! These are them!

Here is a picture of the elders in my district too!

This is Elder Swapp and Elder Rodriguez.

B.B.

Elder Nakaya and Elder Namoa.

Things have been pretty low key since I have been sick lately but this week we are going to hit the ground running! 

Much love always! And we are all safe no worries! Thank you always for your prayers! I know the church is true! It is such an honor to be a member and a missionary here in Japan!

Love,

Freed Shimai

September 10th

Sept 10, 2017
From Yamaguchi

Dear everyone, I am in Iwakuni now in Yamaguchi!

Yesterday was really funny because all of church was in English! The spirit was awesome! One of the members spoke about how his father started a gas station that didn't open on Sundays and didn't sell alcohol or tobacco. He had a family of over 7 and they lived in a rural part of Idaho at the time. Eventually the station closed, and his father was down 250,000 dollars. His father didn't understand why (when he was keeping the commandments) that things ended up so badly. Nothing good came out of the situation.

But then the member spoke to us and told us that despite how the business failed and his Father thought everything was for nothing. That seeing his father's example, and sacrifice for the Lord never left his mind. And that seeing his dad's example helped him want to go on a mission, and grow a strong testimony of the Lord.

I loved the story, and I have seen my parents example in my life as well. Of their strength and testimony. I will always be grateful for their example.

My companion is Sister Wharton, and she is a little older than me. She is 26, and has a huge testimony of the Atonement. She works so hard, and she reminds me a lot of Sister Glathar and my Trainer Sister Johnson. I am overjoyed to be her companion and I can't wait to see the miracles for this transfer.

Also, please in any e-mails do not mention how much time I have left on my mission. I want to push until the very end. 

In my District we have Elder Nukaya, Namoa, and Sisters Oliveraz and Williams.

I might send pictures next week. Other than that thank you for all your love and prayers. Next week I might be able to send some pictures on the base as well. Much love always.

Me with Kouyama Akemi! She is a spectacular member. We visited her a lot while she was in the hospital for her foot! By now she is pretty much fully recovered! We love her so much. Her testimony of the Book of Mormon is growing so much!

The woman in the brown is a wonderful investigator. The last day while I was in Kagoshima we made a Baptizmal date with her. And the woman in the Blue is Sister Sano, she served a mission here in Japan and is a golden member. 

This is me with sister Mikawa! Mom I hope you like the picture. She was in need of the temple picture more than me, she is a widow and has such a wonderful heart. I always love seeing her smile!

Getting ready for the bus to Yamaguchi from Kagoshima. Sister Packer is on the left. She and elder Packer are the couple missionaries in Kagoshima. They are so loving and have helped the missionaries so much! Next is me, then Sister Wihongi! She is from Australia and just finished her mission! Then it is Sister Glathar and my old companion sister Askew!

Next is Wharton Shimai! More on her soon!

I am always honored to be a member and a missionary here in Japan.

Love 

Sister Freed

August 20th

August 20, 2017
From Kagoshima

Please tell the ward members that i am doing well. That I can feel their prayers, and I am so grateful for them. If they want, I suggest them to read The Virtue of Kindness April 2005, and If Though Endure it Well Oct 1984.

As far as investigators, do not worry about Fuji, it is ok. We have not been in contact with her for almost a month. Heavenly Father has been very merciful though, and we have what seems like a Golden investigator. She is from Nepal and 20. Originally we were going to just teach English, but when we brought up Jesus Christ,
she lit up and told us she wanted to learn more. We have much faith in her for the future.

Daniel, our youngest investigator, his mother gave him permission to be baptized! He just needs to come to church two more times. Other than that he just has a little bit more of Lesson 4 and all of 5. Other than that he is ready to be baptized.


Sorry I wish I could tell the ward more but I am out of time!


Love you all. Thanks for everything!


Your daughter
Little sister
Freed Shimai

Random

Random Email for my Mom

The most beautiful thing besides the people. As in landscape wise, would have to be the sunsets here in Japan. They really are beautiful. The only way I could help you with describing the beauty of the land. Would to describe it the same way you would as if you were panting a picture. When describing the sunset at first it looks simple, but
after you see a new hue of red or orange, it changes. It is always new, and takes a lot of time to process. Similar to how difficult it is to find the right color or blend, it is also difficult to find the right word to describe the sunsets here in Japan

The moons here are also very pretty, the most memorable ones were when I was in Hikari Hiroshima. When we would be biking home at night. During Christmas they had a lot of lights at night. And by default since the city is so big, there were lots of city light as well. And they would reflect off the various rivers we would bike over. It reminded me of the stars.

But really, I have realized that to me. It doesn't matter what I am looking at. But who I am looking at it with. I think Hikari was especially beautiful because of the people I was with at the time. Same thing here in Kagoshima.

The people here are refined and dignified. It is something you have to experience to appreciate. People here are responsible and take care of themselves and others. It is nothing like America, haha. Even though the politics are different. The people are the best.

I am so blessed to be here. Really. My companion and district are awesome. I am learning how to interact with so many different kinds of people. And really rely on the Savior. Things are still difficult and the mission is hard, but it is definitely more bearable. And I am learning that through the Savior and Faith, you can always turn the incoming Waves/trials into something to Surf. To have fun, instead of sink.

August 6th

August 6, 2017
From Kagoshima

There was a typhoon this past Sunday, but we are all safe and sound. It wasn`t nearly as big as people thought it would be. So we had a small little sacrament meeting of our own. We studied Jacob 5, and read about the Everlasting Covenant of marriage. Then we bore testimony to each other. Unfortunately we were unable to partake of the sacrament, but we will this coming week. And we are very excited for it.

This week we are going to Kumamoto again for Zone Conference and it will be loads of fun seeing old faces from Hiroshima. Oh and as you know there is a new missionary here in Kagoshima! His name is Elder Silva, he is from Brazil!

As a spiritual though, for missionaries.. We always try and work on Christ like attributes. And so for this transfer I am putting Ether 12:27 to the test! I know that because of the Savior my weaknesses can become strengths, and I can change to be a better person.

The district and Elder Yeakley from the MTC!

Welcome Elder Silva!

Iso Beach on P day! 

Heart attacking a member! Mikawa Shimai!

July 30th

July 30, 2017
From Kagoshima

Yuri is on the left and Rumi on the right. They helped us get into our Yukatas!

 

Glathar Shimai, me, elder chestnut, elder Kimura, elder Kawabata, Sasaki fufu/couple, elder wholston( transferred to Iwakuni), elder and sister packer. 

Is picture is the most recent. It gets pretty hot here.

Well as you know I am with sister Glathar again! And I am so happy! Also turns out that one of my companions who I broke, is now my STL. Haha, and the sister who I broke train is a trainer now. I am so happy for the, and I can't wait to see the many miracles Glathar Shimai will see! To all the ward members out there! I just found out about LDS tools! So hopefully I will be able to write letters now! Woohoo! 

This month we are studying charity. And in PMG one thing that sticks out to me is how like faith, in order to gain more charity, we have to act on it. I also love how like Heavenly Father, charity is eternal, and never changing. Thank you for all your prayers. I feel them.

We have a new investigator named May. She is 20, and Shinto. She told us that she thinks Christianity is great, but that since she is Shinto. She can not convert. She said that since her grandfather passed away, in which she believes he is a god. That she can not join another religion. But in response to that, we promised her that she could have an even stronger relationship with her grandfather through the church. The spirit was very strong during the lesson, and we have much hope for her.

Thank you always for the prayers. I feel them, and I am always so grateful for them. I have successfully stayed on my bike too! No injuries thus far.

Much love always

Freed shimai

July 24th

July 24, 2017
From Kagoshima

Still staying in Kagoshima with sister GLATHAR! I am so happy, and I can not wait for his next transfer! Mom Fuji the one you and dad have been praying for, has a baptismal date for the 8th month and the 20th day! Thank you for your prayers!

I just want to thank everyone so so so much! Especially with the language! I finally feel like I am understanding Japanese more, I am getting a lot more comfortable with Speaking Japanese, and sometimes even think in Japanese! It is such a miracle, and a huge answer! Please see that!

I love you all so much, and if you have time, I highly recommend you read Elder Neal A Maxwell's talk from 1987 called "Overcome...Even As I Also Have Overcome."

I know this church is true. Please keep praying for us! And that we can make a baptismal date with Yoshiko san for this transfer. She has been investigating for almost 2 years! We are hoping to make it before this transfer!

Love you guys lots!
Sister Freed