December

From Saijo
December 4, 2016


To everyone/Blog,

Hello everyone I hope your holiday was great! I am so grateful for you and for the people here in Japan. I've felt and seen so many blessings since I have come here on my mission.

One huge blessing was the Minamimoto ふふ!

They were incredible missionaries, and a huge example to me of selfless service and endurance. They did so much for our little branch here in the Hiroshima Zone. They made numberless meals for us, members, investigators, and Eikaiwa students. They drove us to far away appointments, and helped strengthen the branch with their testimonies and examples. Saijo and the missionaries will really miss them! 

With the Fufu's (couple) in mind. I was reading a talk by L Tom Perry from the April 1992 General Conference titled "But the Labourers Are Few". It is a great talk, and shows how much help one missionary couple can do for building the Lord's Kingdom.

I also wanted to talk about one of the greatest experiences I have had thus far on my mission.

There is a friend/ investigator called "T" (For personal privacy reasons). And we were able to with with her to the near by Rest Home. 

We were able to see her mother, who is 95 and sing "we wish you a merry Christmas" to her. Not only that. But we were able to go around to all the individuals and sing to them. In one case, a woman was so happy that she began to cry. From simply being there, we was able to bring a huge amount of joy and energy to the people there.

The atmosphere was changed, and I was overflowing with love for all the people there! I love old people so much! They are huge examples to me of endurance, and I want to go back and sing as soon as possible!

One of the reason why this was such a great miracle, is because security in Japan is really tight. So we weren't even supposed to sing to the other senior citizens at all. We also got invited back to sing any time we wanted! Normally you have to have an appointment, but they said "those volunteers (missionaries) are able to drop by whenever". 

I can't wait to go back! I hope I get a chance soon! The spirit was so strong, and I want to visit all the time and simply be there with them. When I get back to the states, I really want to go! 

This is "T's" mother! She is so sweet!

I love old people! Haha! I could really feel Heavenly Father's love for them as well. If you think I am crazy reading this, go to your local Rest home, or Hospice. And try being someone else's joy, their friend, and to simply love someone without asking for anything in return. To just be with them. :)

-Your worth....Is when you know your Potential.
If you believe you have infinite potential, you have infinite worth.

As always, I'm honored to be a member and a saint here in Japan

Much love and gratitude for your prayers,


Freed Shimai

Thanksgiving

November 24, 2016

From Saijo

To everyone:

Hello everyone, I am still in the same area! I love the people so much, as well as the new missionaries coming into the Hiroshima Zone. My new companion is Gerard Shimai, and she is such a hard worker. She is a strong leader, and this transfer is going to go by so fast.

We also had a baptism for a woman from the Philippines. There were so many other missionaries that have been with her, and I am so blessed that I was allowed to see her baptism. She has also grown in so much faith. I am grateful for her, and her family's support. Her husband, is also a convert, of only a few months.And was able to baptize her. It was such a blessing to see.

I am also honored to teach her "AB-After Baptism" lessons. Where we get to talk about the temple. And for me, that is such a tender mercy.

Minamimoto couple ( angles from Heaven. They cook us tons of food at least once every other week. And they practicable hold the ward together. Literally. Saijo, gosh I don't know what we will do without them.) Kakegawa, and Rawlinson.

Happy thanksgiving everyone! I am so grateful for the Minamimoto Couple! More on them this coming week! Have a great holiday! 

I love the temple, and the peace found there!

I'm honored to be a member and a missionary in Japan.

Much love and prayers,

Freed Shimai

Transfers

November 16, 2016

From Saijo

Hello everyone! 

Thank you for your prayers as always. Today is transfers and my trainer a Johnson Shimai has been called Nagasaki! More than anything she has taught me how to have charity, the Atonement, and how communication is key in any relationship. I also wanted to give a shout out to Jocelyn, her sister :) I am overwhelmingly grateful to her as well, because without her. I would never have had the chance to have met someone as loving as Johnson
Shimai. 

As far as a spiritual thought goes.

In Alma 4:10 

It says-

10 And thus ended the eighth year of the reign of the judges; and the wickedness of the church was a great stumbling-block to those who did not belong to the church; and thus the church began to fail in its progress.

I really like how it doesn't just say that our "wickedness/pride" is just a stumbling block for "us". But to "those who did not belong to the church". 

Our goals are to not only find people, and redeem the dead. But to strengthen the members. In essence.... ( since I only have one arm to type this, and no time left to make this eloquent.)When we are not following the commandments. It makes it harder for investigators, and good people to find the true church. It's because of us, and our less than great examples, that people see. And it's our less than stellar examples that may that may hold them back from wanting to be in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And thus keep the church from growing.... progressing. 

And in no wise are we perfect, but we can always say loving words. Help others, stop gossip, and not be judgmental... and to accept everyone. Because that is what Christ would do. 

Much love to you all.

As always,

I am honored to be a saint and a missionary in Japan

Freed Shimai

Everyone have a splendid Turkey Day!!! 

Sierra broke her wrist

11/07/2016
From Saijo

Hello everyone, I fractured my radio us last week so there was no blog to post. I should be healed in about 3-4 weeks. It is quite hard to type with one hand, so things will be pretty short. 

But as always, thank you so much for your prayers as always!

Here are some pictures of our multi-zone P day at Miyajima :)

Johnson , Ford, Freed, Sato

( Saijo Sisters)

Sato and Ford Shimai!  ( There both models )

Much love to you all, and I am honored to be a saint and a member here in Japan

Freed Š—ÃÃ

This world is a beautiful place!!!!

Sent from my iPad

Week 3 (I think she means week three of October) Transfer 2

October 24th
From Saijo

So there was a very small earthquake near Saijo. Very small I could barely feel it, but it was cool to hear some of the stories from other people:) We also have a new district leader in Saijo. The old district leader we had got in a basketball accident. So now he is in America getting emergencies surgery.

As something fun. One of our investigators gave us a wonderful home cooked meal of Pig ears and stomach! And by gosh, it was absolutely-positively-delicious! It was so good, that I ended up having to go to the bathroom at 1 in the morning to go to the bathroom and taste it again! But this time the other way! Haha, but in all seriousness it was very much worth it. :) The meal was less than ideal, that the company was worth it all.

As a spiritual thought :)
I was reading a talk called "Blessings of Being Unified" from April 1987. I really enjoyed this talk and it really got me thinking about Charity. Charity is the pure love of Christ, and charity is different from anything else.... Because it never fails. It always continues, and carries on. It always progresses.

And Christ loves everyone. And if we are to be one with Christ, and love the way He did. We need to be unified and love as He loves. Because it is when we are not. When we select who we care for, or when we select who we will include or exclude, that we loose the opportunity to exercise the gift of Charity.

Another thing that got me thinking was the idea of "Not having Charity". That at Judgment, if we were to complain to Christ, and to gossip about someone to Him. Or simply hold resentment and anger at someone in the presence of the Lord. How petty we would probably feel. That while looking at Christ in the face. A person who had the MOST UNFAIR life in all of human existence......

We were talking about how "X" didn't do this, or how "X" isn't very nice..... How ridiculous we would feel. How  ashamed we would be. To the point where to hold on to such feelings, we be against nature in a sense....

(And I have a scripture verse to go along with this... But I can't find it right now! Haha, if I remember for next blog (which I probably won't) I'll include it :)

Thank you for all your patience and prayers. I feel them! And much love

Here are some pics!

Left to right: Sister Johnson, Sister Sato and Sister Ford

Old district leader Johnson

 Saijo on Sunday

 Whoops sorry this one is a bit dark. This is Hiroshima university

Sister Johnson and Sister Zahang ( branch missionary! Who is the bomb!) just after a lesson!

I am honored to be a saint, and a missionary here in Saijo.

Much love

Freed Shimai

Transfer 2

October 16, 2016
From Japan

We have a new bean-chan. Her name is Ford Shimai. She is half Japanese and is a great missionary. She is  already fluent in Japanese and knows the gospel very well.

With the new year, and start of school. Also means some new members. It was quite the miracle. A sister named Zhang Shimai is a student at Hiroshima university.She is Chinese, and got baptized in Scotland. She ended up getting baptized after 1 week of meeting with the missionaries, and her testimony is very strong. She has been a member now for 3 months, and has been a huge blessing to us missionaries.

Just last Saturday we went to the Fukuoka temple with her ( the new sister Ford, and I). The temple was packed that day, and it was exciting to see so many people and youth waiting to be baptized. Even thou sister Ford and I were just watching, we were able to enjoy the spirit, and mingle with the saints here in Japan.

Ford Shimai is on the left, Andrus Shimai, and Uenami Shimai from Hikari. We had to go from Saijo to Hikari the night before by train. Then wake up at 2 in the morning to take a bus to Fukuoka from Hikari.

This is Zhang Shimai! We are at the Fukuoka temple!

I love the temple!

Much Love 

Freed Shimai

Week 6

From Saijo
October 3, 2016

To everyone:
Real fast! Transfers are this week. So people are being sent off to different places in the Fukuoka mission. Lai Shimai from Taiwan is going to Ube, and Sato Shimai is going to be training a new missionary here in Saijo.

Saijo is good, and since coming here. I have/had over 50 investigators at one time or another. We have also seen a lot of miracles. Like a ton. I might be able to tell you one next time. Just bug my sister to remind me. :)

As far as Women's Conference goes. Uchtdorf's talk was wonderful. Faith does a lot, but we can not impose on another person's agency, or go against the Lord's Will. I really loved learning about that. Instead of what we think is best, it is better to align ones self with the he Lord's will. And seek for help on "Acting" on His Will. No matter what, you do, you can always rely on the Lord being right.

As a quick spiritual thought. I just wanted to bare testimony that if a person really wants to be Christlike. As described in PMG.

The best suggesting/invitation I give. is to serve people. And really mean it. If you are honest, have humility and see where you are lacking. By focusing on others, and serving them. You will grow in all attributes of Christ. After all, that is all Christ did. He served.

And by gosh. Just think if we had a God, a Heavenly Father who was selfish, and very "natural-man" like? Well it would be pretty darn horrid. A selfish, all powerful being. That didn't care about anything but Himself. Gaaaah, pretty scary.

With power comes great responsibility, and if we want to be like our Father in Heaven. We have to learn to be responsible. And we prove how responsible we are, based on what we do here on this Earth. Such power and knowledge is undeserving to those will abuse that kind of power.

Heavenly Father never gives us commands,based on this world. But for higher commandments, higher laws.

Just something to much on. And I am looking forward to watching conference. I am so jealous that you have already heard from the Apostles and the Prophet!

Much love
Freed Shimai

Thank you for your prayers as always. You are in mine.