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.

Week 4

From Saijo, Japan

September 26, 2016

To everyone ( sorry forgot the week and as always running out of time):

We have a baptismal date with a woman from the Phillipians. This is her second baptismal date made, and it is very exciting being able to teach her the gospel. We also have many foreign investigators from as far a place as Egypt, and China. Since we are by Hiroshima University, there are a lot of foreigners.

We have seen so many miracles. And thank you for your prayers. I feel them, and I see them. In our district, my companion and I have been able to bring more people to English classes, and a person to church. These may seem small, but to us they are huge blessings. 

I've also NOT been hit by any cars :) so that's nice. The side walks here can be very narrow, or have huge gutters that you can't see while biking at night. There have been many times where I normally would have fallen off, but I haven't. 

When we as missionaries pray for certain gifts. We never get them "for us". But as tools to enable us to serve more people. I love the people of Japan, the people of Saijo. And my investigators so so so dearly. It's because of them, that I have changed. And it is because of you, and the Atonement of Christ that have enabled me to change. To have more faith and hope than I ever would have imagined. To grow in loving people for simple being the,, and not asking them to change. To be meek, to be more humble. To always want to be better. And to progress at the speed the Lord wants

It is because of you, and your prayers that have helped me become more "capable" to serve the people. More qualified. You have helped me in my goal of brining more people to Christ. So thank you thank you thank you so much.  I hope you know I am praying for you as well. 

And As I said earlier. Faith is impossible, and that's why. We as Saint do the impossible. Like believing in marriages that last for ever. 

Much love :)

Freed Shimai

Week 3

September 19, 2016
From Japan


Dear everyone! It is Grandparents day! (....I think 9-17-16)

This past week we were able to meet a group of girls (Potential Investigators) from Myanmar. I have no idea where that is, so please fill me in if you can. All I can say is that they are so kind and all beautiful. I've never been so jealous in my life. I am so blessed to have been able to tract/door find them.

I've fallen off my bike a lot, but thanks to my trusty helmet, and ninja-like-reflexes... (Occasionally) I am able to catch myself. Thanks for your prayers as always, they really help me all missionaries. No effort is ever wasted :)

Short day again, sorry! All I can say is that Faith is such a gift. As it talks about in D&C 29:34

34: Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto me are
spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was
temporal; neither any man, nor the children of men; neither Adam, your
father, whom I created.

Faith is hard. And it's.Not.Supposed to be easy.It's not easy to have faith, but when you do, you can accomplish so much. You can do the impossible, because Faith is impossible, unbelievable, unfathomable, unnatural. Faith is hard to believe in, but because faith is so hard, so "un-like" the "natural man". We can do the impossible. Faith is a power, and through Christ, can accomplish anything.

Much love, thank you for your examples, and prayers. Everything begins with faith, and "ours", as saints, isn't blind. We have leaders and the Holy Ghost to thank for that.

- Freed Shimai

Week 2

From Japan
September 12, 2016

Hi everyone! 
Sorry today will be really short. 

But we met a Chinese family. They are amazing! They have just moved to the land of the rising sun, and they are very receptive to the Holy Ghost. 

In a past conference, I remember hearing a talk...That we are called to places, not for the masses. But for certain individuals. And by gosh. I really feel I am here, and my companion is here in Saijo... So that family can be taught about the gospel.

Here are some pictures you can munch on as well

Okonomiyaki! For the first time! 

Eikaiwa classes!

Super fun!

The church is true. The power of prayer is real, but only if you believe it. And that God listens. The atonement is real, it's not just for being cleansed from sin, but enables one to be better. To be better than they could ever be alone. The savior has felt all our pains, sorrows, frustrations, and misery. He has carried and felt all our burdens. Similar to how He walked out of the Garden of Gethsemane triumphant. 

So can you. But only if you believe it's true.

Love as always.

Freed Shimai 

Japan Week 1

From Japan
September 5, 2016

Hi guys, sorry I have been really busy writing. But good news is that out Mission President just called, and congratulated Johnson Shimai and I about having the most new investigators! 8!

Haha, I also fell face first while riding my bike, and almost got hit by a car this past week. Haha, but I have been kept safe by your prayers, and the Lord.

We have also had a new investigator, that was very opposed to religion and God in the first place. And from that meeting with him, we were able to teach by the Spirit. And from that meeting my testimony... That through the Spirit, one can confound the wise and learned, with small and simple means. Reference to Alma 37 verses 6-7.

I love the Holy Ghost, because without it. Missionaries wouldn't be able to convert anyone. If there is one thing, from this mission that I have learned. It is that the Holy Ghost is a gift. And how special

and important baptism is. Not because baptism raises the number of members. But because baptism is one of many key stepping stones that bring people closer to Christ. To come closer to Christ, one

desperately needs the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

Maybe, from reading my past blogs, everything seems too happy. Unrealistically so, and you would be right. But based from experience, I believe the reason for this. Is because we as missionaries know things are really hard, but that the good outweighs the bad. That saying negative things won't accomplish anything. Yes they are true, but only for a moment. And that when one looks back, that it's NOT the pain and hardship they will remember from a mission. But what came from the pain, what they learned from it.  And about the good that happened, the miracles and blessings they saw and received. The church is true :)I love this gospel, and the Lord has always been there to help me. And I promise the Lord will always be there for you.

Thank you for your prayers everyone

Much love

Freed Shimai