This morning I received the most heartbreaking news....I am
leaving Tokushima! I will be going back to Osaka...the Osaka North Zone, where
I will be training a second transfer missionary named Mills Shimai. I actually
talked to her and her companion on the bus last week when Chapman Shimai and I
went to Kobe, and I believe that she is from Utah. She is very nice.
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| With Chapman Shimai. I am really going to miss this girl! |
My heart is broken into little pieces though to leave
Tokushima. I love these people SOOO much! And I love Chapman Shimai soooo
much!! When I saw the email this morning I just started crying and Chapman
Shimai started crying. But! We both know that this is the Lord's will for us
and that He has a bigger plan than I do...and right now the Lord needs me in
Ibaraki! The funny thing is that Mill's Shimai's trainer and I are switching
places...so Chapman Shimai's new companion is a sister named Hiatt Shimai. She
is AWESOME!! I love her a ton, we were in the MTC together and we sat next to
each other on the plane ride to Japan. I know that Hiatt Shimai and Chapman
Shimai will see tons of miracles together. They will be a dynamic duo
undoubtedly.
This week was super great!! We had lessons with our amazing
soccer playing, college student investigators and they are so cute. We had
Family Home Evening at a members home with them, and that all went really well.
They are both praying and they LOVE prayer! When investigators really, really
desire to know the truth and they pray from their hearts, they receive answers.
100% guaranteed. Both of these sweet girls are experiencing this. They both
shared powerful experience of prayer with the members, and the Elders who were
also at the Family Home Evening both shared funny experiences with our
investigators that they had had with prayer. Although both of the Elder's
stories involved getting lost in mountains (one in Japan, and one in Utah),
they both learned that God HEARS our prayers and that He will send help and
comfort.
On Thursday Chapman Shimai and I went to Kobe for Trainer
Trainee Training. It was super awesome! I loved it SO MUCH! I learned a lot
about how to be a better trainer, I am sad that I only had a few days to apply
what I learned with Chapman Shimai...but I am excited to go apply what I learned
in Ibaraki with Mills Shimai. The miracle of the day was that we did not think
that Chapman Shimai would have anyone to translate into French for her...but an
elder showed up who is a second transfer who spoke AMAZING French! The cool
story behind this is that Chapman Shimai actually knew him in the MTC, and
although he did take French in High School....he really could not speak French
at all. So, that being said, he came to Japan...and ended up with two
investigators from France. Over the course of 3 months he became fluent in
French and was able to translate the entire meeting for Chapman Shimai. It was
awesome.
Then on Saturday we had this super great American Pizza
Party! We have been inviting people to it for a while on the streets and we had
a pretty good turn out. The Elders made a ton of pizza for it, and they are
great cooks and it was the best pizza I have had yet in Japan. On another note,
the Elders looked hilarious in the aprons and matching cooking utensils that
they bought from Daiso. It went really well and we also taught everyone how to
sing American Folk Songs....including Yankee Doodle Dandee and You are My
Sunshine. Needless to say, it was a huge hit.
I guess in closing....some reflections on what I have
learned this transfer.I will never forget that day that I picked Chapman Shimai
up from the hombu, and the feeling of complete overwhelming-ness that engulfed
me as we left Kobe and headed back to Tokushima. When Chapman Shimai fell
asleep on the bus, I let myself cry like three tears. I had no idea what I was
doing teaching someone how to be a missionary in French. But I learned oh so
very much this transfer, it will be one of the ones that I treasure most on my
mission. Chapman Shimai and I have forged a deep friendship....that will last
despite that we may live far away from each other for the rest of our lives.
The Lord taught me that I really have no power to do...anything. He taught me
that I am not the trainer, He is...and that my trainee can only really learn
through the spirit. The same thing applies to my investigators...and really
anyone that I may encounter in my life. Plus, I have seen amazing growth in
Chapman Shimai. She can speak ENGLISH!! And her Japanese is coming along too!
It was so fun to go to Kobe and for her to see all of her missionary friends
from the MTC. They were all completely blown away that she could speak and
understand SOOOO much! It made me so happy for her. It was a joyful moment for
both of us. It has been a transfer of relying on the Lord, a lot of prayer, and
sooooo soooo much joy. But, I know that the Lord lives! He loves us! And He has
work for me to do in Ibaraki. So....back to the streets of Osaka I go!
Much love,
Grundvig Shima
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