Week 5 in the MTC

During gym time, we've started our own volleyball side (we being me and my do-ryo-tachi (companions)). There is one court that is for very 'serious' players, meaning those that get frustrated if you mess up, and another one that wasn't really being used. So we got a group together and we just had fun with it and let people have redos and play off the walls, etc. The next day we had five more people join us, and then more, and now our 'waiting line' is just as long as the other court's. Hah. That just shows people want to have fun, too. Anyway, the weather's finally been warming up and Sawada Shimai and I went on 'splits' during the last couple gyms to run around the MTC campus outside. I'm hoping they'll open up the soccer fields sometime soon because our whole district are big soccer people.

I have some exciting stories to tell. First there was last week's choir piece which was Consider the Lillies which I haven't sung or played in a long time, and it was gorgeous. We were actually trying to have a group from our district sing it at a devotional (Bee and Fullmer Chouro with me and my comps sing it and Lofthouse Chouro accompany us on the cello, which he plays very well). But now we might not since the choir just sang it. So instead we're practicing an accapella piece Bee Chouro found that's actually supposed to be for guys but if we girls sing it an octive higher it kinda works. They do choir every week; you have one practice on Sunday evening and then on Monday evening, then we perform it at the Tuesday devotional. It's been fun.

Also fun was this last Sunday's fireside, which was with Brother and Sister Beeson who are the music coordinators for the MTC. Sister Beeson kept randomly breaking out into singing during her talk, which was about using hymns to teach and convert. She totally won over the whole audience with her uber enthusiasm. And Brother Beeson had us do some clapping, snapping thing to imitate a missionary's day. It was entertaining. They were great to listen to, and Sister Beeson really recommended that we learn the scriptures associated with our favorite hymns, because then you have an instant gospel message ready wherever you go! It's also a great idea for Family Home Evening!

Third super fun thing we've been doing is that our district decided to start "secret santas" to prompt more service and thus love among us (not like we're not close enough, but just to help us focus on SERVICE) and so we dubbed ourselves the 'red ninjas' instead of santas, since it's not exactly Christmas. Anyway, it's been fun to do that and to get nice little notes or candy surprises from each other.

THEN, as if that wasn't enough, :) this last week was our very last week teaching in English! Each week we practice and build up to our TRC visit where we teach a vollunteer who's acting the investigator's part. Next week we start in Japanese! Holy cow, we tried to teach the first four principles of lesson one to a teacher in the TE (teaching eval--practice for the TRC) and we did...ok... but we definitly can't say all that we want to yet. This last Thursday (in English) was I think the best lesson we've had yet. We focussed our practices on trying to teach to the investigator's need and I think we really hit it head on. Our lesson was all around his questions and we were able to teach it very simply. One of the TE teachers suggested we imagine our lesson is a needle and their needs are a thread. If we can know and understand their needs, we can take those things and weave them throughout our lesson, sewing their lives and the gospel together. If we don't have that thread, though, we're simply poking through the fabrics in one side and out the other. I really like that analogy. So anyhow, it was an awesome lesson, but I'm a little sad to basically have to go back to square one via the Japanese. But at least we know what to work towards again, what we really can accomplish if we have the understanding that comes from the Spirit.

I also want to share a lightbulb moment I had. Our teacher Merrill Sensei had us watch a 5 min. short film that I think was the "Finding Happiness" video but made specifically for Japanese people by shooting shots IN Japan OF Japanese people. So, for me, it was a window to the place I'll be going in six more weeks. Well it was SOooooo cool as I watched it and saw the Japanese landscapes, Japanese houses, and Japanese families, and I was just totally overwhelmed by the flow of love for these people and their righteous desires. It showed one family in particular (which sensei said was the stake president and his family--he'd been to a lot of the places/met the people in the film) and they were just sitting around their little table on the floor and playing games, then reading the scriptures. And I just couldn't help but feel so so so excited to be going there and I KNOW how much the Lord loves them because I felt a tiny fraction of that that night as we sat there watching this and even that tiny bit blew me away. So please include the people in Japan in your prayers too, that their hearts can be prepared for the missionaries to find them. They are such good people, but only don't know where to turn for the truth!

I love this gospel so much. I know that's such a cliche' missionary thing to say but you can't help but feel that here as the Spirit is so strong at the MTC and you see miracles happen in your life and others as you study the scriptures, Preach My Gospel, and your language to try and be able to teach the people of the place the Lord has called you.

LeFevre Shimai (Katie)

One month in the MTC!

The weather has been pretty good here. We had gorgeous weather last weekend when my district did our sack lunch 'picnic' which was so much fun. Plus then afterwards we went to the temple and took pictures with our whole district there, and then took more pictures in front of the giant world map. When the elders lined up to take the pictures of us three sisters it looked like the lineup for a shooting with all eight of them along the wall pointing cameras. hehe. We have snow now again, as of last night but it's sunny so it'll probably melt fast.

It's true that Satan will work on you, he wants so badly to stop future missionaries any way he can. But the good news is that Christ has given us strength to do whatever it is he asks us to do, like Nephi says we'll be able to accomplish the thing that's commanded of us. I know I've felt that here as we're learning Japanese. I don't expect to be fluent, but I do hope to be able to mostly understand things when I get over there. And I'm understanding more than I ever thought I would already. So the Lord does provide a way. And all he asks that we do is to try our best, to leave our sins, and to take up his cross (which his burden is actually light.) since he's already paid the price for us the moment we do he can give us a clean slate and a perfect love. And of course, charity, which is the pure love of Christ, never faileth. And perfect love casts out all fear. So trust in Christ and be believing, and you don't have to be afraid of anything. Not saying it will be easy. It's sure still hard for me even right now to try and work so hard every day to be a better teacher and understand the scriptures. But he does give me his spirit, and I know I can't do this on my own. But we CAN do it with the Lord.

Anyway, enough preaching, but thought that has been something that has really stuck out to me this week as I've struggled to learn to teach to investigator's needs and be in unity with my companions. I've been thinking a lot about why I am really doing this, and how much we really have been saved for these days to preach His word.

I think being in a companionshiop like this has really made me reflect on our family too. There was one day where my companions and I were kinda having a rough time figuring out how we were trying to teach this lesson and even ended up arguing a bit. Then one of our teachers has us as a class do an activity that we talked about how we could be more unified and serve each other and Christ, and only after that did I really feel the spirit again and realized our contending had driven it away. I hope as a family you can realize how important it is to be unified in serving God. He has PROMISED that when two or more are gathered together in his name, there He will be also, which means it'll be a holy place and a place of peace. And then, when our friends and other families come over they can feel the kind of place it is and wonder what spirit they feel.

I just wanna say something about the wonderful devotionals we had last Tuesday and Sunday. The first was with Elder Kukuchi who is from Japan and he was so funny! But it was a great message. He talked about the atonement, about teaching with the Spirit, and shared his conversion story. His father had been killed in his fishing boat by US submarines during WWII and he hated Americans. When two of them showed up on his porch he didn't want to listen but they talked about God's plan and how much he loves us and he felt the reality of it. He then shared how much he loves Americans now because they had brought him the gospel. It was really touching. Then we sang "Love one Another" on his request and I just about bawled I've never felt the spirit so much from that song.

And then Sister Elaine S. Dalton from the YW presidency spoke on Sunday at Relief Society about the new value Virtue. It was really cool, and my companions and I are supposed to teach the class a short lesson on virtue for our Wednesday class.

Last note about food. I just wanted to let William know he should jump up and down for joy because every day they have out bread, peanut butter, and jelly, for picky eaters such as him. Who knows what mission food he'll have to deal with but at least for the MTC it's PBJs all the way!

Praise be to God for all His strength and mercy!!

LeFevre Shimai (Katie)

Week 3 in the MTC

Konichiwa! Every day so far we've been working really hard and there's hardly any down time. The MTC is pretty intense. We get up at 6:30 am, are in class at 7:00, break for breakfast, then do service or go to the gym. Then it's three hours of a meeting or study session. Lunch is at 12:30 pm, then back to class at 1:15. Then more class, orientations, personal study time, dinner from 5:30 to 6:15, then back to class until 9:00 pm. All our classes are in the same room--we're getting to know it very well! At 9:00 we return to our residence hall where we plan the next day's goals, get ready for bed, and suddenly it's 10:30 and lights out. Phew! Crazy days but so good.

I'm already realizing again the value of setting goals for what we want to work on. And the Spirit is strong here because we're always talking and testifying about the gospel. Japanese is coming well. We say prayers only in Japanese. This gospel is amazing when you take the time to study it and the Spirit brings so much peace and joy.

My first doryo (companion) was awesome. She lived in Tokyo most of her life but went to private English schools. But she was transferred to the Senpai (senior) group and will be leaving right away for Japan, so now I have two new companions, as I mentioned, Sister Acerson and Sister Wells. It's interesting how different we each are but how that works out. We each bring our strengths to the table when teaching. We get to practice teaching almost every day. Most of the time it's just in our classroom to the other companionships but other times it's to other classrooms and once a week we do this whole teaching scenario with someone from the 'outside world.' I'm really understanding all the grammar we're learning, it's just learning new vocabulary.

Any gym! We have gym now, every day except Sunday and prep-day. I was surprised how much I like it. We generally have it after breakfast at 8:30 or before dinner at 4:00 which are both fine with me. The food's not amazing but there are so many choices I want to eat some of all of it. ;-)

It's amazing to see the Lord bless us with strength and learning. My district is advancing in our Japanese more quickly than I would have expected--it's SUBARASHII (wonderful, splendid). We can now share experiences in Japanes and ask investigators to commit to pray, read, etc., at the end of the lesson. I understood most of sacrament meeting. We appreciate your prayers for us, but I know through our faith and obedience the Lord can bless us. Hey, I'll say that in Japanese: Watashitachi no shinko to jyujyun ni yotte, kamisama wa watashitachi o shukufuku suru koto ga dekiru da to shiteimasu!

I've been blessed with a great district. Next to your companions, that's who you spend 80% of your time with. This last week, our district has become really more unified. We eat together in the cafeteria and we sit together in meetings. It's fun to see that you can make good friends with people even you 'have' to be with them.

LeFevre Shimai (Katie)