Week 7 in the MTC

Ok, in three weeks at this time I'll be on a plane halfway around the world!!! Yeah. I'm excited :) I'm still a little nervous about my Japanese but I have good news. This week in our TRC on Thursday we had honto Nihonjin (real Japanese people!) straight from Japan. In fact, they seemed a little jet-lagged and the one boy (his name was Kouki, how funny is that?) was sound asleep half of our lesson, :) but they were cute little teenagers and the other little girl was really shy and blushed bright red every time we asked her anything and talked so softly we could barely hear. It made me realize how much we're going to have REAL people to teach in Japan ;) But it was fun, and our lesson went pretty smoothly. And, we could talk to them! It was awesome, and I guess our eight weeks here haven't gone to waste. lol.

The picture is some p-day fun. We used a extendable pencil lead right in front of the camera, lined up with your choice of water bottle or spray can, turn on the flash, and you can make a pretty good Jedi impression.

Ohh, and then on sunday, when the elders went to Priesthood session the sisters went to a "Relief Society" thing, except they ended up showing us the Young Womens Program. I thought that was a little funny, but there were still really good messages. AND in the little movie clips of people from all around the world telling about the temple, we kinda understood the Japanese girl! She said something about feeling clean (kiyoi) and coming closer to Heavenly Father. Sugoi huh?

Well anyway, I should back up. Tuesday night was our devotional and he talked about aiming to the temple for our investigators, not just baptism (which is the 'gather them into the garners' part of the field is white scriptures--which was totally talked about in conferrence too!). But what was really really awesome was our devotional review--which I might have said before but I think would be an awesome thing to do for firesides/conference, etc., with the family. I know we usually kinda do it for FHE the week after conference but maybe more often so it's more expected. I dunno but it's definitely become a pattern in our district and we REALLY look forward to every Tuesday night review. This week some of the chouro shared some really personal experiences and really opened up to why they are who they are. It really touched everyone and just when I thought we couldn't get any closer to each other we did. Every week just gets better and better!

Then after our TRC, Thursday night, is our devotional review and Merrill Sensei talked about the difference between goals and plans. He said how when Gordon B. Hinckley challenged us all to read the BoM before the end of the year, that was a plan, not a goal. His real goal was to help us all come closer to Christ. I thought the statement was a little bit obvious, but the more I thought about it, the more it stuck me as kinda revolutionary. I think it might be like prayers, that heavenly Father knows exactly what we need, but he still wants us to ask him for it. We usually know what we want to accomplish by doing certain activities (e.g., missionary work) but if we don't state our goals to ourselves, or to the Lord, then we're kind of missing the point and won't truly be able to fulfil them. I'm definitely going to be thinking more about this as I plan and study the scriptures.

And then of course, there was General Conferrence! Wasn't that sooooooo awesome?! I loved it, the two hours FLEW by each time and I couldn't write down enough of what they were saying. That story President Monson shared was so humbling and so moving. I loved the talk on provident living, and how loving words are "we can't afford it" and how any money we spend on things we don't need is wasting what could be used to benefit someone else. It's always good to be reminded of that! There also seemed to me a lot of "building on bedrock" of Christ and how we get testimonies now exactly the same way they did long ago, and how important the temple is. And wasn't Elder Perry's talk so awesome? :) We've been talking about that here a lot at the MTC too, how to get members involved. And I've been thinking a lot, because I know I've been on the receiving side of that, with missionaries asking me if I knew anyone to teach and not really knowing how to respond. But I had kind of a lightbulb moment I want to share. I was reading a story in PMG pg 171 and realized I was then going about it all wrong. Whenever they'd ask that I'd think of someone I wanted to share with, someone I thought I could prepare, but the truth is, it's not about US, or what WE can do, but the only reason we have success as missionaries is through the guidance of the Spirit of the Lord. And that's how as members, we need to seek to share his gospel.

EVERYONE needs this gospel and can be blessed by it, it's just a matter of helping them realize that they do. And sometimes you might not know how to say something or invite others, but ask the missionaries for help, let them role play with you--it's a powerful tool, and you'll get the idea as soon as you put effort into it!

We also had an awesome picnic today and painted eggs and tried natto. It's gross! But I might come to like it.. :) Ok well I love you all so much and pray for me and study the scriptures!
They're truly the word of God and can bless us so much. Seek to be guided by the spirit, God loves us and want to best for our lives. and most importantly always love one another!

Love,

LeFevre Shimai
p.s. I leave April 28th if I hadn't made that clear! :D