Thanksgiving Chicken and Oimo

Minnasan Konnichiwa!

It's been another week already? Actually it feels like I've been with Sakuma shimai much longer, she is so much fun and I think we are already great friends. The language is seeming to not be a barrier anymore, although I still hardly understood any of the talks at church this week... but that may just have been an overwhelming effect. We cover two wards as shimai so, we go to six hours of church plus a dendo-meeting DCS... eigo de nan to iu... Missionary Coordination meeting kana? Anyway, its basically eight straight hours of church! ! Yay.. I was pretty drained at the end of it. But the members seem really nice over here. The morning ward has way too many kids and the afternoon ward has lots of YSA. The afternoon ward also has a lot of dendo fire, and their Christmas party is the 12th, so this Saturday everyone is meeting to post fliers as an activity. :)

So Thanksgiving here was pretty uneventful. We dendod the morning and I forgot to say Happy Thanksgiving at the start of every convo but... We had English class that night and so I taught the advanced class and we talked about what Thanksgiving is and the American-Style dinner and traditions like Turkey-Bowl that follow around it. For dinner we stopped by and got a pumpkin, which I boiled and mixed with sweet potato for a yam-like flavor.

Sorry, our time is short this week so that's all I have time to write but I'll write you next week too!

PS. There are lots of hills here.

THANKS
LOVE YOU ALL
GENKI DE!

LeFevre Shimai

Konnichiwa minnasan!

Well, sadly, I'm going to have to make this as fast as I can type, cuz it's costing me a buck and a half every fifteen minutes.

So, first of all, our baptism was just great. Shipp shimai and I laughed a lot looking back on it that night because, well you build up these baptisms to just be perfect little moments, and sometimes everything does go exactly like you want, but this was one time where it certainly didn't... lol. But it was fine. Little eight-year-old Yuki-kun didn't have a white button shirt, so he wore a little white T-shirt, and he's so skinny it looked pretty goofy. Then both the kids were way nervous and excited. They sat fighting on the stand. We had two new people at church with us so, we were trying to be with them and be with the kids at the same time and feeling like spinning in circles a little. Then Baby shimai was supposed to give the opening talk but came in just before it all started and when they announced her talk she leaned up to the Bishop and said she wanted to give it afterwards, so they spontaneously changed the program and us missionaries did our musical number that we'd only practiced on Wednesday. It was ok I think.. then we all moved into the Primary room, and us missionaries went with the kids to the back, so we didn't even get to see it, but Yumi went first and she rushed and was baptised, runs out and is freezing cold because their mom only brought one small towel. Then Yuki comes rushing back in and both are shiverring and saying 'samui!! samui!' 'it's cold!' and then Bishop pokes his head back in and says oops, but he messed up on the wording... ! So one by one they went back in, a little reluctantly.. :) Well, in the end Agnes, their mom, cam in with another towel and she got them all dried off and changed afterwards. Baby shimai --the Fillipino ring leader--gave her talk (with Onishi shimai's translating help into Japanese), the kids bore their testimonies, which were both very simple that we'd helped them write out, but the Spirit was really strong and everyone was touched by their simplicity :) And then Josen kyodai gave his talk on the Spirit to end it. All in all it was great :)

Ok so now, the big news, I am transfered!! Again! :) They happen deshou.
Ok so I am in..
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you have to scroll..
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Kanagawa! Actually we have two wards to cover as shimai, so it's Kanagawa and Kohoku. It's a little more countryside, so more houses than apartments, but still pretty cityish. And lots of hills! yikes! But it just really feels like Christmas in my apartment, I don't know why, just a good happy feeling there. And my new comp in Sakuma shimai. She's Japanese and doesn't really speak English, but wants to learn more and so far seems way fun and nice. I have the feeling it's going to be a great transfer :)

Love you all so much
Thanks Hannah for writing too :)
Will, good luck on the test!

Aishiteimasu!

LeFevre Shimai

Temple Week!

Konnichiwa!!

So, this last P-day was really fun, going with the Fujiwara mom and Shiho-san to Kumamoto, but it made me realize how much I miss the countryside! Being in Tokyo is very convenient and fun, but it sure gets old compared to mountains and trees and eagles. :) The buildings were beautiful, we got to see about five or six different temple complexes, each with many buildings for the monks to study in and pray in and sleep in, etc. I think most of them are for the Buddhists, but there may have been a Japanese Shinto shrine in there too I think. It was all very interesting, but made me so grateful as I thought how our temple work is all volunteer and just so simple! :)

I'm glad to hear they have a date for Mellie's surgery! I hope it all goes well!! You can bet I'll be praying hard over here.

And Mom, no you didn't tell me about massage school! That sounds like fun! And it's only from January to August? Nice. That'll be really great for you! I keep seeing all the flower shops here and end up thinking you should start a flower shop, but those are harder in America huh.. go big or go home... so I think massage is something you can kinda carry with you and do anywhere anytime, and it's not like it's a limited-time job! And Austin gets to take art and archery? lol, sounds like it'll be way fun! I'm glad he'll have something to be doing.

Well, today as we went to the temple, I realized I've already hit and passed my official halfway mark! Sheesh. It's way fast and way slow at the same time... I still feel like there's so far to go but I guess if it really is like a cross country race there is kinda that part in the middle and then you catch your second wind. I was thinking about it a lot at the temple, and remembering why I came out here in the first place, and am determined to not let my doubts and discouragements get me down any longer! It'll be really sad to not be home during Christmas and everything, and no I can't just have a break whenever I feel like it, but the Lord has sent me out here and I know He will support me if I can just trust in him.

Dad, you remember when I was leaving and you said it'd be interesting to see how it worked out for me to not just be able to do whatever I want when I feel like it? I have to admit, especially lately for some reason, I've been feeling the brunt of that, and really just wishing for a break. And mom, do you remember when we saw the Elders at the Seattle temple and you said 'oh, he must be having a hard time with his companion..' well, I've had a breakthrough with that too, that even if you have a great companion, Dendo can be just plain really hard. People reject you. Your investigators get busy. You miss things you used to be able to do, like play the guitar and go to the beach. But that's the amazing thing, is that we do it anyway. And that we CAN do it. Truly the Lord supports his missionaries, and as I was in the Temple today I just felt so much peace, and know again this IS where the Lord wants me to be, and we just need to trust him. God knows the heart of each of His children and he can make a way for us to reach them. And not only that, he knows OUR heart, and by ourselves it may grow hard but through his love only it can be softened. I know that we as missionaries are just supposed to 'forget yourself and go to work' but that proves easier said than done. I felt really good about it today, but I just hope I can keep that up, keep feeling peaceful about being here. Dad, do you have any suggestions, as you probably saw this coming?

But other than that, I really do love all of our investigators, and Sister Shipp is awesome, and we do have some really fun times and meet interesting people. Dendo really is the best of times, probably because it is the hardest of times, a person could ever have. I'm sure I will feel that same beaming success as I felt after I got through those five kilometers of cross-country races, and just look forward to that feeling that I gave it my all.

Oh, and I keep forgetting to say, we have a baptism this Sunday! :D Little ten-year-old Yumi-chan and her little brother Yuki-kun are having their baptism day together. Their mom is a recent convert as of March, and we're still trying to work with her a lot, too. She is Filipino but their dad is Japanese, so they basically speak three languages. I think I want to learn Tagalog next too along with Portuguese--the two non-Japanese languages that are really big here. Maybe I can get better than Vik ;P Well, we're stoked for Sunday, and have met with them almost every day last week, including going to their school play which was hilarious :) Miho also seems to be progressing a lot lately! We discussed baptism and she told us plainly the worries she still has, so we're going through them one by one with her trying to resolve them. We really do love her, and I think she feels it, and that's maybe the most important. She wrote us a letter each this week (even though because she is weak it's hard to write) and she did her best in English. It was very cute! She's just so sweet!

Anyway, I'm throwing in a couple pictures, because we have transfer calls this coming weekend and who knows this could be my last time to borrow Masuda choro's connector to upload pics.. :) Pray that I'll stay in the Hombu tho, ok? I love it here.

Love you all so much, take care and have an awesome week!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLIAM!!!!!

LeFevre Shimai

PS Dad, I will tell my president about invitation week, that sounds AWESOME! It'd be worth a shot here!
PPS. I emailed BYU-H about application and sister Day sent me some info, but can I pass it on to you to work on or should I just give it my best from here?
PPS. I am really jealous of Sister Cardon's talent! And excited to hear how 'Built Upon the Rock' goes!
PPS-William: my toilet is good, i sent a pic of it, but the squatters are only in public bathrooms. Home toilets are usually really nice or WAY fancy, they even spray your bottom to wash it with water, and have a deodorizer come with it.. ! Biday's they are called kanna.

Golden Ginko sunshine

Konnichiwa minnasan!

How is everyone this week? I am great. Power week was awesome, but once again, sadly, I have only a few more minutes to write because we're taking today as only a short P-day too, but this time because this week we're going with the one Japanese girl that speaks English (Shiho) and her mom to Kamakura, a famous Japanese town with lots of traditional architecture and shopping, etc. I plan on searching for ninja-shoes for some certain brothers that love Japan.. :) So, we'll be taking the bulk of our P-day time and using it for that activity, so today is just email and grocery shopping.

Tonikaku, power week was really great, and we did see many miracles! We had an average of either a new contact or new investigator every day! And as for the update on the two English speakers, they came to church! And I think they really liked it. Actually, I'm starting to think that it all goes way way back to when we were prompted to turn back down the street to meet Yuna, the younger sister of Shiho, then Shiho felt like she should invite Lilly to the dinner last week. And of it all, I think it might have been just to lead us to Lilly. She is sooo golden. When she came to church she listened so intently and had the best questions. During sunday school the chouro (elders) did a lesson on the BOM (specifically for those two as they are into it) and Lilly surprised me as she turned to me and said, "Well, I think I'm just going to have to read this book to know if it's really the word of God." !! We didn't even have a CHANCE to commit her. Then Relief Society was about temples and she wanted to know the prerequisites for going to the temple. :D It was so cute and she's just so sweet and open. They're planning on coming next week too, at least Lilly even if Shiho doesn't come. Shiho is nice, but she's not really searching for anything I think. But when we first met their family I was so convinced they would just eat it all up, but really I think that all was us being led to find Lilly. At least I hope I'm not interpreting her reactions wrong or putting our hopes for her too high, but I just know this Gospel is so true, and full of so much joy, and if she can just be open to planting that seed and testing the word, her heart is prepared. I read the words of Alma to the Zoramites today in Alma 32 about how they had also been prepared to recieve the word and it echoed how I think she is. And it just strikes me how even when we think we are trying to be led, or even think we're being led, we never know where it all is REALLY going. The Lord has a picture so much greater and grander than we can ever imagine, so I'm being constantly reminded to just put my trust in him and not worry about where he takes me but knowing that it will be awesome. :)

Uncle Cory-your pics didn't come through! And I don't think I've heard about the Japanese ball player.. there are quite a few people from China here, but mostly those here for college.

Brooke-I saw a "Ferret-World" store the other day and thought of you :)

Will-Thanks for the letter ^-^

Vik-stop being a baby and get better already! :P Larisa I'm glad you're well. Good luck with the wampaku kids! :)

Mom and Dad love you soooo much! :D keep it up!

Grandma & Grandpa Leach--thank you for your continued emails I love reading about your efforts and adventures!

Nana--Happy late B-Day!

That's really all the time I have for this week, sorry, I'll try to read faster and write more next week. Thanks for all your e-mails and always for your love, concern, and prayers.

Love,

LeFevre SHIMAI

Senkyoushi Power Week

Aloha and Konnichiwa,

So, it's hard to pass up the title of 'squatter potties in rain boots' ..but senkyoushi = missionary, so this week is officially power week, as announced by President Albrect at our mission conference on Friday. Mission conference was really good. It was crazy to see everyone again, and my MTC distict made plans to all try and meet up the P-day of the last week of the transfer at the temple for lunch. And of course, President gave some awesome training. We are trying a new points system--where as before we just counted (on top of the normal 'key indicators' : lessons, referrals, and new investigators) how many meaningful conversations and contacts we had, now lots of different activities add up to X number of points a day. For example, a lesson is 15 points, a BoM given away is 10, etc. The object is to really help us focus on the many things that really move missionary work along. Of course, finding is important too, but really helping people come to Christ is the objective, not just spending all day having nice talks with people. So, I think as we settle into the new system it's going to be really fun. President was worried some missionaries will be trying to make a contest out of it, but really if we try and 'exploit' the system we'll be doing ourselves a favor because that would mean we are teaching member-present lessons, being involved in the community, and getting baptisms all day :) And then this week only we are doing POWER WEEK, which means we are all making extra sacrifices to try and have the spirit with us to guide us to those who are ready. A few things President initiated are we are getting up at 6:00 instead of 6:30, only taking half an hour for all our meals, and basically just trying to be in the apartment less and out dendoing more. It's been good actually. As much as I normally don't like getting up at 6:30 getting up half an hour earlier hasn't been too bad. With short meals the only thing I'm worried about is we'll never have time for dishes--and since Shipp shimai can't eat bread 'fast' meals are hard... but I really think it's good to show the Lord we really want to do our best and get ourselves out of the mindset of just doing the routine things. Shake things up a bit. :) I think we'll see some big miracles!

Well, I'm sorry to hear you all had a bit of a bumpy halloween, with the flu and everything going around. They didn't have a single pumpkin around here... but we did have a fun Halloween party. And yes! I got the package!!! :D :D :D It was great--where did you get GOURMET candy corn? Intense.. and delicious. I shared some at the party and people were like--whooa American candy! Sashiburi! Especially this one less-active family that came (yatta!) who are pretty much from America living her and working for Heinz. It seemed like their two little boys had a blast. We didn't get to play too many games but played musical chairs, did a mummy-making race (that was interesting! We had to use 5 rolls of toilet paper on our one person... there was so much on the floor everywhere after they broke out of it!) and the elders put together a relay race including eating a donut on a string. I liked the donut part. Yummm. It's actually not to hard if you go from an edge. :)

And we've been having some good lessons with all our investigators, we just had one this morning (unusually at 10:00 because it's a national holliday--'culture day') with Chisato-san and she's our age and working. Our joint, Onishi shimai, was wonderful and was able to very comfortably explain a lot of things in Japanese but Chisato is just really a thinker and went on maybe a few tangents. But even she realized that today and we challenged her from now on to pay more attention to how she feels rather than if it makes sense in her head.

We also had one of our potential investigators come to dinner at a member's house--and she brought a friend! Her friend, Lily, is from China and only has been her just over a month but is pretty much fluent in Japanese. They both speak English, though, so mostly they talk in English to eachother with a little Japanese mixed in there. Shiho, the first, lived in California for over ten years, so she almost likes to speak English more now. :) Well, Lily was excited to learn we are people from church because she was like "oh, well actually I've been looking for a church to go to! Can I join your church?" lol. OF COURSE we said! :) Well, of course she really meant just that she wants to attend, but they are both coming to church next sunday now. We're stoked. :D We also have an appointment with a Yamai-san this Wednesday who when we met her on the street and started talking she was so excited we were Christian because she could talk about that stuff with us. Normally the whole subject of religion is pretty strictly avoided in Japan, so she was like "it's ok if we talk?" and we had a little chat and she really loves the Bible (which is a rare find here!) and even started tearing up talking about how God gave the Pharoah so many chances and still he didn't listen. So anyway, I'm excited to meet with her for a real lesson and tell her there's even more great stuff to read! I hope we can help her just fall in love with the Book of Mormon because it's for sure the same good stuff! :) But I've felt a little rusty on my Bible stories so this week I've been reading and brushing up. Yesterday I read Jonah again and was surprised to realize Jonah was upset that the people actually repented and were spared but thought how often do we do that as people, hope that others actually don't get good things so we can 'feel better' because we have them... when really God is over all things and He will give and take as He sees fit. I related to Jonah's love for that little plant, as I love all the little plants and animals I help grow, but realized too that to God how much more important is a life of a person, since he helps us grow daily.

Ok, well sorry, this one was kinda longwinded. But I'm so excited to hear about Mellie's first steps!! And Nathan sounds just too cute!

Larisa I loved the card! (and thanks everyone for signing it :) Dad thanks for my mp3 player!!! I'm so happy to have it! And I had a gospel question, but: if John never died.. why did the priesthood not continue by him? Didn't he have it too? Or did he need Peter and James for it to be effective?

I feel bad, but I thought of a couple more things that could go on the Christmas list if you need more ideas.. I'd love taco seasoning! Or any simple dinner seasonings like all the crazy gravy and stuff that takes up that whole little shelf in our pantry.. i can just see it in my mind :) just throw some of that my way will ya? And I've realized as it starts to get colder that I have lots of jackets, and boots and gloves, but the one thing that's really hard to layer is under my skirt! Especially on days where I want to look nice and just wear nylons, it's impossible to wear thermals or anything, so I'm going to look from here (probably get some leggings since they are EVERYWHERE here) for some kind of really warm basketball shorts or something but if you see anything (or want to use some of mom's extensive fleece supplies creatively :D) feel free to send that too. No longer than knee-length is good. But lastly... the thing I really want the most most MOST is letters and videos from the everyone. :D Onegaishimasu!!! I'm gonna send my last 2GB card home soon so you can just feel free to fill that up with goodness and that would just make my ... mission. :D

Ok, well love you all lots,
Have an amazing week!

LeFevre Shimai

ps. Uncle Cory--they usually have toilet paper but no soap or hand towels.. :) thank goodness. No toilet paper sounds horrible.