Half Way Done!!! July 17th 2012

Yep! On Friday my MTC experience will be half way done. That will be a BEAUTIFUL moment in my life. I can hardly wait! Everyone says the last half goes a lot faster. Man, I hope they are right. I feel like I've been here for 6 months! On Friday my companion and I have come up with a special celebration for our half way mark. I am so excited I can hardly stand it! We have turned every aspect of our day into...a song! Our life is going to be a musical. We told our Choro Tachi (Elders) that they should be prepared for the awesomeness that will happen. We haven't told them what it is yet, but they are waiting in great anticipation. I will try to send home recordings of some of the songs.

Our Tuesday night devotional was given by Robert R. Steuter. He is an emeritus 70. He talked a lot about words and their significance. And how they can help us understand the meanings of concepts. He went really deep into a lot of Latin and most of it went over my head, but he did say a quote that I like from Elder Ballard. He said, "The mission field is where the Lord will see how we do...He will examine us." I just loved that quote! It made me think about what I wanted to show the Lord. I want to show Him that I am capable and so excited to share His gospel. I want Him to know that I am truly devoted to Him.

On Thursday we were teaching one of our "investigators"/teachers. He is this 64 year old man who has a huge problem with the word of wisdom, (which is a very common problem in Japan) and when we taught it to him, his face was hilarious! I was laughing, he didn't understand why. But it was fun because we told him to dump out all of the beer he already had. He said he would drink that, and then keep the word of wisdom. We told him he couldn't and that he had to dump it out ima (or immediately). We pretended to take the alcohol and dump it down the sink. I loved it. For some reason, I felt the Spirit during that part of our lesson. I'm sure I will have crazy stories of people and their issues with the word of wisdom. I'm excited to see what they will be!

On Friday my companion and I attempted to only speak Japanese. Oh dear. I really have a LONG ways to go! We did pretty good through the whole morning (I didn't talk a whole lot), but by dinner we were sliding back into English. It's so hard to tell stories and have real conversations with just Japanese. I don't even know how to set up the sentence!

On Saturday we taught at the TRC again. It is one of my favorite times of the week. We taught 2 different RM's who had served in Japan. The 2nd guy we taught told us this crazy story about how his mom got pregnant while he was in the MTC. It was all in Japanese, and I actually understood it!  I was dying though. I thought it was so funny! But seriously mom, please don't do that. :-)

After his crazy story we were talking about revelation through the Book of Mormon, as we asked him to share an experience when he received revelation the Spirit was so strong! He was a little teary eyed, and even though I only understood about 10 words that he said, I could tell that it had deeply touched him. I realized 2 things.  1: The Spirit can testify of truth, even if you don't understand the words that are being spoken to you. And 2: Spiritual experiences can still frequently happen to those of us, who already have a testimony.

On Sunday we had a little adventure. For Relief Society we had a District President's wife (They are like the Stake Presidents of the MTC) speak to us about being lady like. She glided around the stage showing us how to walk, sit, eat and speak. It was a little over the top. I felt like I was at Princess training school. We were told the way to stand and even the way to wear make up! She told us all to wear lipstick so that when we're talking,  people will look at our mouth instead of our nose. I don't care where someone looks as long as they are listening to what I am saying. I'm not going to wear lipstick. That's not happening.

After Relief Society they handed out make up to everyone. Apparently we look pretty bad as sister missionaries....

I played a musical number with my companion and another Shimai on Sunday. I played the Flute, Sister Hansen played the cello, and Sister Belnap played the violin.

All of the Japanese (going to Japan) missionaries who got here before us left on Monday! I was so jealous! One day that will be me. I am so excited!

Well, there are the angry red letters again!

I love you all!   -Dobson Shimai

"Thanks for the Chocolate Covered Pomegrantes"

"...but they're all gone" :(

On my 5th Week!

Well folks I'm already on my 5th week! I can't believe it! And I can't believe that I still have 7 more to go....but that's alright! I'm working on being more positive.

There are a few perks about being in the MTC for so long. One of them is the chance to hear many inspiring speakers at devotionals, firesides, etc. The one from a week ago was fun! His name was brother Kikuchi. He was a general authority for 36 years and was recently released. He is a ntive to Japan and it was fun to hear him speak. He  talked about in order to be a happy missionary we need to be perfectly obedient. He suggested to go beyond being obedient to show the Lord how much you value His time. He gave an example of getting up at 6:29 instead of 6:30. (That one isn't a problem for my companion and I. We usually get up long before that.) But it was a good perspective to add.

One of my favorite things he said was bring a souvenir home from your mission. At first I was confused because that is not what usually comes out of the mouth of someone speaking to missionaries. But then he explained. He said to bring home the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  Bring home your ability to use it.  I just loved that!

I'm only now catching a glimpse of how powerful and encompasing it really is. I hope to be able to understnad it a little bit more by the time I get home.

For Wednesday, the 4th of July we had a special program/fireside. It was really fun! There were speakers, movies, musical numbers, narrators and lots of other stuff. We also got to stay up and watch the fireworks of the stadium of fire from the parking lot of the MTC. You couldn't see the fireworks overally well, but I did remember that the Beach Boys were singing.

Dressed for the 4th of July

We could barely hear their melodic tones on a soft wave of harmonies, gently brushing through the warm summer air. I was reminded of all the beach boys CDs we used to listen to on family vacations. (Before there were DVDs).   For a second I allowed myself to miss some of the music from before my mission. But then I quickly snapped out of it and realized how truly lucky I am to be here.

"How Patriotic Can You Get?"

Then on Thursday we had a little adventure. We had to move floors from the 2nd floor to the 4th floor in my building. We were fine to move.  It was a little incovenient, but we figured it would be a good change of scenery. 

Well...we were half way right. It WAS a change of scenery.  But it was definitely NOT for the better. Up until a few hours before we moved in it had been inhabited by Elders.  

We opened the door, suitcases in hand and there was an instant wall of B. O. that we ran in to. It was pretty bad. Then, we looked around the room and realized there was crumbs and garabage covering the whole floor. Then, as we looked even closer we noticed encrusted boogers serving as decorations over all of the walls! There were dubious yellow stains on both the clouded carpet and the lumpy mattresses. You would think 19 year old boys would be toilet trained....

We still don't walk barefoot on the carpet. We can't even imagine what has been there.

On to happier things!

Every day we teach a lesson to a "progressing investigator" which is really just one of our teachers. I'm understanding more and more of what they are saying, but I'm still pretty limited to the phrases I have in my books. It's fun teaching the lessons, and even though they are our teachers pretending to be someone else, when we bare our simple testimonies, the Spirit is present.  I'm excited to finally get to Japan!

Contents of Narnia Holes

On Friday, in our classroom, we discovered some "narnia holes."  Narnia holes are little surprises left by previous misionaries. Ours were found in a heating vent and empy electrical circut. In them was a Dr. Pepper that had long expired, unchewable high chews, and a super bouncy ball. As a district we're trying to decide what to leave for the next set of misionaries, if they're intelligent enough to look. It's kind of like a geo cache.

Thanks for the package of delicious cherries! There was so many that I couldn't eat all of them so I took them to class. I shared with the Nihonjin (Japanese missionaries) and now they all affectionately call me the "American Cherry Girl". :)

On Sunday an interesting turn of events occured.  We got new district and zone leaders.  But in the MTC we also have a few leadership positions for the Sisters. One is a music coordiantor and her companion is the cordinating sister. The music coordinator plans all the music for all the branch meetings. (Obviously) The Coordinating Sister acts as sort of an "older sister" to the other sisters in her zone.

My companion and I both got callings this week. I am...the new coordinating sister.

Now on top of my regular missionary duties, I go to the rooms of all the sisters each night. Check on how they are doing. Report issues to the Branch President. And welcome incoming missionaries for our zone. Oh...and I get to go to lots of meetings. (I don't know why people seek out leadership positions. All it is, is going to meetings.) 

I am really humbled/overwhelmed/nervous about this new position. I don't feel qualified, especially in my Japanese skill (Because I have to talk to all of the Nihonjin or Japanese Sisters). But I guess it serves me right. I have been praying to find opportunities to serve those around me, which can be kind of difficult in the MTC, and the Lord answered my prayers! He does have a funny sense of humor. Be careful what you wish for I guess....But truly, I am so excited. Just really nervous! :)

Sunday night we had an awesome fireside by Richard Heaton. He works here at the MTC as the Administration director. He analyzes missionaries' language acquisition and other stuff. He recently returned from checking out the missionaries in Japan. He had a lot of awesome things to share.

He said something that really hit me. He said, "Do we see baptism as OUR success, or as another person's success in coming unto Christ?"

I think that is a powerful message that every missionary should consider.

Our District with Andrus Sensei before he left

Well, I love you all! Thanks for  the support you all give me!

ドブソン 　しまい

It's only been a week but it feels like a month!

It´s only been a week since I  talked to you? Wow! It's felt like a month!

Last Tuesday we had a devotional with a lot of the apostles! Because it was P-day my district all lined up super early so we would get good seats. We were 5 rows from the podium. It was awesome!! L. Tom Perry spoke but there was a lot of apostles there. There was Elders Nelson, Scott, Holland, Oaks, Ballard, Bednar, Cook, Christofferson, and Anderson. Basically the only people not there was Pres. Packer, Elder Hales and the First Presidency!

Elder Perry's talk was...unexpected. He showed us this new program that the church has just put out. They have been doing a lot of research about the benefits of being LDS. He gave a lot of statistics in the categories of health, happiness, family life, education, social engagement, serving a mission, volunteering, charitable donations and humanitarian relief. It was cool to see that the Lord truly does bless those who are living according to His commandments. He talked about how the doctrines of the church are the same, we just have technology to propel the work along.

At the end of the devotional, as all of the apostles were leaving Elder Scott looked out at the audience and gave 2 thumbs up. Then Elder Holland looked at all of us, blew a kiss, teared up and then left. It was very tender. It was so cool to look around and see so many people united in the same cause! It just gave me the chills!

The days seem to blend together over the last week. We did get to do something called the TRC. It is basically teaching a lesson to volunteers who are members. It was like teaching a lesson to a member in Japanese. It was actually really fun! It was casual and I felt like I could understand most of what they were saying. I'm really excited to get to know the members of Japan. They are the ones who will aid us in building up the church.

Speaking of members in Japan, all of the Nihonjin (or Japanese missionaries) got here. They are so fun to talk to! But...they speak SOOO fast! They are so nice, and slow down when talking to those of us with little experience. One day I will understand what they are saying. And I can't wait for that!

On Sunday, because it was fast Sunday we had a mission conference. Which was basically like stake conference. We heard from the Mission Presidency and their wives. They talked about a lot of good things. They all just spoke up the doctrines of the gospel, which have to do with our purpose as missionaries. It was simple and sweet. Just like the gospel should be.

Then Sunday night for the devotional we had an interesting...performance, I guess you could say. It was by Ted Gibbons. Who I guess does a lot of literary work of the church. He impersonated Willard Richards who is in the quorum of the 12 when Joseph Smith was the prophet. He was the fourth person in the room when Joseph and Hyrum were martyred. He told a bunch of stories about Joseph Smith, about how he could revelation, and just what an amazing person he truly was. It was cool to hear another perspective. It just reconfirmed my testimony of the restoration of this church, and that this really the only true church here on the earth. For the closing song we sang Praise to the Man. By the end of the first verse everyone was standing. It was very powerful.

Later Sunday night I watched an old devotional from Elder Bednar, about Becoming a Missionary. He said to become a missionary you can't just merely go on a mission. You can't just go through the motions. But I must be truly invested in being a missionary. So that I will serve with ALL  of my heart, might, mind, and strength. He said that you WANT to be weird when you get back from your mission. It shows that you were totally immersed in the work that you didn't have time to think about yourself.

So, as part of my personal study I've been re-reading The Book of Mormon. And as I've done so I've been coloring in yellow all the times they refer to the Savior. (Except for pronouns). As I've done so I have realized how much The Book of Mormon truly  is another Testament of Christ.  He is everywhere in it! In 1st Nephi alone I counted 415 times they said His name. And I'm sure I missed some. It's so cool to thumb through the pages and see yellow on every single page and almost every single verse.

I forgot to say one thing from the first week I was here. We have these things call ministering cards. We are legally able to share the gospel. The only sad part is, is that mine expires December 3, 2013. Which means I will no longer be a missionary then! I'm so sad! That seems so soon, even though I know it's not.

Well, the angry red time at the top of the screen says I have to be finished.

Ai shitte imasu! I love you!

-Dobson Shimai 

2nd Letter from the MTC

Hey everyone! I can't believe it's only been a week since I last emailed you! It feels like an eternity.

First of all, thanks so much to everyone who sent letters. There's nothing quite like letters to brighten a missionary's day! For those who don't know how it works, my District Leader checks the mail twice a day. Once after lunch and once after dinner. If you send a letter through dear elder, I get it that same day if it is before those times. I can read the letters whenever I want, but I can only respond back on p-days which is Tuesdays for me.

 

So supposedly it's "Christmas" this week in the MTC. They have the new mission president training and all the general authorities and apostles are supposed to be here. I haven't seen any yet...but I'm sure they here. We all were expecting one of them to speak at our fireside Sunday night. So everyone lined up SUPER early to get into the gym. Alas, there were no apostles. They did have a district president here at the MTC and his wife speak. They were really good, but not quite what we were expecting.

 

After the fireside they showed a talk that Elder Bednar gave a few years ago. It was AMAZING! He talked about putting off the natural man. And instead of being selfish and turn inward and focus on ourselves, when need to be as the Savior and focus on others. It was definitely a good reprimand and something I could definitely work on.

 

There are only 2 things about the MTC that are hard. 1. The food. It's about all I can do to eat so I'm not starving for class. But whenever I eat it always makes my stomach make weird noises...I'm excited for the fresh food in Japan. Even sushi sounds good right now! Today, after we went to the temple my companion and I had breakfast in the cafeteria at the temple. It was SOOOO good! Real eggs and hashbrowns. I was in heaven!

 

The second thing that is hard about the MTC is we aren't allowed to listen to music. They only music I hear is before firesides when there is a musical number. It can be hard and times and sometimes the other Shimai in my hall burst out into song, mostly Disney. I think we all are going through music withdrawls.

 

The Japanese continues to come. I now know both of the alphabets and can read the hymns and the scriptures! It takes me about 5 minutes to read a verse of scripture, and I don't have a clue as to what I am saying, but it is coming.

 

My doryo and I taught our first lesson without any notes or materials! I was scared out of my mind. But the Lord was generous, and blessed us. I was actually able to say more than I thought I could. I love teaching the gospel, and as excited as I am about teaching it in Japanese, sometimes it's frustrating. Because I just want to effectively communicate how awesome this gospel truly is! But I can't do in Japanese. Luckily the only people we are teaching are our teachers. So it's not quite as much pressure.

 

When I go to bed, instead of falling asleep immediately like I used to, I lay away as Japanese phrases run through my head. The frustrating part is that 75% of the time I don't even know what they mean! I guess it's a good sign, hopefully it means I'm actually starting to learn the language. Hopefully I'll be able to understand it someday.

 

On Sunday for Relief Society we had a woman named eyrine Madsen come and talk to us. She served her mission in Hong Kong a LONG time ago, (even before you Mom and Dad!). She was so great and cheerful. One day I want to be like her. But she  talked about expecting the unexpected on our missions. They probably won't go as we have planed, but trust in the Lord becuase He is in control.

 

Yesterday during class we had an unexpected surprise. We had Elder David Evans come in and talk to us. Elder Evans used to be a mission president in Japan, then was an area President there, and is currently serving as the head of the missionary department. We were the only district that got to talk to him because he wanted to keep it small. And our female Sensi, Evans Shimai is his daughter in law. So we have connections.

 

He talked about a lot of stuff, but surprisngly enough, the thing he talked about the most was about marriage. It all threw us off for a second. Why would he be talking about marriage to a bunch of missionaries who are in the MTC. We still have a LONG time until we should starting thinking about that. But he said something interesting. He said, "Marriage is a blessing to be sought after. Not an obligation to be avoided." I'm sure that will be a good thing to tuck away when that time does come. But by the looks of my 25 year old single Sensi, it looked like kind of a slap in the face. I'm sure it was for all of us. But I think it was directed towards him. Poor guy.

 

Well things are still great with my companion! We get a long and have lots of fun. We are almost constantly laughing. And have become unified as we refer to us as a companionship as one person. I am having so much fun with her. I think it would be really hard to continue to stay positive if I didn't have her. Luckily I do.

 

The Japanese missionaries got here yesterday. I'm excited to meet them, but a little intimidated at the same time. My Japanese is very limited, so I'm scared to talk to them. But everyone says they are super nice and are understanding. I know that my Japanese will improve if I talk to them. I just need to be brave and do it.

 

 

Much love.

-Dobson Shimai