We've been prayed to Takamatsu

Sept 24, 2012

Wow!

What a crazy whirlwind week it has been! I can hardly believe what has happened!!!!!

First. I`ve been in Japan for a month. That`s way crazy! The time has definitely flown by...but it also feels like I`ve been here forever. I guess that`s the time warp missions put you through.

So this week I`ve learned a lot. But I guess the main thing I`ve learned is expect the unexpected.

The Lord never allows us to get to comfortable. Because then we wouldn`t need Him as much. I am not saying that I was getting comfy here in Japan, (how could I with my lack of ability to communicate?), but I think I had slipped into a routine and was feeling good with the way things were going.

Well Wednesday morning as we were finishing up studying we got a phone call. We looked at the caller ID.  It was President Zinke. ``Somebody DIED!!!`` was my immediate thought. Names and faces started flashing through my mind. Who could it be?

I had no other logical explanation as to why the Mission President would be calling us in the middle of the transfer and when we had been obedient and working hard.

LUCKILY, my fears were in vain. He said that he had an unusual phone call. They actually were transfers. At first I was so confused. When you are a trainee you stay with the same trainer for at least 2 transfers while you do this 12 week program the church has come out with. I didn`t want to be separated from Anderson Shimai. I didn`t want a new trainer!!!

Luckily again, I was wrong.

President said there was an Elder who got sick and was needing to go home. He said as he was trying to decide which Elder would replace him in that area, the branch president of that area called him. The branch president told him that their branch was thriving in the priesthood department. They had many Priesthood holders and even a lot of High Priests. (This is almost unheard of in Japan.) He said that he had more priesthood holders than woman in relief society. He specifically asked if President Zinke would send Sister Missionaries.  Generally Elders baptize more men and Sister baptize more women. He told President Zinke that their branch had been praying for a while that they would receive Sister Missionaries.

After he told us all of this he said at first he didn`t want to do it. But as he thought and prayed, he said he felt like he should send us down. We would leave Akashi, which was ok-the Zone Leaders were in the same area so there would still be missionaries, and we would WHITE WASH!! Yay.

He asked us when could we leave. We asked when he would like us to leave and we both decided that the coming Saturday would be the best option for the Saints in our new area.

Where is this new area you might ask? Well...I am no longer on the main Island of Japan. I am on the beautiful island of Shikoku in a place called....TAKAMATSU!!!! It is seriously so beautiful here! 

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Thanks to Sister Anderson's Mom for Finding these great maps

It has some big city aspects, with some apartment buildings and stuff...but there are a lot more little houses and there are some rice fields! Not very big ones, but they are still here. *Sigh* it`s just great.

But I`m getting a head of myself.

So Wednesday-Friday was craziness. We had to contact all of our potential investigators to see if they would be interested in meeting with the Elders. We had to have lessons with our 2 current investigators and the Elders so we could `pass` them.

We had to pack and send our bags and bikes ahead of us. And we had to clean out most of the apartment because they will probably get rid of it.

It was super hard saying by to our investigators. Dang, I am going to miss them!!! But I know they will be taken care of with the Elders.

We were so exhausted every night. Time just flew before our eyes!

Friday the members were at the church all day setting up for a wedding reception the next day. It was so sad to say bye to them all. I was just starting to feel like I had a relationship with them...

Saturday Zinke Shimai came and we loaded our futons and random assortment of things in the car and we were off to Takamatsu.

Akashi Bridge

It was a beautiful drive over the famous Akashi bridge and through the Islands.

We got to the apartment and unloaded, cleaned a little then we went to find the church.

The church is HUGE! I guess there used to be a stake out here. But, a lot of people moved away so now it`s just a branch. We will get it to a ward size very soon. :)

We went back to the apartment and unpacked a little more. Zinke Shimai left and we started going through our area book. We wanted to see what we had to work with. Then we were going to make calls to members to try and figure out more.

But the members are so great! Before we could even start calling them they called us and visited us. They are all just so excited to finally have sisters.

Sunday was a FABULOUS day. We meet with the ward mission leader. He was very informative, and I think he will be a great resource  in moving the work along.

Sacrament meeting was the best. I counted around 40 people including children. There are actually children! (I am excited. Our last ward had 2 babies. That was it.)

I think my favorite part of Sacrament meeting was the first talk. It was this older man who talked for about 20 minutes. I had no idea what he was talking about at all. But then to close his talk he pulled out his harmonica and played, `A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief`.   It was great.  I wanted to turn to Anderson Shimai and say, `To-to. I don`t think we`re in Utah anymore` but I refrained.

After Sacrament Meeting we talked with some of the members.  Man! They are all so amazing! They are just so excited to have us. They kept saying over and over, `We prayed that sisters would come!`

I don`t think we can beat this sort of welcome.

During Sunday School, this young girl walked in. The members were in a flurry. They brought her over to us and said `she`s not a member`. SWEET!!

For relief society we went and started talking with this girl. Turns out she is 20, recently married, and has a 4 month baby! Cute! She met with the missionaries 4 years ago but then stopped.

But today she just felt like she needed to come to church so she came! GOLDEN!!!!!!!!

We taught a brief lesson, and she prayed at the end. I just am so excited to see her come to a knowledge of this gospel! She has so much potential. We got a return appointment. So on our first day we had a new investigator!  I don`t think it gets better than that!

After church we got to teach another lesson with our investigator that the Elders found. He has a baptism date, and has been taught all of the lessons. But I just don`t think it`s clicked for him. He looks so sad. So burdened. My heart was aching for him. He was missing the light that the gospel can bring into someone`s life.

At the end of our lesson he also prayed. Only after much coaxing and pressuring, for a lack of a better word. He did great.

After the prayer there was a smidgen of light that came through his eyes. I think once he understands how the gospel applies to him, it will click and he will be ready to go! I am excited to see him progress as well.

The rest of the day was studying and we tried to go out streeting for a little while. There aren`t very many people just walking around like there are in Akashi. We will have to come up with some more effective ways to contact.

But I am so excited!

Today has been a little bit crazy, but I think we`ve figure everything out...hopefully.

I love you all so much!

I am SO excited to be in Takamatsu.  It`s beautiful and the people here are so nice. It has more of a country-ish feel. Ah! I am just so excited!!

The church is true!

-Dobson Shimai

Sister Zinke took these pictures of Takamatsu (Does it look Countryish to you? :)