Week 4: Provo MTC; Companion: Sister Merrill

In Sistrict We Trust

Heyyy everyone!!!

I love you all!

We are officially a full sistrict now! Our only 2 elders (Perez and Gaynor) got moved to another district for a couple reasons. So basically we scared them off. Just kidding, but we miss them very much. So we now have a sister district leader and that is the one and only Sister Hammer! She is amazing and is already doing so many good things for us. 

This week went well. I feel like I am getting out of the hard adjustment phase and I am just enjoying my time here. And no matter what anyone tells you the food is really not that bad. Its not good, but its not bad.The best things are by far the donuts and the chocolate creamies! YUM

Classes in Japanese are actually going pretty well. Our teachers are patient with us thank goodness and do everything they can to help us understand. Charades, pictionary, videos, etc. They are pretty creative! Amongst other things I now know how to bear my testimony which is so cool. And tell you my birthday!! It is weird though because for some things it makes sense in my head but when I put it to use it does not come out right. I just gotta keep practicing! And praying!

 

I took on the challenge to read the amazing Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar so ha uh pray for me. I have tabbed the most important to learn at this moment given to me by my teacher. It is a lot. A whole lot. (Picture below)

In my personal studies I have been mostly in the Book of Mormon but I ventured out to the good ol New Testament and found an AMAZING scripture. Even taped it up on my wall. 

It is Romans 8:18. 

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." 

How Beautiful. Read that a couple times and let it sink in. All the hard work we put forth will be rewarded. It may not seem like it right away, but we go through hard things for a reason!

ALSO there is a Japanese teacher here and a girl from his mission has a sister that is passing away soon.. so a couple Japanese districts all got together and we filmed a video singing love at home in Japanese because it is her favorite church song. The spirit was SO STRONG! I will attach a voice recording I took! Give it a listen! 

I love all of you and so does Jesus. So much that he SACRIFICED HIS LIFE FOR YOU. I hope you all have an amazing easter and party it up for me andddd eat lots of candyyyyy. But dont forget the reason for the season ;) I know that might be a Christmas phrase I think but it applies for right now! 

<3 Peterson Shimai (Sister Peterson)

OH! I also have 2 tips for you that I have learned while here at the MTC

1. Dont drop your bar of soap in the showers because it will slide into another persons shower stall and then it gets very awkward trying to get it back.

2. Make sure the load of whites are YOUR load of whites before you throw them in the dryer.  

Pictures below...

-My tabs for Japanese Grammer bleck

-The best companion duo aka Sister Merrill and I

- learning my favorite scripture in Japanese!

-RIP Elder Perez

-bus ride to the temple!!

- A very fitting picture of Jesus!

ENJOY

Week 3: Provo MTC; Companion: Sister Merrill

Hey Everyone!!!

I am basically fluent!

Just kidding, I am very very far from fluent. We started immersion yesterday so all my classes are in 100% Japanese. Yep, our teachers are already real good at charades and we even played some word games I swear I played in preschool. So fun, I am just trusting in the Lord and working my hardest because that is all I can do. WOOP

On Saint Patrick's day we got a special treat!!! Steven Sharp Nelson (Cello guy from Piano Guys) came and talked to us and performed. Everyone went wild, you would have thought 1 Direction walked in ready for a reunion. It was so good though and he brought up so many cool things to think about. 

The beginning of this week was so nice and sunny so we held most of our classes outside. Unfortunately my scalp got burnt though so if anybody knows good sunscreen that will not make my hair greasy... send it my way!!!!!

Thank you so much to everyone that wrote me a letter and gave to my mom to give to me. Seeing how many people wrote to me made me cry!! I have been reading a couple here and there so maybe on a random day just imagine me reading your letter because I probably am! ;) 

Devotional Tuesday was also amazing! President Johnson (General President over Relief Society (the women's program in our church)) talked to us and also said so many amazing things. One thing she said that stuck out to me was that we can still feel joy when we are going through a hard time. Think about that. Look for the sweet things throughout your day and you will live happier. That is what I have been trying to do and it has been helping me. Slowly but surely!

There are times where I think to myself what am I doing?!? I have thought about how bizarre missions seem to other people not in the church because what. I am 19 years old and about to move across the world for a year and a half for my church. BUT WAIT. That is wrong. I am not doing this for my churchhhh, I am doing this for my Savior and His children. The joy that Jesus Christ and His gospel has brought me is enough to motivate me to share it with people. I am so excited and happy to be doing His work and to be part of His plan. Dont forget you can be missionaries too! 

I love you all more than you know and miss you so much. 

Dont forget God loves you too! You are His child!!

<3 Peterson Shimai :)

P.s everyone is getting sick but it hasn't hit me yet... PRAY FOR MEEEE

Pictures!!!

-Joy D Jones!!!

-THE Steven Sharp Nelson

-Our lovely drawer

-might be back into my cereal kick, we will see

-went to the temple today with my amazing district!!

Weeks 1 and 2: Provo MTC; Companion: Sister Merrill

Konnichiwa everyone!!!

I made it to the MTC (Missionary Training Center) officially! Woohooooo. 

I came on Wednesday and my bestie big sister Kenedy dropped me off which was a very hard goodbye. But I was so excited to meet my district. And oh do I love them so much! Funny thing is there are 12 of us and only 2 elders. Poor elders dubbed us the "sistrict" which we all love. Its been so fun getting to know all of them and even though its only been 4 days (in person) we are all besties!

Little recap of home MTC: It was pretty hard only because I was half in missionary life half out. But it was also amazing getting to know my district before and the classes were pretty good. I cannot imagine doing it for longer than I did, but it was definitely a very good way to ease into the MTC. 

I know everyone is wondering how the Japanese learning is going and so far so good! I was lucky and able to do pretutoring before I came here, so the things we learn in class I have known for the most part already. I can say a simple prayer in Japanese for you, introduce myself, and say simple greetings. It has been fun to learn and I am so excited to learn more! We start full immersion next friday (the 22nd) which means all our lessons will be purely in Japanese. Gospel lessons included. I am very interested to see how that will go and to see how I will do. 

We studied Enos the other day in class and I have loved it so much. I'd encourage all of you to read Enos 1: 1-12 in the Book of Mormon! Enos was struggling with feeling guilty about something and he turned to the Lord and prayed his heart out to him. He immediatly felt comforted and relieved. My story does not do him enough justice so read the scriptures!!! 

I love Jesus Christ and I am so happy to be learning more about His work. I am also so soooo excited for when I am in Japan and able to fill the holes in people's lives. 

I also LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!! Hehe Please feel free to email me whenever because it makes my day when I hear from home. The only downside is I will not be able to respond until my Prep days which are on Saturdays. But I will try my best to respond when I can on those days:)

<3 Sister Peterson or Peterson Shimai in Japanese ;)

p.s. I really apologize if there are typos. Still getting used to this buggy samsung hehe I also do not have very many pictures because I forget to take them... but I will get better!

p.s.s. WISH RYLEE HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY!! My baby sister is 17 

Pictures below!!!

-Read Enos!

-One of the girls in our district got cookies and shared them all with us!

-We were able to go to the temple today! So fun