Hey!!! Oh man, these days seem like weeks...and these weeks feel like minutes I swear. haha but i am still loving it here!! and i LOVE being a missionary!! It is the hardest work i have ever done...but it is SO rewarding!!
さいしよ...
BATHROOM GAMES
My companion and i (and the other sisters) do everything we can do make every day memorable. And if that means a "do it for the journal" moment...than so be it! Some time this last week (days blend together..so idk what day it was) but we were going to the bathroom and all of a sudden..a roll of toilet paper comes flying over my stall and hits me in the head! haha i knew it was Gorner shimai...so to myself i was like..."THIS MEANS WAR" So i threw all of the toilet paper rolls at her. haha then we started playing stall soccer and that ended up with us holding hands under the stall wall. HAHAH what a great companion! Literally holding my hand through my tough bowel problems.
GAPPY
OK. i just have to say that my sensei, Gappmeyer Shimai is my favorite person to walk the planet earth. She walks in to our class (and because i sit right by the door) i grab her and i hug her for straight up 2 mins.
She has helped me so much since i have been here. Luckily we get to have Coaching every week. And thats when we just talk about our feelings, and how life is at the MTC. I was kinda thrown through a loop the other day, and i was really struggling...and she just pulled me aside (when it wasnt my turn) and was like "ぢじょうぶ?" (which means "are you okay?") We walked into a different room and I poured my heart out to her. Long story short...THE LORD HEARS AND ANSWERS PRAYERS. As we were talking, I was telling her how grateful i was for her, and how much i love her...and she says, "Phelps Shimai...I think the world of you. You are the most spiritual missionary in your district. The lord knew that i needed you."
I am so grateful for the people that the lord put in my path. He knows exactly what i need!!
DISEMPEI
So im not going to go into too much detail about the Cohei, Sempei, Disempei dealeo. Cohei, when you are brand knew to the MTC. (first 3 weeks) Sempei, when you have been here for 4-6 weeks...Disempei, when you have been here for 6-9 weeks. But i am not a cohei anymore!!! because we get 3 more districts of new missionaries today!!! that is like 35-40 missionaries going to japan! The other day, we sent off the Disempei, and that was SO SAD!!! I miss them so much!! on sunday, they sang a musical number...and everyone was BAWLING. me included. the spirit i feel here is so incredible. (our sacrament meetings are all in Japanese) which is so cool! I have noticed that i understand more everyweek!
On sunday, my companion and i were given a calling in our branch. We are the Music Coordinators!! dope desu. and we also taught Relief Society...and our goal was to get Womack Shimai to cry...but we did more than that...we got every sister in that room to cry! (from our testimonies/lesson) It was so powerful!
BLESSINGS
I have never been so happy in my life. But im not going to sugar coat it...the MTC is HARD!! But everyday is a great day to be a missionary.
This last week was probably one of the hardest so far. I had the opportunity of recieving 2 priesthood blessings. One from my branch president, and one from my 2 favorite elders in my district. The power of the priesthood is amazing. I have felt so much love and i have been more sensitvie to the spirit. I am so grateful for that divine help.
The japanese is coming! Slowly, but surely!! It is the 3rd hardest language in the world...so i am doing pretty decent for only being here for less than a month. I have the Missionary purpose and the First vision memorized in Japanese. wow. miracles do happen!!! haha
Just like Joseph Smith says..."My mission is to testify of Jesus Christ. I KNOW HE LIVES." I love the savior so much. and i know that you will feel that love and closeness to him as you study the Book Of Mormon.
LOve you all!! thank you for all the thoughtful emails. i love hearing from you all!!
あいしていますhi❤
-phelps shimai
My bff from college just left the MTC yesterday. she is off to Cape Verde, Africa!
