Sister Crofts-Called to Serve

September 29, 2014

皆さんこんいちは

元気でしょうか？It has been another AWESOME week, absolutely crazy in all forms (again). It all began last Monday...

So we went to Yakiniku with the elders for P-day. On the way there, we met this girl named Kaori Chan, who is half Brazilian. She came to church on Sunday and she said that she never liked churches that she went to before, but she really loved our church. We meet her again tomorrow! While we were grocery shopping, we were talking about cheese and Garrett Shimai was saying how we have to try this one special cheese. There was this woman who was obviously listening to us. So I asked her if she had ever tried the cheese and of course the answer was no. But turns out, she lived in Utah, knew the missionaries, both of her host families were Mormon and she went to church for over a year. She even came to church like 20 years ago in Japan! She says she hasn’t seen missionaries, but she wants to meet us soon. Talk about someone prepared. There was a point where Adi said "I don`t mean to be rude, but what proof do you have?" when we talked about Jesus Christ & His resurrection. Of course, Oda Shimai misunderstood him and thought she said "what poop do you have?" After the lesson she was so confused and we basically were crying from laughing so hard because she still never made the connection that it was proof. They were so open minded and even though they are Hindu, they really want to learn more.

Kobayashi San was really struggling last week when I talked to him, but we were able to do a lesson with the Warners which was totally awesome. We talked about Agency and how God loves us so much so he lets us choose happiness or unhappiness. Garrett Shimai has been eaten alive by mosquitos here, so she kept killing them with her hand during the lesson. hahaha. We taught a lesson to Mika with the Warners.. I guess you can say it was not your standard missionary lesson. As you know, Mika is a very spiritual person and was a median long ago. We think because she is so close to the spirit world that Satan works on her a lot and spirits visit her a lot. We struggled to help her understand the war in heaven (because she said that she is Japanese and can’t imagine something like that) so then we read D&C 129 together and had to talk about how she can recognize a good spirit from one from Satan. She was so excited and finally understood. After the lesson, Elder Warner just said "that was a weiiiiird lesson." hahaha every lesson I leave thinking that.

We went to Fukutoku for zone conference with another zone. President Yamashita is so busy that we have to combine them. It was way awesome and Oda Shimai & I gave training in it about founding our missionary life on obedience. It was pouring rain on the way back so when we showed up for eikaiwa (English class) at night we were soaked. There is this little terror child that is 4 who comes to eikaiwa. His mom seriously doesn`t do anything to control him. He wraps himself around my leg, punched me, threw stuff at me, and even came up behind me and was sticking his head in my butt. Elder Gacillian was in the class too and he was just laughing so hard because of how much this kid was making me suffer.

Thursday our perfect san nin became too good to be true. We got a call from the assistants randomly during the afternoon and they wanted to talk to Garrett Shimai. It got really quiet and next thing we know, she is bawling. Transferring. NOOOOO. There was a Shimai in Fiji that was sent home because she was so sick, and we are the only 3 nin companionship in the mission. So of course, she had to emergency transfer again. Just like that our apartment went from 4 nin, 3 nin, to futari!! We would always sing as a trio and it was basically the most wonderful thing ever. We sang for everyone in almost every lesson. We would even start singing for people on the street! We will miss her so much. Doing the things I love with 2 of my favorite people in the world all day? Too awesome. We sang for one less active sister. She recorded it and said (your song has become my treasure). So cute.

Friday, we had a lesson with Kobayashi san again. We had daily contact with him last week. We taught him the rest of the commandments so he can feel more confident about baptism. The first commandment, about no other Gods before me, was the hardest for him. He said that is shitsurei to the other Gods! He was able to understand by the end. But he still says that he needs more time. We really tried to show him that he was ready for this Sunday, but he feels he can’t do it yet. It is a big decision and I am way glad he isn’t taking it lightly. On Sunday, he came to church and was able to see a baptism. It was seriously awesome and I think it helped him to feel a lot of peace about it. He loves church, he basically acts like a member. He just needs to get the courage to be baptized. When he is not meeting with us, he is thinking about what we teach him and what he needs to do. The baptism was great and Ushino Shimai will be an awesome member. The elder found her from housing. She looked so different after she was baptized!

We had a sports activity at the high school next to the church and it was really fun! It was such a miracle because a member we have always wanted to help one of our investigators (who is always too busy) came and we were able to do a lesson with Nachan! Her parents are against her being baptized and she still doesn’t know if God is really there or not. She has prayed, tried so many things and never received an answer. So we invited her to go home and write down all of the things that she is grateful for and she will be able to see how much God really is there and blessing her.

Garrett Shimai transferred on Sunday right after sacrament meeting. I had to give a talk on Sunday about prayer and we sung as all the missionaries. After 2 weeks of the gluten free diet, both of my companions are struggling to not go half-crazy not eating wheat. It is really hard. Hahaha. But it helps to do it all together and they have been feeling lots better! We had to go on splits because there were several of our investigators at church and we were too busy. Yesterday, we were trying to figure out where we needed to go, so we just started heading out to this one area that is a little bit father. Then the elders called us and needed the gps for a less actives house so we had to go there. We ended up feeling we needed to work in that area and it was really awesome. We ended up finding 4 investigators yesterday. Sassy grandma gave us this t shirt tissue case and told us that she was too busy playing by herself to meet with us. . . what? hahaha. One of our new investigators, Motomura san`s husband died right after she had her baby a few months ago and she is really going through a hard time. I am so excited to help her have more hope!

I never thought I would be able to achieve the standards of excellence for our mission, but God has helped us so much and strengthened our faith and made it possible to do it. He always prepares a way to accomplish the things He commands us. We just have to have patience. I am so grateful for His mercy and love in helping us to work hard and be obedient. I love the church. I love my mission. I love Oda Shimai.

今週頑張りましょうね

クロフツ姉妹