Open Your Mouth

Konichiwa Minasan!

Hope all is happy and well in Idaho/Utah/or wherever else you may be!

We were housing and this kind old man gave us pumpkins!

I want to share two experiences from this past week that taught me the importance of opening our mouths. One is a learning experience (AKA failure) and the other is a real life miracle (AKA success).

First the learning experience. I've come to accept the fact that missionaries are sometimes viewed as crazy people here in Japan. Which I can't really blame them because if you think about it, we are kind of crazy. We carry Books of Mormon every where we go, wear helmets (no one does in Japan), say hi to every single person we pass on the street, walk and talk with strangers as they're heading to work... Who else would give up 18 - 24 months of their prime years to adopt a strict schedule of study and proselyting without pay?

Anyways, we were housing a quiet neighborhood one evening when we came across another house with the name plaque "Matsuura" hanging on the door. I of course reacted in my usual manner and sprinted to the door, not exactly knowing what to say because I was just exploding with excitement. I ring the bell and a lady answers.

Good thing is, I opened my mouth.

Bad thing is, I just rambled off with my own words.

It went something like this: "Hi I'm a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and my last name is Matsuura and your last name is Matsuura so we must be related! Maybe from a long long time ago, but I know we're related somehow. I want to share a message of Jesus Christ with you because we're family and we believe families can be together forever!"

She said no. Locked the door and shut all the window blinds. That's the end.

I'm a crazy person.

Lesson is, we shouldn't say crazy things unless it's directed by the spirit.

 Splits with Yamashita Shimai! We ate Indo curry!

Now for a better story.

Sunday evening, we did our fifth lesson with the Suzuki`s this transfer. The lesson started out well as we reviewed the principles of the gospel of Christ and baptism. The Suzuki's had a baptismal date for October 28th, but when we met with them this time, they said their lives were already blessed and that baptism wasn't necessary.

Sister Bean and I just looked at each other. This could not be happening.

There was a long pause. In my mind, I was just praying for the right words to say. Then without thinking I asked them, "Do you believe our message is true?"

They both said yes, followed by how they felt their own church was true too. Sister Bean bore a beautiful testimony of how their church has truth, but lacked the full truth. We shared Ephesians 4:5 with them and talked about how there is "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." Afterwards, we reviewed the apostasy and bore testimony of the restoration of the one true church.

We asked them to come to church just one time, in order to find out if it's true for themselves. They said yes.

Now here's the part that really shocked us. We asked them if they decided once again to be baptized, what day they would want to do it. The husband glanced at his calendar, looked at his wife and said, "The 30th of this month."

!!!!!!! (that was our reaction), because the date they chose is NEXT WEEK and a month earlier than their original date!

If you have time or remember, please pray for the Suzuki's :) We're really hoping this works out!

As a missionary, one of the greatest lessons I've learned so far is that when we open our mouths and speak with the guidance of the spirit, miracles will happen. Even if we lack confidence in our speaking abilities, fear making mistakes or embarrassing ourselves, it is important to act in faith and rely on the spirit for support.

This applies to everyone, missionary or not.

2 Timothy 1:7-8 states, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore  ashamed of the testimony of our Lord."

Let us all look for opportunities to lift one another up this week through our testimonies.

Church is true.

Love always,

Matsuura Shimai

"Do you have a question for us?!"

Hello everyone!

City Hall in Yamagata

Here's a story for you all.

This week, Sister Bean and I decided to put finding at the top of our priorities list. We would do our studies during the day, and then go out to find during the prime hours of 6-8 PM when everyone was home from work.

On Monday night, we walked up to an apartment door and right as I was about to ring the bell, the door suddenly opened. There stood a middle aged man with the most confused look on his face. I was still taken aback by the fact that the door just opened so I didn't say anything. We stood there in silence for a solid five seconds.

I blinked.

He blinked.

... I blinked again.

Then I blurted out, "Do you have a question for us?"

Even though we were the ones who knocked on his door.

He obviously had no questions and just wanted to get out of his apartment. Sister Bean lost it and had to leave the scene because she couldnt stop laughing.

So that's finding in Japan! Luckily not all the experiences are like the one mentioned above. Usually we can manage to at least introduce ourselves.

But the moral of the story is, always be prepared to share the gospel because you never know when a teaching opportunity may arise. In other words, don't panic and keep your cool. The spirit will teach us what to say as long as we do our part in obtaining His word (D&C 11:21).

Yamadera

Studying the gospel has been something I've looked forward to everyday on my mission, and it's amazing the insight you can receive when you "seek to obtain His word" for the benefit of others. As a young child, I remember reading the scriptures more for the entertaining story plotlines. As a high school and college student, I valued the scriptures more for it's doctrinal truths, and relied on them to answer my questions and help me deal with life's challenges.

But as a missionary, your study focus changes from, "How can the scriptures help me?" to "How can the scriptures help the people I teach?" Your questions change from, "How can I overcome this trial?" to "How can I help this person overcome their trial?"

It's amazing how promptly the Lord is willing to give us clear answers when we use this approach.

My prayers are with you always. May we all look for opportunities to serve one another this week.

あいしています!

松浦姉妹 (Matsuura Shimai)

Serene

These mountains are older than you.

You wondered what Japan looks like? THIS.

This week we had zone conference in Sendai at the Kamisugi church building! This is where my mom went to church as a young convert. I also got to see a fellow Golden (AKA Bean missionary) Kelly Shimai!    

Pictured here with the Furukawa's. Bro. Furukawa knew my parents when they were married in the Tokyo temple almost 25 years ago!