I'M COMING HOME

Just a short one this week to let everyone know that I've transferred to my new, and probably last area in the mission! I've been assigned to serve in the Sendai area! Coming home to the city of my childhood:) There are three areas in this city because it`s HUGE. Not as big as Tokyo but definitely a 1000000× bigger than Blackfoot.

Fall back to MLC!

The ward I'm serving in is called Izumi. Fun fact: my mom and I came to this ward 7 years ago to visit some of her old church friends. Walking in on Sunday it was nice to some familiar faces!

My new companion is Sister Suzuki from Saitama (a place just north of Tokyo). She`s only in her second transfer but I feel like she`s training me half the time!  Here's a little more about her😊.

Hobbies: Singing and listening to music! (Jpop)

Favorite animal: Penguin!

Favorite English phrase: All is well!

Food that she hates: Cheese!! (Nooo)

Favorite Scripture: Alma 34:31

 We performed Christmas carols at a botanical cultural hall. Great way to share the Gospel while celebrating the Christmas season😊

I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season! Please stay warm, serve others, and always remember the Savior!

So much love for you all!

Matsuura Shimai

My beloved Ishikawa Shimai has completed her mission an has returned safely home to Nagoya. We were in Hachinohe together exactly one year ago today!

Street Praying in Morioka

I can't begin to express how excited I am to spend Christmas as a missionary again this year! There's something special about honoring the birth of the Savior that opens so many doors to missionary work.

The Idaho Burger is now being sold at McDonalds` all across Japan!!

Here`s one experience we had this week.

PRAYING ON THE STREETS

It was a Sunday night. Just a couple lessons from reaching our weekly goal, we biked around the streets of Morioka looking for people to talk to. We approached a lady. As we rolled our bikes to a stop she looked at us and yelled, "Mormons!?" She recognized us immediately because of our white helmets. We ended up having wonderful conversation with her about Jesus Christ and how we can pray through Him to our Heavenly Father. We prayed with her at the end. Next thing we know, she's crying. She told us she grew up Buddhist her entire life, but never felt an outpouring of the spirit until that very moment when we prayed to our Heavenly Father. Before parting ways, she said "I believe God is greater than Buddha!" We exchanged contact information and plan on meeting her again soon. Truly a miracle!

My posterity. (Left to right) grandbaby #2, grandbaby #1, baby #1, me, baby #3, baby #2

SETTING SPECIFIC GOALS

The past couple of weeks Cromar Shimai and I have been testing out a new approach to missionary work. Every time we leave the apartment we make specific goals (i.e. find two people to teach and teach four lessons in the time frame of two hours). After we set these goals we make a promise, or covenant, to God that we will do everything we can to achieve them. Since using this approach God has helped our missionary efforts in miraculous ways. He`s placed certain people in our paths, reminded of us old friends we haven't seen in awhile, painted very descriptive images in our minds of what kind of houses to look for, etc. The number of lessons we teach and people we find have tripled since using this approach. Never before have I developed such a close working relationship with God. He truly cares about us and will bless our efforts as we strive to share the message of the restored Gospel!

Thank you for all the prayers and emails. So much love for you all!

Church is true!

Sister Matsuura

3 Nephi 18:24

Mission Family + Grandma at the Sendai Station