13th week in Japan, 2ND AREA

Beach scenes near Mito, Japan (picture from internet)

Nighttime View:  An unusual tower in Mito, Japan (picture from internet)

As you knew from my email last week, I got transferred to Mito.  It's about 80 miles NE of Tokyo.   It is 5-10 miles inland from the coast.  I am with Sister Lacey.   

[K-Mom's note:  the day I found out that my daughter got transferred to Mito, I had a dream.   I was in her new location, in an apartment, I saw large cockroaches in the dream, running quickly back and forth across the floor.  I wondered if Japan has a bug problem due to the climate difference, that we don't have here.   Sure enough, they do.   If you wish to know more, I found this website informative:  

http://zoomingjapan.com/life-in-japan/insects-and-other-pests/   ]

I've heard of cockroaches are very popular in Japan, haha. The hottest month here is August. Luckily, Mito is not as hot as Okegawa. :)

Thank you for your concern about the bugs and stuff.  The other day actually, we were praying for guidance of where to go finding people to teach, and found this old apartment complex.  We had already parked our bikes and as we were going to approach the stairs, we saw spiders all over the ceilings and the stair rails.  It took 3 or 4 times to get the courage to go.  We were going to turn around and find somewhere else, but we did it!  There were so many spiders!  In Japan, people do not kill spiders. Do not! I've actually heard that there are no poisonous spiders in Japan that could harm you seriously. There was like, a story of a person who was rescued by a spider or something, long ago and a bad guy killed the spider.  So Japanese people don't kill spiders.  They are seen as like protection, I guess?

From our efforts, two people answered the door.  One was not interested and the other was busy cooking, but we could hear a mother and a baby playing so we gave them a church flyer.  We felt they in the future may be baptized.  Later that evening, we went to a nicer apartment complex.  The first door we knocked on was a Chinese young man.  (Whenever we do housing-contacting, people only open their door a little bit).  Once we introduced ourselves, he was more interested and had many questions about the church and what we believe.  We gave him a church flyer which has the address of our church and he wants to go, but he said because he's a student and is busy he may or may not go; but he will go if he has time!  He showed us his Bible he's been studying, and it looked fairly new.  He's been in Japan for a year and a half and he knew some English. Chinese people are often kinjin (金人), "golden person" which we say for golden investigators. 

A few other people, were willingly listening to our message. It caught me a little off guard, but it was such a miracle!  Also, another blessing that same day, when we left the apartment, a spider was crawling down in the middle of the walkway in the air and almost landed on Sister Lacey's head and I almost didn't see it! So I walked right into it, and it almost touched my eye, but I backed up quick enough that it didn't touch me!!!

That's just one story I have of my week. 

Here's a picture I took this week:

Until later,  Parker Shimai   😄😂😍😘❤️💕💕🍣

Sent from the white fields of Japan 🍲🌅

[K-Mom here:  for some reason the river and the sunbeam in the above picture made me think of two things:  1.  From 1st Nephi it talks about the river leading to the Tree of Life (God's love). 2.  I also thought of this hymn: #335  Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy

Lyrics

1. 1. Brightly beams our Father's mercy
   From his lighthouse evermore,
   But to us he gives the keeping
   Of the lights along the shore.
2. (Chorus)
   Let the lower lights be burning;
   Send a gleam across the wave.
   Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
   You may rescue, you may save.
3. 2. Dark the night of sin has settled;
   Loud the angry billows roar.
   Eager eyes are watching, longing,
   For the lights along the shore.
4. 3. Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;
   Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed,
   Trying now to make the harbor,
   In the darkness may be lost.
5. Text and music: Philip Paul Bliss, 1838-1876

11th Week in Japan -- 1st Area; Sister Boden's b-day, and the value of tithing and the scriptures

[ Some of today's post may seem a little bit disjointed.  Just know that she is also responding to various questions and comments from our emails to her.   K-Mom ]

I'm adjusting more and more to Japan and missionary life here.  I am becoming more consecrated as I try my best.  God really does take care of the rest!

Today was Zone P-day and it was so fun!  We played chair soccer and dodgeball and stuff.  It was a good relax.  We also made cake for the birthday companion, Sister Boden!  Her birthday was last week, but we weren't able to make cake.  

  

The Book of Mormon and the Bible really do go hand-in-hand with each other.  There's power in both, but the Book of Mormon was written for our latter-days specifically, as well as some books in the New Testament and the Old Testament like Daniel, John, or Revelations.  But the Book of Mormon is all for us.  Together they are very powerful, indeed.  The Old and New Testament have so much in it, I wish I could read it all!  Someday I will.

About tithing, I want to bear testimony of how important it is and how much of a difference it will make in your life.  God has made it a commandment to pay tithing, just a tenth of our earnings. Now, does God need money?  No. He created everything!  The point is, the heart.  Is the heart willing to give a tenth of its earnings?  The point of tithing is not temporal, it's spiritual and eternal. When we are in a position to be able to faithfully pay tithing, the Lord showers and showers and showers us with blessings.  More than we can hold.  If we hold back our heart when we pay tithing, it is the same as if withholding all the portion of tithing and not paying at all. 

Malachi 3:10 "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Paying tithing with faith and willingness will bring great blessings and will change you. Paying tithing without faith or willingness will just make you broke.  You can pray specifically to Heavenly Father again and ask if he needs you to pay $_____________ in order to see 'this specific blessing' and He will answer you quickly.

Thanks again dad for recommending praying about specific things;  it really does make a difference!  I've already gained testimony of that, can you tell?!  Haha!

It's Interesting how America is going down a lot in society.  In Japan, it's really nice here!  I feel very safe, and there's no problems here really.  I felt an earthquake two days ago I think, but it's kind of fun! Haha, that's the only real problem in Japan.  Although, usually the word of wisdom is hard for Japanese people.

Also, there's these new Mormon videos called something like "Bible videos told by children" and they are very inspiring!! Please do look at them and share them! :)  Remember how important you are to Heavenly Father and that he knows your pains and when we look to Him.  He lifts our burdens.  Sometimes there's still pain and anguish, but we need to experience that and endure it joyfully in order to receive our godly reward in the next life.

Alma 37 : 46 O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever."

Here are some more pictures:

  

  

Until next time, Parker Shimai  :-) 

10th week in Japan, 1st area, Belated 2nd post... Lost in Ueno

[ 6/13/2016  Hello!   As you know Kirsten mentioned getting lost during her recent temple trip to the Tokyo area.  I'd say by the looks of the photos and video that they made good use of being lost, and went and got some food, and tried not to feel too worried about being lost!   Sorry I didn't get these pictures up last week, as this 2nd email didn't come through until after I had done last week's blog, there was a tech glitch.  There's a video at the bottom.    Enjoy!  K-Mom ]

                                                 

 

 

 

  

10th Week in Japan, 1st Area. Consecration.

My desk with my Ghibli collection

About your comment about my mission presidency, I do have a great mission presidency. They are all very caring and really in tune with the Spirit. 

Sorry, I don't have a lot of time for emailing.  We actually didn't go grocery shopping or clean today because we got a little lost in Shibuya; temple days are always so busy [temple day was yesterday].

I feel I'm serving with my heart, but there's still things I'm holding back so I'm not serving completely.  But I'm trying to overcome that.  It's mostly just fear and being obedient to the little small things.  I keep messing up but Sister Boden and I are setting goals and making plans for our next transfer [each transfer period is usually 6 weeks].  We are really going to be consecrated missionaries and see miracles!!

Miracle of the week:  We were invited in to an investigator's house.  She's never invited me in before and she's always been too busy to make an appointment.  I remember praying before visiting and really asking Heavenly Father to help her feel the spirit.  We were just going to stop by and share a new bible video told by children and she let us in. We met her inactive daughter who was baptized a year ago.  I really think we will finally get to see progress in her!  She's been an investigator for over a year. We call that an "eien no kyuudōsha."  Eternal investigator.

Until next time, Parker Shimai

*************
Meaning of consecration:  

What does “consecration” mean?

The word consecration isn’t a commonly used word, but even so, we might have an existing concept about what it means. In religion, the word consecration has been used in relation to the official ordaining of a person to be a preacher, a priest, or a missionary. This use implies consecration is for a special category of people.

But the consecration revealed in the New Testament is for every believer in Christ. It’s not something only for knowledgeable Christians or spiritually mature ones. In fact, as we’ll see, we cannot subjectively know the life of Christ in us or reach spiritual maturity without consecrating ourselves to the Lord. This is because consecration is the basis for every spiritual experience.

So what is consecration? Consecration is our giving ourselves to the Lord to become “a living sacrifice,” as Paul says in Romans 12:1:

“I exhort you therefore, brothers, through the compassions of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service.”

In the Old Testament, a sacrifice was something set apart for God by being put on the altar. When people offered that thing to God, it no longer belonged to the one offering it. It belonged to God, for His use and His satisfaction.

Today, when we consecrate ourselves to the Lord, we become a living sacrifice. We give up our own claims on ourselves and put ourselves completely in His hands. Previously, our life was for our use and our satisfaction; now it is for His.

When we present ourselves to the Lord as a living sacrifice, we’re simply saying, “Lord, I am for You. I’m no longer for myself, the world, or anything else. I am for Your use and Your satisfaction.”    [from http://biblesforamerica.org/what-is-consecration/  ]  

*******************

Temples are dedicated (consecrated) to the service of the Lord, after they are built or when they undergo major remodeling.   This is done by the Presidency of the church.  Usually at this time, the very final cornerstone is laid, and prayers to the Lord are given at this time.  After this, only members of the church who have passed a yearly worthiness interview, may enter beyond the front desk.  This may seem strange, but the Old Testament temple was the same way, where the gentiles could enter only the outer court.  The worthy Israelites had access to most of the temple, but the Holy of Holies was reserved for the High Priest only on the Day of Atonement.  Of course, after Jesus Christ was resurrected, the comforter (Holy Spirit) was sent, and the mandate was given that the gospel go to all the Nations.  Our souls, our bodies, are supposed to be worthy temples for the Spirit to dwell.  However, the physical temple, the consecrated buildings, fulfill a different role, and this role has never gone away.

Here's an evening picture of the new Temple in Sapporo Japan, dated 5/30/2016, by Tomoyuki Miyauchi.  This picture is from the internet (Sister Parker did not go there yesterday--she was at the Tokyo temple.)   Sapporo is in the Hokkaido Prefecture in the north.  Hokkaido is the big northern island.   The Sapporo temple will be dedicated in August 2016.  If you look closely, you can see some Asian influence in the architecture. http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/sapporo/construction/

Sapporo Japan Temple

The other LDS temple in Japan is at the opposite end of the country, in Fukuoka Japan (in the big island in the south). http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/fukuoka/ 

So now there soon will be three operating LDS temples in Japan.

9th Week in Japan -- 1st Area; Overcoming fear

As a missionary, I'm trying my best to overcome my weaknesses and putting everything on the altar (fears, or anything slowing me down from being an instrument in the Lord's hands).  I'm striving daily to be obedient and work hard, but not overwork.  Obedience is about saying, Not my will Lord, but Yours, be done.  I'm running everyday and working out for the full half hour.  I start personal study exactly at 8:00am, so I get the full time allotted for study.  At night, I end prayers by or before 10:30pm so I'm in bed and get the full 8 hours of sleep.  A tired missionary will be less productive and optimistic.  Every thought that I have I'm trying to turn to Jesus Christ and praying always.  I want to be completely clean and pure so that I can see more and more miracles working in myself and in the Japanese people.  

This mission is special.  The people here are special.  I believe by the time I leave my mission or toward the end, baptisms will be more common and the congregational wards will be multiplying and multiplying.  God's work only continues to move forward. (I call it Baptism Boomers. Tokyo mission is the mission of the baptism boomers [like baby boomers in the 1950's... ])   There are many family members here in Japan who need saving. One day Japan will be like Utah (lots of church members).  There are many people in Japan who are sad and hopeless and have no joy in their souls.  It's quite often for people here to not keep in touch with their family.  I'm glad I can email my family every week!   Time goes by so fast for me that it feels almost like I'm writing every other day! 

I can't wait to tell you all the wonderful experiences I have learning from Jesus Christ after my mission!  It's kind of hard to write it all out in one email, haha! 

I know it's a big sacrifice, but everything will be okay, if it doesn't feel like it is now.  God constantly watches over his children and he doesn't forget the faithful ones.  Always look to Heavenly Father, in every action, thought, and deed. When your whole heart sacrifices willingly, whatever the loss is, Heavenly Father gives back 100 fold blessings.   I am grateful for this opportunity to serve the Lord.  

One thing I've learned, and am continuing to learn on my mission is that when you put the Lord first, He puts you first.  You find the fastest and most happiest joy in Jesus Christ, in His ways.  You can truly change into a brand new person: Into the potential being that God wants for you.  Small changes of mind, can cause great changes of heart. 

Alma 37:

6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

7 And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.

..These things confound the wise.  Miracles confound the wise.  The simpleness and boldness of what true disciples of Jesus Christ preach and teach confound the wise.  See also Acts 4:10-13

Thank you for sharing your new wisdom of the references between the Book of Mormon and the Bible. Is it okay if I send you a talk by President Uchtdorf? It's really good, there's a story in there of two Elders.  I read the talk today.  It also mentioned about Peter and his fear and him overcoming it and becoming one of the most faithful disciples to Jesus Christ.  It's really amazing and very insightful. 

[ This talk, given by President Uchtdorf (2nd Counselor in the church Presidency) in June 2014, to the new mission presidents (so you won't find it in the Ensign archives), is called, "Fear Not, I am With Thee."   If you wish to have a transcript of this talk, please email a request to kirstenparkermission@gmail.com ].

So, Sister Riggs as I mentioned earlier got a sudden change in assignment and now is in a different location than I.   I have a new companion, Sister B______ who is great-- She's a really good organizer (this is not my forte, so this is helpful to me).

When Sister Riggs left, we wanted to have a district lunch (district of 4 people だけ) so we got ramen and it was SOOOO GOOD!! It has meat and thick noodles and spices and veggies and other delicious Japan goodies.

Here's a picture: 

  

Ramen lunch with the District

That's it for now.  Sincerely,  Parker, Shimai

8th Week in Japan, 1st Area. The Spirit can fill in the gaps.

When faith, work and endurance is the message,...

James 2: 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

When work is done, the message from Christ is:  Matthew 11: 

28 ¶Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Hello Everybody!

A New investigator and new potential investigator this week!! WOOOHOOOOOOO!!!! Obedience to the Lord is paying off :D

It is true what you mentioned about Japan.  Often Japanese people may say "Ah Bukyō."  Which means I'm Buddhist.  I could ask them what their favorite teaching is and they wouldn't know, they just claim the religion because their parents were that.  Sister Riggs got that often.  I felt impressed to go back and stop this mom that we biked past and she wasn't interested.  I had a thought pop in my head that was something like, "Sometimes you follow the Spirit and get rejected to get the right timing to meet the right person."  The next lady we stopped was interested in our message. We exchanged numbers and have talked on the phone! :)

That's a good idea about the index card with a scripture or positive thought written on it!  I do hand out chirashi [flyers] to people that aren't interested if they'll take it. I don't have as much email time today. We had other stuff to do like with an investigator and grocery shopping.  My comp is waiting for me.  I'll try to email more next week I'm so sorry!!!

This week has been great, but a bit different.   Since I've become area Senpai [Senior, a position of more responsibility], my Japanese is already noticeably improving and I can understand a bit better.  I was worried before about doing things right, but Sister Nagano [The Mission President's wife] called at the beginning of the week and comforted me.  Sometimes, I feel like I have the memory of a goldfish [probably due to having to remember so much right now, brain overload].  I give about 80% credit of my memory to the Spirit.  The Spirit has really lead Sister B______ [new companion] and me where we needed to go.

Even though I got lost sometimes [the Japanese address system can be a challenge], the timing of finding people was perfect. We were going to a member's house to give a gift to a young woman and I couldn't remember what apartment it was they lived in.  We walked a little further by the doors and there was the member we needed to talk to outside!  She just got home and her daughter was home.

We also were going to visit our investigator, and again, I couldn't remember the apartment number.  I was checking doors and double-checking and I couldn't remember where she lived.  But then we saw her on her bike.  She just arrived home and we were able to talk to her and invite her to read her scriptures!

We have a list of less-actives that we want to visit.  None of them were home this week.  We dropped a birthday card off at a less-active's house, I___ Shimai [Sister I____].   After we left, there was a lady I felt we needed to talk to that we passed.  She wasn't interested in our message. I remember thinking as we were turning around on our bikes to go speak to that lady, "sometimes the Spirit tells us to speak to people, even when they aren't interested in our message, so we can have the right timing to meet the next person who God has prepared."  The next lady we talked to spoke English. Her name is S______! She goes to a Japanese Christian church and was interested in our message. We exchanged phone numbers and will be meeting soon!! 

Take care,   Parker Shimai

Sent from my iPad

A thank you to Google translate:  https://translate.google.com/   It's a handy tool when you need it!

Here's a webpage with some typical gospel vocabulary words in Japanese:

http://www.freejapaneselessons.com/for-LDS-Missionaries.cfm    It also has audio.

The most important gospel word in Japanese, is, Jesus Christ  [ Iesu Kirisuto ], because he is our Savior [ Sukuinushi ]

Cultural note:  Parking lots in Japan, filled with bicycles too, not just cars

Mt. Fuji, image from a Google search

7th week in Japan -- 1st area; Earthquake status

From Kirsten's mom:  For those of you who might be wondering, Kirsten is fine, as are all the other missionaries.  I was so busy today, I didn't read the news, and didn't even know about the earthquake until I got the email from the Japan Tokyo mission office (gosh, I love those people for keeping the parents informed!)

There was a 5.6 earthquake last night (Japan local time), felt in the southern Ibaraki Prefecture, and the Tokyo, and Saitama Prefectures (Kirsten is in the Prefecture [county] of Saitama).   From what I understand, there was a lot of swaying going on; some people reported things coming off shelves, furniture moving, some elevators stopped, and the Metro stopped; some nuclear plants were shut down or checked as a precaution.  There continue to be smaller aftershocks in the 4 range.   In the picture below, the bigger earthquake (5.6 mag) is the orange ring (and Okegawa is in the orange ring)  The yellow and light green circles are more recent quakes (smaller magnitude also) and Okegawa is possibly *not* in those rings, or maybe on the very outer edge.

HOWEVER, one detail I forgot about momentarily:  I don't know where Kirsten was at the time.   There was an emergency transfer yesterday, in the evening, and Kirsten traveled into Tokyo I believe, probably on the Metro, because her companion Sister Riggs, got transferred in order to accomodate a sick missionary sister that had to be moved to a location closer to medical help. Sister Riggs also got a change of assignment along with her new location, in that she is now a Sister Trainer over several areas of the mission.   Kirsten returned to Okegawa and will be a senior type companion while her new companion Sister B_____ gets familiar with the Okegawa area. 

The earthquake occurred at 5/16/2016  9:23pm local time.   I am trying to imagine Kirsten's response.  I don't know if she has ever really felt an earthquake before, unless it was a very very slight rolling.

She probably felt some panic at first.  When the earth first starts shaking, one wonders for a moment how strong the shaking will get as the seconds tick.   I hope she isn't in a big earthquake like the one that happened in Southern Japan last month.   I guess we'll hear next week a lot more about the transfer and the ground moving.

We are studying Japanese earthquakes a bit, and have found out that Japan uses an early earthquake warning system (gives a few seconds, maybe a minute warning, depending on how close a person is to the epicenter.  Japan has lots of seismic monitoring stations.   Casualties have gone down with the warning system in place.   Also most of the earthquakes are on the coast, or off-coast, or at islands.   Being inland will possibly lessen some of the risk.   

If you want to hear the warning chime (for the earthquake warning system), go to:    http://www.nhk.or.jp/sonae/bousai/    

The site is in Japanese, but look on the page *currently in the lower right side of the page* for the thick bright green bar with the audio symbol on it.  Click that, and it will play the earthquake warning chime.

Signing off, K-Mom