Transfer 3.5: Changes are Coming!

Wow, this week has been crazy! CRAZY AWESOME!

The main event from this week is starting to teach these two CRAZY ADORABLE Vietnamese girls. No, but really, they are too cute for words. It is ridiculous. And if everything goes well, they should be getting baptized before they go back to Vietnam in March. I am really praying very hard that everything will go well. 

But that means that this week we hit my mission record of 3 Baptismal Dates! Well.... kind of. For a couple of days we had 3 baptismal dates. But when we met with our Chinese investigator, she said that he had talked to her parents about joining the church, and they became very opposed to it. And that really breaks my heart. So we are going to keep working with her and really pour our souls out in prayer to find out how best to help her.

One day I was sitting with Imano Shimai, Matsuzaki Shimai, and another sister named Yoshida Shimai (she is from Mexico) and I just felt so weird for a moment, being the only one who's first language is English. That shouldn't be a weird thing, considering that a lot of people's first language isn't English. It was just slightly bizarre for me for a moment.

 

Sorry for the late email, by the way. We didn't get all of our email time yesterday, which is why this is sending today. In case you were wondering. (I am sure you were)

 

What else has happened? Hmmm. Last week, I got myself a free ukelele. Not that I can play it or anything, haha. Also, it is really out of tune. It's kind of fun to look at. I guess it is good for something!

 

The only other big news is that I dyed my hair kind of red. So that is a thing.... and you know, we might like, I dunno, be getting thes weird things called iPads this week... I dunno, we'll see what happens........ ;)

 

(aka, I am waaaaay excited!!)

 

Not too much of an update, but I really did have an excellent week. It is really crazy to think of how much we do all day and how quickly time flies. Another transfer is already coming up soon! As the popular song goes, will I stay or will I go? (yeah, that's close enough) The work doesn't stop! What fun! What rapture!

 

Now I shall head out into the world and eat cake with some Elder's. And baptize the world.

 

Love you all! (THANKS FOR THE PACKAGE MOM AND DAD, LOVE YOU MOST OF ALL!!!!! :D Only 10 tens, impressive.)

Sister Teagan Clark

Japan Tokyo South Mission

1-7-7 Kichijoji Higashi-Cho

Musashino-Shi, Tokyo

180-0002

JAPAN

Transfer 3.5 Pictures

You can see my hair better in this picture. We had to take out bikes down some pretty devious looking stairs. The other picture is at the salon! WEEZ!

Sister Teagan Clark

 

Transfer 3.5 Pictures

I accidently dyed my hair red. Yeah, that's a thing.

Sister Teagan Clark

 

Transfer 3.4: Lead by the Stomach

Good evening, everyone. It is really good to come to the beginning of another week!

As you might of guessed, today we had our Temple Day, which is why I am updating today instead of yesterday. The temple was a beautiful, uplifting experience, as always. 

We had a few really amazing, simple miracles happen this week that I would love to be able to share with you.

The first is not too much of a miracle, but still amusing. We were walking to visit a member, when we passed the most adorable little cake shop with some adorable German decorations. We stopped to look at them and the girl who was working their was very friendly and waved to us. We continued on our way, but when we were returning, I felt like it might be a good idea to visit the girl at the shop. And eat some cake.

Some missionaries are lead by the spirit, but I am apparently just lead by the stomach. Embarrassing.

So we went, and had several wonderful conversations. The girl who worked there was really interested in learning about English, and the owner of the shop remembered the names of some Elder's that he had met a couple of years ago. Those Elder's must have quite the impression on him. We hope to be able to go again! (And by the way, the cake was DELICIOUS.)

The next evening, Matsuzaki Shimai was not feeling well, and we were considering canceling the eikaiwai/lesson that we had planned with a referral from Imano Shimai. Imano Shimai, being also sick, suggested that Bickmore shimai go with me. We were a bit nervous, but we sallied forth. I don't think I have gone into anything with so much faith before. Luckily, both of the parents spoke really good English, which made life easy for the both of us. Before we started the church part of the lesson, the husband was very clear with us. "I really respect everything that your church does to help people." he said "But I don't believe in God." I was just like, "Ok, ok.... Still gonna teach you about the Restoration." When we got to Joseph Smith's experience, I asked him to read it. You could see the speculation on his face as he read. Afterwards, as we were explaining a little further, he began to read ahead and flip through the pages of the pamphlet. He said "This is really hard to believe." We took a moment to acknowledge that and I said something along the lines of "I realize that it is. But that is why there is a book that Joseph Smith translated from an ancient record through the power of God. It is something you can read and pray about and find out for yourself if it is true." We testified of the truth of the Book of Mormon and he started flipping through the one in Simplified Chinese (they are both Chinese) Book of Mormon's that we had brought. After a few moments, he asked "Can I borrow this?" We just about died, I swear. We gave them the book and committed them to read it. 

I am so grateful for The Book of Mormon. Without it, our message would seem like a bunch of bologna. While we were riding our bikes home, Bickmore Shimai commented that I was rather brave to be so bold. (At the end of the lesson, I was pretty insistant that he, as the head of the household, say the closing prayer.) But I don't really remember thinking in the moment "wow, I am being bold" or "wow, I think the spirit is helping me know what to say." It wasn't until afterwards that I thought, "That was all the spirit."

It was quite the experience. 

Another nice thing that happened to me this week, was after English class, one of the students said that it looked like I had lost weight. She's too kind, really. But it still made me WAAAY happy! Yay for losing weight, whoohoo!!

I hope that everyone else has had a fine week! I have a lot of interesting stories that have come from this week, buuuut... I really can't find the words to even start to begin explaining our tea time with the conspiratorial non-denominational missionary couple. Perhaps that is a story for another time. 

The church is true. It is the one true church on the earth. I believe it. I know it. I LOVE IT!

Have a lovely week! :)

Sister Teagan Clark

Transfer 3.3 Pictures

I love my companion! We have a lot of fun! And she is always so loving and cute and amazing! I hope it is contagious, haha.

Sister Teagan Clark

Transfer 3.3 Pictures

The ocean is really beautiful! It is weird because I am always like "WOW OCEAN LOOK IT IS THE OCEAN" and Matsuzaki Shimai is like "uhm, yeah, normal life"

Sister Teagan Clark

Transfer 3.3 Pictures

More weird shell thing. I don't speak Japanese.

Sister Teagan Clark

Transfer 3.3 Pictures

My ADORABLE companion Sister Mastuzaki. We went to this weird shell thing by the ocean with our neighbor and it was basically pretty awesome. I do love me some P.I.'s. 

Sister Teagan Clark

Transfer 3.3 Pictures

Just don't do it.

Transfer 3.3 Pictures

Oh, and Happy Adult Day everyone! People who are 20 in Japan on this day all wore kimonos... Unless you are a missionary, haha. These are pictures from last week. Let's just say, we have the nicest neighbor EVER.

Sister Teagan Clark

Transfer 3.3: Orange Season

Hello everyone!

I hope that you have had a good week! Everything has been going pretty well on this side of the country.

One evening, on our way home, we saw this really beautiful view of Yokohama city at night. It was magnificent. It really made me realize how much I love Japan. When else am I ever going to live in the shadow of one of the greatest metropolises, where all I do is try to help people and help them to come closer to Christ? Yeah, I don't think that will be happening again for a really long time. I plan to enjoy it while I can. 

Communication with Matsuzaki Shimai has been going.... okay. We were trying to find an address the other day, and that was... interesting. Sometimes I wish I leaned more on my Dad's directional skills than my Mom's, haha. But Matuszaki Shimai said, while I was trying to remember which way it was, (this is translated) "It's not this way." and I was like...... "Oh, ok, we will go the other way then..."

...

Yeah, apparently what she really said was "It is not this way?".... They are the same sentence, yo. It was a very confusing day in my life.  

I was very lucky this week because I got to see SNOW! For about 3 seconds, haha. We went to Yokosuka for a Zone activity and when we walked off the train, it was SNOWING. I may or may not have started crying. I was really excited, okay? It was SO PRETTY! I love me the snow! When it only lasts for 3 seconds and I don't have to track in it! (Gomen, Eastern US missionaries......)

I might also mention that I think that it might be orange season in Japan... And I only think that because literally EVERYONE gives us oranges. "Oh hey, thanks for the message sisters, wanna visit my neighbor who isn't a member and also she will give you oranges?" Why does everyone give us oranges? I mean, they are delicious and everything, but I think we have all eaten more oranges than I probably ever will again... Except maybe in Japan this time next year. It really is rather ridiculous.

I just wanted to leave with a few verses that I jotted down during personal study. I hope you find them enlightening. I would definitely suggest that you include these verse into your daily scripture study. Of course you have daily scripture study, right? Right?! Good.

"Let us run with patience the race that is set before us" Hebrews 12:1

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you." James 4:8

Always With Love,

Sister Teagan Clark

Japan Tokyo South Mission

1-7-7 Kichijoji Higashi-Cho

Musashino-Shi, Tokyo

180-0002

JAPAN

Transfer 3.2: Japanese. Lots and Lots of Japanese.

Hi Everybody!

I have to start out right now and say that there might not be pictures this week. Quite a shame, I know. I have some good ones to share!

This week has been quite interesting. Possibly the longest last couple of days of my life. We have gone from having appointments everyday to having white days all week. We got to meet a lot of our investigators before Sister Hathaway transferred, so that is good. BUT Sister Hathaway has officially moved and I officially have a too-cute-for-words new companion!

Basically she is the most adorable little Japanese missionary I did ever done seen. But we mostly speak Japanese.

Japanese is possibly the most exhausting language in the world. I don't know how other people speak it all day everyday. I have never before been more exhausted in my life. At one point, by brain just shuts off, and I no longer speak nor understand Japanese, haha. I feel bad for my poor companion. I always make the most interesting faces when I am listening and trying to understand. I can usually understand most of what is happening but... Oi. When my brain shuts off, it just goes all down hill. 

On the 3rd, we went to our neighbors house and had a little New Years celebration. We wore kimono's and took pictures and it was a lot of fun. Kimono's are really complicated! But she was able to put them on us in like, 10 minutes tops. Now THAT is what I call SKILL.

We have seen a couple of miracles since Matsuzaki Shimai has come! We finally met a less active of whom we have been trying to meet for about 6 weeks now. That was a HUGE miracle! She was never home, but that day, she was! AND she has Guinea Pigs and let us hold them. SO CUTE. 

That is all I have to update you on, I think. Other than being exhausted and absolutely THE WORST at Japanese, nothing too much exciting has happened.

To you all, I have a couple of things to say, a couple of inspiring phrases I like from the scriptures.

From Alma 37:47

"look to God and live"

From 1 Timothy 6:12

"Fight the good fight of faith!"

Love you all so much! Until next week! :)

Sister Teagan Clark

Japan Tokyo South Mission

1-7-7 Kichijoji Higashi-Cho

Musashino-Shi, Tokyo

180-0002

JAPAN