"Every Member a Missionary"

Dear family,

Another busy week here in Nagamachi! Last Monday/Tuesday during the zone leader training (where my companion was invited to) I stayed here in Nagamachi with Semba Shimai, who is in her 2nd transfer and serving in Koriyama. It was a blast dendoing (tracting) with her and learning from her great example! That first night with her when we were on our way with her bags to the apartment, I felt prompted to stop and talk to someone on his bike waiting at the stoplight. He’d met with previous missionaries and he gave us his number. We have an appointment with him this week! The Lord really places those who will listen in our path!

We met with Helen san last Saturday. She’s so busy with work and her family that we weren’t able to meet with her for about two weeks, so we’re pushing her baptism date back to June 29th. She’s super worn out from work, but is excited for and trying to prepare for baptism. She’s amazing!

Right now we have about 10 investigators—but only a few of them are able to meet every week. Among them is Shoji san, an 82 year old grandmother who lives by herself. She first became our friend when we met her a few weeks ago, then yesterday she came with us to church for a lesson! She is so sweet and believes everything we’ve taught her. We are not sure how much of it she will remember, but she’s reading from the Book of Mormon and praying!

Another one of our investigators is Suzuki san, a referral from the ward mission leader. She’s one of his classmates. She really wants to learn English before her huge exam next January. So, we meet her and teach ½ of the lesson in English, and then the other ½ is one of the missionary lessons. At first she was only interested in English, but she’s slowly started gaining interest in our message, especially when we taught about the Plan of Salvation. She thought it was amazing—all God did for us. Suzuki san is about our same age and has become a good friend!
Yesterday we had Zone Conference. It was wonderful as always! We learned about the importance of working with members in doing missionary work. Truly what President Kimball said is true: “Every member a missionary!” We hope to work in unity with the members here in Nagamachi and help inspire them to do missionary work.

It was also Yoneda Shimai (my former companion’s) last zone conference. She bore her “dying testimony” during testimony meeting. It was very touching and it will be hard to see her go. After she’s gone, all my companions up to this point (besides my companion Kouzawa Shimai, who will finish at the same time as me) will have gone home! Where does the time go?!

I love preaching the gospel each day to everyone I see! Lately as I’ve become more sincere in my prayers the Lord has blessed us with more guidance from the Spirit in finding those who are ready and waiting to hear the gospel. Only the Lord knows where they’re at!

I love all of you! Thanks for your love and support.

Love,
Swain Shimai

P.S. Transfers are coming up soon...
P.P.S. I love you all so much!
P.P.P.S. This is a "Book of Mormon" cake we made for an elder's birthday!