The Merriest!

Christmas Day was magical! I am so grateful for Wi-Fi at the church
and my iPad and Skype (OK we are way too lucky), so I could talk to my
wonderful family in the morning! I receive so much power from your
testimony and support, thank you times eternity. After that we went
with Matsuno Shimai and our investigator Kobayashi San to a very
short orchestra concert. It was two lovely women one who played the
piano, the other the cello. my two favorite instruments! Such a
special treat. Afterwards we went to thank them for bringing the
Christmas spirit to our hearts, and they got talking about our
purpose, and they thought it was so cool how we were teaching about
the real meaning of Christmas. They were even more excited when we
said that they would that we would teach their kids English for free.
So it turned out to be a great finding opportunity! After that Matsuno
Shimai took us to a café to visit her friend who runs the place. Her
daughter actually just returned from doing a homestay in Ogden Utah
where she stayed with, you guessed it, a good old Mormon family! She's
been to temple square and everything! Their family is coming to
Eikaiwa on Wednesday, we're so excited to see them again. I'm so
grateful for the members being willing to introduce us to their
friends here! Feeling their trust is such a remarkable happy heart
moment.
On Sunday we went to the Nakajima Family's for dinner. SO MUCH
DELICIOUS AS ALWAYS. Their daughter Chie served a mission in Temple
Square, and her first companion Leslie from Michigan was there to
visit. It was such a fun warm happy family feeling for the evening. We
were able to share a message with a little magic, so much fun. I loved
hearing about missionary life in Salt Lake City. It was so
interesting! The transfers are so dramatic, because usually it's
something like "you're transferring from the South Visitor Center
to... the North Visitor Center!" But, sometimes when it's not so busy,
they actually get transferred to other missions! So Leslie served in
Minnesota for two transfers and Chie spent some time in North
Carolina! Crazy right?
WELL
I hope you want to read my testimony, because here it comes again. I
know that Joseph Smith is the man chosen by God to become a prophet,
restore the true and only church of Jesus Christ, our Savior and
Redeemer. The church is organized and run directly by God and Jesus
Christ, through tools in their hands like prophets, apostles, bishops,
leaders, families, and missionaries. I know we are an important part
of Heavenly Father's eternal family. He will lead us to eternal joy as
we support Him in His great and marvelous work in this last
dispensation. That's what it's all about, eternal happy families.
In the name of Jesus Christ, my Brother, Amen.
Love,

ブルーワ姉妹

I'M DREAMING BUT NO ONE PINCH ME.

Merry Christmas from the Matsumoto District!

Okay, finally I will write a letter.
On Tuesday we met at the golden clock at Nagoya Station with way too
many missionaries to all exchange companions and go to our new areas.
It's always a fun time! I met up with the one and only Sister Lima
from the Amazon in Brazil! She lives near the Manaus Temple. She is so
much fun. She also has an incredible testimony, every time she bears
it to me each day and such a simple way. I feel the spirit so
strongly. I can tell, as always, but very specially, we are going to
see a lot of miracles together in Toyohashi.
As we arrived in Toyohashi on Tuesday night, we were welcomed to our
brand-new apartment. Not just new to us, literally brand-new. We are
taking the stickers off of furniture and everything. We are so lucky!
Sister missionaries have not been here for 17 years. The ward has been
so welcoming and loving. I'm overwhelmed with the amount of love that
I'm drowning in. Sister Ishii, the mission presidents wife, called us
to ask how much food we had in the apartment. The Ward had already put
in some pasta and rice but Sister Ishii was worried about our
vegetable intake, so she called up one of her little sisters (both of
which are in this Ward), and within an hour, the Relief Society
counselor had brought over some vegetables, and Ishii Shimai's sister
took us grocery shopping the next morning. IN HER CAR. No bike
handlebar-grocery bag balancing acrobatics!
On Wednesday we had a great time at Eikaiwa, as usual. Just like in
every area, there is a widespread of very interesting folks learning
English in our church building. One of the many blessings of serving
in Japan.
Thursday our luggage finally came!
Friday we went back to Nicole information leadership conference it's
always way too much fun going to see everyone and talking about the
mission. I feel so blessed to be around such true friends, and
incredibly strong testimonies.
Saturday was the Christmas party! We were in listed to come for hours
early and help the really society cook, each of which is an incredible
woman! Of course. Because the members in Japan a rock stars. The
Christmas party was so awesome! Pretty much every member brought a
nonmember friend, and/or a less active member. Amazement. Their
interpretation of the nativity was very amusing but spiritual. Truly
our Savior was born for us!
He loves each of us. He was born free to us. That's why this time of
year is so happy, because of his selfless life and undying love for
us. Each of us can find joy in Christ. I am immensely grateful to be a
missionary. You don't know until you feel it. I am so grateful to feel
it. Wow.
A very Merry Christmas to all.
Love,

ブルーワ姉妹

Always Be Ready

ブルーワ姉妹

Hello!
I love Jesus and I love missionary work!
This week I am transferring from Matsumoto to TOYOHASHI! it's right
next to Okazaki, in the same zone I started out in. So excited for a
new adventure. I learned how important preparation is this week,
especially in 3 Nephi 4:18. We can prepare for all battles this life
will bring by studying and acting upon the words of the prophets. So,
be more ready than I was in this Zone Photo for whatever's next!
Love you!
Sister Brewer

Domo! Thankful, as we all are.

Courtesy of Elder Hansen's mom. I swear my companion was in this photo.

ブルーワ姉妹

HELLO!
Whoa.
*Adjusts mic volume, nods in apology.*

Hello, fellow saints. This week was great of course because I'm a
missionary. Too much happiness and blessings. Y'all should try it.
Sister Gunn and I had some great adventures going to really really
really far places. We went to cities like Azumino and Yamagata, such
beautiful night skies and long country roads. All the rice is
harvested and the fields are bare now, just like when I first arrived
in Japan. Weird!
All creatures of our God and King are stunning! I'm so grateful to be
in a biking mission, enjoying all the outside has to offer. I am also
extremely grateful for the spirit, which like a fire is burning and
keeping us warm.
On Wednesday we had a fun Thanksgiving party at our English class. It
was fascinating trying to describe the concept of stuffing to
everybody. They were convinced that it was disgusting and that we were
joking. Also, they couldn't understand the difference between
cranberry sauce and cranberry jam. We said a cranberry jam just didn't
exist. Is that right? I don't really know. Why do we only eat super
good food like that once a year?
On Friday, we actually had three lessons! It was so exciting! We had
district training meeting in the morning and actually didn't leave the
church until it was time to go home again. I felt like such a
missionary! It was a very invigorating day.
On Sunday, the Elders had a baptism. WHOO HOO! Ando Kyoudai was a
referral from his friend, Hirabayahi Kyoudai. He started taking the
lessons about a month ago and is got baptized yesterday. We know he
will stay because he has a good friend and fellowship from the ward
members. Faith is all about edifying each other with the spirit!
Member missionary work rocks! We also had Elder and Sister Murai, a
family services missionary from Kanazawa come and speak to us in
sacrament meeting. He talked a lot about member missionary work and it
was so wonderful! We were praying the members were feeling the fire.
I'm blessed with a terrific branch, companion, fellow bunch of
missionaries, Mission president and and experiences.
My ponderizing scripture for this week is probably Phillipians
3:13-14. We repent fully and gain a remission of our sins by following
the Gospel of Jesus Christ today, not worrying about what happened
yesterday. I know that as we keep our eyes on Jesus Christ and try to
emulate his attributes we will progress. This gospel is about growth
in knowledge, personal use of agency, and PROGRESS. Christ will help
us get there. All my love!

ブルーワ姉妹

Kansha!

We are definitely neglecting the picture taking recently, sorry. So this is an accidental screenshot of our weekly report video we send to the area presidency each week. Enjoy. (なさい？笑)

Hi fellow Organism samas.

This week was a lot of up and down, of course! Quite a few cancelled
appointments and a couple no-shows. We set a baptismal date with our
investigator Manami, which was so exciting, her desire is so pure! She
has been progressing wonderfully lately. Unfortunately, the meeting
with her parents did not go well and the date has been cancelled.
Another one of our investigators has been an investigator since 1945.
Yes! She is 91 years old, going very strong. She spoke at a public
event for seniors on Wednesday, and she talked about her experiences
with missionaries. We got to go listen which became excellent language
study and city introduction to the church! No, we can't figure out why
she hasn't gotten in the water yet.
Thursday I got to go on a companion exchange in Suwa with Sister
Tyler! I love her so much! Suwa is also impossibly beautiful, along
with the rest of Nagano Ken. We even found a cute new investigator
together, the spirit was so strong! I love meeting children of God
every day, it's a very enlightening experience. Sister Tyler also made
exceedingly delicious Omu Raisu. Yes.
Okay so thanksgiving is this week?? We were getting ready for bed and
Sister Tyler was like "wait, it's the third Thursday of November
right? Happy Thanksgiving?"
So we were belatedly/prematurely grateful. Psych.
Friday was a rocking District Training Meeting from the one and only
Elder Tanaka! He is so shy and Japanese but the meeting was excellent!
We shared about our Book of Mormon heroes. There's too many! We all
pick everyone! But you can say all the colors, that's tacky, so I
picked Mormon. His faith is immovable! He experienced so much
destruction and was humanely alone through most of his life. But, he
Covenanted when he was ten to preserve the record, and he did so very
faithfully! And look what happened! True church, living prophets,
eternal families. 1,000 points to Gryffindor (I'm assuming Mormon was
a Gryffindor, probably, right?).
On Sunday one of our new
half-investigating-the-gospel-half-investigating-the-English-language
investigators came to church! Hurrah!
本当に皆さんの愛と信仰に心から感謝しています！
I am deeply grateful for the love, faith, and support I have from you
people I love. I am grateful for mine and yours, the Savior Jesus
Christ. I'm grateful for this gospel of infinite happiness.

Much love,

ブルーワ姉妹

Yum and Yay! As always.

And that's what companions are for, taking secret pictures of your back in scenic Japan.

Hello!
This week I've have a new favorite food. It's called
オムライス(omuraisu)、which is rice and vegetables in an omelette. SO GOOD.
I crave it all the time. Don't worry though, I am still fully faithful
to my kitsune udon and Mac and cheese favorites. (I'm coming up on one
whole year without eating mac and cheese, can you believe it? How is
she surviving. Faith, that's how).
Speaking of foods, we visited a really awesome member this week whose
house is hidden away in a secret beautiful mountain of smallness. I
swear we bike 200 years backwards into this little yamavillage she
lives in. That's was great! Her testimony is rocking. Japanese members
are like celebrities. They have sacrificed a lot to become members,
and they way they show their faith and pure love of Christ is
exemplary. And she fed us tsukemono. Japan has this food called
tsukemono. What would that be in English? I don't even know. Oh, I
guess pickles. Yeah, they are like pickles, but for all vegetables.
They pickle all these vegetables and feed them to you. It's not my
favorite activity.
Remember our adorable 18-year-old investigator from a few weeks ago
who was in love with the Book of Mormon as soon as we handed it to
her? Yeah, we finally got to meet with her again! She prayed for the
first time and it was magical. Yay! Happy spirit moments.
Also, we went to the Kawabata's on Thursday and she made omuraisu.
Happy food moments. Sigh. Happy.
On Friday we went to Nagoya for Mission Leadership Council Yaaaay!
President Ishii announced a mission-wide goal to have 70 more baptisms
before the end of the year, which is one per companionship! Whoo! I
felt the spirit testify really strongly to me that we can do it if we
work hard enough and have enough faith, ganbaro! At the end we knelt
in a circle and President Ishii said the prayer. POWER.
Sunday was district (like a stake but little because here) conference,
where my favorites Elder and Sister Whiting came! They gave such great
talks in Japanese!
The Book of Mormon is the word of God!
Read it, please. I testify that the promises in Mosiah 2:41 are sure,
living the teachings of Christ brings temporal and spiritual
happiness!
Much love,

ブルーワー姉妹

BOO! Did I scare you? Out of Baptism? Oh.

As you know, Halloween is my very favorite holiday so I was so excited ALL week even though it's not a very big deal in Japan. However, we had successful Halloween parties for both Eikaiwa and the Branch. A lot of people came, it was so great! We didn't get the OK on costumes from the assistants until right before, so we had to run to the dollar store and see what we could do. We had a lot of fun and met a few new people with potential for gospel investigation. Yay!

Monday we had a lesson with a newer investigator who brought one of her friends! Whoo-hoo! He was listening the whole time, the spirit was strong, then we asked him to read one of the passages in the Book of Mormon. He did, then flipped through it a bit and asked, (the first thing he has said all lesson) "Hm. I need to buy myself one of these books." 

WAA!

So then we gave him that one and exploded internally with joy (I feel like I type that a lot, but it happens a lot on your mission. Very hard on your internal organs, but it's okay, because we have the resurrection). We had another lesson yesterday with them, they had read thirteen chapters into first Nephi! Whoo! Introducing other commitments was a little rough but we have something to work with. 

On Tuesday we finally had Zone Conference! We were the very last for the transfer, because sometimes  they forget there is a Zone way up here in the middle of mountains. Just kidding, best for last of course! Right? Some excellent training on love, diligence and gratitude. I love President and Sister Ishii. I am learning so much about the missionary I want to be just front their example. Then they bear testimony, and the spirit is purely there. This Zone overall has just been incredible this transfer, truly it felt different. It felt like everyone's desire increased, and we were really ONE working for the cause. Whoo. It was powerful. I'm sad four missionaries are transferring out, won't be the same! But, new missionaries, new learning experiences. One of the marvelous things about missions. You meet some many people with experiences and testimonies. Glorious, really. Eternal learning hooray! Oh, and Sister Gunn and I are staying together in Matsumoto! Ha ha, for which I am grateful. I love this place!

Wednesday was English class Halloween Party, Thursday was Trainers meeting in Nagoya, and Saturday was Branch Halloween Party!  Oh, Friday. Hm...Friday was kind of a blur, plans kept changing, we met some weird (children of God) people. A 92-year-old woman insisted incessantly that we drink the coffee she was serving, that allegedly missionaries before had drank, but we politely (so, in Japanese culture, very rudely) declined. She called us later that night to say she was testing our level of Mormonaucity. We passed. Phew.

Sunday- great testimony meeting from the branch! All I can is please- bear your testimony in word and deed! Testimony is when the spirit comes in and conquers all! So POWERFUL!

This week my ponderization is in Moroni chapter 8-

25 And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins;

26 And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.

ブルーワー姉妹

Matsumoto Castle!

ブルーワ姉妹

Had a great time here, and even better time in the Book of Mormon this
morning. Check out 2 Nephi 25. Much love!

Working in the Field

And by that we mean rice fields, not just the mission field, because that is a lot of what we did this week. Our Ward Mission Leader gave us a list of Less Active Members to visit, which was very much appreciated! We have spent the week looking for them. We ventured to one of the valleys of Matsumoto about two hours from the church. We got off the train and followed our all-loyal, sometimes-accurate phone map to her coordinates. The map led us up some forested hills, around a highway, and through many beautiful rice fields hovered by cascading skies of stars. Because, there are no street lights in the country, as you are aware. Or many buildings for that matter, so we were counting the rice fields on the map to try to know where to turn. But the spirit led us along, we found her house AND she was home. We taught a short lesson and were able to give her a Book of Mormon, which she hadn't seen in a while. A miracle! I'm grateful for the warm experiences I have with the spirit here, letting me know that God is truly loving and leading us. God is Our Loving Heavenly Father! 

My ponderizing scripture this week is 1 Peter 3:15:

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

One of the best ways to be a missionary is to be an example! Like the apostles expressed in conference, we can be a peculiar people. But if we are unwavering in our faith, and abundant in our kindness, the prepared will recognize the good in you. Shine the Light of Christ consistently and be ready to share it at any opportunity. The Spirit gives us plenty of them.

Thank you for all the love and support, I love you!

Sister Brewer

ブルーワー姉妹

SISTER MISSIONARIES

Not as sophisticated as you might think.

Matsumotoooooooooooooo です。

Hello! It's been a bit of a whirlwind around here, feels
like a month since last Pday! I've been on the train more than in my
futon, but now we are all Nice and settled here in beautiful 松本！This
is the largest area in the mission, so overwhelmingly large, but it's
in Nagano Ken so it's beautiful! The weather is very slowly beginning
to cool down as well. Monday was so crazy right up to the last minute
trying to move out, create the
please-take-out-our-garbage-because-they-won't-today-since-it's-a-holiday
Trash Schedule for the Elders, cleaning, packing, appointments, blah
blah blah (or in Japanese-nani nani nani). Tuesday we had a great
session of Trainers' training in Nagoya, then I stayed with beloved
Takaku Shimai (my trainer) and Barazza Shimai in Kasugai that night.
Back to Meito in the morning where I met Sister VICTORIA GUNN, from
Jacksonville, Florida (shoutout to Alyssa). She is so genki and fun and loves the people in
Japan so much! We are going to have a radical transfer together. I can
already feel major power. Whoo! The spirit has been strong this week. I'm
so happily grateful about that. In case anyone forgot or was
wondering, being a missionary is the MOST MARVELOUS EXHILARATING
moment of your whole life, it deserves capital letters all the time.

So we rode back to Matsumoto Wednesday night, taught Eikaiwa and then
the Elders led us to our new apartment. Good news! It is pretty much
clean and only smells a little bit weird! The four Elders have
actually been a huge help every day this week, we appreciate it so
much. We dropped our luggage, went to sleep, but got right back on the
bus again Thursday afternoon since I had Leadership Council Friday
morning. We decided to take the bus since it was cheaper. But it was
two hours longer, total of five, so we decided that was not worth it
again and rode the train back up Friday night.

The miracle-tastic part is we found a new investigator on Saturday AND
Sunday!! We are starting from the bottom-up here so that was pretty
exciting. Both of us were asked to give talks in sacrament meeting,
which was fun and intimidating. The branch put up with my Japanese
kindly and even chuckled at the cold jokes. They are so welcoming,
we're so exciting to work for them. There are many miracles to be had
in Matsumoto! Every missionary says it because every missionary hears
it, but I testify that this is truly God's most important work. It is
glorious and joyful. Christ has come, He is the light. We each need
Him and will be led to happiness through Him. I love Him and I love
being His missionary. If you have any questions email me! :)
All my love,
Sister Brewer

Sent from my iPad

I Don't Know Why You Say Goodbye...

Hello, humans. Here's a bit of this week, the last of the transfer!
First of all, we had EIGHT investigator lessons this week! *crowd
cheers* that is about seven more than usual, wit was really thrilling.
A lot of new investigators, so Rogers Shimai and I made a goal to
invite everyone to be baptized. It was scary, but the spirit was so
much stronger, and I felt like a real missionary! Two said no, four
said maybe, and two said YES!! They have set the date for October 25.
They are so beautiful!!! God has prepared them, and I am so grateful
he led us to them. Their desire to follow Christ is there, it's so
beautiful!
On Friday we went down to Amori for the Branch President's family Home
evening. His granddaughters, age six and four, were way too cute and
seemed to enjoy the magic show. It was so refreshing, kids are so
magic! Sister Takei also made an immense amount of delicious food,
including lasagna, it's been a while since I've eaten that, it was so
scrumptious!
Saturday we wait in anticipation for transfer calls, not expecting
much, since we both just got here to Nagano. That was a terrible idea,
because President Ishii called to say that he is closing the Sisters
in Nagano, to make way for the couple missionaries coming next year.
(Jaw drops)
Sister Rogers is being transferred to Ichinomiya in Aichi ken, to
follow up train her new Brazilian companion. (Jaw defies laws of
anatomy and drops lower like the bass)
I will be going to the next shi over, Matsumoto, where sisters have
never served before, to train a new missionary. (Jaw detached from
facial structure and plunges to the depths of the Sea of Japan)
So that was transfer calls! And then assistants were like...oh yeah
it's a national holiday next week so make sure you send your luggage
TODAY because they won't pick up luggage after that. So...we ran up to
Zenkoji street, taught a lesson to beautiful and wonderful baptismal
candidate #1, raced back home, threw everything in our suitcases and
sent them off (don't worry Mom, I still folded). And then started to,
you know, do move-out-of-the-apartment things. The two sets of Elders
in Matsumoto will be doubling up in one apartment to make room for us.
While I am very grateful, I'm not particularly ecstatic to be moving
into an...Elders' apartment. I've never been in one, but I've smelled
one. I must maintain hope for the cause.

I learned a lot from the spirit this week. I'm grateful God gives it
to us to attend His work. It's message is pure and it will always
strengthen us in testimony. Reading through the Book of Mormon, I
realized that it truly is a record of a fallen people, which is sad.
So much truth and goodness was offered to them, but they denied it
because of their pride. Which is really hard to recognize. But the
Light of Christ is not, so once you see it, you just have to grab onto
it and see it more and more! Only those rooted firmly and actively in
the doctrine of Christ survived. While sad, it paints a clear picture
of the simple and only way to true, eternal joy and salvation. It is
the doctrine of Jesus Chirst: faith, repentance, baptism, receiving
the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. See 2 Nephi 31.
Keep smiling, working hard, and sharing the gospel with all His
children.
Love,
Brewer Shimai


The Naganos

Because you know I'd bike a thousand miles...

This week the report comes from my dear companion, because she took the time to wrote it. Please enjoy, have a radical week and be missionaries! :) 

We have found more investigators this week than we have the whole transfer combined! On Monday we were talking people near Nagano eki when we saw a girl in shorts coming our way and we knew we had to talk to her!  The experience we had was kind of like Alma 32:34,"And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant." We didn't have to have faith the she would become an investigator because we knew she would. We meet with her on Wednesday! 

Here in Nagano, we have three levels of Eikaiwa and Brewer Shimai and I teach the middle school level. Usually this would be fun, but our students refuse, REFUSE to talk. And if you ask them a question, they look at each other and whisper-discuss what their answer is for five minutes...only to not say the answer. Example:

Us: what do you eat for breakfast? 

Them (whispering in Japanese): what did she say? Breakfast? Like what do we eat for breakfast? What do you eat? I don't know? What do they want us to say? You say it. Me? I don't know what to say. 

And so forth. But our past two classes have been really good! We starting teaching them how to tell time and talk about their school schedules and they are eating it up! And they are actually talking to us! In English! Also, fun fact: apparently there is a time set apart for students to clean the school. Kind of like recess, but instead of jump rope and chalk, they give you a rag and a spray bottle. So if you are ever wondering why Japanese people are so clean, it is because it has been soap-scrubbed into their souls from when they were young pupils. 

This week President Whiting, member of the first quorum of the seventy,area president over Japan and Korea (translation: very important church leader) toured the mission. When we started talking he said, "I can speak frankly to you today, and let you stretch a little or I can speak gently and leave you feeling warm and fuzzy." Obviously we opted for the former and I am soo glad we did! I wanted to become such a better, bolder, more faith-filled missionary after that! Also, his wife served in Japan in Nagano, where she baptized a bunch of people, including the son of our investigator. So cool! 

On Saturday, we had a Vietnamese cooking night/branch activity, where the Elders' vietnamese investigator and his four non-Japanese speaking Vietnamese friends made us some crazy good Vietnamese food. Our investigator  came and all the members loved her! And maybe I had known this before but it was only made manifest to me now, but I'm really bad at Japanese small talk. 

Noriko: so, do you have a boyfriend? 

Us: No. Do you? 

Noriko: No. 

Us: ....

I'm sorry I wrote you a novel. So if you don't feel like reading all of that, just know that I am so grateful for this time to change people's lives and help them "grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created [them], or in the knowledge of that which is just and true." 

Go eat some Vietnamese food.

And I second that.

Love,

Sister Brewer

Jugglers in Spandex

Monday, we took the two-hour train ride to meet our awesome new
investigator who cancelled five minutes before. Cool! Not phased, we
rode the train right back home and ate dinner with all our might.
Tuesday we went looking and looking and looking and FOUND A NEW
restaurant we want to try. So we'll probably go there today. Wednesday
was the epitome of awesome! We had a practice lesson with a member is
the sweetest! Hearing the members' testimonies is always so refreshing
and strengthening. Little did we know her husband (who came to church
the Sunday before) isn't even a member yet, but she said, I'm going to
go home and teach this to my husband! It was so exciting. THEN,
because of the beautiful and blessed faith Of the member, we talked to
a woman on the way home who agreed to meet with us the next day to
learn English and about the Gospel. And yes, there was a choir of
angels lined up in the tiny Japanese road, singing "Hallelujah" as
that occurred. We were in shock for a good six hours.  So the next
day. She
A) CAME to the appointment!
B) was so super nice and fun!
C) was really excited to read the Book of Mormon
D) scheduled a return appointment for TODAY!!
And thus we see and remember that the Lord blesses us in times of
trial and joy. Missionary work is pretty hard but you don't really
realize that until you get here. But it's also the best moment of your
whole life, because you know you are exactly where you are needed,
doing exactly the best thing you could be. Even when it is knocking on
the doors of apartments housing people not yet willing to listen. The
Lord will always guide us to light; if light is success, happiness, a
learning experience, a scripture, a friend. Every day is a miracle.
「14 And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the
vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and
also of rejoicing--sorrow because of death and destruction among men,
and joy because of the light of Christ unto life. 」(Alma 28)

Also, Friday- Sunday also happened, with nice and humorous and hard
and enlightening moments in between. On our way to a member's house,
we passed Zenkoji temple where there was evidently some kind of
festival happening. We peaked to see the performer everyone was
gathered around, to see a man with a rather flamboyant
hairstyle, hot pink feather boa, and very tight tyedye spandex suit
on. So tight in fact, I was led to believe he just dunked himself into
a lava lamp and came to perform. But his juggling was really good!
Then we proceeded onward, walking away with a slightly more
interesting blog entry title than usual.

Much love to you all. Be happy, be missionaries.

Nothing and Everything.

Greetings, Fellow Hitos.

On page 156 Preach My Gospel so lovingly lets us know that "Nothing happens in missionary work until you find someone to teach." I can therefore, confidently tell you that n o t h i n g  happened this week!

Uuuuuuuunntillll last night of course! Because end of the week miracles are definitely a thing. 

We decided to go streeting near the Nagano eki! Not because we had nothing else to do, but because that was our definitive choice. Yes.

So after a couple hours we headed back toward the front of the eki, and talked to this really tall and pretty woman. She was definitely not Japanese. So we asked. She was from Morocco! And you know what they speak there? ARABIC. And what does my most radical companion speak?

ARABIC.

Needless to say, she accepted to meet with U.S. Tonight to hear about what happens after we die. HOORAY! 

As I have testified of before, the Lord answers our prayers. My testimony of that grows and strengthens each week is this remarkable field. I didn't know it was like that. I thought you just gained a testimony of something and that was that. But no, Doctrine and Covenants chapter 50 is so true,

24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

That's how it works, when we work on it and towards it, our light of Christ grows brighter and brighter and we receive more knowledge and experience. I love this thing. 

Love,

Sister Brewer

REUNITED

And it feel so good.

SHO, after tragically saying goodbye to the Papenfuss Shimai Monday I stayed he night in Meito and picked up Sister Rogers in Nagoya Tuesday. It was so weird and cool to be back together again. She described it as, "being born (trained) for two transfers, dropped off at to the babysitter (new companion), and then back again now that her mother (me) is done vacationing for the summer up North (Nagano)."

But we've been having way too much fun cracking the lame jokes we've saved up and making new goals to ROCK as missionaries. We hope. 

We taught a total of FOUR lessons under 15 minutes this week. Hooray! Ha ha no one. NO ONE could/wanted to meet because it was a holiday this weekend called O-bon. It is to respect the ancestors who has passed on. Really cool!

HoWeVeR, we went back down to Nagoya Thursday night for Mission Leader Council on Friday. It was definitely the highlight of the week! President and Sister Ishii gave great lessons on the Atonement. The Assistants also prepared some very motivational training. The. We had an Atonement testimony meeting which was so special! The spirit was reallyreallyreally strong. I love the missionaries I serve with! I am so grateful they and other people around me have the light of Christ and His attributes, so I can learn a little about Him, through them. The Atonement is real, and it's for all of us!

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

Alma chapter 7

Love you, thank you for being missionaries!

Sister Brewer

Stripes on stripes on stripes.

Sent from my iPad

Goodbye to You, and Oh, Hello Again

Greetings, Blog Reader.

Please submit your guesses now for transfer announcements!

I woke up this morning after having the strangest dream. I had finished six really short transfers and only had six left. It was quite startling! Luckily I woke up, realized I was still a Beanchan. 

Phew!

This week was full of exciting and emotional appointments on account of this being Sister Papenfuss' last week in the field. WHAT. NO AUGUSTUS WATER HAZEL WE ARE NOT OKAY. She has been working so hard right up to the end, which is inspiring. She loves the people here from the sincerest part of her heart. She has given it all her courage, effort, patience, and love in six blessed areas. And I've been soooo exceedingly blessed to partake in her companionship. Tears were shed and we closed our planners on the final Weekly Planning Session together (do cue 1980s soap opera elevator music). The point is I'll miss her a whole lotta much! We are on the train right now heading to Honbu. What is that in English? Mission Headquaters?

We had a good week with the two investigators. #1 is getting closer, but she still doesn't have the feeling that baptism is right yet. #2 did well in her second lesson, too. She is so sweet. She wants to believe in God but...can't yet? She will get there. She has a lot of faith!

Sister P wanted to go streeting for her last few dendō hours last night, so we did! It was almost refreshing to be rejected that many times in an hour again. Makes you feel like a MISSIONARY! Yeah!! We even met a sweet woman towards the end who exchanged phone numbers with us. Yay!

Friday was our last District Training Meeting with Elder Bills, who is also going home today. He always teaches a good thing through the spirit! He even bought the Shimai ice cream because it is near our birthdays. Hooray for the Nagano-Ueda District.

I'm grateful we could take the sacrament yesterday. The priesthood is a very special blessing. I'm  so happy the truth and authority has been restored. We truly have the tools to prepare daily for our return to our Heavenly Home. So letting everyone know about it is so important! Reading in the Book of Mormon about the Restoration is so powerful. I love Alma's words to his son Shiblon, who is such a great, humble example. 

"2 And now, my son, I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end." (Alma 38)

Book of Mormon people are very cool, I recommend highly getting to know them.

I almost forgot! Transfer calls came this Saturday! President Ishii called to announce that I am staying in Nagano! (Crowd cheers). And that my new companion is...Sister Rogers! (crowd says, wait what? But then begins to applaud, and eventually cheers). Yes, Sister Rogers and I will be reunited after a long seven weeks apart. I'm so excited! This is really rare to get a companion back. Yay!

Everyone, have a genki week!

Love,

Sister Brewer

The Nagano Four. I do peace sign for me AND my companion. #unity

Missed Trains and Knowledge Gained

Hey guys, iss me Miranda--

Ehem, oh, no I mean Sister Brooklyn Brewer, reporting live from Nagano Japan. 

Tuesday, we had to do some major iPad training for the area book app we dont have yet. Wha hoo, so fun. We also taught the Eikaiwa! We teach the junior high students and they are so good. As hard as I sometimes think learning Japanese is, learning English from Japanese is way harder. Seen on T-shirts in Japan:

"Exceptional dispose immensely, its lovely to see you"

"Catharsis Staunch Lovely Eulogy"

"Blowing"

"Wreath"

"Fact the truth is Boat"

On Wednesday we left our rice fields to visit the ones in the far away land of Matsumoto for interviews with President Ishii. It was a wonderfully uplifting time. He is such an energetic, dedicated man. Good news: Despite being an imperfect missionary, I get to stick around for the next six transfers! Hooray! Sister Ishii is also very cool. She made us experimental anko cookies (yum) and even went to the combini when she felt the meeting was getting a bit long and bought us all a tomato. Tomatoes and eggplants are major in season right now! We eat them every day. So then I swapped my Powerfuss Shimai for the Tyler Shimai! We did a koukan and had lots of fun streeting. We pulled our gaijin (foreigner) card approximately many many times, trying to speak comprehensive and spirit-led Japanese. We just...usually cannot understand what the people answer back to us, so we attempt to give the most general but energetic response we can think of together and encourage them strongly to visit Mormon.org where there are videos in actual Japanese. We also visited a long-time-no-see member, who lives about five minutes from the apartment. Thanks to my excellent navigation skills, we arrived there in just under thirty minutes! 

Speaking of which, the next afternoon we rode along to the eki where I put us on the wrong platform for the train back to Suwa. In good old Nagoya this would be no big deal, just hop on the next one. But here where the fresh crops highly outnumber the amount of humans, we needed to wait and hour and a half for the next train. So the other shimai scurried back to Suwa instead to make the appointment, and we got there around 8:00, for Suwa Sleepover party of four, where Tyler shimai so kindly lent me her pajamas. 

The next morning Papenfuss Shimai and I jumped on the 5:30 train (because waking up at 6:30 is for sissy missionaries) to catch our 10:00 appointment back in home base Nagano. We made it! She was a cool new investigator. A yoga teacher, who did yoga while we told her how to teach in English. And then she listened to our spiel on prayer, and said she would try that out kureru. Yay!

Then a most lovely Eikaiwa student had us over for a delicious dinner of rich, creamy cold potato soup and luscious bread. Perfect for the 40 。C weather! Yum! But then she seemed to  have forgotten she had done that and fed us a delicious dinner of rich, beautifully seasoned blue cheese pumpkin pasta. Next was the summer vegetable cheese casserole, for health.Then she was under the impression she was feeding a sumo army, so out came the "American-style" biggest-steak-I've-ever-seen and abundance of vegetables. And don't forget dessert! Two lovingly large scoops of scrumptious ice cream, complete with dressings of french toast, berries, apples and peaches. I had busted into every nook of the second breakfast/fourth dessert stomach I thought I carried with me always, but alas, I exploded completely and the poor woman and my companion had scrape pieces of me off the walls and ceiling.  Oishikatta!

The Saturday involved the famous Japanese festival with an awesome member bringing her friends to introduce to us because she is awesome! What an exciting bit of culture!

Sunday was a wonderful fast Sunday where I recieved an unexpectedly delicious fulfillment of spiritual light. What a wonderful day, to be a missionary in August 2015, in this blessed dispensation. Christ is the light. Looking to Him will bring us the joy we cannot fathom the portion of here in this earthly moment. He will lift you, help you, guide you, bless you. He loves you.

22 The light of the body is the eye; if, therefore, thine eyebe single, thy whole body shall be full of light. (3 Nephi 13)

29 Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shallbe opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and untohim that knocketh, it shall be opened. (3 Nephi 27)

I love you. 

Be happy and safe, be missionaries. Let me know what I can do for you.

Sister Brewer

Rollin like Sushi

Hello loyal readers!
I'm still in Japan and the gospel is still true and I still love it
all. Thank you so much for letters I have received! They are so
wonderful to read. Post a scripture you have like decently and
recently below! :) mine is Doctrine and Covenants 68:6. Smile be happy
be missionaries!
6 Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with
you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus
Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am,
and that I am to come.
6 元 気を​出し​なさい。​恐れて​は​ならない。主​なる​わたし​は​あなたがた​と​ともに​おり、あなたがた​の​傍ら​に​立つ​から​で​ある。あなたがた​は、わたし、すなわち​イエス・​キリスト​に​ついて、わたし​が​生ける​神の​子で​ある​こと、わたし​が​かつて​おり、今おり、やがて​来る​こと​を​証しなければ​ならない。

Lovely Lake and Catchy Cuisine

We have just come down from Togakushi Mountain for a magical Party
Day! I mean...preparation day. *coughwink* we had an AMAZING hike to
Mirror Lake, then through the old ninja village, and through the cedar
forest up to this super historical Shinto shrine. It's been a
beautiful, spectacular day to say the least. きれいでしょう
On Tuesday we had Welcome-to-the-Mission Conference for President and
Sister Ishii. They are so fantastic! Of course. But truly, I am so
excited to work with them now. President Ishii says he wants to focus
on the missionaries having a good balance between spirituality and
fun; teaching and service. It'll be stellar time!
Wednesday we had such a good, full dendo day! Thank you for your
prayers, we really feel them. One of highlights was the lesson we had
with one of our long-time investigators. She is really great, but
isn't confident she's ready to be a member. We reviewed the baptismal
interview questions with her and were surprised to hear her bear
testimony about everything it asks about. It was such a special
moment! 祈ります
Thursday Papenfuss Shimai was sick. So we had to stay inside. It was
my first inside day ever and it drove me crazy! After the area book
was updated to death I wanted to go outside and get rejected in
Japanese so badly! Ha ha. We are very grateful for our health. Yay for
summer fevers! めんどくさい
Friday was Zone Training Meeting in Matsumoto. Always a good time! The
Zone Leaders are working really hard to try and make everything
better. お疲れ。
Saturday the highlight was visiting a member, one of the most radical
of people. Her house is full of cool old fashioned Japanese things and
she has a thousand stories to tell. Partway through her visit a man
comes in with this huge tray, the lunch she has ordered us. The are
the prettiest bento boxes you've ever seen. She says what it is, and
Papenfuss Shimai mutters, "I hope you're able to keep it down."
So I open the box, and low and behold, there are four, long EELS
laying across the rice.
I begin my seafood eating tactics immediately. いただきます。Start with the
largest one, use lots of rice, and swallow whole. This only gets me
through the first two, as I'm running out of rice. Next, I try to use
water. Effective at first, but also creates a sort of "swimming down
my throat" type of effect. I the resort to telling myself it's
chicken, but I prove not to be an excellent mental actress. Through
grace bestowed upon my tongue I finish the eels and turn to the
beautiful bowl of miso soup waiting for me on the side. I take a big
long sip of being proud of myself and wait, what's that I taste? Not
miso, that's for sure.
Eel liver soup.
I didn't even know eels HAD livers!!!
おわり
Love you! Have joyful days.
ブルワー姉妹
Mosiah 18:9 (^_^)

The Reign of President Ishi Begins 半分おわた

Konnichiwa 😄
Mina wa genki? It's been a beautiful week in the Nagano Japan.
Full of Olympic history, lush mountains, and very kind people!
Monday our beloved President Yamashita completed his assignment as our
mission president. I am going to miss him and Sister Yamashita a lot!
I learned from his example, very strongly about the pure love of
Christ and dedicated discipleship. But President and Sister Ishi have
arrived and we are excited to meet them at Hello Conference tomorrow!
In Fukutoku! So far, everything is far in Nagano. Ha ha. とい
On Tuesday we met a less active member with a really cute nine year
old! The mom also made us scrumptious apricot jam. Apricots and Nagano
soba are currently in season. Yum! Other food ventures this week has
included tomato gelato, basil shrimp sushi, and Sister Papenfuss's
"inside out" chocolate chip cookies. :)
You can infer for yourselves which of those I enjoyed most thoroughly.
おいしい😋
On Thursday we went housing and street contacting at the station for a
very very long time! All day, actually. Nagano station is very big and
quite the tourist destination so it was really fun to meet people from
a lot of different places in Japan. Some even from previous areas
Sister Papenfuss has been in. Hooray for referrals! While riding our
bikes a woman in bright green, pinstriped Aladdin pants jogged by and
from our "Konnichiwa!" came back with a high volume and friendly
"Hello!" We were blessed to end up running into her TWICE the next
day. She said she has some interest and questions about Christianity
(what?!) so she wants to meet when she comes back into town next week.
きせき
On Friday we went up with Haniura and Eri Shimai to see the famous
Nagano FIREFLIES! They we so stunning. What a cool creation! One of
them actually flew up and around us a few times, and then nestled
itself into my thanks-to-the-humidity very frizzy hair and sat for a
spell. Ha ha! Very cool way to get in touch with nature. We then when
to teach a FHE message and Hanuira Shimai's three-year-old
granddaughter (going on 13) played us a song on the piano, read us a
book about fireflies and discoursed us on the contents of her home.
Too much cute! かわいい
Saturday was INDEPENDENCE DAY!! Which no one celebrates here,
obviously. But Pappenfuss Shimai and I sported the RWB all day! Hooray
for America! We taught a lesson with a less active in the moutains by
this hidden waterfall. Yes, my life is too good to even be a
missionary.
All Creatures of Our God and King are truly breathtaking! I felt the
spirit very strongly, the love Heavenly Father has for all He has
created. The trees praise God by singing with the wind, the waterfall
by rushing consistently down the cliffs. The mountains by standing
firm and obediently to each of God's commands. That's how we should be
too! As His beautiful creatures.
Love you all. Be happy, be safe, be missionaries! 頑張りましょう!
Sincerely,
Sister Brewer

*restarts mission*

After seven months in my beloved Okazaki and I transferring to NAGANO! Transferring requires a lot of...to do list items I didn't know about, so sorry for the short post. But smile all day long and be missionaries!

Please read: 1 Nephi 11:17, Book of Mormon

Love,

Sister Brewer

Some of my Okazaki Favorites.

Questions and Answers しつもんです

For the report today, here are some questions I have received from a lot of people!

And my that I mean...questions I was asked by myself and faithful letter-writing uncle.

What does your teaching pool look like? 

Currently our teaching pool is eight women we found by a wide variety of means: Housing, talking to them in parking lots, member referrals, back of the area book, and the occasional self-referral miracle. We are very blessed with investigators! Teaching is my very favorite part of missionary work. Here you get to see children of God realize that is what they are, and that is so beautiful! A few of them are what's called 30/30 investigators, meaning we teach them English for thirty minutes and a gospel lesson for the latter thirty. Depending on your definition of progress, typically investigators progress very slowly; there are willing to listen to what you have to say and sometimes even read the Book of Mormon. But, they will develop interest, ask questions, and keep commitments at their own pace, usually after a few month or years of being an investigator. I learn a lot from the people we teach. I have learned that each child of God truly has the light of Christ in them. They go about doing good and can recognize the spirit in their lives, because they feel it when they serve others, care for their family, decide not to go graffiti the junior high school with their friends, etcetra. 

 

What is typical for the number of people you work with at any given time? 

Well...our ward has about 600 members, 140 of which are active. And eight investigators. But people are usually not home when we visit. We teach about 13 lessons per week.

I have heard a great deal about people in Asia's desire to save face and make appointments and then not be there when the missionaries show up ( have you seen this?).

I actually have not seen this very much. A lot of people told me this
before my mission, but Japanese people are some of the most honest I
know. They will tell us rather simply if they have interest or not. I
have only been stood up three or so times.

What is the purpose of life?
The purpose of life is to fulfill our joyful potential given to us by
our Father in Heaven. We do that by learning of and following the
example of His son, Jesus Christ.

Love you all!
Sister Brewer

Lights Up! 一かいだけ泣きました

Hello! So, serving in Okazaki and Kariya feels like playing two roles in a musical. In Scenes Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday Act One I play the part of senior companion in Okazaki, trying to do things right and pretend I know how. In Kariya Act Two of Wednesday, Thursday, Friday I plan the part of beanchan trying to meet all these new people with the same names as everyone in Okazaki. Loving not having to read the map but feeling like I didn't read the script. Then the weekends where we may or may not go back and forth here times. Sometimes I cant even remember what costume to wear. But Heavenly Father the director and Jesus Christ our leading star pull it all together and make up for my weak notes and forgotten lines for a great show. We most certainly have a LOT of magic to do here in Japan. I love it! 

 I am enjoying many fun drinks in Japan: melon cream soda, salt and fruit kirin juice, and mostly water. Japanese people dont drink water. Only me; so confusing. Happy spiritual moment of the week:

We visited a sweet less active member in Kariya. She is only 19 but her parents and brother have passed away. She has definitely been through a lot of suffering and still is. I was very humbled to meet her, as she was cheerful and welcomed us into her home. I felt the the spirit testify how much Jesus Christ loves her. Jesus Christ loves her, and as His representative we need to show that love to her. I love her. I love my companions and each ward member and the investigators we are graced with and each child of God we meet on the street. I am eternally grateful for the missionary experience. It has changed me and I pray it continues to change me so I can do the work the Lord needs me too here and through my whole life. 

Receiving letters is awesome so tell me about something rad or crazy that happened to you recently. 

Be happy, be safe, be missionaries!

I looove you!

Sister Brewer

Miracle of the Week!

Yesterday we found two new investigators! Actually, they found us. During companionship study yesterday we received a call from Brother Miura, who informed us that here were two girls at the church who wanted to talk to sister missionaries. We biked over there quickly to discover a former investigator from last summer and her friend. She came asking if she could start hearing the lessons from the missionaries again. We talked about the Book of Mormon, Heavenly Father, and set an appointment for Saturday.  She even shared with us her favorite scripture. Truly a miracle! Prayers are answered. 

In Kariya we have met exceptionally kind members. The sisters who run Eikwaiwa are amazing! Wonderful spirits and so nice to the missionaries. We also had the opportunity to teach a lesson about modesty to the Young Women on Saturday. It was surreal to see those young girls, doing personal progress and thinking about going on a mission just like I was. That feels like just yesterday! 

 Peace out team, and keep being missionaries. 

Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Brewer

Sent from my iPad

A Nihonjin, Gaijin, and Beanchan Walk into a Sushi Bar...

Hello adoring fans (Mom and Dad) !
Guess what? Another rather shocking transfer call came last week!
Brought to you by: Hastening the Work.
On Friday we became and tripanionship! Three sisters, one
companionship! We now have Sister Aso from Hokkaido. She is the
awesome ^.^ other small plot twist is we are working in Okazaki AND
Kariya. Two areas! Two wards! Whoooo! Don't ever get comfortable on a
mission folks, you
will be turned upside down right when you're not expecting it! Change
is awesome. Haha so
that has been an adventure, we spent these past few days in Okazaki
and tomorrow we are going to Kariya. And because of events going back
and forth about three more times this weekend! It really is
cool teaching as three! It's kind of crowded but really fun and I am
so grateful to be living with a Japanese companion again! Nothing else
earth shattering occurred this week but we did get to teach THREE
lessons to less
active families last night that was a miracle!

Japanese Allergy Medicine

Hey humans!

This week in Okazaki we saw some great miracles as sisters. Our long-time investigator  chan was able to meet again! *celebratory remarks*

Last night we saw two miracles! We went to visit a less active member we have had trouble contacting for a few months. However, yesterday she came out, was happy to see us, let us share a message, and thanked us graciously for coming. We were able to give her a copy of the Liahona and pray together. Such a happy moment!

Then, we found two new investigators through OYM on the way home! We had sent a goal to give out a Book of Mormon in next hour and we were blessed to meet the perfect person! Then we found a woman who was interested in our message about families and 30/30 Eikaiwa program. The Lord answered our prayers!

Sister Rogers is such a great companion! She teaches, testifies and prays very well in our lessons. She is from Ohio and this is her very first transfer. tis the season, for major allergies. But a little wasabi cleared that all up. Love you! Thank you so much for the letters I have received, love them so much! Really brightens the day. 

またね！

Sister Brewer

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What To Expect When You're Expecting がんばろう

Somehow another transfer has flown by! It is a beautiful Sakura Spring here in Japan! I love it!

I am so sad to say my dearest Sister Takaku is transferring away. :( She will be an immense blessing to her new area! I have learned so much from her about how to be compassionate and focus on the needs of people.

My new companion is...wonderful but no one here has met her yet! She is a brand new missionary I get to train! I am so ecstatic. She's is coming to the best area ever! Hold on tight Sister, we're headed for an interestingly miraculous adventure.

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Do Do, Do Do ひかり

Here is a photo of the sushi I devoured prior to gaining another kilogram. Kidding, they are not all mine. One is Sister Takaku's.

Hello from Nihon, land of the rising sun and miracles!

This week we are just going to lay down some stories, because this week was fantastically packed with them!

We visited one of our new investigators. We taught her about the Atonement. She is still a little hesitant on the whole Mormon thing, but she felt something special about Jesus, that was a cool moment. Then, without me even thinking about that direction, Sister Takaku just lays down the baptismal invite! (internal me: 'what? *panic* ohmygolly yes go go Takaku Shimai go go! Whoo!') Investigator didn't say yes, but she didn't say no. So she's thinking about it. So awesome!

That night as we were walking home we were just trying to chat with the interesting assortment of folk walking around at 8:45 p.m. and found a woman who agreed to meet with us again!  This is bad, but sometimes you kind of get stuck in the rut of 'kekko desu' (no thank you) and forget what to do after they say yes! You're like Ah! Where is planner what is Japanese do I have a phone number konnichiwa where is our church building what year is it?! But that moment is very excited and full of much hope. 

The next day we found this adorable young couple who said they would also meet with us! Man we were on investigator-finding fire! (as far as Japan goes).  But they had so much interest in our message and were like yeah sounds so great! So we prepared for them a marvelously thorough church tour and well-rehearsed Lesson of the Restoration for our appointment for which they did not show up and later blocked our phone number. HoOrAy!

*Sighs and moves onward via bicycle*

On Wednesday we had an Okonomiyaki/Takoyaki party with Sister Yamada and her friends! That was so delicious and Japanese!

Friday we stopped by the middle of the Stake Youth Conference. What a great time! I was surprised to discovered it pretty much looked exactly like a Youth Conference in Utah, except everyone was Japanese and they were having curry on rice instead of hot dogs. Our youth are so cool! And Sister Takaku got to see her convert from another ward, such a sweet moment. 

On Saturday we had a stake volleyball activity! That was so fun and embarrassing! *flashes back to high school days of attempting to participate in P.E.*

Earlier that day there was a Relief Society potluck, which is extremely delicious in Japan, just a warning. Sister Nukui brought one of her friends.  She said she really liked the environment of the church. Therefore, we invited her to come Sunday and she said YES! 

She came to church and during combined meeting we taught her the first lesson, and before we could get ten minutes in, she asked if she could be baptized. I shall repeat for our audience at home. She ASKED if she could be baptized into our church. While attempting to calmly mop up our hearts after they exploded with joy, we taught her the rest of the lesson. 

My darling associates, I testify that hard things are for learning from and answers come from prayers. Heavenly Father loves us.

Love,

Sister Brewer

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