Konnichiwa from the Other Side (ただいま!)

Returning missionaries compare going home from the field to death, which is rather dramatic. We have built this new life, and sometimes a new person based on that little white book and big-deal of a blue book. We are on a now-familiar, stringent 16-hour work schedule and most of us have come to really enjoy it. We are blessed with plenty of time to study the gospel and many opportunities to bear testimony.

You are doing all that one day, and then tomorrow comes and you step off an airplane into another world, different from the new environment and loved ones you have grown in and close to. It's all snatched away at once.

It's kind of like...going on a mission in the first place! Ahahaha, everything is an interesting eternal round. I didn't quite feel like I died coming home, but it was very strange. The mission seems like a short, wonderful, weird dream I had. 

The good news is, it was real! Real, just like real life; the mission was exciting, beautiful, very difficult, confusing, strengthening, challenging, loving, and full of evidence of God. 

As a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I was called to serve in Nagoya, Japan. The cities I worked in were Okazaki, Kariya, and Toyohashi of Aichi Prefecture; and Nagano and Matsumoto of Nagano Prefecture. 

The weather was similar to Utah, four seasons with increased humidity. We traveled by bicycle, train, and a good amount of sweat or rain! My companions and I met and taught many humble, kind, passionate, Christlike Japanese people, along with people from Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Chile, China, Korea, Vietnam, Egypt, the Philippines, USA, Thailand, and Morocco. I proselyted in Japanese, but was also assigned to study and teach in Portuguese for the last three months of the mission.

My mission presidents: President and Sister Yamashita, and President and Sister Ishii, are each native to Japan and provided excellent examples of the type of missionary I wanted to be. I remember consistently feeling immense love from them and learned much about diligence, consecration, love, and teaching from them. I served with nine different companions, learning something important about Jesus Christ from each of them. I can honestly report that I love each of my companions dearly.

A highlight of my time as a full-time missionary was the opportunity to testify of Jesus Christ every day. I am grateful for truth to testify of, and doing so gave me an electric feeling I absolutely love. Feeling the Holy Ghost with people, watching Christ change them, therefore being inspired by them. That's magic!

What anyone will tell any "discouraged" missionary is that your efforts are not measured by your results. Of course not. We can't make any conclusion like that because we have such a minuscule view of this thing as humans. No one can or does promise you "baptisms" as a missionary. As a missionary, your purpose is to help people develop the faith to be baptized, and keep those commitments eternally. No one my companions and I talked to or taught have been baptized yet, and sometimes that made me feel like a lousy missionary. Somedays, I probably was a lousy missionary. That's why I am grateful for repentance, and the Atonement. God commanded me to do something I wasn't able to do as a missionary in Japan. Though it meant I failed, if I didn't put all I could into accomplishing that purpose just because I knew I wouldn't be able to do it, I wouldn't have done what He needed, become what He needed me to do. If I knew I wouldn't see baptisms, I wouldn't have worked for baptisms, and learned so much on the way. That's also not what we're working for, baptisms. We are working for people, for Christ. The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught. (Doctrine and Covenants 3:1) 
I testify that what He commands us IS what is best and right and eternally progressive. He can see it. He lets us see what we need to as we grow along. He teaches us the answers to the questions He will ask us. 
Going on a mission was a rewarding experience and the right thing for me. I am grateful for the way it has influenced my character and decision. I am happy to be back in the SLC and love being a muggle as well! I hope to always be a missionary. I love God and His many creations. Jesus loves us, He is among us.
Love,
Brooklyn 姉妹

Dendo Headliners

If they published a newspaper for each day of the week, here's what they headlines would say! But I'm not sure, because I don't read the newspaper, because I'm a missionary. Book of Mormon for days. Like. Every day.

Monday: Sisters Rejected Even Harder Whilst Trying Out New Family History Approach But Eventually Finds Golden Brazilian Family To Teach

Tuesday: Less Active Member Stands Mid-Lesson and Declares "We Are Going to the Culture Festival!"

Wednesday: Investigator Makes Major Breakthrough With Holy Ghost-Feeling Experience

Thursday: True Church of Christ Restored By Joseph Smith and Sisters Given Opportunity to Testify About it To Amazing Recent Converts

Friday: Brazilian Member Requests Sister Brewer Cook Six Large Steaks 'American Style;' Sister Brewer Has Never Made Steak

Saturday: Japanese Family Serves Missionaries Hamburgers Standing 30 Centimeters High

Sunday: 85-year-old Woman Sisters Spoke To On The Sidewalk Thursday Suddenly Shows Up At Church

And that's the Gospel Truth! Actually, Jesus Christ is our Savior and loves you. That's actually the Gospel Truth.

Love,
ブルーワ姉妹

I Eat Wind For Breakfast

Hello Kind Readers!
How was your week?
My favorite moment this week was yesterday!
A great member invited us to her home up in Toyokawa for dinner.
SURPRISE.
No authentic crazy Japanese foods ladies, she MADE tortillas and we
had slammin soft tacos! Her non-member mother happened to be there,
and she had a lot of great questions about Christianity. It wasn't too
crazy, but we were able to do some simple, direct testifying about the
savior and it felt SO good! The spirit of God, like a fire is burning
here in the field because He LIVES! I remembered in my past life that
I did a lot of acting and theatre and stuff. Some skills I learned
there have been rather useful here in the field! Sometimes the play
you're in is lots rainbow sunshine and happy scenes and sometimes it's
tragic or boring. Usually you just have to act like you have your act
together. However, I think acting isn't about pretending to be what
you're not, it's about creating the character you want to come. I love
the work.
That is all.
I love you.
John 16:33
ブルーワ姉妹

Our CITY! :)

Japanese Hearts and Brazilian Dinner Tables

Dearest Mom, Dad, Katelyn, and Eavesdroppers,
Hey it's me! Sister Brewer in the Japan Nagoya Mission. Currently
stationed in Toyohashi city, working happily but you haven't heard
much about it recently, sorry! We have been delightfully busy, and
sometimes even busy with the things we want to be busy with.
We had lessons this week!
In Japan:
We've been teaching English/Gospel lessons to a sweet, spunky woman
who loves the church but doesn't want to join it. You know, which
we've heard a couple of times. She's really nice but has been pretty
closed off. In this weeks lesson, Suleman and I were trying really
hard to decide what she needed. It's all the same as other machine
stories that you've heard from me and other missionaries… We prayed
really hard, tried to feel the spirit, and felt it! I taught the
lesson and it wasn't perfect but it went really well. We were able to
feel the spirit and she opened up a little bit more. Little by little
people! People open up. It sounds cliche until you experience it, but
faith and hope and people and in the Lord are so important.
On Friday, we were leaving a Kentucky from a meeting, and getting on
the train. We talked to a cute high school student who She was on her
way out. Turns out she had met the Okazaki sisters a few times last
month! I told her to call them when she had time. Well, she actually
did! Turns out that she goes to school in Okazaki but lives in
Toyohashi. Last school year, she stayed in St. George Utah with a
Mormon family and attended Doctrine and Covenants seminary, girls
camp, trek, the missionary lessons thrice, and church every single
Sunday. I think she beats me. She's in a really intense choir at her
school, so she usually has rehearsals on Sunday. However, she had this
week off, so she decided that she wanted to try to see what church was
like in Japan. She was so thrilled to find out that there was a church
in Toyohashi, that she came right away, and she was so fashionable! A
seriously cute outfit. Afterwards, she said she finally knew it was
missing from her weekends.

:O
Today a less active member is coming to the church to dress us up in
kimonos! There is a very fancy particular way to do it, don't you
know. We are very excited. Stay tuned for those photos.
#memoirsofageshiashimai


In Brasil:
Monday we had an appointment with a woman our ageish with the cutest
two year old toddler. You know, after we partied with her at the huge
Aeon mall for Pday. She had actually read her Book of Mormon
assignments AND answered the questions we wrote down for her AND wrote
down additional questions AND didn't come to church. You can't have
it all. But she is really progressing. Yay!

On Tuesday we had a dinner appointment at sister Irmã Arataque's
house, who makes ridiculously miraculous beautiful lovely gorgeous
Brazilian scrumptious food. Did I say it was delicious? Okay, so she's
making the food, and the particular pot that she's using to make the
dish, apparently is not working properly. So she asks us to run over
to the apartment next to hers, to another member's house, and ask to
borrow hers. We get there, they're so surprised to see us, and
immediately start making Brazilian pizza and heating up the oven
rapidly. We're trying to frantically explained that we are, but they
INSIST we partake of their pizza before returning. 30 minutes later we
are hobbling back to Irmã Arataque's is house, full of scarfed down
Brazilian pizza and grape juice. She was worried we wouldn't come
back, and said, "I knew I shouldn't have sent you there." And kept
cooking concoctions of celestial smells.
(I think. I still haven't miraculously learned Portuguese.)
Someone we made room for three helpings of the masterpiece she
created. I don't know what any of it was called, but it was delicious!



I testify that God, Jesus Christ is in charge of this work, which
involves all of us. Our job is to find out what we need to do to make
the plan work. We all have a part, we all fit in and will come out
happy. I love purely this gospel more than I even know.
I love you!
ブルーワ姉妹


Those flattering moments.

A VERY bad poem

And an unfortunate rhyme scheme.
Love, Brewer Shimai

This day has been busy
So quickly I'll write
Because I'm to dizzy
To have a keyboard fight

Tuesday was quick as sneeze
Silmara's first lesson was great
It was all in Portuguese,
But the Spirit? You don't need to Translate .

Wednesday NO ONE was home
But at night we had English Class
Some of those students (some)
Really have sass.

Thursday my comp and I exchanged
Sister Owada came with me
There's only the kindest people
Here in Toyohashi

Friday I gave up on Rhyming
We had a nice ZTM
Could have been better
But I'm grateful for each of them.

Saturday was DELICIOUS
We made, like, so much mochi
We met a new investigator
And that was like YOSHI!!

And Sunday was good too.

I love being a senkyoushi!
And for this brand new Toshi,
Let us remember our Savior
Who did us the grandest favor.

I sure love you!
And God does, too.

ブルーワ姉妹

Miracle on Sesame Street

This week we had a member appointment EVERY SINGLE DAY! Can you even
imagine? We had a great time teaching practice lessons to them, it was
a really good chance for me and sister Lima to get some good practice
teaching with each other. Toyohashi Ward is full of absolutely
incredible people, great testimonies, interesting stories, superb
cooking skills, and generous hearts.
On Sunday the Bishop and his wife brought us muffins from their recent
trip to COSTCO! Oh man, I don't know about yours, but my breakfast was
stellar.

We were blessed to meet and teach some sensational children in the
families this week. When we are around the Japanese kids, my heart
beings to play this beautiful, simple, cheery melody with a piano and
harps and the cello and other happy instruments. Then the whole things
gets very warm and kind of smiles inside my chest. I believe we call
that the Holy Ghost. I'm very grateful for the gift thereof, and the
proper priesthood authority in my life to have given it to me. I am
thankful for my Heavenly Father sharing with me His pure and
remarkable children. I can understand a little bit more when Christ
says,
20 ...Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full.

21 And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare
record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and
blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.

22 And when he had done this he wept again;

23 And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little
ones.
...
22 Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child,
him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for
such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore
repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved.

3 Nephi 17; 9, Book of Mormon.
I know this is true. I love you!
ブルーワ姉妹

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

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。

It's like the Pumpkin Spice Rage, but...Japan

Because Starbucks is where you should find missionaries. 

We just had to try the six-dollar Sakura milkshake, you know?

This week we gained a NEW INVESTIGATOR! Hooray! I am so happy. She is an older woman who we met in the train station. She let us come over and teach the first lesson on Friday, and we were able to invite her daughter to listen as well! They had a lot of good questions about the apostasy and were intrigued by the Restoration. They committed to read the introduction of the Book of Mormon and pray to Heavenly Father. She even said, it was lucky fate that we met. This is a truly a miracle! I know Heavenly Father blessed us to be able to meet her. I am so excited to continue teaching her. I hope I can bring the spirit every time. 
Bishop Tsujioka has been doing a great job motivating the ward to do more missionary work. He has made sure everyone has a copy of "The Power of Everyday Missionaries" in their native language (Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, English...) and challenged everyone to read it. In Relief Society the President asked everyone to write down a date and time when they are available so she can make a "Member Dendo Calender" for us as a resource. We are truly blessed here in Okazaki with wonderful members. We will improve our efforts together. 
You heard it in Sunday School, Sacrament Meeting, Facebook, General Conference and every missionary e-mail ever. Missionary work is imperative and absolutely full of joy! I testify of the truthfulness of this and highly recommend the experience to all. Miracles truly come when we act consistently in faith. In Heavenly Father's timing, of course!

Love you, kind blog reader. Smile all week long! If you have any questions, ask them to me please!

Sincerely,

Sister Brooklyn Brewer

Japanese!

さくら: Sakura

Those beautiful pink cherry blossoms you associate with Japan. They are beginning to sneaklily peak in nature and bombard everything that can be flavored. Cool pictures will happen soon! 

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