The Brooklyn Bridge

Sister Brewer, Sister Kartchner, Elder Watson, Elder Schmeil, Elder Suzuki, Elder Yamamoto, someone's legs and random small candid Japanese child! Once upon a time a companionship in the best little area in the Japan Nagoya Mission did Weekly Planning as usual but did it for week FIVE and realized this transfer is almost over and that Sister Kartchner has to go back to real life in two weeks like whaaaat? Where did that time go?! Being a missionary is in the holiday season is the bee's knees wearing the cat's pajamas but also totally crazy. There is literally so much wonderful to do every day you are shocked to crawl into the futon every night because it feels like you just got out! On Tuesday we had appointment with one of the cute Kodomo Eikaiwa moms where we talked about the Restoration. She had a lot of great questions about other religions and the divisions and why our church is a thing. She is a great and sincere investigator. And her two kids are so cute!! That night...

Guess what? It snowed so much this week. Merry Christmas! Our Savior lives!

What?! It's another P-day already? It was long week but it went really fast! This is a picture of us wait for the でんしゃ (train) at the えき　（station). This week we have been meeting with our 13-year-old investigator who is so ready to be baptized!! She has been taught everything and believes in God and Jesus Christ but she just doesn't think she is prepared to be baptized. We're like you are!! Hontoni!!! Also on Thursday Sugiyura Shimai came with us and gave a powerful testimony. The members are so important! We need their help to find, teach with, fellowship, support and befriend investigators and converts. They are doing a great job here in Okazaki!  Yamada Shimai actually referred us to one of her friends this week! She is also a cute young mom. She is 30/30 investigator which means we do half teaching english and half gospel. They are so so so cute learning English together. She also seemed intrigued by the Book of Mormon and really interested so we'll see how the appo...

 I'm a real-life missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Nagoya, Japan!! My first area is down south in  Okazaki! As soon as I was assigned here ALL the missionaries came up telling me what an incredible area it is. I am so blessed to be here! Monday we flew safely all the way to Nagoya, where the mission presidency met us and took us to the mission home! President and Sister Yamashita are so sweet and wonderful and determined to help us to do the work! Sister Yamashita had a traditional Japanese meal of Costco clam chowder and croissants ready for us. After that delicious meal we went to bed and in the morning had great orientation and then went to the church to meet our trainers! My lovely companion is Sister Kartchner ! Wow this keyboard is really different and weird.  So　instead of going to our area we actually took the train to yokkaichi where i spent my first missionary work day with Sister Humphreys because Sister Kartchner had ST...

Happy Thanksgiving lovely people! I hope you have a magical day and a lovely holiday season. I am certainly grateful for the MTC. Our teachers are experienced and loving and dedicated to our success. There are people here to feed us every single day with edible and satisfying food. The huge media team makes sure all the enlightening meetings run smoothly and with really awesome touches. Our Branch Presidencies and their wives make sure we are spiritually cared for and loved, our companions are patient and willing to grow with us. It has been an honor to learn here. I loved my nine weeks and yes... you make it out! Monday morning I board the airplane to Nagoya, Japan! Hooray! This morning Elder David A. Bednar came and gave us a exciting devotionals. At the beginning of his talk, he had all these people pass out a large quantity of cell phones. After we shook our heads a little and answered each other's "Wait, what's a cell phone?" inquiries, Elder Bednar asked us...

What! It's P-Day already? The last two weeks are flying by! We only have ten days to be para para AAAAAAAHHH. Ha ha It's okay. We have been receiving e-mails from our senpai who have been in Nihon for two weeks. It made us realize we actually get to go and it's going to be fantastic! Barbosa Shimai has alas departed from us. She is in fabulous and beautiful Japan being a very well-trained missionary. We took her to the travel office at 3:35 Tuesday morning and waved to her riding away on the bus after a tearful goodbye. I thought I wouldn't see the sky at 3:00 AM again until after my mission but PSA and reminder: IT IS SENSATIONAL. One of my favorite things. Wilkinson Shimai and I love each other sooo much. Demo....it has certainly been harder to get used to being only a companionship. There is too much room to breathe in our room and our drawers our much too organized with only our belongings in them. Not to mention our lessons and study sessions sans her testimony. So...

There's an attemptively artistic photo for you. This week new kohai came in! Our first group of sisters as STLs! Whoo. They seem pretty cool and hopefully they will adjust well and love it here. I hope we can be good STLs. We are stiiiillll waiting for Barabosa Shimai's visa. Oh man. She goes to the Travel Office every day to ask about it. They don't have any answers for us...seems odd. I am honestly going to be really sad when she leaves our companionship. She has brought so much light and learning to my life. But I know Japan needs her and she wants to be there so so much!  Our district iswonderful of course. I admire their courage and testimonies and I am blessed to have them shared with me. Missions are truly incredible! Also necessary, a blessing and a miracle. All the senior missionaries here are so sweet too.  This week we had more wonderful devotionals and a really uplifting district lesson. The Atonement is REAL and an expression of love from Jesus Christ to all Hi...