Week 56: Happy day!

Wow. What an awesome day. And week, although a lot of it was spent inside. Since transfers are today, I figured I would start with what is going to happen this next transfer. We got a phone call this morning from Welch Kaicho (the mission president) and I thought it was going to be for Tanda Shimai, so I let her answer. A few seconds later, she brought the phone to me and said it was for me. My first thought was hat Welch Kaicho was calling to see how Tanda Shimai was doing. But instead he surprised me by telling me where I was transferring. I am transferring to Yonago (where I got to go on a kokan last year with Komai Shimai). I will become an STL (sister training leader) and will be companions with Mackenzie Shimai (a sister I met on Facebook before my mission, and we met in the MTC). AND wait there is more. Yonago is in the Okayama Stake, which means I might get to see my sweet favorite Tsuyama friends. :) I can't stop smiling, I am so excited! Tanda Shimai is transferring to Kobe, so they can help her get better and get her whatever medical help she needs. Stevenson Shimai will be transferring to Katsura (a sister who is half Japanese, but grew up in Japan) and she will be training a new sister. Miyagi Choro is transferring to Hiraka in Osaka, and Tanaka Choro will be staying here. There are going to be a lot of crazy changes this next week, but I am SO excited!!! :) we did something called yogen-ing on Friday after district meeting, where you predict where everyone will be going/ who will be staying. My yogen for myself was that I will be transferring to Yonago, and become a sister training leader. I was so surprised that I was right! :) I love Yonago, and I love Mackenzie Shimai, and I am SO excited! 

Okay. I'll calm down now.

So this week, Tanda Shimai was feeling pretty terrible. We weren't able to do a whole lot, and most of the week we were inside. So I did lots of cleaning, and letter writing in Japanese to my favorite people in Tsuyama, and sent messages to some of our investigators who are struggling. On Sunday (yesterday), I couldn't help but be grateful for all that I have. We were in sacrament meeting, and I was helping translate for a couple from Australia. Miyagi Choro was also helping their investigator who moved here from Vietnam. So at one point we had three different languages on our iPads. Tanda Shimai in Japanese, me in English, and Miyagi Choro in Vietnamese. What an amazing blessing it is to be able to use technology on our missions, and to be able to share the gospel with people in their own languages. 

Another really cool thing that happened yesterday is that we were able to visit M chan. She home stayed with a family in the U.S. Who were members, and so when got back to Japan about two weeks ago. One of the elders that is also serving here in Kyoto was friends with the family she stayed with, and so he asked if we could go and visit her. We haven't been able to because she lives really far away, and we haven't really even been able to leave the apartment recently, so we called the Bishop and asked if he could help us. We went with the Bishop and the Elders, and drove to go meet M chan, hoping that she would be home. When we got there her dad was outside. The Bishop and elders sat in the car and waited, while we went to introduce ourselves. We said that we were missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and he kekkoed us (said no thanks, we aren't interested). We told him we were there to see M chan, and he called up for her. She answered and was like what?!? Then he called for her again. She looked out the window and what did she see, two really cute sister missionaries.... (I looked out the window and what did I see? Popcorn popping on the apricot tree.) Anyways, she saw us and was SO excited! She ran outside and started talking to us, and then she was like wait... How do you know me? We explained and talked and were so grateful. Her dad and mom also talked to us.

M chan and her dad. SO cute!

 About a week ago she Totsuzen... um randomly? Ran into the elders in Joyo, and was planning on meeting with them soon. She also comes to Kyoto all the time, and said she wanted to meet with the sisters here. As we were about to leave, she mentioned that if we had come a little bit later, they wouldn't have been there, and we wouldn't have been able to meet them. Heavenly Father's timing really is perfect! I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father, and I am so grateful to be a missionary. Heavenly Father is in this work, and I know that He leads and guides us to those who are ready to hear the gospel. 

I love you all, and hope that you have an incredible week! You are all amazing!

Sister Robertson

-- 

アマンダ・K・ロボトサン姉妹

日本神戸伝道部

末日聖徒イエス・キリスト教会

--

Sister Amanda K. Robertson

Japan Kobe Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Our yogens. The column on the left (horizontal) is our guesses that we made for everyone, and the one at the top (vertical) is the guesses that everyone made for us. 6 out of 8 missionaries though I would become STL, and I guessed I would transfer to Yonago. :)

You know you have been a missionary for a year when... Don't worry. I used superglue and now they are as good as new.

Week 55: ハッピィ父の日！ Happy Father's day!

Can you believe I have already been gone for 2 Father's days? I can't! The time is just flying! Especially this past transfer! There is only a week left before transfers, and I feel like this transfer just started! Although I'm sure a big part of that has to do with the fact that poor Tanda Shimai is still sick. We finally figured out what the problem was, and after lots of doctors appointments, and talking to the mission president's wife and mission doctor for her, she is taking some medicine that should hopefully take care of it, and with 4-6 more weeks of rest she should be good to go. But until then, we are just taking it easy. We have been really blessed though and are usually able to make it out of the apartment for at least an hour a day. And as long as our lessons are at the church, we can usually make it to them. She just gambaros through, and then when we get home she lays down and dies. Poor thing! She really is a trooper. I have been trying to help her in whatever ways I can/ whatever ways she will let me. Mostly, we just keep on singing and smiling, and everything works out alright. 

In the midst of this trial that we are going through right now, we have still been blessed to be able to find new people to teach. We haven't been able to go finding on our own (it is quite difficult when you are stuck in an apartment to find people to teach... outside of the apartment), but we have gotten 3 referrals from other missionaries/Temple Square/Church Headquarters within the last 2 weeks. The biggest problem that we have run into, is contacting them... On Saturday, Tanda Shimai decided that she was feeling okay enough to go find M Y san. Well, we headed out, took the train (because when you feel like you are being stabbed in the stomach riding a bike is less than comfortable), and then walked to her apartment. She wasn't home though, so we left a note. Who knows what will happen with her, but we were just grateful to be able to make it outside and farther than just the church or a meeting.

I have been spending a lot of time thinking about blessings over the last little while. I am so grateful for all of my many blessings. Rainstorms that remind me of home, a nice cool apartment despite how hot it is outside, my health, my family, my friends, my companions, the gospel, my Savior, the atonement. I could go on and on. I am grateful for the little things, and the big things that help remind me that my Father in Heaven loves me. So, even though we have not been able to really get out and dendo... share the gospel, I have still been able to find joy in the little things. 

Yesterday, we had some visitors come to Katsura, and so I got to translate for them. That is another blessing I am grateful for that I forgot to mention. I am SO grateful for the gift of tongues that allows me to speak, and understand this language. I am grateful that I am able to translate for others, so that they too can understand. I am far from perfect and there are some days that I feel like I can only translate about half of what is said, but that is half more than what they understood to begin with, so I am grateful. Yesterday we talked a lot about the Book of Mormon in church, and about the important of reading it. We also talked about the blessings that come from reading the Book of Mormon. I have really come to love the Book of Mormon over the course of my mission, and I know that it is true. I know that as we read the Book of Mormon, we really can learn more about our Savior, Jesus Christ. We can really learn and understand the true nature of our loving Heavenly Father. Through reading the Book of Mormon, we can find happiness, and peace in our lives. We can find answers to our questions. We can know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's true church on the Earth today. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon. Right now, as I am reading the Book of Mormon, I am focusing on studying about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I am always filled with so much gratitude when I learn about my Savior's atoning sacrifice for me. I am also grateful that no matter how many times we read the Book of Mormon, we can always learn more. I am grateful for the Book of Mormon. 

I'd like to challenge you all to read the Book of Mormon. If you've read it before, read it again, and see what you learn this time. Maybe focus on learning about a principle of the gospel, like faith. Or perhaps focus on learning about the attributes of Christ, and how we can become more like him. I promise that as you read, you will find something new, or something that you have read before will take on a different meaning to you. You will find something that will help you in your life. If you haven't read the Book of Mormon before, or perhaps you are thinking, "What on earth is the Book of Mormon?" don't worry. I'll explain. The Book of Mormon is my favorite book. Reading it, and abiding by the principles which are taught in the Book of Mormon, has changed my life. It's because of the Book of Mormon that I am who I am today. The Book of Mormon is another testament of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It does not replace the Bible, but instead adds to it, and helps explain and expound on the same principles that are taught in the Bible. It is a record of the people in Ancient America, and teaches us that God is mindful of His children, no matter where they may be. He has not forgotten any of us. It also teaches us about our Savior, and about His gospel, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I wish I could just tell you all about it, and about just how much I love it. But that would take a long time, and it's so much better to experience it for yourself. :) You can go to mormon.org to learn more about the Book of Mormon, and more about what I am doing as a missionary. 

I love you all and hope that you have a wonderful week! Remember to count your many blessings, and don't forget that the Lord loves you.

Robertson Shimai

-- 

アマンダ・K・ロボトサン姉妹

日本神戸伝道部

末日聖徒イエス・キリスト教会

--

Sister Amanda K. Robertson

Japan Kobe Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Another visitor came to Katsura this week. She lives in Tottori, but knew T Shimai when she was little. :)

I decided to take some pictures of the Kyoto Eki (Train Station) while I am still here. I have been here for almost 6 months, and I hadn't taken a picture yet...

Week 54: Happy day. All is well.

There has been a lot of singing this week. And usually it is only the first line of the last verse of "Come, Come, Ye Saints." "And should we die before our journey's through, Happy day! All is well!"

4. And should we die before our journey’s through,

Happy day! All is well!

We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;

With the just we shall dwell!

But if our lives are spared again

To see the Saints their rest obtain,

Oh, how we’ll make this chorus swell--

All is well! All is well!

I just want to clear up that fact that no one is dying. So there is no need to freak out. Mostly our favorite part is that no matter what happens, and no matter how hard a day or a week, or a month may be, it is okay. "Happy day! All is well!" So that has been the theme of our lives this last week. I know that no matter what, Heavenly Father loves us. He will never forget us. The other day we shared "Forget Me Not" by President Uchtdorf with one of the Less Active sisters that we are working with. We focused on only two of the things President Uchtdorf encouraged us to never forget. "Forget not to be happy now," and "Forget not that the Lord loves you." Heavenly Father loves us SO much! And I have seen His hand in my life this week, mostly in little seemingly insignificant ways. 

One way was when we were teaching a lesson to a mother and son. A Kun, the son is 9 years old. The same age as Liam. When we teach A Kun, I can't help but be reminded of my favorite little man. We were following up on how prayer has been going to see if they were praying, and if they were recognizing answers to their prayers. One of my favorite things is hearing what A Kun prays about. He has the sweetest little heart. This last week there was a bug that had somehow gotten into the house. His first thought was just to squish it, but then he had the thought that he should pray and ask Heavenly Father what he should do. After he prayed, he felt like he needed to take the bug outside, and not kill it. How precious is that? And what a great example of faith! A Kun is so ready for the gospel in his life, and I know that as he continues to learn and grow his mom's heart will be softened too. 

(On our kokan we helped progressively heart attack their ward mission leader. They have been adding a few hearts every so often for the last couple of months. )

On Tuesday I was able to go on another kokan with Kagawa Shimai (she is half, and from Utah). I was so grateful to be able to get out and get to work. We had a very busy day planned, and I was able to see Heavenly Father's hand in every part of our day. One person canceled, on the way back we were able to teach a guy from Cuba who had been to church in Australia once. Next we went and taught a lesson, and then went to go finding in a Shotengai (a big shopping thing... Kindof like a Boardwalk or something, but it is all covered, and there are little stores and vendors lining the sides... basically there are always a lot of people, so it is a good place to go finding). At first the Shotengai was less than effective, so we stopped by a member's house and met his roommate. When we went back to the Shotengai, we were both talking to different people, but neither of them were really that interested, so we said goodbye and then were walking towards the exit. A guy came up to us and asked if we were Mormon, and then told us about how he had read the Book of Mormon when he was in California and wanted to know where the church was. It turns out that he lives in Joyo, the next area over, but we were able to exchange numbers with him, and get him the information of the missionaries in Joyo. We had so many other things like that happen that seemed like mere coincidences, but I know that that was Heavenly Father helping us to be in the right place at the right time in order to bring one of His children closer to Him. It is amazing to look back at our days sometimes and see just how perfectly Heavenly Father is intertwined in our lives. He knew exactly where we were, and what we needed to be doing so that M could find us, or so that J could talk with us. It truly is amazing.

(Sometimes we go on adventures to find a doctor's office. Who knew that even with a Japanese Companion we would still be going on adventures. :) )

(The arrow told us to turn, and walk down this alley.)

(We found the doctor's office, but we were a little bit shocked. 

 It looked really pretty though. Well, the garden did.)

(This is the clinic. It is really small.)

(And this is the bathroom. )

So, despite the hard times that you may be going through, don't ever forget to be happy now. Don't ever forget that the Lord loves you, and don't ever forget to look for the Lord's hand in your own life. But most importantly don't forget "Happy day! All is well!"

I love you all! Have a great week!

Robertson Shimai

-- 

アマンダ・K・ロボトサン姉妹

日本神戸伝道部

末日聖徒イエス・キリスト教会

--

Sister Amanda K. Robertson

Japan Kobe Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  

(While looking for a Less Active Sister. The apartment complex and playground kind of reminded me of Ukraine.) 

(From our adventure last week with N Shimai and H Chan. :) )

(Bring on the bug bites... Even in the city they find room for gardens and rice fields.)

Week 53: Wow. What a week.

Where do I even start... On Monday Tanda Shimai was feeling back to normal, and we were able to go to Ginkakuji (the silver temple) with some of the other missionaries. When we got back, we spent the rest of the night doing SKK (weekly planning) since we weren't able to do it the week before because Tanda Shimai was sick. While we were planning there was a little earthquake, the first one I have experienced while on my mission. It was really little though and only lasted a couple of seconds. When we went to bed, Tanda Shimai was feeling great. We even made some really good plans for the next day. People to visit, places to go finding, people to teach, etc. Well, then when she woke up Tuesday morning, she was feeling pretty terrible... We were able to make it to the church to teach O Shimai, but besides that, we decided she needed to rest, and we decided to take another trip to the doctor... When we got to the church for our lesson with O Shimai, Bishop O was outside with H Kyodai, and they looked really concerned. We found out that one of the members from our ward (T Kyodai is about 81 years old) was missing. He had left for church on Sunday, but never made it, and then he never made it back home either. No one knew where he was, so all of the missionaries, and members, and members and missionaries in the surrounding areas did their best to look for him. We went back to our apartment after our lesson, ate lunch, and then Tanda Shimai rested, and then the Elders came over and brought us some flyers so that  we could pass them out to people to see if they had seen T Kyodai, and if they had to call the police. When we headed to the doctor, we passed some out, and then we signed in. We had about an hour before the doctor could see her, and so we decided to go to the drug store down the road to pick up some stuff, and then while there we got a phone call from the bishop asking if we could come to the church. So, we headed to the church, and unlocked the doors for the bishop and a member from another ward. Bishop O asked if we would pray with them, so we all went into the chapel, kneeled down, and Bishop O prayed to our Heavenly Father that T Kyodai would be found safely. A couple of hours later we got a message saying that he was found, and alright, but was in the hospital because of dehydration. We were so grateful that he was able to be found. 

My sweet little Eikaiwa students

Wednesday, we weren't able to do anything, besides go to Eikaiwa, because I am the only missionary who speaks English right now in Katsura, so I needed to go.

 Tanda Shimai did her best to hang in there while I taught, and then when we got home, she rested some more. Thursday we had a busy day, that we needed to be able to do. 

We did service at Arashiyama picking up trash, then we taught a lesson to M, and then we met N Shimai, H Chan, and the Elders, and headed to the Botanical Gardens, but we got there 10 minutes after they stopped selling tickets, so we decided to go to the Art Gallery Garden next door.

 After that we headed to dinner (something that we had been planning for a couple of weeks, but kept having to cancel), and got to spend some time with N Shimai, and give her a little bit of a break by allowing her to talk with adults (although we are all young, we are more adult-like then H Chan who is three) while we entertained H Chan, so that was fun. 

On the way home from the Art Gallery and dinner.

By the time we got home, Tanda Shimai was dying from a long day out, so we came home, and she rested. Friday we had to go to Zone Training Meeting, and then after that we had a lesson, but then we came  home, and she rested. Saturday we visited a Less Active with one of the members, and then Saturday night we went to the YSA BBQ. 

Japanese BBQ... Not quite the same as we do it back home in the south...

We decided to make desert for the BBQ... Well on the well the dessert ended up on the ground instead of our stomachs. I didn't think about taking a picture until after we had already cleaned it up... The road still looks like this 3 days later... It will probably wash away with the rain, but until then, every time we walk by, we think of the poor dessert that never made it to the BBQ.

By the end of the BBQ, Tanda Shimai was in so much pain. And when she woke up Sunday morning, she felt even worse, but she hung in there, we went to church, and then after church we taught PMG class to the youth. Then we came home, and she rested until we had to go to a lesson with the Elders so that I could translate the entire lesson into English for a PI (potential investigator) that they had recently found. He was from Myanmar (If you have ever heard of that country, bonus points for you. It is next to Thailand... I think in America we refer to it as Burma?). Anyways, as soon as we got home, Tanda Shimai headed straight to her bed, and I didn't hear from her until it was time to plan. She's still not feeling well, and after talking with the Mission Doctor, we are headed to see a different doctor at some point today. Hopefully we will be able to figure out what is going on. In the meantime, we are trying to do our best to still do missionary work without pushing her too hard. This past week has been quite the adventure.

I feel like there was something that I really wanted to share with you all, but I forgot. So I will just leave you with a short testimony. I know that Heavenly Father loves us, and that He hears and answers each one of our prayers. It may not always be in the time, or in the way that we wanted or were expecting, but He always answers. This past week I have felt the power of prayer, and I have also seen the blessings. We have a Less Active sister that we have been working with, who recently has been too busy to meet. She told us that when things settle down, she will give the Bishop a call. On Saturday, and Sunday we had prayed that somehow she would be able to make it to church on Sunday, that we wouldn't lose all contact with her. When we walked into the chapel on Sunday morning, and I saw M Shimai, I was so happy. I knew that Heavenly Father had heard and answered my prayers. 

I love you all so much, and you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Don't ever forget just how great you are. :)

Sister Robertson

-- 

アマンダ・K・ロボトサン姉妹

日本神戸伝道部

末日聖徒イエス・キリスト教会

--

Sister Amanda K. Robertson

Japan Kobe Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Week 52: Katsura must be determined to make everyone sick/ Can you believe it has already been a year?

May 31, 2015

Sorry this weeks email will be a little bit short... We only have about 30 minutes right now to email. Hopefully we will have some time later.

This week has been a little bit of a slow week. After being in Katsura for not even a week, poor Tanda Shimai got sick, with something completely different than anything that either Perry Shimai or I had gotten. She woke up with a terrible migraine on Wednesday, but still did her best to gambaro... to hang in there? I think that is somewhat similar... Anyways, she did her best and was still able to make it through finding, a long bike ride, our lesson, and then another long bike ride back to the church for Eikaiwa. She is SUCH a trooper... Although I feel bad that I didn't just make her lay down and rest. On Thursdayshe woke up and felt even worse, and so we were off to the doctor. The doctor said that it was something to do with some infection or virus or something. Anyways, for whatever reason her stomach and intestines weren't processing anything that she was eating or drinking, and as a result my guess is that the migraine, and the effect on her eyes as well was because of slight dehydration? He gave her some medicine and told her that it would probably just make it worse, but by Saturday she should feel better. By Saturday she was bent over in pain, and so we decided to go back to the doctor, but the office was closed, so we decided that it would just be best to stay inside, and just wait it out, unless it got way worse, and then we would go to the emergency room. Luckily though with some rest, medicine, and a Priesthood Blessing, Tanda Shimai is more or less back to normal. Hopefully whatever it was is now gone. Besides staying inside, and trying to help Tanda Shimai get better, we still able to teach lessons, and go to district meeting. Like I said, she is quite the trooper.

Besides that... Well, I think that is pretty much it. I am grateful for all of you, and hope that you have a wonderful week. I am praying for all of you.

I feel like that was the shortest email I have ever written. Yesterday we had dinner with the K Family, and we shared this video (Sharing Your Beliefs) with them, and talked about the simple ways that we can all share the gospel. This week I encourage you all to think about what you can do to share the gospel with others. :) 

June 1, 2015

Now that I have a little bit more time to think, I remembered something that happened this week. This week I hit my year mark. I have been a missionary for a year. I feel like the year went by way too fast! Because of Tanda Shimai being sick, and needing to rest, I was given lots of time to reflect on the past year. It's amazing to look back and see just how much I have grown. I remember when I first got to the MTC. I think I cried almost every day because learning a new language was so hard. But not just that. I also remember crying because I didn't feel like I knew enough. I had no idea how I was going to ever actually teach a real investigator. I mean, I couldn't even find a scripture on my own. I remember times where I felt like my testimony wasn't strong enough. Now though, I know that I have a testimony. I know that I have a testimony, and every time that testimony is reconfirmed, I have even more of a desire to share it with others. It really is amazing just how much the gospel can change you, and help you to grow. I am so grateful for the gospel in my life, and I can't wait to see what the next 6 months bring. 

 Amanda signing autographs for the high school girls :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We got this Email this week also.  Receiving random emails from others with pictures of your missionary is just the sweetest thing!  It makes a mama's heart happy!!!

Dear Brother and Sister Robertson,
Today we met the sweetest sister missionary at a ward in Kyoto, Japan.  She was kind enough to interpret for us so we could understand what was being said in a combined Relief Society/Priesthood meeting.  My husband served a mission in Japan 35 years ago.  This is our first time visiting Japan since he returned from his mission.  We just wanted to share this photo with you.  Sister Robertson has the most beautiful smile and spirit.  Thank you for raising such a wonderful daughter!

Brother and Sister Casper
 California