Email address: lauren.fullmer@myldsmail.net

Monday, November 30, 2015

Nov. 30, 2015

Wednesday 
Sometimes we go teach a recent convert outside his house because we can't go in his house ,tonight we took a walk he bought us hot chocolate. Well me hot chocolate, he bought cannon shimai warm lemon juice, I like chocolate so I chose chocolate he laughed ,but chocolate is my favorite! He told me to stop pretending to understand stuff if I don't understand it. He said to be honest and say I don't understand ,so I'm trying the whole be honest thing now. He teaches lots of new words to me now. Thanks! He's awesome! We talked about charity with him to night we actually accidentally shared his favorite scripture. He quoted it back at us Moroni 7:45-47. So little did we know that's his favorite scripture and he has it on the back of his front door and he reads it every morning before he leaves. He told us he joined the church because of the principle of love that the church teaches. 

Thursday
Today our stls came to tooyoka for a comp exchange.I went with Allen shimai. She's so legit! She is so fun! First we went and visited Mizuki shimai and Kishida shimai answered the door. She was home teaching i think if you can even home teach Mizuki shimai. So she didn't act out as much. Then we went out to go find a less active Kishida shimai took us and we met her. Man that woman was so small! She was so short! She didn't really want to talk that much which is okay. Then we went back to where our bikes were and went to go teach someone. That person wasn't home ,but some kids were out so we talked to them. They were so cute and they pretty much self referraled themselves to us! It was so funny! I gave them some candy and they freaked out. Gosh I love kids. We played with them for a bit and then we headed out. My toes where so cold I could feel them ,so we stop in a shop to warm up a bit. Toyooka is going to get so cold though. I am going to die. We headed back and stopped by Ueda San (a recent referral from the elders). We got to her house and we're talking a bit. She walked up the stairs and we accidently scared her. Oops sorry! We just want to teach you about Jesus is that okay? We taught her about prayer a bit and she liked it I think. So we might keep teaching her! Yay! Investigator! Then we went and visited yoshiyoka shimais house and taught her a short lesson. Then we biked over super fast to tatsunori  house for thanksgiving dinner which was big fried chickens and rice and salad. Wow I could not believe I ate as much as I did ,but I wanted the usual feeling of hating yourself after thanksgiving ended ,so I went for it... Bad idea. Right after that we went to the church for apple pie and ice cream... Yup definitely hit the point of hating myself and regretting eating that much food. My stomach growled at me and just ached for days afterwards

So I got pretty sick Saturday night, Sunday we went to church and then came home and I attempted to sleep for a couple hours. Sunday night tatsunori stopped by our house and gave us stew because we were sick. The stew was adorable! It had little hearts in it. He took the time to cut up carrots like hearts. Gosh warmed my heart. 

" [the] blessing[s] come when we open our hearts and receive, truly receive, the Lord Jesus Christ, His doctrine, and His Church into our lives. We do not have to be perfect, but we need to be good and getting better." 
-"Eyes to See and Ears to Hear" By Elder Kim B. Clark of the Seventy
^ I read this is morning and I was just thinking about being grateful. Sometimes we forget the blessings we already have and focus on the things we don't have, it's so very easy to focus on the "wants" rather than the "haves" . I made a grateful list on thanksgiving because I figured hey that's a good reminder to remember how blessed I am. I've got an amazing family and I've got the gospel in my life. That's why I am here. I'm trying to help other people come unto Christ because I can't describe how amazing it is to come unto him and realize that absolutely anything is possible through him. 

Well I hope everyone got nice and fattened from the turkey on thanksgiving. (We couldn't find turkey ): here)! Stay lovely wonderful people! 


If you close your eyes the rice tastes like potatoes (not really, but I tried to trick myself like it was potatoes)




Monday, November 23, 2015

Nov. 23, 2015 - Red scarf, red hat, red face

Thursday

Today I had the great joy of going to the dentist. Apparently they found another cavity. I hate the dentist he does all kinds of weird things! He dug out my tooth so right now I have a temporary filling. Their methods are way weird too. He melted something and then he put it in my tooth. I saw smoke coming from my tooth from what ever he did. Gosh I hate the dentist. I have to go back again next Thursday. So after that we went to aity to buy some chocolate for Suzuki shimais daughter's birthday. On the way over there. We saw Suzuki shimai. She ran after us and said shimai! I have a question! And we were like okay ya what? And she pulled out the chocolate cake recipe  I gave her and started asking all kinds of questions. She's such a cute lady! Probably the cutest lady in the ward. I love Suzuki shimai so stinking much.  So we went to the church and suzuki shimai had brought her oven to the church and all kinds of ingredients too. So we had agreed to help her make a cake for her daughter ,So we made a cake. It kinda worked ,but at the same time it didn't really work that well. We had too much batter so it rose over the top and burnt. And then the middle was uncooked ,but we made it work. After we finished the cake she invited us and the elders over to her house. We were a bit surprised so we biked all the way over there and were so tired when we got there. The most adorable thing ever is that she set up her dining room like a restaurant and there is a menu and some paper you can order the food on.  So we jokingly ordered food and she gave us a lot of curry and by a lot I mean a lot! Man I was so stuffed and then she gave us udon curry. And then a yogurt treat and then after ice cream and chocolate. I was beyond stuffed. My body hurt so much. They always stuff us so full of food. If I knew we were going to eat at her house, I wouldn't have eaten breakfast or lunch. We shared part of the first lesson with her and her son

Friday
Today we had district meeting. After we all went out to eat, While there our Japanese district leader takahashi choro told us if he was a sister missionary, he would be "stylish" and have "pretty shoes" and "pretty clothes" and "do the makeup" and have "nice hair" I think he's trying to tell us something. Hmm.. I don't think I'm going to change anytime soon.  Today we biked around a bit and we got to this crosswalk and a couple was walking across the street they weren't Japanese. So we were saying hey look gaijin! And they waved at us and said "sister missioanries!" And then the man said "shimai senkyoshi I served here!" We talked to them and it turns out that he served here in 2006 and he and his wife are from Texas about 2 hours from where I live. So cool! 

Sunday

Red scarf red hat red face. So a reoccurring thing in my mission is me choosing to own red things like my bike is red I got a red jacket from my past companion, and I just pick red things now like my hat and scarf.  We had normal church and the Hamada family came which is good because we had visited them recently they only came for sacrament ,but they came! After sacrament, I had to teach gospel principles. I hate teaching gospel principles. It's not that I don't know the gospel ,but it's more that I don't know the deep deep things yet. I didn't study the doctrine before my mission as much as I should have. I really just graduated from young women's so teaching 40+ aged people about doctrine I don't really know well in Japanese is really really hard. Today the topic was on exaltation or in Japanese "shōhe" So my companion can't help me at all because she doesn't really know what's going on so I told her she could just sit and try to understand. I got up there and struggled through the lesson. Then everyone started asking questions about exaltation. I don't know. The first question was why kind of place is heaven? "My response was "a good place, a wonderful place, somewhere you want to to go" they said "no what kind of place what can you do there? Well Uhhh... I don't even know how to answer that in English let alone Japanese. I have never been to heaven ,so I'm not sure how to explain it because i don't really know how to explain that. I stood up there just turning red and trying to hold back tears because I had no idea what was being talked about. There was awkward moments of silence and I had no idea what to say or do so I asked the class in anyone had any questions. Bad idea. Suzuki shimai came up with great questions ,but I had no idea how to answer them. One was do we age in heaven? and the other was  what does heavenlook like? Uhhh I have no idea. And I said I don't know and yokochan put something in on her phone in English so I would understand -_- and the translate said "grow up" yes I understood that ,but I really don't know what happens in heaven or what it looks like. Ahhh it was awful.  My face was bright red the whole class it probably matched my scarf. I just kept looking at my watching my watch just praying that the class would go fast because it felt like an eternity of me floundering trying to teach everyone. I hate teaching Sunday school...After class I went and took a quick break and just sat down in the bathroom stall in the corner just to kinda take a breath and destress right before relief society. We went to relief society and it was fine.. But I was just so tired from teaching that lesson. Even now if you ask me what exaltation is I can't give you a good answer because I don't really know. I don't know a lot of things but I do know this church is true even if I can't explain the really hard things. 


Spiritual thought: 

Jacob 4:7 
Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things. 
^ weakness aren't necessarily a bad thing, not only can our weaknesses become our strengths ,but they can help us turn to God and learn to do things through God and through his great and infinite  power. 

We found this orange temple thing and that's the couple that found us we decorated a door for Christmas too! 





Monday, November 16, 2015

Nov. 16, 2015 - Rain, love, and oden

Cool thing on Thursday so if anyone knows me they know that I am not good at finding places. I am what you call directionally impaired. So Thursday's we go to seminaries at our branch president's house for seminary. Seminary is class for the youth where they study the scriptures before school ,so that they can be prepared for the day ahead. Seminary is really an awesome thing because you feel the spirit in the morning and just start  day off with a prayer in your heart. So in order for us to get to seminary on time we had to leave at 5:45 ,but we left at 5:30 because I was a little nervous we might get lost. So another fun fact about me not only am I directionally impaired ,but I'm also not a morning person at all. I don't really wake up until about 10:00am. If you ask any of my companions They will tell you I am quiet until we have companion study. So I found these really cool eye drops that are minty and the whole reason to buy them is to wake yourself up.... I have used them so many times. So I used those crazy miracle eye drops and we left the house. It was so foggy and cold this morning. We biked down in the general area and I got a bit queasy going up this hill because I kept thinking this isn't the right way we are lost! So I told my companion "hey we're lost... I'm so so sorry! I think we should pray.." So we pulled over and prayed. I said a simple prayer to find the house and then I got the thought to go back to the fork and go left. So we did and we found the house shortly after. I almost wanted to cry because I was so worried we wouldn't find the apartment.We said a quick prayer thanking Heavenly Father for the amazing miracle, and headed upstairs for seminary. 

I can't say I love seminary I understand why it's a good thing ,but I can't say that I love it especially in Japan at 6:15 in the morning. Gah I was so tired. Seminary was good though we talked about prophets. Well we only have to go to seminary one more time this year which is so great. After seminary we biked to the church because we usually have a lesson with hideko San. So we went to the church ,but it turned out that she didn't show upm At about 10:00 we went to the dentist for this cavity I have.. I got a root canal... What. I didn't even know what they were doing. So yes folks I got a root canal in Japan in where they try to give you gold teeth ,so I think I'm done going to the dentist for awhile. 

Sweet thing. Yesterday we taught a member who is probably the definition of love. She is so wonderful! She after our lesson she whipped out oden(crazy awesome soup) and she said "I got this for you because I love you!" My heart melted. She is so sweet. When we got home I found a note in the bag and it said in English " Fullmer shimai. How are you? Mission thank you! I love you! I really really like you! Everyday thank you! I love you! " I sat back with tears in my eyes because it was just a simple note ,but I just had a bit of a hard crazy week and this little note helped me remember that no effort of mine is ever wasted. It's fun training ,but it's a bit hard because you feel like you have more responsibility and someone that you are supposed to train to be a good missionary. This week I prayed so much for help and for the faith to find people. The best thing about time is it always keeps going. We can forget the yesterday's and live in the nows. We can't ever go back to the past a much as we want to ,but we always have the future to look toward to. " the future is only as bright as your faith" - president Thomas s monson. 

So friends I hope you all live forward in the best way you can!

Love,
Fullmer shimai 






Sunday, November 8, 2015

Nov. 8, 2015 - My missionary life

Transfers... Guess who is now a trainer. It's kinda scary to know that
I am supposed to influence another missionary. I feel less than
qualified ,but maybe that's a good thing? I am not a perfect
missionary by any means ,but I'm trying to be the best missionary I
can be.

Thursday: so typically we have transfers on Thursdays and we are
supposed to go to our meeting point which is at this train station
near Kobe. We stayed the night at some other sisters' apartment
because from Kobe to toyooka it's really far and we had to be at
meeting point at 8:20. So we went to transfer point and all the
trainers got together and We headed to Kobe. I was a bit jumpy and
nervousness because I have no idea who my new companion will be and I
would be her very first companion. I was tired ,but so awake because I
was so nervous. So we got to the home office and we heard that 7
elders and a sister got left in Tokyo,so they were still On their way.
We went to the trainer's training and there was only 2 elders there
and the rest were sisters. We waited with anticipation, just itching
to see our trainees. We could hear them in the other room and we I
just had butterflies in my stomach! Finally the new missionaries
walked in and sat down. President Welch was at the front of the room
with his envelopes. It always feels like the Grammy awards! There's a
huge map of the mission on the wall and president Welch opens these
envelopes supperrrr slow to kinda build up the anticipation and man he
always does such a great job too! So one by one everyone got there new
companion until it was just me left by myself. Turns out my companion
was the one who got left behind in Tokyo! So the rest of training
continued and president Welch had everyone turn to their companion and
get to know them. Guess who sat awkwardly talking to no one. So they
told me to go sit with the sister translating  and her companion so I
wasn't all by myself. The other missionaries showed up at lunch time
but they didn't get any training so it was determined that they were
going to stay in Kobe and get trained tomorrow. It was supposed to be
a surprise that I was my companions trainer ,but when she came through
the door that surprise disappeared after all the other trainees ran
over to her and pointed me out and said that's your trainer!

Friday: because the trainees didn't get training before they had some
training on this day. And because there was only one sister (my
companion) I went through the training with them too. We got to the
iPad training and one of the office elders asked me to translate for
the trainees because his companion is Japanese and they thought it
would be a good idea for me to do it. Elder Williams is way good at
Japanese ,so he could have easily done it ,but he told me "it would be
a good growing experience". Gah growing experiences... Love them ,but
sometimes you wonder why you have to grow so much. So I waited until
his companion got up for the iPad section. I looked around the room at
the trainees with their earphones in and I was holding the translator
mic just thinking "oh no.. I can't do this" I prayed so I could
understand and be able to do this simple thing. Then his companion
elder usui got up and started the presentation. I took a quick breath
and started translating. I went through the program without any
trouble. It was so amazing to just sit back and see how far I've come.
I mean I was translating Japanese to English which is easier than the
other way ,but it kinda just hit me that I do actually speak Japanese
sometimes on a good day! Haha, I'm kidding I can speak some Japanese.
But elder Williams was right it was a good growing experience.

Ahh I almost forgot. My trainees name is cannon shimai. She's from
Provo Utah and she's a cute girl! She's pretty patient and just ready
to go out and work! This transfer will be so fun!

Spiritual thought:
D&C 18:18
Ask the Father in my name in faith, believing that you shall receive,
and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all things which
are expedient unto the children of men.

So my little translating anxiety wasn't really anything ,but Heavenly
Father still heard my tiny prayer for help and he helped me. It's the
little things like that ,that reminds me he's always aware of me and
my trials. I know if we really rely on our Heavenly Father he will
help us when we need it most, and if we don't see those fast answers
it's not just him not answering he might be answering in a different
way instead of instantly giving us what we want. Life is good y'all
God is good ,we have just got to rely on him! Well, have a great week
everyone! I love y'all!

Love,
Fullmer shimai




Sunday, November 1, 2015

Nov. 1, 2015 - Transfers

Hello people's! Transfer calls.... So big surprise! I'm going to
train. Ahhhh! That's so terrifying. I'm so nervous,but I get to be a
mama! Yay! I hope my trainee is ready to teach people . Gosh it's
going to be so fun, but scary!

So it's starting to cool down quiet a bit here. I think the snow with
start coming. Gosh my poor trainee's first transfer is going to be in
the coldest area in the mission. Gosh that is kinda rough! Anyways, I
found out I have to buy some thermals or I will freeze. Last year my
zone leader got frostbite on his ears and his toes... He wasn't in
this area ,but he was in a cold area. So I'm a bit nervous for the
cold ,but I think it will be okay. Probably.

So recently we went and visited Mizuki shimai. Ha Mizuki shimai is an
interesting person. She has a doll that she feeds.. And she also sees
ghosts sometimes.. And she just hums and sings  She's a little crazy
,so when we go to visit her we just sing her a hymn or we talk about
Jesus with her. So we showed up to her apartment and she came out and
told us we could come In, she said we need to go down stairs to visit
her friend, So we went for a little walk with her around the apartment
complex she took us to a little cemetery near the apartments and
pointed at the sky saying something about her grandma. I was just
sitting there thinking what the heck is going on? So we thought we
should get her back in her house so that she wouldn't get lost ,so we
told her "hey let's go home". She said no and started to "run away"
more like hobble because she is like 74. My companion and I kinda
chased her down and said "no Mizuki shimai! Let's go back to your
apartment!" She got angry with us and said no then she tried to kick
us. She lifted up her leg to kick us ,but like I said she's very old
,so she couldn't really kick us. We got the idea to bribe her with
candy. I whipped out this treat we had for her and we told her she
could have it if she went back inside. She got really excited and said
okay let's go inside. So we won't visit her for sometime especially
not with my trainee at first.

Spiritual thought:

Mormon 9: 31 Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my
father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written
before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest
unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we
have been.

We are all different right? But being different isn't always a bad
thing. We have weaknesses so that we can learn from them. Everyone is
struggling with something even if on the surface they seem to be doing
fine. So don't judge people based on what they do or what they have
done. Don't judge them because they sin differently then you do. Judge
them on the character they are becoming. I know we all have problems
,but sometimes those problems are just blessings in disguise. We just
have to figure that out. God loves us so he gives us hard things. I
know he loves us because he trusts us to be able to do those hard
things and to climb those mountains through the help of his son. Have
a great week yall!

Love,
Fullmer shimai

Mizuki shimai, one of our lessons, our zone, me and my companion Gibson shimai