After the Manner of Happiness

The subject of this email comes from a scripture I came across in my personal study the other day. It's in The Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 5:27. 

"And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness."

This part of the scriptures seems to describe my life right now more perfectly than my own words could ever do. In this part of The Book of Mormon the Nephites are having to start all over. And they are working super hard to build a new life. And shortly after describing their labor and all the work they've been putting into living we have this scripture where it says they were happy. 

This week was much of that. A lot of work. A lot of rain. And a lot of difficult experiences. But through it all I truly found that I was and am living after the manner of happiness. A particular experience that comes to mind from this week was our attempt to find a referral that lived 3 hours away by bike. In my experience of being a missionary for the past year (yikes!) I have learned that there a lot of lessons to be learned from riding a bike. This week I learned that we just have to press on. So Current Shimai and I were riding to try to contact this referral. And we were riding in some interesting places, not really knowing where we were going. It was quickly getting dark. And it seemed that with every inch that the sun would go down the rain would only pour harder. We were lost, and after attempting to try to find this referral, and riding 3 hours away, we never found it. And then it was time to go home. There were many times that night where I could have sat down, gave up, cried, and waited and hoped for something better to happen. But we knew that the only way to get home was to pedal. Even in unfavorable, rainy circumstances. We knew that if we didn't press forward there was no way we were ever making it home. 

I feel like our mortal life here on Earth is much of the same. Sometimes we are bombarded with unfavorable circumstances. We don't know when they will end, and sometimes it feels like they last forever. But I know if we press forward, relying on our Savior, Jesus Christ, that we can make it to the end of our trials and hardships and see that He was with us all along. And I know that even a midst the difficult times in our lives we too can live as the Nephites lived, and live "after the manner of happiness."

I know this church is true. I know Jesus Christ lives for you and me so that we may be able to turn to Him for support in the middle of our afflictions. I testify that The Book of Mormon is the word of God and that it has the power to change lives. I love being a missionary, I love this gospel, and I sure as heck love all of you. Remember to press forward and live "after the manner of happiness" and I can promise that no matter what life throws at you, you will be able to endure it cheerfully. 

I hope you lovelies all have a happy week and remember that your Heavenly Father loves you!

Stay excellent.

Love your Japanese Friend,

Aulick Shimai 

アウリック姉妹

God is in the details

First off I am apologizing for the crappy emails I've been sending lately. I knew they were bad and dull even as I was sending them. I took some advice from my good friend Current Shimai and write about what I learned this week. Hopefully something from what I've learned will help you beautiful people in some way or another. 

This week has been so happy. I love my new companion! Current Shimai is #1. And she's my hero. There's really not much more that needs to be said besides that. It pretty much covers it. And this week marks our 1 year mark of being on the mission. CARAZY. 信じられない. I just can't even believe it. It makes me sad to think of how little time I have left. Yeah I'm not going to think about it. :)

So sometimes on the mission you have these little, what I like to call, "proud mom moments." A couple of weeks ago me and my companion Shin Shimai dropped off some treats for one of our investigators that is always so busy as a surprise. We met this investigator yesterday and she told us that because that made her so happy she did the same to one of her friends a couple of days later. Our purpose as missionaries is to invite others to come unto Christ. When we see those little steps of progress towards coming unto Him, it makes all of those frustrating moments before hand worth it. 

This week I learned just what is the subject of this email. God is in the details. Lots of times we think that because God is all-powerful that He has to manifest himself in these miraculous ways. And many times He does. But oh how sweet it is when we have the eyes and heart to see His little manifestations of love for us in our day-to-day lives. So lately I have been running low on deodorant and toothpaste (mom this is not a guilt trip, just a story) and so one of the new sisters that is moving in is going home after this transfer has more than she needs of both and is more than happy to share the love. It seems stupid but when I found that out I could honestly feel my Heavenly Father's love! Just the fact that He was aware of my situation, even something as trivial as not having a lot of deodorant or toothpaste, helped me to feel it. But the biggest manifestation of His love that I've felt is the opportunity He has given me to be companions with Current Shimai. She's been kind of sick on her mission and so I've been praying for her a lot to help her receive the things she needs in order to get better. When I saw that we were going to be companions tears filled my eyes as I realized that Heavenly Father answers our prayers. It's taken a year to finally put us together but it's happened. And it has been a huge blessing in my life. 

Don't discount yourself or others if Heavenly Father doesn't give you large miraculous manifestations of His love for you. I like the little evidences even more than the large ones. They help me feel and know that He so aware of me, and so aware of everything in my life. Even the trivial things. Life truly is more beautiful when we realize that God manifests Himself in the little trivial manners of our lives. It helps us to know just how much He pays attention to us. 

God loves you. He loves me. He is our Heavenly Father and we can feel His love every day if we open our hearts and our eyes. I am grateful for all of your love and prayers and I feel them every day. 

Have a happy week! #ROYALS

Love your Japanese Friend,

Aulick Shimai 

アウリック姉妹

It ends folks ...

My companion is going home tomorrow! NOOOOOOOO. I am going to miss her so much! It is just a weird and unhappy reminder that this whole mission thing ends some day. I don't like to think about it. It makes me sad. 

So transfers....I'm staying! And my new companion is the one and only....CURRENT SHIMAI. Everyone remember the most wonderful person on this Earth?! We're best friends and we've been wanting to be companions ever since the MTC. And it's happening folks. We're about to tear it up here in Akashi. And what's even more fun is Akashi Shimai area is turning into a 4 sister area. And the other sister that is coming is SCHEFFLER SHIMAI. She was my companion in Joyo and now we are going to be living together again! I am so stoked. Let's go Akashi. 

This week was good. We had a lot of chances to eat with the members this week since my companion is going home. So I was able to really build some good relationships with the ward. We also made a lot of really good plans to help our investigators progress towards baptism. We're just teaching and finding on this side of Akashi. I love missionary work so much. I wouldn't rather be anywhere else than where I am right now. The church is true and I love all of you so much! Keep it real and happy!

Love your Japanese friend,

Aulick Shimai 

アウリック姉妹

We thank thee o God for a prophet

I am so grateful to have a living prophet on the earth today! To lead and guide us so that we may know what we need to do in order to return to our Heavenly Father. General Conference this weekend was awesome! Made me really happy and seemed to give me just spiritual boost that I needed for this week. :)

This week we had interviews with the mission president. They were awesome! Can I just say that I absolutely love my mission president? He seriously is the best. I have loved how drastically and wonderfully our mission has changed. There seems to be much more love for the people and for the work and most importantly for the Lord. I am grateful to be guided by such wonderful leaders. 

Today we have a typhoon in our midst. The wind and rain is blowing like crazy. Pray for me. :)

This is my last week with my 愛するシン姉妹 (beloved Shin Shimai). She's returning to Korea next week and it breaks my heart! I want to cry! I won't lie and tell you that this transfer has been the easiest with her but I am so grateful that she has been my companion. I have grown to love her so much! 

As far as the work this week we're teaching like crazy and it makes my heart happy! I love teaching! And we're working on helping people progress towards baptism. 

I always love President Monson's addresses at the end of conference. So this Conference was no different. I love how he encouraged us to be a little better, a little kinder. So that is my invitation to all who read this email today. Tomorrow, be a little kinder, be a little better. 

I love you all! Go Royals.

Love your Japanese friend,

Aulick Shimai 

アウリック姉妹

Takyuu in English is ping-pong

First off, Takyuu in English is ping-pong. The Japanese love ping-pong. The ward wanted to try to organize a ping pong night in the church. So we had it, and we had invited a bunch of people but unfortunately nobody was able to come from the sisters end. And when we went the choro had only been able to get 1 person to come. So I looked at the sad scene of events that laid before us as we looked at an almost empty room, and decided that there was nothing else we could do but hit the pavement and find some people ourselves right then. Unfortunately nobody came by our invitation still, but it was fun to feel like a missionary and invite everyone we could.

A bird. This week one of our investigators bird died this week. She was really distraught and so we were able to comfort her and what not. That's about it with that.

Today we went to Himeji-jou. It's a really really old, BEAUTIFUL temple. A member took us and we had a lot of fun going out to lunch to eat, and sight seeing. I love the people here. So kind.

As far as that nothing much more happened this week. A lot of our investigators cancelled on us this week so we didn't teach a whole lot, unfortunately. But we are continuing to invite people to come unto Christ. Our purpose as missionaries is great. I love it.

I love you all! Remember that everything given to you is from a loving Heavenly Father! Remember to love your brothers and sisters.

Love your Japanese friend,
Aulick Shimai
アウリック姉妹

Akashi よ

First off shout out to the best family in the world! I got hand-written letters from everyone in my family last week! THANK YOU. And thank you for continuing to do Family Home Evening. Whoop woop. I will write you all back as soon as I can.

Second off....I'M TRANSFERRING. I'm going to an area called Akashi. Big city and I am so so stoked. And sad. We had a super good week this last week that I'll get to later in my email, but I'm so sad to leave all of the people I've come to love here! :( But it's ok because I know the Lord needs me elsewhere. My new companion's name is Shin Shimai. She's Korean but I don't know if she is full or half. So we'll see there. But apparently she's hilarious and this is her last transfer. So I will have a lot to learn. AND I am in the same district as CURRENT SHIMAI. For those who don't remember she's only the most stellar sister missionary out there and my best friend. We didn't get to be companions this transfer but we got the next best thing. District buddies. Woo!

So this week we saw the Lord's hand day after day! We found 4 NEW INVESTIGATORS. Which is the most I've ever found in a week here. It was awesome. We found this girl who works at the grocery store we go to and has been watching us for the past like month and a half and finally got up the courage to ask us if we were Mormon this past week. New investigator and looking really strong for baptism someday. Then this couple who have been potential investigators for awhile became new investigators after showing up to the church to tell us they want to receive the lessons. They told US. So prepared it's not even funny. Then a less-active that we've been trying to contact for a month or so now we finally met up with this past week. New investigator. 

The Lord's work is hastening. It has been declared. It is our choice whether or not to be apart of it. Let's choose to be apart of it! Declaring the gospel of good news is a happy work! Let's be happy!

I love you all and hope you have a happy week!

Love your Japanese Friend,

Aulick Shimai 

アウリック姉妹

Where did August go?

Sorry I don't have much time. We have to teach a lesson soon.... :)

This past week I hit my 10 month mark on the mish. I can't even explain how weird that is...

Any who, with working so many less-actives this week I really learned about the way Heavenly Father feels about us. How He feels about us when we stray from the path that leads us back to Him. How He feels when we have once accepted Him but then because of other things or out of convenience we have rejected Him. It breaks my heart to see these once stalwart members reject the very thing that will bring them the happiness they seek. But then again that's how our loving Heavenly Father feels, でしょう? 

I love you all and wish the best with this week. Make your Heavenly Father proud. :)

Love your Japanese Friend,

Aulick Shimai 

アウリック姉妹