No need to doubt!

My Dear Friends and Family,

 

Sometimes my heart just rejoices and reflects in the depth of the help Heavenly Father gives us. I am so amazed at His mercy. His call is for each of us, no matter where we are, to come to His feet, to come to His mercy, so He CAN help us. I had another paradigm in my study this week as a I realized that commandments are to protect us, that the Lord WANTS us within the realm of His help and protection. We hear "come," "ask," "knock." I promise you my brothers and sisters, that He is here to help.

 

Transfer calls came and, I will finish up here in Niihama! I can't believe it. As the time is winding down, I can't figure out how I'm feeling--at all! We met a new investigator family this week, it was so neat because when we taught them about baptism and related it to Church, the husband was really interested--and they were like, "Where is this Church? We want to go." It was the first time anyone has down that in a first lesson without being invited on my mission. The Lord knows the hearts of those we teach.

 

Other than that, things are clicking more with Hino Shimai! Right now she is praying to Heavenly Father AND Jesus Christ, and then says respectfully, "you two people..." She is so funny. We taught about prayer before and will teach it again tonight. :)

We use activities and teach simply. She understood the Spirit more last time, and it was so fun because she said, "When I feel like I shouldn't read the Book of Mormon, that's Satan, isn't it! And when I do feel like I should, that's the Spirit!" We also did a guide activity in that one, complete with an eyes-shut Owens Shimai, to teach about how feeling the spirit works. On Sunday, we had just finished a meeting and she bustled up to the room we were in, so cute, because she knew we would want to sit and talk with her. She told us that when she met her friend, she prayed to start off their time together so that they would have a good time! Isn't that wonderful? She really has a testimony, it is just trying to put all of the pieces down for her. Her study of the Book of Mormon is really beginning to open her heart, help overcome years of other beliefs. It is so fun.

 

On Sunday, I got to talk in Church, and our neighbor came to the Church for the first time! They are such a cute couple, and moving so soon, we will stay in touch though and refer them. But as I started my talk, an investigator we have been trying to meet (and not able to get an appointment with) walked into the Chapel. Our branch is really small and it was a small day for the small branch, I said, "Welcome!" And then I think I skipped half of my talk! ha ha. (just a little.) Sunday was a day full of miracles.

 

Thanks so much for your notes, you are so great. We ask for your prayers that we can quickly find the prepared people in our area, and that we can help them come unto Christ through the ordinance of baptism.

 

This is the Savior's work. We have no need to doubt, for He is at the head.

 

I LOVE YOU! Remember that no matter where you are, what you are facing, that the Lord's love is enough. Our task on earth is to choose, and choosing Him is enough to cover all the rest. It is the best decision I have ever made, and maintain that allegiance each day. I love you all! The work is true, and people's salvation is waiting.

 

Love you!

Sister Anderson 

I love this mochi! ahhhh.....

 Treats from our surprise investigator at Church! 

Niihama here I come!

 

 Thanks for the new scarf, Mom!  This is my "talk in church" outfit!

Oh, my beloved family!

Time is so short and it is flying by here in Japan. This news could be like so many of the other transfer calls Dobson Shimai and I have received together - but alas, it is not! I am heading to Niihama this week! Isn't that crazy? I will really miss Sister D...my twin! But missionary life goes on and we are eternal friends!! I will become companions with a girl I came with (my doki) named Lewis Shimai. It will be so fun, too! 

Cute Rachel came from the island yesterday to attend Church and hear me talk. She was convinced, certain, that I was transferring. That's when I realized it might really happen, and as she walked away, she waited longer than usual, looking at me, and I could almost see it in retrospect then, "That was the last time I saw Rachel." She is so special. We will miss her so, so much. She is studying English in her 70's and is set on coming to America, and then living in England because they drive on the side of the street she is used to. The only thing she doesn't like is the Word of Wisdom (and she doesn't like hot chocolate...). We had so much fun visiting her on her beautiful island. She was so disappointed that it rained that she bought tourist pictures and brought them to us on Sunday! She said her husband bought them. :) She is so prepared for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She was driving around for a while, saying things like, "It's been so long since I drove! I love driving!" ...half-way through her daughter switched her. She is so amazing. I can't wait to get that baptismal picture of her! Keep her in your prayers...

Here I am, sitting in my chair, with tights in which I am sewing up holes - convinced (I really am) that they will last... and it's crazy! Heading to Niihama this week and it seems like a dream, but it is the work of the Lord. There are so many amazing miracles going on in our mission right now. It's incredible. We are having miracles in Japan as a mission. KOBE, JAPAN. Ahh. I love it.

Dear loved ones...we have a treasure. Change can be hard, I empathize with all of you who are changing school, getting married, leaving some things for others, making changes even in your heart. It can be hard, but Heavenly Father knows us and any change that brings us closer to Him is worth making. 

愛する家族、皆さん！人生は贈り物です。(My beloved family, everyone... life is a present!) I hope you all have wonderful days and remember the power of the Atonement. It was pretty amazing, I accompanied Dobson Shimai on the piano (I got a little sick this week)--so I was sick and had a talk and she had no accompanist, so we simplified it--and I prayed mightily. I had so much help. Isn't that amazing? Jesus Christ qualifies us. The power of the Atonement is real in our own lives and in our missionary work. What a blessing.

Goodbye, Takamatsu, hello Niihama! Niihama is a beautiful countryside place, still on Shikoku, a little bit more south. It sounds like it is wonderful. I will miss the ward, I love them, but the Lord always has a plan. I am thrilled to be living it.

I LOVE YOU! Mailing you from another place on the other side of the world!

Thanks for the Valentines package!!!!  It came through ok...just a little torn up!

 Loved the big hug - thanks everyone!

Dear Aunt Jeni,

This is Ryan!  How are you doing?  Grandma Jello is here and she showed me your letters 

on your blog. I loved seeing it - it is soooooo cool!  You are always smiling so big and you are

so happy.  I get to see you in the summer and we are having a huge party!  I am so excited.

You are a really good missionary!!!!!!!! I wonder where I will go on my mission and if I will

learn a different language.  Is Japanese hard? How long did it take you to learn it?  I will 

get to hear you speak Japanese soon.  That will be cool.  

Have a super day. Write back soon.

Love, Ryan

Dear Aunt Jeni,

This is Trevor!  how are you doing on your mission?  I saw pictures of you on your blog.  

They are cool. You are so happy.  Is the food good or weird? I love having Grandma at 

my house.  She will be here for Valentines day.  I love you, too.

Bye! 

Love from Trevor Jon

Dear Aunt Jeni,

Hey! I love seeing all your letters and pics on your blog - especially the foooood! yum!

You are such a great example to me and to all the cousins. Thanks for all your hard 

work in Japan! I can't wait to see you this summer!

Love, Ellie

Ryan, I can't wait to see where you serve!! You are awesome! Missionary work is great! 

Ellie, I can't wait to see you too, thank you I love you! Japanese is hard, but with the Lord 

we can do it! Trevor, the food is good and sometimes weird. :) love you!

Squid soup...yum!

Now this looks American, right?

I can get a hot bean drink from a vending machine!  Who knew???

Pics from our trip to Shodoshima last week to see our investigator Rachel

 Niihama - Sister Jen's new area

click here for interactive map

Transferred to Takamatsu!

Oh my sweetest of all families,

Time goes by so fast and so slow. It is amazing. Time has been really strange for my companion and me this week. We got a call on Wednesday from President telling us that there had been a change in the missionaries in the mission and he needed us sisters in... TAKAMATSU! (Shikoku!) He asked us to leave that weekend, we were out by Saturday and in Church on Sunday. One thing I've learned on my mission, is that even though things are not exactly as we might expect them, they are always so good. The Lord can use ANYTHING to our growth if we turn to Him and consecrate our lives to Him.

Traveling to... TAKAMATSU! I'm back on Shikoku! I have to say that I LOVE the island, it truly is such a wonderful place and it is one of my favorite places of Japanese saints. (It actually is right next to Tokushima, and was in my zone before... it is the place we ate so much ramen before! Looking forward to that ha ha.)Takamatsu is just SPECIAL. Let me tell you some of the happenings from the first day at Church. One reason I love Shikoku is because it has a different flavor, almost like the south in the U.S. On Sunday this cutest old man got up to bear his testimony and in the middle of his talk, out came these paper visuals with phrases written on them. He is so old and his voice is so droopy but so happy, and then... at the end, he said, "just two minutes," and runs to grab something from his chair.  He then  pulls down a rousing rendition of "Praise to the Man" on the harmonica!
I love Takamatsu. :)

The members have made it well-known that they have been praying to have sister missionaries here.  They are so sweet! This other elderly man was teaching nichiogakko (Sunday School) and was talking about praying in accordance with Heavenly Father's will, and used me as an example, if I hadn't wanted to come to Takamatsu. They are so funny. They treat us like queens, they are such wonderful saints in our little branch. They are so close to gold. I wish I had the time to introduce them all to you. They are so wonderful and all just wanting to take care of the new, lost sisters.

The branch has a lot of men, but the Relief Society, primary etc. aren't very strong. They are so devoted to the gospel. They WANT to do missionary work, versus it being an obligation or duty.  They are taking care of us so well. It is like I am home, and we have a wonderful new family. On top of that, on Sunday an investigator from 4 years ago came back to church and we were able to have a lesson with her... and she became a new investigator! She had wanted to come back to church, which I guess is exactly what the other investigator we are teaching had done. We have those two investigators right now and the Lord is just working with these people. I feel that this is a place of miracles. Who is to stop the Lord's hand when He has the field ready to harvest?! It is such a privilege to be a missionary. A  less-active showed up at church on Sunday and we were be able to befriend him a little bit. I love this work!!!


So! Everything is pretty new. Elders have been in Takamatsu for years, so it definitely is a change. We love Akashi and our sweet saints there. The members are so wonderful there. I love the Japanese saints.


We left Akashi on Saturday morning, and safely passed our investigators to the Elders. They will do great with them. 

My sweet family, we are so busy, the work will move forward. I thank you so much for your prayers and love, they are so felt. The Lord is marvelous and always has a plan.Thank you for your love and for your examples and closeness. You are so wonderful! I love you forever fam! The Church is true, the more we study it I think the simpler it gets. I love this message, and our message is about Jesus Christ. He died, lived, and lives again. His Church is on the earth again. We can have those blessings He wants to give us from His restored Gospel. 

I got asked to train in District Meeting before I left and I just got to talk about representing my Savior, our Savior. Our calls are from Him. We are to be His hands. I got a package from the Colorado Andersons and was able to use the quote Spen sent me in training. It was perfect! Thank you so much! I love you cuties. Choose the right--choose Jesus Christ. He will not fail you, and I know He lives.

Love,Andason Shimai, from Takamatsu

Sister Jen has been in Akashi which is near Kobe on this map, 

and is now in Takamatsu.

akamatsu (高松市 Takamatsu-shi) is a city located in central Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku in Japan, and is the seat of the prefectural government. It is designated a core city by the Japanese Government. It is a port city located on the Seto Inland Sea, and is the closest port to Honshu from Shikoku island. For this reason it flourished under the Daimyo (feudal lords) as a castle town in the fiefdom of Takamatsu, during the Edo Period. Takamatsu is a city with a large concentration of nationwide companies' branch offices, which play a large role in its economy, and it contains most of the national government's branch offices for Shikoku. 

The Takamatsu metropolitan region has a population of 670,000, making it the largest in Shikoku. Takamatsu Airport is located in Takamatsu. 
Altitude is 56 ft.
The castle tower formerly used as the symbol of the city was destroyed during the Meiji Period. In 2004, construction of the Symbol Tower, the new symbol of Takamatsu, was completed. The Symbol Tower is located in the Sunport area of the city.

Dear Jeni,

It is me, Seth. I wish I lived with you and Uncle Nate Dawg, but I can't. I am not old enough. I am just a little kid. I am four years old. 

And you live far away. I don't know what your mission looks like, but I see the pictures.  You are very very happy in your pictures and you are always going like this (see pic). 

I know you got some packages.  I know you like Japanese people. I want to see you speak Japanese when you get home. I don't know what your are saying.  And I want to see what Japanese is. 

Mookie had a party and I danced at it when the music was loud.  We ate marshmallows, and caramel apples and I don['t know what the rest of the stuff is.

And Jeni, I go to pre-school and we ate caramel apples at there, too. 

I love you, Jeni and this is Seth.

Love, Seth (Spiderman)

Dear Spiderman,

You. Are. So. COOL! Thanks so much for your letter. I wish you could live with me too. You are one of my best friends. I love you so much. Mookie's party sounds cool. I definitely want to see your dancing! I will talk to you in Japanese when I come home. Love you buddy. You are so great! Wow, pre-school sounds like so much fun. I love eating caramel apples too!

I love you handsome boy.
Love,
Aunt Jeni