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

Isn't the work amazing?

Dearest Beautiful Family,

This may be short today my beloved ones, at 9:30 our time we are jumping on a boat to spend the day with Rachel, one of our beloved investigators who lives on an island just off of Takamatsu that is still in our area.  It is called "Shodo Shima" (shodo island). We are going to teach her to make wonderful homemade American chocolate treats to replace the coffee she loves so much. Party!!! I rejoice to be alive and serving in the kingdom. We have such hope for her to progress. The Gospel truly is the best gift and I love it.

I have learned incredibly poignant lessons this week and still feel like I am just starting to comprehend some things. It is incredible. I testify that our leaders are called from God. The Priesthood is amazing. I read something from Elder Ballard in "Our Search for Happiness" about the priesthood being what Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ would do for us on earth, and my whole perspective changed. Heavenly Father would want to give ME my blessings. Jesus Christ would want to go to the temple with me. They would want to be in our meetings, watching over our family on earth. The priesthood really is the big, overseeing factor for God's family--isn't that amazing?

I wish I had hours to write you. We had an incredible meeting about humility, and I understood so many things for the first time, or again that I have forgotten. My life has been changed from this week. A few lessons: everything we have, every talent, ability, gift, is only for the blessing of others (like the priesthood - to be used to bless them). Satan's voice is incredibly tricky. Every thought that is in our head, can be tested by putting it into one of two "baskets." If it invites us to do good and follow the Savior, it is from Him. Anything else is not. Discouragement, feelings of "I can't" for things that have been asked of us are the antithesis of faith. I feel so new and grateful to be learning humility again. I am grateful for the Atonement that covers my weaknesses and allows me to move on. I love the Sacrament. I make a promise to each of you that we can increase the role of this sacred ordinance in our lives! I thought it was so important to me and it grew again in significance this week. I keep thinking...do we know what we have and why? Everything we have is for others, to bless those we love. We have what is needed to return to live with our Heavenly Father again. Our work is for those who have yet to make promises leading to exaltation. Wow, I am so amazed. And we have training again this week! I am so grateful for leaders who train me on what I need to become--but all for the purpose of serving others. Isn't the gospel amazing?

Our investigator pool is still down, but I think it will start increasing with amazing people we've been finding. Do you know just how intricately He numbers His sheep? We have been led to amazing people almost every day this week. It is a wonderful work, and I am just so grateful to be a part of it. It does not matter what our neighbors have, we need to worry about their SUCCESS. Isn't it amazing? I am filled with love anew for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and it happens again, and again, and again. I understand a little more how we can always be progressing, because He teaches mercifully of our capacity and the application. Oh, how I love them - my Savior, and my Heavenly Father! I am so grateful for the Spirit to help me realize that peace always. It really works, if you begin to look a little harder and distinguish the fruits of your thoughts. Heavenly Father has given us what we need, He is so wonderful.

How precious you are my sweet, beloved friends and loved ones. Isn't the work amazing! It is true. Let us go on in this cause.

Isono Kyodai is doing well, and is beginning his new life as a member of the true and living church. We taught an amazing woman with Alzheimer's this week who may still be able to get baptized. Her heart is changing though her memory cannot hold. We'll see how it works out this week! Did I tell you how grateful I am? (I also love the "Beware of Pride" talk we got this week!)

And, I love you. It is true. Let's work!

Love you!
Sister Anderson, blessed to be learning anew

Added by Sister Jen's mom:

Shōdo Island 

is an island located in the Inland Sea of Japan. 

The name means literally "Island of Small Beans."

There are two towns on the island: 

Tonoshō and Shōdoshima, 

comprising the district of Shōzu. 

 

 

 

 

 Olive trees on the island