Yokosuka, the Land of Dreams

It means flat joy. 横須賀. Cool, right?

I am not exactly what that is
supposed to mean, but I think it is something good.

First, my foot is getting better. Thanks for the concern.

I love it here! I cannot even begin to say how much I miss Machida,
 but these two areas are both polar opposites.

And awesome. I like them a lot.

 My new companion is Sister C. 

She is fiery and ready to work. And is funny.

So, right now we are helping a HUGE Naval Base ward

and a little Japanese Branch.

It is quite busy, but an adventure.

 This week we saw a lot of miracles.

But one thing that stuck out to me
was a miracle we had on the street.

We saw a sweet lady and started up a conversation.

After an intro, we asked her if she wanted to learn
about Jesus. She said yes.

We asked if she wanted to come to our
church now. She said yes.

So we did. And the Spirit was so strong!

I am so grateful for all of the chances

I have had to feel the Spirit.
God really does reach out to everyone.

We just need to want to hear it.

Hope everyone has had a great week Please keep at it.

愛しています
進んでいるモレン姉妹

So, this week. This has been the most hectic week of my mission.

Let me tell you about it.
First, we made it out of the apartment alive! My companion woke up
angry and said, "I am tired of being sick! I am going to get better so
we can work!" So she got better. And we did. She is literally the
toughest person I have ever met. So we went out Tuesday night! Woot!
Then we went out Wednesday. And honestly, it was one of the best
proselyting days of my mission. I truly felt the spirit and felt like
we were guided to do certain things and certain people. I've never
been so happy to be outside to work. That night we had English class.
A student asked me if I had dreams of going to Japan when I was
little. And I told him that I absolutely did not. For that I love
Japan so much now, and I was so glad that I came to be a missionary.
Then we biked home.and, as I jumped off my bike, I felt my foot hit
the ground the wrong way. I ignored it until we start walking up the
stairs. And we got inside the apartment I couldn't ignore it anymore.
It hurt very badly, and my stomach dropped.
In this mission, because of the revelation my Mission President
 received from God, if you fracture a bone at a certain point in your
mission and need surgery, you are required to go back to your hometown
with an honorable release.
And my stubborn side kicked in. Us Molens are stubborn. And I refused
to admit that possibility.
so I iced it. The next day, I needed to go to the Honbu, so I went. It
was pretty far, but My stubborn side was up. My companion said I
looked ridiculous. I talked to the amazing Sister Wada, and she told
me to talk to the doctor at Zone Conference the next day. She asked if
I could wait. I said yes. So the next day went to Takao (props to my
old area :D) and by then it was hurting pretty badly. The doctor
looked at it and said it looked like a fracture and that I should get
an X ray.
The following night was the least amount of sleep I had gotten in my
life. I laid there, terrified. And, for a brief second, I let my mind
turn home. What was waiting for me. Of course my family, who I would
love to see. Friends I would, too. Those were good. Then came school,
work, television, internet, movies, things I thought I missed. And
those things had no color to me. In my mind, clearly, those things did
 not have the color or depth of what serving the Lord does. and I
realized that, I will probably want those. But not today. I realized
there was nothing I would rather do than serve the Lord at this point
in my life. Even though I do it poorly, and loud, and with mediocre
language skills, it is what I want to do. And I was so grateful for
that knowledge.
And I learned that the Lord answers prayers, and He cares about our
desires. When the doctor pulled up the Xray and saw no breaks, I felt
so much. He then told me, "Well, you didn't break it, so just walk it
off." In essence, it had the characteristics of a fracture, but no
fracture. So he gave me special bandaids and told me to deal with it.
Which I am.
Why am I telling you this story? Because 1. i know God answers our
prayers 2. I know He chooses what is best for us and 3. If you are
contemplating serving a mission or serving in a calling, I will give
you this advice:Go for it. When I was at home, there were so many
entertainment things and other goals that I thought were the most
important things I could ever have. They had color to me. But I
promise you that if you take time and serve the Lord with everything
you have in your heart, you will soon see that those things are truly
 faded. There is no greater joy than serving the Lord.

My foot is feeling a lot better, by the way. I got my transfer call
today. I am moving to Yokosuka to serve in a Japanese branch and
English ward. And I know that is where God wants me to be. He is
letting me stay and complete my mission. I am grateful that I, my
small self, and able to witness so many miracles in people's lives.
God is truly in everyone's lives.
 I am grateful for this opportunity to serve Him.

I hope this week, all of you find opportunities to feel the joy of
serving God and others.
Love you!
Molen Shimai

Hello world!
What is it like out there? I have had the supreme blessing of being
stuck in the apartment due to illness.(her companion has been sick)
And I went crazy.

At first, I was upset. I was confused on why we had to be in the
apartment for so long. (which is the WRONG way to handle it when
something doesn't go your way)

Well, now it is day ten. and I am so grateful.
I have been in an apartment with no television, no internet, and a few CDs.
I called my friends, texted my friends, called students from English
class I have never met, made cards, and then sat there.

I was confused.

Then, day three, I got hit with the idea to read the Book of Mormon.
Best idea in the world.

I do not know how many times I have read the Book of Mormon, but I do
know that it is wonderful. I had just forgotten.

Seriously, everyone should read it. We all have sincere q

uestions,
心に響く言葉. Things that resonate in our hearts.
I cannot even explain the answers I have received.

Jesus Christ loves everyone. God had given us this church for our
happiness. He wants us to be happy.

May we all start the new year with joy in our hearts.

愛しています
モレン姉妹

Happy New Year!!!!


Hello everyone!
Hope you all had an amazing Christmas! we did. We became super busy,
visited a lot of friends, taught them all with the Spirit (and they
felt it-we know) and were able to love as Christ does.
the next day my companion got sick.
don't worry- we have been using the thermometer correctly this time.
We are now able to leave the apartment for brief intervals, so she is
getting better. it was pretty interesting at first, though.
One thing I have though about as I have been trying to work in our
apartment, is the Book of Mormon. I love the Bible. I love Psalms
(that is my favorite) But in determining whether God is in the church
of Jesus Christ if Latter day Saints, and everything missionaries say
is true, there is only one way to truly know.
that is to read a book either translated by the power of God or made
up by a 21 year old boy.
And anyone who reads the Book of Mormon knows that the second is not possible.
i have been reading with real intent and I have felt and become
something wonderful. i find, as do others I know, that when I read it
I feel like me. more me than I have ever felt.
I hope everyone reads it. It is so powerful, so beautiful. And so true.
Please keep happy and keep strong. Sometimes I forget there are so
many things in this world to be happy about. But there really are. So
go find them! Probably you don't have to go very far.
keep awesome!
love,
Sister Molen

Can you find her?  Hint:  Right side, center, red scarf

This is 210 missionaries for our mission conference! we watched "Meet
 the Mormons" and had a giant gift exchange and sang a lot of carols.
i got a can of root beer.

Merry Christmas, everyone! That's right, Christmas is coming up. I

love Christmas.

In Japan, people do not really understand the meaning of

Christmas...well... at all. So we have been showing a lot of people

#HestheGift video. 
To View click this link:

He's the Gift

              That has been helping. It has been great to think

about that that is why Christmas is here.

What I have learned on my mission is the true meaning of Christmas. It

isn't presents. It isnt even being nice to everyone. It isn't about

being cheerful.

it is hope.

Because Jesus Christ came to this Earth and performed the

special miracle called the Atonement, we are never truly alone. We

always have Him to be there to guide us. Because God loves us, He sent

Jesus Christ. So there is the hope that because God loves us as well,

there will always be good things to come. When you have grazed that

hope, it leaves a trace on your heart that can never truly fade.

And because of that Hope, we are cheerful.

Because of that Hope, we share love with our neighbors.

Because of that Hope, some people give up the money they love for other people.

I hope that everyone finds the hope that season.

Love you all! Happy Christmas!

❤️愛しています

モレン姉妹

Parable of the Thermometer

Hello!
So I will send out this email with a story- and I hope it will be able
to help someone.
So I was feeling a little icky on Thursday. I had a meeting in another
area, so I ignored the feeling and went to it.
The next morning I woke up feeling awful. I was amazed at how bad I
felt. I got up and tried to exercise but it didn't do anything. I had
a spinning head, burning throat, stuffy nose and a cough. I figured it
was just a cold. So I went to the bathroom, pulled you the thermometer
which has been in the Machida apartment since before time itself and
stuck it in my mouth.
Of course, it was Celsius. And I do not know Celsius. So it comes up
37.9. I call the mission mom (Sister Wada <3) tell her the temperature
nonchalantly, and ask if I can rest for the day.
 All of a sudden she became quite upset and told me I needed to go to
the hospital. I insisted I was fine. Then she asked to speak to my
companion and asked my companion how I was. She said I just seemed
exhausted and had a cold. Then she stated, very fervently, that I
could not leave the apartment for a long time and she would call back.
So I slept all day (which helped), and it said my temperature went
down a little.
The next day I feel better. So I call Sister Wada, who is still
 demanding I got to the hospital. I tell her I am fine. She told me to
check my temperature, and I did. It was back at 38! I told her it was
38, and she told me that she would get someone from the Mission Office
to drive me to a hospital that night. I was feeling lightheaded and it
was hard to think, but I did not know I needed to go to the hospital!
So then I started to worry. What was my temperature, anyway? I
started calling the other missionaries-no one knew Celsius to
Fahrenheit, but all the Japanese missionaries ordered me to go a
hospital.
Then I get a phone call at six that night.
"Molen Shimai, this is Sister Wada. I am in front of your apartment."
I was speechless. She laughed.
"I am coming in, okay?"
So I clean off a place at the table for her, and waited by the door.
She rang and I opened it.
The shock on her face made me scared.
"Sister Molen!" She then looked very confused. She put her hand on my
face. "You're not hot."
"I'm not? I didn't think so." I invited her in and we sat down.
She said. "Go check your temperature right now."
So I went into the bathroom, got the thermometer, sat down, and put it
in my mouth.
"What are you doing?!" She asked? Without waiting, she pulled the
thermometer out and inspected it. "Sister Molen, this doesn't go in
your mouth- this goes in your armpit!"
...
..
.
I have never been more speechless in my life. Besides the fact that I
was exhausted, couldn't think straight, I could not process that I had,
not only been misreading my temperature for two days, but had been
putting something used my dozens of sisters in my mouth.
She washed it, and asked me to check under-my armpit. I was 36.6, which
is calculated to 98.6F.
Sister Wada smiled. "Oh, I am so glad you are not dying! I was worried
that you had influenza, but it looks like a cold. You should be fine!"
She then took us out to eat.
I am not exactly sure the meaning of the parable (mainly because I am
still exhausted and nasally- but should be better soon :D) But it goes
to show that if you do not know the tools you are using, you cannot
succeed.
Other than that, our friends are doing well. I really want to learn
 how to listen and love more. They are all inspirations to me. I am so
grateful for them.
Thank you everyone for being awesome. Hope you are excited for
Christmas! Just remember, Christ is the reason!
愛しています
モレン姉妹

December 5, 2014

Just a quick update from Sister Molen's Mom:

Sister Molen is remaining in the Machida area this next transfer.  She is excited to continue her work there and working with her wonderful companion Sister W.   She appreciates everyone's thoughts and prayers as she continues her service.