This will be a short one.
This last week was super busy, but full of miracles.

Our friend, through all craziness, was able to follow Jesus Christ and
be baptized. It was amazing to see. I have been how God is a part of
her life. Me and my companion did very little, if anything. It was all
 between her and God.

Love you all! Please remember: Have fun this week!

愛しています
モレン姉妹

Frantic Happiness

So, week three in the chosen land of Yokosuka!!! I am finding that
there are times when I have no time, but I suppose that is a better
problem to have. We are bouncing around everywhere like crazy! It is a
really good thing and is super fun, but sometimes I wonder if I can
really do this: balance the ward and the branch, finding and teaching,
coming and going, all while trying to be more Christlike. And I
realize; No, I can't. Not alone. But I DO know I can do it will God
and Jesus Christ. And somehow,

They are getting all of the necessary things done.

Here are some quick adventures and thoughts for the week:
So we come home from English class, climb up a bunch of steps, go into
the genkan(apt), and turn on the lights. And..nothing. Flick it again.
Nothing. We tried everything we could and...nothing.It was pitch
black. A few days earlier my companion mentioned how she resented a
little bit how our mission is so safe, so taken care of, and so
pampered. So I blame her for our power going out. And it was so much
fun!! I loved it. It was SO cool!!!!! After lighting a candle and
pulling out our emergency packs, we called the Mission Home, who was
nof as excited as I was. And さすが Mission Home, they were able to call
a very kind man to fix it in the middle of the night. (Mission Home
can do anything). But, as we were sitting there, I realized that this
was an opportunity to be grateful for everything we DID have. Isn't
life interesting? We do not tend to realize our blessing until they
are extinguished. And, amidst all the places we were going, God took
some time to pause us, and remind us of our blessings. It was a great
experience.

We had a lesson with a sweet new friend. She knows nothing about
Christianity and told us that she was scared of it when she was in
school. She said she thought people are forced to join, and when you
enter a church building they rob you. o.0 She then said when she met
us on the street we did not seem to be those kinds of people, but
seemed very friendly and respected people's agency. She said that
because she had a good feeling, she figured she would decide to find
out a little more. We told her that we most definitely respected her
agency, and would NOT make her join, but teach her how to find out for
herself if it is true. She likes that.

One miracle: We went bowling on Base last P day with the kindest
couple I have ever met. And, afterward we headed over quickly to the
McDonalds nearby so we could hurry to go out and work. To our surprise
we walked in and saw a church member from the branch! We then took a
few more steps and met a friend who drops by church! We set up a table
and were able to get to know them better and teach them. Miracle in
McDonalds.

Will tell you more next week. And the beginning of this post, I said,
"necessary things". And I love being a missionary-because those
"things" involve serving God and serving others. And, even though
sometimes the days are long, or the Japanese is difficult to
understand, I am so glad I have the privilege to act in the place of
Christ. I hope to be a better person so that I can help these people
the best I can.

Hope everyone had a great week! Would love to hear about it!

愛しています
モレン姉妹

Land of Dreams Continue

Hello!

This is week two in the promised land called Yokosuka... and we have
seen miracle after miracle. It is cool to see God helping His children.
In reality, I become a bystander at a point.We as missionaries teach
to the best of our capacity, and then people just start their dance
with God. I am so grateful to see the Spirit touch people．

This week, one miracle happened while we were housing, We are trying to
get time finding in between working for the ward and the branch. And we
were standing on the second floor of a building, overlooking Yokosuka.

And I had a distinct feeling we needed to go to a building I saw in the
landscape. I said it but felt a little silly, because I did not know of
 God was telling me to or if I was making it up.

So after I said
something I waited to see how my companion would react. She is the
hero of the story, because when we finished our building she is the one
that said, "Why don't we go try and see?" So we went.

And it was a long way.

So we prayed and hit the numbers with names on them. No one
answered. Then, just as ee were about to leave, I looked up and saw an
old, barely see able name.

So we called it-and it was a former investigator who remembered missionaries,

the Book of Mormon, and Nephi.
She was very sweet and invited us to come back.

God does His work, even though we stumble sometimes.

I am so grateful to be here.

Everyone, please have so e fun this week!

I have learned that life
 is meant to be enjoyed-

for God made the Earth to be good.

愛しています
モレン姉妹

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.