August in Okinawa

Konnichiwa Kazoku!!!

We started of the week with a little trip to sacred buddhist place, called Sefa Utaki, with our ward mission leader. It was beautiful right near the ocean. Rocks are placed in crazy ways and monks used to pray all day in that place. It is really fun to be so close to other missionaries that we can do fun things together! 

Last week and the beginning of this week we were COMPLETELY out of Book of Mormons. That can make dendouing difficult to say the least! We had one left to give out in case we ran into a golden person. 

Monday evening we taught the Miura family I mentioned last week. We found them housing and she speaks English. The WHOLE family came into the room to listen. THE MOM, THE DAD, TWO SONS AND A DAUGHTER!! I felt like I was on the district! The boys are 13 and 9 and the girl is 15. They had so many questions about God and Jesus Christ. The mother is also so open and was taking everything in. As we taught, she would simplfy and re-word what we were saying for her 9 year old. I sure that really helped HER understand. We went along with the pamphlet and she showed the pictures to her children. I love this family so much!! We prayed together with their entire family. The mother said that she loved the feeling she had while they prayed. I know Heavenly Father loves this family and is watching over them. We gave her an English Book of Mormon last time and she kept her commitment and read the introduction. We promised to get her a Japanese one as soon as we could. We couldn’t schedule another appointment because they are going to be busy with a buddhist holiday called Obon. But we stop occasionally and teach quick lessons. She gave us a referral too! Her mother! So we are going to teach her too! Since Miura san taught school in Canada her English is wonderful. She gave us big hugs at the end of the lesson and I felt at home! I LOVE THIS FAMILY. Later in the week we helped her translate some English mail for her friend and at that time we gave her our very last Japanese Book of Mormon. She was so grateful! 

Random: As we were riding our bikes like we always do we stopped at a red light and there is a radio playing. I listened in and guess who is was! RUSH LIMBAUGH!! Why they were playing a American, conservative, ENGLISH speaking, political analyst on the radio in Okinawa Japan I have no idea. Haha It made me think you mom! I miss you! Thanks for the talk you sent me a few weeks ago! I read it and loved it. 

This week we visited this old man in our ward that I love. His name is Brother Yoza and he was born in 1929! When he was just 16 he fought in World War 2 in the battles of Okinawa. He said 60 of his classmates died and he wasnt sure why he got to live. He later went to America for college and learned English. When he was 47 he was baptized. I told him that he survived so he could be baptized! I love learning from our elders! I learned to listen to their stories from your example Mom!!

This week we tried morning dendou! So instead of studying until lunch then going to dendou, get ready for the day then go out and contact! Then we come back and finish study and then go back out for the rest of the day. It was nice because it was cool weather. We were sure where we wanted to go but Black Shimai and I both felt very prompted to go to a very specific street. We went to that street and stopped a young high school aged girl. We talked to here about the church and she had some interest. We testified to her and gave her a Book of Mormon. She said she is too busy to meet with us again but I have a special feeling about her. I think someday she will find her way into the church.

Miracle of the week: On Tuesday it was a very raining day so I decided to put a rain jacket it my basket in case it started to pour. As I thought about that for some reason the thought came to put a Korean Book of Mormon in my bag. I have carried around different languages before but never have I given out a Korean one. I listened to that still, small voice, put it in my bag and quickly forgot about it and went out to dendo. At that time we still didnt have any Japanese Book of Mormons. As we were street contacting we meet a nice girl who was very interested. First she seemed like she was just interested in English Class but as we started talking she seemed interested in the church. She wanted to know more and said she had time that coming Friday. We quickly set up the appointment and got her information. She told us her name, Poku san. Thats not Japanese so we asked her about it. She is half Korean and speaks both Japanese and Korean fluently. I quickly new why the Lord guided me to put that Korean Book of Mormon in my bag just a few hours before. I grabbed it and started testifying of the Book of Mormon. (You should have seen my companions face! She was so shocked I had a Korean one!) I gave it to her and asked her to begin reading. She said she would. The Lord will use us as instruments in His hands if we pray for experiences and act on the promptings on the Holy Spirit.

Yesterday we had Stake Conference. Okinawa is divided into two different stakes so half of all the members in Okinawa came to our church building! The missionaries in our zone were given the opportunity to sing! We sang the primary hymn, "We'll Bring the World His Truth". As I walked up to the front and looked out on the worthy, righteous members of Okinawa my heart was filled with love for them. The spirit bore witness of the words we sang. I love these people and the Lord loves these people. 

I am grateful to be a missionary in these the latter days! "We are as the Army of Helaman, we have been taught in our youth. And we are NOW the Lord's missionaries to bring the world His truth."

This is His work. I testify that God lives and Jesus is the Christ. Through Christ, we can find happiness and peace in this life and eternal salvation in the world to come.

I love you all! Thanks for you support!

Love,

Capener Shimai

P.S. Dendou:missionary work

Buddy the Elf

Long time, no see! It feels weird e-mailing now since I just did on Thursday! Not a lot has happened since my last e-mail so this might be short. Just after e-mails last Thursday we went on a 2 hour drive through Okinawa to the aquarium. OKINAWA is SO BEAUTIFUL!!! I JUST CANT BELIEVE IT!!!! Driving along the turquoise ocean was so fun! The aquarium was really fun too. The whale sharks we enormous! But my favorite part was probably the manatees! I don't know why I love them so much. I remember Gavin and Chase saying that Manatees were like their favorite animals or something. It was a great day! Very exhausting but once in a lifetime!

Friday we had zone conference! It was my first zone conference on the mission! There are two zones in Okinawa so we all got together for the occasion! Literally right before it was about to start our zone leader, who works in the same ward as us, asked me to sing a solo. I accepeted, anything for Kaicho (president). Luckily, my companion and I had a song prepared that was originally for a choir, but could work as a solo. I began praying as soon as possible. Praying that the Lord could use me as an instrument in His hands..literally. That through this music, I could touch someones heart and be an answer to someone's prayer. When the meeting began we sang an opening hymn, had the opening prayer, then it was my turn to sing. I went up to the pulpit looking out at all the wonderful missionaries who are out working everyday, like me, for these people in Okinawa. I was filled with love before I even began singing. Then as I sang a beautiful rendition on "Come Thou Fount" the words really sunk into my heart. I started to get a little emotional but I pulled it together and gave it my all. I tried to really look at missionaries individually as I sang. Some of their eyes were filled with tears as well. Afterwards a hand full of missionaries thanked me for singing. I am grateful to serve that Lord in whatever way He needs me.

President and Sister Gustafson gave great talks. I just love them so much! We are really making a push to work more with members I know we will be blessed if we all work together!

The Elder who work in our ward with us had a baptism yesterday! They asked me to sing a few songs for that as well. That had kind of become my role now. I lead the music at baptism services and sing solos. My companion can play the piano so this is a team effort. I sang the primary song "Baptism" and then I sang "I know that my redeemer lives" in Japanese. Its nerve racking singing in a different language that is the audiences native, but hopefully they can forgive the accent. 

I wanted to talk about one funny thing about being here in Japan. So I am 5'9", blonde, tall, and have big blue eyes, that's very strange for Japan. I am HUGE! I feel like Buddy the Elf. Everything here is smaller. I tower over most people and have to bend and crouch down to get through some doors. I think Japanese people just get smaller as the age. Next to some obaachans (grandmas) I really feel like Buddy the Elf. So I have just decided the own it. Here are some pictures to demonstrate my largeness. Enjoy.

"The best way to spread MISSIONARY cheer is by singing loud for all to hear!" 

Just call me Buddy the Elf.

I love you all!

Capener Shimai!

Whale Sharks

First of all I wanted to give a big shout out to my sister Becca who just had a birthday on the 5th! I love you so much and really look up to you! As I am riding my bike around Okinawa I sometimes think of fun times we have had together like screaming like even stevens on space mountain or convincing Kaitlyn that we wrote the song By By Miss American Pie. That was HILARious!! I love you so much! Cant wait to hug you again!!!

On August 3 I hit my 4 month mark! Its crazy how time flies! DADDY THANKS FOR YOU PACKAGE!!!! IT CAME AT THE PERFECT TIME!! The Lord loves us and knows us personally. The timing of the package delivery was a sweet tender mercy of the Lord. I challenge everyone to look for and recognize the tender mercies in your own life.

So Dad, you were asking how a Trio works. Its just the same as any other companionship just with an extra person. Street contacting can be a little strange when three random people with helmets on start talking to you about God, but its AWESOME to have another witness! Another person testifying of what we are teaching. We all get along really well. Kuroki Shimai has wonderful English but we do try to speak Japanese as much as we can.

I wanted to talk a little about our Eikaiwa class! Every Wednesday we teach English! There are 7 missionaries who teach and 5 of them are Americans! We have around 20 people come each week. We teach from an English manual which can sometimes get boring. So being the character I am, I like to act out what I am saying in English and like practically put on a show! It makes Eikaiwa so much more fun if you get into it! If we are excited about what we are teaching the students will get excited too! When we street contact and the person isnt interested in the gospel we give the a Eikaiwa chidashi (English Conversation flyer). I always look forward to Wednesdays because I love EIKAIWA!

July Block Party

Konnichiwa Kazoku!

This week started off pretty crazy. My trainer had one of her first responsibilities as Sister Training leader and had to go to splits in another zone. That left me and Kuroki Shimai alone! I am technically senior even though she is Japanese. I had to step up to the responsibility and lead! I have so much more respect for my trainer after that day. JAPANESE ADDRESSES ARE IMPOSSIBLE!! Locating addresses on a Japanese map (all in Kanji) and then getting there by bike, riding up and down hills, sweating profusely, and trying to contact people along the way is quite a journey! Leading all the planning was a bit nerve racking because you want to use all your time effectively. We were very effective that day visiting members, contacting, giving out Book of Mormons, and even teaching a lesson! I learned a lot about being a leader as a missionary! Its scary to think I could become a trainer in the next few months because soooo many new sisters are coming in! Just pray that I will learn how to speak the language. That is seriously the hardest thing. BUT I have found that when I just try to talk to members and just ask questions it gets easier. If I dont understand them, they simplify it, and if I dont understand that either they use hand motions as well. haha They are so kind a patient with me. I have to just loose all my pride and just admit that I need help!

Kuroki Shimai has been so helpful in my language study. On a few occasions she has spent nearly her whole time just helping me. She is an incredible missionary. She came into the field running, ready to testify. I just love her so much.

We live in the same apartment as the Naha Sisters, Clingo Shimai and Kwak Shimai (we are Naha East) and they had a baptism this last weekend. Megumi San is her name. She was found two months ago street contacting. She is a single mother with a young daughter.  What a happy day!

We had a ward party this weekend and they asked the missionaries to sing. The zone leaders are in our ward so the ward has 5 missionaries now! The elders did a musical number with the guitar, then we, the sisters, sang, then I SANG A SOLO!! I sang a beautiful version of Love at Home and my comp Black Shimai played the beautiful accompaniment. I just went for it and belted the song. It was so fun! Then we all sang together Come Thou Fount. We started all singing in English and then there came a time where we sang acapella. We then started singing in Japanese. The spirit was soooo strong. There is something special about hearing your native language. I have come to appreciate that while serving here. 

D&C 90:11 "For it shall come to pass that in that day, that every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this power, by the administration of the Comforter, shed forth upon them for the revelation of Jesus Christ." 

I am grateful to be serving here on the beautiful island of Okinawa. A piece of my heart will forever be here. The Lord has opened my heart and filled it with love for these people. Some days can be difficult and exhausting but I want to share something I say in my morning prayers:

"I dedicate this day unto thee. I will do all that I can to serve thee today. I will do everything I can tomorrow too...but...I'll think about that tomorrow."

Take one day at a time, this time is a precious gift from our Father in Heaven. I love you all and feel of your love and prayers. Pray for Okinawa. 

Love,

Capener Shimai

ケイプナー姉妹

Two Sister Blacks

Konnichiwa!!

What a wonderful week!! We got our new companion.........KUROKI SHIMAI!! （黒木 This is the Kanji for her name and it means Black Tree (kuroi means black) so one of my companions is Sister Black the other is Sister Black Tree haha) Yep!!! She is Japanese! She is from Ibaraki-ken which is near Tokyo (ish). She went to BYU-Hawaii so she actually speaks English very well! She plays basketball too! We are planning on playing basketball with a young woman in our ward and her non-member friends! We are also going to play basketball in the mornings occasionally for exercise! YAAYY!! Street contacting with 3 can be a little awkward but having a Nihonjin is AWESOME! We speak WAYY more Japanese now just around the apartment and I can already feel my Japanese getting better! She is so sweet and an incredible missionary! 

KAMIZATO SHIMAI WAS BAPTIZED!! I just love her so much!! I am grateful for the opportunity I had to teach her and be a small part of this, guiding her to the truth. She bore her testimony too!! She said that she is going to read her scriptures, pray, obey the commandments because of the difference it makes in her life. She said she knew her sins are forgiven. Then at the close of the meeting her 5 year old daughter said the closing prayer!!! (with help from Kinjo Shimai her friend in the ward) I could tell Kamizato Shimai was really touched by that. At the end of the meeting I went to thank Kinjo Shimai. She has done SOOOO much for us to help Kamizato Shimai. She has jointed lessons, given rides, hosted FHEs, sat by her in Church, led her to classes, helped with her children, given her scriptures, and her husband performed the baptism AND the list goes on. So I started to thank her and began to tear up, my language is still not very good so I couldnt really express how grateful I really was, but as I thanked her the spirit was so strong, she started to tear up too. I hugged her and said Thank You in English. She knew that was really coming from my heart. I love KINJO SHIMAI!! She is in the picture with her family! (Kamizato Shimai was looking down!! Ahhh!!)

 

 

Its amazing how important morning study is and the Lord will provide a way for you to use what you learned that VERY same day!! So on Saturday morning during companionship study we were role playing introducing the モルモン書（Book of Mormon）and asking the investigator to read the last two paragraphs of the intro and inviting them to read, ponder, and pray about the Book of Mormon. So I bet you see where this is going...haha...........I DID IT ON THE STREET LIKE AN HOUR LATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!　I am so grateful for that practice! I had confidence as I spoke and knew what I was going to say!!!

Sunday we had another miracle! Kamizato Shimai was confirmed and we had another investigator there. Then after sacrament meeting a lady came into the church. She had a lot of interest so we started talking to her. We gave her a little church tour and ended in the sacrament meeting room. There we listened to her story, and taught her part of the first lesson. She has had a very hard life, suffering with an abusive husband. She loved the fact that we were volunteers and she said she wants to do the same! She gladly accepted our message. Following the promptings of the spirit, we invited her to be baptized. Her eyes started to shine and she accepted! We set a date for the end of August. Her name is Uemura San. 

Things are going well in Naha! I think its getting even hotter! For the first time in my life I could see a purpose using those sweat head band things. Sweat mixed with sunscreen in your eyes is not fun. But I love it! I love Okinawa! I never want to transfer! Thank you for all your prayers! Keep praying to have missionary experiences your self! If you dont know how, contact the missionaries in your area and tell them you want to help! They would LOVE THAT!! 

I know that the God hears and answers our prayers. He knows each of us individually and loves us!He is our Heavenly Father, He wants to hear from us. And I want to hear from you too!! hehe I love letters :)

Until Next Week!!

Love,

Capener Shimai

ケイプナー姉妹

Celebrating the 4th in Japan

Minasan Konnichiwa みなさんこんにちわ!　

 

As I have been serving I realized how little I actually know about your missions, mom and dad. I want to hear stories and see pictures! Mom, if you have the chance, I would love some actual pictures from your mission like snail mail ones I can have a show people. 

It is HOT in Okinawa! People here say the UV rays are really strong...Would you mind looking that up online and letting me know? Everyone wears long sleeves and hats and when they see me in short sleeves theｙ tap my arms tell me to be careful (and a bunch of other stuff i cant understand). But on Monday after our p-day at the beach I was very burnt. Our whole ZONE had a hard time recovering. Everyone got burnt, one elder got heat stroke, and one elder actually broke his arm when he got hit by a car on his bike on the way to the beach. My companion stepped on glass at the beach! So we had to go to the doctors and get it out! We were very physically exhausted! Unrelated to the beach, a companionship of sisters got their bikes stolen :( its been rough, but the works goes on!!

 

かみざと姉妹　(Kamizato Shimai) is progressing towards her baptismal date which was moved to the July 19th. The gospel is changing her. We can see it in her eyes. She loves the primary program and how her children are responding to the gospel. I just love her so much. She understands everything so well! 

 

We had an awesome Sunday yesterday. Along with Kamizato Shimai coming on time dressed up with her children, a nonmember woman just showed up to Sacrament meeting. Awhile back she got an English Class flyer with church times and information on it. We briefly talked to her and then we were able to sit by her in Sacrament meeting. Our ward is so loving and welcoming! Kamizato Shimai was able to sit by a family that has been fellowshipping her so we could sit by this new lady, Kaneda San かねださん。Another member sat on her other side and whispered explainations throughout sacrament meeting. After sacrament we lead Kamizato Shimai and her children to where they needed to go then we taught Kaneda San the first lesson!! She loved it, as we testified of the Book of Mormon, モロモン書 she quickly asked, "Can I have one?" AHHHHH!! OF COURSE!!!! It was so great to see someone so prepared! We will be meeting with her again this week!

 

This week was the Fourth of July! In Japan its just like any another day :( But we all wore red, white and blue in celebration of our native land! God bless America!! 

 

We did splits this week and I was pared with Clingo Shimai from Springville, Utah. We all live in the same apartment so it was funny just switching places with Kwak Shimai. Kwak Shimai went with my trainer and I went with hers. My area is Naha Higashi, but on Friday I worked in Naha area. Naha area is bigger with more tourists and shopping! It was cool so see that area of Naha and learn from Clingo Shimai. She is an awesome missionary! Together we were able to testify to some in English and give out an English Book of Mormon (always be prepared) It is so nice to testify in my native tongue! Then we found a new investigator! I am sad I wont be able to teach her but she seems really awesome. She is Christian already and committed to praying about the Book Of Mormon!

 

The weeks fly by here! I can promise you that when you lose yourself in the service of bring souls unto Christ, you will find joy!! Many reject us and slam the doors when they see our gaijin (foreign) faces, but I know that I am offering them to partake of the greatest gift of all, eternal life! A missionary once related it to offering everyone we see $100 bills! The funny thing is its worth SO much more than that! I know more than ever that God is in reality the father of our spirits. He knows us and loves each of us individually. He has prepared a plan for us to return to live with Him and our families for eternity. I know its in and through the Gospel of Jesus Christ that we had find a happiness in this life! I have grown to love my earthly family so much more than I ever thought was possible. I pray for you. I love you.

 

Pray for opportunities to be a missionary. Invite nonmembers to your house and invite the missionaries. Carry around an extra copy of the Book of Mormon and read it in public. When people ask you about it, give them one! Always be prepared to stand as a witness of Christ. Think about the families you know who have recently moved, just had a baby, or experienced a death in the family. President Monson has said that people in those situations often have many questions about life. We have those answers!  Share what you know! 

 

I love you all! 

 

Capener Shimai

ケイプナー姉妹

 

My 21st Birthday Celebration

June 30, 2013
Konnichiwa Kazoku!

This week has been so full of adventures! I wanted to start off my saying I have the best 21st Birthday ever here in Naha! My companion and roommates woke me up by singing happy birthday and made me crepes with bananas and Nutella. They gave me a bow for my hair and a little basketball! Dad, you wrote in one of your letters that on your mission a sports store owner gave you a basketball. Haha now I have My mini basketball! I love it! We also went out for sushi!!! First time having sushi since Ive been on my mission!! It was delicious. I tried the okinawan stuff called Natto, yep it was gross. But we had interviews with president and training more the APs! I love President Gustafson! He really loves and cares for his missionaries! My birthday was great! I just cant believe how fast July came!

 

So I wanted to talk first a little more about Kamizato Shimai. This week she accepted a date to be baptized!!!! July 20th is the date! At church on Sunday she was able to meet more of the ward and really interact because her little 1 year old baby was sleeping in the stroller!! (blessing!) There is a ward member mother who is really working with us to fellowship her. We had FHE at their house with Kamizato Shimai there! Kamizato Shimai is very very shy and does not really have a lot to say, but I can see she is slowly getting more comfortable with church! 

 

This week we ate a members house who is Philipino but raised their family in Okinawa. They all speak English!! Yaay!! But to our surprise they brought a non member friend who was also Philipino to the dinner. She was Catholic and her Mormon friend has been inviting her for the past 20 years to church. She has a Book of Mormon but hasnt read it. She has a strong relationship with God. It felt so good to teach a testify in a language I could understand. I felt inspired to share my experience of going to Catholic school and there learning truths about Jesus Christ and developing my love for my Savior. Then I testified that with the Book of Mormon we have the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As I read the Book of Mormon my love for my Savior grew so much more. We then invited to family to pray with us for our investigators. The non-member told us that she would pray for them. She is such a sweet woman. 

 

I had another English experience with contacting. We started contacting with a girl in Japanese but seeing as my companion and I are both blonde she quickly said, "Im from Austrialia, going to school here in Okinawa" We began talking to her in English. I stumbled so much and felt a little lost! But I reached in my bag and gave her my mini Book of Mormon I carry with me everywhere. I knew that it could be replaced and it meant even more to me because of my mini sacrifice. I felt so happy afterwards!

 

We had a double zone P-day! Which was super fun! All the missionaries on Okinawa got together and had a BBQ on the beach. We played volleyball and soccer on the beach! We then had hot dogs and burgers! I felt like it was our fourth of July party! We were near a base so there were foreigners everywhere! It was so weird!! Okinawa is SOOOO beautiful! 

 

A miracle happened this week! The zone leaders are in the same ward as we are and they have had this investigator named Makinaka san since about February. Makinaka san is a chef at a restaurant and always cooks for us! He is very playful and always plays jokes on the Elders. Makinaka san has had a hard life, smoking, drinking, prison, divorce, you name it. He met the missionaries on the street and agreed to come to church simply to make fun of it. Yet, the gospel of Jesus Christ began to soften his heart. There were many bumps along the way, but through the power of the atonement he was able to quit his bad habits, repent of his sins, and be baptized into the church last Saturday. He is strong and dedicated to the church. He desires to be a better person each day! The gospel really changes lives.

 

I love the people of Okinawa and I know the Lord does too. In 2 Nephi 29:7 it says, 

"Know ye not that there are more nations than one? Know ye not that I, the Lord your God, have created all men, and that I remember those who are upon the isles of the sea; and that I rule in the heavens above and in the earth benaeath; and I bring forth my word unto the children of men, yea, even upon all the nations of the earth?"

 

The Lord is aware of these people. He loves them with a perfect love. He is remembers his missionaries upon the island of Okinawa and loves them too. I am so thankful to be serving here and for my  small part in bringing forth the word of God unto the children of men. Thank you for your prayers and support! Pray for Okinawa!

Love,

Capener Shimai