Baptisms Really Do Happen In Japan: Nihon Week 2

This is Rina!!  She is being baptized April 2nd!!

The work is rolling forth in Japan.  Alyssa is so excited and seems to be working so hard.  This week she really emphasized the role we have as members of the church in helping to work progress.  I think that in Utah, we don't always have the opportunities to support the missionaries as much as in other places.  Being in Japan has opened Alyssa's eyes on how much they rely on members.  I can tell that she already loves the people so much, especially the members.  She challenged us to look outside ourselves and see what more we can do here in our sphere of influence.  I guess it is time to leave the comfort zone, have a little more faith and do our part.

This was her first full week as a proselyting missionary.  She expressed in her letter that there have been challenging times and frustration.  Being a missionary is glorious and amazing and also incredibly difficult.  I don't want to sugar coat this blog and have it appear that every thing is always rosy.  However,  the work is worth it and God will help you through.  A recently returned missionary in our ward, Elise Evans, said it best when she said "That a mission is the hardest joy she has ever earned".  I think that pretty much sums it up.  I know Alyssa is strong willed and a fighter so I know that she won't let the challenges get her down.

Here is a small excerpt from her letter to me this week:

As far as my investigators, I have so many I could describe!  Rina is fourteen and is absolutely crazy but we love her tons and tons. Iwamota San is an eternal investigator of like thirty years and is very smart but won't apply the doctrine spiritually, Aimi and Miu are two cute little girls with super strong testimonies, Arai Tomohiro is a teenage boy who has the hardest time understanding doctrine but wants to be baptized...it is crazy that these people are real and they are mine. I want them to get baptized and love and accept this gospel so bad!  But people have their agency and sometimes that is frustrating haha. 

 

Overall I am great though. The bike is a struggle sometimes with the wind and the skirt and sometimes my inner commitment to follow Jesus Christ becomes a lot more outward if you catch my drift...but I am trying haha. The language is kicking my butt and sometimes I get super discouraged but I have to have the faith that I will be able to learn. The food is delicious, literally everything is super great. Actually I just had my first Nihongin meal with a member today, because all the other members have been making us American food like jello and chili and pizza because we are American and they want to make me feel at home...these people are seriously so golden. I love them so much. 

And here is her group email:

Konnichiwa minasan!

It is hard to believe that I am emailing from my second P day here in
Japan in my beautiful Yamatakoriyama. I truly love this area so much
and I feel so blessed to be able to be working here!
This week was great although it felt like it dragged on for eternity!
It is amazing how much you can accomplish in one single day as you get
up early and then schedule your life down to the very minute. It is a
super gratifying feeling, but also super exhausting. Sleep is my new
best friend here! We got lots accomplished though this week, and it
was wonderful. We had the chance to teach lots of lessons and visit
lots of members and just do a bunch to help further the work here in
this amazing area.

Some highlights of the week include having my first district meeting!
We meet in Nara for that, which is this big city next to my area, and
they have the famous Nara Park where you can pet the deer and see the
ginormous Buddah..we are definitely going to be hitting that up soon.
But district meeting was awesome, we have six elders in our district
and we were able to get together and discuss what we are learning
about the atonement of Jesus Christ through our mission wide reading
of the Book of Mormon..it was so neat, I am learning so much and every
single day it hits me more and more about how the gospel is literally
centered on the atonement. It is everything!  And that being said, it
should also be everything and the center of our very lives. Without
the atonement, we are and can become nothing. Such an important and
beautiful concept.

Okay now story time for the title of the email! Once upon a time the
sisters before us met this girl named Rina..she was fourteen and
seemed super golden and had a lot of interest...but they were not able
to keep contact with her!  Lots and lots of prayers were said to be
able to find her again, but to no avail. They were super sad but vowed
to always keep an eye out for her. Well fast forward again to Kenney
Shimai and her last companion...they found her again!  They taught her
again and it went well, but once again had no way to contact her and
lost track of her..tons more prayers were said. Flash forward again to
when I arrived in the area last week...we were biking home one night
and we ran into Rina! We were so thrilled and were able to get her to
commit to coming to church and to be formally taught. She was so
excited and agreed and we were so grateful that Heavenly Father placed
us in our path.

Flash forward AGAIN to Saturday...we are teaching her about the Savior
and about the gospel and she outward states that she wants to join
this church, she believes in Christ and God, she has felt the spirit,
and loves it here. Kenney Shimai and I were thrilled!  We extended the
baptismal commitment to her and she accepted and then said she wanted
to be baptized on April 2nd. The entire situation is truly such a
miracle and we are so thrilled! We know that there are people prepared
in our path to be baptized, and we just have to have the faith and
determination to find them! Her testimony is strong and she is golden
and her parents are down with her joining the church..we are going to
have a baptism here!  We can't even believe it! Such a happy thing to
be able to help this sweet daughter of God recognize her divine
identity and come closer to Christ.

Okay miracle round two...we have these two little girls who have
wanted to be baptized for a long time but their inactive parents are
super apathetic and wouldn't help bring them to church...it has been
so hard!  Their testimonies are stronger than basically all of our
other investigators and they want to be baptized so badly but they are
just little girls and need help getting to church. We have been
praying lots and struggling to know what to do...they want to be
baptized so badly and we just were at a loss.

Well this morning we get this phone call from Inamori Kyodai our ward
mission leader...he basically called and told us that the parents had
a change of heart and were sort of called to repentance by this sweet
little older brother in the ward that we adore and they want the girls
to go through with the baptism...so we will be having two baptisms
this weekend as well for Aimi and Miu!  Honestly we got off the phone
and were in shock..we couldn't even believe this was happening,
because it seemed like such a miracle. It is truly unreal how much we
are being blessed here in Yamatokoriyama at this time. The work is
rolling forward!

President Welch has asked us to have the faith to see one baptism
every single week...Kenney Shimai and I had no clue how we were going
to accomplish this with our minimal Japanese and little experience,
but we were determined to be obedient and work hard and do our very
best. Well by the end of next week when we have hit three weeks in the
transfer, we will have seen three baptisms. Seriously such miracles.

I have a testimony that the Lord hears and answers prayers, and He
will not let our our inadequacies or weaknesses get in the way of His
work. This gospel is too important, and I know as we try our best to
open our mouths and share the happy news of our Savior, we will be
able to help people around us experience more joy and happiness than
they could even imagine. This doesn't just apply to missionaries, but
everyone!  Here I have seen firsthand that without ward members, this
work would die out completely. We are only here for a few transfers at
most, but ward members are there to support new converts and less
actives much longer...I would encourage all of you to reflect on what
you are doing to help further the work of the Lord wherever you
currently are in your life and the world. Missionaries can't do it
without you! As Joseph Smith has said, after all has been said and
done, our most important duty is to preach the gospel!

I am so grateful to be a missionary at this time. I am so grateful for
my Savior and for this beautiful Easter season to celebrate His
resurrection and triumph. I know He lives. I know that for sure.
I love you all so much and hope you know that my prayers and thoughts
are with you all! Have a very happy Easter! Lots of love!

Aishiteimasu!
Sister Pickering

P.S. If you haven't seen the new Easter video the church put
out...repent and go watch it  now!  Share that thing all over the
World Wide Web and share the good news!

Isn't that just a cool letter?  I will be praying hard this week for her sweet investigators and hope that they can follow through with their commitments.

Also, as a side note, Alyssa's Dad and I laughed a little hard when she said that sleep is her new best friend.  We didn't realize that she ever broke up with sleep in the first place.  :)

Companions

The Church building in Yamatokoriyama

Street view of Yamatokoriyama

Yamatokoriyama

Sunrise

"City of Nara, where we have District Meeting"

"The reason one of our investigators won't come to church.??
Curse you Salon Takagi!!!"

Ibuki Chan!

"The Crib"

Proof that she can ride a bike . . .

First Week in Japan

Alyssa with an investigator named Shiori and her trainer Sister Kenney

Street contacting, riding a bike, teaching lessons, new area, speaking in a foreign tongue, and feeling the Spirit; true missionary work has finally begun for Alyssa and it is so exciting.  Between her group email and the questionnaire I sent her, I feel like we got a pretty in depth look at her first week in Japan.  So here it is:

Minasan, Konnichiwa!
Well I can hardly believe it...after what feels like eons of time, I
am FINALLY writing you an email from Japan!  Woohoo! It feels so good
to be in the outside world and in my beautiful mission. I truly love
it so much already.
My last few days in the MTC were good if not a bit crazy just trying
to get things done. Saying goodbye to my senseis and some of my
district and my companion were hard, but it was time for the next
adventure!  The travel day to Japan was CRAZY. There were 14 of us
going to Kobe and so we had almost 45 pieces of luggage between all of
us and we rode a bus and the front runner and trax before we got to
the airport, and what an adventure that was! The highlight of that
part of the day was getting to talk to my family though, it has been
far too long.
The flights were all really great if not long, but then I got to Tokyo
and holy cow, I stepped into a different world! It was hot and humid
and I couldn't read any signs and everyone was Japanese and I stuck
out soooo badly and it was just quite the adventure. My first
impressions of Japan though were just how nice everyone was and how
clean everything is!  It is truly so different from the states.
President and Sister Welch picked us up at the Osaka airport and I
love them so much!!  They are both such amazing human beings and I
have no doubt that I was meant to be serving with them at this
particular time in this particular mission. They have changed
missionary work in Japan so much  and have elevated all of us to a
higher standard. We are all teaching at least twenty lessons a week
and have the goals to see one baptism a week. It is hard and might
seem impossible, but we need to try and change our mindsets  to
become a baptizing mission. No offense to you South and Central
American missionaries, but there is nothing special there that we
can't accomplish here in Japan, and that is our goal. I am ready to
work hard and I know we will see miracles here in Japan!
So my new area and new companion!  President Welch announced it to us
like sorting hat style and he called us up in front of everyone and
pulled our fate out of this envelope and made it this big theatrical
thing (he is such a funny guy) and then pointed to a map and showed us
what was up.  He said to me "Are you ready to work hard, Sister
Pickering?" And I responded yes and then he said "Are you ready to be
teaching lots of lessons?"  I said yes again and then he told me that
I was to be laboring in the Yamatokoriyama Area in the Osaka Zone of
our mission. Basically it is like this cute little suburb country city
outside of Osaka...seriously google map it or something, it is so
beautiful and cute here. AND we are home to the biggest Buddah in the
world, so there is that too haha. BUT the best part of this area is
that it is the model area of the mission. We are currently teaching
the most and have the most investigators in our pool, and it is crazy!
Not to mention the ward here is legendary, they are filled with so
much dendo (missionary work) fire and it is incredible.
My companion is named Kenney Shimai and she is from Orem and she is
too cute. Fun fact about us, we are the youngest companionship in the
mission....between the two of us combined, we barely have over 6
months of mission experience...that is kind of a terrifying thing but
it also has to give us faith that we are in the hands of the Lord. One
thing President Welch said to us that I really liked was "Do I know
why you are here in Japan?  Or are being assigned to this area? Heck
no, but the Lord does, so go work hard and figure it out and then get
back to me."  That is such a true idea and something I am clinging too
because sometimes the two of us struggle...I can't speak the language
like at all and she has never been in charge, so we have quite the
adventure ahead of us...but it is good and we are learning and
learning to laugh.
We have a pretty good pool of investigators going right now and it is
awesome. We have four with a baptismal date, like twelve progressing
investigators, and then a bunch of others. We are working so hard and
even though we have no clue what is happening sometimes, we are
determined to see some success in this area. These people are sooooo
prepared it is crazy, it is just getting them to make the personal
connection to their lives! Teaching is by far my favorite thing. I
have felt the spirit so strongly every single lesson and it is such a
testimony to me that this is the Lord's work and what a blessing it
is. Getting to testify to someone that they are a child of God when
they have never before heard that is an amazing experience. My least
favorite thing however is finding and street contacting...haha Kenney
Shimai and I struggle with that sometimes because I don't know
Japanese and she isn't sure what to do either. The other day we tried
chasing down this little grandma to talk to her about the weather but
she yelled at us and shooed us away and we had a good laugh about
that. This mission is so humbling but it is also so much fun.
As stated previously, the members here are amazing, we would literally
die without them. Our ward mission leader is a rockstar and drives us
everywhere and helps us out and comes to lessons as a member and
everyone here is just awesome. Wards in Utah literally have no excuse
for not being amazing, because these people have to sacrifice so much
more to be members and their faith is incredible. Honestly a part of
me wishes I hadn't come to Japan because I am not going to want to
leave these wonderful people. They have already taken a very large
place in my heart that I didn't even know was being reserved just for
them.
I will give some more specific stories next week, but just know that I
am safe and I love it here. I love Japan, I love the Japanese people,
and I love my mission so much already and I know that I am meant to be
here. Don't get me wrong, it is difficult and exhausting and sometimes
I feel overwhelmed or homesick or a plethora of other emotions, but it
is okay because I am walking with God and Christ and that is what
matters. I am nowhere near alone, and I testify of that so much. I
have had so many prayers and pleas answered this week in my weakness
and desperation, and the Lord has always replied with love and
patience. This is His work and I am just so blessed to be a part of
it.
I hope you all have an amazing week!  The church is true!  Look for a
way to help further the missionary work in your own area!
Aishiteimasu,
Sister Pickering
P.S. If you have any super easy to make recipes that you wanna maybe
email me..that would be cool. My companion and I don't know how to
make lots of things and I like variety in my life!  Thank you so much
in advance!
P.P.S. The food here is AMAZING. America literally cannot compare. The end.
P.P.P.S. Riding a bike in a skirt is super hard and I already have 9 bruises.
Photo: Here we are with two of our cute investigators and then the
zone leaders who also serve in our ward!


Now the Questions and Answers:

Who did you sit with on your long flight and what did you do to occupy your time?

 I sat between two strangers who put in their headphones and didn't want to talk...I somehow got upgraded to business class and so I was isolated which was kinda sad haha. The one time my neighbor talked to me was to offer me some headphones to watch movies because I had been "Staring at the map sadly" and not doing anything. It was funny. I studied a lot and pondered life. I tried to get some sleep but not a ton because I felt pretty sick. 

How many packages of airplane cookies did you eat?

One package because that is all they gave me but we did get a meal and some snacks and an ice cream sandwich.

 

What was your first impression of Tokyo?  How did the transfer of airlines go?  Were you able to read the Japanese signs?  Was it hard to say goodbye to your favorite Elders?

 Tokyo was crazy town. It was super hot and humid and getting through immigrations was kind of a mess because they put us to the side and ignored us for like a half hour so we we were running around like crazy trying to figure life out. We didn't really know what was happening because it had been like 24 hours and we were dead and then everything is shockingly enough written in Japanese...Park Shimai and I were losing it, we kept laughing over absolutely everything, and had no idea what was happening. Luckily we ran into the Tokyo South Mission President and Wife and the AP's so they helped us. We may have almost missed boarding. But we made it!  And yes saying goodbye was sad and hard because we left before them in the morning and saying goodbye to my companion was sad also. 

 

First impressions upon landing in Kobe?

 First impression of Kobe was that it was dark and I was exhausted and was supposed to meet my mission president and I looked like death because I still couldn't sleep. Also everyone in Japan is ridiculously nice and there are always happy songs playing. The toilets in the airport were super fancy and played music and were heated and did other stuff.  It was crazy. 

 

What is your mission home like?  Where did you sleep?  What did you eat?

 

The mission home is just like a home next to the church. The sisters all got to sleep in the mission home upstairs in some bedrooms which was super nice. Sister Welch cooked us some nice homemade food and it was so nice to be in an actual home type atmosphere again. It was very nice. Japanese dairy products are bomb. Seriously I can't come home based on that alone. The milk and the yogurt and the bread are indescribable. Life changing truly.

 

What did you do on that Wednesday in Kobe with the Mission President?

Wednesday we did lots of training on iPads about the mission and orientation stuff and had interviews with President Welch and then ended the night with a testimony meeting. It was great and a lot of fun. 

 

Why did you need exercise clothes?

We needed exercise clothes because the AP's took us running and to a park that overlooks all of Kobe and we played ultimate frisbee and then did this thing called Tai So with a bunch of old people..look it up, it is like yoga in the park with music. So great. 

 

More details about your mission president and wife?

President and Sister Welch are just the best. Hearts of gold, both of them, and they have really changed the Kobe mission and missionary work in Japan in general. President Welch is super funny and competitive but also very loving and paternal. My branch president wasn't like that AT ALL and in my interview with President Welch the first thing he said to me was "How are you doing, my dear?  How can I help you?" They raised four daughters and so they know what is up and are just so willing to love and take care of us. He is also a very inspired man and walks with the Lord, that much is evident, he is a spiritual giant. I know that I was meant to be working with them, and we will end our missions together. Actually I will have a new mission president for like one transfer. Which will be lame. But okay. 

 

First impression of your companion?

My first impression was that she was beautiful and seemed perfect and I didn't want to screw things up haha. But she is so kind and loving and gave me the biggest hug. She was constantly on the phone working with investigators and members so I knew she worked hard and cared about what was happening. 

 

How did you get to your area?

We got to the area via walking and train! Train travel is so fun here. Lots to see and tons of people. 

 

Details about your area? Size?  Members? Geographical information? Transportation?  Economic Demographics?  First impression?

My area is currently the model area for the mission..Yamatokoriyama is a very special place and the ward members are on fire with missionary work. It is a cute little place, I love it lots. It is a good mixture of countryside and city but it is all pretty quaint and cute. Google street view this joint and you will get a pretty decent idea. All the roads are small and everything is clean and nice. I like it a lot. We bike like everywhere or Inamori Kyodai (ward mission leader) drives us to far away appointments and sometimes train I guess too. Ours is one of the biggest areas in the mission. But honestly the members are AMAZING. We would die without them. 

 

What is your apartment like?  Do you sleep on a Futon?

Apartment is small and ghetto and freezing so space lamps are life. But I really don't mind it and futons are bomb. 

 

Is it raining?

Yes

What was it like going grocery shopping for the first time?  What kind of foods did you buy?  What are you eating on a regular basis?

We just went grocery shopping today and we died laughing because neither one of us could read anything and we were lost...I really am in Japan. Also the 100 Yen stores are like dollar stores and they are AMAZING. Way better than the stores in America and everything is so fun and cute and lots of yummy food. I eat lots of toast and sometimes pasta and cereal. We don't have a lot of time for good meals regularly because we are so busy. But if you could send me some super easy recipes like crepes and anything else you can think of, that would be AMAZING

Who is your companion?  I mean more details than a name.  Where is she from?  How long has she been out?  Do you seem to get along?

Kenney Shimai has been on her mission since September and is from Orem. She is super cute. We are officially the youngest companionship in the mission by a long shot and that is an adventure because neither one of us are super sure what is going on. She is the youngest of four sisters and went to BYU before her mission and played soccer for Celtic and basketball for Orem High School. She is cute and a hard worker. We are seeming to have fun and get along well so far. 

Do you have a bike yet?

 Yes, Inamori Kyodai helped me out and I have had to spend tons of money for bike stuff and sheets and life and whatnot but all is well. 

 What did you do on your first full day of Pros?

We did lots of visiting people and teaching and planning and getting me up to date on life. It was surreal. I also had my first lesson the first night in the area...oh boy haha. We also got my bike and did some errand stuff and then taught again this super cute lady at a member's house far away so we had some doseki...seriously the members here are the best. 

 

How is the language coming along?

The language is hard. They speak fast and kind of assume I understand. It is rough but I am learning and Inamori Kyodai actually tells me that my Nihongo is "scary good" and that he thinks I might be special and then I laugh because it is hard and sometimes want to die but it is okay because I am improving 

What was your first Sunday like?  How is the ward?

Sunday was great because church was cool and I felt somewhat at home. The members are amazing and I adore them. We had three different investigators come to church and we got to do some service afterwards. And then we taught two lessons that went pretty well!

Are you teaching anybody yet? 

 

Yes. Lots of people. We have a huge investigator pool. 

 

Have you seen the Lord's hand in your life this past week?

 Always. We couldn't do this without him because we are so new and inexperienced. He has answered so many prayers and has always given me his Spirit during lessons which has been awesome. He really is there. 

What is your favorite part so far?

 Favorite part is teaching and the members. I love these people they are so amazing.

 

What is your least favorite part?

Least favorite part...the bike scares me because I am clumsy and already have 9 bruises from it and then street contacting is terrifying.

 

Do you have everything that you need?

Well I still don't have my luggage so I don't really have anything actually haha...they ship it from the mission home and it still hasn't arrived so that is problematic. I need a rain suit and rain boots ASAP because I get soaked and then I am sad. 

Can you buy most things there?

 We can get most things if we can read the labels and know what it is!

Any tender mercies?

This area is a tender mercy for me because the members are so amazing and loving and helping me to feel loved and at home. Also just so many answers to prayers. Life is good. 

 

Anything that we can do for you here?

Keep praying for me and sending pics and letting me know what is up. Also recipes pleeeease. 

I love you guys so much and hope that answers everything! I can check my email all week and have unlimited email time on P day...woohoo!

Have a wonderful week Mommy, I love you!

Riding the Front Runner with all of their luggage

SLC Airport - Here they come

First glance at Japan - Cherry Blossoms
 

Streets of Kobe

Overlooking Kobe



Her first morning in Kobe with the new missionaries and APs

Sunrise over Kobe

Sister Park and Miller, Sisters from the MTC

What is left of her original MTC District

In front of the Mission Home

She loves her tag

Training

Her bed in her apartment.  Or should I say Futon?

Alyssa, Kenney Shimai, an investigator, and a ward member named Inamori Akane

Two investigators named Rina and Shiori and then us with Elders
Boettcher and Takahashi, the zone leaders who also serve in our area.
We are gonna get these two baptized.

First Assignment and Mission Map

 

 

We received a short email from Alyssa's mission president.  I am grateful that he sent us pictures and a little information to tide me over until P-day.

 

"Dear Brother and Sister Pickering,

 We are happy to have your wonderful missionary here to serve with us in the Japan Kobe Mission.

                                             Love, President and Sister Welch

 

Sister Pickering’s trainer/companion is Sister Kenney and they are serving in the Yamatokoriyama  Area."

 

 

 

Here is a map of the mission and its various areas.

 

First Contact!!

I am so grateful to a mission president that allows his missionaries to drop a short note home.  We received this email around 11:00 p.m. last night (Tuesday)  which was 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday for her.  It is so great knowing that she is safe and happy.  Here is the short but sweet email:

Hello parents! I just wanted to email and let you know that I made it here safe and sound! Japan is kind of somewhat crazy..lots of things are different and I can't read most of the signs BUT it is super beautiful here and clean and everyone is SO nice. Honestly getting here sort of felt like coming home. I know that I am supposed to be here for whatever reason.

 

 The food is also SO good. I LOVE IT.

 

The Welch's are also awesome. I love them SO much. They shared with us that President Eyring told them that we as missionaries are foreordained to be serving with our specific mission presidents and I know that to be true. There are already so many things about them that I KNOW I was meant to be serving with them. They are just SO great. I love them lots, they are great, and I know I will be in the best of hands. 

 

Well, once again, I am safe and well. I was pretty sick on the plane but am here now and just trying to fight off the jet lag. I find out my new companion and head to my new area tomorrow, so all is well.

I love you guys so much and can't wait to get started in Japan!

 

Aishiteimasu!

Alyssa

And She is Off!! Or There??

Well it is official,  Alyssa is off to Japan.  Well actually, since I am writing this today, she has been there for about 14 hours now.  Or at least I believe that she is there.  As far as I know, she got on her connecting plane in Seattle.  I very much enjoyed tracking the flight and I know that she arrived in Tokyo.  But what happened after that is anyone's guess :0  I am going with the adage that no news is good news. 

Yesterday was a very strange day in a mother's life.  We were all so excited to talk to Alyssa on the phone.  She started her day at 3 in the morning.  She took both Front Runner and Trax to the airport.  Apparently it was quite fun trying to juggle all of her luggage and get from Provo to SLC.  But she had a lot of help from the Elders and very nice members along the way.  She had to say goodbye to her dear companion at the MTC.  It was very difficult for her because they had formed such a strong bond and truly loved each other.  But she did travel with a couple of other Sisters that are going to Kobe and she loves them too.  There was also a group of native Japanese that don't speak much English.  So,  Alyssa was their official translator at the airport to help them check in and get through security.  I am sure they repaid the favor in Tokyo for Alyssa.  It gave me hope that she has a little bit of handle on the language.

It was wonderful to hear her voice again.  Even more wonderful than that was to hear her enthusiasm and excitement to be heading to the mission field.  She loved the MTC but was really ready to get out of there.  She loves being a missionary and just wanted to jump in full speed ahead to start loving and teaching the people.  She has already fostered a great love for the Japanese people and that will serve her well.

Near the end of the conversation she spoke to us entirely in Japanese.  She went on for more than 5 minutes.  It seemed pretty impressive to me.  Near the end she was in tears.  I am not sure if she was saying how much she missed every one or how nervous she was, or how much she loves the Gospel and is ready to serve.  But I wish I could have reached through the phone and given her one last hug.  I am choosing to believe that she was overcome by the spirit of her call and her desire to serve.  I didn't realize that it would be difficult to say goodbye all over again.  I felt peace knowing she is ready but that last goodbye and click of the phone felt so final.  That was it.  Our lives have officially separated and our on different paths.  I am so thrilled by her good choices,  hard work and dedication and know she will be a fabulous missionary.  I tried to imagine her sleeping in some strange bed in a foreign country in the mission home and just couldn't picture it.  Now is the time for me to have faith and know that she is fully and truly in the Lord's hands.

Since she won't have an official p-day this week,  I have included the last letter we received in the mail,  It was good.  I love that the Japanese speakers have given her a nick-name and it represents her being a bright, happy and sparkly person.  It will help give her something to live up to and who wouldn't want to be known as sparkly?!

Alyssa's District Sings "Called to Serve" in Japanese

Because of Him: MTC Week 8

Alyssa's official name tag in Japanese

Well the time has finally come and in just a few short days Alyssa will be crossing the Pacific Ocean on her way to Japan.  It is hard to believe that she has been away for 8 weeks now.  She has learned and grown so much and I feel like she truly maximized her MTC experience.  It is time now to put it all together and begin the work.

Thanks to all that have supported her thus far on her mission.  She has felt overwhelming love and generosity from so many friends and family and I know that has helped her so much.  She is truly blessed to have so many wonderful people in her life.

Pray for her, not only as she begins the next 16 months in pure Japanese but also that she can actually figure out how to transfer planes in Japan and get to her mission :)  It should be an adventure for sure.

Konnichiwa Minasan!

Okay, time for another mission call shout out. This time, it is my other lifelong homie that got her mission call!  Sister Sadie Monson has been called to serve in the Florida Fort Lauderdale mission, Spanish speaking, and she is going to be amazing! I am so proud of her and all of my friends that have chosen to serve the Lord! Missions are super hard but they are also the best. I am seriously so happy here and wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Congrats, Said! Love you!

Okay so this week! It was another good one as per norm, but it was considerably slower than all of my other weeks here because I am so stoked that I go to Japan in 5 DAYS! Yep, it is true. After eight long weeks of being in the MTC...it is almost time for me to get out of here! I am too stoked, I can't even handle it. We got our flight plans and our Katakana name tags this week and it is finally starting to feel a little more real...now when I actually start packing this afternoon I won't be able to believe it!

Lots of super awesome things happened this week. For starters, TRC was awesome again. I am just blown away by how amazing the Japanese church members are. Seriously you guys, they are amazing. Many of them have sacrificed so much for this gospel and their testimonies are just rock solid. I want to be just like them someday! This week we skyped a man from Nagoya named Miura Kyodai and he was awesome. We taught on the Book of Mormon and had a super great experience with that. He was too funny, at the end of the lesson he asked "Facebook ga arimasu ka?" and we said yes and then he took a picture of us to post to show all of his friends. Too funny.

We also got in another Nihongin district, this time with mostly sisters! They are so cute and nice, and I love speaking to them...in Japanese even haha. They are coming to Japan with us on Monday and I am so excited. 

We have been finishing up teaching all of our investigators this week and that has been really sad and hard actually. I love all three of them with my whole heart, and getting to watch them change over the past 6 weeks we have been teaching them has been amazing. Saying goodbye is hard, but I am excited to get to Nihon and just find more people that I will serve and come to love. The best part of teaching this week though was that we FINALLY got a baptism commitment out of Asakura Kyodai for March 15th! When we went to teach him again after we taught the repentance lesson, we walked in the room and it was like he was a completely different person. He was happier and smiling and engaged and was letting the gospel change his life as he came unto Christ. When he expressed his desire to be baptized, it was the most gratifying feeling in the world. We have worked with him so hard to get him to this point, and it was just so wonderful. I am so happy for him and all the steps he has made! This gospel truly is a miracle! We also taught Yoko Shimai and she ALSO committed to baptism after we taught her the Plan of Salvation and how she could be with her mother again!  This gospel and the many blessings that we have are so wonderful, and teaching makes me realize how much I take them for granted. It is just so wonderful. 

Another experience that I want to share with you all happened on Friday. Last week I had been having trouble sleeping because I was starting to get so stressed about leaving to Japan and the language and everything and I was just a walking ball of anxiety. I wasn't sleeping so I was EXHAUSTED every single day and I didn't know what to do. Then, I had the very distinct impression that I needed to receive a blessing, not only to help me sleep, but because Heavenly Father had some things He needed to tell me. I followed through and asked my good friend Johnson Choro to give me the blessing, and it was wonderful. Perfect. Exactly what I needed to hear. I was filled with so much love and peace as it was over, and I have been able to sleep and be calm ever since. I was assured that the Lord was proud of me for deciding to serve and that everything was going to be okay. Everyone, the Priesthood is an AMAZING blessing. It is literally the Lord's power worked through man on earth today. Are you taking advantage of that wonderful blessing as much as you could be? Sisters, if you ever need extra comfort or health or strength, ask for a blessing! The Lord wants you to receive a blessing and the experience and blessings are wonderful. Brothers, make it a goal to always be worthy to perform a blessing in the moment you are asked to do so. You will never know what lives you will be able to help and bless!

Finally, I just wanted to share with you my testimony of my Savior. Earlier this week one of our seneis had us do this exercise where we just bore our testimonies of Christ to our doryo in Eigo and Nihongo. We did it, but it was kind of a routine thing and to be honest, I didn't really feel the spirit a whole ton. Then, Kawamura Shimai showed us this video (I am going to post the link below), she had us really think about Christ, and then bear our testimonies again. You guys, everything changed. As I truly thought about my Savior, I was overcome with gratitude and love for Him. I was so overcome with the spirit and as I bore my testimony in both my native and my mission language, I felt His love and the Holy Ghost confirm His reality.

He is real. He lives. He loves us. Through Him, we can have new beginnings, happy endings, and hope. His atonement is EVERYTHING to us, because we can do absolutely nothing without it. Jesus Christ really did die for us so that the grave might have no victory, and He lived so that we might know how to return to live with Him someday. He also willingly suffered for not just our sins, but our pains and our sorrows and afflictions. HE DID NOT HAVE TO DO THAT.  He chose to take on the additional suffering because He loves us and He WANTS us to come unto Him. Everyone, please turn to Christ, always. In your happiest moments, in your darkest hours, just do it. He will wipe away your tears and strengthen you beyond belief if only you let Him. His invitation to all of us is to simply COME. It doesn't matter who we are and what we have done, if we go unto Christ, He will heal us. Because of Him, this life is so amazing. Because of Him, I am on this mission.

I invite all of you guys to watch this video, even if you have already seen it before. If you watch it and seek the spirit and really truly think about what Christ has done and can do for you, you will feel His love and a testimony of Him. Then please, share this video and pass it along to someone else who could use it! As you think about how you share this and other messages of the gospel, I know that the Spirit will direct your path. That is my promise to you. 

Everyone, I love this gospel with my whole heart. I love my Savior. I love being a missionary. Next time I write you I will be in Japan, and I am just so excited to get to work serving my brothers and sisters. Thank you for all the outpouring of love and support, it means more to me than I can even explain. Please know that my prayers and love are always with all of you. Have a wonderful week, everyone! Aishiteimasu!

Love,

Sister Pickering 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-00-1420-because-of-him?lang=eng

  



Super Pumped

Can you guess which tag belongs to Alyssa?

This is it . .

Oh my goodness -  It is real

"I'm not short, he is just super tall like his basketball son"  Collingsworth Kyodai

"This is Miura Kyodai!  He lives in Nagoya and is totally suburashii.
He took a picture of us and put it on his Facebook"

"We were trying to do our mission gang signs #thuglife"

Sasuga chorotachi

Nihongin district

Pickering, Park, Fa'aumu, Miller, Tupuola

"We tried to spell Kobe, we are cool"  These are the other sisters going to Kobe with Alyssa.  She has gotten really close to them even though they haven't been in the same district.

One of Alyssa's favorite places on Earth

Love these two together.  Alyssa is so sad about having to say goodbye to each other as they head to separate missions.

KOHAI

Alyssa has said thank you over and over again to the generosity and support from so many people as she has been in the MTC.  I also thank you as her mother for helping take of my baby girl during this time.