CALLED TO SERVE

Konichiwa Minasan!

This week has been amazing. The MTC is filled with the spirit. It's so uplifting here. It helps so much when I feel discouraged to be surrounded by such sugoi examples.

Although, I was super frustrated with the chorotachi in our zone last Sunday. It was all of our Senpai's last Sunday with us. We all got the opportunity to watch the Testament in Nihongo. I love that movie. I remember watching it for FHE (thanks mom and dad haha). But it really was kind of the first time I understood what Christ has done for me. So I love it. They were all cracking jokes and being so disrespectful. The part where Christ appears to the Americas, an Elder started clapping. I was so hurt. Here we are watching a video about Jesus Christ, our Savior, and they are completely disrupting the spirit. I was kind of angry and disappointed in them. But I realized I was in the wrong. I was judging them and I didn't have the pure love of Christ with me. So I prayed to have feel that love for them. My prayer was answered. It's amazing how capable we are of loving people, if we ask for help and try to- even if they have wronged you.

Yesterday we got to hear a devotional from Elder Pino of the seventy. He shared a message about how sacred our call serve as a missionary is. I loved it. He said we are called to a higher standard. We must not only memorize our purpose in our minds, but also in our hearts. I am striving to do that!

This last week my doryo and I had two of the most amazing lessons with our kyudosha, Nishio San. The first one we started teaching him the first lesson. I said that God loves him and knows him. He replied and said, "If God loves me, why does he make us go through hard things? Why did my wife have two miscarriages?" He said "Before my wife had two miscarriages, I believed in God. But now I don't." He was in tears and My companion and I both broke down in tears. It broke my heart. I felt so much love and pain for him. All I thought to do was just testify that Jesus Christ could help him. That he loved him. By the end of the lesson we committed him to pray to feel God's love for him. We asked him if he thought he believed he could know of God's love. And he said yes. The next lesson we knew we were going to teach the Plan of Salvation. Yesterday was the coolest experience. We showed him the Mormon message video, Mountains to Climb (it's an amazing video) I got to tell testify to him that I know he will see his children again. And that Jesus Christ felt every heartache, sorrow, and pain we have felt and will ever feel. I got to testify that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, he can be comforted. Nishio San and I were both in tears. I felt the spirit burning within me. I haven't ever felt the spirit that strong before. It was amazing. Moments like that make every uncomfortable thing I have to do here SO worth it.

I have been studying the Atonement more this week. And I have truly felt my testimony and relationship with Christ grow stronger. The Atonement is central to God's plan. I am eternally indebted to my Savior. For everything he has done for me. Even though I am serving him, he continually pours out blessings. This gospel is true. Although I miss you all at home, I love being here. I get to be a part of furthering the Lord's work and helping the people in Japan come unto Christ! What a great opportunity it is. I thank my Heavenly Father every day for this opportunity!

Dad: Thank you for always sending me Dear Elders. They strengthen me so much. It always makes my day. I hear you put a sink in! That's subarashii!

Nataly: I LOVE YOU NOODLE FACE!

Mandi: I hear you did so well at dance! I am so proud of you!

Mom: Do you have the Plan of Salvation visual? Also, How was learning a language for you?

I hope all is well in good ol' Plain City! haha I love you all!

AI SHITE IMAUS!

ひらの　しまい　

Hello everyone!!

It's so weird how the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days. I've been here 2 weeks already. It's so strange.

This week has been dijobu (good)! I love all the devotionals we have. My companion and I were asked to teach relief society last Sunday. It was so awesome! Mostly because I got to do it in Eigo (English). haha But we were asked to teach on Faith in Jesus Christ. The spirit was so strong. I'm surrounded by such amazing Shimaitachi. It's really sad though, the senpai (the missionaries who have been here the longest) are leaving next Monday! We're all going to be so lost without them.We had some Nihojin senkyoshi (Japanese Missionaries) who came last week! They are SO cute. I just love them all so much. I can't wait to be in Japan!

So funny story. We were in class and our district leader, Choro Wheeler was talking hard core like a surfer. Kawamura Kyodai (Brother Kawamura), my sensei just stared at him and in his broken English goes, "You sound so idiot." hahaha I about died. It totally reminded me of something dad would say.

I love how strong the spirit is here. I have learned so much about myself and about the gospel. My doryo (companion) is the best. She gives me so much strength. And teaching is the best. At first, I was so uncomfortable because I had no idea what was going on and I couldn't say what I wanted. I still feel that way, Which is super frustrating. But I have learned the spirit really is the one who teaches. I have to rely on it and have faith that I will receive that help. I have felt the love of my Heavenly Father for me and for my investigators. One of the coolest things I've be able to see, is to see our investigator pray. I know that they aren't real investigators. But when our kyudosha (investigator) prayed for the "first time" I felt the spirit so strong. I was in tears by the end. We just got two new kyudosha! We have one named Sato San. She is so sugoi(awesome). We were able to teach her about God and Jesus Christ. And How the gospel blesses families. I did it without any notes! I know that Heavenly Father was helping me. They were such simple sentences in Japanese. But I got to tell her that God loved her and knows her. I knew the spirit was there. It was subarashii (wonderful) feeling.

So one of my goals is to share my testimony this Sunday, in Japanese! I know that when we share our testimonies that they will continue to grow. I hope that I don't say something dumb. haha I told one of the Nihojin Shimaitachi that her skirt was kowaii, which is scary....haha I meant kawaii, which is cute. My life.

Japanese still goes over my head everyday. haha But I can understand more and I have nearly learned Hiragana. Which is one of the three alphabets. It takes me a year to read still, but I'm getting better! Dekimasu! (I can do it!)

We heard a rumor that we might be singing in General Conference. Fingers crossed! That would be SO cool! Also Collinsworth Kyodai is in my branch presidency. His son is Kyle Collinsworth (plays basketball for BYU). He's so awesome! He asked if there was anything he could do for us, and I wanted so badly to ask him to tell Tyler Haws hi for me. haha But I didn't. Anyway sorry this email is super crazy and not very long.It all blurs together.

I love and miss you all! I hope you all are doing well.

Ai Shite Masu!!

ひらの　しまい　

Alyssa's first email!

Hey guys!

Wow. I can't believe I've been here a week! I'll be honest the first couple days were really hard. It's true what they say about making it until Sunday! Sunday was long, but super sugoi! (awesome) Church was amazing. I definitely feel like Heavenly Father was helping me through the first couple days.
We had a devotional, which was subarashii! (wonderful) After the devotional we got to watch a talk. It was "The Character of Christ" by Elder Bednar. It was so amazing! If you haven't listened to it, go watch it! It totally changed my MTC perspective. I found myself wishing I was already to that point where I could speak the language. Japanese is super muzukashii. (hard) But he talked about turning yourself outward and forgetting yourself. This is not MY mission or MY time. It's the Lord's and I need to forget myself and do all that I can do to learn. And then he will help me the rest of the way.

Our district is sugoi! There are 10 people in our district. I am the oldest...haha My district leader, Wheeler Choro is 18. But it doesn't feel like I'm older. All of them have strong testimonies of Christ and I've learned a lot from them.

My doryo (companion) is subarashii! I love her already.She is also going to Nagoya. It's amazing how God puts people in your life. I'm finding more and more that we are so similar, which is a huge blessing. She took Japanese for 3 years in high school, so she helps me a ton! She is from Oregon, went to BYU for a semester and decided to serve a misson. We had to teach..in Japanese the second day! It went okay..we had NO idea what our kyudosha (investigator) was saying. It was very intimidating. But our second lesson was amazing. Not because of what was said, but what was felt. We asked him to say a prayer at the end. And when he was done, I was in tears. I didn't even know was he was saying! I know he's not a "real" investigator, (in fact he's a tall, skinny red head..haha) but I am starting to learn what it feels like to help people understand how the gospel can change your life. And that is the greatest. We have another lesson tonight! Wish me luck. My Japanese is not great..haha We are teaching about the atonement! I'm excited for that!

So all the Shimaitachi (sisters) have an option of going to a early morning class. They have aerobics, dance yoga..etc.. This morning we got to dance. The lady is kinda awkward..haha we were like doing dance moves like the sprinkler..hahaha I guess it has to be MTC approved. hahaha

I am in a room with 5 other shimaitachi (sisters). There is Gusman Shimai and Kay Shimai. They are both from Hawaii ( the big island). I love them so much. They are so funny. One night, I noticed Kay Shimai was just staring off into space, eating a doughnut. It was dead silent, and she goes, "Don't mind me. Just eating my feelings away." hahaha It was so funny. They are both from the same island and know the same people but they didn't know each other before they came! Which is pretty awesome. They both are going to the Kobe mission.

Then there's Weiland Shimai and McNoughon Shimai. Weiland Shimai is also from Oregon and McNoughton Shimai is from Arizona. We all get along, which is a huge blessing.

Then the Chorotachi (elders) in our district are Wheeler Choro, he's from California. He looks and talks like the surfers in the Australian Mary Kate and Ashley movie. haha Sometimes he says things...and we are all just confused. haha but he's a good Choro. His doryo is Mota Choro. He's from Portugal. He was called to speak Portuguese! Which is so cool, but he still has to learn Japanese. His English is perfect, which he says he learned from video games. Thanks 'Merica. haha They are both going to Kobe too.

Then there's Ateru Choro, he's from Australia! Super sugoi!! And his doryo, Guiterraz Choro is from Utah. They are going to the Tokyo South mission. They are pretty cool guys. I am glad we all get along. My sensei's are amazing!
One is Edwards Shimai. She served in Tokyo. She's my age, which is kinda strange. But she is so good. And then Kowamura Kyodi (brother). He's from Japan and served in Japan but is going to BYU right now. He's really funny. haha He always says some crazy long sentence and goes easy? We're all like...uh EI (no)!!!!! haha

My doryo and I decided to read the BOM twice by the time we leave the MTC. I am super stoked for that. The language is super hard. I am almost always confused. haha It takes so long to plan lessons because we have to translate it into Japanese. You will all be surprised.. but I have been getting up at 5am to get extra study time in. After ALL I can do right? Everything is good here. The spirit is so strong. We are all here for the same purpose. It's a privilege to serve the Lord with all of these wonderful people! I love it!

Mom: Thanks for the bag and water bottle.. I could maybe use some Poo pourri...haha But other than that I'm dijobu. ( good) Are you at that sewing retreat this week? Love you!

Carianne: I was in the shower this morning and this girl started singing Phantom of the Opera. And I almost laughed out loud. I thought of you. You are so jozu ( skilled) at that song. You were definitely better...haha

I hope everyone is doing well! The time to email goes by so quickly! Thanks for the package and dear elder letter! I cried! I laughed at the card! So thanks Mandi. I could hear her say, "I picked out the card..so...you're welcome. hahaha I love you all and pray for you all the time. Tell me how things are going back home!

ai shite masu! (I love you)

Hirano Shimai

The time has finally come. I get set apart as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints...tonight! I can't explain how grateful I am for all of the wonderful examples that surround me. Please keep in touch! Let me know your email in the comments! I love you all! ❤🎌alyssa.hirano@myldsmail.net
MTC: (until April 19th)
Sister Alyssa Michelle Hirano
APR19 JPN-NAG
2005 N 900 E UNIT 158
Provo,UT 84602

Mission Home:
Sister Alyssa Michelle Hirano
Japan Nagoya Mission
1-304 Itakadai, Meitou-ku
Nagoya-shi, Aichi
465-0028
Japan

CALLED TO SERVE

HIRANO SHIMAI.

LIFE AS A SISTER MISSIONARY.

KEEP IN TOUCH.