Pretty Good Week

So, I finished another week.  This week has been pretty good.  My "bean" is still here.  She is trying to decide what she's going to do.  One of the other sisters in our apartment got super sick so in order for Mori Shimai to get out and teach, we have had to rotate the other three of us...one to stay with her, the others to get out and work.  So yesterday was my day to stay in the apartment so I didn't get to go to church.  So get this, the only Sunday I've missed my entire mission, and 2 of my less-actives show up and Tashiro Choro was there!  And I MISSED IT! (I was way excited that the others went, but I was just super sad that I missed it.)

We had another investigator drop us.  We had found a guy and taught him two or three lessons, and we went back with a member to an appointment, but he said he wasn't interested any more, and didn't want us to come back.  So that was NOT super fun!  BUT....

Baba san is getting better!!!Yay!!!! I emailed her and she said she was feeling a little genki-er (better), so I asked if we could come visit her.  And she said yes!!! So we went and taught her a little lesson just outside her door.  She said when she gets feeling even better that she'll start coming back to church so I'm excited for that!!!

Also, Willis Choro gave me a couple of talks that have really helped me out lately.  One of the quotes in one of them is SUPER awesome!

"Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously.  When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more.  He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit.  To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain...This life is an experience in profound trust - trust in Jesus Christ."  - Elder Richard G. Scott

So I guess I just was ready to do a lot of growing lately.  :)

But I am super thankful for all the love and support I have here.  I have the people from my MTC district here, the AP's and the Honbu (mission office) elders have been super awesome, Kaicho (President) and Shimai (Sister) Gustafson, so much love and support from family and friends at home.  So, I am just SO grateful!!!!  Thank you all and I LOVE YOU!!

P.S. We had a super fun Zone P-Day last week.  We played Ultimate and football and stuff...way fun!!!



Willis Choro and Lacee have good taste in sweats! :)

Lacee meets up with Ronei (Elder Olivieri...an exchange student from Brazil that lived here in Panaca when they were both in high school!)

Is it ok to cry?

Well, it seems my training experience is going to be cut very short.  My bean has decided to go home.  I don't know what I could or should have done differently, but I feel like I somehow failed her.  I don't know yet what will happen for the rest of this transfer, but I'm sure it will be good.

On the bright side, we met up with a former investigator that we got a referral from a member for.  It's this really cool family!  They invited us over for dinner, and they live in this crazy nice house.  We were actually at a dinner table with chairs!!!  :)  But they were way nice!  We went and ate tempura at a shop that was way close.  It was like the most delicious thing ever!  It was WAY GOOD!  The couple is super nice, and we got to talk to them about the Church.  I don't know how interested they are, but they were awesome and I definitely want to teach them!!!

Also, we've been seeing some cool miracles with the less active members lately.  We've had a reactivation last month and another one this month!  Also another lady has been in touch with me a lot lately, and she is really trying to be able to come to church!  I have high hopes for her!  I love her a lot!

We had Stake Conference this week.  It was way good.  I learned a lot.

Also, the Honbu (mission office) elders gave me chips and salsa, s'mores poptarts, and Reese's peanut butter cups!!!  They are seriously the best ever!  That little food stash is probably going to get me through the next couple of weeks...  :)

Things are good though.  It's been pretty cold lately.  We have Zone P-day today and I'm way pumped for that!

Love you!

From Lacee's Mom:  In her personal email to me this week, she expressed how sad she was that this sister has decided to go home after just a few days in the mission field.  She feels like she is somehow at fault and seemed a little disheartened.  This would be a really good time to hear from those of you who love her!!

Sister Lacee Babcock
Japan Fukuoka Mission
9-16 Hirao-josuimachi
Chuo-ku
Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka
812-0029 JAPAN

Bean Training!

Alrighty, well...I'm staying in Fujisaki for the fourth transfer!  Woo!  I am actually really good with that.  But the crazy thing is...I'm training!  I still don't know how I feel about that.  Mostly I just feel extremely unqualified and inadequate, but I must have something to learn from this.  I still don't really know anything about my "bean" (brand new missionary coming straight from the Missionary Training Center in Provo).  I hear she is Japanese, but maybe lived in Utah for a while.  So probably she is perapera (fluent) in both English and Japanese...maybe???  No one I've talked to really knows.  There are only three new sisters coming in this transfer and one of them is mine!

But exciting news!  Willis Choro is now my District Leader!!  He is staying as are Kuchar Shimai and Merrill Choro, so we are all still in the same zone!!  YATTA!!  Wilson Shimai and Nakamura Shimai are both leaving.  Mori Shimai is staying in Fujisaki but will be with another sister in different part of Fujisaki. 

We are doing way good right now.  We found 2 new investigators in the past two days.  So it's been fun.  We also have a guy that's been less-active for years that has been coming to church!  He is the coolest guy ever!  Seriously.  But things are way good!  Yesterday I spent the whole day at Trainer's Training!  It was so good!  I love the APs (Assistants to the President).  They are so great!  I learned a ton, and I'm really going to try to be a good trainer.  There are definitely things that I'm going to have to work on.  I feel like this is going to be another one of those "baptisms by fire" experiences!  :)  It may be interesting.  But really I'm so excited!  I know there will be a ton of stuff that I will learn from her.

Sorry, I don't have a lot of time.  Earlier we went with all the Fukuoka missionaries to the Fukuoka Tower.  SO FUN!!

Really, I just want everyone to know that I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!  It's hard sometimes, but it is the best thing ever!  This Church is 100% true.  I have no doubt.  I know it's true.  Crazy things are starting to happen in Japan.  One day, Japan is just going to have an explosion of people coming to Christ.  I don't know when, and I don't know how, but I have faith that it will.  I love Japan!!! :)

I love you all!
Babcock Shimai

Crazy Week

So this week was a little crazy!  I also don't have a lot of time, so this will be short and sweet.  We were at the hospital for a few days in a row, long story, but everything is fine.  We went back to two of our new investigators that we found, and taught lessons.  This week we have an appointment with the family we met.  Also, super exciting is that Aoyagi Choro from the Seventy is coming!  I'm way excited!  He's going to talk to us, so that is going to be SO AWESOME!!!

Next week, P-Day is on Tuesday because it's transfer calls.  We're having a Zone Sports Day!  Yay!!!  Too bad there is literally not a park with a basketball hoop in all of Fukuoka.  They checked, and there really isn't.  I'm sad, but it will still be so fun!  And we'll also know what's going to happen with the next transfer. 

There is a little girl in our ward who loves me!  I have no idea why, but she does!  She's like 4 or 5 probably.  Yesterday after church we were leaving, and she like latched on to me.  We couldn't get her to let go.  Her mom was like, "I'm so sorry", and tried to get her to let go.  The little girl was tearing up when she let go.  It was the funniest thing ever.  I love her.  Haha!

Anyways, things are good!  I love the work!  I love the people!

Love you all!
Babcock Shimai