Aishitemasu! Love you all!

Hello, everybody!

It seems like my life gets crazier every time I check in!

So... in our district we have this joke about Fridays... Because every other Friday we lose someone in our district! The first time it was Strong-choro, the next week it was Smotherman-shimai! So... this Friday, something crazy happened... I got a companion! We didn't lose someone- we added someone! Her name is Sister Biddle and she's AUSTRALIAN!!!!!!!!!!! The best thing that could have ever happened to me!!!!!!!! I love these Australians... So many of them are going to Japan. But anyway... so we moved a new desk back into our room! Then... we found out... Sister Biddle wasn't actually going to be my companion...She got fast-tracked and got put with Sister Vincent in another district... =( So... We had to move the desk back out. It was really sad... So once again on the 2nd Friday, we lost someone! Our 2nd Fridays are so cursed... But it's ok because I LOVE my tri-pan and now that means we still only have three sisters in our bedroom! Shhhhhhh..... don't tell anyone! All the other rooms have six sisters!

Also, I got a letter from my friend in Japan, who left a few weeks ago! It was lovely. He is serving in Kyoto! He says that so many wonderful things are going on over there and that he already has 3 committed for baptism! I can't wait to get over there =) Only 3 more weeks in the MTC! I hope I am as successful as he is!

Also... a few more exciting things happened this week. Firstly- my teacher bought us all chopsticks!!!!!!!!!!!!! So this week I've been totally committed to not using any silverware at all! Chopsticks are great. Mine are hot pink!!!!!!! It's funny how well our teachers get to know us. How else would she know that hot pink is the only color for me!? Also, our schedule got changed. So now we eat breakfast at 6:45, lunch at 11, and dinner at 4. So... that means that by 8:00 (which is around the time we used to have dinner), we're STARVING!!!!!!! So yesterday... I decided to smuggle some food out of the cafeteria... in my scarf! Scarves are so marvelous. You can hide anything in them and no one will notice! So yesterday, I smuggled a banana and a bag of cheetos! And the funny thing is- no one noticed! I was wearing a huge bright orange scarf... and still... no one noticed! So... around 8:00 I ate the bag or cheetos... but I ended up being too full to eat the banana. So... what did I do? Prepare yourselves........... I wrote "ai shitemasu" (I love you) on the banana and handed it off to one of my Australians. This resulted in a immediate fame of the "Love Banana"... Everyone was trying to figure out where the banana came from! But... I did not say one word! Little did they all know that I had transported the banana out of the cafeteria in my scarf! Hahaha... Oh my goodness. It's so funny how the stupidest things are just so funny in the MTC. We're all going crazy!!!!!!!

I have also discovered that Japanese people can't say "Roberts-shimai..." what they do call me though... is "Robots-shimai!" It's so funny. Everyone in the Japanese hall makes fun of me and walks around like a robot calling me "Robots-shimai!" I have definitely become infamous throughout the building with my robotic last name... It's wonderful though =)

Also this week I wrote a duet and piano accompaniment for the song Take Time to be Holy and me and a couple of my district friends are going to perform it  with me hopefully sometime soon in devotional or something! I will be singing with my friend Downing-choro and one of my companions, Johnson-shimai will be playing for us! We are going to audition on Thursday! It will be lots of fun =)

One last thing! I found a cure for forgetting French and Italian! It can be so hard to keep up on all the languages I speak, especially with trying to learn this new one! So- I found the solution! I can read mormon.org profiled in French and Italian AND Japanese, and it keeps me up to speed, so I don't forget anything! Man... Sometimes being multilingual is the coolest thing EVER!!!!!!!!! So that made me really happy this week =)

Sorry I don't have anything really profound to say this week... I'll try harder next time!

Aishitemasu! Love you all!
Roberts-shimai!

    The district and the shimaitachi

   Smotherman- brown hair, Johnson- glasses, Burgan- super blonde

    Pretty flowers at the MTC!

   Arigatogozaimasu for the Rubiks cube!

    My Room!

    Regular class activity!

    Necktie/scarf switch with Mahler choro!

    This morning posing with a statue!

    Today at the temple!

Sooooooo many good things going on in the MTC...

Wow, Konichiwa, everyone!!!!!

It seems like every time I write, my life gets crazier and crazier!

So, I'll start with the craziest item first-

My companion left.... It was on "medical leave" but there was a lot more too it than that... She may be coming back in 6 or so months, but for now it's sayonara...I won't go into depth, but all I will say is that some people just aren't quite ready... I was sad to see her go, but a lot of surprise blessings have come of it! For example, I am now in the most legit tri-panionship of all time with Sister Bugron and Sister Johnson! They are just so wonderful. I haven't been as happy as I am now in a long time =) and It's all because of them and their radiant personalities and glorious spirits. I love them so much. We are like sisters. Oh wait... I guess we are! Well... Sisters in all but blood! They're fabulous!

Ther elders might be getrting a little sick of us, simply because we are so happy to be together! The Australian elders say that we are like "sugar-hyped troll babies"... =) If only they knew! Muahahahaha!!!!!

Now our district is a district of 8... We're so small... And we're dropping like flies! But don't worry =) I'm not leaving! But... a couple more elders might leave too... The MTC isn't for the weak of testimony... but it is sad to see the ones you love leave...

I am still loving being a missionary! It's nothing like I expected! It's so much better =)

Let's see, what else... oh yeah! A couple weeks ago, one of the Australian elders in our district and I started a Sunday tradition! We call it our "Accent Fast!" It is when for an entire day the two of us switch accents! It's great fun =) The only problem is, I'm beginning to forget all the people I've convinced that I'm Australian!... It's even worse when I forget about the Australians I've convinced that I'm Australian! Haha... Oh well! =) So, That will happen again tomorrow, as always =)

Also, yesterday our district did an "English Fast"... In honor of being here for a month! The idea was that because we weren't allowed to speak English, we would speak Japanese all day... But rather than that... I just spoke a little Japanese and a lot of French!... Mostly with the teachers, because the French Elders and Sisters have no idea what they're doing =) Just like me! =) So, I stick to the natives and the teachers. It's lots of fun... So yeah, the Japanese day was kind of a fail, but Japanese is still coming along really well! I'm learning lots about the gospel and not much else! But it's perfect! That's what I'm here for =)

Last week at Relief Society, Sister Oscarson, the new Young Womens general president spoke to us. You can tell she's new because she's so nervous! =) She's so fabulous though! She told us that speaking to us was her very first assignment since being called! We are so priveleged to be able to hear from these wonderful general authorities. Rumor has it that Elder Holland is coming some time soon =)

This week was filled with so many tendrer mercies. So many of my friends have entered the MTC. It's so wonderful to see familiar faces. I have also Learned to do the Rubiks cobe in a little under 3 minutes! Not that impressive... but better than before!

Yesterday my district spent a few minutes throwing a paper airplane around to each other. The airplane said "ai shitemas" on the wing, which means I love you in Japanese. Sometimes the simplest things make us so happy here in the MTC. We just sat in our desks "spreading love!"

Oh man... Being a missionary is just the greatest thing in the whole world... I had no idea that I would love it so much. A couple days ago me and the tri-pan cleaned showers in the residence hall! We got to power spray and clean hairballs out of the drains! It was SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!! Who knew... =) Cleaning showers is now our favorite activity! Wow... That's pretty weird, but honestly! It's so fun! And I can't even explain why! Maybe it's because the spirit is with us!

Sorry for all the scattered thoughts! I love you all so much! That's it for now!

Love,

Roberts Shimai

#Sooooooo many good things going on in the MTC...

Half way done in the MTC! Japan in no time =)

So... P-day is changing to Saturday, so I got to email you all today!!!

Hey everybody!

So... yet again, it has been an eventful week...

Particularly last night.

So here's the scoop-

Last night my companion, Sister Smotherman got really sick. She has a wheat allergy and we weren't sure whether she was having a reaction to something she accidentally ate or not... but she was shaking and dizzy and naucious. So... we went to the E.R. It was like an adventure to the real world!... you know... that place where TVs and Radios are on in the waiting rooms?... After being in the MTC for so long it felt like Sodom and Gammorah! Haha... But anyway... We got to the E.R. and while she was getting checked in, something really cool happened to me. I was sitting next to a couple crack heads, just doing my Rubik's cube, and they started up a conversation! and, as you might guess... me being a missionary and such... our conversation got on the topic of the gospel! So here I am at 11:00 at night sitting in an E.R. waiting room talking about the gospel! It was SO strange. These people breached every single topic that could have made me extremely uncomfortable...but for some reason, I was able to calmly and lovingly respond with a comforting gospel doctrine each time! It was crazy! And they were genuinely curious!

After a while... I noticed the waiting room had gotten extremely quiet... I don't know if you have ever been in an E.R. on a Friday night, but let me tell you... they are NOT quiet places. So, I looked around and everyone was looking at me! It kind of took me off gaurd because I had been so absorbed in conversation with this man! We had actually been enjoying each others' company! It was surprising! You couldn't have found 2 more different people in that room! But we were talking! I had come to love him in that half hour and I sincerely cared about sharing a message with him that would bring him comfort! Because he is a child of God. True, right now he probably doesn't remember anything we talked about last night, but I know that for some reason I was supposed to say all these things! Maybe it was for the benefit of someone else listening! Because aparently... they ALL were listening! When I looked away from the man and saw everyone's eyes on me, I was so surprised! Even the receptionist!

After getting home around 2 in the morning, I had a chance to think back on the situation...Smotherman-shimai was ok, but It still puzzled me why everyone was staring...

A few ideas came to mind...

First of all... What kind of 19-year-old girl spends her Friday nights wearing a name badge and preaching the gospel in the E.R.!? I can tell you, even in Provo it might have seemed a little strange... It reminded me of that story in the Luke 2 when the 12-year old Jesus goes and preaches to the doctors and they were astonished. Yes... it's true- I'm young, and I don't know everything, and I'm certainly not the Savior, but there is an important fact- The gospel brings people together. This gospel message is astonishing. It's beautiful and peaceful. Even in a hectic E.R. full of screaming babies, stressed-out people, and crack-heads, the sweet and clear voice of the spirit can pierce through it all! That room became completely quiet! It was astounding. I don't know... Maybe they all needed to hear a message of peace that night. Maybe I was just an inspired tool to help someone and bring comfort before they faced their own challenges that night... I will never know, but I do know that this gospel is wonderful.

It was wonderful enough to inspire me to give up a year and a half of my life to go teach it half way accross the world in Japan!

The Savior said that it is the sick who need a doctor... It might have seemed strange that I was so easily conversing with an addict, but the thing is... even though he looked scary and vicious, he needed me that night! Even though he would never be caught dead in a church, we are all sinners and all just as worthy to hear the gospel of Christ!

I'm not even out of the MTC yet, but I already love being a missionary. I love representing our Savior and following in His footsteps. I want to be a window to His love and I want all who hear me to hear His voice instead of mine.

Brothers and sisters, this is a beautiful work. I'm so grateful to be a part of it.

Have a glorious week =)

Love,

Roberts-shimai!

#Half way done in the MTC! Japan in no time =)

P.S. Not quite as profound... but I do have one more quick thing to say...

The other day I was at luch and I ended up sitting next to this Japanese elder from Tokyo who is going to France on his mission but speaks English too! It was so crazy... We had this totally awesome multi-lingual conversation! We jumped back and forth with French and Japanese with a few english words here and there. My district thought it was the strangest thing they had ever heard or seen! It was so cool... I'm telling you, being fluent in 3 languages is going to be AWESOME!!!!!!!!! But... that's it for now!

Love you all!!!!!!!!! =)

Week 3 - Met Elder Richard G. Scott!!!!!

Hello everyone!!!!!!

Wow, well week 3 has been much MUCH crazier than ANYTHING in the past...

First of all, a week ago I was sitting in devotional, and no big deal... in walks Elder RICHARD G. SCOTT! The MTC is the most star-studded place I have ever been! I have seen like half of the missionaries from 'the district', a kid from one of the Mormon Messages, quite a few general authorities including the new YW general president and now Richard G. Scott! It's so wonderful. He spoke to us and I was only 20 feet away from him! I was right behind the teleprompter so the entire time it looked like he was speaking directly to me! Then, he gave us all an apostolic blessing specifically for language learners! He told us that he knew Jesus Christ... like personally! It was so crazy!

Also this week, we lost one of the elders in our district... The really cute one who looked like superman. He left because he didn't have a testimony. This resulted in my first tearful breakdown in the MTC. It was one of the saddest moments of my life. It's funny how close you can get to a person after 3 weeks. I never really knew why a testimony was so important until that day. The MTC isn't for whimps, folks. This is a huge test of character. Looking from the inside out, I have total sympathy, but I know how hard it is going to be for Elder Strong to go back home and have everyone judge him... especially since he lives in the same home ward as our prophget and Elder Holland. Poor guy. We really miss him a lot. He would have been such a good missionary, but I do at least admire his integrity for not wanting to preach words that mean nothing to him. It would only make him bitter...

Japanese is getting easier and easier! I can teach the firast and second lessons now! I can also sing hymns and pray and bear my testimony! It's so wonderful. When Richard G. Scott blessed us, I seriously learned Japanese in my sleep or something because I can understand almost everything that's going on now! Those apostles weild the power of God like crazy. I feel so blessed to have been there when he blessed us.

Also this week I learned the Australian national anthem!... and their 5 states and 2 territories... and all their capitol cities. Also... all the major landmarks! These Australians all really like me for some reason. They have decided to adopt me and teach me everything they know! Kind of random but really cool...

I also pulled an awesome stunt where I switched all of the sisters' name tags in my district without anyone noticing... That was pretty much the highlight of my week- the ninja name-tag switch.

Things are as busy as ever. I miss you all and I pray for your well being every day. The MTC is great!

Nothing else to report!

Roberts-shimai!

#Met Elder Richard G. Scott!!!!!

It's a party in the MTC =)

Dear Everyone,

Well... what's new, what's new...

Japanese is getting easier! I am so greatful to everyone who has been praying for me =)... which has been obvious to me that some of you have been... because it wouldn't be this easy if I were just on my own...

I still do get a little homesick to speak French, and it kind of freaks everyone out when I go up to the French missionaries and start speaking to them. The first thing they do is look at my nametag and see that it's got Japanese on it... They they proceed to get even more freaked out! It's funny though... Being bilingual has it's advantages.

All the Native Japanese missionaries are SOOOOO funny! They take pictures of EVERYTHING! And they run everywhere... They're always in a hurry... They're so cute. They all wear little masks when they get sick. They like speaking English too... which is great for me!

The MTC is just sooooo great. Being a missionary is awesome. Not easy... but awesome. We get no sleep, but whatever! It's like a big party!!!!

It's so spiritual here. The Holy Ghost is everywhere! Even when I'm doing boring stuff, it's just so fun because the Spirit makes it fun!... if that even made any sense...

Keep the Dear Elders coming! I love hearing from everyone!

Wish I had more time to report... but I don't... and I don't have much more to say anyway!

Love you all though! Pictures will come soon!... When I figure out how to do it...

~Roberts-shimai!

#It's a party in the MTC =)

Roberts-shimai

Hello!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, what to say!

Basically, the MTC is AWESOME!

I woke up today and there was a blanket of snow on the ground. I was like..."what is this!?!? It's APRIL!!!"

I am struggling with the 4 different alphabets related to learning Japanese, but whatever, it will come!

We are in the process of teaching our first "investigator" and are having the third lesson with him tomorrow! It's not as easy as it sounds though... We have to do it entirely in Japanese... and I'll tell you what... Japanese is HARD!!! It's fun though, so that's good!

All of the Japanese missionaries got here today. The only thing I knew how to say to them was, "hi" and "I'm sister Roberts" and "AWESOME!"

It's a bit of a language barrier, but that's ok...

All the Australian mishies have become my best friends, and my companion is AWESOME! She's Smotherman-shimai, from California! She's awesome.... But I think I mentioned that.

I love my district. We spend 10 hours a day together studying and we love every minute of it!

The MTC is so wonderful. If I would have known how happy it would make me to be here, I would have gone years ago!!! *(figuratively speaking...)

I love being a missionary. Learning so much and loving every single second.

Sayonara!!!!!

Roberts-shimai!

Anne picking Victoria up from the airport

one last phone conversation

before entering the MTC

Saying goodbye to Melissa at the MTC

Melissa, Victoria and Elizabeth