My companion and I have come to realize that as we are 100% obedient and living worthy of The Lord's trust, that He will send a million FUN opportunities to share the gospel!
For example: We went to see sunflowers with a member in our ward and two people randomly started taking tons of photos of us. We randomly became fashion models for 5 minutes :) We were able to invite them to church and have a nice chat with them about our purpose as missionaries.
Okay family, I'm really sorry for the late and short letter! This past week was incredible as usual. We are busy. Our schedule is full, and we are going hard in the paint. I remember when I was at home, I had a very specific routine in order to fall asleep. Lay on my side. Sing a Child's Prayer. Flip over to my other side. Fall asleep. There is no need for a sleeping routine anymore. I fall asleep so quickly!! We say our prayers, my head hits the pillow, and I am out until the alarm in the morning! I love it! I feel as though I am spending my days to their fullest, and I am loving every minute because I love the people I'm spending them with. Honestly, people make me so happy. There is goodness in every person you meet. I can honestly say that every single person I talk with gives me a new perspective about life. Because every one of us experiences life differently, and have been able to grow in so many different ways! Therefore, we all have this beautiful opportunity to learn from each other! I am so lucky to be where I am with the people I am with right now. Moreover, I'm so blessed to have had so many people who have blessed me in the past and have shaped me into the person I have become. Adriana texted us on Friday. We were getting so worried about her because we hadn't met face to face for a month and we didn't know how she was doing or if she was still progressing. All our worries were washed away when we got the text, "I want to baptize help me. I want to serve the next following the commandments of Jesus. Jesus want to follow his example of love. Saturday ok. Please." Granted she google translates all of her texts from Portuguese to English so everything she emails has a lot of urgency, but when we heard this, we were overwhelmed with joy. To see the hope that our friend had and her understanding of the gospel amazed us. She's looking stellar to be baptized on the 24th and she is amazing us every day. We were able to teach her the law of tithing and word of wisdom on Saturday using only google translate and the True to the Faith book. The only question she had about the law of tithing: Only ten percent? What if I want to pay more? Yeah, talk about a prepared daughter of God. Being on Facebook I love being able to see my family and friend's post about missionary work and becoming a member missionary. What a privilege we have to share the gospel we have with others. I've been thinking a lot about being a missionary and I realized that not only is it a privilege but an obligation! A duty! When I was baptized, I covenanted with God to always strive to follow the example of Jesus Christ for the rest of my life and become like Him. He lived His entire life in order to share this plan of happiness with others. I pray that I too, may continue to follow in the footsteps of my Savior and share God's plan for us. That I might love others, and forgive frankly. To have a constant hope in the future, because I know in whom I have trusted, and I have no need to fear! Hey, guess what everyone! I'm happy :) Simply, purely, unexplainably happy. And you know what else? I love you! And it would really make my day if you too would smile off the pains of life and be happy too! Love, Sister Feist
Did I mention how hot Japan summers are? Remember last summer how we were all baking during that heatwave? Yeah, that's the whole month of August. Throw in humidity, and you understand why "Man, it's hot out" is a completely natural conversation starter here!! But, even though it's incredibly hot, we have been able to have a great time and see lots of miracles! Since Sister Jolley left for Fujisawa on Thursday, we spent Wednesday with some of our favorite members in the ward. We had lunch, then went to a park and slid down a giant slide!! I'm not kidding, this slide was so big! It reminded me a lot of the slides at the Triple L ranch, but a lot more safe and less terrifying. It was so much fun to spend time with these people who we love and help them feel the Spirit and spend time with their daughters who are in their rebellious teenager phase. Thursday we said goodbye to Sister Jolley, then hello again because she took Sister Handy's ipad instead of her own. Impromptu trip to meet her led to meeting some great people and having lots of adventures :) Friday was our neighborhood party! Can I just say that I love where we live? There are so many families, everyone is so friendly, and we just laughed so much!! We were able to make so many great friends, and see a lot of miracles!! Have I told you all about Radio Taiso? Here's the lowdown. Every morning at 6:30 am in parks throughout Japan, old men and women gather and do a 15 minute stretching activity. We have been doing it for about the past 2 months, and I've gotta say, it's a blast! Us and a few elders go every morning, chat with the old ladies, and get a great workout in. Well, we actually had a chance to meet up with our radio taiso friend at the neighborhood summer festival on Saturday! She bought us a ton of festival food and we just laughed and chatted together. I think that it is a tender mercy of The Lord that no matter what the age, culture, or language might be, women can still bond and bless eachother's lives. I think of the women who are some of my greatest role models or my best friends at church, and age was not a factor in our friendship. We have so much to learn from eachother, and The Lord will bless us and teach us as we love eachother as Christ love us! Another festival and fireworks show later Saturday night and we were wiped out!! Life is busy when you have such an involved and caring ward!! Today I was able to attend the temple, and I just want to share my testimony about happiness. We are on the Earth, in this lifetime to learn how to be happy. I know that every day we can find joy in the little things, because that's why they're here. God gives us the little things in life to make us happy. He gave us the commandments as guide to pure joy. God loves us! Everything He has done and will do is so that we can partake of eternal joy. I know that as a missionary, I am the happiest I have ever been in my life. I am serving others and trying to share with them find the joy in life that I feel every day. I love my Savior, and I love this Gospel! I love you all, and am grateful for your prayers and support! Love always, Sister Feist
Renae Feist
I am serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I will be serving in the Tokyo South Mission for a period of 18 months.