Week 28 - Goals & Faith

Hey everyone!!

So this week has been good! I am so so grateful to be here in the Shenandoah ward! I don't remember what I shared about last week either but we had Zone conference and as a Zone we sent a goal for 12 baptisms in the month of September! That is going to all happen due to faith! There is no doubt in my mind about that! Sorry I don't know what to share and the majority of my time is spent replying to people individually, so if you have things you want to know about just email me! 

So sorry this week's email is so lame..But! I know that this church is true. And I now that we can have so much happiness in our lives as we follow the example of the Savior! And as we live the gospel we are making a difference in others lives!

I love you all!

I will talk to you later :)

Sister Nakata

Companion Toe Art

Baby, Susie, Billy, Ma & Pa

Little note to Family moving in the Ward

 Birthday Present Goodies from FRANCE!

Week 27 - 20th Birthday!

Hey Everyone!!

Okay so I have less time than I am used to for emailing so this will be pretty short!

So! My birthday was this past week! 

Woohoo! Lots of fun! 

This family in the ward, the Feldes fed us dinner and made birthday cake! 

And this sweet old couple, the Lewis' made me a birthday cake too! 

They are adorable. We ate the cake the Lewis' gave us in 2 days... :) haha. 

When we got home we saw our door also got attacked with sticky notes and balloons and party stuff! 

So fun!

We had zone conference! It was incredible!

We also went to a Baltimore Oreoles game!! So awesome! Got home at 12:30!

Love you!

Sister Nakata

Week 26 - Transfers

Hey everyone!!

Okay! So I really didn't get to share much with you last week! Man! Okay, so Sister Bindrup left us :( but! We got Sister Nish! She is pretty awesome! And she knows a lot about me already...Her past three companions have been my first trainer, my mtc Companion and Sister Asplund from my mtc district. She's great. I am so pumped for this new companionship! Its going to rock!

Also there are 9 missionaries in our ward. Yes 9 missionaries assigned to the Shenandoah Valley ward! Its probably because Bishop Knecht is awesome. There are 3 Spanish sisters over the stake (our ward is a magnet ward for the spanish since there isnt a branch yet), 3 english sisters (us) and 3 english elders! The elders in our ward are the Zone leaders and they are also training! So our district has 13 missionaries in it. Have you ever heard of a ward with 9 missionaries? I haven't! The Lord must have mighty things in store for this area.

The work is going well. We have many people who are potential investigators and one investigator, Jesyka. She is really cool, and she reads all the material and does the "additional studies" in the back of the pamphlets. I am excited for her.

Ginny and Sonja had a tiff about one of their home-teachers but this past week we were able to have another lesson with him and they thought it was good!

Miracle! We street contacted this woman Beth. She told us all about how she works at Costco with a Mormon and asks him all sorts of questions. And then later that day we decided to go by a members home. They were members we hadn't met before and we shared a message. Got started talking and they said they work at Costco! Hmmm So we asked if they know Beth! And sure enough they do :) She may not know it but she is being prepared. She said she wasn't really interested at the time but considering all the questions she seems to ask she will find the truth soon. :)

I know the Lord blesses us each and every day and He is also hastening his work and its going to take everyone to share this good news with the world :) Thank you everyone for your prayers and support!

Sister Nakata

So I dont know if I said this yet but it was Sister Christiansen's birthday so we went her this card. 

I think its a good spoof :)

Here is is my district from Transfer #4! With Winchester and Shenandoah gang signs! 

Oh and two mini missionaries that we had for a week! (The two elders on the very end)

And here is a sign I found! I am fond of it :)

Week 25 - ER Visit

Hey everyone!

So this week was a unique one!!

So one of the Hermana's, who live in the apartment building next to us, had to have an emergency gall bladder removal! Wednesday night we get a call at 10:28 from the three Hermanas saying "Hey uh can we use your mini van to bring Hna Alvarado to the ER so she can lie down and be comfortable" And so Hna Coberly and Hna Orton take her to the ER and stay up with her ALL night as she is just in tons and tons of pain! And we go at 6:30 to be with Hna A so her companions could go home and get some sleep! So we sit with her from 6:30 to 9:00. And Hna A is awake but just drugged up a little and in pain and exausted. And Bishop and Sister Knecht come to be there with her too. And Sister Christiansen is on her way from maryland. And around 9:00 the doctors come to take her off to surgery and we don't know whats going on or see her again until 1:30ish! and that whole time we just waited having amazing conversations with Bishop, Sister Knecht, and Sister Christiansen! It was amazing. Then she comes back from surgery and her companions come back to be with her for the evening.

When Hna A got release she needed to come to our apartment because its ground level. So she stayed and had a sleep over with us! Then the next day the Hermanas were so exausted they got permission to just have a day off basically and they all slept in our closet room :) look how cute they all are!

Well I could tell ya so much more but its time to get off! I love you all so much

And the Lord loves us all! I know it! The Lord cares and definitely wanted there to be 6 Sister missionaries here in the Shenandoah Valley ward at this time. He is so smart. I love him!

Love you all!

Sister Nakata

Week 24 - Wedding Bells and a Change of Heart

Hello loved ones!! :D

So my week! Oh this was a good week :) It was time for our 6 month temple trip!! Wednesday we were able to go to the DC temple. It was so so good. Here we live 2 hours from the temple. I don't think I could do that! I am going to have to live closer than that to a temple. It was such a blessing to be able to go. It was so peaceful there.

Next week will be transfer week. I am always excited to find out what will happen! We will know this coming Sunday!

This week there was a wedding! That was a lot of fun! The majority of the decorations have been a big thanks to us sister missionaries. It was so much fun pulling everything together!

And this past Sunday was a really good one. It was a little crazy too. We found out in Sacrament meeting that Bishop Knecht changed all of the Presidencies in the ward! Everything has been switched up. And I am really excited for the ward. 

Our Relief Society class afterward was just so real too. The lesson was on not pretending to be perfect and someone you aren't. Be who you are and be proud of it. We are daughters of God! Now the new RS president just got released from YW president. She is a young mother and there had previously been hard feelings between the Sister missionaries and her. I had only heard a few things like "Oh she doesn't like the sisters because of yada yada yada and because sister so-and-so did this" But before sacrament she came up to us sisters and apologized for anything she had done, and asked for a clean slate. We were like "of course!" and then we found out that she was the new RS president! And then at the end of RS she got up and bore her testimony. And this was one of the most humbling and sincere testimonies I feel I have ever heard. She drew on the board a big heart and said "this is what has been in my heart lately" and with tears in her eyes she wrote the words "hate, mean, anger." She shared how that had been her but that is not who she is. She then erased those words and wrote in the heart "happy, kind, faithful, strong." She shared that those are what she wants in her heart. And those are her expectations for herself as she starts this calling. I am very excited for the amazing things this ward is going to do. These people here are wonderful. And Bishop Knecht and his wife are wonderful too!

Love you all

Sister Nakata

Also I sent the picture of the cupcakes cuz i designed that :)

Week 23 The gospel is amazing. Find it, apply it, and hold onto it!

Hey Friends!

This week has been different thats for sure! Sister Bindrup was sick for the majority of the week :( Poor sister had the flu and a really bad ear infection. While Sister Johnson went to Zone training with some other sisters I stayed home with Sister Bindrup and basically vacuumed the whole time. I just cleaned and cleaned! She kept telling everyone afterwards that she would wake up and here the vacuum going, she would go to sleep and the vacuum was still going. She would wake up again, same thing. She got a hoot. Our vacuum was out of commission for the past like month so I was able to really get the place clean. I loved it!

This week we also were asked to sing in Sacrament meeting. With the 6 sisters and 2 elders in our ward we made up a nice missionary choir :) We sang "I'll go where you want me to go" and our new mission President and his wife (the Christiansens) spoke! They are truly some great people. I love them already. They have 5 totally daughters (I believe) and their 12 year old and another daughter in her 20's with down syndrome will be with them as they serve their 3 year mission. They are an amazing couple and have great inspiring words. We got to talk with Sister Christiansen a few times this week seeing as she oversees all things medical and she had a career in the medical field. I love them a lot.

We were able to pick up a new investigator this week! So that was awesome. It is hard to find those people who are truly prepared by the Lord, I know that it is a work that needs to be done. My testimony of missionary work period has grown so much. President Christiansen shared this quote with us today in his weekly email and I love it.

"We are commanded by God to take this gospel to all the world. That is the cause that must unite us today. Only the gospel will save the world from the calamity of its own self-destruction. Only the gospel will unite men of all races and nationalities in peace. Only the gospel will bring joy, happiness, and salvation to the human family" (Preach My Gospel, p. 2).

Things may be hard but I do have faith that the Lord does not call us to fail. And I lean on that faith :) The gospel is amazing. Find it, apply it, and hold onto it! I love you all and am so grateful for your support!

Love,

Sister Nakata

okay! So I found skyline in walmart and made some for my companions! It was great. One of these pictures is funny because of the picture of the girl in the back ground and my tag is completely sideways. Thought I would share both!

Sister Bindrup loved the skyline, sister Johnsons..not so much haha!

Week 22 - Road trip and Dog bite!

Hey everyone!!

Okay! I am so sorry I do not start writing my email until like the last minute! So this week was really good!

We got knew that our Van is ready for pick up and so Wednesday we got to get up and drive to Mount Airy MD to get our van from the shop! It was about an hour and a half drive! And let me tell you being in the back of the van for the drive was the BEST. I just sat back and relaxed! We stopped and got these things called Berger cookies that are only found in Maryland apparently. They are basically half cooking half fudge, SO GOOD. 

And here is more pictures with our mini van! So since there are 6 sister missionaries total in our ward and they live in the apartment building next to us. The mission gave us a mini van! Never thought I would be driving one of these on my mission. But when you are in the back seat it is definitely nice! :) For a reason that we do not know, the elders in our ward also have a mini van. And so our ward has the only two mini vans in the whole mission! Weird, but okay!

That same day we were walking around some neighborhood looking for doors to inspire knock on and we decided to go to this house that had a dog out with an electric collar/fence dealio. It was a german shepherd and Sister Bindrup and I got along just fine with this dog but Sister johnson comes around the corner and he growls curls back his lips and snips her right on the thigh! Funny thing is it pinched her skin and broke a little bit of skin (barely) but it did nothing to her skirt! Heavenly father knows that us Sister Missionaries just have a select number of skirts and knew Sister J would need that skirt! Haha very interesting day thats for sure!

This week we had a lesson with Kali and Kyle. They are so ready to join the church, they just need to get married! They are waiting until Oct (sorry if I said all this before) but they originally had it in 2017, so thats better. They even have visiting and home teachers already! Anyways, in our lesson with them this week we talked a lot about her journey in the past few months visiting with us. She talked about "perfection pending" and how even though we are going through hard times thats OKAY. Heavenly father IS aware of us and knows we are struggling, our perfection is just pending!

Love ya

Sister nakata

Oh and Sister Bindrup cut my hair!

And one night we decided to make crepes with a random crepe mix in the apartment, Sister Bindrup made them a little thick..I took over and knew just how to make them ;)

And this man, Todd Jensen, had us over on #SMS day and he gave us like hundreds of dollars worth of Dolterra for free....he is supposed to be a Dolterra sells man but he hardly ever sells it, just gives it away. haha I felt so bad, but he said not to. It was quite fun!

July Pictures from #SocialMediasplit

Brother Helmick and I out with Sister missionaries Bindrup, Nakata, and Johnson to see our favorite new members Sonya and Ginny. A GREAT visit. Talked about the Temple and gave a blessing.‪#‎socialmediasplit‬‪#‎winchesterstake‬ ‪#‎baltimoremission‬ ‪#‎sharethegoodness‬

Sisters Nakata, Johnson, Bindrup very very busy at the Jensen home. Cutting up celery cutting up broccoli and making zucchini bread. Also some help with a puzzle and a wonderful spiritual message. Please please invite the missionaries into your home. They carry a beautiful spirit with them.‪#‎socialmediasplit‬ ‪#‎winchesterstake‬ ‪#‎baltimoremission‬‪#‎sharethegoodness‬

The Mission

Week 21 Free 7/11 Slurpees & Eggs

Hey Everyone!!

Okay so this week has been great! We had a ward party and that was lots of fun. There was a dunk tank and I watched a bunch of young boys take turns getting dunked and dunking! It was great. 

We got free slurpees from 7-11 on 7/11! And I got my face painted at the ward party!

Yesterday, we talked to this woman who is in the hospital and she has narcolepsy and she would just be telling us a story and just would fall asleep for a minute and then wake up and keep telling her story. It was quite hilarious! Oh bless her sweet heart! 

We went to visit this couple, Kali and Kyle. They are the best! They want to join the church so the only thing that is holding them back is that they are not married. They originally planned to get married in 2017 but have moved it up to Oct 2015! So as soon as that marriage happens they will be baptized! They are seriously the funniest couple ever!

We got free eggs from a member who has chickens and ducks. 

We also went out and helped pick up a few :D it was kinda gross

We went and ate at a Tai restaurant!

I don't think I sent this to you but this is when we met President and Sister Christiansen! 

And this is my zone!

It is very fun being in a ward with 8 missionaries! This past Sunday 3 of us spoke in sacrament meeting. One of them being me! I talked about Matt 11:28-30. It is a very good passage! Read it :) And take Christ's yoke upon yourself! Love you all

Sister Nakata

Week 20 4th of July Fun

Hey Friends and family. Sorry this is going to be a short email!

Ginny and Sonja got baptized this past weekend on the 4th of July! It was an exciting day! This ward is great and Bishop Knecht is awesome! I went on exchanges this past week and I am going to go lazer taggin in half an hour!

Also we found a motab Cd called the Spirit of America to jam out to! it was great! And we were allowed to stay out until 10:30! :)

Love you all!

Sister Nakata

Week 19 Beautiful Country & "Model" Ward

Heyo! I learned how to spell "Shenandoah" Correctly! 

Let me tell you, Virginia is BEAUTIFUL! There are parts of our area called "Old Winchester" and it has these super cute old style houses and a walking mall and I feel like I am in a different world! Similar to downtown Annapolis. I love the east coast :) And then there are parts of our area with land so spread out. We drive on the country roads and see rows and rows of apple trees, peach trees, and all sorts of things. It is beautiful. There are house out here that are just on acres and acres of land. 

It is so awesome. I love it.

Her Appartements

My companions are great! It is fun being with two companions! We have triple the fun :) Oh and Sister Bindrup is from Layton and Sister Johnson is from Salt Lake City! Sister B has been out since January and Sister J out since last July! And Guess what. 5 out of 5 companions ALL FROM UTAH haha its great. And Sister Jeppson (my old companion) and Sister Bagley (my old Sister Training Leader) are my new Sister Training Leaders!! Yay!

This ward is awesome! Apparently its the Mission's "model ward." Which is cool. And Bishop Knect is awesome too. Its why the ward is so great, no doubt. He is going to be an apostle one day! We sit down to talk about our investigators and leave feeling plowed by the Spirit. 

Also there are 8 missionaries in our ward..8. Haha there are the 3 of us, the 3 Hermana's and 2 Elders. I was told that there were 8 before I came here and I didn't really believe them. But sure enough 8! I inherited some GREAT investigators! Ginny and Sonja are getting baptized this coming weekend and I am so excited for it!

Things are going to be good here :) 

Love you

Sister Nakata

Also, I want to send pictures buuuut Apparently it doesnt work here.

Week 18 Baptism, Temple & Cutie

Hey Everyone!!

After an amazing 4 1/2 months here in Odenton Maryland I get the opportunity to go to Virginia to the Shannondoah Valley! I am so excited to see a different part of the mission! My new companions are Sister Johnson and Sister Bindrup! I am going to be in a trio! So that will be exciting!

My last week here in Odenton has been fairly eventful. STEPHANIE GOT BAPTIZED! It was so incredible to see and to see her bare her testimony was so beautiful! Also the night before she asked for a blessing to help her health wise. She was even a little worried she wouldn't be able to make it to her baptism. 

Also the night before that Theresa received a blessing. Both blessings were amazing experiences, the spirit was so strong. And on friday I got to go to the temple visitors center again with Sister Bailey (a less active member) and her grand daughter who is ADORABLE. 

And to top off the full week, Sister Ward and I helped serve lunch at a funeral being held at the church for a woman who died unexpectedly. It has been a crazy yet full week. 

I love being a missionary and I am so excited for the experiences yet to come! Thank you everyone for all the ways you support the missionaries :)

Love ya

Sister Nakata