Kung Hee Fat Choy !!!!

Dear Family & Friends!

新年快乐 HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEARS!!

Wow, it was a great week! So many things happened! Here in Cambridge South it's been getting a little warmer. I love it. We've been having a bad winter but now the sun is out and the snow is melting. The snow was getting so high these past weeks! I'm never seen so much snow and ice in my entire life! Here are some pictures to prove that I'm not that crazy!

This week was transfer week! It's a crazy week! I never knew that it was such a tense thing. Everyone is so tense and scared of being moved to different areas and having a different companion! I felt fine. I kind of knew I was going to stay in my area and with my companion. There is a picture where everyone wrote on the board who was leaving or staying. It's called "transfer prediction" It was so much fun! We all took a silly picture together and today we're saying our goodbyes! So sad! I loved our zone here in Cambridge!

Then on friday sister moss & I got a mini-missionary! She was too cute! She is from Mass and is sixteen years old! She was so adorable and was already ready to be a missionary! We loved having her! She only stayed with us for the weekend but we had a blast!

And lastly on Saturday night we had a HUGE Chinese New Years Party! It was amazing! There were a lot of chinese investigators there. It was awesome! There was a ton of food and there was a lion dance. This activity was put on by the Chinese branch that I spoke in sacrament in. They were thrilled at the turn out and everyone had fun! There is a picture of the PVC Sisters (Portable Visitor Center) This is amazing! I've only seen it here in Boston. It's mormon video's that play and there is a touchable ipad that people or investigators can learn about the gospel. These Sister's go where ever there are non-members which are at either at a baptism, at a church event, or so on. This is amazing! We took the 20 or so chinese students that were there around to each of the PVC stations and taught the gospel to them! It was so great! It was touching to me because I knew what the Elders were teaching. It just really was a great moment for me. Even some of our investigators came and I had a good time!

Well, I'm got to run but I know this church is true and that the work is move right along! I'm so grateful to be apart of of it! I've seen a lot of tender mercies from the Lord and being apart of this experience has truly shown me that Heavenly Father is merciful, kind, and knows me and my many struggles!!

I love you all! I hope your week is a great one!

Thanks for the emails and the packages! I'm truly loved by all of you!

PS. My address changed because I'm moving in an new apartment! It's 167 6th St. Cambridge, MA 02142

Sincerely, Sister Komatsu

Reassigned to the Massachusetts Boston Mission

167 6th Street Cambridge, MA 02142

Boston !!!

Dear Family & Friends,

I realize now that I just write too much! So I'll cut it down and give you the summarized version :)

It's record breaking weather here on the East Coast. Record breaking numbers and I totally believe it! I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MUCH SNOW IN MY ENTIRE LIFE! AND I'VE NEVER SHOVELED SO MUCH SNOW IN MY ENTIRE LIFE! I wish I had a picture of how much snow there actually is.

Last week we got to go to Return & Report which is a meeting that all the new missionaries and their trainers have a Q&A with the mission president. We met at a chapel that was next to the Belmont Mass Temple and attend a session! It is so beauitful! I love that temple and the opportunities I get to really deepen my understanding of God's plan for me!

Uhmm.. Oh! Happy Belated Valentine's Day!! Us and another set of sister's that live with us exchanged valentine's day gift to each other! It was so sweet! My "secret admirer" gave me a frame that had B. Mass & Taipei Mission written in it. Super cute! I love it! I'm so happy to be apart of this mission. Yesterday my companion and I were on exchanges with the sister training leaders which means that as a companionship we were split up for a day. My companion went to the Digital Mission and Sister Layton and I spent the day together! It was a blast! And as I was talking with some sisters in my zone I had said something I'd never thought I'd say while being here! Let me start from the beginning. This pasted week some missionaries that were reassigned before my district and I - just got their Visa's to Taiwan!! Yeah! SOOOO I MIGHT BE GETTING MINE SOON! I'm so excited and nervous at the same time! And the sisters that I was talking too had asked if it's been hard being here and not on my mission and if I'd ever just stay here for the rest of my mission? I responded that I'd like to go to my own mission and that I didn't waste two months of my time at the MTC learning Mandarin for nothing. I believe that Heavenly Father called me to Taiwan and that's where I'm suppose to be! And then responded to the next question that yeah it's hard to be here but that God didn't put me here in Boston for nothing. He didn't send me to the coldest place on earth to do nothing!! No! He sent me here for a reason and whatever it's suppose to be I'm going to do it- whether it's finding that one person who needs the gospel and teach them or just bringing others unto Christ. There is a time and a purpose for everything. I'm a missionary and where ever I am I'm going to preach the gospel and serve the Lord to my capabilities.

I believe that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live. I know that we all individually have a plan that God Himself designed for us. I know that even though we're not teaching a lot of investigators in our area that we are doing good in our community - whether it be shoveling members cars out or shoveling random people's driveways or just being nice to others even though it's miserable outside. I know that the good things we do aren't worthless or meaningless but that will help in some small way and maybe it won't change a person's life but it will change our own. I've changed while being here in the MBM. I've really seen the blessing I've been given and there it no way I'm going to waste them on meaningless acts. This mission is forever in my heart and I look forward to changing everyday while being here. Missionary work acquires a lot of effort and diligence. It acquires consecration, humility, patience, and pure faith sometimes. 

I love this work because this gospel means so much to me. I am so happy to be learning more about my purpose and what I truly am to do here on the earth. What a great feeling of knowing and going forward with great knowledge in my heart. I hope you all have a great weekend and truly find what you're main purpose is right now in your life. - And not just, I'm suppose to be in school, or suppose to pay the bills, or suppose to just go through life but have a deeper purpose. I promise that if you do this you will see the bigger picture in life and that you will understand more about God's plan for you. You are not here on earth to live and die. There it much more. God put you here, in this time, and with these people for a reason. What ever it may be let that be your goal and focus. 

I love you all!! 我爱你们！

小松 姐妹

Here's some random pics from the week!! ( The city & a line of truck plowing the streets)

Crazy Week in Boston !

Dear Family & Friends,

It's been a crazy week! There has been a lot! I'm so sorry but I actually don't have a lot of time to write about my whole week! The only thing you need to know is that I'm surviving and still going! I'm not sick and I can thank Heavenly Father for that! The work here in Cambridge Boston is good! We're working hard this end of the transfer and getting ready for a new transfer that's coming up!

I love you all and I thank you for all the emails and support you give me!!

This emails is all about pictures! Cause that's all we do! We take pictures because we'll be seeing some crazy things!!!

1st Pic: Me eating in Chinatown in Boston!! There are a ton of restaurants and our Chinese Elders tell us that they go there all the time so we took a train to Chinatown! It was great! Look! It already sees like I'm in Taiwan!!

Sincerely, 小松 姐妹

Attending Boston Temple Session

BOSTON ! 3 Months

Dear Family & Friends!

I can't believe it's 3 months since I went into the MTC. I was there for so long.

And I can't believe I'm here in BOSTON! It's a wonderful experience that I'm having here in the MBM (Massachusetts Boston Mission). So many things have happened this past week. I'll just summarize a little!

Last week Monday:

It was our P-Day! That was a great day! We studied in the morning. Went groceries shopping. I went to Target and bought some winter stuff. Emailed our family and friends. Played sports. And had dinner at a members house. It was a great day!! 

Tuesday
We do a lot of traveling by bus which was hard for me at first. But know I kind of like it. It's great for personal contact. We get to talk to a lot of people about our Church. There are a lot of people here in Boston that know a lot about the Church and already have their opposition. Its hard but there are a lot of nice people here in Boston!

Friday:
I honesty don't remembered what happened last week. We don't have a ton of investigators so we've been doing a lot of organizing and scheduling appointments instead of actually teaching people. :) Don't worry though because we'll have a ton of new investigators soon!

SUNDAY
 I've already made some great friends! My district is amazing. There are 4 companionship's in my district. Me & Sister Moss and another Sister companionship and two more Elder companionship. They are great. The four Elders are actually Mandarin speaking Elders. They're awesome! Heavenly Father has truly blessed me with people that I can converse with in Mandarin. He is very mindful of all of us. Now, these four Elders are assigned in the Chinese Branch in our Stake. & I'm in two YSA Wards. The beginning of last week the Ward Leader from the Chinese Branch had called me and asked me to speak in their Sacrament meeting! I accepted and this past sunday I was able to give a talk about 'Hope, Faith, and Healing through the Gospel' in Chinese! It was hard but I made it! LOL, it was a wonderful experience and I am so grateful for that opportunity. ( I truly believe that the Lord is prepping me and everyone else that got reassigned for Taiwan. I believe we are being prepped to take what we learn here in the United States and take is over to the Taiwan Mission to better be effective as missionaries there!)

Yesterday:

There was a storm that hit us!! IT was crazy! The whole mission was "red-dotted" which means that missionaries were not allowed to go outside. It was a great day! We woke up to a bunch of snow! It really was 3 feet!! We waited for the afternoon and went out to jump in the snow! It was so high! There is a picture of me sitting on the pile of snow that is covering the bus stop bench. It was awesome! The snow was so fluffy and high that we couldn't help ourselves but play! LOL, it wasn't as bad as our Mission President thought it was going to be. But we survived! It was a nice to stay in and relax for a bit. I think it helped us all to relieve our stress!

Also, on Sunday there was a Baptism. Sister Moss & I live with two other Sister Missionaries. They are so sweet and both are from Brazil. Their investigator was baptized on Sunday. It was the most amazing baptism I've ever been to. The Spirit was so strong and you could just tell that this 18 year old girl loves the gospel with all her heart. She was so excited to be baptized and be apart of the Church. It was an amazing feeling. She knows that God and Jesus Christ lives and loves her. It really strengthened my testimony. This gospel is so true and I through that young girl I was able to see the joy this gospel can bring to people lives.

I'm so sorry my emails are always long. Just let me know if they're too long and I'll start to cut them down!! 

Love you all!

Here's the sweetest story from Orson F. Whitney. I love this story about the dream he had. This is a powerful story and a sacred one but I am sharing it with all of you because it has changed my perceptive on the Savior and His Atonement. I love you all! I pray for you always!

Love you lots, Sister Komatsu

As a young missionary, Elder Orson F. Whitney (1855–1931), who later served in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, had a dream so powerful that it changed his life forever. He later wrote:
“One night I dreamed … that I was in the Garden of Gethsemane, a witness of the Savior’s agony. … I stood behind a tree in the foreground. … Jesus, with Peter, James, and John, came through a little wicket gate at my right. Leaving the three Apostles there, after telling them to kneel and pray, He passed over to the other side, where He also knelt and prayed … : ‘Oh my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will but as Thou wilt.’
“As He prayed the tears streamed down His face, which was [turned] toward me. I was so moved at the sight that I wept also, out of pure sympathy with His great sorrow. My whole heart went out to Him. I loved Him with all my soul and longed to be with Him as I longed for nothing else.
“Presently He arose and walked to where those Apostles were kneeling—fast asleep! He shook them gently, awoke them, and in a tone of tender reproach, untinctured by the least show of anger or scolding, asked them if they could not watch with Him one hour. …
“Returning to His place, He prayed again and then went back and found them again sleeping. Again He awoke them, admonished them, and returned and prayed as before. Three times this happened, until I was perfectly familiar with His appearance—face, form, and movements. He was of noble stature and of majestic mien … the very God that He was and is, yet as meek and lowly as a little child.
“All at once the circumstance seemed to change. … Instead of before, it was after the Crucifixion, and the Savior, with those three Apostles, now stood together in a group at my left. They were about to depart and ascend into heaven. I could endure it no longer. I ran from behind the tree, fell at His feet, clasped Him around the knees, and begged Him to take me with Him.
“I shall never forget the kind and gentle manner in which He stooped and raised me up and embraced me. It was so vivid, so real that I felt the very warmth of His bosom against which I rested. Then He said: ‘No, my son; these have finished their work, and they may go with me; but you must stay and finish yours.’ Still I clung to Him. Gazing up into His face—for He was taller than I—I besought Him most earnestly: ‘Well, promise me that I will come to You at the last.’ He smiled sweetly and tenderly and replied: ‘That will depend entirely upon yourself.’ I awoke with a sob in my throat, and it was morning.” 

HERE I COME BOSTON !!!

HERE I COME BOSTON!!

Dear Family & Friends,

We just sent off my companion. She is going to Australia! It was a touching and heartfelt goodbye!

Nine weeks I've been at the MTC & I've learned so much more than I could have anywhere else. 

Massachusetts is such a huge surprise to me but I know the Lord is mindful of me and my abilities. I've never been to the East Coast so it will be a great adventure! I'm so happy and thankful to go and experience all these things!

Thank you Thank you family and friends for the letters and packages! You guys are truly the greatest support in my life!

When I teach investigators they ask how I know that this Gospel is true and how it has helped my life. I always tell my experiences about my loving family and friends that have been the greatest blessing in my life.

Here I come Boston! This Asian girl looks small and unnoticeable but I know that I speak of truth and I know that God will provide me with conviction to bring others unto Christ.

My purpose as a missionary is to: "Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, Repentance, Baptism, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end."

I've learned a lot here at the MTC!! I love the MTC!  I encourage every willing young men and women take partake in this joyous opportunity to serve the Lord because when you decide to do this it will change you life into a happy and more fulfilling life!!

Love you all! Best wishes!

Sincerely, Sister Komatsu

ALOHA , Family & Friends ! BREAKING NEWS !!!

ALOHA, Family & Friends!

BREAKING NEWS!!!!

It's my last week in the Missionary Training Center!!! It's so exciting and nerve wracking! Here's the update that I've recently heard. I might not be going straight to Taiwan because Taiwan visas are apparently hard to get these days :(

I've heard rumors today that my Elders & us, Sisters, are on the "reassignment" list. Nothing for sure here at the MTC because they don't know till reassignment day, which is either Thursday or Friday!

I had my heart set on going straight to Taiwan, Taipei but now that I'm thinking about it I wouldn't mind going state side for awhile, so I can practice my teaching skills :) It's so exciting that I don't know how to feel anymore! 

Anyways, please pray for me and my district that we still leave on our assigned date which is JAN 12TH, 2015. As long as I'm out there teaching I'll go where the Lord wants me to go. :)

In other news, yesterday was Fast Sunday! It was the best Sunday ever! It was testimony meeting and everyone got up to bear there testimonies it was the best! I thought my Chinese was so bad because my talk last week didn't make sense but when I went up to bear my testimony I was surprised that my Chinese was better than I thought! Heres a bit about what I shared:

Family and Friends, I love Missionary work. I love serving others rather than myself. This is the best work ever! D&C 11:3-4 "Behold,the field is white already to harvest; therefore, whoso desireth to reap let him thrust in his sickle with his might, and reap while the day lasts, that he may treasure up his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God. Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle, and reap, the same is called of God."My Chinese is horrible and my teaching skills are pretty bad but what I learned being here is that- This is the Lord's work- Not my work. Even though I am inadequate I know that the Lord's work will still continue. The Savior will make up the difference. Again, this is His work not mine. I am not reliant on my abilities but my Saviors. And He can do so much more than I could ever do in a lifetime. I love my Savior. I know He will help me teach. I know He will help me say what I need to say in the language. Missionary work is a work of love. Christ will change the people I teach and He will change me. Last week Tuesday Devotional we had a member of the Seventy, Brother Perkins, talk about change. He said, "As you help others to change, the greatest convert will be you." I do know thats true! I can't wait to get out there!!

Mormon.org is a site for non-members and investigators. Last night we had Sunday Night Devotional and Bro. Greg Droubay talked. He is apart of the Missionary Technology department. He taught us missionaries last night on how to better use technology to reach out to those that don't know about the Church or even Christ. They are updating the site and they were showing us some new videos. These videos are 60 seconds of giving a brief overview of a gospel topic. It's amazing! They did  a study on those that watched it. And they received it very well. He showed it to us missionaries so that we are aware of the Church on media and can better teach and make conversation with people. It's awesome how advanced the Church really is. I'm so thankful for a Church that is willing to be in the world and not of it. We use media and our advanced tools so that we can better spread Christ's gospel.

HAPPY NEW YEARS!! Wow, can you believe it's 2015! I can't. The year went by so fast! I can't believe I'm on my mission. So much has changed since the JAN 2014.  

www.mormonnewsroom.org/2014yearinreview/index.html -Here are some things the Church has done this year.

It's amazing how much we do in a year. I believe we have a year as long as we do so that we can mark our achievements, our failures, the things we need to change, the things that didn't work out, the people that changed our lives, and the heartache we've felt. This new year is a restart. A restart of trying new ways of living a better life. I mean thats why were all here to have trial and error trial and error. We are to become celestial beings. Worthy beings to live with our God again. We are striving to be perfect. But we cannot in this life. The mark of a new year is one that I'm sure everyone holds deep in their hearts. People make goals and new plans for the new year but lets be honest here: Have any of those goals really worked in making your life better or happier???? Maybe for the first few months but not the whole year. This year I don't have any goals or hopes or dreams. This year it isn't about me. And I feel like there comes a point in the year that people say this to themselves. They say "Hey that goal I made in the beginning of the year what happened to it?" It disappeared because we see the happier and better things that lie in our lives. We realize that spending time with family, helping a friend through a hard time, or deciding to serve the Lord is much greater than losing 10 pounds or going to the gym everyday. We miss the point sometimes of a new year. It's a new year to learn from what happened last year and make this year better. 

I can tell you that I've changed since last January. I am much more happier than I was. Because were I am right now is the happiest time in my life. And it's because I learned from trial and error. My life wasn't great. I wasn't in a good place. The days I only thought about myself and my schooling and my grades and my social life the more I was unhappy. When I started to think about my friends my family and lastly my Savior in Heaven I knew what I needed. The life I lived was too selfish for me. I've never been happier to serve others. I don't have to worry about me. Others is what helps me get up at 6am every morning. I love it! This is what life is about. And everyday I'm serving others I'm becoming a better me. I'm changed for the better. I'm so thankful for the opportunity I have to serve the Lord.

Love yah! Sincerely, XiaoSong JieMei  Sister Komatsu

Happy New Year !!! From Kelsie

NEW YEARS, FAMILY & FRIENDS!

It's almost 2015! WOW, how time flies!

 So much happened this pasted week! It was Christmas! Christmas was amazing! I don't know where to start or what to tell you about!

Monday 22th: Cleaned the Temple. Cleaned the crystals from the Celestial Room's Chandelier. Spiritually uplifting!

23th: Presiding Bishop of the Church: Bishop Gray E. Stevens spoke @ Devotional

24th: Christmas Eve. An ordinary work day. Stayed up pretty late.
 25th: CHRISTMAS DAY! Elder Russell M. Nelson spoke @ our Christmas Devotional (yeah!) Called Home! Ate a lot of Candy. Opened our presents. Had Fun. Had a Talent Show. Watched a Movie. 

26th: Another ordinary missionary work day.

Sat  227: Another looooong ordinary missionary work day.

Sunday: Gave my Sacrament Talk in CHINESE! Sunday Night Devotional with Brother Richard Elliot & David Archuleta!!!! (YEAH!)

The best week ever actually!!

So for those that don't want to read everything you can pick what day you want to hear about the most & read it! ;)

The highlighted ones are my favs!!

Last week monday was our P-Day or Preparation Day. Just a day set aside for us to prepare for the new week ahead. My last email I talked about cleaning the Temple that Monday. I didn't expect it to be as great as it was!! I had the opportunity of cleaning the Provo Temple. We sister got to clean the crystals from the Celestial Room's Chandelier. It was an amazing spiritual experience. I love the Temple with all my heart. I love all it's symbolism that it has! The HUGE Chandelier was brought to the ground where we could easily and carefully take each strand of crystal off. My sisters in my zone said that it was the greatest Christmas tree they ever lit. It really was the great Christmas tree I've ever had the opportunity to make.

Then we had Tuesday Night Devotional. Bishop Stevens spoke. He said something really powerful to us missionaries. He said, "You are the Master gift givers, representing the Divine gift giver." We young missionaries all have been taught the Gospel of Christ and have personally studied it out. We are truly master of the fullness of the gospel. Yes, we missionaries are only 20 years old from America but we all have something special to give to the world. It is our own testimony and witness of Christ. 

Wednesday was an ordinary day. We were all excited about Christmas though. It was really was Christmas in our hearts. Some sisters & I stayed up late and ate Chips & salsa.

Then Thursday was Christmas!!! We had no classes, which was the best part of all of it. The morning started off with the a Christmas Devotional! The MTC keeps real quite about who is speaking for Devotionals. This time I had no idea who was speaking until He came out while we were singing. It was Elder Russell M. Nelson! Whenever one of the Twelve Apostles or the Prophet walks into the room we all stand. My zone & I sat in the first few rows just to have the best seats. It was the best Christmas ever!! Elder Nelson talked about so much. He is so knowledgeable. He's talk was about the Doctrines of Christ. Something I've been longing to hear about. 

The Doctrines(s) of Christ

1. The Godhead
2. The Plan of Salvation
3. The Atonement of Jesus Christ
4. The Earthly dispensations
5. Prophets & Revelation
6. Priesthood Keys
7. Ordinances & Covenants 
8. Marriage & Family
9. The Commandments

My favorite is the Plan of Salvation & The Atonement of Christ.

Then around 4 I had the chance to call my Family!! I wish I could have called everyone that knew! It was so great to hear from my family. Just to know that they support and think about me really made Christmas Christmas. Love you all!

Friday & Saturday were rough days for me. There are only 4 more weeks left. Actually I have 14 days left here at the MTC until we leave. How scary is that??? With that in mind I am struggling to really learn Chinese. These two days where the hardest I've ever had. But my companions and teachers have been really helpful in supporting and helping me.

Then yesterday was Sunday!!!! IT was soo great!! It started off great. We watch Music and the Spoken Word that's always great. And then we had Relief Society. Then we had sacrament meeting. And every week our whole zone has to prepare a sacrament talk because no one knows who is talking until the our Branch President calls us up to the stand. It's very nerve racking every Sunday. Everyone freaks out. Including me. My Chinese is horrible. My branch President calls on two people. They aren't me. I was out of the woods I thought!! Then we had a rest hymns then our president stood up and said that there was time for one more speaker. He said: "I think I'll call on Sister Komatsu!" My face and little whimper was enough to make everyone laugh. It was only common for them to call on two speakers. It really was scary at first. And probably no one understood me but I felt the Spirit and I believed in what I was saying so I have good feelings. Then we had Sunday Night Devotional. We again didn't know who it was. Our Elder came running in our class before devotional tells us that David Archuleta was speaking! It so amazing!! I love that kid. I felt like I've grown up with him. LOL

Anyways I've got to go!!!

Love you all and a Happy New YEARS!!!!!

Favorite scripture:  Ether 12:27 

Sincerely yours, Sister Komatsu