Dear Sister Komatsu,

The Missionary Department has advised me that your visa to Taiwan has been granted.

President David Day Taiwan Taipei Mission

(Bolded and enlarged for dramatic effect!)

WHOOP WHOOP!! TAIWAN HERE I COME!! AHHHHHHHHH!! WOW!

Yesterday, some missionaries and I went to Stake Reporting early in the morning before church. The Stake President and the Mission President, President Packard, were there for the meeting. LOL! President Packard sat down next to me and said that I got my visa and that I'm leaving on the week of April 6th! I was in shock!! > Forwarding a couple days ago my companion, Sister Moss, comes and tells me that she had a dream that I got my visa and she cried! Let's just say it came true and that I was shocked!!

It's a bitter sweet moment! I've come to love Boston and the people here! I'm really really sad to leave! We've been working with this progressing investigator who is awesome! We had a very spiritual lesson yesterday and I really hope he gets baptized and has those spiritual experiences he's looking for! And I've made so many connections with the people in the ward and I love walking around and talking to people in Boston. And it's finally getting warmer and the snow is melting. It's been amazing here and I'm glad to say that the Boston Mission is apart of my whole mission experience - not because I was reassigned and forced to come here but because I learned to serve and love the people. Because I really care and love the missionaries in this mission. I wouldn't have met such wonderful people and done such wonderful things if wasn't here. At the Stake Reporting meeting I bore my testimony in front of the missionaries, the stake and the mission president and said that I am grateful to have stopped here and had the opportunity to learn what I've learned. Elder Ballard said, "Through examining the trends in the missions, we find that it is not the area, it is not the people, and it is not the time of year. Instead it is the attitude of the missionaries and their ability to utilize and apply the talents that they posess. We know that a missionary with a good attitude produces good results; fair attitude, fair results; poor attitude, poor results. The missionary with a good attitude works with the people and not through them."                                                                       

I love this because it's so true. Your attitude or your outlook is the difference between the good and bad, the wrong and right, the "what ifs" and "what happened", and sorrow and joy. I don't know how I literally made it through this snowy winter. I don't know how I walked in knee deep snow to hasten the Lord's work but I'm thankful for the opportunity I had to test my faith and my abilities. I believe I did some good here in Boston. I'm not sure how but I feel like I accomplished and learned so much! I'm thankful for this experience!

Now, it's time to say good-bye to people that I'll never forget and turn my focus on the work and the people in Taiwan. It'll be a hard transition but I have faith in the Lord that He has prepared me and chosen me to move forward in the work in Taiwan. 

Thank you family and friends for support and love! Write me!

Sincerely, Sister Komatsu 小松姐妹

Dear Family & Friends!

ALOOOHA!

This week has been actually a great week! This pasted week was transfer week! And thank goodness I'm not getting transferred and I'm staying with my trainer!!

This new transfer is going to be great! I'm so excited to really start working.

Last week.. actually these pasted two months have been kind of a ruff. The weather has really gotten everyone down. It's been tuff all around. The MBMission has also been in the "slumps". Our goal for January was to have 70 baptisms and I believe we had less than half. It was definitely disheartening but it just means that we've got to work even harder in the month of March!

Last week we had to admit to ourselves that we were both depressed for a while :( Sad but true. My companion and I haven't been very busy with teaching appointments or really anything and it's just been even harder on everyone with the winter being so bad. But I know that's not an excuse!! We talked about how we were depressed because it was snowing/cold, no one wants to meet, and how we never see the sun.  Sister Moss & I were going home and we always walk pass this flower shop and as we were talking about being depressed - we STOPPED & decided we needed flowers in our new apartment! So we bought some!! It was great! (There's a picture)

Another thing is that we moved apartments! Finally! This apartment is smaller but there are two bathrooms and a really nice living area. It's nice and cozy which feels more like a home! We love it! So, there are are four of us together! We get along really well - they're amazing girls and I love them! Sister Meireles is from Brazil and speaks Portguese and is learning to speak english and I'm learning to speak Mandarin! So her and I decided that in our new apartment we would put up labels to better learn our languages. Here's a picture!

Also, our ward just had their Ward Mission Fireside! It was awesome to see how many people loooove being member missionaries! These member missionaries are great people to work with! They really know b/c they were once missionaries!! MEMBER MISSIONARY WORK IS THE BEST!! 

Okay, so the really amazing news is that I'm now in The Digital Mission! And our Mission in the Digital Mission is to find those that need the gospel through the internet! WOW! Technology is such a great thing! This happened all of sudden b/c Sister Moss & I are Sister Training Leaders in our zone and the leaders in every zone in the mission are what they call "extenders" which are missionaries that take 3 hours out of their day to do digital missionary work! So if you saw my post on Facebook - now you know why. I'm not going "apostate" or being disobedient from the rules it's just that I'm a digital missionary! And I'm loving every second of it! This is an amazing opportunity in this day in age. Digital Missionary work is the going to be the future of missionary work! IT's so true! So, our mission is one of those "special" missions that is experimenting this and I'M APART OF IT! Through digital missionary work I can talk and teach people all around the world. I heard a story from the digital missionaries that work there that there was a missionary that found and taught this guy from Scotland and right after his mission flew to scotland and baptized him! How amazing is that?! Wow, things are changing and I'm so happy to be apart of it! 

Well, I did promise that email I'd write less so I apologize! But here a spiritual though before I send this off. This week I fell in love with this verse in Alma 26:27 "Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success." I love this scripture b/s it is through faith and enduring to end that the Lord will grant us success in our goals, our righteous desires, and much more. I love this gospel and I've never been so close to our Heavenly Father. I love missions and everything it offers to others and to us as missionaries. This is an amazing time to be apart of the gospel. I challenges and invite you all to cherish your beliefs and faiths b/c it will led you down paths that many will never have a opportunity to live in. 

I love you all! And I pray for all you everyday! Thank you for all your love and support! 

P.S. Go to bostonmission.org to check out my mission Then click "Photos" and you'll see some pictures of the crazy winter we've had!!

Sincerely, Sister Komatsu

Hey Sorry Family but I made a mistake on telling you my new address.

It's 157 Sixth St. #204 Cambridge, MA 02142

:( If you did send something then you'll either get it back or like my companion she got a letter with the wrong address on it but it still came. LOL

Thanks! And sorry!

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