Another happy week!

McKenna in the largest cave in Japan!

A trip to the cave on Preparation Day!

Fun Fact: In Japan they have Doritos in every flavor.  We just tried "spicy sausage" Doritos.  Weird! 

This week was really fun!  I have never been so happy!  I'm just always looking for ways to share the gospel and it's a blast.  The weather is cooling down here!  I called in to the weather station on the Kadena Air Force base the other day and the high was only 85!  It's a miracle.  We don't sweat as much as we use to, which is so nice. 

We had a great lesson with our investigator Siyuri.  Her daughter was baptized about a year ago and she's been taking the lessons since then.  In our lessons this week we asked her lots of questions.  We just wanted to help her understand for herself how living the gospel blesses lives.  We asked her if she had seen any blessings from the life of her daughter.  And during our lesson she turned to us and said, "I'm ready to be baptized."  I was shocked.  Missionaries have asked her for a year plus, but I guess it just wasn't her time yet.  She loves to learn about the Holy Ghost so it has been neat to share experiences with her from the Book of Mormon and the Bible about how the Holy Ghost is a guide and protector.  I'm really excited for her!

We found a fun slide on Preparation Day!

The slide

This week was really neat because we found three super, new investigators!  Not only did we find 3 really promising investigators, we found them in one day!  One of our new investigators is Vicky. Vicky is young marine, a single mother and has a very strong love for Christianity. She goes to her church often, participates in Bible study, takes her son to Bible vacation study and loves the Bible. We had a great conversation with her about God and our purpose on this earth. Our beliefs are essentially the same. After several minutes of getting to know her and letting her know what our purpose in Japan was I felt really strongly that I needed to tie in the restoration. I've been reading Preach My Gospel constantly to really work on what I would say if I ran into this situation. So I said a little silent prayer and told her exactly what it says in the medium lesson for lesson 1. When I shared our invitation to her to add to the truths she already treasures and explained that God had again called a prophet today, just like in times of old, and there was evidence of this proof found in a book called the Book of Mormon, she looked right at us and asked if we had one on us and how much it cost. I was shocked! We felt the spirit so strongly and she did as well. It was a great experience and she committed to read the introduction. Preach My Gospel is an inspired teaching manual. I love being a missionary! 

Bike Adventures!

Is that American food? :)

Sisters in my zone.

The Flake Family

It's been a wonderful week!  I love serving the people of Okinawa.  

Love you family!  Have a great :)

Love, 
Sister Hawkins!

Getting the hang of it :)

Doing service!

Taco Bell for the first time in 6 months ...after our service!

YUM!

Mom to answer some of your questions:

1.  My bag is working fine, but I think we're going with Elder and Sister Williams sometime this week to grab a backpack.  I like my purse, but anytime I go to church I have tons of Sunday School books that I bring with me (2 sets really, English and Japanese) so I'm breaking down and getting a backpack.  I looked at the local stores here to grab one, but I don't know if a sponge bob or hello kitty backpack is acceptable :)  Oh and I grabbed a waterproof basket cover for my bike at the dollar store here.  I'm going to miss that place when I go back home!

2.  Mom my rain suit is fine.  The rain isn't cold here so it's kind of like going outside to take a shower.  Plus I think the massive rip on my pants is kind of cute.  Fashion statement.  Just kidding, Mom, I'll grab a real one sometime soon. 

3.  Mom, I'm glad you got your birthday card.  Sorry it was like 3 weeks early :)  Oops!  Being on a mission is kind of a time warp anyway.  I just didn't want to miss it!  Sister Watanabe taught me how to make sticky rice, so I'll teach you in a year and a half.  By the way, the chopstick diet is very real.  Ask every new missionary when they first get here.  :)

4.  I don't really need an electronic translator.  At least not yet.  Plus the one's here are made for Japanese people so all the directions and buttons are in Japanese.  It's not a good sign when you need a translator to help you figure out how to use your translator.  I'm good for now.

5.  The only thing I might need in the package is a skirt or two that are super stretchy, a thing of normal toothpaste (the toothpaste here tastes so gross!  A mix of fish and mint, yummy :) and some deodorant Japanese don't sweat I guess :) and besides that I think I'm OK.  Thanks for thinking of me!

This week in Japan...

I never thought I'd say this, but I think Sister Capener and I are starting to get a hang of things.  I've probably just jinxed myself but I think our Japanese is improving and since we're both been in this area for at least a transfer we know what our investigators needs are!  We've been able to hit the ground running and it's been a blast.  I did have one embarrassing moment:  Sister Watanabe sent me her "San A" card which we can use at the grocery stores here.  I didn't know what benefits you got from using the card so I decided to ask the lady who was checking us out at the market.  I didn't know the correct words, but I figured that I'd just go for it and she would figure it out.  Well, I think I've been a missionary for a little too long because I asked her, "if you use a "San A" card what blessings can you receive from it?"  :) 

The Church has missionary training videos.  It shows a typical day of a missionary and we watch them every once in a while to learn.  In the videos, the sister missionaries come home every night with there hair perfectly done and the makeup still on their face (the perks of a car mission).  Sister Capener and I were comparing our lives to the missionaries on the video the other day and we ended up in tears we were laughing so hard.  After biking up our huge hill to get home we basically crawl up the 4 flights of stairs to get to our apartment.  Then we turn every fan in the apartment on and talk to each other in between huge gasps for air (can you tell we usually cut it close to curfew :)  I am absolutely exhausted at the end of every day, but I honestly have never had this much fun in my entire life.  This work is joyous!  It's hard, super tiring and people say "no" often, but you manage to not only survive but thrive.  You learn a lot about yourself too.  I love being a missionary! 

This week one of our American investigators pcs'd.  They were relocated back to the states.  It was hard to see her go!  It's amazing how much you grow to love the people you teach and serve.  She was kind of stressed out about having to pack up so quickly to get out of their house so the elders, Sister and Elder Williams and Sister Capener and I helped out for a couple of hours.  We gave her a children's Book of Mormon for her family.  We wrote our testimonies down and as we left her house for the night I had the thought that Japan wasn't the place for her to accept the gospel but what we did was plant a strong seed. 

I loved watching the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint General Conference!  There is no better place to watch it than on your mission.  Sister Capener and I even watched the Priesthood session because we didn't have a ride back from Futenma.   Our recent convert Yuho had the chance to come to all the sessions.  Talking to her afterwards about her experience helped me see conference in a whole new light.  She was so impressed by the spirit that she felt and she kept saying, "I love the prophet!"  These leaders that we listen to really are called of God.  They help us navigate our lives in a way that will bring us happiness and peace.  It is such a blessing to have the technology that we do so that all of God's children no matter where they live or what language they speak have the same opportunity to hear the messages of peace, comfort and warning from our loving Heavenly Father. 

This week we had a great opportunity to meet with a woman and her family who have been inactive for a long time.  The mother has been inactive for over a decade and they have three beautiful kids.  We were able to teach a great family home evening and afterwards talk to the parents.  During our lesson we talked a lot about the blessings of the gospel and the strength that comes from church activity, reading our scriptures and praying.  The mother was so open with us.  She explained that when she was growing up she did not realize the blessings that came from being an active member of this church.  However, as a mother she has had to battle life's challenges on her own without as much of the Lord's guidance that she could have had if she had been doing what she was suppose to.  I shared a story from one of our pamphlets about tithing about a young man who asked his widowed mother why when they were so poor she payed tithing?  Her mother answered, "I cannot raise you children without the Lord's promise that He will bless us."  As we follow the commandments of God and do our best to do what He asks we have His promise that he will bless us and guide us.  Happiness comes from following the commandments of God.  They committed to coming to church!  

Last but not least.  My friend Willy, who went to high school with me, passed away this past week.  It was really hard to hear this sad news, especially when it feels like just yesterday that he and I were sitting next to each other in Mr. Bovingdon's English class.  I've studied every morning about the Plan of Salvation and I have felt so much peace.  I know that this gospel is true.  It blesses the lives of the living and of the dead.  Willy will have the chance to learn about this gospel and I will be able to see him again.  I know that God lives and that our loving Heavenly Father has a plan.  That is so comforting to know. 

I love you guys!  I hope you have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Hawkins

My Sister Trainers!

Elders in our zone.

The beach!

"Blown away!"

A nice lady on the street gave us flowers!

Being a little goofy! :)

A Halloween treat!

I haven't gotten to watch any of General Conference (Worldwide Church Broadcast) yet, because it takes a week to translate it in to Japanese and it's kind of at an awkward time here in Japan since we're a day ahead of the United States.  Guess what Sister Capener and I did?  We made mini lasagnas!  It was actually pretty yummy.  We did it as we were calling people and were stuck inside because of the typhoon that hit our area.  

My dollar store rainsuit :)

Bringing my bike upstairs because of the typhoon

Typhoon Hair!

And as for my week... IT WAS AWESOME!  (Again :)  I'm tempted just to send a bunch of pictures because I can't adequately describe how cool this week was......Yuho was baptized,  I got to call Sister Watanabe, we had a typhoon, etc.  But I'll try...

Yuho got baptized! It was an incredible day! It was fast Sunday and Yuho had the opportunity to fast. I was a little nervous about how she would react but she not only fasted, she loved it! I had fasted that she would have a spiritual day and spiritual experiences during church and her baptism.  During Sacrament Meeting, I noticed that she had felt the spirit and was crying. When I asked her if she was OK her reply was "I am just so happy!" I love her! We were excited for the actual baptism that night.  After Yuho had arrived at the church and gotten dressed we went upstairs to the chapel. I hadn't noticed how many people had come to the church for her baptismal service. We had over 60 people there and all the chairs were filled! It was an incredible show of support for Yuho. I think it really helped that we had so many different people join us when we taught Yuho. She got to meet lots of members of the ward (congregation) and hear their testimonies and the members really genuinely cared about her as they got to know her.  It was super!

Me, Yuho, and Sister Capener

Yuho and me!

Sister Aiko on the left....she helped so much, fellowshipping Yuho!

Me, Sister Aiko, and Sister Capener

The blonds take Okinawa!

Her baptism was originally scheduled for Saturday, but we had a typhoon and everyone was asked to stay inside so we had to reschedule for the next day, Sunday.  And because of the typhoon the day before we had called all our less active church members, investigators, and potential investigators and invited them to the baptism. We had investigators come and even a potential investigator with lots of "potential" :). It was so exciting! One of the most memorable parts of the entire night though was talking to Brother Chinen.  Brother Chinen was the member who first introduced us to Yuho. He was the one who helped start this miracle! I thanked him for being such a good example and missionary and as he started to talk to us he began to cry. He was just overwhelmed and so happy. He already called us yesterday with another referral. I think he has really caught hold of the missionary spirit. I love Okinawa! Great things are happening here. We're working really hard.

We had to get special permission from our mission president to have her confirmed on the same day as she was baptized.  On top of an already wonderful day, I got a phone call from Elder Yamanashi saying he had a favor to ask.  He wanted to know if I could call Sister Watanabe and tell her that our investigator Yuho got baptized. He had received special permission from her zone leaders. Oh my goodness!  Of course!  I got to call my "mission mom" :)  I love her!  And have missed her!  I got to fill her in on Yuho, learning how to work the phone and washing machine without her help, and she told me all about her area, companion and that she is leaving this Friday to go back home to Kyoto.  It was so neat to be able to call her!  I owe Elder Yamanashi!

One last note... I found this great quote in the Liahona magazine.  I had been thinking how on earth Yuho got baptized.  Our lessons were not polished or anywhere near perfect.  Our best efforts were weak at best but somehow (it's a miracle and of course Heavenly Father played a main part) it all worked out.  Here is the quote!  "What we actually say and do may feel a little awkward or not very polished... But the Savior takes our words and our actions and He carries them through His spirit unto the hearts of the people.  He takes our sincere, but imperfect effort and turns it into something that is just right, indeed, into something that is perfect."  I know that this work is true. Or else all these 18 and 19 year old kids would have messed things up a long time ago!  Heavenly Father knows us and he is involved in the details of our lives.  I love being a missionary!  Have a super week!

Love!

Sister Hawkins

Our district at our last meeting!

Sister Wedekind took us to lunch on our Preparation Day and then for a ferris wheel ride!  She is so kind and a great example!  I love her!

He provides a way!

Sister Wedekind was so nice!   She took us to get our toenails done on our Preparation Day, because we had helped her at her house!

Quote of the day :)
Me: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" 
Marshall (4 years old): "Wolverine!  And then I'm going to be Batman and look I've even got a cape..... but FIRST I'm going to be a missionary!"

Missionaries are on the same level as wolverine.  I love life :) 

Our Sister Training Leaders

Sister Coles from the Missionary Training Center

Sister Capener and I with the Williamses....I love them!

Sister Capener's "old" district

I was extremely overwhelmed and nervous when this transfer started.  I'm not fluent and I'm a young inexperienced missionary.  I didn't want my inability to teach or testify hurt our investigators or their testimonies.  However, I've really learned this transfer that Heavenly Father doesn't set us up to fail.  He really has a plan.  And this transfer His plan was to stick two blonds together in the middle of Okinawa and see what miracles happened despite our weaknesses.  Next week is transfers.  It will break my heart if I have to leave.  I have served these people with everything thing that I have and I've really grown to love them.

We had been trying all week to meet with an investigator, Takizawa San.  Except every time we knocked on her door no one was home.  We stopped by at least 3 times and she never answered.  I was getting worried and I didn't know how to help her if we couldn't meet with her.  Well, the other day we were biking up our hill to get home when we stopped at our cross walk and waited for the cars to pass to get to the other side.  We kept waiting and waiting.  I turned around and caught the eye of a lady.  I thought about going to talk to her, but I was starving and super sweaty and just wanted to go home (that sounds like me right :).  But Heavenly Father was really determined that I talk to her, I guess, because car after car prevented us from crossing the road.  So I turned around to Sister Capener and asked her if we could talk to the lady.  We biked over and I started talking to her.  She said no and not only did she say no she wasn't very nice about it.  So I pedaled back over to the cross walk defeated and then I looked up.  I saw Takizawa San's kids!  So I yelled across the street and they excitedly waved back at us.  We were able to cross and as I started talking with the kids their mom came over the hill too.  Our "mini miracle".  We were able to share a great message with her and make another appointment.  I know if I hadn't talked to that "not so nice" woman I would have missed that great opportunity.  Luckily Heavenly Father is patient with us!  

Sister Capener, Myself, Yuho, Sister Chinen, and Sister Kina

This week was just down right incredible!  Yuho's baptismal date is October 5th.  I was super nervous about asking her to be baptized and I wasn't going to do it.  I really wanted to wait until she had more exposure to members and had a stronger testimony and real desire.  I wasn't going to ask her to be baptized, but I shared a scripture with her and she opened up her own Book of Mormon to look at, as I read (really slowly) in Japanese and I noticed her Book of Mormon.  It was marked up like she had had it for 20 years, not a couple weeks.  I shared the scripture and then asked her about her Book of Mormon.  She said she really likes it.  She carries it with her everywhere.  I looked at it and she has lots of verses marked and even some questions written down by others.  We talked about the questions and I asked her if she believed the Book of Mormon was the word of God.  She said yes!  She shared a beautiful simple testimony of how when she reads it she feels peace.  And when she reads the Book of Mormon she is happier.  I was beaming!  I am so proud of her because she really wants to find the truth.  She wasn't convinced about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, but slowly by reading it and through prayer I think her testimony is growing.  She is such a great example to me!  After that conversation Sister Black and I (we were on "splits"-our usual companionship traded for a day to get exposure to other missionaries and other areas) invited her to be baptized.  She agreed!  She said she had been thinking a lot about it since our last lesson and she thought it was the right step.  She's getting baptized this Saturday!  I'm freaking out.  We're trying to meet with her everyday, but I'm so happy for her.  I can really see the difference the gospel has made in her life.  She loves coming to church, because she can feel the spirit.  

Ai Shite Imasu!

Hawkins Shimai