Small World!

Sister Black (served in Japan, but was on her way home) and ran into Mary Merrill in the Seattle airport.

Small world!  I can't believe that Mary Merrill ran into Sister Black at the Airport!  What are the odds?  I love the picture you sent me mom.  She was my sister training leader and she trained my trainer, Sister Capener (trainers are missionaries who are experienced and trusted to help and teach brand new missionaries with the local customs, language and work day habits).  In mission terms that makes her my mission grandma :)  I'm glad she made it back safe and sound!

This week was a miracle week.  It really, really was!  We found a wonderful new investigator (this is a term that we missionaries use to describe people who are not members of the church and are unfamiliar with the teachings of the LDS church but they want to learn about the doctrine), our other investigator got baptized and on a unrelated topic, I got our "Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarf".  :)  I'll fill you in... but first something funny.

I really don't like "housing" (term missionaries use for knocking on doors to find people who might be interested in learning about the church).  It's not super effective because people have the option to not open their door and they're really good at closing the door quickly.  But last night we decided since it was a Sunday and lots of families were home that we would "house" a huge apartment complex.  After the first 10 doors (when we would introduce ourselves people would "Kekko" us and shut the door)  I was fed up.  I hate the answer "no".  So I thought I would change things up a little bit.  The next door we knocked on a woman in her mid 40s opened.  I just started up a conversation... in English.  She was totally taken back and had no idea what to say.  Her eyes got really big and SHE KEPT THE DOOR OPEN!  :)  I switched to Japanese and explained what we were doing here and she listened!  We tried the new approach over the next couple floors and it worked.  It was a fun, entertaining night.  We found two new investigators. 

Oh!  I forgot to mention.  We got transfer calls!  I'm staying in Okinawa and so is Sister Capener.  We are still companions!  We work really well together and we were excited to stay together.  I was really grateful I didn't get transferred because apparently up north, on the mainland, it is freezing and I don't have a coat (yet)!  It is still about 75 degrees here everyday AND the new church building will be completed soon here in Okinawa!  All very exciting!

Our investigator got baptized!  He will be the last person to be baptized in the East China Sea, because the new church building will be finished soon. 

It was a beautiful service.  The weather was perfect and I wore my lucky scarf!  My best friends and I are all serving missions around the world so to stay connected we send around a scarf.  I got the package just in time to wear it to the baptism! 

Sister Capener, Justien and I (I am wearing the "traveling scarf" :)

We are so excited for our investigator and for our best friend, his wife!  We can't wait to see them get sealed in the temple (they're planning on next December!).  A sealing is a marriage performed by proper priesthood authority from Jesus Christ, as talked about in the Bible in Mathew 16:19, that enables a couple to get married for "Time and Eternity" instead of just until death.

Lastly, we had a lesson with our wonderful investigator Sumiko San this week and it was really powerful.  We just taught the basics: about God and prayer.  Sumiko could not understand why God would still love her even though she is imperfect.  It had never really crossed my mind.  I just have a really strong testimony that God lives and that not only does he love us but he knows us by name.  I asked Sumiko about her family and her kids.  I asked if they ever made mistakes.  She replied that of course they do.  Then I asked her if she still loved them even though they are not perfect.  It helped her understand that God loves his children just like she loved her children.  We read a scripture in the Book of Mormon about how God knows all his children and he created them.  She read that scripture and tears started to roll down her face.  She never knew she had a loving Heavenly Father who knew her.  It was such an incredible experience!

I tied my companions (Sister Coles) luggage on the back of my bike so that we could take it to the church for transfers.

This week was a miracle.  I love serving the people of Japan.  I love them!  They are my brothers and sisters.    I hope you guys have a wonderful week!  Have a great Thanksgiving!  Eat lots! Everything is going well in Okinawa Japan!

love, 

Sister Hawkins