A New Building :)

Happy Monday from Okinawa.  Right now I am sitting in our new church building!  It is the nicest building I've ever been in and it has produced many miracles this week!  This Sunday was our first Sunday to meet here.  It was so nice to have a podium, working sound system, space and PEWS!  I think Sister Takei and I have decided to move locations and just set up a tent in the outside courtyard in the middle of the building.  There are 7 bathrooms here.  Seven!  Wow!

Zone conference….the "trio" reunites!  Sister Coles, Sister Capener and I with our new companions!  Notice the nice new gym floor  in our new building :)

My friend for 6 months.  She takes the English class that we teach!  

Sister Takei…."American day"!  I fed her Macaroni and Cheese and smores….what is more American than that? !      

This week was a blast!  Lately I've felt like I've been working extremely hard, trying my best and seeing no results.  My favorite is when we knock on the door and they open it, take one look at us and slam it shut.  It takes all the patience in the world for me not to stick my foot in the door and say something :)  Patience has never been my strong suit!  But this week was INCREDIBLE!  New church, 6 new investigators and a new companion.  It doesn't get better! 

Let me preface this with the well known fact that I am directionally handicapped.  I can't read a map or figure out where I am to save my life.  I'm sure Shayla, my BYU roommate knows this well.  Mom you too.  How many times did I call you to say I was lost... in Manson.  Embarrassing!  Well that shortcoming actually blessed us this week!  As we were biking around helpless, I knocked on a door hoping that this house was the house of a former investigator. Well, turns out it was!  But not the investigator we were searching for though.  A woman answered the door and with one look at us said that her husband would want to talk to us.  She asked us to come back that night and he would be home.  I was a little nervous.  I didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.  But after finding the investigator we were initally seeking we went back and met our mystery investigator.  He had met the missionary a year ago but they both transfered and he hadn't been able to see or meet them again, until now!  It was such a neat miracle.  He excitedly invited us back. 

We also had 3 new investigators come to church and 10 less active members!  We average maybe one investigator a week and one less active.  And for the first time Sister Takei and I were able to go to all 3 branches and wards this Sunday, because with the new building they all met in the same location.  It meant 9 hours of straight church.  I will never complain about just going to just one sacrament meeting again!  :)  It was exciting though to be there. 

Something that I found interesting this week was that most people in Japan have never seen a picture of Jesus Christ or God.  That had never crossed my mind before.  It has been so fun to be able to teach these people that I love.  The Japanese language is becoming less of a burden now and I am beginning to understand more and more.  Finally!  I've still got a long way to go, but I am improving which is a huge relief.  I love serving a mission.  It is one of the most rewarding things that I've ever done.    Being on a mission has really strengthened my testimony that if we are dilligent and keeping the commandments the Lord will place people in our path who are willing to listen. The longer I've been on my mission the more I realize that finding has less to do with our own capabilities and more to do with faith, hard work and preparation.  I love my area, I love my companion (who couldn't isn't she so cute!) and I love being on a mission!.

Have a wonderful week!  Don't worry about me in Japan :) 

Love,

McKenna

P.s.  Sister Takei is going to cut my hair today.  Cross your fingers it all works out :)  Bald is beautiful right?  Haha love you!