Needing more room :)

Another baptism!

A school that looks like it is right out of Harry Potter!

Our investigator showed us her baby kittens after we taught a lesson.

I got your package!  Sister Burger dropped it off to me :)  It was like Christmas only Valentine's day themed!  Loved it!  Thanks so much for thinking of me.  All the sisters in my apartment were more than willing to help me eat some of the goodies.  They asked for me to tell you thank you!  I loved the socks by the way!  The bright pink and red hearts are going to look great with my skirts!  :)  And thanks so much for all the tights!  It's been pretty windy here lately so I've been really grateful for the extra layers.  The pictures were great too!  I looked like such a goob when I was 8 years old!  And your wedding pictures made me smile.  I owe you!  Thanks! 

This week had a couple big events.  Yuho Shimai who was baptized a couple of months ago and then moved to mainland called me this week!  I hadn't talked to her in a very long time.  I was thinking about her lots and I always pray for her.  We got to talk on the phone for about 15 minutes.  She is trying to find a job in Okinawa so she can come back!  She also told me that she has been praying and reading the Book of Mormon.  That was so wonderful to hear!  In fact, I almost started crying on the phone.  I love her!  It was so nice to hear she is doing well and that she might even come back soon.  I'll probably still be here :) 

I also got to enter the marine barracks!  That was quite an adventure.  As a sister missionary I guess you're use to being a female minority, but it is nothing like the barracks.  It was like walking into a whole different world.  We were able to see a couple Young Single Adults (term used to describe unmarried 18-30 year olds) and shared a great meal with them.  Although we can't actively proselyte on base, it was interesting to see what the presence of four sister missionaries could do in those circumstances.  We really are completely different from others with our lack of tats, body piercings and swearing.  We had to take our name tags off, but everyone could tell that we were different and we had lots of marines asking us who we were.  The best part of the night though would probably have to of been meeting a couple in the marines.  They were so kind!  They offered us a ride home since it's about a 45 minute bike ride uphill.  We of course accepted because it was freezing and super dark.  Then we realized that we had all 4 of our bikes still there!  They packed all of our bikes (miraculously) into their tiny, boxy, Japanese mini van.  I believe in miracles :)  I'll attach a picture.  It was hilarious. 

We are in the search for a bigger apartment!  Very exciting! 

The Williams helping us check out apartment possibilities!

Needing more space to accommodate more missionaries!

We had one of our incredible investigators come to church yesterday, Sarah.  She is so brave!  She's my same age and in the marines all by herself in the middle of Okinawa!  She has been on the island for a little over a year.  We taught her a lesson during Sunday school and it went great.  We had a wonderful member join us and we all had a great time learning together.  She believes in the Book of Mormon and that the church was restored to the earth after a time when the gospel was removed from the earth because of wickedness (referred to as the dark ages).  She is so bright and really has a lot of faith.  My favorite part about teaching is getting to share simple experiences and testifying of truth.  I figured she must feel lonely being by herself on this island, so I shared my experience of first coming to Japan.  One, I was totally sleep deprived so I wasn't really coherent.  I remember stepping off the plane into a foreign land and a completely different culture.  The word "overwhelmed" doesn't even begin to cover it.  No one spoke my language and they spoke a hundred times faster than my teachers in the Missionary Training Center.  I couldn't read any signs and the humidity was almost unimaginable.  I was hot, sweaty and about as far away from home as I could manage.  I went to use the restroom and the toilet was not a toilet it was a "squatter".  That threw me over the edge.  As I was in the "handicapped" bathroom, I remember closing my eyes and telling Heavenly Father very seriously that I had made a mistake.  I knew He had a sense of humor, but this was not funny.  I remember asking for clarity and peace.  I took a deep breath and I left.  I distinctly remember that day.  And I can remember the peace that slowly came to me little by little throughout that long day.  I know that Heavenly Father is keenly aware of His children.  No matter how small of an island they might be on.  It was such a great experience for me to be able to testify to Sarah that God really does live, and that He speaks and that He listens.   We all left with tears and the spirit was super strong.  I don't know if these 18 months will be the best of my life.  It is hard work!  But I know without a doubt that these 18 months will be the best for my life.  I can't imagine my life without these people and these experiences.   I am learning and growing in my knowledge of people and the Spirit of the Holy Ghost.  And although it is a lot of hard work, I am having a blast! 

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!  Love you!

Hawkins Shimai