McKenna in Japan!: A bit bumpy :)

Sister Takei and I

Sister Takei and I on the beaches of Okinawa :)

This week has been a little bumpy... literally. We had a pretty big earthquake this morning at 4:00 am. It felt like it lasted a long time. Typically I sleep through anything, especially as a missionary, but I woke up and almost got mad at Sister Takei for shaking my futon, then I realized it was an earthquake. Oops! But things are built so well here there wasn't any damage. All is well in Okinawa! :)

We have been so busy lately! It's a wonderful problem to have. I am so grateful that we have lots of investigators to teach, great members to work with and wonderful missionaries all around us. I have been keenly aware on my mission that people who typically accept the gospel are not always the people I would have thought would have (if that makes any sense). I've learned not to judge a book by its cover and I'm working on being bold. This gospel is a huge blessing for everyone regardless of their circumstances or background. The gospel is just as true for someone extremely wealthy or dirt poor. To quote mom and Dr. Seuss, "A persons a person no matter how small." I ask everyone if they want to hear the gospel and lots of the time we hear "no", but occasionally we hear "yes"! You never know who is ready, willing and waiting. One of our investigators, Sarah, is a high school student and we met her through some of the volunteer service that we do. She is a super bright, fun, sweet girl but I didn't necessarily think she would ever accept the missionary lessons let alone baptism. But we invited her, she accepted and we've been teaching her for a month or two now. She is phenomenal and she loves the spirit she can feel in our church building and with people who are living the gospel. We had a lesson with her recently and she said she prayed about baptism and feels great about it. We set a date! March 22nd! Pray for her! I am so grateful for the opportunity I've had to teach her and get to know her. I always learn more from our investigators than I feel they learn from me. I love them! We are so excited for her!

I've also learned that as a missionary a "reactivation" is just as exciting as a baptism. Finding the lost sheep is hard especially here in Japan when the majority of people are less active, but occasionally we come across someone willing to come back. We've been working a lot with Winter lately. She has two cute boys but her husband is not a member. She's been taking the lessons lately and I can see the change that is taking place inside of her. We always have to be actively engaged in this work. But that doesn't mean that if we do stumble we can't come back. A funny loving lady in sacrament meeting made a statement in sacrament meeting yesterday. She said,"People fall out of Church for the same reason they fall out of bed, they're just not in far enough." A mission has been huge for me. I know that this message is true without a doubt. I have felt it and I have lived it. But I need to make sure that I am continuously working towards becoming becoming better and closer to my Heavenly Father. I love it!

On a couple really happy notes: We moved! Becoming a four man was crazy and we just got a bigger apartment. It took all day to pack up and unload but it was worth it. I am so grateful for wonderful members who are always so willing to help the missionaries. It would have been impossible to do by ourselves. The plus is we have a wonderful new apartment. The downside is that our neighbors have a rooster. Yep! A real live rooster. It's like clock work. He is up at 4:30 every morning. I had always imagined that they just yell once, but ooooohhhhhh no. I was completely wrong. He makes a ruckus from 4:30 on. I'm buying ear plugs today. Between the rooster and the earthquakes (we just had another one about a minute ago too...) I'm going to be one tired missionary.

The excitement of our new apartment

Sister Takei, Me, Sister Miller

Elder Chung's birthday wishes from us

Lastly, Justien and Andrew! I love them. Andrew got baptized a couple months ago and I've known Justien since I got here last summer. I love her. She's like a sister to me. Lately we've both been so busy that we haven't had time to check up on each other. There have been some military cases too that have kept them both busy on Sunday. But the other day I saw Justien and she told me some exciting news! They're expecting! I am so so so so excited for them! I love them both and I can't wait for their new adventure. But what really made my day was when Justien leaned over to me and said, "We still plan on going to the temple." It was music to a missionary's ears. I will move heaven and earth to be in that sealing room. Baptism really isn't our goal as missionaries, it's the temple and having families be sealed for time and all eternity. I can't wait for that blessing to be Andrew and Justien's. When Justien told me that, I felt so much pure JOY. It helped me have just a glimpse of the happiness Heavenly Father must feel for everyone of us every time we decide to make a good choice and follow our Savior and His example. I am so grateful to be in Okinawa. I've thought a lot about why I am here and for this long. But I have felt certain that I am just reconnecting with friends who need this gospel. I am one lucky, lucky missionary. I love you guys! I hope you have an excellent week. I'm thinking about you and praying for you.