When it rains it pours!

I forgot about Day Light Savings.  Japan doesn't have Day Light Savings.  Which I am extremely grateful for!  I am running short on sleep anyway. :)  I think it might be a tender mercy  :)  

I always pray for my companions.  Even before I meet them.  I usually ask that they are hard workers.  I can't imagine how miserable it would be as a missionary if you couldn't work hard.  But my wish list typically consists of native and nice.  But from now on I'm going to add good cook to that list.  Takei Shimai is an incredible chef.  I'll certainly miss her if we transfer! 

This week has been so hectic.  I've had a blast.  I'm always the happiest when I'm sharing the gospel and working hard.  We were super blessed though to go with Sister Nielsen for a fun preparation day today.  We visited castle ruins, went to the beach and tried lots of interesting Okinawan food.  It was an absolute blast.  I love her! 

I am so blessed to serve in Okinawa.  It's an extremely unique environment.  I feel like I'm getting to work on a lot of different skills since we work so closely with the military.  I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father shipped me half way across the world to meet such incredible people.  In a weird way, it feels like my home is here and I am just so happy!  With our move to a different area we have had a fun time housing and finding lots of new investigators.  

We just entered the rainy season here and when it rains it pours!  We were knocking on doors and yelling at people because the rain was so loud.  I remember a lot of thunderstorms in Dallas when we lived there, but I don't think it can compare to Okinawa.  It makes riding a bike a whole new adventure.  I get home at the end of the day sopping wet even with all my rain gear.  I don't bother putting make up on.  We get a whole other shower when we're outside :) 

In the Missionary handbook "Preach My Gospel" they have a paragraph that I really like.  It talks about how Heavenly Father is constantly guiding His children and that as we work hard and talk to everyone that we will either be lead to those seeking the truth or they will be led to us.  Typically I feel like we're searching for those prepared people, but the other night lots of them came to us. A couple of nights ago my companion and I went with a recently reactivated young single adult into the military barracks.  It's basically like a college dorm except it's 95% men and 5% women.  It was a little intimidating, actually it was totally freaky.  I've been living in my own little missionary bubble for awhile so having people showing us their tats and telling about party experiences was a little foreign for me.  I felt slightly out of place.  Especially when we first got there because there was a crowd of men waiting outside of the door.  When we enter base we have to take off our name tags, but as soon as we walked past the group one of the men said "Hey those are the missionaries!" I was shocked.  That was the last place I expected to be recognized especially without our name tags on.  Seriously!  Turns out that there was a less active member in the group who just guessed that due to our skirts and backpacks that we were Mormon missionaries.  We went upstairs and they all followed.  They had a million questions like who were Mormons, why were we here and what we do on a daily basis.  In what is typically an environment that is totally not conducive with the spirit we were able to sit down and share our simple testimonies and our experiences of why we were on a mission.  It was crazy!  We felt the spirit and some of them came to church.  Heavenly Father really does know His children.  He loves us.  And he places us inexperienced, young, blond missionaries in situations where His children can learn more about Him.  I am so lucky to be here.  I am so grateful!

Look what Sister Miller and I found at the store!

Lastly I wanted to give an update on our wonderful investigator.  She is so incredible!  We taught her the Word of Wisdom this week and asked her again if when she had prayed about baptism she had felt she got an answer.  She still has the desire to get baptised and she has such strong faith!  One of the main reasons I wanted to go on a mission is because of the scripture in Doctrine & Covenants.  It says there are many people who are kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.  I feel like that describes Kelley perfectly.  As soon as she learns about a new commandment or principle of the gospel she prays about it and acts.  She lives the gospel!  When we taught about the Word of Wisdom she decided that she would follow it even though it would mean giving up things in her life that she likes and uses often.  I am so impressed with her.  She is an incredible young woman.  It was music to my ears when at 6 in the morning I got a text message saying she was up and drinking... hot chocolate!  When I followed up with her on Sunday she was sharing her experience with me and even pointed out blessings that she had already received because she was following Heavenly Father's commandments!  She is awesome.  I love her and so does the whole branch.  They've been so welcoming to her, especially our fantastic young women's leaders and girls. 

Lunch with Sister Wedekind!  She is great!

That's this week!  I love you!  I'm praying for you!  Thanks for being such great examples!

Hawkins Shimai