Adjusting to a new area :)

I can't believe how fast time goes by!  I've decided that on a mission the days are long but the years are short.  I celebrated my year mark with a box of easy mac that Angie sent me when I was in the MTC (Mission Training Center) :)  Don't worry it had only expired the week before :)!  It was a nice taste of America for my one year old "Mission B-day".  

This week in Kurume was an adventure.  I finally got my bike fixed and I am starting to get a hang of things.  I did tell Oi Shimai (Sister Oi) that if she ever did leave me stranded somewhere I didn't think I would be able to make it back to the apartment.  I think the thought was tempting her :)  so if I don't email next week you know what's happened to me!  I love working with Oi Shimai (Sister Oi).  Heavenly Father has really taken care of me.  I think he knew I would be upset about leaving Okinawa so he gave me Oi Shimai instead.  We have been having a blast!  This area is HARD.  We had MLC (mission leadership council) week with all the APs (Assistants to the Mission President), zone leaders and Sister Training Leaders and our mission president this week.  It was really, really good.  We learned our Kaicho's (mission president) vision for this transfer and what we can implement in our zone training meeting and during junkai's (splits).  I also got to see all the zone leaders and sister training leaders (like Sister Lewis my Mission Training Center companion and the Okinawa elders and lots of other people) which was fun.  But Kaicho let it slip that Kurume is a hard area.   He knew it was hard!  I usually really like that guy, but at that moment I just wanted to cry.  So we really stepped it up this week.  I like TEACHING.  And in order to do that you need to find investigators so we've been working so hard.  An average amount of contacts in our area ( if you really try hard and meet the standards) is 120.  We did 340.  I am exhausted, but it paid off and we found four new investigators.  We're still starting from ground zero and there is a possibility that these people won't pan out but I'm really hopeful and I keep telling Heavenly Father that we are desperate and we will talk to ANYONE that is within our vision so just send those kinjin (golden investigators) our way and we'll find them!  

This week we have zone training meeting (I'm a little freaked out to train the zone).  They are all such AWESOME missionaries) and our first junkai (companion splits) as Sister Training leaders.  

In other ground breaking news, I have officially become Japanese.  I used a squatter toilet for the first time.  I finally became desperate enough.  Lots of the members have a hard time remembering Hawkins Shimai so I told them if I was actually Japanese I would want to be Miyuki Chan and so members have started calling me by my Japanese name :)  

I love my companion, I am learning to love my area, I love the sisters I'm working with and I am so grateful to have this opportunity.

I love you guys!  Have a great week!

Hawkins Shimai

Writing from a very old computer

I　ａｍ　ｉｎ　Ｋｕｒｕｍｅ！　　Ｉ　ｌｏｖｅ　ｉｔ！　　Ｍｙ　ｃｏｍｐａｎｉｏｎ　Ｓｉｓｔｅｒ Ｏｉ　ｉｓ　ｗｏｎｄｅｒｆｕｌ．　　Ｓｈｅ　ｋｅｅｐｓ　ｍｅ　ｌａｕｇｈｉｎｇ．　　Ｉｔ'ｓ　ｂｅｅｎ　ａ　ｇｒｅａｔ　ｗｅｅｋ　ａｎｄ　ａ　ｗｅｔ　ｏｎｅ．　　＿ｒａｉｎｙ　ｓｅａｓｏｎ　ａｓ　ａ　ｍｉｓｓｉｏｎａｒｙ　ｉｓ．．．　ｗｅｔ．　　Ｅｘｔｒｅｍｅｌｙ．　　Ｓｉｎｃｅ　Ｉ　ｇｏｔ　ｔｏ　ｃａｌｌ　ｈｏｍｅ　Ｉ：ｌｌ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｍａｋｅ　ｔｈｉｓ　ａ　ｓｈｏｒｔ　ｅｍａｉｌ　ｂｕｔ　Ｍｏｍ　ｈａｐｐｙ　ｍｏｔｈｅｒｓ　ｄａｙ！　　Ａｎｄ　ｒａｃｈｅｌ　ｈａｐｐｙ　ｂｉｒｔｈｄａｙ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｗｅｅｋ！　　ｈａｖｅ　ｆｕｎ！　　Ａｎｄ　ｇｏｏｄ　ｌｕｃｋ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｙｏｕｒ　ｄｒｉｖｅｒｓ　ｌｉｓｅｎｃｅ！　　：）

Ｉ　ｔｈｏｕｇｈｔ　Ｉｗｏｕｌｄ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｔｅｌｌ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｍｙ　ｌａｓｔ　ｌｅｓｓｏｎ　ｉｎ　Ｏｋｉｎａｗａ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｎｅｗ　ｉｎｖｅｓｔｉｇａｔｏｒｓ　ｗｅ　ｈａｖｅ　ｆｏｕｎｄ　ｉｎ　Ｋｕｒｕｍｅ　ｔｈｕｓ　ｆａｒ．

Ｓｉｓｔｅｒ　Ｗｅｄｅｋｉｎｄ　（Ｉ　ｍｉｓｓ　ｈｅｒ！）　ｌｅｔ　ｕｓ　ｈａｖｅ　ａ　ｂｉｇ　ｌｅｓｓｏｎ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｏｆ　ｏｕｒ　ｉｎｖｅｓｔｉｇａｔｏｒｓ　ａｔ　ｈｅｒ　ｈｏｍｅ．　　Ｗｅ　ｔａｕｇｈｔ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　Ａｔｏｎｅｍｅｎｔ　ｏｆ　ｊｅｓｕｓ　Ｃｈｒｉｓｔ．　　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｎｅａｔ！　　Ｌａｎｇｕａｇｅ　ａｎｄ　ｃｕｌｔｕｒａｌ　ｄｉｆｆｅｒｅｎｃｅｓ　ａｒｅ　ａｌｗａｙｓ　ｂａｒｒｉｅｒｓ　ｓｏ　ｗｅ　ｈａｄ　ｌｏｔｓ　ｏｆ　ｅｘａｍｐｌｅｓ．　　Ｉ　ｓｈａｒｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｅｘｐｅｒｉｅｎｃｅ　ｏｆ　ｍｅ　ｂｒｅａｋｉｎｇ　ｍｙ　ｎｏｓｅ　ａｎｄ　ｈｏｗ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｔｈａｔ　ｈａｐｐｅｎｅｄ　Ｉ　ｎｅｅｄｅｄ　ｍｏｒｅ　ｔｈａｎ　ａ　ｂａｎｄａｉｄ．．．　Ｉ　ｎｅｅｄｅｄ　ａ　ｄｏｃｔｏｒ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｅｘｐｅｒｉｅｎｃｅ．　　Ｔｈｅ　ｓａｍｅ　ｐｒｉｎｃｉｐｌｅ　ａｐｐｌｉｅｓ　ｉｎ　ｏｕｒ　ｌｉｖｅｓ．　　Ｗｅ　ｈａｖｅ　ｐｒｏｂｌｅｍｓ，　ｄｉｆｆｉｃｕｌｔｉｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｐａｉｎｓ　ｉｎ　ｌｉｆｅ　ｔｈａｔ　ｃａｎ：ｔ　ｂｅ　ｈｅａｌｅｄ　ｂｙ　ｏｕｒ　ｏｗｎ　ａｔｔｅｍｐｔ　ｏｆ　ｐｕｔｔｉｎｇ　ａ　ｓｐｉｒｉｔｕａｌ　ｂａｎｄａｉｄ　ｏｎ　ｉｔ．　　Ｗｅ　ｎｅｅｄ　ａ　ｐｈｙｓｉａｎ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈａｔ　ｉｓ　ｏｕｒ　Ｓａｖｉｏｒ．　　Ｗｅ　ｈａｄ　ｌｏｔｓ　ｏｆ　ｇｏｏｄ　ｅｘａｍｐｌｅｓ，　ｖｉｓｕａｌ　ａｉｄｓ　ａｎｄ　Ｓｉｓｔｅｒ　Ｗｅｄｅｋｉｎｄ　ａｎｄ　ｈｅｒ　ｄａｕｇｈｔｅｒ　Ｍｅａｄｏｗ　ｓｈａｒｅｄ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｐｏｗｅｒ　ｔｅｓｔｉｍｏｎｉｅｓ．　　Ｗｅ　ｗａｔｃｈｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｏｆ　ｈｉｍ　ｖｉｄｅｏ　ｏｎ　ｍｏｒｍｏｎ．ｏｒｇ　（ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｉｓ　ｗｏｎｄｅｒｆｕｌ！　　ｌｏｏｋ　ｉｔ　ｕｐ！）　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｎ　Ｉ　ｓｈａｒｅｄ　ｍｙ　ｆｉｎａｌｌｙ　ｔｅｓｔｉｍｏｎｙ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｈｅｓｅ　ｌａｄｉｅｓ　ｔｈａｔ　Ｉ　ｌｏｖｅ　ｓｏ　ｍｕｃｈ．　　Ｉｔ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｋｉｎｄ　ｏｆ　ｈｉｔ　ｍｅ　ａｔ　ｔｈａｔ　ｐｏｉｎｔ　ｔｈａｔ　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｌｅａｖｎｉｎｇ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅｓｅ　ｗｏｎｄｅｒｆｕｌ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　Ｉ　ｈａｄ　ｓｐｅｎｔ　ｓｏ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｗｅｒｅｎ：ｔ　ｇｏｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｂｅ　ａｂｌｅ　ｔｏ　ｃｏｍｅ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｍｅ．　　Ｏｆ　ｃｏｕｒｓｅ　Ｉ　ｓｔａｒｔｅｄ　ｃｒｙｉｎｇ　：）　　ｓｈｏｃｋｅｒ　ｂｕｔ　Ｉ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｆｅｌｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｐｉｒｉｔ．　　Ｉ　ｓｈａｒｅｄ　ｍｙ　ｂａｓｉｃ　ｔｅｓｔｉｍｏｎｙ　ｔｈａｔ　＿Ｇｏｄ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｄｏｅｓ　ｌｉｖｅ．　　Ｔｈａｔ　ｈｅ　ｉｓ　ａｗａｒｅ　ｏｆ　ｕｓ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈａｔ　ｈｅ　ｉｓ　ｉｎｖｏｌｖｅｄ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｄｅｔａｉｌｓ　ｏｆ　ｏｕｒ　ｌｉｖｅｓ．　　Ａｎｄ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　Ａｔｏｎｅｍｅｎｔ　ｏｆ　ｏｕｒ　Ｓａｖｉｏｒ　Ｊｅｓｕｓ　Ｃｈｒｉｓｔ　ｗｅ　ｃａｎ　ｒｅｔｕｒｎ　ｔｏ　ｌｉｖｅ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｈｉｍ　ａｎｄ　ｏｕｒ　ｆａｍｉｌｉｅｓ　ｅｔｅｒｎａｌｌｙ．　　Ｗｅ　ａｌｌ　ｂａｌｌｅｄ　：）　　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｗｏｎｄｅｒｆｕｌ　ｌｅｓｓｏｎ　ｔｏ　ｅｎｄ　ｏｎ　ａｎｄ　Ｉ　ｐｒａｙ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｏｓｅ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｅｖｅｒｙｄａｙ．　　Ｉ　ｍｉｓｓ　ｔｈｅｍ！　　

Ｌａｓｔｌｙ　ｊｕｓｔ　ｔｏ　ｍａｋｅ　ｙｏｕ　ｇｕｙｓ　ｌａｕｇｈ．　　Ｍｙ　ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｉｓ　ｃｏｍｉｎｇ　ａｌｏｎｇ　ｂｕｔ　Ｉ：ｍ　ａｌｓｏ　ａｔｔｅｍｐｔｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｌｅａｒｎ．．．　Ｖｉｅｔａｎｅｓｅ！　　Ｔｈａｔ　ｈａｓ　ｇｏｔ　ｔｏ　ｂｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｈａｒｄｅｓｔ　ｌａｎｇｕａｇｅ　ｉ：ｖｅ　ｅｖｅｒ　ｈｅａｒｄ．　　Ｉ：ｍ　ｈｏｒｒｉｂｌｅ　ａｔ　ｉｔ．　　Ｓｉｓｔｅｒ　Ｏｏｉ　ｉｓ　ｇｒｅａｔ　ａｔ　ｆｉｎｄｉｎｇ　ｉｎｔｅｒｎａｔｉｏｎａｌ　ｉｎｖｅｓｔｉｇａｔｏｒｓ．　　Ｗｅ　ａｒｅ　ｔｅａｃｈｉｎｇ　ｏｎｅ　Ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ　ｍａｎ，　ａｎｄ　ｅｖｅｒｙｏｎｅ　ｅｌｓｅ　ｉｓ　ｅｉｔｈｅｒ　Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ　ｏｒ　Ｖｉｅｔａｎｅｓｅ．　　Ｆｕｉｎ　ｓｔｕｆｆ！　　Ｌｏｔｓ　ｏｆ　ｐｉｃｔｕｒｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｃｏｎｆｕｓｅｄ　ｆａｃｅｓ　ａｓ　ｗｅ　ｓｐｅａｋ　ａ　ｍｉｘ　ｏｆ　ｅｎｇｌｉｓｈ，　ｊａｐａｎｅｓｅ，　ａｎｄ　ｖｉｅｔａｎｅｓｅ．　　Ｐｒａｙ　ｆｏｒ　ｕｓ！　　：）　　

Ｉ　ｌｏｖｅ　ｙｏｕ　ｇｕｙｓ！　　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｓｏ　ＨＡＰＰＹ　ｔｏ　ｂｅ　ａｂｌｅ　ｔｏ　ｈｅａｒ　ｙｏｕ　ａｎｄ　ｋｎｏｗ　ｔｈａｔ　ｙｏｕ　ａｒｅ　ｄｏｉｎｇ　ｗｅｌｌ！　　Ｈａｖｅ　ａ　ｗｏｎｄｅｒｆｕｌ　ｗｅｅｋ！　　

ホキンス姉妹

Look who has transferred to the Main Island of Japan!

Sister Olsen and I ….a last hoorah in Okinawa!

Sister Miller and I in Okinawa

This is my last email from Okinawa.  I am so sad!  I just got my transfer call.  I'm excited, nervous, sad, exhausted and I feel like I'm going to throw up :)  All in one.  Man my poor companion!  I'm trusting in Heavenly Father, but I'm a planner through and through so the fact that I don't know what life's going to hold for the next six weeks is exciting AND a little nerve racking.  This week was an incredible last week in Okinawa. We had a family of five come to church, a single mother, a part-member family we are teaching, and an Eikaiwa (English speaking class) student all come to church. As I got my transfer call today I was sad, but I absolutely have loved my time here in Okinawa. I will step onto the plane knowing I worked hard every single day. I love these people because I have served them. I'll always have part of my heart here in Okinawa.  But I am excited to go to my new area and meet the people there. I am headed to Kurume.  

Kurume is a city of 300,000 people.  It is 30 minutes from Fukuoka :).  Kurume is more than 500 miles from Okinawa

Kurume is in the Nagasaki Zone, but in the Fukuoka Prefecture (a prefecture is an administrative jurisdiction similar to a state or county).  My companion is Sister Oi.  She and I will be the Sister Training Leaders in the area.  I'm kind of freaking out.  But I'll be "faking it 'til I make it" the whole time.  :)  Yippee!  The area is in great hands with Sister Olsen, our investigators are progressing, our teaching pool is expanding and the members have caught the wave. But man I am so jealous that I'll be missing it!  I am grateful I had the wonderful opportunity to play a small part in it. I have loved Okinawa!  I am so blessed.  I didn't shed a single tear until I called Sister Wedekind to tell her the news.  I lost it.  I love that woman!  I love the people here.  There is not a day that goes by that I don't sincerely thank my Heavenly Father that he planted me in the middle of Okinawa :)  It's been a blessing!  It is unusual to stay in one area for 9 months as I have done, so I have had a unique opportunity to really get to know the church members, the area and put down some roots. :) 

This week in review …..really quickly before I start crying :)

We found a new investigator through a member and started teaching her!  We found out a couple lessons later that this cute 80 year old woman had already been baptized... in our church... a year ago :)  Ha ha, that was interesting!  Haruko Shimai is coming back to church though!  A reactivation is just as exciting as a baptism.  (I promise we're not typically this clueless).

We said goodbye to Rhea!  So sad!  We sent the missionaries to her though and I know she's a great, strong girl.  She'll bloom wherever she is planted!  I miss her and I will surely miss visiting the Sisson family so often and teaching in their home.

Often times we spend time explaining to others our missionary rules.  How we can't go in to houses if their wife is not home, etc.  Well the other day I tried to shake a man's hand after giving him a Book of Mormon and he JUMPED back!  He said in broken English,"I can't shake your hand!  You're a woman!" Well, I'm glad someone is looking out for me.

The Williams, our senior missionary couple, left.  I was so sad!  They headed back suddenly to the states for emergency surgery.  I miss them already.  They were like my parents away from home. 

We have tons of wonderful investigators in Okinawa.  I'm sad to leave after seeing the area grow SO much, but I know it's in good hands.  We went out to lunch with one of our friend Emi for her birthday and had a great discussion about church.  She's been coming for the past couple of weeks and she also went to a baptism at the beach and loved it.  We had 3 baptisms in our district this past week which was really neat.

We have a SUPER new investigator.  A member called us last minute and asked us to come over and meet their friend.  We taught the restoration, had a 2 hour discussion about church and she came this Sunday to district conference!  It was one of the most incredible experiences of my missionary life.

I am so blessed.  I can't even describe or quickly write down the miracles that are happening and that have happened this week.  I just gave Kelley, a recent convert, a huge hug goodbye and I lost it.  I bawled!  I love these people.  I have prayed for them everyday for almost a year.  I've given my heart and soul to this and now to say goodbye so suddenly is super hard.  But I am happy.  I am lucky and heaven will be a blast.  It'll be a huge reunion :) 

I love you guys.  Have a great week.  And pray that I don't get COMPLETELY lost in the airport.  Pray hard :)

Hawkins Shimai

Lots of pictures this week!

Flags for Boys Day in Okinawa!

Traditional Okinawan hat!

Sister Kawamura and I

A lesson and cookies!

Jen gave our new member, Kelly, a set of scriptures!  Very cool!

This week was remarkable!  The transfer is almost coming to an end, but I feel like it just started!  I'm about to hit my year mark and I don't know where the time has gone.  I spoke with a missionary who is going home soon and asked her what she was thinking about it.  She replied that she "wishes she would have worked harder..." That broke my heart!  I am determined that I will not do that.  I don't have any regrets about my mission and I don't plan on having any.  I'm excited to work hard (and be obedient) until the moment I'm released.  

Being in the same area for so long has some advantages.  I LOVE these people.  I know them really well.  And since we work so closely with the military it's nice to understand what's going on and who has deployed and who is leaving off island soon.  There are also some downsides though too.  I've been to every spot on this island :)  Hence the pictures I sent from the aquarium was the third time I've been there :).  But I did give Olsen Shimai a pretty good tour.  I'm considering working there after the mission :)  

Sister Olsen and I at the Aquarium!  I am a good tour guide now!

Just like the tourists!

The dolphin was so close I could have touched it!

Sister Olsen, Sister Kawamura and I at the aquarium.

Our zone after missing the bus!

At the Aquarium with the Elders from our zone.

Our investigators are doing really well.  We are constantly working hard to find new investigators, but we have had a terrible time finding people on the streets and while knocking doors.  No one waits two seconds before they "Kekko" us.  But it was extremely exciting that we had a baptism this week!  Rhea was baptized this Saturday and it was a really remarkable experience for her and for all of us that attended.  Rhea came to Japan about three months ago to visit her sister.  Her sister's husband had just deployed so she came to help out with her niece and nephews.  Occasionally she would come to church with her sister.  I asked a member to invite her to Sunday school and Relief Society (women's group at church) and Rhea came.  She loved it!  She said, "You Mormons just explain things so well!" :)  She's so funny.  I asked her if she wanted to learn more about what the church was about and she agreed.  We were able to teach her for the last month and a half and it has been remarkable to watch her learn and grow.  Rhea's sister told me the other day that when she walked by Rhea's room she saw her reading her Book of Mormon!  Rhea really likes church and I LOVE her!  She's an incredible example.  My favorite lesson with Rhea was when we taught her about the gospel of Jesus Christ and invited her to be baptized.  She was so excited to say "Yes!"  After the lesson when she went to go tell her sister they were both so happy that they started to cry.  Pretty soon there was four crying sisters in the room :)  I couldn't help it!  Rhea's baptism went really well.  Afterwards she was just beaming!  She kept saying I'm so happy! I'm so happy!   We are so sad to see her leave soon to go back home, but I really feel like she came to Okinawa to find the gospel.  President Hernandez confirmed her in sacrament meeting and it was one of the neatest blessings I've ever heard.  It specifically told her some really remarkable things, like how as she lives the gospel she will be sealed in the temple with her family, be a light to those around her, be able to play a role in the hastening of the work and that through her Rhea's family and friends will come to learn of the gospel.  Although I am so sad to see her leave Japan, I know that she has a lot of work to do back home :)  

A happy baptism day!

Rhea and her family!

Our other investigators are doing well.  Some of them came to Rhea's baptism and really loved how they felt there.  One of our investigators just left for a short deployment and another investigator just returned!  The military environment sure makes things interesting here.  The members are helping us a lot and making our investigators feel included.  I was sitting in church yesterday and counting my many blessings.  Andrew and Justien are expecting a baby!  They were sitting next to us as we heard another one of our recent converts share her sweet testimony.  This work really is true.  God lives!  He loves us and he knows us.  And through this gospel good people are made better and families are strengthened.  I love it!  I am so blessed :) 

One of our investigators lives on the seawall!

Cleaning the baptismal font.

Our new friend!

I hope you have a great week!  I'm having a blast.  

Love you!

Hawkins Shimai