Every week on the mission brings a new adventure, but this week has to top it all.  This letter is going to be a little short, we are taking the bullet train to Nagasaki to do some splits (exchanging missionary companionships) with the sisters over there so we have to make the train (riding it totally takes me back to Harry Potter with all the kids in their uniforms).  

We weren't making progress with most of our investigators in the area so after praying about it we dropped almost all of our investigators this week (except for Chuondad so keep praying for him please!).  It was a sad time for us.  This area is crazy and so, so hard!  It's never fun starting from ground zero.  But we were able to see huge miracles.  Wednesday we went on splits with the other sisters in Kurume.  I had a blast!  Messer Shimai (Sister Messer) became my companion (she is so cute, looks like Clancy!  She's SO tall!)  and we had a blast.  We were able to find a new investigator for them and learn lots of new ways to share the gospel.  

Tuesday I had my first experience with... Japanese hospitals!  For the last two weeks I have been super sick.  Coughing all through the night.  I had a high fever and I finally gave up and with lots of prompting from Oi Shimai (Sister Oi) I called the mission nurse and she recommended that I go immediately to the hospital.  I had a high enough fever that they quarantined me to my own little room with a mask.  So embarrassing!  Oi Shimai and I got to know each other too well waiting in that tiny room.  They don't know what I have, but it was a fun (and totally scary) adventure in the Japanese hospital.  

Thursday we had zone training meeting in Nagasaki.  We had a two hour train ride and Oi Shimai and I delivered our first training.  It was totally nerve racking!  

Friday and Saturday were basically our only days to work, but we worked so hard!  We were able to find 4 new investigators!  That has never happened on my mission!  I felt so blessed.  One of the girls we met came to the church and had a lesson with us.  She said she was really interested!  I am so grateful.  In "Preach My Gospel" it says that Heavenly Father will lead you to prepared people and he will lead prepared people to you and I have really seen that this week!  I am so grateful to have this opportunity to serve a mission.  Especially this week being really sick, I am grateful for the opportunity I have to just WORK.  Have a great week!
Sorry I can't figure out how to turn this :)  After planning at night for the next day, exhaustion set in !

Hawkins Shimai