Too busy is never a problem for a missionary

What we see on our morning run!

Shrines and ancient temples all over the city

It is transfer week so I am emailing a day later, but I just wanted to tell dad HAPPY FATHERS DAY!  :)  I sent you a card, but I snuck some goodies in it so we`ll see if it makes it all the way to you!  Father`s Day happened to be full of miracles for us.  We were so busy running from appointment to appointment that we ate breakfast at 7, skipped lunch and ate a quick dinner at 8.  But the whole day I was just SO HAPPY!  Being too busy is never a bad problem for a missionary.  

We had three investigators at church!  And one of them was a family!  We had a great discussion with them about the peace and comfort that comes from anchoring our families in God and Jesus Christ.  The mother just smiled the whole time and when we asked her if that was what she wanted for her family she answered with tears YES!  We were able to teach so many lessons as well on Sunday!  At the beginning of the transfer we dropped almost all of our investigators so we have spent a majority of our time finding those who will listen.  Therefore, very few actually sit down lessons.  But Sunday we taught three people with members!  That is a miracle in and of itself in this area.  And in every lesson I really felt like our investigators were progressing and coming closer to their Heavenly Father.  And somehow our joints (the members who helped us teach) were just the PERFECT match for everyone of our investigators!  I have found over and over again that as long as we do everything within our power and work really hard that God really does make up the rest and more.  

We went through a phone this week and called all of our potential investigators and found little success.  Most everyone either hung up on us or said they really didn't have any interest.  I left a message on one phone and Saturday night we had him call back.  We played phone tag several times, but finally were able to speak to him.  I answered the phone (and for me the phone is the hardest thing to understand in a different language so I was a little nervous) I couldn't believe it when I heard him say that he was interested and wanted to meet!  We set up an appointment with him for Sunday and when we went with a member to meet we found out that it was actually a husband and wife!  The wife had a sudden death in the family and her husband was searching for anything that could bring her happiness when we called.  He took it as a sign from God and set up an appointment.  Our cute member that came with us was so wonderful.  She joined the church when her mother passed away and she shared a beautiful testimony about how families can be eternal through Jesus Christ.  

My testimony has really been strengthened this transfer.  I was NOT excited to leave Okinawa.  I was under the impression that I was stuck in a really tough area without much potential.  However, I have learned that Heavenly Father is preparing people in every part of the world.  We found 10 new investigators this week.  TEN!  The average for our mission per week is one.  It was absolutely crazy.  Hard work is essential, but faith is even more so.  We are currently teaching investigators that are Vietnamese, Chinese, Nepalese, Polish, Brazilian, Filipino, and Hispanic.  Fun does not even describe our lessons :)  It is an adventure.  I am learning so, so much.  I am so blessed!  I love what I am doing.  I am so grateful for this opportunity.  

Our friend from Napal

Have a wonderful week!  I love you!

Hawkins Shimai