From last week :)

July 20th…

This week on Tuesday I will hit my "one year in Japan" mark.  Crazy!  It's starting to feel like the same weather as when I first got here.  There was a huge typhoon in Okinawa and it made it's way up here to the mainland.  It wasn't anything too major.  Sister Wiliams and I were actually not in our area at the time.  We were on splits with the Nagasaki Sisters when the typhoon started to hit.  So we packed up early to make it back to our own area before the transportation systems started to shut down.  We walked to the train station in torrential down pour and heavy rains while carrying all of our bags and pumpkins, jam, and a bunch of other goodies that we had been gifted from the Nagasaki Sisters.  We got lots of stares.  Nothing could be more embarrassing than ringing out our skirts, shoes, and socks while balancing a pumpkin while on a train.  :)  I may never be allowed back in the country.  

I love my area!  It took me a little bit to get to this point, but we have worked so hard and have served the people that it feels like home.  Williams Shimai and I act like we have been together for 5 transfers instead of just one.  Fun doesn't adequately describe our daily adventures :)  I love the ward as well.  On Sunday our typical chorister was sick so naturally as a Sister Missionary I am a perfect target.  Mom, remember I can't keep a tune right?  Well, it gets worse when I am in front of everyone.  I could NOT lead the music.  It turned into a whole ward event.  I had ten woman and even a handful of men lead all 3 songs with me.  The bishop just chuckled behind me the whole time.  On the plus side, I think that will be the last time I ever have to lead the music.  :)  

Yesterday was really wonderful!  One of our cute Nepalese investigators came to church for the first time!  Hopefully my lack of music leading abilities didn't weaken her testimony at all.  She stayed for Sunday School too.  I am just so HAPPY!  I'm getting letters from recent converts too and they all sound happy, they are going to church and they are reading the Book of Mormon.  I am so grateful!  Saturday we had another really great experience.  We met with one of our Vietnamese investigators and taught her a lesson.  We gave her a church tour and when we opened up the baptismal font she had lots of really great questions like,"Who is the leader of the church?" and "How do people join the church?"  "How can I know if God exists?"  So neat!  The spirit was really strong and when we got to the end of the tour she did not want to leave.  She loved being in the church because of the spirit that was there.  It reminded me that although our massive, beautiful church building in Okinawa was nice (is was wonderful, really) it is not necessary for conversion.  The church buildings all have the same spirit in them and that is what really makes it a special place.  

And lastly, all throughout this week I was reminded again and again of how much Heavenly Father loves His children.  As a missionary, I just try to do my best, work hard and hope and pray that Heavenly Father guides us to people who are searching for the gospel and vise versa.  I saw that constantly and consistently this week.  God is real.  He is a living God.  And through Jesus Christ we can come to understand more about who God is and how we can return to live with him.  I love it!  I absolutely love it!  :)

I hope you have a great week!  I love you!  And I am praying for you!

Hawkins Shimai