All Smiles :)

Sunflowers in Japan

Our mission heard about the deaths of 2 missionaries in Taiwan.  We had a huge crack down on Co2 detectors since then. I'm glad everything worked out for us last time.  It was definitely a huge blessing.  Williams Shimai and I both got a pretty good laugh out of Dad going to home teach the Riggins at the same time as the BYU football game.  That is sketchy.  But we both approved.  Nothing brings the spirit as quickly in to the room as a touchdown.  

This week was incredible.  Really unbelievable.  It was a mixture of a spiritual highs and just downright craziness.  

• We taught so SO SO many lessons this week!  It was a blast.  I love teaching.  So much fun and for the most part the people we teach have no Christian background so they have just as much fun as we do learning about Christ.  In particular we taught Imamura Kun.  He is a 21 year old with lots of spunk.  Probably one of my favorite investigators.  He had a pretty bad car accident and had an experience where he began to believe in God.  He is just so bold.  Every time we teach him something he lives it.  "Well I should probably pray right?" "Well I don't want to just pray once.  Can I pray where ever and whenever I want?  like a lot?"  I love questions like that.  He is a great missionary too.  Every time we teach him he invites his relatives, friends, girlfriend etc to come listen too.  Love it.

• This week was a lot of eating adventures.  All the things we have eaten this week that we shouldn't have:  cow tongue, cow liver, fish eggs, raw eel, green tea (we didn't know!), raw squid, raw octopus, fermented soybeans.

• Got back off the train from District meeting to find out that our bikes were gone.  GONE!  We locked them I promise!  After a half hour of searching we found that they had been moved two football fields away.  The same day we were in the car of our investigator and got in a slight car crash.  It really wasn't that bad but nothing is simple here so it was a fun process of exchanging information with the police and sharing the gospel with our investigator's son.  God works in mysterious ways.  

• Rhea our investigator came to church for the first time!  She was so cute and brought a special baby carrying thingy so that she could walk with her daughter to church.  She loved it and the members were so kind to her.  She asked if she could bring her husband next week.... yes!  

• Probably one of the biggest miracles in my whole mission.... General Conference worthy….We got a referral from a member.  Those are really rare here in Japan and a huge blessing!  Williams Shimai (Sister Williams) and I were super excited.  We went and visited the referral.  A member's older sister.  We had no idea what to expect and it was a miracle in and of itself that we found her home.  We came inside and she sits us down with her husband and she brings out a bag.  It has Books of Mormon, D&C, a Bible and lots of Liahona articles.  She told us that she has read the Book of Mormon 7 times and from how many notes she has in her Book of Mormon, I believed her.  She then got really quiet and said "I don't think you will believe me but... I have read this and it is from God.  I believe it is true."  Wow.  She has never had the lessons from the missionaries.  We are excited to see where it goes. :)

I love you!  I love Japan.  I am so grateful to be here and serving my Japanese brothers and sisters.  I know God lives.  This is absolutely His work and He is involved in it.  It is spreading joy :) and I love it.  I hope you have a great week!  Be safe!

Hawkins Shimai