Learning Patience

Practicing my Japanese poses!

Cockroaches….yuck!

This week was interesting :)  The following story pretty much sums up the last 16 months of my life:

• We stopped a girl in her 20s on the street the other day and started talking to her about God.  As we were talking to her, I asked her some questions to get to know her better.  I asked if she was "大学生" (a college student) and she said "no".  Then I asked her if she was "社会人” (a working person) and she said "no".  Those are basically the only two options in Japan so I just looked at her a little dumb founded and she said a word Sister Williams and I both didn't understand and we figured she was talking about a different kind of trade school and her major.  So naturally we did what any 2 missionaries do when they don't perfectly speak the language and we faked it.  Typically we say "WOW" or "you are so smart"!  Luckily this time Williams Shimai (Sister Williams) just spit out an "us too!".  We carried on with the conversation.  We got back home and decided to look up that word... It means "college drop out" or that you "failed to get in to a university".  Luckily we didn't say "wow you are so smart!"  I am guessing she probably wouldn't have made a return appointment with us.  Everyday is an adventure here. 

This week was transfers!  Sister Williams and I got our transfer call.  We are both staying in Kurume for another transfer.  We were both SO excited to hear that.  It has been a blast and we work really well together.  We are excited to have another 6 weeks of fun, craziness and miracles.  

• This week was kind of crazy.  Lots of running around to and from appointments which was absolutely wonderful.  We had a surprising amount of member referrals which was incredible.  It is a little difficult to work here because people do not have a great image of religion.  Out of 150 contacts in a week probably 60 of them are immediate "結構” (rejections).  I am learning patience.  A lot of it!  It is so hard for me to just smile and keep going.  I love this message!  I believe it with my whole heart.  I just want people to feel the same happiness and joy that comes from the knowledge that God lives.  He knows you, loves you and created you.  Through a personal relationship with God, we become better and more at peace with what is going on in the world.  But that is why I love member referrals.  The people we meet already have a good image of the church because of their association with members.  They know we are coming and that gets us inside.  And usually that is all it takes.  We had a member from a different stake call us up with a friend of hers that lives in our area.  We went and visited them and it was incredible!  We shared the message of the restoration and gave her a Book of Mormon.  We were able to come back and follow up a couple of days ago.  She is reading the Book of Mormon and praying for the first time.  The funny thing is that as we were sitting in her living room listening to her tell us how much happiness she feels from the Book of Mormon she stopped, paused and said "thank you" and that she would not have opened her door to us if we had just knocked, but she was so HAPPY that she had this chance to learn about God.  
• Lastly, we are teaching this adorable family.  Mom, dad and three little girls.  I was talking to the mom and asked her why she believed in God.  She quoted scripture unknowingly.  She said with tears in her eyes that her mother had taught her.  I am grateful for strong mothers and fathers that teach their children through word and example. 

Happy September!  I hope you are having a great time at school, work, etc.  I love you!  Have a great week!

Hawkins Shimai