Normal days?

I have this vision of missionary work that one day I will wake up and have a normal day.  Normal studies, meeting normal people, having our plans work out perfectly with no sudden surprises or crazy phone calls and without running crazily from appointment to appointment like chickens with our heads cut off... well I haven't had it yet and this week was no different.  But it has been fun! :)  That's for sure.  

Somehow with all our careful planning our Junkai`s (companionship exchanges that we do with other sisters in their areas) almost all ended up landing on this week.  Which meant we were going to be out of our own area for a decent chunk of time.  I love Kurume and I love our investigators so Williams Shimai (Sister Williams) and I were both a little bummed and had no idea how we would be able to fit all of our lessons in.  Our mission is so spread out that the 24 hour Junkai`s we conduct end up being 31 hours for us because of all the traveling and waiting for trains involved.  But somehow, even with all that, this week could not have worked out any better.  It was perfect... craziness :)

• On Wednesday our trains were all delayed because of the downpours and we had to cancel an appointment, but miraculously on our way home we ran into THREE of our investigators just on the street.  We taught them on the street.  Set up a real appointment and then continued on and then we would meet another one!  That has never happened to me before!  It was so neat! 
• We received a referral from a member!  I love those :)  We were able to visit him in between appointments and it all worked out perfectly!  We just taught him again this morning with the same member and he prayed for the first time!  In his prayer he said he was excited to learn more!  Yippee!  
• We were able to time things perfectly to meet with some of our progressing investigators.  We met "mom and dad" (as we call one of our couples)  They are in their 70's and they are adorable.  They were so excited to see us.  "Dad" had kept all of his commitments and is progressing towards baptism.  They were so happy we had come all the way from Sasebo that they made us dinner.  We were starving so we scarfed everything up before asking what it was.  Tofu and liver never tasted so good!  
• We desperately searched for a member to come teaching with us.  Called all the less actives we could too.  We needed someone!  We called a less active and she came to one of our lessons and it was incredible!  She bore her testimony and cried.  She is a young, super cute girl in her 30s.  During church yesterday I felt someone tug my braid behind me and guess who it was... her!  :) We were so happy!

That and so much more happened.  It really was a miracle week.  I am so happy that we are so busy.  I love teaching people and sharing the gospel.  It is so fun.  Williams Shimai and I are loving Kurume.  Never a dull moment.  

I love you guys!  

Have a wonderful week!

Hawkins Shimai