This week was a great week! Lots of first time experiences... I had an experience that I imagine a South American serving missionary might have. Sister Williams and I knocked on a door and a family of four, mom dad, daughter and son (about 8 year old and 2 year old) opened the door. That is pretty neat in and of itself because most apartments have what we call "kekko boxes", a nice black video box where people say "no" so they never have to open the door. This family opens up the door and they are adorable. Philippine mother and Japanese father and these two cute kids. We explained who we were and why we were in Japan and invited them to hear more. They said they would like to hear about God and Jesus Christ. Wow! So that was pretty cool, but it gets better. No one in my entire 16 months has ever let us teach them the same day. They are always too busy so we make a return appointment usually for the next couple of days. So we asked them if we could come back a different day and teach them. They asked us if we could teach them right now and to be honest I wasn't really sure what to say. "You mean right now?" "Yeah is that OK?" Umm.... yes!!!!! Of course! WHAT? I am really happy about it now, but at the moment I was just in shock. Then they invited us INSIDE their HOUSE.....! THEIR HOUSE! We typically teach lessons either at the church or on people's door step. We are invited into someone`s home once out of every 40 times someone actually agrees to listen. I can count on my hands how many times I have gone in to someone's house on the FIRST time we've met them. It was way cool. So we just walked in and TAUGHT A LESSON. Like with an opening prayer and everything. I didn't know what to do. It was great :) They said it was alright if we came back and their little girl said the closing prayer. It was a pretty great night :)
"Otosan" (Dad) our investigator, came to church with his wife this week! My bike was fixed! (Just a minor wreck mom don't worry) And we are having a blast teaching, teaching and doing lots of teaching :) I feel so blessed! I know this message is true. The hope and peace that comes into people's lives as they learn and live the commandments and gospel is real and it is recognizable in the lives of our investigators here in Japan. I love it here! I don't know if I will be able to come home :)
Love you!
Hawkins Shimai
This story totally reminds me of the scene in The Best Two Years, when the investigator says he wants to be baptized and the Elders are surprised :) Hopefully Sister Hawkins will be blessed with a few more of these open-door experiences in her last few weeks.
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