May 15, 2016

Remember how last week I said we had been getting rejected a lot and didn't have any investigators? Well the heavens opened this week! We made so many return appointments and met so many incredible people. Last week Monday we went to dinner with an incredible less active and as we were walking off base there was a marine that we had seen and talked to for a little bit a couple weeks ago. I had been thinking about him a few times and really felt that he was interested in the gospel. Turns out the less active knew him and right there on the spot we set up an appointment to meet with him for dinner! It was incredible! So we had dinner and a little message with him this week and are planning for dinner again tomorrow. It was such miraculous timing being with Colton, the less active, and then running into Hammond, the other marine, as we were leaving base. I'm so thankful for the Lords timing! 

Naoko San came to church yesterday! It was a little rough though because it was stake conference and the video feed from the church in Tokyo was rough and we couldn't hear very well, but we hope she will come again next week. 

Last week we were streeting and met Mio chan. She's 17 and sweet as can be. We set up a return appointment with her in front of a convenient store and she actually showed up! (Normally those kind of return appointments are pretty sketchy but she pulled through!) We shared a video with her and just got to know her and it was so nice. We asked her if she would like to meet again  and learn more about this gospel and before we could even finish asking her she said 'yes!' I love her so much already. She's so mature and responsible and just absorbs everything we teach her. She's such a tender mercy. 

We have another investigator but we aren't sure if it's a guy or girl, so stay tuned on that one and pray that we can discreetly figure it out. Oh and we met a lady from Idaho yesterday and she's incredible. She's so humble and kind and asked if we could come back and see her again- you betcha we can! Stay tuned for more on her next week. 

In the beginning of Preach My Gospel it says 'More happiness awaits you than you have ever experienced as you labor among His children.' I felt that this week. The joy of missionary work is indescribable. It's the most pure, selfless joy. I'm really just always in awe at the things we do and experiences we have being missionaries. We get assigned a random person to spend every second with and to go out and rides bikes in skirts and tacky white helmets in sun and rain storms in a foreign country in an area that we don't know and stop everyone we pass and try to get just a second of their time to tell them about Christ and happiness. There's truly nothing like it and I love it! Even the tiny, little, slightly ghetto apartment we live in that permanently smells like feet and must. I think these memories will always hold a special place in my heart. 

As always, all my love, Sundell Shimai

Those flowers are just in a random little pot next to a vending machine- life in Japan isn't too bad. 

Our district and incredible rm ward mission leader. And the world greatest kinako ice cream

Luczak Shimai and I got matching shirts that encapsulates missionary work in three words.