July12, 2016

Transfer week! Hilke Shimai is dying 'going home' this week so I am getting a new companion, whose name I'm not quite sure how to spell, but this will be her last transfer, so I'll be 'killing' two missionaries in a row! Which also most likely means I'll be here in Iwakuni for four transfers.

Hilke Shimai has fought strong to the end and I can't say enough good about her. She's been such a blessing to me.

Today was wild. We woke up at 5:30 to take an early train to Miyajima again because we wanted to hike to the top of mount Misen. Got there and the hike was absolutely incredible and made me love Japan even more. Then as we were going down we decided to take a different route and literally ended up on the other side of the island in the boonies with no humans in sight. So we just started walking for maybe an hour when a guy drove by and saved us by giving us a ride to the ferry. It was a complete miracle and on top of all that it didn't start raining until we walked into the apartment then it poured. Little, or gigantic, miracles that remind us we are watched over!

This week we were able to set a baptismal date with one of our investigators and it was incredible! We are so excited for her. This week was a little bit of a bummer because a lot of our crazy prepared investigators dropped off the face of the earth, but we are praying to be able to get into contact with them again.

Lots of very exciting changes happening here in Iwakuni! We are getting elders in the area this next transfer, so now there will be six missionaries serving here. We nearly outnumber the ward members at this point with all of them being gone on vacation, but it'll be so good for the ward.

Also, my parents are now officially missionaries! Look how cute! I'm so excited for all their adventures of serving, and I'm thankful we get to be in the field at the same time. Missions are life changing!

All my love, Sundell Shimai

They even took the cheesy Classic MTC pointing picture!

Our beloved Shoumin Chan!