week 33: paradise

- September 24, 2018

pday hiking with my district and English students made for the perfect day!

Evangelista Shimai, Ehlert Choro, Walters Choro, Nishimoto Choro, & Ebert Choro

Suzuna, Tsukushi, & Taiki

こんにちは

I got transferred to the best place in the world! Futenma is fantastic and full of miracles. So here's what happened this week... Wednesday I had my last Eikaiwa in Oita and Setsuko Shimai came to say goodbye. I also said goodbye to Waka Chan and Yoko Shimai and that was so sad. I miss them so much. Then Thursday it was time for transfers and a crazy rainstorm! I came to Okinawa and the first night was Eikaiwa! They do it Thursday's here so I got to teach beginning English with my new companion, Evangelista Shimai. She is from the Philippines and is way cool. We laugh a lot and have so much fun! We gave all the people in our class English names (Suzy, Emily, Tom, Steve, etc) and they loved it! Friday we found our way around a bit and found a new investigator, and had a lot of totsuzen lessons! Saturday there was a super Saturday for the gunjin branch (military branch). So we stopped by real fast to meet some of the relief society members. It was so weird! I understood everything they said! Then Sunday we had the branch first and that was so cool. I understood 100% of all of church! I love church! It was way weird though. I felt like I belonged, but at the same time, I felt way out of place. Today we had the best p-day ever! Some of the eikaiwa students picked us up and we drove up to Nago for a hike! We took a boat to an island and took tons of pics and then hiked a crazy steep mountain with a beautiful view and hung out there for a while! My legs kill but it was so fun! Literally in paradise!

Spiritual keiken: So the first night dendoing here in Futenma, we knocked on a Baptist lady's door. She didn't have interest, but she she loved talking about Christ. So we just talked about Him and it was the strongest spirit I have felt in a while. Even though our faiths were different, we had something in common and that was our love of Christ. It was really cool! I loved talking to her and seeing her faith in Christ. At the end of our discussion, she offered a prayer and it was different than how we typically say prayers, but I could feel her love of Christ.

Funny keiken: So my last day in Oita, we had one last lesson with Waka Chan. After the lesson, I was pretty sad because I love her and was going to miss her. Walking to the church I was getting more and more down, when suddenly I had the begibbers scared out of me! Waka Chan had run up behind us to scare me for one last goodbye. I almost had a heart attack but it was way funny! I was laughing so hard!! It was the perfect way to say goodbye.

New words
やま(yama): mountain
たのしい(tanoshii): fun
あさって(asatte):day after tomorrow

So this transfer I went senior. That was a humbling moment for me because I didn't think I was ready. Heavenly Father really helps us. He gave me the most perfect companion who is so good at Japanese and an area that has so many people willing to help! He knows what is best for us and how to help us grow. I have grown so much in less than a week and its crazy and hard. I love the people here in Futenma so much already and I can't wait for the miracles that will happen.

Love Thompson Shimai

Bits and pieces from family emails:

Transfer day was crazy! It rained so much my bus was delayed for an hour. I was worried I'd miss my flight and have to travel alone, but everything worked out. My bags even made weight at the airport! My bike is still being shipped here.

My companion, Evangelista Shimai, is so nice and so funny!

Futenma is a mix of California, Hawaii, and Japan...it's gorgeous and amazing! And there is so much American stuff here...even an A&W!

The English ward is a branch, but it is the size of a ward. I felt right at home there. It had lots of kids and was loud, just the way I like it!

Our apartment is big, and we can see the ocean from our terrace...it's wonderful!