week 38: we're staying in Okinawa!

- October 29, 2018

こんにちは！

So transfer day... I'm staying and so is Sister Evangelista!
So a little about this crazy fun week! P-day was an aquarium. Afterwards, we met this lady at the church who called us a few weeks ago and wants us to help her teach English. So we met her and went to her house and met one of the students. It was so fun and crazy because we mostly talked about the church and the rules and this lady is so nice and so open to listen! We have another lesson for Saturday!

Tuesday it was really busy. We had District training and right after we had DCS and right after Evangelista Shimai had a mogi (role play) with だん兄弟. Right after we got in a car with a member to have a member lesson and take food to a sister in the ward who has been sick. Then we came home just in time for a little companion study and then rushed off to help at mission prep.

Wednesday we went on base to teach a lesson to a member's daughter. Then we had a lot of time to go visit less actives...none were home so we will try again this week.

Thursday we went out to dendo and found ごや兄弟 . He has some mental issues so we called his wife and hung out with him until she came. Then we had lunch at A&W and did weekly planning. Then had eikaiwa! And 4 new students came! So exciting! We were so happy! So many people have started to come!

Friday I went to the doctors. They think Wednesday I will be done with everything! My rehabilitation has been going good and I'm able to use my arm so much more, and it hurts so much less! Then we tried some shopping dendo. We walked around this street with a lot of shops and talked to people. We went in the shops to promote our eikaiwa to them. One shop owner was so excited! It was really fun too! Then we had a lesson with the Weather family set up, but when we got there, he forgot to tell us he was going on base.

Saturday we got up early to help clean the chapel on base. It's not one we use but it was a service opportunity and it really was fun. The Chaplain was really impressed with us. We also had two Halloween parties! I was dressed up as Winnie the Pooh. It is hard to do a costume as a missionary, but I did my best! So the first one was the Japanese primary! They had a party we just happened to walk into when Evangelista Shimai had another mogi. I stayed and helped with the party. So basically, I played with kids and she mogied. It was super fun! Then later in the evening, the military branch had a chili cook off and party. So we helped out around there and again I just got to play with kids! So much fun!

Sunday was amazing as usual. If you know me, you know that if you want to find me, I'm next to the babies. So even at church I was still near them...Hardest rule ever not holding kids! But its okay! Also, if you have seen "Meet the Mormons 2", the family from Tokyo is Bless 4. The youngest one at the time of the movie was on a mission. Well at church, I met him and his wife! They gave me advice on which singles ward to go to in Tokyo...haha! Then we had an amazing lesson after church! Her name is Kathy and she is is from the Philippines and so prepared! We taught lesson 1 with the elders and I was able to give the First Vision in english and it was one of the most spiritual lessons I have had out here!

Miracle Monday! A member kidnapped us and took us shopping for a crazy sale that was happening. So that was really fun. Then we also had lunch with her and her friend. Then we had FHE and it was super fun. Everyone is really nice and kind...all in the same boat of just trying to figure things out. Then we dendoed and found a new investigator! He said we could come back on Friday! So excited! He was super nice! Miracles happen on Miracle Monday!

New words:
もぎ(mogi): simulation, role play
ふたご(futago): twins
ねだん(nedan): price

I love you all! I know this church is true! I love it so much!

Love Thompson Shimai

Bits and pieces from family emails:

I had FRIES at A&W....bless my soul!

I made pancakes and hashbrowns for us for breakfast, and I totally thought of dad when he makes us hashbrowns on Saturday mornings and of my mom's yummy buttermilk syrup.

We had 18 people in our Eikaiwa class this week!

Evangelista Shimai's birthday is on Halloween so I'm planning some surprises for her...we're even gonna visit the nearby cemetary!

Something that has surprised me about Japan:

How kind everyone is, even when they say no it is really kind. Also how respectful they are, its always way quiet because they don't want to disturb people. It's really amazing how much they respect everyone.

They are way more advanced than I thought. (Technology wise)