week 61: a temple in Okinawa!!!

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Rededicating Okinawa for missionary work at Toguchi Beach!

こんにちは！

 First of all OKINAWA IS GETTING A TEMPLE! How great is that?! I'm so excited for them. They have been talking about getting a temple for years and lately the fire for it has really been going!  So this week was interesting. Monday we had a zone p-day thing where we ate Yakiniku! It was way fun...sat by Iwasa Choro and got to speak a lot of Japanese. Tuesday we rededicated Okinawa for missionary service.  It was a really spiritual experience. I got super burned and that was way funny. Wednesday we were able to meet with a member to visit Kamiunten Shimai. After that, we had dinner at a member's house. Thursday we were a trio for 24 hrs. Sister Jorgensen went to Fukuoka to go to the temple before she heads home and so sister Perkins joined us for a day. Then Friday we had a lesson with Brother Nishihara. We also weekly planned before we went off to have dinner at a member's house. Saturday we helped clean the church and got kidnapped by a Kadena member for a little adventure and then ended up back at the church for the talent show at the end of the night (the missionary skit was way funny). Sunday was church and Mauldin Shimai wasn't feeling well so a break day as well.

Funny keiken: Okay, we got kidnapped by a member in the Kadena branch. We had been at the church and decided to take a break from studies and walked outside to a vending machine. Alisha drove up and basically was like "get in the car and let's go on an adventure!"  So we grabbed our stuff and told her about this place with a cool story of sacrificing girls to a giant snake and how one girl was saved by a heavenly deity who slew the snake. So we went there to check it out...it was so cool! Then we drove to Hacksaw Ridge which is a huge piece of WW2 history. We learned some of the history and talked to a lot of people there and gave out a Book of Mormon. We even found a tomb that said "Christ" on it...really cool. Kinda funny that we didn't plan it but God always helps us find people in the craziest ways.

Spiritual keiken: This morning we all woke up to Sister Jorgensen freaking out! We found out quickly that it was about the Okinawa temple!! We all freaked out and then members started messaging a group chat also freaking out. Truly amazing! These members have been praying and fasting and working so hard to get a temple. It is their goal and dream. They have been preparing so much to have a temple here and I'm honored to be here when their dream was announced. I can honestly feel their relief and joy that they will finally be able to go to the temple more. And I know so many of the members will return to church because the power of temples is real and powerful.

New words:
すごい(sugoi): amazing, wow
しんでん(shinden): temple
しゅくふく(shukufuku): blessing

These were the first words I thought of today and I'm so thankful I can serve the people on Okinawa. God is building his church in every place. He truly loves us and is aware of everyone. 
Alma 26:37
"Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen."

This is my joy and I'm literally overwhelmed with joy for these people. I challenge you all to go to a temple near you and if it is too far, make plans so you can. The Lord will bless you and your family in miraculous ways. I love you all! 

Love,
Thompson 姉妹

Bits and pieces from family phone calls:
Temple, temple, temple!! We won't actually watch conference until this next weekend when it's translated, but EVERYONE is super excited to have a temple here! Right now, members have to hop on a plane and fly to Fukuoka to attend the temple, so this will be a huge blessing for them!
Deodorant wipes will change your life...for real! Biking in 80 degrees with 70% humidity does crazy things to you, and those wipes save me!
Next week is transfers...I'm down to my final 2...WHAT??
Rice cheeks are a thing...really...just you wait.
I love this place! I've been on Okinawa for almost half of my mission! What a blessing for me.




the choros
Tani, Iwasa, Bentley, Sagane, Hardy, and Murry





when the elders take your camera....









Sister Perkins with dead asleep Sister Jorgensen




2 hours of sitting in the sun giving our own little
"sermon on the mount"
as part of the re-dedication was wonderful for my soul
but not so wonderful for my skin...ouch!



Yakiniku




ward talent show!





our last minute adventure with Alisha!


Here girls used to be sacrificed to a giant snake... Let's go


LOTS of mosquitos living near that lovely water...
11 mosquito bites on one leg!!




Hacksaw Ridge


























so much history on this beautiful island




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