Week 4 in Okinawa

 Hey

This week was a really good. I had some ups and downs. It's hard to
hear sad news from home, but I am constantly reminded and amazed at
the plan of salvation and Gods plan for us. It was a good week to be
reminded of that and how grateful I am for the atonement. I am so
grateful for our trials. They are so hard and sometimes it seems more
than we can bear, but God is driving us forth to who we are meant to
be. I have so much hope and gratitude because of this gospel. No
matter what happens, because of Jesus Christ, it will be okay.

Monday- we went to Shuri Castle. It was way fun and I'll attach pictures :)

Tuesday- we had district meeting and are starting to put together a
member book. This area is a first, but it doesn't have a member book!
At all. So we don't even know who is in the ward. We also have records
of 600 people in the ward, and definitely not that many come to
church. So lots of less active's to work with, and figuring out who is
who. Usually every area has one.. I don't know where this one went so
we all started from scratch. It's going to be a huge project. Sigh.

Wednesday-we worked some more on the member book and then went over to
a members house for dinner. More on my thoughts of all these members
later, but seriously. Amazing people.

Thursday- was weekly planning, and another member dinner and we took a
taxi to Naha for splits with the STL's. The only way to get over there
is to take a taxi. Super expensive but literally nothing you can do.

Friday- there had been talk that a typhoon was coming on Friday all
week. But nothing happened. Apparently it missed us. We just got down
poured on a couple times. And I got to dendo with Millet Shimai. She
is so cute. I had so much fun with her.

Saturday- we had a full day of dendo!! we went to a house and knocked
on the door, but nobody came out. But there was a cat just hanging out
at the door, and it was just the sweetest so I started playing with it
and picked it up, and was pretending to take it with me to my
companion when the WHOLE FAMILY came out and was like.. Why are you
taking our cat? Haha.. Super awkward, way funny.

Sunday- oh man, Sunday was literally the best this week. I love love
Sunday's here. I go to two wards meaning 6 hours of straight church.
But it's so good. We have this super super old lady in our Japanese
Ward that comes to our gospel principals class. She is easily my
favorite person in this area. She is so sweet and so funny! And she
speaks pretty good English when she wants to. But in gospel principals
class she is the best. I don't know how long she has been a member but
she acts like everything she is hearing is for the first time, and it
amazes her! She's like the perfect audience plant for our
investigators. The teacher will say something and she will ooh and aww
and say "really? That's amazing!" And it's always at the perfect
times. She takes extensive notes and when someone asks a question
she's always nodding and saying, "ooh that's a good question" and will
look at the person who said it and say "good question, good
question.." it makes the information that's being taught so much more
interesting and a hundred times more funny. I love her so much. She
has got to be like 90 years old, and she still loves the gospel so
much. I mean she might have memory loss.. But she knows that it's
important to study the gospel. People like that make me so happy.

Monday- we had interviews with our mission president, which is why
p-day is again on Tuesday. It was way good. I love seeing my mission
president! He's just a good person.
But back to talking about members...
I have mentioned this before.. Like a ton of times. But I love members
so much. Sometimes I'm in awe of how strong and amazing these people
here are. I have been so lucky lately to spend time with so many
different members of our ward, and every time I leave their home I
just think of how I hope my future family is like theirs. It's such a
blessing to have wonderful examples. We went to a members house for
dinner tonight, and we sat in this beautiful home filled with pictures
of the savior, and temples and beautiful gospel music and we discussed
how much the Savior loves us and talking about Him calming the waters.
It honestly felt like a little piece of heaven. I only met these
members just last week, but their home was filled with the spirit,
which was so inviting and full of love- it felt like I was with my
family. The experiences I've been able to have on my mission helps me
have no doubt of the love of God for His children.

Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful week! Thank you for all of your support!

Sister White