MTC: Week 2

Ohio Kazoku!

Today, S. Shimai and I started off by writing some letters; so expect some mail soon, family and friends!

Mom- to answer your question... Anybody can e-mail me now; friends included! But I'm really bad at replying to even my best of friends because I like to focus on my family.

So, how has this last week been? Wow, it has been one step shy of crazy all the time. My first kyudosha (investigator) moved away to Tokyo, so we can't teach him anymore. Sad day! But, on the bright-side, we picked up two new investigators. The first of which was rather unexpected. He's very American, speaks Japanese really well, and is acting like he has some interesting psychological problems (schizophrenic!) He has way too much fun acting like our crazy investigator! It keeps us on our toes, and S. Shimai and I have to pray for the Spirit to guide us at all times. The biggest surprise yet was our new investigator that we learned more about on the Fourth of July. We had a brief video introduction so that we could get to know him better... He was T. Sensei!! Our teacher has become our investigator, and our second investigator is also now teaching us sometimes. Both of our teachers are now investigators! A rather strange turn of events, but I can't wait to show them how much they've taught me.... And maybe sing to them again haha.

The MTC is making me so strong! I have been working out every day inbetween everything else, lugging heavy bags of laundry, and am on the top floor of every building that I ever enter somehow. It's great preperation for Japan.

Also, on another funny and slightly sad note... One of my skirts got absolutely destroyed this week! I was stepping down from my bunk-bed and the tan levi skirt that Dad thought would be great for riding bikes with literally ripped like paper. I wasn't doing anything wild to have that happen, and I'm so glad that it ripped now rather than later when I'm actually really active in Japan. It is sadly very ruined, not even ripped along a hem- not that I'd want to risk wearing it again haha! But, one of my roommates is an expert seamstress. I hope it's okay with you, Dad, but I think I'm just going to let her have that skirt for scrap material. Unless you think it can still be returned somehow?

Anyway, it was so great to hear from all of you. To my great surprise, I had 8 full e-mails to respond to! I am so sorry if I don't get around to e-mailing all of you. I never realized how short an hour could be. Thanks for being patient with me! If you have any more specific questions that you'd like to ask me about the MTC, feel free. I'll try to type them into the family/friend e-mail.

I love you all so much and am praying for you every day! Keep me updated and keep smiling :)

Love Always,

Watkins Shimai

Hey all! These are pictures with me and my companion (Sister S!) We're really different from each other, but it's great- we work together with such different perspectives. It's awesome how effective we've been together :) We committed and investigator to work towards baptism next month!