3rd Week In!

こんにちわ家族と友達!　お元気ですか？

 

Konnichiwa kazoku to tomodachi! Ogenki desuka?

Wow, what a week it has been! U. Shimai and I are keeping ourselves pretty busy! I`ve lost like ten or fifteen pounds from all the bike riding, and I am loving every minute of it! This work has been making me so much stronger, mentally, physically, spiritually. Kobe, Japan is the happiest place on Earth- even when the little kids laugh at the crazy American lady riding a bike in a dress haha :) Sometimes people will roll down their windows and yell `HERRO!!` to me, it is awesome. Some people look at me like I am their worst nightmare come to life which is also funny. Every sign here has English on it, but they seem sooo surprised when ever U. Shimai and I pull over and talk to them. Anyway, I have a million stories about how people react to seeing me on the street alone. Some of them are truly interesting... Like when we were passing by a few drunk young men, I was really glad that I was on a fast bike haha. Anyway!

 

Right now we have 6 `progressing investigators` e.g. people who follow up on commitments and we have a return appointment set up with them. They are the strongest people I have ever met. The opposition and odds are so against them in every way, but they keep fighting. There are some pretty intense stories. But like I said, our investigators are all wonderful, nice, and happy people. They struggle a lot, and like us they rely on the Lord every minute.

Time really has flown again today! Today a lot of our time was shaved off because of an awesome typhoon. Japan storms are absolutely insane, It shattered our glass door in front of our apartment building and the lamps were hanging by electric chords in our entry way. The weather here is amazingly strong, and it is truly awesome! Seriously, Utah only sprinkles even when it pours.

 

I love you all, and once again, I wish that I had the time to respond to every single person. I want to begin writing more letters again, so if you have time please write me. I have a lot more writing time than e-mailing time. Thank you all so much!

Ai!

 

 Watkins Shimai