Seven Year Old Miracles

Konnichiwa Kazoku.
 
As I am sitting here, pondering on life, I realize that in T- one week
from today my brother will be getting married. I never thought it
would happen, and he decided to make it happen while I'm gone. Just my
luck. But anyways, I hope it all goes well. I am glad they got my
present. I guess next week you will be very busy huh? Please don't die
Mom. AND You can do it! You will look really pretty with contacts and
makeup and a nice outfit. I can see it all now. Actually, why isn't
anyone sending me more pictures? I want to see more of their
engagements! I am a woman!! Fill me in you crazies! I better get a
butt load of pictures next week and the week after!!! :) :) :) :) :)
 
I still don't know what the transfers will be. I am betting we will
just stay but I will know by tonight. I guess I will have to let you
know next week.
 
On Tuesday it was BLAZING hot and we were riding back from the church.
We were sweating so bad and I'm sure we looked a sight. But this lady
honked at us and we were like, "who the hey?" We didn't recognize the
car or the lady, but we pulled over next to her car and she was like,
"I'm a member from Futsukaiichi and I want to buy you a drink!" So she
took us into 7-11 and bought us a drink. It was so kind of her. It
made me feel really loved. I want to go home and be like her. I don't
know if I will ever see her or meet her again, but we felt really
blessed. Look for opportunities to give simple acts of service! It's
amazing how small and simple things really bring to pass larger
things. She only bought us a drink but I was deeply grateful and I had
an even greater desire to turn around and do something for someone
else.
 
I had a really sweet experience this week as well. Layton Shimai and I
had the opportunity to go and eat dinner with the Nakazono family. Her
husband works late, so it was just Nakazono Shimai and her kids, but
we got to teach them a lesson. Layton Shimai had a great idea to have
them do a maze. So basically she made this maze and it was really
hard, but when you put a colored sheet over it all you can see is just
one easy path to the end. We talked about how Christ helps us to see
our path more clearly. None of the kids had been baptized, and one of
them, Shizuku, had a friend over. So we talked about baptism and how
when they get baptized it will be really easy to see what is good and
what is bad because Christ will help them. Well, after we were done,
Shiziku (who is seven) looked at us and said, "Can my friend have that
pamphlet?" We had showed them a pamphlet with a picture of Christ on
it. So we gave it too her, and she was like reading through the whole
thing with her friend, and then she runs and gets the Book of Mormon
and was asking her mom for a scripture about baptism and she was
reading it with her friend. It was so sweet. She was baring her own
simple, powerful testimony to her seven year old friend. I felt the
spirit so strongly, and I couldn't believe the faith and love that two
children were showing to one another. Her friend seemed to think it
was a really cool. We can't teach her because we don't have parent
permission, but we felt really blessed to see that miracle. I think it
was one of the most tender moments I have had on my mission. Surely if
a seven year old can show so much faith and invite someone, her own
friend, to be baptized, we can do it too. Every one of us has a role
to play in this amazingly wondrous work. The more I am on my mission
the more I realize you do not need a badge to qualify you to do this
work. Each one of us can extend that hand of love to our friends and
neighbors, this is Gods work. He can perform miracles, we just have to
be willing to see them.
 
We had someone come to church this week too! We had invited this old
man to the BBQ a few weeks ago, and he came but he didn't stay and we
ran into him again and invited him to church and he came! It was
awesome. We gave him a Book of Mormon and he seemed fine with the idea
of having us teach him so we are excited to see where that goes. We
also had our investigator text us and tell us she has been reading the
Book of Mormon and feels that it is true! We challenged her to write
down her feelings when she reads and prays and she said she is excited
to meet with us tomorrow! We can't wait!!!!
 
Well in honor of the wedding,
 
WHEN I GROW UP AND GET MARRIED, IM LIVING ALONE! IM LIVING ALONE! IM
LIVING ALONE!
 
I LOVE TECHNOLOGY, BUT NOT AS MUCH AS YOU YOU SEE, BUT I STILL LOVE
TECHNOLOGY ALWAYS AN FOREVER.
 
OUR LOVE IS JUST FLYING BY, OH SO HIGH, LIKE A KITE, TIED TO A STAKE.
 
A PILLBUG FOR THE HAPPY COUPLE. MAZZELTOFF.
 
I LOOK LIKE A SNOW BEAST.
 
WE'VE MET BEFORE, I KNOW YOU I WALKED WITH YOU ONCE UPON A DREAM.
 
IN THAT FRILLY SHIRT AND SLACKS?
 
VICH PEEG WIEGHS MORE?
 
AND LAST.......
 
SAVE ME A PIECE OF THAT [CAKE]! SAVE ME A PIECE OF THAT [CAKE] FOR LATER!
 
Can you name all those movies?
 
Well, good luck this week. I love you all!! You are all in my prayers!
 
愛しています
Raines Shimai
 
Sent from my iPad