Big Miracles and a trip to Fukuoka

FAMILY AND FRIENDS, 

This week was the craziest week ever. And I spent the whole week wondering what the heck was going on. It was amazing. I don't even know where to start. 

This week we paid some money to the local government to set up shop in a busy part of the city and hand out Eikaiwa (English class) fliers like crazy. We did it all day every day all week. It was crazy successful. We had 15 new students at Eikaiwa on Wednesday. People love Americans. People love English. It was crazy fun- all 8 of us missionaries bringing people closer to Christ through English. 

On the way to the meeting place, one set of elders met K san, the crazy prepared person we set a baptism date with on my birthday. Remember her? She was getting baptized in 3 weeks before some unfortunate things happened. Well, the elders start talking it's her and they end up talking for 30 minutes and she resolves to call us in the evening. 

So we get the call and we were on top of the world. We chat, she wants to meet again and knows that the church is true and has been praying and been reading the scriptures since we last met over a month and a half ago. So we set up an appointment to met with her on Saturday. 

So Saturday comes and we meet with her and she's even more prepared than she was before. She has a solid testimony of God and Jesus Christ and the restoration of the true restored gospel though Joseph Smith. And she told us she know for a fact that this church is the true church and the way back to God and becomes of that she would like to be baptized asap. Our jaws dropped to the floor and proceeded to set a baptism date with her for next Tuesday (she's been to church twice already and has heard half the lessons (and we got special permission from the AP's [assistants to the President of the mission] and stuff as well). It's way fun to teach her becomes she believes with all her heart that we're messengers from God. It makes it really easy to teach, she believes EVERYTHING we say and it's because she has a solid testimony of God. 

Fast forward to Sunday. We went to 10 hours of church meetings. Our ward's meetings were from 8am-1:30pm. Then we went to the other ward (with K san) from 2pm-5pm and scheduled lessons with her for an hour. We got home at 6pm very exhausted but happy. Our ward asked us to move her baptism date to next Sunday after church so more members could attend. We were happy to move it and so was she. AHHH!!!!!!!! 

In Sunday school we learned about the word of wisdom with her [church teaching that encourages healthy eating and prohibits the intake of alcohol, coffee, tea, tobacco, or harmful drugs]. Like every Japanese person out there, she likes drinking her tea. But when she found out that she shouldn't drink it she started apologizing profusely even though she hadn't known about it before. She said that if it's from God, she will do it. It was as simple as that. So cool. 

In other news, on Friday I went up to Fukuoka to see the doctor who helped my back feel way good. We bused there and we went through Chikushino!!!!! [previous area she lived] Once we get to the hospital, we are checking in and a nurse comes up to us and starts chatting with us about dendo and we were a little confused before we realized she was a member. And then I realized what her name was. O. I asked if she was, by chance, related to O shimai [One of Emma's companions who has since finished her mission]. She is!!! They're sister-in-laws! And I gave her a note to give O shimai because she was coming down the next day to go to the temple. It was happy making 😊 

Italian Food!

Anyway, the doctor went really well. He said the problem is the same as before but not as bad. Which is hopeful. I'm going back to see him next week and he thinks after that I'll be good. Happy day! Because of that, we are postponing the decision to go home until after next weeks visit. 

Bear Socks

Speaking of backs, thank you so much to everyone who prayed and/or fasted on my behalf. The power of fasting and prayer is real. For 2 days, I had no back problems- the day everyone in Japan fasted and the day everyone in America fasted. And since then, my back hasn't been acting up. I've been able to get out and teach and dendo. There's less pain. It's a huge miracle. I'm so grateful for everyone's faith. I also know that through everyone's fasting and prayers for a miracle, another unexpected miracle happened. It is not a coincidence that K san was found again the day after all the fasting and prayers. She's getting baptized because of your guys faith in a miracle and I'm so grateful❤️ 

Well, this next week should be exciting. The next pday will be on a Tuesday. Pray for all good things to happen before then (in regards to my back and K san). No matter what happens, it will be an exciting week. Probably full of drama. Lol. Have an AWESOME WEEK!! I love you guys to death. 

Birthday presents from Aunt R!

Love love love,

ベアマン姉妹🏊🏼‍♀️

P.s. side note: I fell off my bike into traffic this week becomes I hit the curb funny but never fear, a Russian guy can to the rescue and saved me. We couldn't really communicate with him but he was way nice. Hooray for angels! 

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