Baptism Week!

Before I talk about what has happened this past week, I would just like to mention that we are having a Baptism this Thursday!!! Her name is Nozomi and she is a wonderful 14 year old girl who's mother has been a member of the church here for probably around 20 years now. However, until now, Nozomi has not expressed interest in getting baptized! Last transfer, Lyles Shimai, Heaton Shimai and I taught her quite a few of the lessons, and then when we got 4 sisters in Nagasaki, we had to split all of the investigators. So even though Nozomi isn't technically our investigator anymore, we are SO HAPPY to still be here in Nagasaki to be a part of her baptism. Her mom has expressed many times that she feels like all of us sisters have been placed in Nagasaki at this very time specifically for Nozomi because she has never before like the sister missionaries very much or gotten along with any of them as well as she gets along with us. Its going to be such a great event! Ok, now that I got to express my excitement about that, I'll talk about this past week. First of all, last Tuesday we had an awesome blast from the past when we all got to go to Zone Conference. It was only with our Nagasaki Zone and the Fukuoka Zone, but I got to see like 7 people from my MTC district including my MTC companion! It was just the craziest thing to see everyone again! Also, at Zone Conference we had a talent show which all four of us Nagasaki sisters decided to participate in. While preparing for our talent, we looked through different arrangements of hymns and primary songs for quite some time before we finally gave up and decided to be human bagpipes. Basically all you do is plug your nose, and make and 'unnhhhhh' sound out of your mouth and then hit your throat with your finger. It was the most hilarious thing I think we've ever done. All four of us walk up on stage after an hour of pretty spiritual songs and talented people, and we just make weird noises of our mouth to the tune of praise to the man. Everyone was cracking up. Including us. It was absolutely ridiculous. But SO much fun :) This past Tuesday, we found a less active record in the area book that we decided to go visit. After finding the location on the map we bike out to the area, to find ourselves riding along side the ocean for a good 20 minutes. I seriously felt like I was on vacation for a while there. It was gorgeous. Have I ever mention how beautiful my area is? If not, NAGASAKI IS BEAUTIFUL! I love it here so much. Plus, now that it's fall, the weather is perfect. Seriously, I'm convinced that the Celestial Kingdom's weather will be something like Nagasaki in the fall. I just can't get enough of it! Another fun event of the week, was Wednesday we came to the church really early before English class because my companion told me that one of the members wanted to meet and talk about the baptism. We arrive at the church and I'm led to the Kitchen where there's a chocolate cake and Nozomi and her mom and the other two Sisters waiting to say 'Happy Birthday!' They totally threw me a surprise party! Plus, they had printed out little pitcures of cats from the internet and taped them all over the room! (All of which are now taped into my journal :)) The best part about it was probably the chocolate cake. It was by far the best chocolate cake I've ever tasted in Japan. It was so happy! Also, that night after English class, our ward mission leader gave me a whole carton of ice cream too for my birthday!!! Have I mentioned that I love the people here so much?! And here is my quick spiritual message. This past week we did a TON of finding because our main progressing investigator was out of town. And let me just say, it can be quite draining to hear people OVER and OVER again say that they don't want to learn about God or that they're too busy. But, yesterday morning during my personal study, I read 3 Nephi 11 and in verses 3-7 it talks about when the people heard the voice of God. The first time they heard it, they didn't understand it. They felt something, but they weren't sure what. They second time, they still didn't understand it. Finally the third time they heard it they opened their ears and realized it was the voice of God and began listening. I realized that so many people are like that as well. Just because they aren't listening to us right now, doesn't mean that they won't learn about our message in the future! No effort is ever wasted and I know that as long as we have hope for all the people we talk to, the Lord will take care of everything. Well, this starting to get a little too long, but I just want to wish everyone a Happy Halloween! I realize it's now a week late, but here in Japan they don't exactly celebrate it so I'm just trying to still feel like an American. I hope everyone is eating plenty of cheese and mexican food for me because those are two things we literally never see. Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes and love! Love Wells Shimai