愛する人、こんにちは！

thank you so much for all of the emails and letters and love!!!! (: and thank you thank you for the pictures!!!! i loved them! I especially love the one of the kids with the signs. ELIZA LOOKS SO GROWN UP. and I'm proud to see you all representing Ohio State. I think this might be a good thing, but I completely forgot about March Madness... but thank you for whoever picked a 1 seed and 2 seed for me!!!! wooo!! ahhahaha that's the best drawing I've ever gotten. Sorry bryan that you got a 3 and 4. maybe it's an underdog year?

This week was amazing and beautiful and I can't exactly remember all the reasons why, but I wrote them down in my journal so it's okay. hahahah yesterday was the first time I've ever felt the actual effects of the birthday because my knees were achy. I guess I am two generations old now. but it's nothing to be concerned over-- just the consequences of biking across rice fields for a couple hours each day and sitting hiza (kneeling). hahah but I don't have grey hair yet-- side note: SO MANY KIDS HERE HAVE GREY HAIR. I think it's because they have 6 day weeks of school and a 1 week "summer" break. and no slurpies.

As it turns out, we changed satake san's baptism to next sunday, the 23rd. she was totally ready to be baptized yesterday, but her nephew, the branch president, was on call this past weekend and wanted to be able to be at her baptism/perform her baptism, understandably. ahhaha when we texted him and told him we needed a baptismal record he dropped it off and gave us loads of snacks and delicious juice/soda. I think we were all kinda in awe of what the situation was. but we changed plans so he could be there and I've never felt better about anything in my life. Also!!!! this past week she had lost a very special stamp and remembered that she could pray, so she did!! And right after she prayed she found it!! YESSSSSSSSSS! and she said that because of that experience she knows that God really does exist. YES, SATAKE SAN, YES HE DOES. I feel like a proud parent. Our little Satake san is applying what we've taught her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Last time we met with her she told us she'd believe anything we told her. I wish I could accurately express to you how much I love this woman but I really just don't know how. All I know is that my heart feels more joy than from anything before. like equal to spending time with you all, but still so different. It's the same feeling I felt when Mitch came home from Guatemala and we were all together again. I think it's safe to call it eternal joy-- a taste of what eternal life will feel like. PMG describes it that way so I think I'm accurate on my doctrine.

oh!! so yesterday in church pipers shimai, hutchings choro, hoshino choro and i sang as a quartet.  we sang "Love is spoken here" from the children's songbook-- the first two verses in english and the last verse combined in japanese. IT WAS SO AWESOME and the spirit was so strong and there were so many people at church packed in that little branch. and I just love those people with all my heart. We had one of our PI's, Manami chan, come and her heart was so softened and it was just an awesome sacrament meeting and she was blazing through the gospel doctrines book (which was kinda scary becasue it is so in depth and sometimes confuses people wayy too much wayy too quickly and they give up) but she survived, and she was digging young womens. we had a shoukujikai after church because the murata's are moving to Nishiwaki and Maria shimai is moving to Provo to go to UVU. Which means 6 of my favorite people are leaving me and my heart is going to break but they promised they'll be back for Shoya kun's baptism so it's okay, as long as they keep me in Toyooka. I love this place. The work is moving forward here, it's so insane.

there are like 50000000 more things I want to tell you but I really just don't have the time. thank you so much again for all of the emails and everything!!! jess, make me proud in tennis. tell matt I say hi <3 LIZ I love your bracelet and hello kitty!!!! I show it off to everyone. Spencer,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN A COUPLE OF DAYS!!!!! I sent you a letter in the mail today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sorry it won't get there in time ): but it's on its way! I'll email you back in 6 months. (;

everyone else I love you!

love,

daniels shimai

p.s. this is mako chan with blonde hair

and this is a creepy garden with creepy scarecrows but really heads on stakes. HEART OF DARKNESS