Konnichiwa!!!! 

Thank you for all of the wonderful emails!!! It's been an amazing week!!! I saw one of the biggest miracles of my entire life yesterday. I'ma tell you it before anything else because MIRACLES DO HAPPEN IN JAPAN!! 

Okay. So. Broadhead shimai and I were welcoming people as they arrived at church yesterday, when all of a sudden a humble, quiet looking woman entered the building. We both kinda shot/leaped/galloped/flew over to her and it might have been too much happiness for a second because she looked a half bit terrified so we did one of those things where you stop flying in the middle of the air and try to calm down but you're way too excited to see someone you've never met who wandered into the church. I pray for these people. But I look back and imagine myself as a japanese woman and seeing two beaming american girls approaching me and I'd probably also be terrified. But we covered it up with some compliments and friendly conversation and tried to figure out where she came from. 

This lady met with missionaries 3 years ago maybe two times. One of them (named Dani-- whose name strikingly resembles my own. Heavenly Father is the best) gave her the address of the church. Three years later something nudged her to come. SO we escorted her to Relief Society where half of the room introduced themselves to her and welcomed her. And then the teacher started her lesson with each person standing up and introducing themselves by saying her name, when she became a member of the church, and why she likes this church. It was a little intense with a few of the members and maybe it's better to avoid problems with the word of wisdom when you talk to people that aren't even investigators yet, but overall it was super amazing to hear 1. a quick conversion story of every member (it's the coolest thing ever when the church is sooooooooooooo young and everyone is a convert) 2. the testimonies and witnesses of 20 people. And then the class was all about the Atonement and a review of Elder Bednar's last conference talk about burdens giving us traction to rely on the Savior.

So then! She went to gospel principles where we learned PRAYER! And a returned missionary of about 3 months taught and it was amazing and each of us 4 missionaries were asked to share our testimony/experience on prayer and it was way powerful. And this lady is soooooo amazing and has so much desire to learn. And then we had sacrament meeting which wasn't super focused on Christ BUT there's nothing like taking the sacrament (except for baptism) but it's okay. The Spirit was there and she had all the intent of the world. I was actually with some other investigators that came, but Broadhead shimai was sitting with this visitor from heaven the whole time. She asked her if she had any questions. And she asked, 'does this church have senrei?' (which is another word for baptism in other denominations here in Japan.) And Broadhead shimai explained to her simply what baptism was. And our friend replies, 'So if I'm baptized I can become a better person?' and since that is one of the many benefits of baptism, Broadhead shimai says 'yes'. And our friend says 'When can I be baptized?' And Broadhead shimai says (since they have to come to church 3 times before they are baptized) 'we'll help you prepare for baptism and you'll need to come to church a few times before you are baptized, but how about October 26th?' And our dearly beloved friend says 'yes' and writes it in her planner. And miracles do not cease until faith ceases. But faith will not cease here in the Japan, Kobe mission. And God is wonderful. And His Son is the Savior of the world. And because of His sacrifice for us, bad men can become good; good men can become better; and we also can live again after we die AND live in the presence of God and with our families FOREVER. And this is my life-- bringing this knowledge to people. 

But lots of other cool things happened this week including our SUPER ROCKING INTERNATIONAL PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was crazy successful and I think if more people came the room would've exploded. SOoooooo many students from our english class came and also lots of less actives came and also we had investigators come and also some street contacts! AND a member invited and brought a family whose children are half congan, half japanese. and a young woman brought her friend. and it was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo fun. The first 20 minutes was just time spent looking at the booths. Broadhead shimai and I were obviously America, one of our zone leaders and our district leader's companion had a super decked-out Brazilian booth, our Bishop's wife and mother-in-law brought many really cool hand-woven crafts for their Philippine booth, and our canadian district leader shared half of a table with the other zone leader who is actually from Sendai, Japan, but pretended like Sendai was its own country. I will definitely send loads of pictures. And then for like 15 minute time crunches we had Maeno choro do some crazy soccer juggling tricks and then taught a big group of kids, and a Philippino dance was performed and then whoever wanted to join was able to. hahaha Bishop's wife tore me away from putting a Justin Bieber temporary tattoo on a little boy's cheek and made me dance on the stage with her. Awkward thing was that I hadn't learned the dance because I was teaching the culture of america. But it was way fun!! Also we brought 10 people up on stage and played chubby bunny. I think our Canadian district leader won with 15 giant marshmellows? Also Sendai was represented by our Zone leader doing magic fushigi ball things. You've probably seen the ''Fushigi ball'' commercial in America? The glass ball floats and is full of magic? I used to judge it super hard and then I saw it in real life and it was honestly super cool. AND! to end the night, the priesthood holders performed the new zealand cultural hakka. Mackenzie shimai taught them the famous one that the All Blacks rugby team performs. it was super awesome. And I think I died. 

Okay-- one last super cool thing. I told you this week was awesome!! Elder Ringwood of the Quorum of the 70 came to our mission and we met with him on Thursday. We all shook his hand to start the meeting, and then throughout his address to us, he inserted individual names. It was way impressive. His remarks were amazing and I learned so much. One thing I wanted to share was one thing he said about 2 witnesses. Missionary work is established by 2 witnesses. When there are 2 witnesses, then people can be astonished. (see the peoples' response after both Alma and Amulek had called them to repentance). Even more important than two witnesses in the mission field are the two witnesses at home-- our parents. Mothers and Fathers are the two witnesses to their children as they teach them that Jesus is the Christ. In the home tomorrow is created; strong testimonies are forged; and broken hearts are healed. Families, under the direction of both the mother and the father, prepare for eternity. 

I love you allllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's so cool that Brady, Sam, Talmadge and Taylor are all returning from their missions. WHATTT. Tell them congratulations and hello for me! Shout-out to Broadhead family!!! I'm impressed that you send your daughter hand-written letters every week. ***Daniels family**********

hahah just kidding, I still love you, family. WITH ALL MY HEART.

Fortify yourselves against Satan please!! Say your prayers, read the scriptures every day! Take the sacrament worthily each week!! Have family home evening each week!!! I love you!!!!!

Love,

Danieruzu shimai