Ai suru mina san,

I felt like it was coming, and everyone called it, but today we got transfer calls and they're tearing me away from Wakayama. </3 Even though it was kind of expected, it was still the saddest news of my life. These people are my family. This is my home. I've seen everyone come, and some go, and millions of miracles in between. Wakayama has really been my furnace of affliction and I don't think I've ever grown so much in my entire life, but also a personally sacred place where I've seen the hand of God and walked with Him. I will come back one day. 

I also got a call from the Mission President this morning and he called me as a Sister Training Leader in the heart of the mission-- Kobe. I'm not entirely sure what that entails either, but I know that I'll have 7 companionships of sisters (including the ones working in TOYOOKA!!!!!) whom I'll be praying over and serving and going on exchanges with and training and loving. We work closely with the mission president and his wife, and we are the way he reaches out to the sisters of the mission. And we'll have a meeting each month with Kaicho (president) and all of the zone leaders and we'll plan how to help the mission move forward. It'll be way weird being in one of the biggest cities in all of Japan after serving in rice fields for my whole mission, but I know the Lord called me there for a reason, and I'm excited to find out what it is! And He has my back. 

My new companion is Japanese. Her name is Takahashi shimai which should mean ''tall bridge'' if my kanji senses tingle correctly. I'm excited to have a nihonjin again and to have the opportunity to serve and work with many sisters in the mission, but also you should know I'm slightly terrified. But mostly just heart-broken to leave Wakayama. It'll be really difficult but the Lord really can do anything. And that'll be evident as He helps me fill my calling and become the missionary and disciple He wants me to be. I'm going to need a lot of help though because I feel like I definitely cannot do this. And I can't by relying just on myself. Which is zen zen daijobu (all okay) because the Lord promises us that as we rely on Him, He will ease our burdens and sustain us and lift us and give us the strength that we need and don't have enough of. And that is one of the reasons why I love Him. 

I know Broadhead shimai will take good care of Wakayama for me. It'll be her last transfer. The sister coming in my place is Derksen shimai who I love with all my heart and I know that everyone will love super quickly. 

Really quickly- some cool things that happened this week: we had some really awesome lessons, especially with a mother and daughter less-active yesterday and the Spirit was super powerful and they also fed us delicious grapes that were the size of golf balls. And they were green. We also had interviews with the Mission President and there are few men in this world who have as much love as that man does for missionaries and the Lord. We found lots of potential investigators and a less- active who I've been searching for for the past 4 transfers appeared at church yesterday so that was a miracle. And she's way cute. 

I love you all!! It's good to hear that the leaves look amazing in Michigan. Please send me pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 Maple trees don't exist in Japan. Especially in the city.

Heavenly Father lives and loves us. Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and the Son of God. They have called a prophet to lead us today!!! And Christ will guide the prophet to help us safely return home to our Heavenly Father. 

Love,

Daniels shimai

p.s. this first one is a picture of us and K san, whose 4 year old son asked her to take him to the flower shop to buy us flowers. <3 MY HEART

#2 is a less active and her son (who just turned 8 and we are teaching). He does japanese-folk story-telling called rakkugo. Which means he sits in seza (sits in a kneeling position) while acting out an old japanese folk tale and wearing a kimono. This is japan!!!!