January 16, 2012

Dear Fam-

My head hurts. We went to the temple today and just barely got back. This will be short.

I just want to tell you one thing. I may have told you before about this. It was when I was in my first area with Sister Asai -- One day, we didn't have time to go outside and talk to people because we had a lot of other things going on. I feel pretty bad on days like that. I'm a missionary! I should need to talk to at least a few people every day. Anyway, we had to go drop something off at a member's house and before we left I said a prayer in my heart. I told Heavenly Father we didn't have time to talk to everyone we saw, but that if there was someone who was ready to hear the gospel, I would try to follow the Spirit and talk to them. We left the apartment and my companion was ahead. As we went along, I kept thinking: I can't talk to everyone, but I also can't talk to no one, I just need to talk to who the Spirit tells me to talk to.

As we rode I was watching all the people who were walking down the sidewalk. I saw a lady and thought to myself, "She looks kind of like my mom." She just looked really nice. I caught up to my companion and told her I wanted to go back and talk to the lady in the black shirt.
We turned around and went, and when we called out to her she said, "I have seen you two around here and I always want to talk to you but you always look so busy talking to everyone else!" We told her who we were and what we do, and she gave us her name, address, phone number, and e-mail address on the spot. She said she was busy for a few weeks because her dad had been operated on, but might be able to come to our English class.

We kept in contact with her after that and met a couple times but pretty soon I was transferred. Every once in a while I heard from other missionaries that she was taking the lessons and doing good. Today at the temple I found out she's getting baptized in two weeks. Even if she weren't getting baptized, meeting her was a miracle.

Yep. That's all. I sure to love you all.

-Waite Shimai

PS- Tell all the ward members thanks so much for all their cards and prayers.

PPS - I almost forgot: Mom, you asked me last week to tell a little about how I chose to go on a mission. Here goes: You called me on a Wednesday night and asked me to pray about it. I said no. You kept asking so I mentioned it in my prayer that night. The next day I couldn't stop thinking about it. I debated a LOT, and talked to you and Dad for a looong time. I didn't want to go, but didn't have a reason not to, and felt really strongly that even though the Lord was leaving it up to me, He also thought it might be a good idea. I kept thinking. Friday or Saturday morning I got up early and read my scriptures and read 1 Cor 2:9. When I read that, I knew that if I went on a mission the Lord would make it worth my time. So here I am. The end