Haisai!

Hey, sorry I didn't write you last week, here's what happened:
They (office staff) wanted to go to Miyajima again - it was my 5th time (that's what you get for being in the same zone for a year). So we decided to climb (well, the other 3 did, and dragged me with them - again, 3rd time doing the climb), and we got to the top, but because I wanted to finish it quickly, I told them: "we'll go down the opposite way, it's faster." Well, so genius here leads other 3 guys dressed in white shirts and ties (with a 17 year-old Japanese kid we contacted) down this hour long trail. But I got confused because I had never gone DOWN, that way before. Well, after going down a part, which I'm pretty sure wasn't a trail, we came to a road - a regular car road. So we decided to follow it.
After about 30 minutes running down this thing (it was too painful on the knees to walk it normally), we hit a place near the beach - about 3-4 km away from where we originally started. Taking an hour and a half longer than originally planned.
Long story short, didn't get back in time to do e-mail because we had to work that night.
Sorry.
But, these last two weeks have been incredible. We have been seeing so many miracles. We found 3 new investigators this week, and some great PIs. I feel like we're just being taken by the hand, by a loving Father in Heaven, to find His children who are searching for truth and happiness in this life. It's been an incredible faith-building couple of weeks, as our new investigators have progressed and many prayers have been answered.
Our investigator, Haku-san, is doing amazing. We finished lesson 1 and she knows it's true! It was such a powerful lesson. You can see the joy that the Restored Gospel has brought into her life. She wanted her husband to take the lessons so bad, but it had been 3 weeks and we still hadn't met her him. So this last Saturday, we set up to meet her husband the next day, Sunday. We showed, and I was a little nervous, but I knew that it was going to be okay. He warmly welcomed us into their home and after talking for a little bit, we invited him to hear the lessons and he accepted. His wife, with her wonderful faith, prayed at the end, coming to tears, feeling the joy of the Gospel, and having the Holy Ghost, poured from the Heavens, testify to all of us how the Gospel will bless their family. They're coming to Church next week - it's going to be amazing!
On Friday, we had a special experience in finding. For some reason I wasn't feeling all that great, but we had to work, so we did. We visited a PI that kind of gave the cold shoulder, so we decided to do some finding. We were guided to a building, and the first door we knocked was one, Atachi-san. He thought we were cops, so after checking out the window to see if there was a cop car outside (or a "panda", as they lovingly call them here), he came out, and started to talk to us. After introducing ourselves and talking a little about what we do, we told him that we shared a message about the purpose of life. I asked him if he had ever thought about it before. He responded that he had, especially recently, and paused for a second: "You know, it's hot. Why don't you come in." ---> I don't know how to explain this but: THIS NEVER HAPPENS IN JAPAN!!!! (unless they're drunk - which he wasn't)We taught him right there, and he even came with us to an activity we had that night. He became an investigator and we're meeting him again on Thursday.
I don't even know how to explain to you how incredible it is to be used by the Lord to find those prepared people. As an office missionary, we don't get to work as much. But Heavenly Father lovingly uses the little that we can offer and turns it into miracles. That's the real joy of missionary work. Being guided by the Lord, to do His work, and bring happiness to God's children. I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to be here and be part of this incredible work. This is the true Church of Jesus Christ. He lives. He guides this Church. He is the Savior of the world. I know that He shed His won blood for you and me alike, and how eternally grateful I am for His sacrifice. I bear this testimony in His sacred name, Jesus Christ, amen.
In other news, my 6-month odyssey as the Mission Recorder comes to a close as this transfer ends on september 3rd (a week from thursday). I don't know where I'm going to yet, and I won't be able to tell you until the Monday after it happens; just know that I'll be moving to a different area soon. Yep, that's about it. Love you so much. Keep up your faith, and God will make miracles happen. Pray earnestly. Study dilligently. Have faith. 'Til next week.
Love,

Elder Victor M. S. Mourao
Japan Hiroshima Mission