Elder Halverson comes to the Mission for One Transfer

Elder Halvorsen is the son of a good friend from Tokyo who has his call to California.  His Visa has not come through yet but he will start his mission in Sendai for 1 or 2 transfers.

Elder Halvorsen's trainer will be Elder Miller and they will serve in Niigata.

Elder and Sister Halvorsen brought their son to us from Tokyo.  He has not been to the MTC yet.

They will be a terrific two some.

Sanjo Visit For Church

After church, the branch provided an osoji (potluck).  This little lady came to church

today but has been less-active for years. 

 



The Elders (Wittle and Elkins) found this fellow, Bro Yamatani, outside a liquor store.  He approached the Elders and said he was baptized 40 years ago but hasn't been back since then.  The Elders invited him to church and he came two weeks in a row.  He and Gary "hit it off" and enjoyed visiting with each other.  Gary worked in Sanjo about 40 years ago as a young missionary but they did not know each other.

 



The gal on the left is an investigator who came with her friend, (not in the picture) also an investigator. The gal in the middle is a member.

 



Brother Yamatani and Gary became good friends.

The Jahanas Finish Their Mission

Elder and Sister Jahana have been part of the mission since the first month we arrived in Japan.  We have come to count on them and appreciate their humble willingness to do anything they were asked to do and more.  They have finished their 18 months of service and are now moving to Yokohama to be close to children and grandchildren.

The 4 of us went to Kappa Sushi the night before they left the mission .





The hour before they left, the office was buzzing with last minute
instructions and training and good-bys.













The Jahana's gave their car to Elder Yamada who is in the Bishopric of the Nagamachi Ward but has been called on a "part-time" mission serving the Sendai Mission Office.  The Jahanas are happy their car can still "be on a mission for Sendai".








Sister Kakuda will replace Sister Jahana and Sister Rollins will replace Elder Jahana.





Elder Yamada drove them to the Eki.  We all walked to the corner (in a snow storm) where
their car was parked and waved them "Good-by."


Sister Sugawara (Stake President's Wife) held the umbrella for them to get into their car.
Good-by, Jahanas and THANK YOU!
 

Two Senior Sisters Arrive To Work In The Office

With the Jahana couple finishing their mission, we needed two more senior missionaries to work in the office.  We were thrilled when we learned that we would be sent two senior sisters~both from America and English speakers but one was born and grew up in Japan and speaks Japanese, too. We desperately needed someone who speaks Japanese in the office.  We are thrilled they are here.

 

After picking them up at the airport, we brought them home for some

 soup and bread before sending them to bed.

The Noonchesters and the Jahanas joined us for dinner.  The sisters spent about 3 days with the Jahanas being trained on their duties before the Jahanas left.

Sister Kakuda from California.  She has worked as a CPA

and claims she is a "work-a-holic".

 

Sister Rollins is from SLC.  She is an interior decorator and was Utah's contestant in the Ms. America Pagent (for older women). 

 

Dynamic Duo