A Change in the Mission Presidency

President Saito was released as a counselor in the Mission Presidency because he and his wife are now called to serve as Service Missionaries in Aizuwakamatsu.   Gary's new counselor is Pres. Kajihara (on RIGHT) and Pres Murakami was retained as the other counselor.

Yamagata Baptism in January

A Baptism was held on January 26 in Yamagata for Brother Hiromi Sato (smiling in center back)  He is a college student and very sharp.  What a wonderful addition to the Ward he will be.   Missionaries serving in Yamagata are: FRONT Sisters George and King, Ward member, Sisters Alcazar and Sakuma.  BACK: Sis and Pres Rasmussen, Elders Simonsen, Cox, Bro Sato, Elders Hatcher and Ito.

Brother Sato investigated the church because he was dating this darling gal who is a wonderful member of the church.  As the relationship got closer, she told him that she would only be married in the Temple and asked him if he would like to be taught the gospel by the missionaries.  He said yes.  She has allowed him to make up his own mind and not influence him.  He was impressed with the church and the members from the first time he entered a church building.  He spoke at his own baptism and explained how he was raised thinking religion was "strange".   He now knows how happy he is because of the Gospel.  His attitude seems to be how most people feel about religion and why it is so hard to find people to teach.  If they only knew what they were missing in their lives!!

Sister Konishi and Sister Alcazar were the missionaries that taught him the gospel.  Sister Konishi was transferred 2 days before his baptism.  President Rasmussen surprised both Sister Konishi and Bro Sato by allowing them to talk on his phone after the baptism. 

Transfers in January

We had 4 missionaries returning home this transfer; Elders Okada, Ohori, & Kim and Hyodo Shimai.  Assistants are in front: Elders Kobayashi and Norawong.

Hyodo Shimai

Ohori Choro

Kim Choro

Okada Choro

Preparing to eat Sukiyaki

 Okada Choro is quite a break dancer.  He taught Kim Choro 

when they lived in the same apartment.

At the airport the next morning with Okada and Ohori Choro.

It is hard to say good-by!!

Kim Choro was flying into Los Angeles from Tokyo~ thus the LA finger signs.

The three Japanese missionaries left on the Shinkansen.  We will miss them all!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only one Shimai arrives in the mission this transfer, Isogai Shimai.  We took her new trainer/companion~ Kirby Shimai~ with us to pick her up since she was the only one to arrive.  The APs and the Senior Office Staff are always so good to go and greet new missionaries.  We surely appreciate them.

Isogi Shimai is from Hyogo, Japan

 and her trainer, Kirby Shimai is from West Virginia.

The next morning after arriving, we fed them breakfast and 

then spent 4 hours giving them training. 

She will be a good missionary. 

We fed them lunch and sent them on their way to 

their new area which was the Kamisugi Ward.

Dinner With Furukawas and Suzuki's at Son's Restaurant

Brother and Sister Furukawa (she is our mission cook) and Brother and Sister Suzuki of the Kamisugi Ward took us to this new restaurant where the Suzuki's son is the owner and chef.  It was a very upscale restaurant with wonderful food.

George Suzuki is uncharacteristicly the "life of the party" kind of fellow.  He keeps a crowd laughing.  Gary always enjoys talking to him.

The owner/son was thrilled we came.  He is less-active and appreciated that so many church members came to enjoy his restaurant.

Eikaiwa Class every Wednesday night

Every Wednesday night all over the mission, Eikaiwa classes are  taught by the English speaking missionaries in every Branch or Ward.  Eikaiwa is English Conversation classes that are offered as a public service for FREE by the missionaries.  Many investigators and baptisms have been found through Eikaiwa.  It is an hour of fun and friendship.  Even if class members don't have an interest in the church, they become friends of the church and have a favorable image of the church from their experiences inside our dedicated buildings.  Missionaries often plan fun and interesting things to do. 

This night, we had to ask questions to a partner to discover who or what was written on the paper on our forehead.

Coming of Age Celebration in Sendai

The year a Young Adult turns 21, they are invited by their Prefecture (in this case Sendai) to a "Coming of Age Ceremony".  The young adults dress in their finest clothing--girls in beautiful Kimono and guys in a suit--and gather in a big auditorium for the ceremony.  Because we register all of our missionaries in Sendai with the Mission Home address, many of our missionaries received invitations in the mail to attend the ceremony.  After thinking about it, President Rasmussen decided it would be a wonderful thing for our missionaries to experience and told those serving locally in Sendai to go and talk to as many people as they could.  These are pictures given to us of that occasion. 

Elder Kobayashi and Elder Akiyama

Elders Poulter, Nation and Whittle.

Sisters Kirby and Orgil and Elders Poulter, E. Anderson and Norawong.

Sisters Sakuma and M. Johnson

Elders Norawong and Poulter

Sister Noonchester

Elders Greenburg, Thayne, E.Anderson, Poulter, and  Sisters Johnson & Sakuma

Elders Thayne and E. Anderson

Elders Nation and Whittle