Zone Leader Council

 The first Wednesday of the month is Zone Leader Council.  This group is an especially great group of Missionaries.  Gary commented this meeting was the best yet!!

 A Primary from a Military Branch in Okinawa send us 16 Books of Mormon they had earned and written a testimony & pasted a picture in to hand out to the people in the Tohoku area by the missionaries.  The ZLC was discussing how to best use these special books. 

 I had them pose with a book so I can send a thank-you

 and a picture of the missionaries to the Primary children.

 This colorful lunch was Taco Salad.

Our handsome President!



Sunday in Ishinomaki Branch

We went to church in Ishinomaki and upon arriving there we found the Stake President was also visiting the Branch PLUS about 30 YA from Tokyo who had come to Ishinomaki to do service.  It was a full house and nice to see lots of people sitting in Sacrament Meeting.

 Maria (far R)  recently received her Mission Call and her sister.

 Top: Pres Sugawara (Sendai Sk Pres) Elder and Sis. Sakamoto, me, and Maria's sister.

Front: sister from Branch, Maria's mom and Maria.

 Newlyweds of 3 weeks.  He is a brother to Elder Takase in our mission.

 The chapel was full of yellow shirts for Sacrament Meeting.  Bro ??   (over Public Affairs in Japan for the Church) and his wife were called as YSA advisors in their ward in Tokyo several months ago.  He said they only had about 6 attending on Sunday.  They decided to go out and visit personally every YA on the Ward list and found many who were RM's (some had been AP's or Zone Leaders in their missions).  They were able to reactivate this room full of YA which is very impressive.

 The gal on far left just got married to the fellow behind her.  She and her family are from the Fukushima Ward.  She speaks good English and has translated for me a couple of times at church in Fukushima.  The gal in the dress was a convert who came to see her missionary (the girl next to her in blue skirt).  She has been less-active because she couldn't find a ride to church.  The Stake President took her name and will contact her Bishop in Izumi Ward to help her get active again.

I recognized Asala Wickramaarachchige from Facebook.  His wife does translating for the Mission President's Seminar and is a good friend.  He joined the church in Sri Lanka and a really nice guy.

NEIGHBORHOOD MATSURI

 Our annual neighborhood Matsuri was fun again this year.  It is held in a community park around the corner from our house and there were several hundred people who attended.  Gary wore his ukata that Sister Furukawa gave him last year.  We asked that the missionaries attend so we could be good neighbors and build trust with those living around us.

A hat dance done by the mature ladies of the neighborhood.

This group of children from the Elementary school performed a song.

 Looked like a primary program.

5th and 6th Graders performing.

Cute little girls in traditional summer Ukatas.

All ages were represented.

A popular food to buy was a slightly salted cucumber on a stick. 

Cutie-patooties

A swing band of 4th-6th graders and they were quite fabulous.

  Many High School jazz band aren't as good as they were. 

At the end of the evening was the circle traditional dances done mostly by the older women.  A few men join in and some little girls try to do it but the young moms and mid-aged folks don't know it at all and don't even try.  I fear the tradition will die out after the older generation is gone.  Gary had looked forward to trying the dance so he and the AP's joined in.  I have a video of them dancing that I can't upload to this BLOG.  They were quite impressive and all the little old ladies were liberal with their compliments and appreciation of them trying to learn the dance afterwards. 

Odate Building Dedicatiion

After many years of meeting in a small church in Odate that was pretty run down and old and in a poor location, Gary and Pres. Domon was able to convince PBO that they needed a new building to meet in.   The second floor of a 5 story office building was found in a perfect location near the bus stop and it needed just a minimal amount of remodeling.  Finally the day came for the Odate Branch (10-12 active members) moved into the new chapel.  About 3 weeks later, they held an Open House for the community to come and see the new church.  Big framed posters about the church were sent to display from PBO (Presiding Bishop's Office in Tokyo).  The Mission sent a letter to every Ward in the country of Japan announcing the new building and the Open House so that former missionaries would know about it. (hoping some might come).  We announced it on our Mission Facebook Group and on the Sendai Mission website.  We tried to make it a BIG DEAL because it was one. 

 Gary arranged to do some Specialized Training on Saturday morning in Odate for all missionaries in the mission who had ever served in Odate. (An excuse to get them all attending the festivities)  Pres Domon did the training which was very good.

 Sister Domon prepared a wonderful lunch for the missionaries after the training.  Then all the missionaries dendo-ed all afternoon~contacting neighbors in the area to drop by the open house and contacting old investigators.

 Getting the posters displayed in the Chapel area.

 Front of the Chapel. (Electric Piano, podium, sacrament table.)

 All set up and ready for the Open House.

Saturday evening was a Branch talent show. I didn't get a picture but I took video of each participant but I can't upload them to this Blog for which I am very sad. 

 

 Elder Dowdy doing his entertaining magic tricks-a real crowd pleaser.

 He is also talented on the flute!

 Elder Tanaka and Kendal are masters at the rubics cube. They are amazing!

 Elder Takei and Taylor sang a hymn.

 Elder Merkley and his investigator, Sugawara San, sang a song together.

Member of the Branch who loves to do karioki.

 Sunday was a special day for the Branch and Pres. Domon. 2 former Branch Presidents attended and spoke in Sacrament Meeting plus 4 of the missionaries bore testimony. A letter was read from the very first missionary who opened Odate in 1974. He also sent a picture of himself as a missionary and him now. Others sent letters of congratulations and even one person sent flowers. Then it was Gary's turn to speak and give the Dedicatory Prayer. He wrote the prayer in advance and had Pres. Yoshida translate it. Gary read a few sentences and Pres. Domon repeated them in Japanese. He was trilled to be able to do that and it was a tender time for the whole congregation. Sacrament Meeting was 2 hours long so they dispensed with the other meetings. This picture was taken after Sacrament Meeting. Many members came from other branches in the District to support. It was thrilling to see so many members attend the Odate Branch.

Gary, 2 former Odate Branch Presidents, Pres. Domon,

2 members of current District Presidency, former District President.

 Gary and President Domon

 Pot luck lunch after Sacrament Meeting for everyone.



6 Missionaries Going Home

 Front:  Sister Maki and Yoshida, Pres & Sis Rasmussen

Back: Elders Page, Cannon, Ruefenacht & Holbrook.

 The group including the AP's, Elder Takei and Dowdy.

 Elder Page needed to go home 6 months early because of a painful back problem that could not be treated in Japan.  (We hope it can be treated in the US but the church doctors didn't sound hopeful)

 Elder Ruefenacht

 Elder Cannon

Elder Holbrook was our first Assistant!!

 Sister Yoshida

 Sister Maki

 After the Testimony meeting, it was Sukiyaki Dinner time.  A fun meal.

 The next morning at breakfast before leaving for the Eki. 

No one sleeps well and they are a bundle of nerves.

 Sis Maki's mother and brother came to pick her  up. 

We were about to depart for the Eki.

 At the Eki.  We will miss this group of faithful missionaries.