Koriyama District Conference in October

 A block up the street from the church is this lovely park.  As we drove by it on our way to the church, it was breath-taking with it's Fall colors.  The reds were deep red and the oranges and yellows were pure and not muted at all.  The pictures don't do it justice.

 These darling little boys were running around ready to fight with their fists.  They are adorable.  Their Grandfather is in the District Presidency.

 After the Sunday morning session of conference, we had lunch with the singles of the District.  As we were eating, Pres. Motsimura came in with his little boy to give us a Halloween bag of candy from him.  They are really good parents who teach this little guy well.

 Everyone brought their own lunch in a bag.

Eikaiwa (English Conversation) Training All Over The Mission

 

Our Area President is a fan of Eikaiwa classes as a gift to our communities all over the mission.  These classes have been taught by every companionship on Wednesday nights since we got here (and before) but the format changed and a new and improved curriculum was rolled out.  Gary asked me to teach every missionary in the mission how to teach Eikaiwa.  It took about a month to get to everyone but we did it. 

 

This picture has nothing to do with teaching missionaries how to teach English Conversation class but it is a typical view from the bottom of the Elder's shoes. 

They walk right out of their shoes, bless their hearts!

Much of the training was done at district meetings or before District Conferences on Saturday.

 

Elder Bigger conducting the District meeting in Aomori.

 

Elder Sanders conducting the Izumi District Meeting.

Mission Wide Youth Conference

The youth (12-18 years) gathered near Furukawa at a Youth Ranch where they spent 3 days together for a Youth Conference.  The first day, Gary and I were invited to do a Devotional for them.  We took the AP's and two of our best Shimai to help us.

 

Who wouldn't love these two sweet Shimai, Hyodo and Kimura. 

 The missionaries were great examples to the youth.

The AP's waiting their turn to speak to the youth.

About 50-60 youth attended with leaders.

Groups of kids worked on a project together and the

 missionaries rotated around helping different groups.

Sister Hyodo (1 week in the mission) gave a great talk.

Elder Dowdy helped translate my talk.

We gave each youth this package which contained a package of hi-chew candy that I changed to "I Choose..." along with  a list of the things we hope they will "choose" to do; ie: be involved in Seminary, go on a mission, marriage in the Temple, etc.  The kids loved them!

Gary is always entertaining and fun -- the youth love him.

After our devotional, we all went outside where the camp had a

flag ceremony with all the groups using this facility that week.

 

One of the group of "campers" were these young boys--I think from a school.  They looked awfully young to be away from home for several days.

A fun interactive game was played and, of course,

Gary got himself involved running around with the kids.

We had to take some pictures of just us missionarie  before we left for home.

  It had been a tough day!

Typical of Japan, this statue of a child reminding children to hold their 

arm up so cars can see them as they crosses the street

Sisters Specialized Training

 

 

FOREVER SISTERS, FOREVER FRIENDS

 

We held this training at the Kamisugi church and it started with serving breakfast to all the Shimai.

Granola, fruit, yogurt & muffins.

 

Stubbs, Tada, Kimura and Hyodo Shimai.

Miura, Shuto and Fukuda Shimai

 

Watanabe, Kitade, Collins & Saito Shimai

Kimura & Hyodo Shimai

Takatsu and Miura Shimai

Shuto and Fukuda Shimai

Watanabe and Kitade Shimai

Collins and Saito Shimai

Inoue and Oman Shimai

Tanabe and Mukaitani Shimai

Yoshikawa and Bohnet Shimai

Chikamori, Kubota and Tukatsuka Shimai

Hmmmm?

Our terrific Assistants did much of the training.

Kubota Shimai leading the music!

Special

Inoue Shimai teaching a Japanese lesson.

Special musical number with Tada, Kimura and Hyodo Shimai.

After some great training on FINDING, the companionships all went outside to the streets and practiced what they had learned.  One lady was brought back to the church and taught a lesson. 

There is always a mogi lesson to practice before facing the real thing.

Sis Furukawa prepared feminine obento lunches for us. 

I made an apple crisp as a dessert.

Lunchtime!!

They loved the butterfly straws.

Inoue and Oman Shimai

President Rasmussen teaching them about the Baptismal covenant.

 

Group pictures