Sendai Japan Mission 2011-2014

December FHE

Family Home Evening in December was a musical FHE prepared by Sister Rollins. The Nagamachi Missionaries were the choir that sang many Christmas Carols that went with the Christmas story told by the narraters, Sisters Noonchester and Kakuda.

President Rasmussen gave a spiritual message

about making room for the Savior in our lives.

Sister Rollins sang a lovely song written

by her neice called Do You Have Room

Arriving From the MTC in December

Before going to the airport to pick up new missionaries,

we spend 3 hours training the Trainers at the Nagamachi Church.

The arrow at the top of this pillar shows how high

the water was during the tsunami at the airport.

Pretty Christmas decorations at the Sendai Airport


Elder Norawong arrived today to become our new Assistant to the President. Elder Uchida will become a Trainer and go back out to the field for his last couple of transfers.

A great bunch of tired missionaries. We are thrilled they have arrived safely.

We realized we had some good singers in the group and

President Rasmussen asked them to sing a hymn for

us after dinner at the Mission Home.

Elder Berkley from Farmington, New Mexico

Elder Canepari from Sacramento, CA

Elder Fox from High Point, North Carolina

Elder Andrew Hill from Columbus, Indiana

Elder Patterson from Brigham, UT

Elder Pierson from Bernville, PA

Elder Reynolds from Pleasant Grove, UT

Sister Bellows from Smmerfield, NC

Sister K. Smith from Highland, UT

Sister Stice from Provo, UT

Ready to announce trainers with companions

Lots of anxious missionaries!!

Hugs as they meet for the first time.

New Missionaries with their Trainers and Office Missionaries.

Sister Hanekamp Goes Home

The morning we were in Aomori for Zone Conference, we received word from Sister Hanekamp's Bishop at home that her Father was dying of brain cancer that had come back after being in remission for a period of time--long enough for Sister Hanekamp to feel like she could serve a mission because her Father's health was better. It was a tender mercy that Sister Hanekamp was in the Aomori Zone that morning where we could see her face to face to give her the news. President took her into a private room and gave her the news and then gave her his cell phone so that she could talk to her Mom for as long as she needed. She was not doing well with the news and her Mother suggested to us that she be able to talk to Sister White who was her dear friend from the MTC who happened to be in the same Zone that day. Another HUGE tender mercy. Within 5 minutes of the two of them talking together, Sister Hanekamp was doing much better. President Rasmussen gave her a blessing and she asked that she go back into the conference and enjoy the rest of the day. In the above picture, Sister White is talking to Sis Hanekamp who has a smile on her face. That is the power of a good missionary/companion.

Reading letters from parents and family.

Sister Hanekamp and her family and Bishop at home decided it would be best if she returned home. We had a new appreciation and love for this wonderful missionary as we had to say goodby to her having shared this difficult time with her. Her offering to the Lord was accepted by Him.