Day 2 in Sendai

Believe it or not, we are in Aomori, a 4 1/2 hour drive from Sendai (all on the left side of the road) through some of the most spectacularly beautiful country we have ever seen. Imagine mountain peaks covered with multiple shades of green trees, perhaps like Hawaii, except they are conifers and there is no ocean near by. We passed through some beautiful peaks that I'm sure have 3 meters of snow in the wintertime. Just beautiful. The GPS in the car is barely helpful because it is all in kanji and Nihongo. But I had one of the Japanese Assistants sit in the front seat with me so he could translate. He and I talked the entire way, so it is good for my Japanese practice. I have a long ways to go, that is for sure, but he is gracious and insists that I speak well.

Spent a couple of hours before we left this afternoon reviewing the transfer board and teaching principles to the Assistants regarding importance of trainers (moreso than Zone Leaders or even Assistants), importance of a Zone Leader not co-Zone Leaders in a Zone (for accountability and leadership purposes), importance of challenging missionaries to step up as a senior companion rather than being protected in multiple three-some companionships, importance of counseling together and maintaining strict confidentiality when we speak openly, etc. I am so appreciative of President Tateoka and all that he has done in the most difficult time imagineable when families and homes were destroyed, when livelihood of members was wiped out, when the last thing that people were worrying about was the church when they had survival issues on their minds. As recently as last week an area was reopened that had been closed since March 11. There are still wards in Sendai that don't have missionaries because the people living in those areas can't worry about spiritual things when they can't feed or house their families. President Tateoka has trained the missionaries and member district leaders to be spiritually prepared to act and not be acted upon. No missionaries' or active members' lives were lost through it all. He and his wife have been so well organized and willing to pass the baton. I hope that I will be as gracious and helpful when my time to do so comes.

Tomorrow we have our first Zone Conference and Meet the President along with interviews, training, and testimony meeting. I think they will see our fingerprints on some of the things we do, like recitations (Preach My Gospel purpose and 3 Nephi 5:13), custom and culture training, language helps from the Nihonjin missionaries (they are too polite to directly tell their companions if they are butchering words or pronunciations, but will more likely give training if it is directed generally to all not specifically.

Well, time to sign off. Quite late and much left to do tomorrow (like find the church, figure out how to get cash--no ATM will take my US Visa card!, review the transfer recommendation, and put some thoughts together for tomorrow's training.

GR