Gary with Bro. Yoshida & 2 New Couples Arrive

One of Gary's Counselors in the Mission Presidency is Bro. Yoshida from Niigata. He and his wife invited us to their home for dinner after Zone Conference early in December which we enjoyed very much. Sis. Yoshida served in Gary's mission with him 40 years ago in Tokyo. Bro Yoshida is a Japanese translator for the church. He has translated for many General Authorities when they come to Japan to speak and he also translates some of the conference talks to publish in the Japanese Liahona. These pictures were taken in his office at home. He spends many hours sitting on the floor with his computer. He and Gary have a wonderful relationship. Gary and I have decided we could never be real Japanese because we can't sit on the floor comfortably for more than 1 minute and it is never a pretty sight to see us get up off the floor.

Two New Couples Arrive in the MissionElder and Sister Yamanita have arrived and will serve in Miyako. This is the group picture with the Thomas' and the Jahanas'.

The Sakamotos' arrived from Utah. We were in the same ward with them at BYU after we were married. It is nice to meet old friends and talk about that brief time 40 years ago when our lives intersected.

We drove with them to Ishinomaki where they will serve their mission. This is their little apartment they will call home for 18 months. No missionaries have lived in this apartment since the tsunami hit this little town very hard 10 months ago. Sis. Sakamoto and I are in the background standing by the heater. It was very cold! The AP's are always helping.