Goodby to 3 Wonderful Missionaries in April

 The morning that the outgoing missionaries came into the Missioin Home to celebrate their last evening on their missions, we had new District Leaders come for some training.  We didn't have time to do a lunch with them.  I made a Bento lunch - Japanese idea of a sack lunch - to give them and their companions to eat on the bus back to their area. Included in this lunch was rice (of course) chicken nuggets, parboiled brocolli and carrots,  fresh pineapple and inari sushi.  Japanese don't worry about keeping things hot to eat.  They eat anything in a bento at room temperature.  Added to this was a box drink and chopsticks (and a cookie-I think you have to have a little dessert).  I was kind of proud of myself for making a typical Japanese lunch. 

Each missionary has a 2 hour interview with President Rasmussen.  Then a Testimony Meeting that is always a tender experience for all.  We make sure a box of tissue is handy.  

                                              Sister Tahei is going home to New Zealand.

Elder Ohira-a previous AP- goes home to southern Japan.

                                                     Sister Sato goes home to Sapporo

Group picture with the AP's.

                                               The Sukiyaki Dinner is ready to begin. 

After a sleepless night for these anxious missionaries, we head for the Eki and airport.

 This large Kokeshi Doll is traditional Sendai and is found in the Eki where the sisters cought the train to Tokyo.

The rest of the story after leaving Sendai:

Sis Tehei and Sister Sato went to the Tokyo Temple later that day.  After a Temple session, Sister Tehei was to go back to the airport and catch her plane to New Zealand.  When she arrived at the airport, she was not allowed on the plane because she didn't have her passport.  The office neglected to give it back to her when she left Sendai.  Arrangements were made with the Tokyo Mission to have her picked up and taken to a Shimai apartment near the airport.  We over-nighted her passport to her.  As it turned out, she stayed and dendo with the Tokyo shimai for two nights and left to return home on Sunday (instead of Friday).  Gary reminded her she was the only Sister Missionary he knew who had served her 18 months in three missions (Sendai, Sapporo, and Tokyo) under 4 Mission Presidents (Tataoka, Daniels, Rasmussen & Albrecht). 

                                                         Elder Ohira left from the airport. 

 

                                       Gary and the hard-working Assistants to the President.