Sunday in Ishinomaki Branch

We went to church in Ishinomaki and upon arriving there we found the Stake President was also visiting the Branch PLUS about 30 YA from Tokyo who had come to Ishinomaki to do service.  It was a full house and nice to see lots of people sitting in Sacrament Meeting.

 Maria (far R)  recently received her Mission Call and her sister.

 Top: Pres Sugawara (Sendai Sk Pres) Elder and Sis. Sakamoto, me, and Maria's sister.

Front: sister from Branch, Maria's mom and Maria.

 Newlyweds of 3 weeks.  He is a brother to Elder Takase in our mission.

 The chapel was full of yellow shirts for Sacrament Meeting.  Bro ??   (over Public Affairs in Japan for the Church) and his wife were called as YSA advisors in their ward in Tokyo several months ago.  He said they only had about 6 attending on Sunday.  They decided to go out and visit personally every YA on the Ward list and found many who were RM's (some had been AP's or Zone Leaders in their missions).  They were able to reactivate this room full of YA which is very impressive.

 The gal on far left just got married to the fellow behind her.  She and her family are from the Fukushima Ward.  She speaks good English and has translated for me a couple of times at church in Fukushima.  The gal in the dress was a convert who came to see her missionary (the girl next to her in blue skirt).  She has been less-active because she couldn't find a ride to church.  The Stake President took her name and will contact her Bishop in Izumi Ward to help her get active again.

I recognized Asala Wickramaarachchige from Facebook.  His wife does translating for the Mission President's Seminar and is a good friend.  He joined the church in Sri Lanka and a really nice guy.