New Year's Day
On New Year's Day, Gary and I did -- as we asked all of the missionaries to do--visit a jinja (Shinto Shrine) and have a cultural experience. This is the day most Japanese people go to a shrine. The visit consists of first, stopping at a fountain of water and washing your hands and maybe your mouth with the water. I think it is symbolic of approaching Diety with clean hands. Next, you walk up to ring a bell with a rope to announce that you are there, clap your hands three times, and bow your head in prayer for two or three seconds, throw some money into a pot and walk away.
People lined up to ring the bell and pray.
One more tradition is writting your dreams or wishes
for the new year and tying them to strings.
We asked this policeman if it was appropriate to take a picture
and he said "yes" and in fact stood in the picture with me.
I hope all of those wishes come true for these people.
The BIG attraction was the booths or stands of all different foods and merchandise.
Zone Leader Council in January
This is a strong group of Zone Leaders. Can you tell it snowed recently.
Elder Mizoguchi's Grandmother's Baptism
Elder Mizoguchi who serves in our mission "happens" to be the Zone Leader in Morioka where his Grandparents live. His Grandfather passed away late last year and since then, his Grandmother has agreed to be taught by the missionaries-her own Grandson. She had a dream or visitation from her husband who encouraged her to go ahead and be baptised and so she did just that early in January.
Elder Mizoguchi did the confirmatioin, his RM brother baptised her,
and Sister Mizoguchi, their Mom. What a thrill for their family.
(I think Elder Mizoguchi and his Grandmother
have a strong family resemblance)
Elder Kendall, Yamamoto, Mizoguchi & Squire
are the missionaries serving in Morioka.
CCM at the Mission Home
Feeding 15 hungry Priesthood leaders including an Area Authority is always a stressful time for me--considering they are all Japanese. In the past I have served American food but this time I decided to make Curry Rice ~ a fairly simple, filling, Japanese dish that is very popular.
That morning as I fed miso soup, etc, to Elder Aoyagi (a Seventy who is in our Area Presidency) and two other men who spent the night with us in the Mission Home, they requested more miso soup for lunch so I made miso soup to go with the Curry Rice. (Left pot is Miso Soup and right pot is Curry.
I also served two kinds of salads--a vegetable and a fruit (Acini-de-pepi).
I think they all loved the meal which makes me very happy.
Specialized Training on "FiNDING" to every District
After some training on the Lord's way to "find" people to teach as explained in Preach My Gospel, companionships were asked to Mogi or practice by roll playing what to say to someone they meet on a train to teach a short gospel message and ask for a referal. Elder Shin'no was always playing the part of the Investigator. I laugh at how the missionaries have to act out the situation --like holding onto a strap standing on a train while they talk.
Elder Everett and President listen to the roll plays.
Sister Mukaitani finished reading the Book of Mormon in English
and received her pin with the help of her companion, Sis. Bohnet.
Look-alike companions, Elders Kim and Hakaraia.
Elder Shin'no, one of our AP's, is such a creative, talented and loved missionary by all the other missionaries. He has a brilliant mind and is in medical school to become a Psychiatrist. He is the youngest of 11 children in his family.
Mogi with Elder Furukawa and Elder Fukuta
Elders Yamanokuchi, Mead, Kyotani & Palmer
Elders Kyotani and Palmer with Elder Shin'no
Elders Yamanokuchi and Mead
Elders Fukuta and Furukawa with Elder Everett. (AP)
Our Trip to Nogaoka in the worst
snowstorm of the season!
We were almost the only car on the freeway. (Hmmm) The blizzard made it difficult to see and the road was very slippery and deep in snow (pre-plowing) A 3 hour trip normally - took us about 7 hours. The last 7 km (3 miles) took us over an hour to drive. I'm from Idaho and have seen a lot of snow, but this was the most snow I've ever seen.
The night we arrived and the next morning, Gary enjoyed the onsen (think hot tub only bigger). Gary is wearing the clothing the hotel provides to walk to the onsen. I can't "warm up" to the idea of bathing with strangers so I didn't go with him.
This picture was taken outside our hotel window during the storm.
It was a white-out and I didn't know we were even close to civilization.
Later the storm lifted enough to see that there were many homes all around us.
It is hard to see in this pictures, but this was the parking lot of the hotel.
The snow-covered humps were buried cars of people staying at the hotel.
This car had only two wiper blades and an antenna
sticking out of the snow to indicate it was a car.
The next morning it was fun to watch the hotel crew dig out the cars from
underneath the snow and move them to a part of the parking lot
that had seen a snow plow.
Our license plate!
The snow lasted long and was deep, but we were cozy and warm inside a lovely hotel and enjoyed much of Saturday together just relaxing. Gary did spend some time with the missionaries and had an interview with a man in the branch in the afternoon . We spoke in church on Sunday and drove home on almost dry roads! Yippee!
Family Home Evening in January
Another full house of people attended--about 50 people.
Introductions by everyone in the room.
Sis Jahana explaining the Hina Matsuri Open House
we have planned in February.
Final lesson taught by Elder Jahana. They will finish their mission in two weeks and will move to Yokohama to be by their daughter and Sis. Jahana's sister.
Playing a game in groups after the lesson.
Elder and Sister Noonchester's first FHE experience with us.
