2 Days of Hinadon Open House in February

A year ago, before Sis Yoshida passed away from cancer, she gifted her 50 year old Hina Doll display to the Mission Home.  We have loved it and feel it a privelege to have it.  They are very expensive (this one cost $5,000 50 years ago--I have no idea how much it would cost today) and is displayed for Girl's Day on March 3.  The tradition says that it must be taken down by March 4th or the girls in the house would be delayed in getting married.  (we assured the Shimai in the mission that we were careful not to cause a delay in their marriage plans later.)  We wanted to enjoy the display for a long time and so we put it up in our Living Room the first part of February.  We made arrangements for some of  the sisters of the Nagamachi Ward to come and put it up every year and they return on March 4th to take it down.  This arrangement will ensure it will be displayed each year-even when a new Mission President and wife come here with no clue what to do with it, unless they are Japanese.

 

This year, I decided it would be good to share it with others and so we organized an Open House on two different days and invited the members and the neighbors to come to the Mission Home.  This was a good way to share the Gospel as people would come into our home and feel the spirit as they see beautiful pictures of the Savior on the walls and speak to our missionaries (Sisters).  Sister Jahana made darling invitaions that we handed out to neighbors and Eikaiwa students (English Class) and members.  The Relief Society President in Kamisugi Ward brought her Kimonos  and dressed the 6 Shimai who helped with the Open House in traditional dress.  Sister Uchida, my Visiting Teacher, came and did their hair in beautiful braids, etc.  They looked and acted like angels as they floated around the house in their beautiful kimonos.  It was a great experience for them! 

 

Sister Yamagishi, my other Visiting Teacher, plays the Koto (old Japanese instrament like a harp) and her husband plays the Shakuhachi~like a recorder made of bamboo.  They came and performed for those attending the Open House along with the Koto teacher and a neighbor who dances a traditional dance. Both days were lovely events.  I think Sister Yoshida would be pleased that her Hina Doll Display was being used to share the gospel. 

 

 

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All the kimonos were layed out on the bed perfectly folded and ready to use.  There are many pieces to the kimono that are worn and it takes about 30 minutes to be dressed.

Miura and Takatsu Shimai excited to be dressed.

Sister Miura getting her hair done by Sister Uchida.

Lovely Hyodo Shimai

Takatsu Shimai

Miura Shimai

Sister Tada and Sister Stubbs were dressed by this lovely older lady who has been an investigator for a long time.  She is about 93 years old and very spry.

This gal in the center is also an investigator who came all dressed in her Kimono.

This sweet lady comes to our FHE sometimes and loves Gary.

Our musicians and dancer getting ready to perform.

Our beautiful Shimai

This darling little girl is in the Nagamachi Ward and was the only

 little girl that came to see the display.

 

 

 

Sister Takatsu and the Relief Society President, Sister ???

Sister Miura and Takatsu

Sistr Tada

Us with Sister Kakuda, our new Senior Missionary in the office.

Our dancer performing.

The Hina Doll Display.

Sister Yamagishi playing the Koto.

Enjoying the performance.

Sister Yamagishi and her teacher.

Group picture at the end.

Pictures of our darling Shimai.

One of the companionships made this adorable sign-in book. 

They are so clever and talented.

 

 

Sister Yamagishi and me.  I love her.  She doesn't speak a word of English and I don't speak a word of Japanese but we understand each other pretty well.

 

The second Open House day, the Shimai talked me into wearing a kimono for the day.

Sisters Kitade, Takatsu and me

My handsome president.

This gentleman and his wife came and before they left he asked me if he

could come next year and sing for us.  I guess I have the program

about ready for next February already.  Love it!

 

My wonderful Visiting Teachers and me.

 

Good-by, Shimai, and Thank You so much!!

Learning the JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY

 

One day Gary went to the International Center in Sendai to "check it out" and see what it offered in case our Missionaries could be of service in order to meet people.  He noticed on the bulletin board this demonstration of an official Japanese Tea Ceremony and he decided to sign us up to attend.  Sister Noonchester and Gary and I were the only attenders from the mission office.  It was quite delightful.

 

Sister Noonchester waiting in the hallway before we entered the ceremony room.

 

 



A group of Girl Scouts were there to learn this tradition.  It is dying out.  As you enter

 the room you place your little fan in front of you, put both hands together and bow

 to the floor in front of the tea pot.

This little girl scout was so young and cute.  I had to take her picture.

 

 



These two ladies were our sensai (teachers).

 

 



The server (girl in orange) is dipping hot water into the cup with a traditional wooden ladle while the other ladies spoon the green tea powder into the cups.  Before this happened, the green tea powder was passed around the room for participants to admire it and smell it and appreciate it.  This was done with great reverence, slowly and quietly.

 

 



This was a sweet bean treat that was served with the tea.  Because it was Hina Matsuri time, they added pink flowers to the top for garnish.  I'm not a fan of sweet bean but Japanese people love it.

 

 



Before this server girl stood up to leave, she always bowed to

the hostess with her hands in front of her. 

 

  

This was our contact lady who helped us.  She is such a nice lady.  She has sons who have been involved in the scouting program as teens and were members of the Kamisugi Ward Scout troop.  She knew where the church was and had been in it many times for scouting events.  She realized who we were after seeing our missionary badges.

 

Cute little girls.

They demonstrated how to make "frothy" tea by whisking it with a bamboo brush.  Then they allowed each of us to come and practice--but it was all very ceremonial.  Gary went first

but the video I took of him wouldn't upload. 

 

I went second.  It was all fine and kind of fun --except kneeling with legs under you like Japanese do is impossible for me.  I suppose if I grew up sitting like this all the time, it would be easy but since I did not, sitting on the floor is miserable for me. 

At the end, it was time to take pictures of the group.

 



This box is a 200 year old traditional box to carry items for the Tea Ceremony.

Elder Halverson comes to the Mission for One Transfer

Elder Halvorsen is the son of a good friend from Tokyo who has his call to California.  His Visa has not come through yet but he will start his mission in Sendai for 1 or 2 transfers.

Elder Halvorsen's trainer will be Elder Miller and they will serve in Niigata.

Elder and Sister Halvorsen brought their son to us from Tokyo.  He has not been to the MTC yet.

They will be a terrific two some.

Sanjo Visit For Church

After church, the branch provided an osoji (potluck).  This little lady came to church

today but has been less-active for years. 

 



The Elders (Wittle and Elkins) found this fellow, Bro Yamatani, outside a liquor store.  He approached the Elders and said he was baptized 40 years ago but hasn't been back since then.  The Elders invited him to church and he came two weeks in a row.  He and Gary "hit it off" and enjoyed visiting with each other.  Gary worked in Sanjo about 40 years ago as a young missionary but they did not know each other.

 



The gal on the left is an investigator who came with her friend, (not in the picture) also an investigator. The gal in the middle is a member.

 



Brother Yamatani and Gary became good friends.

The Jahanas Finish Their Mission

Elder and Sister Jahana have been part of the mission since the first month we arrived in Japan.  We have come to count on them and appreciate their humble willingness to do anything they were asked to do and more.  They have finished their 18 months of service and are now moving to Yokohama to be close to children and grandchildren.

The 4 of us went to Kappa Sushi the night before they left the mission .





The hour before they left, the office was buzzing with last minute
instructions and training and good-bys.













The Jahana's gave their car to Elder Yamada who is in the Bishopric of the Nagamachi Ward but has been called on a "part-time" mission serving the Sendai Mission Office.  The Jahanas are happy their car can still "be on a mission for Sendai".








Sister Kakuda will replace Sister Jahana and Sister Rollins will replace Elder Jahana.





Elder Yamada drove them to the Eki.  We all walked to the corner (in a snow storm) where
their car was parked and waved them "Good-by."


Sister Sugawara (Stake President's Wife) held the umbrella for them to get into their car.
Good-by, Jahanas and THANK YOU!
 

Two Senior Sisters Arrive To Work In The Office

With the Jahana couple finishing their mission, we needed two more senior missionaries to work in the office.  We were thrilled when we learned that we would be sent two senior sisters~both from America and English speakers but one was born and grew up in Japan and speaks Japanese, too. We desperately needed someone who speaks Japanese in the office.  We are thrilled they are here.

 

After picking them up at the airport, we brought them home for some

 soup and bread before sending them to bed.

The Noonchesters and the Jahanas joined us for dinner.  The sisters spent about 3 days with the Jahanas being trained on their duties before the Jahanas left.

Sister Kakuda from California.  She has worked as a CPA

and claims she is a "work-a-holic".

 

Sister Rollins is from SLC.  She is an interior decorator and was Utah's contestant in the Ms. America Pagent (for older women). 

 

Dynamic Duo