Sunday 2 Oct. 2008

The couple on the left is Brother and Sister Ichihashi. She's the one I taught the gospel to 38 years ago. The man in the middle is Brother Nakamura who was the Branch President during that time. He arranged the marriages of forty couples in the church. When he was the branch president, he had a counselor who wasn't married and he counseled him to fast and pray about which sister in the branch he'd like to marry. He never could decide who he wanted to marry because he had so much fun dating.

One Sunday during ward announcements he announced the marriage of his counselor and a sister in the audience. There was a gasp, but he finished and sat down at the other end of the bench. During the meeting the counselor kept eyeing him with fire in his eyes. Promptly at the end of Sacrament meeting Nakamura Kyodai went straight to the branch president's office. Brother Ikeda was right on his heels, went in and shut the door, and wanted to know what in the world he thought he was doing. Nakamura Kyodai said, "As the branch president of this branch I'm the father and watch over all. There are many unmarried sisters who want to get married and YOU need to get married. I fasted and prayed about this decision and if you don't like it you can go to hell!" Well, that took the brother back!

He really did like the girl the branch president had chosen and was just shy in making a decision. The couple also fasted and prayed about it and realized they were in love and got married. They're still happily married!

We love Michiko and Hirohiko Ichihashi for setting this wonderful evening up to enjoy yesteryear again.

These are the Fushimis who spent a day with us at the Castle. It was a very enjoyable experience. When they took us home, we took them upstairs to the office and showed them the picture of the Sacred Grove and shared our witness of Joseph Smith and the restoration of the gospel. Oh, if these dear people would only listen with their hearts and understand the importance of this great work.

This picture was for little kids to put their faces in , but that's what so nice about being a "gaijin" foreigner. We can get away with all sorts of things.

The clothing in the bottom picture are made out of chrysanthemums! Incredible creative talents. We had such a great day.

Chrysanthemums

The Fushimi's took us to the Chrysanthemum Festival at the Nagoya Castle. We couldn't believe that the plant on the right was one plant! There are 500 blossoms on it! It had frames to hold up the stems and blossoms. It was amazing and so beautiful!

One of my English students took us to her daughter's university for a culture day. During her dance they pulled me up to dance with them. Ah, being a senior missionary surely has it's perks. What fun!

On Wednesday, October 22, we had our first discussion with Matsuo san and bore testimony of the restoration and Joseph Smith. He felt the Spirit and told us he'd pray. He's been to church twice and brought his wife the last time. They're coming to our home for dinner on Thursday this week.

Halloween

How handy to be able to celebrate Halloween whenever it's convenient. Here in Japan they don't go trick or treating--isn't that great!! But our English class celebrated Halloween on October 18th and we had 150 people attend 50 members 100 non members. Fantastic evening and well organized. Marsh went as a cowboy and I was gomi--garbage. I won a prize for the most unusual.

Our Food and Entertainment

Occasionally we use chopsticks, but most of the time it is a knife, fork, and spoon. Rather different tidbits on this tray. I prefer my own cooking. To kick back Marsh watches a video that the last couple left of sumo wrestling. I think their loin cloth is gross...as well as their ripples of flubber. Oh, well, this is Japan. "Come what may and love it." (Elder Wirthlin)

About Our Playhouse

Everything about this place is miniature compared to what we're used to, but we are getting a kick out of the accommodations. The first picture below is Marsh standing in our bathroom door way. It is no joke that is the true size.
The one where I'm washing my hands is hilarious too. The Japanese don't waste anything because resources are so limited here. So when you flush the toilet, the clean water that fills the tank runs up above the tank so the person using the toilet can wash their hands without using more water and then the soapy water fills up the tank and is reused later to flush the toilet. Cool desho!
The picture where Marsh is in the ofuro is no joke either. That is the size of our tub!!! It is deep, but you can't stretch your legs out. So if you want to get your shoulders warm...well, it's a joke and makes me laugh.
Our little washing machine is terrific. It doesn't have a the typical American agitator in the center but still gets the clothes so clean. We tried using the dryer, but the vent comes into the house instead of outside so we hang out our clothes on the rod. When it rains the overhang covers them and most of the time they dry out.
We live just five minutes from the mission office which is so handy. We're home for lunch or if we need something we walk over and get it with no trouble. We walk to get our groceries in the evenings after work. We meet people and tell them about the gospel and our purpose for being here. That's our wonderful evening stroll and proselyting.

Our Playhouse

Birthday Dinner at the Ichihashi's

It was the Grandmother's 88th birthday and Michiko invited us to join the celebration in their home. We sat on the floor and used chopsticks and ate all the yummy food Michiko had prepared. The grandma hasn't joined the church but Michiko and Hirohiko raised their daughters in the gospel and they served missions and married in the temple. The oldest daughter has four children and the oldest is three! The beautiful delicate flowers in the picture are real. They were the grandma's gift. This amazing 88 year old woman knelt on her knees and ate with us the entire evening. Marsh and I lasted about fifteen minutes.

Every missionary prays that the people they teach will remain strong and active in the gospel as they serve and build their own family. Well, at least one that I know of has been a Japanese pioneer in the gospel. Michiko Kuno Ichihashi has been faithful these past thirty eight years. Her family was very opposed to her joining the church when she was 21. But she had a

solid testimony of the gospel's truthfulness that has carried her through times of struggle and joy. We love her and are grateful to be back in Nagoya with her where we can build more memories.

She took us to visit the Nagoya Castle.

President and Sister Traveller and their daughter, Chelsea, and the Tottens met us at the airport. The mission home is gorgeous and we stayed there the next four days while the Tottens trained us. Sister Totten did such a detailed job in writing down all the steps for each assignment. It has helped so much to be able to refer to all her instructions.

We loved the people, training, food, (oh, my, we've never seen or eaten so much food in our lives. I think they feed the missionaries well because they don't know what kind of food they'll get after landing in countries around the world.) and especially seeing our chaplain friends again. Joseph Boone is the MTC president and Mark Breinholt is is counselor. They are wonderful leaders.

After eleven days there it was time to head for Japan. In the wee hours of the morning of September 11th we caught a shuttle to Salt Lake where Jana and Pam Eglund and the grandies met us for more hugs and kisses. Oh, how we love our family!

We had our picture by the famous world map that everyone gets pictures by. We had five children come to the Provo MTC and Kris went to the one in Preston, England. We never knew of all the young teachers that bring such a powerful spirit to the district training meetings in Preach My Gospel and the Tuesday night devotionals. The two weeks we were there we had Elder Quetin L. Cook and President Uchtdorf speak. Sister Uchtdorf spoke too and her sparkling personality delighted us. Marsh and I took time to walk through all the halls and look at the missionary pictures from around the world. The one that comez to mind was a baptismal scene with a little space cut through the ice and the investigator, a woman, was in the water helping the hesitating elder in. It must have been freezing!! So many wonderful missionaries all over the world.

Mark, Jana, Daniel, Emma, Matthew, and Elana came in the back door and were able to help us haul our heavy luggage upstairs to our bedroom. The girls noticed the bed needed to be made and boy were they fast in getting it ready for us.

In Jana's program we sang, "I Am a Child of God" and "Called to Serve" in Japanese. Our children and grandchildren amaze us how quickly they've picked up Japanese.

Then Jana and Elana sang a cute song that Jana created from "Sisters" about Elder and Sister Gurr. It was darling!

MTC September 1, 2008

Since the MTC doesn't have a family farewell meeting, Jana called Zina Whetten, my second companion in Japan, and asked if we could have a short family gathering in their home before going to the MTC. Being sweet Zina, she quickly agreed and this was all a surprise to Marsh and me. We thought we were stopping in to say "goodbye" to some of our dearest friends.

Our Olympics Party

Elana had this cool idea of everyone dressing up as a different country and bringing food to enjoy an international meal. It was so fun! We had pizza, food from India, lasagna, watermelon, and Heather Anderson's family brought food from Brazil. Weren't the Opening Ceremonies unbelieveable!!! Good luck USA!

Elana's Graduation Pictures

Yippee! Elana got to walk for graduation and we were there!! We're so proud of you, Elana!

Finished Yard

After Dad went through every square inch of dirt to get rid of the weeds and roots, he had it ready and leveled for the synthetic grass to be installed and a load of rocks to be brought in.

Silverton, Colorado Reunion

All twenty four of us met at the Inn of the Rockies in Silverton for the 4th of July celebration.

Matt's attachment, Hyrum.

The three new grandsons born within six weeks of each other. Marshelle is holding Cai (Jewelene's baby) Kevan has Evan (Marshelle's baby) and Mark has his son Matthew.

Kris and Marsh taking a break in the shade.

Sherri getting things to go.

Mark with their new arrival, Matthew. Marshelle,
Daniel and Jana. Marshelle and Matt came from Nebraska and Mark and Jana from Utah. The Inn of the Rockies host, Pam, made the most delicious breakfasts!

4th of July Parade~fun in the sun! The umbrella was used not only for protection from the sun, but also from the firefighter's spraying down the crowd!

After the parade, we all met up at Memorial Park for a picnic and the famous, yummy Rhubarb Pie and ice cream!


Joanna planned a whole bunch of fun games for the younger cousins. We had a ball. Thanks to everyone for coming!

Mission Call

On Thursday, June 12, we flew in from Nebraska after helping Matt and Marshelle with their move. As Kevan drove up to the house, we all could see a large envelope in the mailbox and knew it was our mission call. Kris was at work near Kevan's home and so we all met there at 6 p.m. and got Marshelle on the cell phone in Nebraska, Jana in Utah, Jewelene in Virginia, and Elana in Idaho. It was wonderful that they could all be connected with us during this exciting time. I said to Marsh, "I'll open the envelope and you can read the letter." As soon as I pulled it out I saw Japan Nagoya Mission and hollered, "We're going back to my old mission field." Then he read the letter and found that we're going to serving in the mission office.

This is our grandson Spencer Gurr, Kevan's son, joining into the fun.
The booklet had a picture of our mission president, Pres. Bruce Traveller and his wife and lots of great information and things that we needed to do.