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.