Our 37th Anniversary

Sumiko Kimura took us to the Orchid House in Nagoya to hear her group play the okarina. This place was a breath taker! The numerous varieties of orchids were gorgeous. Since orchids were my mother's favorite flower we thought of her often today.

Our 37th Anniversary

For thirty seven years, Marsh has given me beautiful flowers to celebrate special days. Kimura Shimai took us to The Orchid House in Nagoya. It is a place I'm sure my mother would have loved to visit since orchids were Mother's favorite flowers. We thought of her today in this gorgeous garden.

Yokoi San should be a missionary...she's not even a member but she knows how to make friends with strangers.

She saw these "gaijins" and wanted to to know where they were from. Wonderful, beautiful girls from Sri Lanka in training with Toyota to go back to their country to work. What fun it was to be with them for a little while!

7 March 2009 Weeping Plums

Yokoi Sachiko San and Tomoko Saito San took us on this beautiful end of winter day to enjoy this spectacular sight.

Abiru San--Daughter of Takamido San

Thursday, 26 February 2009 (Happy Birthday-Jewelene!)
Tsutae Abiru san found me after no contact for 38 years. She was just a little girl when I met her mother, Kiyoko Takamido. We had a sweet visit and two days later introduced her to the sister missionaries for the lessons. She hasn't shown interest in the last few weeks. It was a special
experience to meet with her.

Shimai Taikai 1/20/09

The mission home is a place of laughter, love, spirit, yummy food, and friendships that last forever!

Sister Jenkins and Sister Ve'e are two favorites! We made the blankets for a nursing home. These young women are so incredible in all that they do--riding bikes in the rain in their dresses, being transferred when they love their companion and area, and seeing so many reject the message of salvation. They deserved this wonderful time of building a fantastic memory.

Sisters' Conference 1/20/09

Sister Leanne Traveller planned such a fun sisters conference for all of us.

She and Sister Jenkins and Sister Hafen sang, "In the Jungle"-- hilarious words about sister missionaries proselyting in Japan. What a Hoot!!

Dinner in a Japanese Home

Sumiko Kimura invited Sister Jenkins, Sister Hafen, and us over for dinner in January. Can you see all the little dishes? They have a different plate for each item. Marsh gave the entertainment after dinner. Then for dessert we had the biggest "cousin to a grapefruit" I've seen. Very tasty!

Friends for the Birthday Dinner

I don't know how we had room to eat after such a BIG lunch but we had invited our ward Mission Leader, Ryota Yoneda and a new convert family Teruni and Eriko Hachisuka with their two sons for dinner. The sister missionaries stopped by to bring a card so they joined us for dinner too and then gave a home evening lesson. Brother Yoneda made the yummy birthday cake. It was such a fun day!

Happy 61st Birthday

Sister Traveller made a big sign and wrote heart notes for Elder Gurr at the office.

Then for lunch we went to Cat's Cafe with the office staff. Elder Miller, the Recorder, and Elder Sakuma, the Commissarian, are on the right with Sister Traveller. President is next to Sister Traveller (can't see his face.) Across the table are the assistants, Elder Andrus and Elder Hardman and then the GUEST OF HONOR, Elder Gurr.

We shouldn't have eaten our lunch of pizza because when they brought the dessert we knew we had to stretch our stomachs! Ah, good to the last drop!

Dad, didn't eat it all by himself--we wouldn't let him. We all had long spoons and passed the bowl around. It was really delicious. Usually Japan has small proportions, but not this!

One by One

January 6, 2009

Sister Keiko Wada found another of the sisters that I taught. Sister Miyuki Takase Masuda from Komaki came with her granddaughter, Rion, for a visit and lunch at the sushi bar. She's not in the Church, but we had a wonderful visit together. She said she wished her life had been different, but we told her that through the blessings of the gospel all things can work together for our good.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Look who was Santa and Rudolph for the Meito Ward Christmas Party!

Another Lost Friend

In early December late at night I had a call from Sister Keiko Wada to whom I had taught the gospel. She had learned I was back in Japan and wanted to see me. I was thrilled when she came the next day for a sweet reunion.

She was active for some time after I left but moved to Osaka, married outside the Church, and went less active. One day while in her husband's copy shop, she saw the name of the Church on some papers. The Spirit touched her and she knew she needed to find the Church again.

For six years her nonmember husband took her and their two daughters to Church and finally his heart softened. He joined the Church and they've now been sealed in the temple and are actively serving in Tokyo where she is the Stake Relief Society President. Oh, happy day.!