Week 68 Baking and Walking on Humid Days

 Hello all,

Moving right along in the heat of the Japanese summer. I remember saying we would be doing two summers here and trying to get ourselves ready for the heat and humidity again. Somehow, you forget how bad it is until it happens. Although our grandson talks about the heat in the Philippines, I don't think we are quite as hot as he is. Humidity has never really been a favorite which is why we say we like summers in Utah. Hot but dry. 

We started off this week firing up the Japanese oven and baking for several events, one every other day, so we tried to keep it simple with banana bread, apple bread, and Rice Krispies squares. (Things that don't melt) Elder Nelson took Sister Nelson's ACS shift so she could do some of the baking on Monday. No FHE this week as our two young adults were out of town. That left even more time for baking. And did I say we did some baking? 

Of course, after all that baking, we looked forward to our Temple Tuesday. It really is a lovely, peaceful day, and we only have a few more left. We hope to continue serving in our temple near our home in Utah. It will be a little different than our experience here, but serving at the temple is a blessing. 

After our temple shift, all the senior couples in our mission were invited to the Mission president's home for dinner. We all brought something to add to a taco night. It was nice to mingle with all the "old folks," and they reminded us that we have been here the longest, and the next couple to leave. Now that was where it started feeling real that we are getting close. But for now, we love all the serving and helping that we do.

On Wednesday, we gathered with about 1/3 of the mission for Zone Conference. All the young elders and sisters love seeing each other at these conferences. We took the train to the conference, and it was raining. We exited out of the wrong side of the train station and ended up walking a very long way to the chapel where the meeting was. It was raining and we had umbrellas, but we were both thoroughly soaked because of the humidity. It's like taking a bath with your clothes on. But we had some excellent training and yummy food prepared by the Relief Society sisters from the Fujisawa Ward. We will have the opportunity to attend one more Zone Conference in August. Elder Nelson took a lot of great pictures that he has shared with the missionaries. They love pictures. 

Thursday, we provided some baked goods for a coffee cart held at one of the offices here on Zama for the Red Cross. They also have dogs that come for the employees to pet. Bella was the only doggie this time. She is the cutest little Maltese-Poodle. Afterwards, we headed to the SHA  Thrift Store to help with a sale they were having. As much as you can fit in the bag for $5. The Elders also helped sort and hang up the new things that had been donated. It was a happening place. We then treated the Elders to McDonald's at the train station. A value meal at McD's is 630 Yen. With the great exchange rate, that is only $4.37. Not going to find those prices in the U.S. 

Also on Thursday, we made a lasagna for the final night of the Celebrate Recovery program we have helped support. John and Stacy Villanueva are the leads, and they are moving back to the U.S. We presented them with a beautiful print of Elijah from the bible story in 1 Kings 19.  We have been given these prints by the McDermott Foundation, which donates them to be presented to chaplains and servicemen. They are very beautiful. John and Stacy were very touched. We have enjoyed supporting their efforts to offer an addiction recovery program here on Zama. They will be missed. 

Friday, we tried to stay home and regroup for our Saturday event, aka more baking. It was nice to not have any other commitments that day and to keep out of the heat. Elder Nelson ordered in some Korean food with Uber Eats, and we had a quiet evening at home as well. 

Saturday was  Camp Zama's Independence Day celebration/festival.  They open the gates to everyone and have music, food trucks, kids' activities, and fireworks. We helped get the Red Cross booth set up and provided baked goods for the Japanese First Responders who were there for emergencies. It is really fun to see how much they enjoy home-baked goods. Japanese folks don't do much baking. There are bakeries everywhere, and their Japanese ovens at home are small, so they just don't bake. I have the same size oven and have had to make lots of adjustments to my recipes, but we have made it work. That's not to say that I don't seriously miss my double ovens at home. However, I've done so much baking here that I may not bake for a while after we get home. It hasn't been good for my waistline either, but all the walking has helped. At the festival, we treated the elders to some takoyaki (like a tater tot, but it's octopus, not potato) because they said they really liked it. We do not. The Japanese love it too. 

After the fireworks, we cleaned up all the leftover snacks and took them to the Red Cross office. All the baked goods were gone. Then we took our two old, hot, and tired bodies home. All the walking in the heat and humidity tends to create a lot more laundry. Just grateful we have clean, dry clothes to change into and a washer to wash them. 

Sunday was a great day with the members of the branch. We have one brother from our branch who likes to give us a ride. Hence, not a lot of steps that day and only one outfit for the day. 

I know I have told you how we feel about the heat and humidity, but we really are enjoying our time here. So many good people to serve with. We know this is the best thing we could be doing right now. We want to finish strong, and we have several more events to support. Thanks to all for your love and support. We love you all 

Elder and Sister Nelson

                                                        

Week 67 and what a strange week it was.

As you will see or not, this week was a mix of different than usual kinds of events, mostly good but different than we are used to...

Monday was supposed to be the greatly anticipated 2nd Driving Test and the end of our mandatory walking mission...but alas, it was not to be. Due to an administrative error (probably on my part) and the absolutely inflexible nature of the Kanagawa Prefectural government, Elder Nelson was not permitted to take the exam and was curtly told to reschedule it for the "correct exam."  There was absolutely no interest in any accommodation since he had made the trip to the Center... Fortunately, he did not end up in jail, so his inward frustration and rage was not permitted to act outwardly.  So, believe it or not, he has  rescheduled again, and this time making sure it was correct exam, to be taken on August 1st.  Part of us wants to just rip up the paperwork and forget it. and part of us wants to show them that Elder Nelson can do this, in-spite of "THEM" who wish to make this so hard.  The jury is out still as to which way we will go.    Sister Nelson did not accompany Elder Nelson to the test.  She dutifully volunteered at Army Community Service that day and did some baking. 

Temple Tuesday was probably the most normal day of the entire week. We enjoyed it as we always do and it helped Elder Nelson forget about the Drivers License thing for a few hours. 

Wednesday was a Mission wide "Sisters Conference." All of our some 50 or so Sister Missionaries gathered in Kichijoji at one of the larger chapels (and the location of the old mission HQ and home). Sister Nelson was asked to make one of the spiritual presentations along with one of the other Senior Missionary Sisters.  Elder Nelson tagged along to help carry stuff and then photograph the event. The conference was a great success and it was awesome to see and feel the spiritual enthusiasm and sisterly love that all these young sister missionaries share. With the walk, bus, train travel both ways and the conference itself, it made for a pretty long day.   Elder Nelson helped teach a lesson to one of our young Elder's "friends." later that evening,  

Thursday was a US Holiday, so most of our normal volunteer venues and gigs were all shut down for the day and weekend.  We had a ZOOM with Elder and Sister Singleton who will replace us in mid September.  We think that they are excited and will be a good fit to continue what we have going on and make it even better.  The rest of Thursday was a little recovery from Wednesday, some commissary restocking and such. 

Friday was mostly normal with our District Council meeting, District Lunch and a District picture.  Lunch was a bit ambitious (planned when we thought we might have a car) featuring Adobo Chicken (Philippine Style).  Sister Nelson pulled it off and the Philippine contingent of young missionaries all gave it hearty thumbs up!  Sister Melton topped it off with some awesome key-lime pie dessert. After lunch, the young Elders were arm-wrestling. Elder Nelson watched...then decided to try his luck.  He had not arm-wrestled anyone for a few years, but why not.  He matched up with the Elder who had beaten the others.  One attempt.  And, to the young Elders surprise, Elder Nelson beat him...twice.  I think everyone including Elder Nelson was surprised.  

Saturday, ironically, Elder Nelson per previous arrangement, did the bus, train, walk thing and met our other MRM friends from Yokosuka at the Kanagawa Driving Center to help them practice... and Sister Nelson went along for something to do... as it turned out, it was debatable whether we really needed to be there, but we stayed and cheered them on -- moral support.  Afterwards, they took to their Yokosuka (Navy base) neighborhood where we visited with them and then had dinner at one of their favorite spots. We then did the walk, train, walk thing back to our neighborhood and thus ended another long day. 

Sunday we did Church. We caught a ride from a good brother in our branch who knows our plight and has been giving us a ride to church for the last several weeks.  He and his wife qualify for the "Same Ten People" club in our branch for those of you who know what we are talking about.  We decided that we had enough "fun" this week, so we cooked Steak for dinner.  Sometimes you just need to do that.

So another week is just around the corner. And the end of our mission is also just beyond the horizon.  We will keep on trucking, trekking, busing, train-riding until we board the big jetliner to America.  Enduring to the End is part of life's most important objectives after all.  Have a great week.

Love 

Elder and Sister Nelson                                                                    

Week 66 - Rainy days and Transfers - Tis the Season

It's hard to believe we are pushing into the middle of June and our time here is shrinking each day.  We are in the midst of the rainy season, but the heat hasn't kicked in just yet.  When it does, the humidity and the temperature will make life here a bit uncomfortable --especially if we are still walking every day.  

On Monday we got up at "o-dark early," and assisted with the Camp Zama Army 5K Run. We dawned our Red Cross Shirts, reflective vests, and kept the runners safe while the ran through the streets of Camp Zama.  We did this one last year too.  Later, Sister Nelson helped at Army Community Service and Elder Nelson trekked over to Zama City Hall to renew our proof of residency certificate. About the time he was almost back home, it started raining.  Later, for our YSA FHE we found we explored a Japanese vintage vending machine "museum" - the collection of mostly still working machines belonged to a auto parts store... anyway, it was certainly interesting, fun, and one of a kind,

Tuesday we bussed and trained ourselves  to the Temple as we do each week.   It was raining.  But, as always, it was a good experience just the same - rain or shine. We were both able to renew our Temple Recommends with our Mission President, and it was nice to have some time to meet with him - which we don't often do.  Later, we stopped at our favorite sushi-go-round place on the way home from the Temple. Elder Nelson also helped the young missionaries teach one of their "friends" via Zoom that evening. 

Wednesday we had a lot of "this and that" going on.  Sister Nelson checked in at the doctor for a follow up visit, Elder Nelson checked in with the barber, then we both checked in at the commissary for some groceries. We also worked at Army Community Services, the Health Clinic and enjoyed the bi-weekly Mongolian BBQ at the Community Center. It doesn't matter where we go, we invariably run into people that know us since we have been wandering around Camp Zama for nearly 15 months now...we are "everywhere," according to some reports! And, I believe it did rain.

Thursday we had our weekly District Council meeting (one day early because of pending transfers on Friday).  So, it was a special occasion of goodbyes since half of our young missionaries would be moving on to a new place...two of them were making their final transfer back home.  We had a nice lunch, pot-luck style, which meant lots of "this and that" to eat, including a new pasta dish by Sister Nelson! We also had a drop in visit by a good member of the Japanese ward who brought Japanese style pizza. Our district activity ended with group and companion pictures by Elder Nelson.  Later on Thursday we also met with our friends at the Celebrate Recovery gathering.  

Friday, whilst the young missionaries were transferring, we did a more than normal deep clean of our apartment, and we met Elder and Sister Melton later at the Atsugi base theater for "How to Train Your Dragon."  That was a lot of fun and popcorn too.  Also, one of our AC units (we have 3) started leaking water inside the apartment instead of outside in the drain. Bad. All we could do is unplug it and get the water out of it.  We cleaned the filters in all of them.  We also managed to get the Mission Office to send/ arrange for a repair person to come and fix our leaking AC unit (but not until Saturday). 

On Saturday, Sister Nelson made a run to the commissary (more of a fast walk) in the rain. We did some more cleaning up and awaited the AC repairman.  He came, along with two of the Mission's service missionaries Elder and Sister Watanabe.  We also work with them at the Temple on Tuesdays.  They are very nice people, but don't speak much English, so we did our best to visit with them for the 2 hours plus that it took the repairman to do his thing.  Later that evening, we jumped on the train and met some of our MRM missionary friends for dinner at "Mike's Tex Mex."  Another of our Japanese member friends, Brother Sakuma, who has been helping all of us through the Driver's License debacle, joined us for dinner as well.  

Sunday was Father's Day, so Sister Nelson made Elder Nelson a very nice breakfast! He got a few gifts and felt loved and we heard from most of our children in one form another.  In today's world, a call, an email, a text, you take what you can get.  We went to church and later came home and expanded our planned Father's Day dinner to include two of the Sister Missionaries.  Through the transfers, we got five new missionaries in our District and we got to meet one of them, Sister Davis from Australia! 

Life and rain will continue into next week and we are grateful for the health andstrength to do what needs doing and the special calling as missionaries to do it in Japan for a few more months.

Best wishes to your new week. And may the rain that falls on you be when you are under an umbrella. 

Love,

Elder and Sister Nelson aka Nelson Choro and Nelson Shimai