Moving into Springtime

Spring is in full swing, all the Cherry Blossoms are gone, it is very green and the days are either clear and hot or rainy.  We continue to work at building contacts and opening doors...a process that sometimes seems slow. There is one part of us that wants to be running full "missionary speed" (whatever that might be) and be "busy" every day, but it isn't that way for us...and we remind ourselves often that it isn't supposed to be for Senior Missionaries...pacing and patience is key to survival. 

We are here to serve the local members and the local (military) community, not proselyte. And we are both Sixty+something, not nineteen.  That said, we are gradually meeting new people and opening more doors.  Each day we pray that Heavenly Father will bless our efforts, soften hearts, and open doors. We know He will.  

This week we were able to meet the US Army Japan Chaplain (Once upon a time, I was on the US Army Japan General Staff). That meeting was very positive and we got invited to help out and attend a chaplain summit in a few weeks.  The Chaplain took us over to the "G2 office", where I used to be in charge, to meet the present G2.  The civilian deputy G2 turned out to be a gentleman that I hired some 14 years ago. 

We took one of our YSAs (Brother Schroeder) to dinner, along with a couple of his friends and that was fun.  Our Branch President has asked us to help work with the YSA group and also teach Temple Preparation to a few of the graduating HS seniors and YSAs.  We will, but setting it up also takes time and more patience.

For our PDay excursion this week we ventured out on the trains and went to Kamakura.  Among other things, Kamakura is the home of the "Daibutsu" (Great Buddha) which dates back to the 12th century. It is quite sobering to see something so old and in such amazing condition. We found a fun Japanese restaurant along the way and we also visited a nearby Buddhist temple that had very beautiful grounds (and a lot of steps to climb, over 11,000 steps on the FitBit that day).  See FB for those pictures.

We had a fun activity on Friday with our young District missionaries. We have been bringing them lunch each week...this week, we brought them each a box of their favorite American breakfast cereal, along with milk, juice, and some amazing sweet rolls that Sister Nelson made.  It was a hit with all of them and not much was left over...just lots of smiles. 

On Saturday we ventured to a nearby Yokota Air Force Base. Much larger and nicer than Zama. We will be volunteering at their Friendship Festival soon and wanted to check it out. Of course, we checked out their Commissary and BX and then had a nice lunch at Chili's. Bottomless chips and salsa never disappoint. The MRM couple stationed there are going home soon and we will be volunteering with them. So many opportunities to mingle with the Japanese and members. It's so fulfilling to gather with them. 

We made another trip to Camp Fuji yesterday and found nobody waiting for us...so again, we will pray, have faith, and make the trip again next week. Heavenly Father knows who is at Camp Fuji, even if we don't. And, He also knows who will be going to Camp Fuji and we know that our faith, persistence, and patience will be rewarded. At the very least, Mt. Fuji was giving us a good view this time.  We have gotten better at driving and navigating the expressways.  There is one very bizarre exit off the expressway...see the picture below...we have tried it twice and failed...so we now skip it although Sister Nelson wants to keep trying until we get it right. Last time we ended up driving into some Japanese farmer's yard. Japanese roads are always an adventure. 

 We continue to attend the weekly Celebrate Recovery activity, we have signed up for a couple of Red Cross events that happen this coming week, and we are going to help some Zama HS and JHS student practice their English as they prepare to go to Smyrna, GA as "ambassadors" later this year. We had to redo our background check paperwork to volunteer at the Zama Behavior Health Clinic...again, patience is required as we wait for that to happen.  We look forward this coming week to a trip to the Tokyo Temple as Sister Nelson attends a Stake Women's conference. 

We hope you all have an awesome week. We will be doing our best to have one here. 

Love to all. 

                                        

Mid-April and /Camp Fuji...Twice

 

Still trying to figure out the best way to do this blog. This week all the pictures will be at the bottom and we will label them. Hope that helps you view the blog a little easier. 

It's been another great week here in the mainland of Japan. We tried our best to stay busy and navigate with the GPS to the various places we must go. So far we haven't hit anything or had too many serious wrong turns. 😐We have debated whether Google Maps or Apple Maps works better over here. The jury is still out on that one. 

This week we had a great Meet and Greet of the folks at the Behavioral Health clinic. Our predecessors, the Philips, had volunteered there as Red Cross volunteers and the clinic hoped we would also. To do that, they have to do a full background check on both of us and that can take 3-6 months. But we met the great people who work there, filled out the paperwork and now we wait. 

We have generally been making Tuesday's "P"reparation Day. This week we didn't feel like battling the traffic so decided to do some washing, clean the house, and then go to the local Costco. It's only about 10 minutes away down a few narrow alleys. A few familiar items but a lot more not-so-familiar ones. We took a couple of pictures of the fresh octopus for sale as well as a very large tray of fresh sushi. The price of the entire tray was about $27 with the awesome exchange rate we have right now. (100 ¥ is about $1.50 USD.)  Makes going out to eat quite affordable. Later that evening we had dinner at the Chaplain's house here on post. Chaplain Saxton is an LDS chaplain and has been very kind and helpful to us.  (we forgot to take a picture)

On Wednesday we took a trip to Camp Fuji to meet with an officer, also LDS, from a unit that will be deploying to Fuji next week. All the other marines from the last rotation have gone home and we were hoping to hear if he was aware of any more LDS marines coming on the next rotation. We briefly spoke with him and he gave us some people to contact. He wasn't aware of any marines from his unit that are LDS. We still have to do some digging. It was nice to get away and we spent the night up there in the visitor's lodging called Mountain View Inn. True to its name, the next morning Mt. Fuji showed up for about 30 min. The clouds dispersed long enough for a quick picture and then the clouds covered it up again. Such an incredible sight. It's about a 50-mile drive but takes anywhere from 90 minutes to 2 1/2 hours depending on traffic. 

We also met with the Chaplain's assistant and committed to coming up each Sunday to offer Sacrament Meeting to whatever marines are there. This is a really big commitment and we will be praying and exercising our faith that we can make connections with the marines there. Heavenly Father knows his children so he will know who is there, we just want to connect with them. 

Every Friday is District Council with the young elders and sisters serving here and we have been bringing lunch for them. This week they were challenged to only speak Japanese so Google Translate and I hung out and did our best to understand. There were 3 brand new elders so I wasn't alone. We shared all the fixings for hoagie sandwiches, chips, potato salad, jello squares, and Costco cookies (just like they have in the States). They filled their tummies and were very happy to have American food. 

Later that afternoon we jumped on a local train with the youth from our branch to go to the temple to do baptisms. There were about 11 awesome youths and a couple of leaders that participated. The ride there was about 90 minutes and 3-4 transfers. We also got there in enough time to stop at a ramen shop for fresh ramen and gyozas. The ride home was about 2 hours because twice as many Japanese people were coming home from work. We both had tired bones and feet by the time we hopped in bed. We also were able to randomly see our mission president and his wife at the temple. Such a beautiful place in the heart of Tokyo.

Saturday found us at Atsugi Naval Facility volunteering with the Red Cross for the Friendship Fest. An open base event where thousands, and I mean thousands of Japanese folks can come on post for food, games, music, helicopter, and airplane viewings. We helped man the Red Cross booth and hand out free stuff as well as give mini-training in CPR. We were also able to see an amazing Taiko drum performance. We both love to see the strength and skill these young men have. That night we were invited over to dinner at a member's house on Zama. Yummy Brazilian food and good company. (sorry forgot a picture.)

Sunday was another trip to Camp Fuji for a Sacrament Meeting with the last marine there who hadn't left yet. His name is Skylar, a returned missionary from the Philippines. We had a simple service with him and then cookies afterward. There were about 6 marines in this last rotation but we didn't connect with them until they were about ready to leave. The Stake has given us this assignment and we will do our very best to provide what is needed there.

All in all, it was a busy and productive week. We feel so blessed to be here and pray daily that we will be aware of the needs that are here and do our best to meet them or find others who can. We know the church is true and we pray to be a good example of it. We pray for all of you as well. May you all find joy in what you do each day and know that you are loved by us and your Father in Heaven. 

Our week of THIS and THAT...moving towards normal perhaps ??

ENOSHIMA ISLAND PICTURES

Sakura - Cherry Blossoms

This week's highlight was the official appearance of the Cherry Blossoms!  They only bloom for a couple of weeks and so it is celebrated and is certainly beautiful.  We posted a lot of pictures of them on Facebook - see link: Sakura

We continue to strive to meet people, discover ways and places we can engage as Military Relations missionaries and we are making slow and steady progress.  This week we have met in various places and with various peoples enthusiasm and some not-so-much interest -bordering on antagonism. I won't be specific, but not all are excited to see us here.  I guess we should expect some opposition since that has always been the case with being a missionary for the Church and Christ.  

Our first attempt at P-Day was mostly about laundry, house cleaning, and groceries. We may try and venture out more this next week. I should mention that we are slowly getting a handle on the mystery of garbage sorting.  So far, we have had no rejected entries! 

Camp Fuji is a USMC training site located about 90 minutes from here. We know that routinely, units of USMC Marines go there for extended periods (6 months or so) and do tactical training. They don't have a regular Church service for them. With the MRM missionaries from Yokota AFB we made arrangements with the Camp Fuji chaplain (US Navy) to hold a social/devotional on Wednesday. We weren't sure how many, if any, LDS service members might come.  None this time, because during the week they are all out in "the woods" training.  

We went armed with smiles and cookies and ended up just meeting with the chaplain and then giving away all the treats to "random" Marines at the nearby food court. Those who wandered by were happy to find some "homemade treats." We even discovered on young Marine who was a member from the Ogden Utah area.  We decided we needed to try again on the weekend. 

We went to the Camp Zama "Newcomers" event which occurs biweekly. We were interested in seeing/hearing who briefed and who attended. It was interested and those in charge were not very interested in our participation. We will let this one alone for the time being until we can meet a few more potentially interested sponsors. 

Thursday day night we volunteered supporting the local "Celebrate Recovery" gathering at the request of our Camp Zama chaplain. It wasn't a big group, but certainly a worthy event hosted by some great folks so we will likely continue to do this one weekly.  Sister Nelson's cookies were also included! 

Bringing some joy to our District missionaries.  Weekly, we attend our District's council meeting.  There are eight of us total. The meeting is mostly in Japanese and mostly focused on teaching stats and some "role-playing" to improve teaching techniques. Most of that is not applicable to what we do, but we are there to support these young missionaries. The district meeting is usually followed by a district lunch.

On that note, Sister Nelson made, and we brought, lasagna, salad (complete with Olive Garden dressing), bread sticks and rice-crispy squares. Our district missionaries were VERY HAPPY!  Feeding these missionaries maybe a regular event because A: we can and B: it brings them a little bit of joy. 

Cherry Blossom Festival was on Saturday.  Camp Zama opens up the post to anyone for a day to walk on and enjoy the blooms, eat at the Exchange food court and many other food offerings set up by various organizations.  There was also live music, stuff for kids, and it was all very festive...and crowded. The official estimation was maybe 10,000 people.  

And, the weather was nice too.  For our part, we just walked around to be seen and meet who we could.  We met a few more members in our wanderings. The local Japanese particularly like the American food offerings. The Popeye's Chicken store in the Exchange one first prize as there was a line taking almost 90 minutes for those determined to get some... 

For walking and walking all day at the Cherry Blossom festival, we treated ourselves to a visit to a restaurant we had frequented when we were stationed here 14 years ago.  I am still not sure what the name of the place is, but it is a "kaitenzushi" (sushi-go-round) style restaurant. It was very good and we had our feel of mostly sushi and it cost us about $35. We probably would have paid at least double that back in the US. We will certainly be back. :)
 

Camp Fuji visit II was Sunday. We had had been in contact with one USMC Marine was an LDS group leader and had asked us to come on Sunday and have a sacrament service with them.

We took our branch's Elders Quorum president with us and we successfully met with a total of four young Marines. We shared a couple of talks (via Youtube) from General Conference, had sacrament and shared testimonies and later, some cookies that Sister Nelson made. 

For it's part, MT FUJI, decided to stay mostly hidden in the clouds while we were there.

Note: this week included a number of food/treat offerings that Sister Nelson made... It started out with a lot of frustration, but she persevered, with some tears,  and finally mastered how to use our Japanese cooking appliances... a little trial and error, but she finally made cookies, lasagna, and more this past week.  

We also enjoyed watching General Conference, here and there, when we had some time. 

Our FIRST WEEK in Japan

What a "whirlwind" week we had starting on Sunday, March 24th.  After an 11-hour flight from Seattle, that started Saturday about noon, we landed at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo.  We didn't get much sleep and with the time change it was Sunday afternoon.  We somehow skipped Saturday evening all together.  Our Mission President and his wife (The Node's)  met us at the airport and took us to their home for the evening.  They were very gracious and gave us a very warm welcome. They fed us a nice meal and sent us off to bed!  They would take us to our new apartment in the morning.  Ready or not! 

Before we left in the morning for our new "home" near Camp Zama, we posed for a picture of Japan that shows the boundaries and location of the Japan Tokyo South Mission.

It took over an hour to drive from the Mission Home to our new Apartment. President Node drove our little Toyota and we rode with Sister Node in the van with our baggage.  Our first stop was at the Zama City offices to get registered as new "residents" and apply for the mandatory Japanese National Health Insurance...that took over 4 hours! 

With a very quick orientation to our apartment and such, the Node's left for home and were now on our own to figure out what was what...all the switches, appliances and such were all in Japanese. We quickly learned how to use the Google Translate App on our phones.  Our view is shown above  

The rest of the week was full of activity and went by in a blur. It included: Driving our car on the other side of the road, and getting our gate pass at Camp Zama --that took two attempts (and it was raining). We visited the Camp Zama Food Court (frozen in time from 15 years ago it seemed), a trip to the Base Exchange (PX) and Commissary for things we needed and food to eat!  Then went to the NAF (Navy base) at Atugi, our other area of responsibility, to find our mailbox, and try and meet some people...we met the Chaplain and we volunteered to come back on Saturday to help with the Atugi Kid's Fest (see below!) 

On Thursday we drove to another town "Fujisawa" and met our district missionaries for the weekly District Council and lunch...Sister Nelson invited the Easter Bunny.  Then we stopped by a "Daiso" store (the 100-Yen Store) and picked up a few more things we needed, and then we ventured home. 

I should mention that we are doing the JET LAG thing ...wake up at 0330 and by 4pm we are totally wasted and falling asleep...that lasted until Sunday....

So, Friday we were invited to go to the Mission-sponsored Easter Concert held at the Temple Annex.  Sounds great...and it was...a member family invited to meet us there and do some Baptisms in the Temple, then have dinner, then attend the concert.  

Sounds great...the catch...we had to venture out into the world of trains.  We did OK, but it took four train train transfers and about 90 minutes to make it to the Tokyo Temple...which is beautiful. It was rededicated about 2 years or so ago and includes a large Annex that houses the Tokyo North Mission Offices, a large chapel, a visitors center, and a small Distribution Center.                

  

We met up with the Parish Family and enjoyed some time with them including a special time in the Tokyo Temple, a very yummy Japanese restaurant, and the concert.  

After the concert, at about 8pm, we made our way back to the train station and proceeded to take four trains back home to Camp Zama.   We got home close to 11pm.  Way past our missionary and jet-lagged bedtime.  As I mentioned, on Saturday we helped at the Atsugi Kids Fest! 

 

We then ventured to the much nicer NAF Atsugi Commissary and bought a few more groceries.  ALAS, the day is not over yet.  We drove back to our apartment, had dinner, and then drove to a new place, the Yamato Church Meetinghouse (where we go on Sunday for Church), to meet the missionaries at 7pm for a teaching opportunity with one of their friends (new name for investigator).  After that, we finally drove back home (30 minutes) and called a day at about 9:30pm. 

I think it's now Sunday. We have been in Japan for one week. 

 It was Easter Sunday.  We drove to Church got to attend a baptism, and then attended our church meeting (we we asked at both events to introduce ourselves and share our testimony). We met a bunch of new people too!  We also got invited for an Easter dinner later on at one of the member's home. The day is almost over... we later tuned into an all-mission-wide Zoom devotional that evening. 

The first week is done.  We are tired.  

But, we are still loving it and excited to be a part of this great missionary experience.