Our Mission Blog #8
We started off this week with a family Zoom. Almost everyone signed in and we played a Japanese guessing game trying to identify pictures we have taken of unusual things we have found here in Japan. Those grandkids are smarter than you think and then we went around and updated everyone on the various family activities amongst our clan. It was fun for the grandpa/ma to be able to see all those grandkids and check out our kids as well. Who knew Bret could grow a mountain man beard?
Tuesday started early as we needed to take the train to downtown Tokyo to fulfill our temple assignment. We have chosen to serve on Tuesdays because that is the day the young elders and sisters from the mission can come to the temple. We help do the parts of the temple that require English and smile and point the rest of the time. After the temple assignment, it was another train ride back to our apartment. Basically, we are on our feet from 8-5pm because a lot of the time there are no seats on the trains so you have to stand. Our feet were totally done at the end of the day but being in the temple was so amazing.
That night was also Young Women's activity night so I helped the Young Women this week as they painted journals. We had almost every girl there as well as the sister missionaries. It was a fun group.
We also had the privilege this week of attending a prayer breakfast here with many of the chaplains and soldiers here on Camp Zama. It was very reminiscent of our active duty days joining with all of them. The guest speaker was a survivor of the Ft. Hood shootings. His name was John Arroyo and his message was very inspirational. Sorry, we didn't get any pictures but he has written a book called "Attacked at Home! Green Beret's Survival Story of the Fort Hood Shooting" I think it would be an interesting read.
Later that day we went to get fingerprinted for a background check that we have to do to volunteer at the hospital. Did you know that your fingerprints can wear out? The poor guy trying to get mine was pretty frustrated. He sent in what few he could get and we will see if I pass. Brad's were better than mine but we both have old hands.
Speaking of old hands, on one of our train rides a sweet older woman gave up her seat for me because she said I was a "church person". ( the badge is a dead give away) I knew she was older than me because my hands didn't have as many wrinkles as hers. Anyway, it was nice of her but that was a first for me on the train.
On another of our train rides this week we traveled to Yamate, Japan for Zone Conference with the missionaries. Yamate is an area that is part of greater Yokohama City. Yokohama is the port that Heber J Grant came to, with others, and dedicated Japan for missionary work in 1901. The monument is in Japanese and is in front of the Yamate chapel. We had a great day learning with the young elders and sisters and our mission president and his wife. Bento box lunches were a hit. (forgot to take a picture....again) Then back on the train with 3 transfers. Oh...and did I mention all the stairs? Great exercise, right?
We took another train adventure back to the Temple Annex for our Stake Conference on Sat and Sunday. We had the great idea? to spend the night nearby in Roppongi after the adult session on Friday night. It was fine but Kourtney got a good laugh when she shared with us that Roppongi is known as a clubbing district at night with lots of bars. Who knew? She thought it was hilarious that her missionary parents stayed there. I told her all we did was fall into bed and sleep. We will be more careful where we choose to stay next time.
Sunday's Stake Conference session was wonderful. We were able to hear from many of the great leaders here in the Tokyo area. Our stake is all English speaking. It is made up of military families and single soldiers, airmen, marines, and sailors as well as embassy folks and other professionals. It makes for a great melting pot of people.
After Stake Conference, we hopped back on yet another train (4 transfers) back home to get what we needed to go to Camp Fuji to offer sacrament meetings to the marines stationed there. The four marines that were there previously have all returned home so in the last couple of weeks we haven't had anyone. The chapel there shares the building with a USO lounge. When we walked in there was a young marine there watching a movie. He said, "hey, you guys are missionaries" (once again the badges). We told him we were and he said his brother was on a mission in Okinawa. We asked him if he was also a member and he reluctantly said that he hadn't been to church since he joined the Marines 5 years ago. We invited him to join us and we had a quick sacrament meeting including a message from Elder Nelson on prayer. He said he was really happy to have met us and we shared our cookies and brownies with him. He asked if I would take a picture and send it to his mom in California. Of course, I did and she was very happy to hear from us and see her son. It was a tender mercy to this old missionary couple to have him join us as we share our love for others and the gospel.
Heavenly Father knows and loves us all and sometimes he lets us know through other people that He is there. We are grateful for this opportunity to love and serve here in Japan. Love to all.
Elder and Sister Nelson
Military Relations Missionaries
Tokyo South Mission
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