Week 36 Thanks and Giving

This week, we had lots of opportunities to be thankful and give. Most of our weeks are like that, but they don't usually include a 23-pound turkey. We stayed busy and tried our best to stay out of trouble. We tried a little harder to take pictures this week but missed a few events. 

We were able to help the new MRM couple get more acclimated to the area and events. On Sunday, we had them over for dinner and visited with them. We had Elder Nelson's favorite, meatloaf, so he was a happy missionary. It has been a while since I have done a Sunday dinner, so I had to remember how to pull that all together. We have enjoyed getting to know the Meltons. I'm sure they feel like there are so many things to learn about having never been here before. It is a beautiful and exciting place to learn about. I know they will greatly help us as we "divide and conquer" the work here. 

On Monday, we had a sweet Japanese sister, Sister Endoh, whom we know from the temple, take us all -to Zama City Hall to get the Meltons signed up for their health care insurance and register their address here. Sis Endoh was a great help as she could translate and fill out the forms correctly. We did the same when we arrived, but we did it with the mission president's wife, Sis Node. That seems like just yesterday. Time marches by so quickly here. Anyway, the Melton's are all set up with the city and the insurance for old people.

Our usual Tuesday temple was nice and peaceful. We will try and get a good picture of a sweet little nativity they have set up there. The Zama community had a tree lighting on Tuesday as well. Elder Nelson will include a very pretty picture of the lights at our main gate. "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" around here. There are a few Christmas decorations in the hall closet from the couple that was here before us, so it's time to pull those out. 

Wednesday was a baking day for these old missionaries. I volunteered us to help make some desserts for the single soldier's Thanksgiving dinner. They specifically asked for Red Velvet Cake, Carrot Cake, and Fudgie Brownies. Thanks to some excellent recipes from my daughter-in-law Ashlee, an excellent cook, I managed to swing it. We finished baking them in a full-size oven, which was weird and left them in the cooler for them the next day. I hope they enjoyed them. After all the baking on Wednesday, Elder Nelson took me to one of our favorite ramen places. Rei Tei Tei. I had an awesome kimchee ramen, and it was nice not to cook. 

Thursday dawned as a new Thanksgiving day with lots of cooking. We invited 8 sets of missionaries, some single adults, and the Meltons. That added up to 14 people. However, 4 of the elders called and canceled that morning, so we were down to 10. A little more manageable in our tiny apartment. We purchased a 23 lb turkey and baked it with one of the ward members who have a full-size oven. With all the trimmings, it was a delicious dinner and even more wonderful company. We talked about the things we are thankful for, played some Tenzi, and ate lots of food. We had a Filipino sister and a sister from Brazil who had yet to ever have a Thanksgiving dinner before. We dried the wishbone in the microwave and let them pull it apart and make a wish. Amazingly, it split exactly down the middle, and neither got the larger half. So they both got their wish. 

The day after was our Zone Conference with about a third of the missionaries and our mission president. We all received some excellent training, and the Japanese sisters in the Fujisawa ward gave us a delicious lunch. We love gathering with the young elders and sisters. They have such strong spirits and energy. I think of our grandson Jace, who is serving in the Philippines when we are with them. Missionary work is happening worldwide and it is such a blessing to be a part of it at this time. 

On Saturday, we took 2 other missionary couples on a little excursion to Kamakura to see the "Big Buddha." We have been there before and wanted to share it with them. It was beautiful weather and fun times with some old people. Lots of stairs to climb and trains to catch, and we were all pretty tired by the time we got back.  Also, the autumn colors were out in full splendor!

And, of course, church on Sunday is always a blessing for us as we go and renew our covenants to follow our Savior and always remember Him. We love the experiences we are having and hope we will be able to help others see the blessing it is to serve as He served and love as He loved. 

Love to you all, and thanks for your support and encouragement.