Week 48 Japan Sites - Sounds - and Service

This last week started out on holiday.  It was Presidents Day at Camp Zama so almost everything we would normally do was closed. In fact, it was a "long weekend" for many.  Anyone who could, went out of town somewhere.  We spent Sunday evening at Camp Fuji after meeting with our young Marine.  Monday, we took a short drive over to the closest of the five lakes that surround the Mt Fuji area - Lake Yamanaka. It was cold and windy but a beautiful area to see and experience.  We enjoy the time we can briefly take a break from our regular missionary activities to see some of this beautiful Island nation.

On Tuesday we ventured back to Tokyo for our last Temple day for a few weeks as the Tokyo Temple is closed for maintenance until early in March.  We enjoy our time there for many reasons, this time we got a good group picture afterwards with some of our fellow Military Relations Missionary friends. 

Wednesday was a service day as we first held down the fort at the Red Cross office in the morning. Sister Nelson oriented a new volunteer while we were doing that.  After lunch, Elder Nelson helped at Army Community Service and Sister Nelson helped at the Camp Zama Occupational Health clinic.  Both places kept both of us quite busy. We made a quick dash to NAF Atsug to get our mail and found some dinner over at the Navy installation.

Thursday we supported the bi-weekly "Newcomers Orientation," which is our opportunity to help and also to greet and meet many of the new incoming Soldiers and families.  We don't visit with them per se, but they all get to see us and our badge and know that we are here.  Being seen is sometimes that important first step.  We also stayed, as Red Cross volunteers, to support an Information Expo for all the new people during their lunch break.  Then (busy day) we manned the Red Cross office for a few hours.  Still, later, we made a quick trip to the grocery store, back home to throw a lasagna together, and then off to support the Celebrate Recovery group as we do each week

Friday was an exceptionally busy day that started out with an hour-long trip on the train to the Yokohama area for our Zone Conference with the young missionaries and our Mission Leaders.  We have a Zone Conference once each "transfer" or every six weeks.  We enjoy listening to the guidance and inspirational messages and interacting with all of the missionaries each time we meet. This time was special because we finally met our grandson, Elder Jace Nelson's friend, Elder Tullis who got to our mission a number of weeks ago.

Later on Friday we returned back to Camp Zama, caught our breath, and supported a Camp Zama chapel Chili-Cookoff event. We had volunteered to help as part of the Red Cross contingent. So we associated with our Red Cross friends and many from the Zama Chapel community that we also knew from many previous engagements. Elder Nelson even got to be one of the judges.  We have some good friends in the Camp Zama chaplain population. The USARJ senior chaplain introduced to the group as "Missionaries from the LDS Church!"  That was a surprise, but then again, they are not embarrassed that they know us and that we serve their congregation too.  Good people. 

Saturday was a special day.  Sister Nelson bought tickets to a show for my birthday and Saturday was the day.  We boarded an MWR bus in the morning and it dropped us off in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo. We had not yet been to Shinjuku this time.  We had about five hours to kill -- see whatever sights we wished to and then return for the show about 5:45pm-ish.  We had a list of a few things, but the shear size of Shinjuku was overwhelming and some of our "we should go see" places were a bit further than our old feet could carry us. We did manage a nice Korean lunch in nearby "Korea-town," and we found the "Godzilla head" peering out from top of one of the hotels and then we marched off to find the Tokyo Metropolitan Building, which boasted a great observation deck on its 45th floor.  We found it, but by the time we did, our feet were done and it was getting colder and windy.  We did enjoy the amazing view, but we opted for a Taxi ride back. We got out of the Taxi cab in the area famous for a 3D Cat billboard. Pretty amazing technology. 

After viewing the cat (and all the other people viewing the cat), we made the short walk back to where our show was.  We were early, too early, so we killed some more time in Starbucks with some hot chocolate.  Eventually we were able to go into the theater for our show.  

The performing group we saw is called "Drum Tao."  The are an amazing troupe that performs with all the varieties of Japanese drums, flutes, the Koto, and Shamisen instruments. Their choreography, strength and stamina, and musical prowess was quite spectacular.  We loved it and will try and catch them one more time this summer.  They were heading out for a world-tour and are coming back to Tokyo in July!  

The show ended close to 9pm and we had to board the bus and make the long ride back to our Camp Zama.  All in all, it was a very long day and most of it was very memorable.  Everything, but all the walking. 

Sunday we did Church and did not have to make the trip to Camp Fuji this week.  And on to another week. Hope your week is a good one too.

Love,

Elder and Sister Nelson