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
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