BLOG #76 Some more “Last times”

Week 76  Some more “Last Times”

This was clearly a week of many lasts. Every day was a reminder that we were nearing the end of this wonderful experience. We are grateful that each time we say goodbye, we know we have enjoyed each moment along the way. So many good people have touched our lives, and we will always be grateful for this time. 

For those of you who aren’t aware, I married a man who loves to keep an updated and current calendar. I have used a calendar at certain times, especially when I was keeping track of all the family comings and goings, but Elder Nelson has always been a calendar guy. He has been so great at keeping everything straight on our many mission activities. This past week, the “calendar” indicated we would be cleaning and packing, foregoing most other regular activities. Well…sometimes adjustments have to be made. 

We did a little around the apartment on Monday, but nothing too serious. We headed to the train station about 2 pm for our last time with the Senior Missionaries FHE group at the temple annex. They only get together quarterly because many couples have to travel so far. We all gathered for a potluck with our Area Presidency and their wives. It’s always nice to see all the hard-working couples that serve so faithfully here in Tokyo. We were glad to be able to say goodbye to so many. 

After that, we RON (Army language for Remain OverNight) at the New Sanno hotel so we wouldn’t be traveling back too late on the trains. We found out the hard way that when you get back after 10 pm, the busses stop running and you have to walk a mile to get home. Anyway, we had a nice stay and joined another MRM couple, Rod and Michelle Allen, for breakfast in the morning.

The Allen’s are serving at the Yokouska Naval Base, about an hour from Zama. We have enjoyed getting to know them. They are from the  Reno area and tell us that after the mission, they are thinking of moving to Utah to be by their grandkids. So hopefully we will see them again. 

After breakfast, we headed to the train station, and Elder Nelson made a brief stop in Roppongi to get a t-shirt at the Hard Rock Café. He has a collection from just about everywhere he/we have ever visited. If they have a Hard Rock, he can find it. It was pretty hot that day, so by the time we got back to the apartment, we were not in the mood for cleaning and packing. 

On Wednesday, we managed to pack some boxes to take to the Post Office. We have received so many nice gifts from friends here that we won’t have enough room in our two suitcases each. We did a dry run, packing up what we plan on taking, just to see if it would fit, and I think we will be okay. 

That night, our two YSA guys invited us to a farewell dinner at a very nice Yakiniku restaurant. The kind where you cook the meat at the table with lots of side dishes and rice. The Meltons also joined us, and we had a great time. We will miss Hosea and Eric. They have been great in supporting our efforts with the YSA. We have several others, but most of them are “underway” with the Navy on a ship somewhere. They will return in November. 

Thursday was not going to be a cleaning/packing day either because we were helping for the last time with the Camp Zama Newcomers’ Orientation. We start at 7 am until about 1 pm. Many people from the community come to give a briefing on their organization and it was nice to be able to say goodbye to them as well. This volunteer opportunity is sponsored by ACS (Army Community Service) and they surprised us with a certificate of appreciation and a Sayonara Doll. (see pictures) The doll is actually a scroll that people can sign and leave short messages on. We have been so grateful to serve with these wonderful people. 

After the Orientation, we scurried over to the Commissary to stock up on food for the missionaries at our last District Council meeting the next day. 

We chose to take tacos for the district lunch, and so on Friday, we packed all the things up in our bags and backpacks and headed off on the train one last time to the church building. We have thoroughly enjoyed the district meetings and the chance to witness the hard work all the young elders and sisters do every day. They are truly an inspiration to both of us. 

Since we had done very little on our plan to clean the apartment this week, we came home from the district council, took a brief nap, and deep-cleaned the bedroom. Both of our backs are kind of wonky, so moving the bed around was not the best, but we managed to find all the dust bunnies hiding underneath and felt good that we had accomplished that particular job. We also cleaned out the entryway, known as a genkan. A traditional entryway area to remove your shoes and put them in a cabinet or line them up nicely on the floor. In Japan, wearing shoes inside a house is unclean and considered disrespectful. (This causes one to make sure one's socks don’t have holes.)

On Saturday, we had arranged a short sightseeing trip with the Meltons, but Sister Melton wasn’t feeling well, so we dedicated the whole day to cleaning. We washed all the curtains and rugs and even shaved the couch. It had a lot of pilling, and I have a handy shaver that took care of that. And since we haven’t done our last baking yet, I made four loaves of banana bread for activities coming up next week. 

Sunday was our last one in the branch. It was especially nice that they chose to also have a potluck that day, and we were able to say goodbye to all of the great members who have supported and loved us. I took pictures of most of the tables of members. (see pictures) We hope we will see some of them again sometime. The branch also signed a Sayonara doll for us. We will miss those associations as well. 

We did have one last Zoom meeting with all the MRM couples in the stake. It was kind of strange to be hearing about upcoming events and things and know that we will be far away in another country doing are everyday things. Many people ask us what is next for us, and we don’t really have a concrete plan. Coming home, putting our house back together, spoiling grandkids, seeing other family members, and taking a breath is our usual response. 

We still have a few more things to do in the apartment, and this week we are heading up to Hokkaido for a short trip to the place that Elder Nelson served as a missionary almost 50 years ago. We don’t have a lot of time, but it will be nice to see some more of Japan. Last time we were here, we went up to the Snow Festival there in January. Very cold and tons of snow. It will definitely look different this time. We are taking the Shinkansen (bullet train) there. It is an 8-hour trip. So, things to see along the way, a really good book, and maybe a nap will be a nice finish to this amazing experience of serving in Japan. 

So the week was busy and some things took priority over the apartment but we still have a few more days to get it ready for the Singleton’s.  We have enjoyed our little space here in Japan and are looking forward to our trip to Hokkaido. More on that next week.  

Love to all, 
Elder and Sister Nelson

 

BLOG#75 Fast and Furious and still HOT

'Tis "FAST and FURIOUS...and HOT these days. We are into the countdown mode now.  Not by choice, but the Time Machine keeps ticking away and we have much to do to be ready to return home; saying goodbyes; preparing all things - from our apartment, to all of our current volunteer relationships, for transition to the Military Relations Missionary couple who will take our place. We have been doing "last time" events, and seeing some of our friends and contacts for the last time.  It is all very emotional and somewhat stressful for us.  But it is part of the plan, so we take it one day at a time. 

Monday was for volunteering and repairing furniture and baking. Yes, we still have baking going on! Sister Nelson has refined the art of baking lots of things in a little tiny oven and making it look easy (to those that don't know any better).  Her baked goods -banana bread, brownies, oatmeal cookies, chocolate chip cookies are all "famous" at Camp Zama.  She promises or threatens to never bake again after we get home.  We shall see. 

Tuesday was a "last time" day and very emotional. It was our last trip to the Tokyo Temple to serve as workers there. We have so enjoyed our weekly trip to serve with our fellow senior missionaries and the wonderful Japanese members at the Temple. We have enjoyed each week seeing missionaries from various parts of our mission and being able to stay connected with them. We have enjoyed learning more and more about the Temple and feelings of the Spirit as we serve in His Holy house.  We hope we can continue to serve in the Temple near our home once we return to Utah. 

Wednesday was probably our last time helping at a Red Cross "Coffee Cart" event, where we greet and talk with members from various organizations (this time the Corp of Engineers) located at Camp Zama. This time with the AVP (Animal Visitation Program) doggies. We have enjoyed working with our fellow Red Cross workers and in representing that organization to member of our community.  Most of Sister Nelson's baking effort of late has been in support of various Red Cross events.  We were treated to lunch by Mr. Bryan Oh who is the Camp Zama Chapel director of religious education.  The garrison chaplain, Chaplain Saxton and his wife joined us as well. We have enjoyed a number of times when we have been able to support various events, including Vacation Bible School, that the Zama chapel and chaplains host.  Later that day we each did our last time volunteering at the Health Clinic and Army Community Service. Finally, we met for the Mongolian BBQ event with two of the families (from the chapel community) that we have gotten to know through supporting VBS. We truly have made many special friends along the way,

Thursday we supported the Red Cross office; however, we missed going to our usual District Council because the missionaries moved it from Friday to Thursday because of a transfer that took place Friday.  We love the missionaries, but they are not as bound by a calendar and commitments as we have been and sometimes they will change things up and we have to just say, "sorry," we can help you this time.  We started "dejunking" in earnest too on Thursday and boxed up and number of things to mail home. We came with two suitcases (and carryons) and that is what we have to go home with...but we have accumulated stuff... things we have purchased, gifts, clothes and more. So will be gradually sorting through all of that between now and when we leave.  

Friday we did our mission Emergency Exercise for the last time.  We made a trip to the NAF Atsugi Post Office and mailed our first batch of boxes to our home in West Jordan. It won't be the last mailing either.  We have been gradually sorting through everything and throwing way, giving away, or boxing up everything that isn't nailed down.  Yikes.  It is a bigger job that we thought. We are also starting to clean as we go.  

Saturday we took a break and made another trip down to see the Odawara Castle. It is an old "samurai era" castle, one of several in Japan, that is easy to get to and always spectacular.  The only hard part about sight seeing this time of year is the weather.  It is super hot and humid.  And if it cools down at all, it's because it is raining...and it is Typhoon Season, so rain now means windy and sometime thunderstorms.  

Sunday was a special day because we had two "friends" come to church for the first time.  We don't often get directly involved in traditional missionary activity, but we are blessed to be able to every so often.  We had a gentleman who is from Nigeria, here working in Japan, that the young elders have been teaching via video chat for some time.  Elder Nelson has been assisting and has built a good relationship with him.  Well, he finally made the effort to actually come to the church and meet with us in person.  It was really special.  We have high hopes and faith that he will eventually get baptized.  The other friend was actually a young teenager, who is the daughter of the person Sister Nelson works with at the Health Clinic. This young girl (maybe 16) friended us on FB a while ago, then about a week or so ago asked (via text) what church we went to, and then this past week again texted and asked if she could go to church with us.  Wow. Her parents were absolutely supportive and she rode with us and a member couple on Sunday and had a great experience...and on the way home, she asked if she could come again next week!  Wow again. 

We ended Sunday by having our local young missionaries (2 elders and 2 sisters) over for dinner.  Both the Elders are from the Philippines and both the Sisters are from Brazil.  Elder and Sister Melton also joined us. That will probably be another "last time" thing since feeding the missionaries in our apartment takes a lot of work and preparation that we won't have time to do again before we leave. 

This coming week is another busy week of "lasts" and cleaning and dejunking and saying good byes... We will miss all that we have come to know and love here,  but no worries, we are excited to come home too.

Love 

Elder and Sister Nelson

BLOG #74 Atsui desu and VBS

 Hello to all who are enjoying the summer sunshine. I love summertime, but I have decided that the sun is what makes the 90% humidity feel awful. Without the sun, it doesn't feel so bad. When the sun is behind the clouds, it's almost bearable. Elder Nelson taught me a Japanese phrase. Atsui desu, which means it's hot.  One day this week, the heat index was 117 degrees. Not my favorite. 

When we arrived almost 18 months ago, we were introduced to a gal who knew the Phillips (our predecessors), and she told us that they had helped with VBS (Vacation Bible School). Her name is Tara, and she is a delightful person. She asked us if we would please help with VBS, and of course, we said yes. Last year, we helped at both Atsugi and here on Zama. This year, we had just Zama to help at, and we said we would do whatever they needed. For Elder Nelson, that meant he would be behind his camera, taking pictures of adorable children. In my case, they asked me to be the Craft Lady. I didn't have to decide on or order any of the craft kits,  just be the one who facilitated the class. This meant teaching a new craft every day, Monday through Friday, from 1-4pm, every 25 minutes to children ages 5-12. Gratefully, I had three awesome teenagers who love kids and crafts, and we made it through the week alive. In addition to teaching the craft, I also had to share a scripted Bible story with a theme for the day. That was probably my favorite part. Only a few times did anyone say they didn't want to make the craft, and they were given the opportunity to draw. The kids also decorated a large bulletin board in the back of the class. (See picture) Our Garden

VBS began on Monday afternoon, and I helped get all the little darlings signed in at the registration. With name tags and string backpacks, they all set off for a great adventure. The theme was Magnified, seeing God in the little things. Each day was very busy, and Elder Nelson and I pretty much needed naps when it was over. On Monday evening, we joined with two of our YSA for a dinner at Mikes, a Tex-Mex restaurant nearby. Neither of them had ever been there, and so we trained it there and then got a ride home from one of them. We enjoy sharing time with them. They are such great guys. We have one new guy who just moved here, so now we have three active YSA's.

On Tuesday morning, we decided to head to a large train station to buy our Shinkansen tickets for our Hokkaido trip at the end of the month. This was a lesson in Japanese culture and their incredible ability to remain unfazed by long lines. We arrived about 15 minutes after the office opened, and we were number 32 in line. Each person sits quietly waiting for their number to be called. No one talks. We figured if each person took at least five minutes, we had a fairly long wait. As it turned out, it was only about an hour, and no one there was concerned about the time it took, except these two old people. But, alas, we now have our Shinkansen (bullet train) tickets to Hokkaido. We are really looking forward to that trip. Our mission president approved our request to leave the mission for a few days to go to Hokkaido, where Elder Nelson served as a missionary 50 years ago. Now that makes one feel old. 

That morning, I also found a very large moth hanging out by our elevator. After googling it, I determined it is called a Luna Moth. They are native to this area and grow very large. They only live for 7 days, and this one looked like he was on his way out. But, I was able to take a picture of it to show my VBS kids the next day as we were making bug jars. Always nice to have visual aids. 

Each morning, I have been taking long walks to try and get at least 10,000 steps a day. There are quite a few strange bugs and things I see each morning. The cicadas are out now, and they grow very large in Japan. I took a picture of one next to my thumb to show how big it was. Bugs are not exactly my favorite things, but I am intrigued by some of the unusual ones I see here. 

Wednesday evening, Elder Nelson joined in on a Zoom discussion with a fellow from Africa whom the young missionaries have been teaching. They have had several lessons, and he likes asking Elder Nelson deep questions. When Elder Nelson told him that we would be leaving soon, he asked if he could please meet with us in person. Hopefully, that will happen soon. His name is Pascal and he is probably about the same age as we are. He is here working, but before he came here, he taught Physics. He is a very smart man. We have shared our testimonies with him and hope he will be willing to join our church soon. 

On Thursday morning, we assisted with the Camp Zama Newcomers Orientation. We help set up the classroom and sign people in. It has been a great way to meet the new folks who have just arrived. The community is small, and we often run into them again. We love it when people recognize us and remember that we helped them in some way. The opportunities to serve on this mission have been endless and rewarding. 

Friday morning found us on another train headed to our last Zone Conference with the young elders, sisters, and the mission president. We enjoy gathering with them and being uplifted by the training. We couldn't stay for the whole thing because we had to get back for VBS, but we were glad we could make it. It was our last day for VBS, and the Craft Lady was ready for the crafts to be over. The kids all did really well, and the volunteers really helped things go so much more smoothly. I think they had a total of about 90 kids and 60 volunteers doing various assignments. We had a good time serving with all of them. 

Saturday left us with a decision to either stay at home and start getting ready to de-junk the apartment or go sightseeing to a place we hadn't been to. We chose to hop on another train, but this time we paid a little extra and rode what they call the Romance Car. Basically, an assigned seat with lots of leg room, a smoother ride, and fewer stops. We went to Hakone. It is a resort area up in the mountains near us. It has a large lake, hot springs, hiking, and outdoor activities. We chose to take a "pirate" ship ride around the lake. You could get off and on at three different stops. Each one was just beautiful. The mountains here are covered in dense forests and thick greenery. I'm sure the very wet, humid climate contributes to that. Elder Nelson took some great pictures, and we took another Romance Car train ride home. We decided to visit our favorite ramen shop, Rai Rai Tai, for dinner. It had been quite a while since we had been there. Can I just say that we are going to miss the ramen here? Two amazing bowls of ramen for 2600 yen total, about $18 USD. Not going to find that price in the States. 

On Sunday, they asked all the VBS volunteers to come to the final service at the base chapel, so we attended and enjoyed the meeting. They followed it up with some pizza and cookies. We have now "been there, done that, got the t-shirt."  Lots of great people and memories to help fulfill our mission experience. 

The time is going fast now, and we are doing a lot of things for the last time. We love all that we are having the opportunity to do and appreciate all the love and support from home. Kourtney informed us today that Max and Charlotte have made a countdown chain until we are home. It's definitely getting to be real now. 

Love to all,

Elder and Sister Nelson