Just jelling in our apartment on P-day.
The cicada bugs (semi) are here and very loud. Christensen Choro wonders why he bought hearing aids!
Monday we tried to get caught up before leaving again this week to inspect apartments. We were able to visit with the Gurrs, Poulsons and Jacob. What a treat! Some of the missionaries came and did their emailing and sleeping. Buckingham Choro and Oobayashi Choro were here three times during the day.
Finally, some flats that don't kill the feet! And cheap, too.
Tuesday we went to District meeting and went to the International Center to pick up some old US new papers for a young lady in the ward. On the way we found a shoe store with very reasonably priced shoes. Christensen Shimai's feet are saved. We then packed for our trip this week.
An apartment inspection consists of:
1. Finding the apartment and a place to park. Parking tickets cost $200, we found out in Hiroshima.
2. We show a training power point that helps them to know what to look for and how to clean.
3. We go through the apartment with them and check the items on the check list. They either make Celestial, Terrestrial, Telestial, or Outer Darkness. Anything less than a Celestial apartment and we schedule a revisit.
4. We take them to the store and buy needed or broken items for the apartment.
5. We buy them ice cream, if Celestial.
It takes from 1 &1/2 hours to 3 hours.
deHorras and Shino Choro in Nobeoka. Celestial!
Oh, those beautiful tunnels.
We have no idea why the trees were decorated with ribbons.
A shrine that just popped up.
Our two-way roads. We just pray that there will be a wide spot if we meet another car.
Ogita and Zaico Choro in Oita. Celestial!
Sure wish we could really show everyone just how splendid Japan scenery is.
Wednesday we traveled to Nobeoka, three hours away, and had a good inspection there. We then traveled to Oita, 1 &1/2 hours away. We had a hard time finding their apartment and had to ask directions. They were ready and had the apartment in tip top shape. They have two baptisms planned in the next week! We then traveled to Nakatsu to stay the night. The Navi took us on 8 KM of narrow road with two way traffic. The only comparison would be the Alpine Loop but smaller with dropoffs on both sides. It was beautiful scenery, except there was no where to pull off to enjoy it and the road was so narrow that Tom didn't dare look for fear of drifting a foot or so and falling off.
When we got to the Toyoko Inn in Nakatsu, 441 KM later, we were tired and hungry. We only found one restaurant and tried to explain that Christensen Shimai was allergic to wheat and to make the Okonomiyaki with rice (gohan). The lady said hi hi, (yes, yes). We got one that we hoped was made with rice flour. It was not. Christensen Shimai has paid the price all week.
Cox and Garry Choro in Nakatsu. Celestial!
Millie the Navi has a fit when we have to drive on roads that are stacked like this.
Pehrson and Newman Choro in Kitakyushu. Newman is "new bean". Celestial!
More tunnels.
Robert check out those trees! Still don't know how to trim them but will continue to study on it.
Ralston and Farb Choro in Yahata. Celestial!!
Traffic and no accidents, just patient drivers!
General Authorities room at Honbu. We love that Queen sized bed!! Ours is barely a double.
On Thursday we inspected the Nakatsu, Kitakyushu, and Yahata apartments. They were ready for an inspection and were delights to inspect. The Yahata Choro even took their tub out and cleaned the mold off the bottom of it! We traveled to Fukuoka and the Mission Home for the night, but not before stopping at a grocery store deli for dinner. Wheat Free Dinner.
We ate breakfast with President and Sister Margetts Friday early. They don't require us to write a weekly letter like the young missionaries each do, they know that we will drop in often to visit.
We sure love those two!
Finally the second visit, DeJong and Rushing Choro at Chikushino are Celestial!
We traveled to Chikushino and hoped they were ready for us this week. They were! When we would check a item and it was clean, they would jump in the air and hit their hands together. We did not feel bad about buying the ice cream for them. We then traveled to Kurume and had lunch with Fluckiger and Hattanda Shimai and their male investigator. The dessert was the best we have tasted here. It was called Annin Dofu. We then helped them teach a lessen. We took the two Shimai with us to Saga and then to Kumamota for the night. They stayed at the church while we inspected the Saga apartment. In May the apartment was a mess. Montes De Oca and Munro Choro had it spic and span. We had to replace some things that were broken and buy more ice cream and we were on our way to Kumamoto. We got home about 6:30, unloaded the car and went to Sports night.
Montes De Oca and Munro Choro. Celestial!!
Montes De Oca, Munro ( Another Aussie), Christensen Choro and Shimai.
Hanna Nakagawa (Gospel English student) 11 years old.
Saori, an investigator and Kawasaki Takuya who was baptized several months ago but had not been out since his sister left for BYU Hawaii. Kim Choro got special permission from the President so that we could give him a ride home as he lives quite a ways from the church.
Fluckiger Shimai and Saori.
Simoea Maui and little Josie.
Tobias Sopu, Atu Maui and sons. ( must get their names)
Saturday we went to watch a Missionary sponsored ping pong tournament at the Tsuboi/Shimizu Ward building..
The champion Hiro kun whopping Oyama Kyodai. We still wonder if Oyama Kyodai didn't lose on purpose.
Hiro kun and brother? Yoshi kun. These are our jugglers at Sports night.
Serious foursome at Ping Pong.
On the way home we bought groceries and prepared for the Temple Preparation Class that night. Tobias was well and helped us teach. Buckingham and DeFreitas Choro sat in on the lesson. It went OK and we will teach them again on Tuesday.
Sunday we went to the Tsuboi Ward to go to Church with the two Shimai. They were late so we called. They had been stopped by the police and questioned about their nationality and passports, etc. We had warned them Saturday to expect opposition as they prepare to go to the Temple. They made it in time for a twenty minute Sunday School class and then we went to Sacrament Meeting. Sister Kawabe spoke for the first time ever and did a great job! We then went home to the Nagamine Ward and helped answer questions in the fifth Sunday lesson on Couple missionary work.
What a week!! Only on the road three days next week! That was all we were on the road this week. Seemed like much longer.
As we were preparing the lesson for the Temple Prep Class we read in 1 Nephi 17: 3,13 of the promises and blessings that God will give us if we but obey His commandments. We have been so blessed and have so much joy every day that we know He keeps His promises.
We love you all, Thanks for the emails, mail and calls.
Mom and Dad
Grandma and Grandpa
Tom and Bess
Elder and Sister Christensen
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