Saturday, December 31, 2011

After Christmas Dec 26- Jan 1, 2012

With Christmas in Japan over it was time for phone calls home for the missionaries. We had missionaries come from several different areas to Skype with the families. Skype worked good for the first two calls then the internet died. Iino Choro called the company for us and found out that the phone and internet had been turned off. We have been trying to get rid of the phone in our apartment for 7 months. We did not know that they were "bundled together". The two bills are separate with one going to the Church and other to us. We asked them to turn the internet back on. The company said it would take three weeks. We took Iino and Bagley Choro to Yamada Denki (electrical store), we had internet in 3 hours and at half the price we were paying. We are so sorry that this problem stopped the families from seeing each other as they had their Christmas visit..
Tom fixed Christmas dinner for us all. Bess wanted Watanabi-don again so she could taste it this time. After lunch we played a game that Dad and Mom Christensen have always played with our families on Christmas Day. Pass the spoon. To play we pass the spoon to music. When the music stops, whoever has the spoon picks a wrapped present and opens it. Then the spoon is passed again. This time the person with the spoon gets to pick an opened present or one that is still wrapped. If they pick an opened present then the person that loses their present picks and opens one from the wrapped pile. Before the person with the spoon picked their present they told their favorite missionary experience. It was a fun day!


Oh, those wonderful Shimai!


Not enough food? Yamada and Christensen Choro, Itohara Shimai, Clements, Watanabe, Unice and Bagley Choro.


Choro: Unice, Yamada, Villalobos, Iino, Bagley, Clements, Watanabe and Oba. Shimai: Uchida, Carroll and Itohara.

On Tuesday Tom tried to pass the drivers test again. Itohara Shimai went with us to translate. He did not make it, so he will try again next week.


Second time out of the barn.

Wednesday we had a District meeting. We sang happy birthday to Shino Choro and gave goodby presents to Itohara Shimai. She leaves tomorrow to go to the MTC and then to the Temple Square Mission.



Itohara Shimai. She is missed already but we will find her again when we get home.



Shino Choro, 20 years old and a Branch President.


The whole Gang minus the Zone Leaders at "little door big house" restuarant.

Thursday we took Itohara Shimai to the bus station. It was exciting for her, but sad for us. We hate to see any missionary leave.



Tom, Itohara Shimai and Bess.



Carroll, Itohara, and Uchida Shimai.

Thursday afternoon we took Blau Shimai's bike to Omuta. Takaku Choro's bike is on its last leg and this is his last transfer. They were glad to get the bike and get back on the Dendo Road again.



Shino, Takaku and Stirland Choro. Three amigos!

Friday and Saturday were spent in personal and companion studying and then planning with the young missionaries for the new Eikaiwa year.

Tonight, Sunday, we ate at the Takahashi home. Oishii food! (delicious)
We shared this message with their family before we left.

D&C 16: 6 And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen.

May we all have a year of sharing the good news of the Gospel with new friends and those we love!

Happy New Year!

Love,
Grandpa and Grandma
Dad and Mom
Tom and Bess

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