Mothers Week 7 - 13 May 12

This week was Mother's Birthday as well as Mother's Day.  We started the Fukuoka Zone apartment inspections and enjoyed our time there.

Monday we found a park and lake. We had a good two mile walk.  Camera stands are handy little things to carry in a purse.

Tuesday we helped the Office Elders, Usui and Oba Choro, and Zone Leaders, Edwards and Yamada Choro, get needed supplies for their new home, a house.  Such things as drapes and fans are important.  The APs, also live in this house.

Tuesday we checked Hinode and Watanabe Shimai's apartment.  They were getting different furnishings donated by an investigator who was moving to Australia.  They donated some of their old to the Choro's house.

We visited with the clean Elders at Maebaru, Maxfield and Burton Choro.

After picking up the supplies for the "house"after 8pm we stopped for a late evening dinner with Oba and Yamada Choro.

Wednesday we started the day with two delightful Shimai, Kaneko and Tingey, in Fujisaki.

We finished the inspection day in Chikushino with Elders Murphy and Jeffery.  They are so clean. 

We then drove home and taught Eikaiwa. Three new students!  We have a lot of fun working with the students. They almost always teach us much more than we teach them.  They are better students though, they remember what they learn..

Thursday we found another park with a lake and pigeons.

We bought some Mothers Day flowers to plant.  These were bought in honor of Sister Margetts!  See the pink in the middle?

Thursday night at dance class, Bess got a dvd made of her and the teacher dancing.  No she will not share with anyone.  Don't ask!  It's embarrassing.

Saturday we picked up the office couple, Elder and Sister Rogers and took the back roads to Mt. Aso.  The top was closed again when we got there, but as we ate lunch it opened just long enough for us to see in the volcano.  We traveled on to the Shirakawa Fountainhead, where Tom likes to drop his phone in the water, and enjoyed the peace and quiet.  We took the Rogers back to the bus stop around 6 pm. A very enjoyable day!  
A Nagamini ward missionary meeting at 7:30 pm finished off our day.

Elder and Sister Rogers top of Mt Aso.

A time to remember!

Elder and Sister Rogers at Shirakawa Fountainhead springs..

Drinking that pure spring water.

Sunday Bess was surprised when we came home from a walk to find the missionaries and Brother Oaks in the apartment with dinner ready.  We had a great dinner and she got flowers and a card.  What a treat! A perfect evening!!  Thank you families that shared your loved ones with us.

Mothers Day guests, Mueller and Tokuzawa Shimai, Watanabe and Beckstrand Choro, Tom, Bess, and Brother Oaks

                                Mueller Shimai, Bess, and Tokuzawa Shimai.

                                 Beckstrand Choro, Bess and H. Watanabe Choro.

Dinner!

The apron gang are great cooks, servers, and dishwashers!.

Quote from Bess's journal, "Sunday-Mothers Day, Before our mission this was always a day that brought back all the mistakes, insecurities, hurts, and pure pain of memories of my lack as a mother and wife.  Here in the mission field I now understand the wonderful gift our Savior gave us of the Atonement!  It heals not only the pain of my own mistakes but also the pain of others actions.  I am so grateful for this knowledge.  I am learning to forgive, not only others, but also, myself.  I cannot change anyone but myself!  Others must learn this for themselves."

We love you all!!

Grandpa and Grandma

Dad and Mom

Tom and Bess