All Roads Lead to Kumamoto, 4 - 10 Jun 2012

The missionaries keep coming and going and getting better and better.  As we get to know these wonderful missionaries, we are in awe of the trials they have overcome, the strength of their testimonies and willingness to serve missions. They come from many backgrounds, but are here for one reason.  They are here because they love Christ and want to share His gospel of happiness throughout the world.  We love being here and being taught by these spirituals giants!

Tuesday was the last district meeting of the transfer.  We celebrated Shimada Choro's birthday with a banana and a chocolate cake. Bess made two kinds because Ikeda Choro promised not to eat chocolate for six months and has asked an investigator not to smoke during that same time.  Ikeda Choro is doing well, but the investigator is not doing so well.  After meeting, the two districts went to a buffet to eat together.

Shimada Choro and birthday presents.

Tokuzawa Shimai, Bess, Mueller Shimai, Lawson, Kanaida, and  Kano Choro, Tom, Watanabe, Barros, Cox, Ikeda, Wada, and Beckstrand Choro.  Shimada Choro was taking the pictures.

 After three weeks of lessons, we had a baptism in Kumamoto on Tuesday!  Yasuhirokun is a very remarkable young man.  A rugby player and an all around good person.

Mueller and Tokuzawa Shimai, Yasuhiro and mother, Watanabe and Beckstrand Choro.

Yasuhirokun and two old people.

The kids, even the girls, welcome Yasuhirokun into the church.

 Wednesday we had bacon, sausage, and pancakes together and waited for transfer calls.  When they came, we are staying together and in Kumamoto, we were sad and happy.  Some tears were shed and we went on to do the the many tasks at hand.

Waiting for calls.

We played a game for Eikaiwa which was a combination of Pictionary, Charades, Jeopardy, and Flyswatter.  That was a very fun night!

Some students saying good by.

Beckstrand was only here 12 weeks, but we will miss his smile.

es

Thursday, it was hard to watch the buses leave.

The dreaded bus stop!  We are are all trying to smile.  We will see Beckstrand Choro in a couple of weeks at Zone Conference.

The goodby friends.

Almost the last hug.

Furusawa and Mueller Shimai, Hoffman and Watanabe Choro, we love new missionaries.

  We fed German Pancakes to Watanabe Choro and Mueller Shimai.  Went back to pick up the incoming missionaries, Hoffman Choro and Furusawa Shimai, but they had missed the bus!  They were late, but safe. After we delivered them, we traveled to Fukuoka to say goodbye to the last of the missionaries that were here in Kumamoto when we arrived, Buckingham Choro.  We were too late to make the temple section, but attended the testimony meeting afterwards.

This picture is for you Launa

Sakamoto Couple finished their mission and are going home.

Guevara and Buckingham Choro returning home.

We stayed overnight Thursday and said goodbye to the missionaries.

Friday morning with Oba Choro's help we took the new car to the dealership for a check up.  

Buckingham Choro a good reason to travel to Australia.

We traveled home and had our transfer Eikaiwa planning meeting.

Saturday we prepared our talks that we are giving in two weeks, scheduled the rest of the months apartment checks, taught at Eikaiwa, and attended ward missionary coordination meeting.  Sunday, Bess made two cakes for the ward dinner. we attended church and then the dinner to say goodby to Brother Oaks.  Trouble was, he got stuck in Tokyo and was not there to enjoy his farewell.

In conclusion we would like to quote President Monson from April 2011 General Conference. “If you have not yet been to the temple or if you have been but currently do not qualify for a recommend, there is no more important goal for you to work toward than being worthy to go to the temple. Your sacrifice may be bringing your life into compliance with what is required to receive a recommend, perhaps by forsaking long-held habits which disqualify you. It may be having the faith and the discipline to pay your tithing. Whatever it is, qualify to enter the temple of God. Secure a temple recommend and regard it as a precious possession, for such it is.

Until you have entered the house of the Lord and have received all the blessings which await you there, you have not obtained everything the Church has to offer. The all-important and crowning blessings of membership in the Church are those blessings which we receive in the temples of God.”

We love you!

Grandma and Grandpa,

Mom and Dad,

Bess and Tom