MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Joy to the world, 
The Lord is come! 
Let earth receive her King!    

From halfway around the world we extend our Christmas greeting from Yokosuka (Tokyo South Mission) Japan where we work closely with the Mission, our Ward and Stake, and our Japanese neighbors!  We are having wonderful experiences serving, teaching, activating, fellowshipping and supporting Single Servicemen and Women, the Japanese, and Military Families.  Gratitude fills our hearts for the birth of our Savior, His Atonement, and the Great Plan of Happiness!  May you enjoy peace, good health, and happiness.

Warriors of Light-defending and teaching truth and righteousness!

Yokohama and Fujisawa Mission Conference with Elder and Sister Whiting-Area Presidency-and President and Sister Wada

Look who is here!  Our daughter Bethany, flew to Japan for Christmas and joined us for the Tokyo South Mission Christmas Conference and luncheon.

ENGLISH CLASS

My Japanese friends: (left to right) Yuko, Shizu, Waka, Chie, and Shiori. They were so excited to receive Christmas stockings.

One of the highlights of my mission is the opportunity to teach English to these 5 Japanese women. Last month, during class, I taught them about the history of Thanksgiving and served them a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. This month they wanted to have a Christmas potluck. The dishes they brought were delicious. I believe that these women are teaching me far more than I am teaching them.

WELCOME HOME GEORGE!

Two weeks ago we welcomed home the USS George Washington from deployment with over 5,000 men and women aboard,  Several of our ward members are assigned to this ship.  What a glorious site it was to see this ship pull into port.  We welcomed them home with cookies and a hug.  We are so grateful for their sacrifice and service.

This darling little girl was so excited to welcome her father home!

SISTERS' TRAINING IN KICHIJOJI

We traveled by train (1 1/2 hours) to the mission home in Kichijoji where I spent a day with all of the other sisters in leadership training.  We listened to Sister Whiting, Sister Aoyagi and Sister Wada, our Mission President's wife.  President Wada joined us after lunch and participated in our Zumba class.  Our class was led by cute Sister Wells, the grand daughter of Brother and Sister Wells from Fresno.  She was in our Yokohama Zone until the most recent transfer. 

Sisters' shoes left in the entry way (genkan) of the mission home.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

There is so much to be grateful for this time of year.  Family, friends, good health, and the opportunity to serve a mission in Japan.  We count our blessings every day.  

As you can tell, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our ward family and the missionaries.  We were excited to talk with all of our children and grandchildren who were together in Elk Grove, CA to celebrate Thanksgiving.  While we miss them, we are very grateful they were all together.

HAKONE AND ODAWARA

Odawara Castle

We had the most wonderful time in Hakone which is part of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park. It is famous for its mineral hot springs (onsen), natural beauty and the view of Mt. Fuji nearby.

We rode the Hakone Ropeway and as we approached the top, Mt. Fuji came into clear view.  It was a magnificent site!

Owakudani is a volcanic valley with active sulphur vents and hot springs in Hakone.  It is a popular tourist site for its scenic views but especially for Kuro-tamgo "black egg" a local speciality of eggs hard-boiled in the hot springs.

Breakfast-YUM!  Fish with the eyes, mouth and everything else still attached.  It was quite yummy, but then again I love fish.  My husband on the other hand graciously offered me his and I happily accepted his offer.

WE WILL TEACH, WORK HARD, HAVE FUN, AS SENIOR COUPLES DO!

We are thoroughly enjoying our association with the other senior couples in the mission.  Elder and Sister Shank arrived two months after us and are serving at Camp Zama and Atsugi Naval Air Station.  Elder and Sister Yamashita from the Bay  Area in CA, are the office couple.  They have done an exceptional job in helping with the creation of the new Tokyo South Mission. Elder and Sister Cooper have been here two months and are assigned to Yokota AFB.  They used to live in Modesto, CA before moving to UT.   Sister Cooper and I both have ties to Durango, CO.

Sweet Potato Ice Cream!

Elder and Sister Yamashita were brave enough  sample pressed octopus and offer us each a piece.  It tasted like a very thin, salty wafer!

While at the temple we saw several little girls and boys dressed in traditional attire with their parents.

One candied grape on a stick...only 200 yen.

$2.00

MISSIONARY WORK

We invite you to rise to a new sense of commitment to assist our Father in Heaven in His glorious work.  Every missionary has an important role in helping "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."  (Moses 1:39)  The First Presidency

  

We love our Tokyo South Missionaries! It is a great privilege to be working together side by side in building the Lord's Kingdom here in Japan.

Eating shabu shabu after zone training. 

WARD HALLOWEEN PARTY

We had a delightful ward Halloween Party and dressed up as BYU fans in support of BYU who happened to be playing that day.

GUESS WHAT WE FOUND AT COSTCO IN JAPAN?

Wawona Frozen Fruit Singles from Clovis, CA!