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!

FRIENDS

A couple of months ago one of the teachers I worked with in CUSD, messaged me on Facebook and told me she was coming to visit Japan with her husband.  Mary and I made plans to get together once she arrived. We met in Kamakura and spent the day talking, walking, shopping, eating and visiting some historic sites.

It was so much fun!  It made me realize how much I have missed all of my friends back home.
Friends are such great treasures.  Please know how much I miss you all.