December 29, 2002

Dec. 29, 2002
Dear Family and Friends,
Sunday
Yesterday, Mom and I did our Sat. work and then got on a street car at the Hiroshima Station and went into town to look around. The shopping areas of Hiroshima are huge and we strolled around from street to street and shop to shop. Saturday is our P-day and about the first time we have had to look around. We are having trouble getting an ATM machine to take our credit cards. So far we haven’t found one but I am having the bank look into the problem. If they don’t work on our cards we will have to go to plan B. (I’m not sure what that is.)
We took our little Christmas Tree out and we seem to be getting more and more straightened around. While we were shopping today, we bought some pie tins and a rolling pin and are ready to make pies. We made a couple of apple pies and considering the oven (I finally figured out how to turn it on) and everything being so different, the pies turned out pretty well. We have allot of interesting goodies sitting around the house. Some we bought and others were given to us by the different missionaries at the zone conference on Christmas. Some things looked so bad that Mom gave them to the Elders here and they really went down on them. Mom is a really good sport and tries about everything (at least once).
Today we went to our Church meetings. One of the Elder’s translates for us during Sacrament meeting. We have a new missionary and one or two other people here from Brazil and one of the missionaries speaks Portuguese and he translates for them. We are getting acquainted with quite a few of the Ward members. I am looking forward to attending Sunday Meetings in the other Hiroshima Ward (where I was when I was here before). I may find someone I know.
Love, Elder & Sister Roper