February 8, 2003

Feb. 8, 2003

Dear Family and Friends.

We feel really blessed this week. We received either phone calls or e-mails from all of our family (including Vanessa and Mike and WOW, we are excited about another great-grandchild). We also got a nice letter from Beverly Mounteer and it was nice to hear from Marge. I hope my other sisters are getting these e-mails. It is great to keep up on things going on at home. However, we know very little of what is happening in the USA. We have no English radio station, newspaper, TV; and maybe that is just as well.

Mom and I stay very busy in the office. We are amazed at the way the Church takes care of all the missionaries: property, money and everything they deal with here in the Mission. The governments could surely take a lesson. We really enjoy our work here and the wonderful people we work around. Like Matt said, when you are in the office you are in on everything that goes on in the whole mission. We really enjoy visiting with the Elders and Sisters that come into the office and call us on the phone. They are great people.

Mom has got onto a new way to study the language. It is to sing the words she is trying to learn in a familiar tune. She has given “Oh my Darling Clementine” a good work-out and has learned quite a few new words that way. She works hard on the language every evening and I think she is really gaining on it. Every once in a while a word will come back to me (that I haven’t thought of for many years) while I am speaking to someone. My long-term memory is better than my short-term. But I’m glad I don’t have to proselyte and give the lessons.

Last Sunday after Church, the Tanaka family invited us and the office missionaries over the their place for Sukiyaki dinner. We went over and had a really nice time and the Sukiyaki was delicious. They are such a nice family and real stalwarts in the Church. They said they joined the Church about 15 years ago. It was nice that Elder Allred got his driver’s license and drove us all over in the Mission van except two Elders who rode their bikes. The Tanakas live in a beautiful part of Hiroshima, near the mountains and by bamboo fields. We had a really good time.

Tuesday, all of the missionaries in the Hiroshima District came for a mission conference (they call it a taikai). It was held here at the Church. We had to keep our eye on the office but were able to attend when Elder and Sis. Banks gave their talks. They do such a great job and I’m sure the Missionaries feel encouraged and are motivated to do even better after they have attended a conference.

Pres. Banks said they are going to transfer the Elder Jones, that has been working with me will go out on the next transfer day. He has helped me a lot and I will surely miss him. Also Elder Jones, the AP is going home next week. Mom and I decided to have them all for dinner Sunday before they go. One of the Elders out in the field has been sick almost since he got here about 4 months ago. So the Pres. has moved him in here with the Elders to see if he will clear up, and sent AP Elder Jones up to work with his companion, so Elder Jones won’t be here for Sunday. The Elder has viral bronchitis and if he doesn’t get better soon he will have to go home. (Everyone hates that.)

The weather is really cold here. I can’t believe that it isn’t freezing or even below freezing. We are warm in our apartment and in the office. The kids said that there has been a little snow in Utah. I hope you get enough to do some good.

I guess that’s all there is to report so we will close.

Sayonara, 'Ropa. Nihon senkyoshi' (Edited)