January 11, 2003

Friday Jan. 11, 2003
Dear Family,
We surely appreciate all the contact we have had with the family this past week. I believe we have heard from everyone, either by phone or by e-mail. We are happy to know that all is good and everyone seems to be getting along well. That is exciting that Chris and Marie are planning a cruise. That will be fun and we wish we could help out with Spence and Jocey. Hope you are starting to feel better, Mer. E and Mar, it is always hard to get back into teaching after the Christmas break, but I always liked the teaching time after Christmas because things were much more settled for a while. Sorry about that pitiful Sister in your Ward that died and left all those little kids. Matt and Jen, we hope things work out with the house in Mesa. We are glad you aren’t moving so far away. Sherry, I don’t see a need to re-new the insurance on either the car or pick-up until we get back. If someone needs to use either, I am sure their own car insurance will cover them while driving another car. Thanks, Sherry for your follow through. We’re glad to hear that Jeff received that wonderful promotion at work, and Brenton, what a nice recognition at school.
The other day some men came into our apartment to see if they could make an e-mail connection in here for us. They couldn’t connect in here so they went into my office and couldn’t connect in there either. They said we would have to get another phone line into the building which would be very expensive. Pres. Banks said he would take it under consideration, but I’m afraid it would be too expensive. So we are back to square one. In the meantime, we can continue to use Pres. Banks’ indefinitely, which we appreciate very much. Go ahead and call us, we can get some more phone cards for you as you need them.
This has been a busy week in the office. Tues. the 8 new missionaries came in. One from Japan and the others (including one Sis.) from Provo. They received their orientation on Wed. and went to their assignments on Thurs. On Thurs. the missionaries scheduled to go home arrived. The Pres. has to interview all the new missionaries and the ones going home, individually. The financial sec. has to meet with both the new and old missionaries to give them their money, tickets and reimburse them for there tickets for their travel here in Japan. In the meantime there is all the going and coming in the office. However, they are doing a good job of having the missionaries wait in other areas so we don’t have such a bunch in the office at once.
I am slow catching on to my new finance job, but Elder Jones is patient and I think eventually I will get onto it so he can be sent out and continue his missionary work (which I’m sure he is anxious to do). Unfortunately, I’m not as quick with money as I used to be. Mom is getting onto her work and her trainer has been assigned another job in the same office, and can help her out if she needs it. About everyday I have to go to a bank and Mom has to go to the post office. We are learning our way around pretty well now. In our time off, we try to walk for exercise and then Mom keeps a limited amount of exercising going in our apt. with the two bars and rope she brought along. We enjoy visiting the many shops and markets in this area. The Elder’s always tell us where to go to get the cheapest buys. We really love the vegetables and rice here. The vegetables have such a good flavor and there isn’t anything quite like Japanese rice. We have a rice cooker in our apartment that cooks it just right and we eat it often. I have found an ATM machine that seems to work for getting our money out of our checking account in Cedar City.
Today is our P Day. Mom is down stairs where someone is telling them about hair cutting here in Japan. When she is finished I am going to try my luck at getting my hair cut down by Hiroshima Station. The Elders’ know a place where I can get it cut for $10. instead of $20. and on up that most of the places charge. We may also go shopping down in the main part of town.
I guess I better close and try to get this sent. I hope that Marie can get it out to every one. If she doesn’t happen to receive it I will send it to one of you others and maybe you can send it on. Thanks Mer.
Until next week, Love, Dad & Mom.