June 15, 2003

June 15, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!
This has been a really good Father’s Day and 45th wedding anniversary (June13) for us. We have heard from most of our the family. In fact last evening after we got back from the Fukuoka Temple, Elaine called. I got on and thought it was Marlene and said, “It was nice to hear that your school principal was being transferred”. Elaine said that wasn’t her principal, that was Marlene’s. And I realized that I was talking to Elaine, not Marlene. Anyway that how it goes for me.
We decided to celebrate our anniversary we would go to the Temple, yesterday we had a really nice trip but it made a big day for us. We decided to take the bus down and save about $200. on the trip. The only problems was that it took four hours down to Fukuoka and four hours back; while the Shinkansen (at 160 miles per hour) is only an hour each way. It was a really enjoyable day. We took a good lunch and just halfway through the trip the bus stopped for a ten-minute rest stop, each way. The scenery is so beautiful at a slower speed and from the highway, we also had a good front seat that helped our view. The bus station is right next to the train station in Fukuoka, so we just walked over to our regular streetcar stop and took the same one we usually do, right to the Temple.
They always act happy to see us at the Temple. They have to find an English speaking person to take us through that last part, so sometimes we are first and other times last. However with only 30 or 40 people in a session, either way we always get through quickly. Many of the oriental people we go through for only have a one-word name on the card. I hope the right people get those blessings.
Sis. Banks and I had dental appointments at the same time and place, last Thurs.; so Sis. Banks drove us over in the Mission car. Mom went over with us and went shopping in a nearby Dept. store while we were getting our teeth fixed. When we got through, Sis Banks and I went over to the store to find Mom. They were having a fantastic clothes sale (for Father’s Day) and Mom was right there in the midst of it. Sis. Banks got enthused about the Sale and wanted to shop so I went into another Dept. to look around at the electronics for about an hour and a good time was had by all. I do have another dental appointment for next Wed. They only do a little bit at a time, but the price is right and they seem to do good work, so I will continue on.
This morning in Priesthood Meeting, the lesson was from Pres. Taylor’s book, Chapter 11 about enjoying all of God’s creations and the enjoyable things in life. I couldn’t help but think about the beautiful scenery here in Japan. The bus ride we had to the Temple was absolutely beautiful. It appears that everything is landscaped because there is green everywhere, so many beautiful trees and flowers that look like they were put there especially for our enjoyment. Japan is truly a beautiful country. Mom says her very best meal is rice cooked with onions and green peppers; salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocados and ranch dressing; tuna fish; cooked carrots, cauliflower and broccoli; and banana nut cake or pie for dessert. The vegetables are great and I also enjoy that meal.
We can’t get over how affluent the Japanese people are. Their standard of living is on a par with ours. Everything is modern, clean and well kept up. The people are very clean and especially well-dressed (better than most people at home). If there are poor people, it certainly doesn’t show.
It is time to finish this. Thank you for keeping us up to date on what is going on at home. Time is passing quickly and we are being blessed and having a great mission.
Love, Ropa senkyoshi’s