May 25, 2003

Sun. May 25, 2003
Dear Family and Others,
We have had another enjoyable week in Japan. Again we thank all of you who have communicated with us this week. I suppose by now, most schools have closed for the summer. That will be nice for the teachers but maybe more hectic for the parents. We can always relate to you that have an unbearable month of May. Afton and Howard, did you have a memorable 50th wedding anniversary? We would have liked to have been there.
We are having another rash of ill missionaries (maybe its an ongoing thing). Sis. Banks is in charge of anyone that is sick (what a responsibility and worry). It is also a problem for Pres. Banks because he has to make arrangements for a replacement for their companions so that both missionaries are not idle. This week we have had three sick Elders staying here in the Mission Home. It is things like migraine headaches, an Elder that fell off his bike and broke a rib, an Elder that has a serious depression, and two Sisters that are both sick with something like the flu. Anyway, we sure appreciate the fact that so Day before yesterday we got an e-mail from the member that is here from Singapore. He said that his parents will be here this week-end and he is really excited because last Sunday he told us they didn’t think they would be able to come because of SARS. His six months is just about up and he will be returning home at the last of June. We have enjoyed him but our meetings are hard for him because he knows no Japanese. His main language is English and his second language is Mandarin. He says he would like to come back here to live and work He is a really faithful member. We asked him if he plans on a mission and he said maybe if marriage doesn’t work out with the girl from Singapore he is going with now. The sad thing is that she isn’t even a member of the Church, but he feels quite confident that she will join.
Sis Gohaller fixed us up with two disks of Lez de Azevado’s arrangements of LDS hymns. She also let us borrow a CD unit to play them on. So we are enjoying them along with some of the Tabernacle Choir disks that Sherry sent Mom. Our place has now livened up. Every Friday, Sis. Gohaller has the Sis. Missionaries that work in this area over to her home for lunch. Last Friday she had the Sis. pick Mom up and go with them. They had a good lunch and a nice time visiting. Being the wife of a former Mission Pres. Sis. Gohaller is really cognizant of the missionaries and does what she can to look after them.
Tues. Mom and Sis Gohaller went visiting teaching two Sisters, one from Brazil and one from the Philippines (she is married to a Japanese). She was appalled at the small apts. they lived in. One of the Sis. husband is also an active member, but the other Sis. from the Philippines, none of his family are in the Church. In fact she can only attend Church when her husband permits it, which is rare. She loves the gospel and has such a great desire to attend. She has the cutest little four month old baby with long black hair, Mom loves holding and playing with it but she says it makes her homesick for her own granddads. Mom was grateful for Sister Gollahar’s navigation system on her car because these two sisters live way out in the boonies and it got them there slick as a whistle.
We hope all is well with you and you have a good week. This coming week is especially bury for us -with new missionaries arriving and those whose time is up are returning home plus the monthly transfers. Our prayers are with you all.
Love, Gary & Shirley