November 9, 2003

Sun. Nov. 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
It has been good to hear the good news (and even the bad) from so many of you this past week. We appreciate it that all of you seem to be in good health.
I was just thinking it has been exactly 12 years ago today that we moved into our new home in Cedar. Also we began our mission just 13 moths ago, yesterday. Time marches on whether we want it to or not.
The fall has been especially beautiful here this year. Yesterday the day was so nice that Mom and I decided to go over to the Hiroshima Castle. We found that we could walk from here in about 20 minutes. The castle is located in a mote that is surrounded by water. When we got over there they were having a flower exhibit –all kinds of mums arranged in a fantastic display. We took several pictures. On our way to the castle, at a Buddhist Shrine near the castle, we noticed that many little kids, the little girls dressed up in their bright colored kimonos and little boys dressed up in their little yukatas were there with their parents. It must have been a special commemoration of some kind. We asked to take several pictures (which the Japanese are delighted to let you do). We visited the castle and returned by way of a park, a baseball stadium and ended up over where the a-bomb memorial stands. We had a very interesting day.. I am in charge of setting up earphones and translating equipment for our Church meetings. A few days ago, Sis. Gollier called us and told us to expect about 10 English-speaking visitors at Sacrament Meeting this morning. We had everything set up but none of them showed up. But the person that Bro. Gollier and I are assigned to home teach was there. We have tried on several occasions to contact him, without success, and so after Church we met with him for a few minutes and finally completed a visit. Hopefully we are set up again for next month. I think I have told you about him –a returned missionary from SLC that after his mission came back and married a local Japanese Sister, had two children and then divorced. He teaches English here. He is very discouraged and doubts he will ever go home and leave his children here. It is a sad case indeed!
This morning Marie called and gave us the good news that Bruce has agreed to let her and Chris adopt their little kids. I think Bruce has sunk so low that he realizes he isn’t in a position, or will be in a position to be a father to Spencer and Jocelyn. This is something we have hoped for but not expected.
Tomorrow, Pres. and Sis. Banks are going to Tokyo for a Mission Presidents seminar. They will be gone for four days. We hope things will be OK here while they are gone. One thing is they won’t be any farther away than the telephone.
They told us in Sacrament Meeting today that this nice fall weather usually only lasts until Sept. So we are having an exception! It is time to close and get this sent.
Love, Gary & Shirley/chichi & haha senkiyoshi’s

P.S. Ann, I wanted to add a separate comment to you. I was so disheartened to hear about Kays’ problems---again. What is going on in his life that is causing him to go through marriage after marriage? I don’t know the in’s and outs of what’s gone on for sure but I’m wondering if he should bail out so soon, there are a lot of people’s lives affected and there is a temple sealing involved. What happened to perserving and just doing your best no matter what the other person does? Did Joanne tell him to leave or did he just leave on his own? Sometimes I just think it’s just to easy to walk out of a situation when the going gets tough instead of knuckling in and making sure things work someway. I don’t know but going through four failed marriages isn’t good.
My heart aches for him and I am so very concerned about his welfare and well-being. How is Ray advising him? You may remember that Ray and Rinda started the whole Kay and Joanne thing in the first place. I’ve never heard a word from either Ray or Kay except for Ray last Christmas. Are their fingers broken so they can’t e-mail? This is a very disappointing development and I pray that it may be resolved from a gospel perspective and with the eternity of the marriage covenant in mind.
I really appreciate you keeping me informed about things. We really enjoy the missionary work and, like you, can’t believe how fast the time is going! One thing, would you please send me Scott’s mailing address?
Bye for now, Love Shirley