September 13, 2003

Sat. Sept. 13, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
It is time to write again. Many of you have communicated with us this past week. We really appreciate it. We are glad Marie & Chris’ baby blessing turned out so well. That is an occasion we are sorry we missed. We got some nice pictures from Chris and Marie and also from Mike and Vanessa and their new little ones. They are really cute. Marie also sent us some pictures of Afton and Howard’s Golden Wedding, and the Roper family reunion in Fillmore, that was great to see familiar faces. We talked to Matt on the phone the other day and he asked us to let you know that he has been so busy with school he hasn’t had a chance to answer his phone calls from you yet. His dental school in Mesa, AZ is pretty rugged, but we are glad he is able to keep up. There just doesn’t seem to be enough time (for any of us). We also received a copy of Aunt Kathleen’s family newsletter. They have had an exciting summer. Some of them indicated that they attended the Lyman Reunion in Fillmore and got to see Alan and Lori. Kathleen has a new pace-maker and she says she is feeling so much better. At the end of every day, Mom says: “Boy this has surely been a big day!” With only two new missionaries coming in and two going home, transfers went much smoother this time. Sis. Barlow (one of the missionaries going home) and her companion, Sis. Umatani; sat in my office and cried and cried because Sis. Barlow was going home. Friendships made in the mission field are some you never forget.
Thurs. evening was the testimony meeting for the departing missionaries. Mom and I have hounded Pres. Banks since we arrived to tell us the story about the walnut tree in Pres. Hinckley’s back yard that was removed by Pres. Banks and his brother, sawed up and made into the beautiful podium in the Conference Center. He has put us off because he has been so busy. But since the testimony meeting was short, Pres. Banks told us the whole story. All we had heard about it was what Pres. Hinckley said about it in the General Conference. It was really interesting and Pres. Banks said he had it written up and would give us a copy. I won’t go into details about it here but when we get home we will make sure you get a chance to read it. We will be glad to get a copy and it will be enjoyable reading for our whole family.
We have had Elder Hollingshead (a missionary from SLC, related to the Hollingsheads in Delta and Minersville) who came into the Mission Home, ill, about two weeks ago. His chest and stomach has given him so much pain, yet the Drs. here have examined him up and down and claim they can’t find anything wrong with him. So this morning, Pres. Banks told us that Tues. he will be going home. He really hates that because he has worked so hard and has a pretty good knowledge of the language. I’m sure he will be able to complete his mission later on. It is a big responsibility for the Mission Pres. in cases like that and it will be better for him to get under the care of Drs. in the US. Here in Japan, the doctors usually attribute any illness to stress. Our missionaries just don’t get the care here they can get at home.
Last evening, Mom and I were walking over to Best’s Dept. Store. As we ware crossing the street, Mom noticed a wallet laying on the street. We stopped and picked it up and looked around to see if anyone had lost it. We didn’t see anyone so brought it home. We had one of the Japanese Elders here look at the contents (there was a drivers license, credit cards, streetcar pass, and other papers in it, plus about 15,000 Yen ($150.) in it. The Elders found a phone number and got in touch with him this morning. Of course he was overjoyed. He came over a little while ago, and brought a sack of chestnuts. I can imagine how grateful he was.
We try to go over to Bests at least once a week to use one of their messaging chairs, that they have as demonstrators. You sit in it and it automatically gives you a great back, shoulder, neck, head and leg message. It is really keeping Mom going. I suppose since they have those chairs here, they also have them back home.
The rainy season should have ended last month, but we can’t tell when it is or isn’t the rainy season. It continues to rain about 1/2 the time. When I was over to the Post Office yesterday, the man told me that Sept. and Oct. is the typhoon season. I said I thought we have just had the typhoon season. So I guess we can plan on typhoons and rain anytime. We are really enjoying our mission and it is going fast. We appreciate good health and the opportunity to serve.Sayonara, Ropa Choro to Ropa Shimai (Haha & Chichi)