Roper's History

My Life According to Me -Hiroshima Mission Oct to Dec. 2002

2008-07-04T14:27:00.000-07:00

HIROSHIMA JAPAN COUPLE MISSION
Oct. 2002 to April 2004

Oct. to Dec. 2002
In August 2002 after about two weeks I went to the mail and there was a large envelope from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At home with trembling hands we opened the envelope and immediately read the letter from Pres. Hinckley; “You have been called to serve in the Hiroshima Japan Mission”. Our assignment was to be the Mission Office couple. I was overjoyed! Nearly 50 years before while serving in the Japanese Mission I had been assigned to the Hiroshima District for 14 months. It was my favorite area!
Our Mission call indicated we would be in the Senior MTC for 2 ½ months to study the Japanese Language. I remembered some of the language from my first mission so the language training taught Shirley the basics of the language and helped me improve my skills.
We started our language training on Oct. 18. We lived in the Senior MTC in Prove. Our training was at the regular MTC (approximately 1/2 mile each way) and thank goodness we had our car there so we didn’t have to walk back and forth We were the only ones in the Sr. MTC studying Japanese. The language training here was very good compared with the way I learned it. They have so many good teachers, materials and computer labs (designed especially for the Church), and such a systematic way of presenting it all. We attended many wonderful assemblies while we were in the MTC and met several General Authorities.
We had an early Christmas with our family at Marie’s home who was at the time living in Springville. We said our final goodbyes to our family. We especially missed our grandchildren. We left our car for Chris to take home to Cedar on one of his trips down there. Matt and Jen lived in our home in Cedar City until Matt’s Dental school began in Mesa, AZ., then Marie’s family moved in from Springville and Chris started his new job in St. George.
After almost 3 months in the MTC, on Dec. 16, 2002, early in the morning the MTC bus loaded us and our belongings and took us to Salt Lake where we boarded a United airline to Osaka, Japan via San Francisco. At Osaka after clearing customs and just getting started to see about getting tickets on the Shinkansen to Kyoto, up walked Pres. Banks. He had come clear to Osaka to meet us and make sure we made all our connections to Hiroshima. What a special effort that was on his part. By the time we got to Hiroshima we were very well acquainted with him. When we pulled up to the station in Hiroshima we looked out the window and there stood Sis. Banks and two Elders holding a huge sign to welcome us. We really felt special by the time we got to the our apartment where there was a little Christmas Tree all decorated on our table, flowers, the door to our apartment all decorated, and a plate full of delicious goodies to eat. A far cry from the welcoming I got on my first mission. (Senior couples really have it made!)

Since the Senior couple we were replacing had returned home about 3 months before, Pres. Banks had assigned Elder Chris Jones to serve as the Mission Financial Elder until I arrived. Elder Jones was assigned to train me for awhile until I became acquainted with the Mission Financial procedures and became Mission Financial Elder. I had a small office inside the main office equipped with a computer, vault to store the money, etc.

Elder Robertson was assigned to train Shirley to be the Office Secretary. That included taking care of the mail, notifying and keeping track of missionary transfers and their assignments, and generally taking care of all things connected with the office. One of the first things she did was rearrange the office so that each of the office Elders could have their own space. Since it was the Christmas season Sis. Roper spent most of her time forwarding letters and packages to all the missionaries. Things in Japan come to a complete standstill until after New Years.

The Mission Office doesn’t open until 10:00 AM. That gives us time to study our Scriptures and language in the mornings before we have to open the office. Right now there are six Elders that work in the Mission Office. One Elder is training me and one is training Shirley. Two of the Elders are native Japanese Elders who speak very little English; and two Elders are serving as assistants to the President. Pres. Banks said that right now all the missionaries in the Mission (137 or them) seem to be doing very well. We have been impressed with what we have seen. We met some of them at the Provo MTC and they arrived here before we did.

I was slow in learning my job because of my memory problems and it was easier for Elder Jones to do things himself than walk me through everything. I did soon learn the places I needed to go like the bank, post office, and where the ATM machines were located. Everything in Japan is done by cash. Checks and checking accounts are not used because money is transferred by wire all over the islands. The only way we could get our money from home was with a debit card that transferred money right out of our bank acount at home to ATM machines in Hiroshima.

This morning Sis. Banks drove us around the immediate area to show us where all the shopping places are and helped us get a few things we needed. Pres. and Sis. Banks left this afternoon for zone conferences until Saturday. We are really excited about our mission.

On Christmas eve all the hombu (mission home) missionaries were invited over to Bro. & Sis. Tanaka’s home for dinner and Christmas caroling around their neighborhood. We had an enjoyable time. The caroling was fun and seemed to be well accepted by those non-LDS neighbors.

Christmas was quite uneventful. The Branch had a Christmas party and we began to get acquainted with some of the Ward Members. We brought some candy with us and exchanged them with the Elders. We received some strange Japanese type goodies, tried them and gave the rest to the Elders. They really went down on them.

On Christmas Day we had a zone conference here in the Hiroshima District. We attended most of the conference along with getting today’s Christmas Mail delivered to all the Missionaries that were here. We were introduced and gave a little of our background and family info. There were about 40 Missionaries in attendance. Everyone seemed interested to know that I served as a missionary right here in Hiroshima 48 years ago. After our introduction, all the missionaries came through the line to meet us (much like a wedding reception) and gave us a little gift of some kind. We were really loaded up! Our Mission Pres. and his wife both gave excellent talks on the atonement (Christ’s gift to us). This afternoon we went to see about getting lined up on my medicine and got back in time for the missionary testimony meeting.

Tonight we met with all those who are attending English study class, which I think we will be teaching. English study seems to be a way of proselytizing (as it was when I was here before). We surely hope you had a good Christmas and I’m sure we had one we won’t forget for a long time.

On our first Sunday we attended our Sunday meetings in the chapel here in the mission complex. It is interesting to take the elevator down to the second floor where the chapel is located and we hold our Ward meetings. It is a comparatively large ward, about 77 members. We were interested in the make-up of the members. There were two families whose husbands were American returned missionaries who served in Japan and the mothers were Japanese. Two members (Japanese) were from Brazil; several missionaries serving in the Hiroshima area and the rest were local members. In the High Priest group there were ten present. It is remarkable how the Church has grown since I was here before -barely one Branch with one or two Priesthood members at the most. with the missionaries living there serving as Branch Pres. and taking care of most of the Church services. For Church Shirley and I were asked to introduce ourselves and tell about some of our family Christmas traditions. We did it in English and had Elder Robertson translate for us.

On the day after Christmas (which was Christmas at home) was P-day for our missionaries so everyone was anxious to get on the phone and talk to their families. Pres. Bank made a rule that a limit for a call home was 30 minutes.

I find that my language skills are really lacking. I can carry on a simple conversation but I had trouble understanding the talks and lessons that were given in Church today. Everyone tells me that will gradually improve as I go along. (I hope they are right.) Shirley is doing well with the language she learned at the MTC. Getting used to the way the Japanese speak the language is different, but as we get used to the way they speak it, I’m sure it will become easier.

After Christmas we took our little Christmas Tree out and got our apartment straightnend around. Our apartment was very small -one room and a bath. We had a double bed, small table, refrigerator, gas stove, washer and dryer, and a microwave. The bathroom which was no bigger than a closet, consisted of a shower, toilet and shelves. The apartment had heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer. It was located on the same floor as the Mission Office, which made it very convenient for us.

Our preparation day was scheduled for each Saturday. On one of our first P-dats we got on a street car on the other side of the Hiroshima Station and went into town to look around. The shopping areas of Hiroshima are huge and we strolled around from street to street and shop to shop being careful not to get lost. The Hiroshima Station is a large complex full of underground shops and to get on the other side of the station we walked under the station.

On the second Sunday we were there, we went out to Takasu to attend Church. One exciting thing was that we contacted Sis. Tawara by phone and she agreed to meet us there at the Church. She is no longer active in the Church and so we visited for a few minutes and she returned home so we could attend the meetings. I learned from her that Sis. Naito and her husband (who eventually joined the Church) had moved to Tokyo to be nearer her family. They are active and later I called her on the phone and had a good visit with her. It was fun to visit Takasu and we learned we could ride the densha directly from the Hiroshima station. During our Mission, Pres. And Sis. Banks drove us out there when there was a District conference and we also watched General Conf. broadcasts in that building.

The Church demolished the old home where I lived, purchased some land behind the lot and constructed a beautiful two story Church Building. There is a nice chapel upstairs and District offices on the first floor. I have many fond memories of that area.
I had forgotten how cold it was during the winter in Hiroshima.

December 2002

2008-06-24T13:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,Mer, would you please e-mail this to just the immediate family members this time? I am including some information on phoning, time schedules, etc. It was enjoyable to talk to you and E. on the phone, today. Its sounds like everyone had a great Christmas.Sun. Dec. 22, 2002We have had an enjoyable day. We attended our Sunday meetings in the chapel here in the mission complex. It is a comparatively large ward, about 77 members. We were interested in the make-up of the members. There were two families where the fathers were American (returned missionaries to Japan) and the mothers were Japanese. Two members (Japanese) from Brazil. Several missionaries serving in the Hiroshima area and the rest were local members. In the High Priest group there were ten present. It is remarkable how the Church has grown since I was here before (barely a Branch with one or two Priesthood members at the most and the missionaries serving as Branch Pres. and taking care of most of the Church services).There is another ward in the western part of town. They have constructed a new church building on the property where I lived before. They tore down our building (it was a regular Japanese home that had been converted into Elder’s quarters and where we held church); then constructed a new church. I am anxious to se that building. (Property is so expensive and hard to get here in Japan, this same thing has happened in many of the missions in Japan). We are anxious to see if there are any members still living or who have remained active from when I was here.Our Mission Pres. says the Church is encouraging college age Japanese members to attend school at BYU or BYU Hawaii, so they can be around other Church members and see how the Church really functions. This also helps them break away from traditional family practices that are contrary to good Church activity.I find that my language skills are really lacking. I can carry on a simple conversation but I had trouble understanding the talks and lessons that were given in Church today. Everyone tells me that will gradually improve as I go along. (I hope they are right.) Shirley is doing well with the language she learned at the MTC. Getting used to the way the Japanese speak the language is different, but as we get used to the way they speak it, I’m sure it will become easier.Right now there are six Elders that work in the Mission Office. One Elder is training me and one is training Shirley. Two of the Elders are native Japanese Elders who speak very little English; and two Elders are serving as assistants to the President. Pres. Banks said that right now all the missionaries in the Mission (137 or them) seem to be doing very well. We have been impressed with what we have seen. We met some of them at the Provo MTC and they arrived here before we did

Wed. Dec. 18, 2002Dear Family,Well we’re here in Japan! We arrived about 9:30 PM last night. We are so excited to be here.Boy, what a day yesterday (Monday) turned out to be. We were up at 5:00 AM getting the last of our things stuffed into our suitcases. The MTC missionary was on the job at 6:30 to take us to the airport. We got all checked in and on our way to San Francisco at about 10:00 AM (about 1:00 hour late) and made it to San Franscico in time to get on our connecting flight at 12:00 PM. We were on a big 747 plane that was completely loaded. We didn’t have to have any of our luggage inspected and got to Osaka without a hitch, after crossing the international date line and arriving in Osaka at 6:30 PM on Tues.At Osaka after clearing customs and just getting started to see about getting tickets on the Shinkansen to Kyoto, up walked Pres. Banks. He had come clear to Osaka to meet us and make sure we made all our connections to Hiroshima. What a special effort that was on his part. By the time we got to Hiroshima we were very well acquainted with him. When we pulled up to the station in Hiroshima we looked out the window and there stood Sis. Banks and two Elders holding a huge sign to welcome us. We really felt special by the time we got to the our apartment where there was a little Christmas Tree all decorated on our table, flowers, the door to our apartment all decorated, and a plate full of delicious goodies to eat. A far cry from the welcoming I got on my first mission. (Senior couples really have it made!)Today we have been getting all our stuff moved in and put away. The mission home and office is really nice. We really like our apartment. It is compact in size and very convenient -nice modern bathroom, well equipped kitchen, washer and dryer. Much like Afton and Howard’s apartment in Hong Kong except a little smaller, I think.This morning Sis. Banks took us around the area to show us where all the shopping places are and helped us get a few things we need. Tomorrow we start in on our assignments at 8:30 AM. Shirley will be the mission secretary and I will be the mission financial secretary. Pres. and Sis. Banks left this afternoon for zone conferences until Saturday. We are really excited about our mission.When Pres. Banks gets back next week, he is going to help us get lined up on an e-mail connection. In the meantime I will send this to Marie on Pres. Banks’ e-mail and have her forward it to you. Have a wonderful Christmas. Right now you can write to us on Pres. Banks’ e-mail. His address is bradbbanks @ aol.com.Love, Gary & ShirleyDec. 29, 2002
Dear Family and Friends,
Sunday
Yesterday, Shirley and I did our Sat. work and then got on a street car at the Hiroshima Station and went into town to look around. The shopping areas of Hiroshima are huge and we strolled around from street to street and shop to shop. Saturday is our P-day and about the first time we have had to look around. We are having trouble getting an ATM machine to take our credit cards. So far we haven’t found one but I am having the bank look into the problem. If they don’t work on our cards we will have to go to plan B. (I’m not sure what that is.)
We took our little Christmas Tree out and we seem to be getting more and more straightened around. While we were shopping today, we bought some pie tins and a rolling pin and are ready to make pies. We made a couple of apple pies and considering the oven (I finally figured out how to turn it on) and everything being so different, the pies turned out pretty well. We have allot of interesting goodies sitting around the house. Some we brought and others were given to us by the different missionaries at the zone conference on Christmas. Some things looked so bad that Shirley gave them to the Elders here and they really went down on them. Shirley is a really a good sport and samples each of the goodies (at least once).
Today we went to our Church meetings. One of the Elder’s translates for us during Sacrament meeting. We have a new missionary and one or two other people here from Brazil and one of the missionaries speaks Portuguese and he translates for them. We are getting acquainted with quite a few of the Ward members. I am looking forward to attending Sunday Meetings in the other Takasu Ward (where I was when I was here before). I may find someone I know.
Dear Family,
Mer, would you please e-mail this to just the immediate family members this time? I am including some information on phoning, time schedules, etc. It was enjoyable to talk to you and E. on the phone, today. Its sounds like everyone had a great Christmas.
Sun. Dec. 22, 2002
We have had an enjoyable day. We attended our Sunday meetings in the chapel here in the mission complex. It is a comparatively large ward, about 77 members. We were interested in the make-up of the members. There were two families where the fathers were American (returned missionaries to Japan) and the mothers were Japanese. Two members (Japanese) from Brazil. Several missionaries serving in the Hiroshima area and the rest were local members. In the High Priest group there were ten present. It is remarkable how the Church has grown since I was here before (barely a Branch with one or two Priesthood members at the most and the missionaries serving as Branch Pres. and taking care of most of the Church services).
There is another ward in the western part of town. They have constructed a new church building on the property where I lived before. They tore down our building (it was a regular Japanese home that had been converted into Elder’s quarters and where we held church); then constructed a new church. I am anxious to se that building. (Property is so expensive and hard to get here in Japan, this same thing has happened in many of the missions in Japan). We are anxious to see if there are any members still living or who have remained active from when I was here.
Our Mission Pres. says the Church is encouraging college age Japanese members to attend school at BYU or BYU Hawaii, so they can be around other Church members and see how the Church really functions. This also helps them break away from traditional family practices that are contrary to good Church activity.
I find that my language skills are really lacking. I can carry on a simple conversation but I had trouble understanding the talks and lessons that were given in Church today. Everyone tells me that will gradually improve as I go along. (I hope they are right.) Shirley is doing well with the language she learned at the MTC. Getting used to the way the Japanese speak the language is different, but as we get used to the way they speak it, I’m sure it will become easier.
Right now there are six Elders that work in the Mission Office. One Elder is training me and one is training Shirley. Two of the Elders are native Japanese Elders who speak very little English; and two Elders are serving as assistants to the President. Pres. Banks said that right now all the missionaries in the Mission (137 or them) seem to be doing very well. We have been impressed with what we have seen. We met some of them at the Provo MTC and they arrived here before we did.
Mon. Dec 23
It has been a beautiful, warm, sunshiny day here, today. A mountain of mail is being delivered here everyday which has kept Mom really busy (forwarding the missionary’s mail out to them in the mission). You can tell its getting close to Christmas.
The ward had their Christmas party this evening. They asked Mom and I to tell some of the Christmas traditions our family has. We did it in English with one of the office Elder’s (Elder Robertson) translate for us. It was a fun party and we enjoyed watching the little Japanese kids. They had little packages of goodies for each.
Sis. Banks said the e-mail we sent to Mer last week, evidently didn’t go through. I’m afraid she stills hasn’t got her computer’s e-mail up yet. Any way we re-sent it to Sherry and eventually we hope you will get it so that you will know we are here.
Tues. Dec. 24
Today we were happy to receive e-mail from Marie and also from Matt & Jen, so I guess our first one went through. They are still trying to get our e-mail connected up. Until then we will continue to impose on the Banks’.
Tonight, all the hombu (mission home) missionaries were invited over to Bro. & Sis. Tanaka’s home for dinner and Christmas caroling around their neighborhood. We had an enjoyable time. The caroling was fun and seemed to be well accepted by those non-LDS neighbors.
Dec. 25, Christmas Day
Today they had a zone conference here in the Hiroshima District. We attended most of the conference along with getting today’s Christmas Mail delivered to all the Missionaries that were here. We were introduced and gave a little of our background and family info. There were about 40 Missionaries in attendance. Everyone seemed interested to know that I served as a missionary right here in Hiroshima 48 years ago. After our introduction, all the missionaries came through the line to meet us (much like a wedding reception) and gave us a little gift of some kind. We were really loaded up! Our Mission Pres. and his wife both gave excellent talks on the atonement (Christ’s gift to us). This afternoon we went to see about getting lined up on my medicine and got back in time for the missionary testimony meeting.
Tonight we met with all those who are attending English study class, which I think we will be teaching. English study seems to be a way of proselytizing (as it was when I was here before). We surely hope you had a good Christmas and I’m sure we had one we won’t forget for a long time.
Dec. 26,
Today we had a mountain of Christmas letters and packages to forward to the missionaries. Today was P-day for our missionaries so everyone was anxious to get on the phone and talk to their families. Pres. Bank made a rule that a limit for a call home was 30 minutes.
Sherry, there are one or two things that I wish you would check on for us. I have charged some things on my Capitol One credit card. Would you please watch for those bills and pay them off when they come?
Also they tell us here that the most economical way to phone is to have the call originate in the US and use a phone card. The best deal on a phone card is one purchased at Costco. Would you please purchase a $20. or $25. card for each family (including one for Mike and Vanessa)? Then you can call us instead of us calling you.
Here are our phone numbers:

Wed. Dec. 18, 2002
Dear Family,
Well we’re here in Japan! We arrived about 9:30 PM last night. We are so excited to be here.
Boy, what a day yesterday (Monday) turned out to be. We were up at 5:00 AM getting the last of our things stuffed into our suitcases. The MTC missionary was on the job at 6:30 to take us to the airport. We got all checked in and on our way to San Francisco at about 10:00 AM (about 1:00 hour late) and made it to San Franscico in time to get on our connecting flight at 12:00 PM. We were on a big 747 plane that was completely loaded. We didn’t have to have any of our luggage inspected and got to Osaka without a hitch, after crossing the international date line and arriving in Osaka at 6:30 PM on Tues.
At Osaka after clearing customs and just getting started to see about getting tickets on the Shinkansen to Kyoto, up walked Pres. Banks. He had come clear to Osaka to meet us and make sure we made all our connections to Hiroshima. What a special effort that was on his part. By the time we got to Hiroshima we were very well acquainted with him. When we pulled up to the station in Hiroshima we looked out the window and there stood Sis. Banks and two Elders holding a huge sign to welcome us. We really felt special by the time we got to the our apartment where there was a little Christmas Tree all decorated on our table, flowers, the door to our apartment all decorated, and a plate full of delicious goodies to eat. A far cry from the welcoming I got on my first mission. (Senior couples really have it made!)
Today we have been getting all our stuff moved in and put away. The mission home and office is really nice. We really like our apartment. It is compact in size and very convenient -nice modern bathroom, well equipped kitchen, washer and dryer. Much like Afton and Howard’s apartment in Hong Kong except a little smaller, I think.
This morning Sis. Banks took us around the area to show us where all the shopping places are and helped us get a few things we need. Tomorrow we start in on our assignments at 8:30 AM. Shirley will be the mission secretary and I will be the mission financial secretary. Pres. and Sis. Banks left this afternoon for zone conferences until Saturday. We are really excited about our mission.
When Pres. Banks gets back next week, he is going to help us get lined up on an e-mail connection. In the meantime I will send this to Marie on Pres. Banks’ e-mail and have her forward it to you. Have a wonderful Christmas. Right now you can write to us on Pres. Banks’ e-mail. His address is bradbbanks @ aol.com.
Love, Gary & Shirley

Sunday Dec. 1, 2002
Konichi wa....(hello)
It is time to write again. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Day and a good week. We were able to get away in the afternoon. Marie and Chris invited us and Elaine to eat Thanksgiving dinner with them with Chris’ family in Springville. We had a wonderful meal and a good time.
Thurs. morning all the missionaries assembled to see “The Other Side of Heaven”. Afterwards Elder and Sis. Groberg talked to us about his experiences in Tonga and then answered many questions that some of the missionaries asked. It was really interesting, faith promoting, and inspiring. Elder Groberg indicated that he was my age (68) and I figuered out that we were at the ‘Y’ at the same time and on our missions at the same time. My mission was certainly nothing like his.
That evening we attended a fireside with all the missionaries. It was a testimony meeting with special musical numbers in between. Some of the missionaries told about their conversions and the sacrifices they have made to be members of the Church and to be going into the missionfield at this time. Very enjoyable.
Our departure date has been moved to Mon. Dec. 16. We hope we will be ready by then. Friday we had a substitute teacher for one of our language study sessions. He had a unique way of teaching Japanese. He had made up some little songs with certain grammar rules. Shirley was having trouble using the ending for some of the verbs, so he taught her a ‘rap’ song that goes like this: “i, kunai, katta, kunakatta desu”. He also taught us a song to the tune of “My Favorite Things” that teaches how to use the particles in Japanese. Now I hear her singing these songs all the time (they really seem to work).
They have had to depend on me to accompany the singing in Priesthood Meeting. Pres. Rowe was complimenting me on sticking to the piano when I was young. He said that he had started but fizzeled out and then others commented that they had too. I said, “But you didn’t have a mother like I had!” We finally got to see Tony Wilson. He seems to be doing well with the language for having been here two weeks.
Our family is coming up here today for a pre-Christmas get together at Marie’s. It will be exciting to see everyone.
We appreciated e-mails from Ann, Mike, and a letter from the Dutsons. Afton, thanks for all the details about your house, your candle fire, and your trip to Branson. It is a blessing that your living room roof didn’t come down. That just goes to show you are living right! Even though it was a big mess, it was good you were able to have Thanksgiving there and I’ll bet it turned out nice. So good you decided to go ahead with the remodel when you did. I was surprised to hear that the Church is tearing down that beautiful building where you worked in Hong Kong. We were so impressed with your facilities there. However, the Church has to keep up with expansion and I’m sure the new building will be really nice also. We really appreciate Marie and Chris keeping the e-mails going and all of the family doing special things to help us get on our way.The MTC here is a really inspirational place. We will certainly remember our stay here. We notice that this is the second or third marriage for many of the couples here. There are also some single sisters here. Evidently they don’t allow single men to serve missions. Its also interesting that every couple who are learning a language said they stated on their application that they did not want to learn a new language. Does that tell us something?
Christmas is on its way. It sounds like a big job that we will miss out on, but it is a good family time. We hope you are all doing well.
Sayonara, Ropa Choro & Ropa Shimai

December 28, 2003

2008-06-23T16:00:00.000-07:00

Dec. 28, 2003
Happy Holidays to all our family and friends,
By now most of the holiday excitement has passed! We had a wonderful Christmas and looking forward to New Years, which traditionaly is the most celebrated holiday in Japan. I was just noticing that the bank will be closed five straight days next week, along with most of the Post Offices. I believe they will deliver the mail on most of those days and some of the central Post Offices will accept new mail.
On Christmas Eve, the Tanaka family held their traditional Christmas Eve Caroling party. We were invited again this year, but that was the day Pres. Banks was going to Osaka to pick up his children and so we didn’t have transportation to Tanakas. But at about 9:00 PM we had a knock on our door and there was the whole party group out in the hall to sing carols to us. That was really nice of them! The Japanese Shimai’s (sisters) brought us some delicacy that had something in it that Mom thought looked scary, it looked a little suspicious to me too, being that it had a big fat egg sitting in the middle of it and other little floaties in it. Mom got Elder Aoki to eat it and made him promise not to tell the sisters.
On Christmas day (your Wednesday) it was hard to get a phone line through because all of the missionary’s families were calling their sons and daughters. However, we did spend most of the time on the phone. The ones we didn’t talk to that day, called the next day (your Christmas day). It was fun to hear from all our family. We also received cards or letters from Afton (including a clever poem she made up). Dot (reporting on Misty and Austin’s new baby girl –Congratulations), Ann (bringing us up-to-date on Shirley’s family), Kathleen and Wilmer’s family newsletter and the 20th Ward Newsletter. Thanks to all of you.
Christmas Day we met Pres. and Sis. Bank’s son Joshua, and his wife; and daughter Annika. It was nice they could come and it really brightened the holidays for the Banks. They will be here for about a week. Annika is a hairdresser and has promised to cut Mom’s hair while she is here. The Banks’ other daughter Emily and her husband and little son were here last April for a week and couldn’t get off work to come with the family now. Yesterday, they rode out to Iwakuni sightseeing, and tomorrow they are going to Himeji to see a castle there. Pres. Banks’ work has slacked off this time of year so this is a good time for them to come.
I think I mentioned this before, but every year my postmaster friend, Mr. Miyake’s, brother-in-law goes hunting wild boar near here. This year while we were down to the Temple, Miyake brought a piece of the meat over for us but we were gone so gave it to Pres. Banks to give it to us. He put it in his freezer. It was a while before we heard about it, which was making Miyaki nervous. But we did get the meat and cooked it up last week. It tasted very good. Pres. Banks saved the piece Miyaki gave him until today (when the family was here) and they cooked theirs up. We all agreed it was delicious. It tastes more like beef than pork. We had heard that the smell was similar to antelope meat, but we didn’t find that to be the case. We all really enjoyed it.
There isn’t very much to report, this week. We have a lot of year-end work to be done and it is complicated because so many places here are on vacation. We always look forward to hearing from home. We hope the rest of the Holidays are good for you.
Love, The Ropa Senkyoshii-

December 23, 2003

2008-06-23T15:57:00.000-07:00

Dec. 21, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
It has turned really cold here. In fact, yesterday it snowed on and off all day (between sun and clouds). Of course it didn’t snow enough so that it stayed on the ground but it was unusual for Japan. Some of the children in the ward, who came with their mothers to church, made several small snowmen (about 10 inches high) and put them on the railing outside the church building. They were really cute.
We told you about them asking Shirley to help with the food for our Ward Christmas party, last evening. Mom never could find out exactly what they had in mind (I don’t think they knew themselves). But anyway Mom came up with a recipe called ‘hay-stacks’ and they asked her to oversee it as the main course. Hay-stacks are cut-up chicken in a gravy sauce on rice, with cut up onions, pineapple chunks, tomatoes, mushrooms ect. on top, with grated cheese on top of that. One of the Relief Society ladies said she had tried the recipe a few nights before because she couldn’t imagine pineapple in it but she really liked it. And Mom made several pans of desert –a nut crust with a layer of chocolate pudding and a layer of regular pudding and cream cheese whip cream on top. Then we heard that they were asking members to bring potluck.
Anyway the party was widely advertised so as to get as many investigators there as possible. We really encouraged all our English class members to come and many of them did. After the program (which included a Christmas story from Mom); they started to set-up food all over the room and the hallway. They brought in some tarps to set some tables to put the food on but there was no place to sit! So everyone started moving chairs around the room to sit on. It looked so terribly disorganized to us, but everyone started eating. One of our English class ladies said she had looked all over but couldn’t find the

December 14, 2003

2008-06-23T15:26:00.000-07:00

Sun. Dec. 14, 2003
Dear Family and anyone else who might read this:
I can’t believe how near to Christmas it has become. The Japenese merchants are surely on to squeezing every yen they possible can out of a holiday that isn’t even commemorated by the Japanese. There is Christmas decorations and Christmas music everywhere. Yesterday we saw a shop loaded with Christmas nick-naks with a sign, “Happy Silent Night”.
We had Bus tickets to go to Fukuoka to the Temple. But when I got around to checking them out, they had us scheduled for Friday, instead of Sat. So I went back to exchange the tickets and they said the Bus for Sat. morning was full and sold out. So if we wanted to go and get there for more than one session, we decided to take the shinkansen (train). The price is overwhelming, but we made it down in one hour. (Mom noted how it took ½ hour to get from the train station to the Temple by bus.) Anyway we had an enjoyable day at the Temple. The first session we attended was full (they had to bring in extra chairs). But there were only about 15 people in the next session.
They had one American working in our sessions. We talked to him after and he said he has been in Japan 13 years. He originally served here on a mission, married a Japanese member and has six children (none of them speak English). He said he is originally from Ohio and now lives about ½ way between Nagasaki and Fukuoka and works in the Temple when he can. He is employed by a computer Co. and can’t afford to go to the States very often. We can’t imagine how that would be!
Friday morning Pres. Banks called all the Mission Home Elders into his office and announced that Elder Carter who is down in Takamatsu is sick and he was sending Elder Hollis down to take his place so Elder Carter could come up here and recuperate. We all tried to not act overjoyed that Elder Hollis was finally going! He told Mom: “I’s goin to the states some day an when I do I’s fa shu goin to stop in Ceda City and see ya all.” Mom said, “Don’t forget –and don’t forget how to speak Australian,
either”. He didn’t leave until late in the afternoon. He said it would take him all day to pack. But after ten minutes he was all packed and back in the office with nothing to do until he left, so it was a long day. But you can’t believe how quiet it is around here now!
We talked to Dr. Kiribayashi in church today. He said he had picked up two doses of flu serum and would give us our shots next Sunday. We were afraid we might miss out this year.
Tonight we went out to the Takasu Ward to watch the replay of the First Pres. Christmas devotional. We really enjoyed it. It seems amazing how those three brethren can give so many great talks! They are certainly inspired.
It has been nice to hear from many of you this past week. It sounds like so far, everyone is escaping the flu. I hope that continues. Until next week---
Love, Gary and Shirley

December 7,2003

2008-06-23T15:23:00.000-07:00

Sunday Dec. 7, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
It is Dec., already! This is a wonderful time of the year, here in the mission field. So far the temperatures have remained fairly warm. We have some rain but it is still pleasant to be outside. Mom has had some rheumatism, but other than that we are staying well.
Last Thurs. all the mission office staff decided to go to a hospital down by the genbaku dome (Peace Park) and get flu shots. Elder Aoki said he had made arrangements but when we got there they were out of flu vaccine, so we came back without our shots. Today in Church I asked Bro. Kiribayashi (the Dr. in our bishopric) about it and he said he was sure we could still get them. He said he would check and get back with me. We hear that the flu is very severe in the US and feel safer here with a shot.
The Elder in the office (from Australia) is supposed to be transferred very soon. Pres. Banks can’t figure out what possessed him when he decided to have Elder Hollis come into the office. I think it was to help us here in the office develop patience. Basically he is a good Elder but it is talk, talk, and talk in that Australian accent. He thinks he knows everything and when I go to talk to one of the other missionaries he comes right over and answers my question. Everybody’s business is his business! The other day Pres. Banks got up tight when Elder Hollis told him that he needs to make sure he releases the emergency break on his car when he drives. Pres. Banks is a truck driver from way back! The other day I answered the phone and Elder Hollis said, “Sis. Lawson wants to speak to Sis. Roper”. I told Mom and she said she didn’t know any Lawsons. When she got on the phone she found out it was Sis. Larsen, the mother calling about her son that is serving here. It takes Elder HolliLast night we had another Elder from Brasil come in. He was supposed to have been here with the last new missionaries but he was delayed because his visa hadn’t arrived when the rest came. We are getting ready for nine new miss. to come in on Dec. 23, and fifteen returning missionaries to go home on Dec. 19. That has really kept Mom busy these last weeks. Even after she sends several letters home explaining everything to the parents, she still gets phone calls asking her the same questions she has already answered for them in the mailings. We have developed a really appreciation for Mission Pres. and their staffs.
The bishopric asked me to talk about the Savior on the sacrament meeting before Christmas. Mom felt real good about that, and thought she was off the hook. Then things took a turn for the worse. Last Sunday one of the ladies in the ward asked Mom if she s forever to explain the simplest things and repeating the obvious. He started explaining something and after about five minutes Mom said, “If you can’t say it in five words or less, forget about it!” and he kept on with the explanation until finally Mom just got out of her desk and left Elder Hollis standing there talking to himself. He is training Elder Wallace, who is taking his place as mission recorder, and he drones on all day long until we are about ready to scream! So much for that. would do a demonstration of a favorite Christmas recipe at the Ward Christmas Party, and Mom said “okay”. Then later that day she called and said they had changed their mind and now they wanted her to organize the whole Christmas dinner with American recipes. Mom’s starting to worry now and spent all week coming up with recipes/amounts for 50 people. She thinks they’re meeting today to talk about it but has a hard time to find out. Then the head of the Christmas Committee asked her if she would give a 7 minute talk at the party and Mom thought he asked her to pray, then after she said “Yes” she finds out she just said “Yes” to a talk. To go on with the story; they’re supposed to have a meeting on the 3rd Floor, but when she gets there nobody knows where so they have it in the hall with everybody passing by inserting their own comments here and there. The Bishop and Committee person are shocked to see all the planning that had been done and were unaware that that’s what she was supposed to do. The Bishop said, “Who asked you to do this?” Mom said Muranaka Shimai just as she was walking up. Then she reassured them that she had asked Ropa Shimai to do that, BUT now they had changed their mind and wanted to have a potluck dinner because it would be cheaper. By then Mom was in a daze not sure what was going on, but they said they would e-mail her and let her know.
I apologize that some of these letters don’t have much substance. But we are doing well and in spite of problems (as everyone has) really enjoy our work. We always enjoy hearing from home and every night Mom takes a few minutes and looks through all the family pictures we have collected. May you all be blessed with health this flu season.
Love, Ropa Senkyoshi

November 30, 2003

2008-06-23T15:16:00.000-07:00

Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
We hope everyone had as nice a Thanksgiving and we did. Sis. Banks invited all the missionaries from the Hiroshima Stake to dinner. She cooked the turkey and they purchased some items up to Costco, when they were up to Kobe last week. However, everyone that came was assigned certain food items to go with the meal. We had the pie detail. There were close to 30 people for dinner and it was a great success!
We had dinner at 4:00 PM and there was enough food so that everyone could get his or her fill. Nearly everyone went back for seconds and I noticed some of the Elders ended up with three big plates full of food, not counting desert (I don’t know where they put it all). Then after that, Sis. Banks fixed up leftovers for those who wanted to, could take some home. It was cold and rainy that day and after we got through with dinner, the missionaries had to go back out and proselyte. Unfortunately the Japanese people know nothing about Thanksgiving except most of the members have heard about it.
Last night I was in the office and some Elders came in and said that a Miyake San, the postmaster, was down at the front door to see me. So I went down and there he was with a big fish that he had caught and wanted us to have it. I graciously accepted it but wondered what to do with it. It was a yellow tail that he caught in the ocean out by Miyajima. I took it up to the apartment and cut off its head and tail and cleaned it. Mom held her nose and gave it a strange look and declared she wasn’t about to touch it let alone clean it! Then Mom called Sis. Banks and asked if they wanted some of it, and I ended up taking ½ up for them. Anyway we had it for dinner today and it was very good.
Miyake San is not one bit interested in the Church but has made good friends with the Sr. couples from the states that have served here. He is trying to learn English and every chance he gets he speaks English to me. He is very friendly. Every time I go over to the Post Office, he comes out and talks with me and then walks back over here with me. He is a very interesting person!
Today in Sacrament Meeting, one of the member’s and her little boy (about 10 months old) was sitting in front of us. The little boy turned around and got interested in Mom and wanted to come back with us. So he had the best time on Mom’s lap. Finally his mother had to leave Sac. Meet. and take her husband home because he was ill, and ask Mom if it would be all right to leave him until she got back. He was really good and they got along fine, but he was a big baby and I think Mom was a little worn out by the time she returned. The kids here are really cute and remind us of our grandchildren at home.
Everything here is decorated for Christmas and very commercial (even though most people don’t even know what Christmas is about). We hope you won’t try and send anything over to us for Christmas (except maybe photos of the family) because we have everything we want and need (if we do need something, Sherry sees that we get it). Tonight we are going up to Pres. Banks apt. and watch the Christmas video that the Church has sent out with the Dec. Ensign.
I guess it is time to close. We have enjoyed many e-mails and telephone calls again this week. We hope you have a good week.
Love from the Ropers

November 23, 2003

2008-06-23T15:12:00.000-07:00

November 23, 2003
Dear Whoever Reads This:
It will soon be Thanksgiving, although the Japanese don’t recognize it as one of their holidays. Sis. Banks has invited all the missionaries in this immediate area to have dinner in their apartment. Her and Mom are working out the details and everyone that comes will help with the dinner, so it won’t be hard on one or two people, there will be about 25 of usfor dinner. It should be a nice day. We miss not being home with our family but this will be second best. We hope all of you will have your families together and have an enjoyable time.
This past week was new missionaries coming in, returning missionaries going home and transfers. It was hair-raising! The 11 new miss. were supposed to arrive here Tues. evening; but just at the last minute, Pres. Banks got a call from SLC that there plane was late because of bad weather and they would not be able to leave until the next day. That would put them here on the same day that the Elder’s going home would be coming in. So Pres. Banks decided to rush the orientation for the new miss. so that they could leave for their new areas on Thurs. afternoon.
The new miss. were an ‘up-tight’ bunch. They got through with their orientation just before 1:00 PM and some of them had to catch the train at 1:15. They had to gobble down the nice lunch that Sis. Banks had prepared and headed out for the train station. On the way 3 of the missionaries turned up missing and Pres. Banks had to stop and look for them. One new Elder was waiting up in the Bank’s Apt. and thought he had been left and he started hyperventilating ( fortunately his train didn’t leave until 2:30 PM.). They all made their train connections but one of the new Elders got confused and didn’t meet his new companion until 10:45 that night.
Meanwhile, The two AP’s were supposed to stay in the mission office and answer the calls from the transferring missionaries and direct them to their new areas. The AP’s had disappeared (I guess helping Pres. Banks with the new miss.) and didn’t show up until later in the day. The phone kept ringing with questions from the transferring missionaries. The regular office Elders were on their P-day and only Mom was here to answer their calls and help them with their questions. She didn’t know their schedules so they just had to wait and call later when the AP’s finally showed up. Anyway, I think even Pres. Banks had a headache by the end of the day. By Thurs. night my finances were so bald-up that I was into the next day before I could get the books balanced. We did attend an excellent testimony Thurs. evening with the Banks and the returning missionaries. I guess that all’s well that ends well.
Yesterday was our P-day and we went over to the Hyaku-en store (nothing priced higher than 100 Yen, about .85, our money). It is an amazing place to shop! We came back loaded.
We were tickled to get pictures on the internet from Matt and Jen. We have them made into prints now and Mom has them all arranged in her photo albums. She has a nice collection. I guess it is time to close. We appreciate your calls and internest messages. Until next week---
Love from the Ropas Senkyoshi

November 16, 2003

2008-06-23T15:11:00.000-07:00

Sun. Nov. 16, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
This has been a good week. We have been especially excited about Matt and Jen’s new baby boy, born Nov. 12, in Mesa, AZ. He was 8 lbs. 1 oz., 20” long and seems to be very healthy. They plan to name him Wade Matthew. (Now the G. Roper family name will be perpetuated.) With three new births in our immediate family since we have been on this mission, Mom feels like we are really missing out. But we feel blessed to be here and know that all the new babies have been born without complications and are doing well.
I have been anxious to go out to Iwakuni (a short train ride from Hiroshima) and see some of the things I remember when I was here before. So Friday was a beautiful day and we decided to go out there Sat. But Sat. was rainy so we changed our minds and plan to go out there on a clear day. We went shopping instead.
Pres. and Sis. Banks got back from their conference in Tokyo late Thurs. night. They had an enjoyable time. Elder Neuenschwander, who is a member of the Pres. of the Seventy was there and conducted the meetings that included all the Mission Pres. from the Asia North Area (Japan & Korea). Elder Neuenschwander helped our family out when I had my fall, a few years ago. As part of the conference, The Presidents and their wives all attended a session in the Tokyo Temple while they were there. Surprisingly things went along quite well here in the mission while Pres. Banks was gone.
Today in Sac. Meeting they announced the death of the mother of one of our faithful Priesthood holders. She was only 55 and not a member, so the burial was following the Buddhist traditions and several ward members were absent from our meetings to go pay honor to her. We have a lot of admiration for the faithful members who are dedicated to their Testimonies and give up family members and traditions that are not compatible with the Gospel.
Marie reported that our neighbor in Cedar City, Coralee Rawlinson (Marvin Ogden’s daughter, originally from Delta) is in the last stages of cancer. They finally had to amputate her arm. On the way home they went to a restaurant to eat and a little boy ran into her and knocked her down which broke her jaw, that really added to her pain and problems. The mother of the little boy just feels terrible. She doesn’t have long to live. Her husband served as a Bishop in an SUU ward when I was there.
Again we thank you for all your communications with us and how well things seem to be for you and your families. Keep sending us those great pictures!
Love, Ropa Choro and Ropa Shimai

November 9, 2003

2008-06-23T15:06:00.000-07:00

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

November 2, 2003

2008-06-23T15:04:00.000-07:00

11/2/03
Dear Folks,
We are enjoying ourselves here at the MTC but will be glad when our training is finished and we will be in Japan. I can’t believe the number of missionaries that go in and out of here. We are starting to seem like old fixtures here. We are enjoying having some of our classes up at the MTC. All those young missionaries are so full of it and love to chat with us. On Saturdays we have been going to the Provo Temple. It is beautiful and I think I’m about able to get around inside without loosing my way. I thought it was a small Temple but inside it is big and they have sessions every 20 minutes. Many of the workers are young college kids and they are equipped to take care of many languages. They do a huge amount of work there.
They are working us to death with this language training. (The head can absorb no more than the seat can endure.) I don’t know how they work the language business because a few don’t have to learn their language, but most do. One of the missionaries said she thought it had to do with their Mission Pres. If the Mission Pres. recommends that the Sr. Missionary learns it; that’s what happens. However we learned today that we will probably be among the last Sr. missionaries that will train for languages in the Sr. MTC. Evidently they are going to try a program of having the Seniors learn their languages in their own homes. The MTC will be in contact with them by phone each day and give them assignments and answer their questions. I can’t believe that will work very well; anyway we are glad we are learning it here. They say they just don’t have room for the Sr. Missionaries that have to stay that long, here.
One couple going to Taiwan said they were not to learn the Mandarin language. However, their visas have not arrived yet so they put them in the language program so they will have something to do until they can go. They are not happy about that! Even though its a lot of work, we are glad for the opportunity, and they do such a good job of teaching it. Shirley has learned how to introduce herself, give her testimony, and prayers, all ready. The language rooms in the MTC sound like the Tower of Bable. It is interesting that with all the missionaries coming in each week, we haven’t met one other couple going to Japan. There are so many going to Russia, the Baltics, Indonesia, Mongolia, and Africa.
Tues. night was the Missionary Devotional. The speaker was Elder William H. Bradford of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy. I was especially interested because I met him on my first mission. He was a Missionary in Japan and in the Mission Home while they were trying to find out what was wrong with his health. They ended up sending him home for surgery and he didn’t return to Japan. I was in the Mission Home with him for about a week. Much of his speech last night was about his experiences in Japan (I think he was there about two years). After the program we went up and talked to him for a minute. He was interested that I was going back to Japan and we reminisced about our experience there. I remember I was impressed with him at the time.
This has been a terribly cold day! And last night was is a hard night for all the kids to dress up and go Halloweening. Most everything has frozen here and we hate to see winter set in. It even snowed last night a little here. We miss hearing from you guys and will be glad when we can be hooked up to the Internet. Anyway, we are thinking about you.
Sayonara, The Ropers

October 26, 2003

2008-06-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

Sunday Oct. 26, 2003
Dear all of you who read this,
We had an interesting Sac. Meeting today. It was the Primary’s annual program. There were about 12 kids participating and how they could sing! I’m sure it followed the outline that was presented throughout the Church. It was interesting how the leaders tried to stay out of sight –hiding behind the pulpit, sneaking around on hands and knees, and trying not to let their voices be heard as they prompted the children. They had some attractive visual aids and the program was well done.
Tomorrow, Bro. Walker, one of the area authorities will be here to talk to the missionaries. Three Zones of missionaries will be here tomorrow, then Bro. Walker and Pres. Banks will travel to two other locations and meet with the missionaries there. Last night as I was coming into the office, Bp. Oba met me in the hall looking for Pres. Banks. I told him he was gone to Ube. He said he had a funeral scheduled for Monday in the chapel and hoped it wouldn’t interfere with anything the mission was doing. I told him about mission conference Mon., and he went into a huge panic! So I got on the phone and called Pres. Banks and told the Bishop he better talk to him. When he hung up he was really relived. Pres. Banks told him we would move our Conf. out to the Takasu Chapel. Mission Presidents are great problem solvers!
Mom (and the rest of us) is having a problem with an office Elder from Australia. His name is Elder Hollis and he says he knows Austin and Meredith. His accent and voice quality are annoying, plus he is always talking and making funny noises while he works along with a “Tiny Tim” tremolo to his voice. The worst part though is he thinks he is a computer specialist and Pres. Banks has put him in charge of the computers. Last week he erased several programs on Mom’s computer that she has to have to complete the letters Pres. Banks has assigned her to write. Now he is trying to restore them and in the meantime Mom has busy herself doing other things while he fiddles around trying to get them reinstalled. She is enduring patiently and hopes to soon get back to work. We are encouraging Pres. Banks to send him out into the mission and appoint a new recorder for the office.
Tues. or Wed. a Bro. from the Tokyo office is coming here to audit my books. I don’t know exactly what that entails but I’m sure it is another safeguard to see that the Church funds are handled correctly. I will be glad to have that over with.
We got an e-mail from Afton telling about Nate Lovell (my cousin who built our home in Cedar). He and one of his boys fell off the roof of a home they were building in Cedar Canyon and was nearly killed. His partner (“Chop” Cropper) made it off the mountain and they flew him to SLC. His neck is broken in two places, along with other bones. He is expected to live, but what shape he will be in, I guess time will tell. Very reminiscent of my accident.
We also so got Kathleen and Wilmer Anderton’s family newsletter and she reports how well she is feeling since they installed a pacemaker. Her family seems to be doing well. We appreciate receiving their periodic newsletter. We are also grateful for all the communications we receive from all of you. We hope you are all well and have a Happy Halloween.
Love Gary & Shirley

October 19, 2003

2008-06-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

Sun. Oct. 19, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
It is Sunday and time to write again. Thank you for all your phone calls, e-mails and letters. We are glad to hear that no one seems to be having any serious problems. We are enjoying beautiful weather here. The temperatures are just right and we have only had rain about two days during the past two weeks. Japan is very beautiful this time of year.
Last week we received pictures and a note from Mike and Ness concerning the blessing of little Bri. Over to Best Denki store, they have a machine that you put in your computer disk or the memory from a digital camera and it will print off what ever you request. We had the pictures printed and enjoy them at least once a day. Also Mike reported about the ‘Y’ games, which made Mom’s day. We hope Jeff’s family trip to California was successful. I remember how we used to enjoy the UEA break each year. Did any of the rest of you travel?
I am learning how to use the digital camera that you gave me. I haven’t mastered how to send the pictures to you by e-mail yet, however; so you may have to wait until we get home to see them.
We are glad last week is over. The 3 new missionaries came in on Wed., instead of Tues. which was transfer day. It is always hard for the missionaries going home to say their last farewells. I remember how hard it is to leave and face the rest of your life. On transfer day we had several changes in the Office staff. I’m sure most of it will be for the better.
Thursday evening, we went up to the Bank’s Apt. for Pres. Bank’s farewell speech to the missionaries going home and hear their testimonies. It was all very good. One of the returning missionaries is Elder Nielson, the medical Dr. from Brazil. He made some interesting comments about his mission and the Appendicitis operation he had. He has been a very effective Zone Leader and besides being a medical Dr. in Brazil, he speaks three languages well and is only 26 years old. While he was here he gave the missionaries flu, typhoid and other shots they needed. He also has a sister who is a medical doctor at Duke University Medical Center in No. Carolina. He said all of his family joined the Church and they are good members.
We have noticed that so many of the Japanese people have bow legs, knock knees, feet that turn out or in , or are crippled and can hardly get around. Pres. Banks says it is because the Japanese used to sit on the floor on their knees, for hours. They don’t seem to do that so much now. Now most of the Japanese sit on chairs. I hope they will develop straighter legs and their posture will improve. Mom thinks it could be a lack of calcium in their diet.
We are still battling mosquitoes but with a gadget that we keep plugged in that helps keep mosquitoes away, and spraying once in a while, we are staying on top of them.
Until next week, Sayonara-
Love from the Ropers

October 5, 2003

2008-06-23T14:59:00.000-07:00

Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
Today has been a red-letter day, especially for Mom. While all the immediate family was together in Cedar City for Matt and Jen’s baby shower, they called and Mom was able to talk to about everyone. We are happy you were all able to be together and seemed tobe having a good time (even without us). Anyway it was good to hear from everyone.
We had Church today because we won’t get to see conference until next weekend. We are scheduled to go out to the Takasu ward next Sat. and Sun. where they will pick up conference via satellite –both in Japanese and English. We are looking forward to that. at Church today there was a fellow there from Utah. When he found out my Mother was a Lovell he became suddenly interested. He said his wife’s grandfather was Ben Lovell from Leamington. If I remember correctly, Grandpa Lovell and Ben were brothers. It is interesting how you go clear around the world and meet some of your family! But I have decided that if you are in the Church, it’s a small world. Just like Mom found out that her and Sis. Gohaller are distant cousins. Most good LDS people who come into Hiroshima find the Church and attend meetings here, even if it is predominately in Japanese. It’s the Spirit and partaking of the Sacrament that counts.
Bro. Gohaller is my home-teaching companion. The person who we are home-teaching is the returned missionary from Utah that came back and married one of the Japanese Sis., has two little girls and now is divorced (I think I told you about him a few weeks ago). Anyway Sis. Gohaller invited us all over to their place (including the Bro’s new Japanese girl friend, not a member) to dinner and we would do our home teaching at the same time. However, when we got over to the Gohallers’ they had received a phone call from the Bro., saying that he was sorry but they wouldn’t be able to make it. So we had a nice dinner and still didn’t get our home teaching done.
Yesterday, (Saturday) we had an enjoyable day. Two people from our English class invited us to spend the day with them. They drove us to a beautiful Island called Kamagari. It is one of hundreds of small islands ( over 700) surrounding the main Japanese islands. They have build a long bridge (similar to the Oakland Bay bridge in California) connecting it to our island. First they drove us to a beach area, where we had dinner at a wonderful restaurant with a great view of the ocean. The food those two ordered looked scary! Raw fish, called sashashimi and cavier. Mom said, No Way!” After we finished eating we walked down to the beach and watched the ocean (which was loaded with seashells since the tide was out). Then we went through two museums and then attended a tea ceremony. We of course, didn’t drink the tea but those who we were with did. Then on the way back home we stopped at the Hiroshima Port and walked around the seashore and watched people fishing. It was all very interesting. We were impressed with the people who took us. They spent a lot of money on us and are very good people but not interested in the Church except for how it’s helping their English to improve.
Last Tues. evening we went to a returning home dinner with Pres. & Sis. Banks for Elder and Sis Lowe, who left for home on Wed. They have been serving as regular missionaries in the Takamatsu area. We went to a really nice Japanese restaurant. At our table they had two pots of boiling water that were built down into the table along with a small frying grill, which we put in thin slices of beef, chicken and pork. Then we put in many different kinds of vegetables and scooped out on to our plates what we wanted to eat along with our rice (it was a lot like sukiyaki). There were several different condiments to spice it up with. It was delicious and we had an enjoyable evening.
Now the weather is beautiful here. The temperature is mild and we haven’t had rain for about two weeks. Mom and I do a lot of walking. We are very well and appreciate this great opportunity. Keep up the good work at home!
Love, Dad & Mom.

Septermber 28, 2003

2008-06-23T14:56:00.000-07:00

Sunday Sept. 28, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
We have enjoyed your phone calls, e-mails and other communications this past week. About a week ago, my laptop computer started acting up. Every time I went to turn it on it would require me to go through a series of system checks before it would allow me start up the computer (which required about 30 minutes each time). So then I started leaving the computer running all the time. When Bro Killian (the computer specialist from the Tokyo office) was here I had him look it over. He couldn’t tell what was causing the trouble, but said he had a feeling that it was on its way out! Well he was right. Day before yesterday it went off and hasn’t been on since. Yesterday I took it over to computer repair Dept. at Best Dept. store. They checked it over and were pretty sure the hard-drive was shot. Anyway to repair it they estimated up to $1000. Since I only paid $300. for it to start with I have decided to junk it and start using my office computer. I guess that’s what I get for buying second hand. I did save my important things on a disk before the computer went out. So much for that.
Yesterday (Sat.) was a beautiful day here. The sky was clear and it wasn’t really hot so Mom and I decided to go out to Miyajima Island. We went as far as we could by streetcar and then took a ferryboat over to the island. We had a nice walk and saw most of the island. Up at the top of the mountain they say there are wild monkies. We thought we might like to see them but they told us there are only a few now and we probably wouldn’t see them even if we went up. So we will try that another time.
This weekend Pres. Banks invited all the District Presidents (regular members, not missionaries) from throughout the mission to come here for a conference. The Pres. didn’t have room for them to sleep in his apartment, so he had the Mission Office Elders sleep over with the regular missionaries and turned their room over to the guests just for Sat. night. They finish their meetings today and will soon be returning home. Sister Banks acted stressed so we offered to make a cake for them, she sure snapped us up on that. We asked the Elders how they slept (on the floor) and they said they made it through the night, but it wasn’t quite like sleeping in a bed.
In a little while we are going over to the Gohallers for dinner. Bro. Gohaller and I are assigned to home teach a Utah member who married a Japanese member after he we are all going to meet for dinner. So along with home teaching, we are also doing some misprevious letter). Now he is engaged to another Japanese girl who is not a member, and sionary work. I hope he’s not jumping from the fry pan into the fire.
We are getting along well and thank the Lord for this wonderful experience. We hope things continue to go well for all of you.
Love, Dad & Mom
P.S. This is Haha senkiyoshi. I know Dad won’t tell you about this so I’m putting in my two cents worth. Do you remember the talk that President Eric Shumway gave the BYU devotional in March before we came, that was on KBYU? Well President Banks is using the segment about Dad’s experience with Kajiyama San (the person who dad contacted on a streetcar and who was later baptized). As President Banks goes around to each Zone Conference and speaks to the missionaries he gives this presentation to illustrate how important it is not to miss opportunities to contact people. President Banks told me it is really fun to watch the missionaries faces when dad’s picture and story comes up because a ripple goes through them as they realize who it is and they begin poking each other and saying “Hey, there’s Elder Roper who’s in the Mission Home, that’s cool etc.”

September 21, 2003

2008-06-23T14:54:00.000-07:00

Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
We hope you are all well and have had a good week.
The Hiroshima Stake sponsored a Temple excursion yesterday, so Mom and I decided we should go. We followed our usual buss schedule -leaving Hiroshima at 7:30 AM. which puts us in Fukuoka in time for the 12:30 session and we also attend the 2:30 session. As soon as the session is over we hurried out. and barely made it to catch the 5:00 PM bus and headed home. We got home a little past 9:00 PM. It was a tiring day but we had a good day at the Temple. Most of the members from our area that go arrive in Fukuoka on Friday and stay over Sat. The first session we attended was over-flow and the second session was larger than usual. The Hiroshima Stake members support the Stake sessions well, considering the expense and the time required to get there. We try to go every month.
Last Tues. morning, Pres. Banks took Elder Hollingshead to Osaka to catch the plane home. He waited until Sis. Bank’s plane arrived and brought her home. We are all really glad to have her back. She was gone about five weeks. Because of her health condition, her Dr. in SLC as well as her parents encouraged her not to come back to Japan, but she felt a strong obligation to the mission to return. Pres. Banks told her that if she has serious problems again, she can go back as often as it is necessary, but feels it is important for both of them to complete their assignment. Japan is a difficult place if you have medical problems.
The day after Sis. Banks returned, we had Zone Leaders Conf. here in Hiroshima. Sis. Banks and the two ladies that help her prepared dinner for all those who came (including the Mission Home staff). The Zone Leaders are in meetings all afternoon, have dinner at about 5:00 PM and then go back to their areas. We really enjoying mingling with the ZL. We know most of them quite well and they are an outstanding group of Elders.
The temperature here has finally started to cool down. We have had very little rain the past week and Mom and I enjoy getting out and walking. Next week (on Tues.) is another holiday in Japan. It is something to do with the equinox (the first day of fall, I think). Anyway it is a good excuse for another Buddhist holiday. My friend over to the Post Office always keeps me up-to-date on the holidays and when the PO will be closed. He has had a personal relationship with all the couple’s in the Mission Office. He doesn’t seem to have any interest in the Church but likes the missionaries and tries to talk in English with us.
Across the street from the PO they have been tearing down a huge building which covered a city block. It is several stories high. As they tear it down they enclose most of it in plastic and have water sprayed around to control the dust. They have several trucks hauling of the debris as it comes down. The Postman says they are going to construct a new apartment building in its place. We have been interested in watching the progress.
We look forward to your letters and phone calls. It was just a year ago (1-week after General Conf.) that we started our mission in the Provo MTC. That has been a fast year. We are having a wonderful experience here.
Love, Senkyoshi-tachi

September 13, 2003

2008-06-23T14:51:00.000-07:00

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)

September 8, 2003

2008-06-23T14:49:00.000-07:00

Dear Family and Friends,
It is time to write again. We hated to miss out on little Alyssa’s blessing, this weekend. It sounds like most of the immediate family were there for the occasion. That was a special effort that we appreciate. It did our hearts good to think of you all there together. Mar told us that Mike and Vanessa’s new little daughter was there and she is really cute. We would surely love to get a picture of her! It will be interesting when we get home to have three more grandchildren. We are sorry to hear that Chris’ good friend died suddenly, that was nice that they could go to his funeral. Anyway we are glad everything went well for the blessing. Sis. Golloher said that her daughter that lives in Las Vegas has just had a new baby girl yesterday. It is her first so Sis. Gollaher says she is leaving this week to go home and spend two weeks with her. I think that makes Mom pretty envious.
This has been a busy week for us. Tues. was the Hiroshima district conference held here. Mom got in on some of it but I couldn’t get away and missed it. Wed. and Thurs. Bro. Osako was here from Tokyo to audit our financial accounts and train on deficiencies. Also the computer specialist from Tokyo came and installed a new computer. That makes four computers for the missionaries in the office. Our problem isn’t so much not enough computers, but our office is only allowed two printers -no color printer.. One of the printers is in my office and the other one has to be used by 6 missionaries that work in the office. Much of Mom’s work requires a color printer. We had an old color printer that we received from Kobe when they closed that mission that she has been using. It has gone out so Mom and I decided that we would buy a cheap color printer to use while we are here and either leave it when we go or try to take it home with us. Hopefully that should solve many problems.Last week we were in our apartment and suddenly Mom yelled, “Gary, come here quick!” I went in where she was and there was a big cock-roach on the wall. It was 2 1/2 or 3 inches long (about the biggest one I have ever seen)! I grabbed the fly swatter and it scampered down the wall and right into the ‘roach-motel’ (trap). Inside the trap there is something that smells quite good but is lined with super sticky paper. That was the end of that roach. We haven’t seen anymore since, but we have several ‘roach motels’ scattered around the apartment just in case.
Next Tues. we are having 3 new missionaries come in and just 2 returning (1 Japanese). To have such a few is a switch but it will be good because Sis. Banks won’t be back until Sep. 15. and she is responsible for housing and feeding the new and returning missionaries. However, transfers will be Thurs., as usual, and we will be busy. Pres. Banks, as are the rest of us, anxious to have Sis. Banks back. Pres. Banks told me the other day that Sis. Banks on the way back, is going to stop off in Portland and see her new grand-daughter. We are glad she will be able to do that. Her Dr. in SLC has released her to come back and we hope she will be in improved health.
Things continue to go well for us. We were just remarking that we haven’t had as much as a cold since we have been here (just some tooth problems). That is a special blessing.. The Lowe couple who’s health has deteriorated, I was telling you about, are scheduled to go home Oct. 1. It is a problem for them to have to cut their missions short but they are thankful they could stay as long as they did.
We really appreciate the way you keep in touch with us and let us know how things are progressing at home.
Mom’s put in a special request that someone please keep her updated on the BYU football games. She has questions like who is playing quarterback, other positions, opponents, score etc.
Ai suru Ropa Choro to Ropa Shimai

August 31, 2003

2008-06-23T14:47:00.000-07:00

Sun. Aug. 31, 2003
Hello Everyone,
A special Happy Birthday wish today for Sherry. We are also excited about Mike and Vanessa new baby girl born yesterday. Those are some of the things we hate to miss out on but then its hard to be in two places at once. We are happy for your phone calls and e-mails.
We continue to be amazed at both the weather at home and the rainy season that continues here. Eventhough the rainy season should have ended by the last of July, we continue to have rain about 1/2 the time. We hope your weather is starting to cool down and we pray that you will get the moisture you need. Its starting to feel a little like fall here. Matt reports that they have been getting some rain in Gilbert, AZ and he is now head over heels in dental school while Jen continues in her executive job at Target. They are awaiting the birth of their first (a boy) in November.
Yesterday was our P-day and Mom and I went over to Hondori street to get her hair cut. She has found a person over there that cuts it about the way she likes it and he is in our price range. The sky was clear when we went in but it was raining when we came out. As we were walking home (it takes about 45 -60 minutes) I was noticing and thinking about the fact that there are few if any cement sidewalks here in Hiroshima. The Japanese islands were originally formed by volcanoes so they have an over-supply of granite rock. All the sidewalks are made, using squares of granite cemented together. There are several colors of granite and they make for unusual and interesting sidewalks. Occasionally you will see regular bricks put together with cement in place of cement on the sidewalks and in entrances. It seems like when I was here before we saw very few sidewalks like that. Right after the war nearly all sidewalks and roadways were graveled. What 50 years and a little prosperity can do for things!
Mom had a tooth break off, so Dr. Kiribayashi got her lined up with the same Dentist I went to. He arranged to have her tooth fixed in just one visit (instead of several like I had when I went). So Friday afternoon we went over to the Dentist. He was very careful and did a nice job on it. However, the nurses put a blanket on her (in this heat) and as fast as she took it off they would put it back on. They also covered her face and eyes with a towel. Cultural differences, I suppose. She was happy to get it fixed before it turned into a cavity.
We have some Elders here in the Mission Office now that are getting on our nerves. They replaced Elder Killian with Elder Hollis from Australia. Elder Killian could fix anything on a computer and Elder Hollis doesn’t know straight up about computers. His voice is course and loud in the Australian accent, and he can’t quit talking. Also one of the AP’s can’t keep his nose out of everyone’s business. There are things in the office that are confidential and some missionaries just don’t understand what that means! It will be interesting when Sis. Banks gets back and we’ll see which ones get on her nerves.
Pres. Banks gets phone calls from Sis. Banks everyday. She seems to be improving but her Dr. won’t let her come back yet. One of her daughters just had a grand daughter last week. However, they live in Portland, Oregon and Sis. Banks can’t even go up see the new baby! Pres. Banks says she is anxious to get back here and continue on with the mission.
We always pray for your safety and success. We feel very blessed to be able to serve a mission here. Lots of love to all of you.
Gary & Shirley

August 23, 2003

2008-06-23T14:44:00.000-07:00

Sunday, August 23, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
Another week has gone by and its time for me to write again. We have been in touch with most of our immediate family and heard from many of the rest of you. We appreciate keeping up with things so well at home.
We had an enjoyable day (long day) at the Temple in Fukuoka, yesterday. This time we traveled by bus. We left Hiroshima at 7:30 AM and got home at about 9:30 PM. It was a beautiful day and it was nice to travel in the cool of an AC bus and enjoy the scenery. I was surprised at the large sessions we attended at the Temple. If attendance increases any more, they will need to consider a larger Temple. When our sessions were over, we came out of the Temple just as the bus we needed to take to the bus station pulled up and we made it just in the nick of time. Our bus home left Fukoka at 5:00 PM and if we missed that bus, the next one wouldn’t leave until 6:00 PM. So at 4:55 we arrived at the bus station and rushed in just as the bus had closed the door and ready to pull out. They saw us and opened the door and we made it! (As our family knows, when it comes to travel in Japan, they go by the clock whether you are aboard or not.) That wasn’t such a big deal, except it was better to get home at 9:30 instead of 10:30 and I marveled at how well things fell into place.
Sis. Banks is still in Utah and we really miss her. The Pres. said Friday that he had just talked to her on the phone and she was doing very well. He said if all goes well she will be back soon. We hope she doesn’t return until they are sure the medication is adjusted and she won’t have more problems when she gets here. Now that she is gone, Mom is the only woman in the office and she feels like the lone ranger. Some of those Elders there can come on pretty strong.
Today after Church, they had a baptism in our Ward. It was the 8 year old son of a lady who was baptized a couple of months ago. What an interesting situation that is! The father is a really strong member of the ward and they have 3 children. A year or so ago, the father and the mother were divorced (I think because the mother wasn’t that interested in the Church) and later she decided to become a member and was baptized. At that time they said they planned to be remarried and go through the Temple. But today they still haven’t remarried and all the family was there and the baptism was performed by the father. There are some interesting things go on here.
I have been assigned to home teach a bro. from the States who after he served his mission here, he came back over and married one of the Japanese Sis. They had two children and then things didn’t work out and they divorced. Now he has to pay child support for the children and he gets them a week or two a year. I think he is in a really tough spot! I think he would like to go home but doesn’t want to leave the kids. I think anyone should think twice before they marry out of their race and culture.
We are upset to hear about Betty Lou Jolley’s health problems. We sure hope she can get some help. She has a nice family.
I have just been reading the Church Section about Pres. Faust’s talk for the Lyman reunion in Fillmore. That sounds like an interesting event. I hope Alan and Lori held up under their huge food assignment.
We have really enjoyed the watermelons here, this summer. We have had 6 or 8 and there hasn’t been a clinker yet. When we buy them we cut them all up and store them in the refrigerator. As I have said, most of the fruits and vegetables over here are really good (in spite of their high cost).
It is time to close and get this sent. Sounds like everyone is back in school now. We are having a great experience here and our time is going fast.
Love from Chichi and Haha

August 16, 2003

2008-06-23T14:41:00.000-07:00

Sat. August 16, 2003
Dear Family and anyone who might be reading this,
Another week has rolled by. When Grandpa Roper (my Dad) used to call he would always ask, “How’s the weather down there?” I guess that is why one of the first things I like to mention is something about the weather. Right now it is raining again and sultry as can be! People comment on how much rain we seem to be getting here this year. We always make a comment on how dry it has been at home.
We appreciate and look forward to your calls and e-mails. That is surely a plus that we have over the regular missionaries. Mom is the one that sorts the mail that comes in, each morning. The Elders have been instructed by Pres. Banks that they are not to touch the mail until Mom has it ready. So the minute the mail comes in they hang around her desk and nag her to get busy on it and see if they have a letter. I guess we can’t blame them because there is nothing like word from home when you are on a mission! Sometimes after the mail has been sorted through, they’ll say “Where’s my letter?”Mom will say, “Didn’t you see it, I sent it airmail out the window.”
This week is what the Japanese refer to as ‘O-bon’ week when the Bhuddists honor their dead. They believe that during this week the spirits of their ancestors come and mingle with their families. The living family make paper lanterns and take food and place it around where the ashes of their family members and their tombstones are, so that their spirits will be excited to find their way. Anyway many of the stores are closed all week long. Mom wanted to get her hair cut and she called all week to make an appointment and no one answered. O-bon is the reason! When I was here before there was many festivals and we enjoyed watching the native Japanese dancing, etc. We haven’t seen much of that this year.
A few days ago, I had a scare. We keep all of the missionaries’ passports here in my the office. A missionary from South America had to renew his passport because his old one expired. When it came I called him and asked him what he wanted done with his old passport. He said to keep it there in the office. Well he called and said he needed his old passport because it had his Japanese & American visa in it. I looked where we keep the passports and it wasn’t there. Mom and I looked through the office and in everyplace we thought it might be and it wasn’t to be found. So Mom called the missionary and told him the sad news. Then we were all in a frenzy! I sat thinking and thinking about it and finally recalled that I had made a special file for him in my desk drawer. Sure enough, there it was. Mom called the Elder back to report that we had found it and he said, “Boy, that is good, now I won’t have to jump out of our 4-story window”! (Of course that was a joke.) But everyone was relieved, especially me. That’s what is scary about my poor memory and this job!
Today (our P-day) we went over to the Best shopping mall. We sat down for a minute in what seemed to be comfortable lounging chairs. However the chairs were mechanical body conditioner chairs! They jiggles and squeezes you everywhere. We went through the cycle two or three times and Mom was amazed at how good her body felt. I’m afraid she’s going to want to take a turn every night after a hard day in the office. Have you seen anything like that at home?
We were sorry to hear that our neighbor next door, Mr. Ullery died. His health has been so bad that I’m surprised he lasted this long. He is not a member of the Church and he has told us that he is a medical Dr. and practiced many years in Saudi Arabia. We thought it was interesting that he came to Cedar to retire. His wife is bed-ridden and is a chain-smoker. He has been taking care of her. Now we wonder what she will do. Sis. Banks is still in SLC and we hope she is getting the medical help she needs so she can come back and finish her mission, they are trying to adjust her medications. We as well as Pres. Bans really miss her. We feel really blessed that all of you seem to be doing well.
Love, The Ropa Senkyoshi’s

August 10, 2003

2008-06-23T14:39:00.000-07:00

Sunday August 10, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
Another big week has passed for us. We appreciate getting communications from most of you during the week. We are glad that you all seem to be well and things are going along about the same as usual at home. I can’t believe it is about time for school to start again. The time goes fast!
August 6 marked 58 years since the A-bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. It is remarkable what a beautiful city Hiroshima is now compared to that time. On the evening of Aug. 5, one of our English class members invited us to a concert of a symphony orchestra and chorus performing a Mozart Mass held along the riverside, across from the ‘genbaku dome’ (a building that was left standing as a reminder of the tragedy of the bomb in the center of the Peace Park). There was a large crowd there and it was very interesting. It was terribly humid and hot. We sat on a rock on the other side of the river and listened to the concert. (Our backs ached that night when we got home.)
The next evening (Aug. 6) at the same place there was a special commemoration held. That consisted of making boxes about 2 feet square, cover them with colored paper (so you could see light through the box), and then lighting a candle inside the box. Hundreds of those red, green and gold boxes are floated down the river while different musical groups entertain along the bank of the river. It was an unusual and beautiful site! During that evening most of the missionaries from this area tracted many of the people that were there about the Gospel. It was an interesting night.
Last Tuesday, six new missionaries arrived (one Japanese Elder, one Elder from Canada and 4 Elders from USA). Wed. was orientation day and Thurs. they were sent out to their areas. On Thurs. 10 returning missionaries came to the Office and got checked out so they could leave for home Friday. That was a big day! There is nothing like 10 Missionaries hanging around all day with nothing to do. Those are hard days in the Mission Office. Thurs. night was their farewell testimony meeting in the President’s home. We always get invited to that and it was very interesting and humbling.
Pres. Banks told Mom (no one else knew it) that Sis. Banks was going home with the missionaries, this time. She is having serious health problems (fibermyalgia, thyroid) and if she can’t get some help from her Dr. in SLC, there is a chance that her and Pres. Banks will have to be released early. That would be a terrible shame because they are doing an excellent job. They have only served one year and have two years left. We are praying that she will get the help she needs and they will be able to complete their mission. That is hard for Pres. Banks (and the rest of us) while she is gone.
Mission transfers were Thurs. and Fri. One of the Asst. (Elder McCoy) was sent back out into the field and another, Elder Sanford was transferred in to take his place. Also Elder Killian (who works closely with Mom) is being transferred in two weeks. His replacement (Elder Hollis who is from Australia) came in Thurs. to learn the job, we love Elder Hollis’s Australian accent. Elder Killian is especially good at the computer and we will miss him. Last night we sent the elders a plate of chocolate cookies when they arrived home at 9:30 p.m. This morning at church they told us how much they enjoyed them. Elder Sanford said he gobbled down six of them and as a result had heartburn during the night. Elders are a special breed of people, they’ll eat anything and everything! They do love food.
Bro. and Sis. Gollaher went to the States last week for their summer vacation (they will be gone most of the month). Sis. Gohaller asked Mom to give her Relief Society lesson today, so I went in and heard it. It was on the Priesthood (from Pres. John Taylor’s book). It makes it more difficult to teach a lesson when you have to do it through a translator but she did a great job.
It is time to close. We love our work and feel blessed to have good health.
Love, The Ropers

August 3,2003

2008-06-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

August 3, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
We have had an enjoyable week here in the Mission. It looks like the rainy season is finally over. Now we are experiencing unbearable humidity and heat. Mother used to say how much she enjoyed the seasons. I think weather-wise she thought she would get tired of one season all the time, and we feel like that too.
You have probably heard that Marie and Chris’ baby was born in Utah Valley Hospital on July 29. It weighed 6 lb.. and 4 oz. They sent us pictures of it and its really cute -dark hair, dark eyes and very healthy looking. They are naming her Alyssa Christine. As soon as Marie left the hospital, Chris took her and the baby to Cedar and they are now living in our house. We hope that Jen and Vanessa are hanging in with their expectant babies (and anyone else that we haven’t heard about).
You may also have heard that Marlene had some bad luck when she went down to Springville to get Spencer and Jocelyn on Tuesday. She accidentally rear-ended the car in head of her after she had turned her head to answer Jocelyn’s question. Luckily no one was hurt but Mar felt really bad about it. It happened near Lehi and her in-laws got her and the kids and took them to Ogden. She called Andrew at work to come home and help her settle her nerves. On the way home he got in an accident. Someone rear-ended him and pushed him into the car ahead. That just about did it for Marlene! Since they have no transportation now, Chris went to Cedar and got our car for them to use until they get theirs fixed. The insurance has totaled out the car Marlene was driving and they are waiting to see what the insurance plans to do with the other. Luckily, no one even got a scratch in either accident. If it wasn’t so serious it would almost be laughable. Marlene says neither her nor Andrew have had a wreck in 25 some years. I guess its time. We appreciate so much Marlene and Elaine helping with the kids and Sherry taking care of our fianances and house. Matt, we hope you and Jen continue to hang in there with school and work, we know it’s not easy starting in a new school, job and surroundings. Mike and Ness, we love your pictures and letters (especially Bo’s). Without everyones help we would be unable to serve this mission.Last Monday, Dr. Smith (Andrew’s uncle) and Dr. Johnson and their wives came to the mission to talk to all the missionaries about taking care of their health. They are medical missionaries with headquarters in Tokyo, and serve all the missions in Japan. Pres. Banks scheduled them for a day each in three areas of the mission and arranged for all the missionaries to come to those places. On Tues. they were here in Hiroshima and talked to the Missionaries in the morning. In the afternoon Pres. Banks asked Mom and I to take the Drs. and their wives over to the Peace Park and show them the exhibits of the Atomic Bomb. It rained hard all day, but we had an enjoyable afternoon. In the evening Pres. Banks took us out to dinner. I taught school with Dr. Smith’s first wife, JoAnn, when we lived in Lehi. She died of cancer a few years back and he remarried Sharon who is also a mental health specialist. The other Dr. is from Idaho Falls. They are really good people and we had an interesting time with them.
Tuesday we are having 6 new missionaries coming in the mission and Friday we will have 9 missionaries who have finished their missions and are returning home. It seems like that rolls around often, it’s a big week for the office staff but we enjoy seeing all the missionaries, saying goodby to the returning one’s and greeting the new one’s.
It has been fun to hear from most of you and what a great success the family reunion at Alan and Lori’s was. I think that was remarkable that so many of the family were able to attend. ‘Hats off’ to Alan and Lori for hosting such an enjoyable event and thanks to them for making all their facilities available at such a reasonable cost. We would love to have been there to see all of you but we’ll save up for next time.
Lots of love, The Ropers

July 26, 2003

2008-06-23T14:35:00.000-07:00

July 26, 2003
Happy 24th! I think when the 24th of July comes, the summer was over. I hope everyone has had a great summer. We have felt the enthusiasm from many of you that are attending the Roper reunion (going on right now, in fact). That sounds like a wonderful occasion and a special thanks to Alan & Lori and all of the rest of you who helped put it together. I can’t help but think how pleased Dad and Mother would be to know how well the family is getting along and staying together. Alan really has an ideal set-up for such an event.
We also had an interesting 24th. It being Mom’s birthday, we had lunch with all the Mission Office staff. We ordered four huge pizza’s from Pizza Hut. We made salad and Birthday cake. When we were down to Costco’s in Fukuoka we got a case of Dad’s rootbeer (special request from some of the Elders) and some candy treats. We also had a watermelon and it was yellow inside instead of red. It tasted just like the regular melons but certainly looked different. Pres. Banks had to be out of town, but Sis. Banks invited us to their Apt. and we had a great time. I can’t believe how much food missionaries can put away! We just about slicked everything up. It was the Elder’s preparation day so we didn’t have to rush.
This week-end the Hiroshima Stake is sponsoring a special missionary activity in connection with the mission. Yesterday and today a large group of members and missionaries assembled at the Peace Park to talk to as many people as they could about the Church. Last night they had meetings in the Stake for the members on different aspects of Miss. work. They asked Mom and I to present, to some of the older couples, thoughts on Missionary service. We talked about such things as deciding to go, the mission call, financial considerations, what we had to do to get ready, describe our Mission assignments, some of the rewards we enjoy as missionaries, etc. We had four or five couples there and they had many questions that we tried to answer. It was an interesting experience. Members here are very missionary conscious.
We have two other couples here in the mission besides us. One couple is from Washington State, and the other couple is from here in Japan (Japanese). The couple from the US has been here about a year and Pres. Banks said yesterday that they may have to go home early because the Elder is in such poor health. They have been working mainly on activation, lining up people for the young missionaries to give the lessons to, etc. That has to be a disappointment for them if their mission is cut short.
The two Drs. from Tokyo have rescheduled their visit for Tues, Wed. and Thurs. Once again we have arranged for three conferences throughout the mission -to include all of the missionaries. We look forward to seeing the Smiths (Andrew and Marlenes, uncle and aunt. Then the following week we have 6 new missionaries coming in and 9 returning home. That is life in the Mission Office.
We are anxious to hear from you and a report on the reunion at Fillmore. We are especially excited about Marie and Chris’ baby and pray that all will go well with them as they have the baby Monday and complete their move to Cedar after Marie gets out of the hospital. We hope Jen and Vanessa are also doing well. Until next week, Saiyonara.
Love Gary & Shirley or Chichi & Haha

July 20, 2003

2008-06-23T14:32:00.000-07:00

Sunday, July 20, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
Today Mom gave a talk in Sacrament Meet. on Eternal Marriage. She had some very good thoughts based on the teachings of Pres. Kimball and Pres. Hinckley. Bro. Kiribayashi (Dr.) translated for her and it went very well. She said she is relieved to have it over as she has been working on it for two weeks. Our other meetings were also very good today. In our High Priest group, we studied from Chapter 13 of Pres. Tailor’s writings on the Keys of the Priesthood. Bro. Gollaher gave a wonderful lesson in English and one of the Elders translated for him. He has had a lot of experience in the Church and a wonderful knowledge of the scriptures. It was an excellent lesson (and interesting to hear it in both Japanese and English).
Yesterday was an eventful day to say the least. We left at about 8:00 AM on the Shinkansen. When we got off the train in Fukuoka, we looked down at the street, there was from two to four inches of rain water everywhere. They said it had rained all night and the lower elevations of the city were submersed. When we came down the escalator to the main floor inside the station there was water everywhere! People were taking off their shoes, rolling up their pants/ladies holding up their dresses etc, and wading in ankle deep water. Some were trying to walk on their heels. Mom and I just couldn’t bring ourselves to take off our shoes and wade in that muddy, filthy water so we waded with our shoes on, after the water went down some, to get out of the train station and there was no place to go, water everywhere. So we just waited a while and finally they allowed a few taxis to come into the parking area. People were lined up everywhere to try and catch a Taxi. As luck would have it one of the Taxis pulled ahead of the others and we hurried over and jumped in and the driver agreed to take us to the Temple. One other lady came over and wanted to go too but when she found out where we were going, she backed off. We were fifteen minutes late for the Temple session but since we had made reservations ahead of time, they held up the session until we got there. We attended two very good sessions and were through about 2:30 PM.
We had plans to go to Costco to get some more supplies to bring home. We had the address but didn’t know how to get there. When we got back down town, two men took us under their wing and stayed right with us until they got us on the right bus going to the right place. We finally got there and filled our small suitcase and a big bag with our groceries, and then got back on the bus for Fukuoka Station. The bus got in a traffic jam and we were well over an hour getting back to the station. The water had all been cleaned out and with clear skies we had no problem with the rain. We got home about 10: PM. Mom said, “This bed looks wonderful. And I feel just like our older girls felt when we got back home from Samoa at 3:00 a.m., they patted their bed and said “ Oh, this feels so good”. (We got into San Francisco in the morning without sleep, drove all that day and most of the next night without stopping because the starter went out on our car and we were afraid that if we stopped somewhere on the Nevada desert, the car would kill and we couldn’t get it started again.)
We plan to feed the Office Staff on Thurs. for Mom’s Birthday. Sis. Banks has insisted we have it in their Apt., so that will be really convenient. We are going to buy Pizza (Pizza Hut Pizza, no less), and Mom is making salad and I will help with the dessert. We lugged a case of root beer home yesterday ( the elders favorite drink) for the occasion. We should have a nice time.
One of the main ways the Japanese advertise, is to have people standing in conspicuous areas passing out small packages of tissues (Kleenex) with the name of company and what they are advertising on the outside of the packages. I started collecting them and now have over 50 packages in my office. They would be handy to have at home but not worth the space in the luggage. Mom keeps trying to get me to quit collecting them because they’re running us out of house and home. Another interesting custom in Japan!
We thank you for keeping us informed and pray that you and your families will be well. So long until next week.
Love Ropa Choro and Ropa Shimai.

July 13, 2003

2008-06-23T14:31:00.000-07:00

Sunday, July 13, 2003
Dear Family and Others,
It is time again to write. We have enjoyed communication with many of you this past week. We hope everyone is well, especially the new mothers-to-be. Pres. Banks said he saw on the Internet Friday that it was 103 in SLC. That sounds typical for this time of year. Here, we are still in the rainy season (two or three more weeks), but the temperatures seem to get warmer every day.
Yesterday, Bro. & Sis. Gollaher invited us and two more families in the Ward (a Bro. and Sis. Martinez an their three children from Brazil; the Hughes, a former missionary to Japan from Canada, who married a Japanese girl and their two little girls) to go to Hamada to the Iwami Seaside Park. It is located exactly across the Island from Hiroshima on the ocean on the other side. When we left Hiroshima it was raining and we wondered if we would be able to do anything but look at the ocean from the car windows. But we hadn’t much more than left when the rain stopped and that was the last rain we saw until we got back to Hiroshima.
The park located on the ocean had all kinds of facilities -swimming, volleyball, trails that led to different landmarks, picnic areas etc. Bro. Gollaher said that the Brazil Bro. was in charge of the cooking. You wouldn’t believe how much beef, pork, and sausages he had. They had a lot left over, so Bro. Gollaher bought the rest and they invited the Elders over for dinner, today. The meat Mom and I had was so tough we couldn’t chew it, but we enjoyed most of the rest of the lunch. Bro. Gollaher said that it was just like the picnics they had in Brazil while he was Mission Pres. there. While we were eating, there were several big hawks that would swoop down and try to steal the meat. They were huge, brazen and daring and we had to guard out plates or they would be gone. Before we left, Bro. Martinez would throw food in the air and watch the hawks retrieve it. Very interesting.
After lunch we all went down to the ocean to swim. It is against mission rules for us to swim (I didn’t want to, anyway) but Mom did get permission from Pres. Banks to wade along the shore. We took sunblock but I couldn’t see any reason to use it because we didn’t see the sun all day. Well, when we got home my face was bright red with sun burn. Mom used the sunblock and was in pretty good shape, except on her neck and where her thongs didn’t protect her feet from the sun. Seems I always have to learn things the hard way! The Japanese women are so particular about their skin color. Nearly every women wears a hat, has long sleeves and uses an umbrella so their skin won’t become darker, they like white skin. Sis. Hughs ( who is Nihon) told Mom last week that she guessed she wouldn’t go with us Sat. because she couldn’t be out in the sun. But a few minutes after getting home she called and told Mom she had changed her mind, and would be going. We got back home about 6:30 PM so it was an all day event, we were glad we went.
Last Sunday in High Priest Quorum Meeting, the teacher ask all of us our age and then wrote it on the chalkboard to use with his lesson. I thought it was interesting because I was the oldest at 69 and Bro. Hughes was the youngest at 29. Sis. Hughs told us that everyone told Bro. Hughs that they thought he was at least 40 (because he is a little bald). Sis. Hughs said she was 30 and everyone thinks she is about 18 or 20 and she said everyone was shocked that I was that old. Mom thought that was great The Japanese have this funny thing about age, and don’t mind asking people their age and then commenting on it.
Tonight we have a family of four that are being baptized here. They are from a Ward near here but don’t have a font and will do it here. It is a happy occasion when a whole family like that comes into the Church. We are planning on attending it. Mom is busy getting a talk prepared for Sac. Meeting next Sunday on Eternal Marriage. It will be good (I hope they don’t have so many on the program that everyone has to shorten their talk so they don’t run out of time).
Next Sat. we are planning on going to the Temple in Fukuoka again, for Mom’s Birthday. We will probably ride the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) so it won’t take so long. We would like to go to the Temple each month.
Until next week--- Gary & Shirley

June 22, 2003

2008-06-23T14:27:00.000-07:00

Dear Family and Friends,
Again, we thank all of you who have contacted us this past week. We have received letters, e-mails and phone calls. We appreciate all the blessings that you are receiving as well as the many we enjoy.
Today was Hiroshima’s Stake Conference. It was held out in the Hatsukaichi Ward area, about 45 minuets south of Hiroshima. We rode out with Pres. and Sis. Banks in the Mission 3-seater van along with four Sis. who are working here in this area. The Conference was really good. We didn’t have a special visitor so they had several members talk, Pres. and Sis. Banks talked and the Stake Pres. Mom and I wonder why they always have Pres. and Sis. Banks talk and none of the other Stake Pres. members talk (I guess it is just the way they are used to doing things). Elder McCoy and Payne (the AP’s) translated for us. On the way home, Sister Banks was saying something about being tired a lot, Mom said ,”Yea, The other morning when Gary got up he said he felt like Last Years Birds Nest, but I say it’s better to feel like one than to look like one.” They all had a good chuckle out of that.
They arranged to have the Conference in a beautiful building that is no more than 3 or 4 years old. Inside it was all decorated in granite, with a spacious hallway with granite or marble steps on each side going up to the second floor where the auditorium is located. As we were coming down the stairs, I told Mom I felt like we were going to Cinderella’s Ball. Pres. Banks doubts that they charge money when charitable organizations use the building.
We have had four sick Elders staying here in the Mission Home. Pres. Banks says that it is requiring so much of his time taking care of the sick that he is getting behind in his other missionary work. Pres. Banks has asked the Church to more carefully screen the missionaries they send here and make sure they have no history of illness that might flair up during their missions. It is also very expensive for the Church to stand the cost of all the medical tests, etc. One of the Elders who has been here just a little longer than us returned back home in the States. Friday. I think he has been sick more days than he has been able to work.
Next week Pres. Banks has asked the two medical Doctors serving here in Japan (one of them is Andrew’s uncle Robert) to spend a day each in the different areas of the Mission, talking to all the missionaries about health concerns. At the meeting here at Hiroshima, Mom and I got roped into singing a special number in the missionary meeting that they will have here. A few weeks ago, when they were planning the Meeting here with the Drs.; Elder Betherds the AP volunteered the Mission Home missionaries would furnish a song. Two weeks later Elder Betherds was transferred. Mom tried to get the rest of the Elders together for the song, but it turned out to be such a hassle, that finally Mom and I agreed to take care of it. We are going to try to sing a special arrangement of Secret Prayer, accompanied by Sis. Banks. When you’re in the Mission Field you have to do the best you can with what you’ve got!
We have had a little problem in our apartment with mosquitoes since the raining season began. Mom had three or four bad bites. So yesterday we had one of the Elders buy us a little electric device that is supposed to get rid of the mosquitoes in our apartment. We hope it works like its supposed to. So far I haven’t had any bites, but I can remember how bad they were when I was here before. More than one morning I woke up with one or both eyes swollen shut.
I didn’t think I would ever really enjoy studying the Old Testament, but Mom and I are studying it now with the CES manuel that goes into depth on interpretation. It is really interesting and meaningful.
We were interested to learn that Lee and Dixie Morrell received their Mission Call to Hawaii to teach at BYU Hawaii. Things change so fast at home that we will have allot of catching-up to do when we get back.
I better close this letter now. Until next week,
Love, Gary & Shirley

June 15, 2003

2008-06-23T14:23:00.000-07:00

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

June 7, 2003

2008-06-23T14:21:00.000-07:00

Sat. June 7, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
The rainy season in Japan was supposed to begin on June 1. So far it has been a month without rain. (May seemed to be more like the rainy season. It rained several time a week.) We have enjoyed hearing from most of you during the past week. I believe we got Marlene back on track, but Ray’s e-mail keeps coming back ‘unable to send’. We are sorry that Jocie is down with chicken-pox. We hope she doesn’t have as severe a case as her mother, Marie had.
Today Mom and I walked downtown. We were surprised at how many women and girls were wearing the traditional kimono. It must be a holiday or special occasion. We haven’t seen many kinonos since we have been here. When I was in Japan before the older women wore kimonos as their everyday dress and the rest of the women and girls wore them most of the time. The Japanese people have become very Americanized in their dress. We like to walk through the stores and see what is on the market now.
Last week, two of my crowns came off. I talked to Dr. Kiribayashi (in our bishopric) and he suggested a Dentist friend of his so I got an appointment and went last Thurs. It was an interesting experience. Four young nurses prept me and the Dr. came in and went to work. He took special pains to get them on just right and I’m sure it will be a long time before those crowns come off again. All in all they worked on me for an hour and a half. I began to wonder if I would have enough money to pay the bill but as it turned out it was only 1800 yen ($15.25). The Dentist pointed out some other dental problems I am having and scheduled me again next Thurs. to do some more. I was impressed with the beautiful office and the up-to-date equipment he had. Matt said I should have waited until he finishes with dental school. By then I’m afraid I won’t have any teeth left to fix.
Last Wed. they had Zone Leaders Conference here. After it was over Sis. Banks fixed dinner for everyone, including us. She served ‘Okinawan Tacos’ (a plate of rice with tomato sauce and all kinds of toppings, topped off with fruit salad and an ice cream desert). It was a delicious meal and we all ate up in the Bank’s large living room. (I think there were about 25 of us there.) It always amazes me how much food missionaries can put away!
One of the new Assistants to the Pres. (Elder Betherds) that has only been here a short time was sent back into the field. He was an excellent missionary and is credited with many baptism’s, but he had some personal habits that got on their nerves. He always had to know what was going on with everyone, couldn’t keep his hands off the mail while Mom was trying to get it sorted and distributed, was highly opinionated and I think it bothered the Banks’ to go on all those trips throughout the mission with him. Anyway I’m sure that it is more profitable for him to be doing regular missionary work. Our new AP is Elder Papne. Elder Bethards is a zone leader now and we saw him and several of the other Elder’s that have worked here in the mission home, at the Zone Leader’s Conference.
Also, we mentioned about Elder Miyamoto going home to Brazil last week because of his injuries. Besides everything else, he missed his flight and had to stay over two extra days with the Elders in Kobe then to top it off he fell down stairs at the airport and hurt his injured leg even more. What luck! Now Monday, Elder Baba (a Japanese Elder) is being released to go home early because of some health problems he is having. Pres. Banks says that since he brought him into the mission home 25 days ago, he has slept 20. Elder Smith (Andrew and Marlene’s uncle) has been working with him during that time. He also has been an outstanding missionary and was one of the Zone Leaders. Pres. Banks really hated to release him.
We hope all of your families are well. It is always nice (for the teachers and students) to get school finished up in the spring. The kids here have a spring break and then its back to school. They go year around. We are enjoying ourselves here and it seems the time is going fast. Until next week, Sayonara.
The Ropa Senkyoshii’s

May 31, 2003

2008-06-23T14:18:00.000-07:00

Sat. May 31, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
We have had one of those big weeks. But we have really appreciated and enjoyed all of the communications we have received from you. We are glad that all seems to be going along well at home.
Tuesday all the new missionaries came in (there were only five this time). Wed. we gave them all the orientation, etc.. Then Thursday was transfer day when about 1/3 of the missionaries here are transferred. What a day that was! Mom nearly went crazy with the phone ringing constantly with questions like: “My companion didn’t come in when he was scheduled, what should I do?” and that kept up all day. Some of the calls were from Japanese missionaries and Mom couldn’t understand what they were saying. The AP’s are supposed to be here to take care of those problems but one of the AP’s got sent back out in the field and the other AP was tied up with the new AP. When Elder McCoy, the AP that was here, came in at the end of the day and asked Mom, “Is there anything I can help you with?” Mom wanted to say, “I’ll say there is. You could stay in the office and take care of your job! But she didn’t. Then the Elders that were going home started coming in and getting their final interviews with the Pres. and settled their accounts with me. To top it off, one of the Elders that is here from Brazil, ran into a car with his bike, catapulted over his handlebars, broke a rib and severed tendons in his knee also another missionary is here suffering from bad headaches. So Pres. Banks brought them into the Elders Apt. The Elder from Brasil was moaning and groaning all day and would continually come into the office and ask questions until finally Pres. Banks had to put his foot down on all the people hanging around the office. That night we attended the testimony with the returning Elders in the Bank’s Apt. It was really good. One of the Elder’s parents was supposed to be here to pick him up (and attend the Testimony Meet.) but hadn’t showed up yet. They did show up Friday morning. We were glad when that day is over!
Friday was better. The returning Elders left on the train for the Osaka Airport at about 7:00 AM. Mom was invited over to Sis. Gohaller’s for lunch with the Sis. Missionaries in this area.
They took Elder Miyamoto (the bicycle accident Elder) to the hospital for some X-rays and found that he has a torn ligaments and tendons in his leg and will need surgery and will have to stay off it for about six months. So Pres. Banks has made arrangement for him to go home early and he will leave Monday. This Elder Miyamoto has been bugging Mom to check over a letter that he is sending in with his application to go to BYU, next year. When she got the letter neither one of us could understand what he was trying to say, so I suggested Mom try to write what she thinks he is trying to say in her words and be done with it. Which she did. If BYU allows him to enter on the strength of that letter, things have certainly changed at the Y since we were there. (On the other hand when Mom got throught with the letter, it didn’t sound to bad.) But now he is moaning because he can’t work when he gets home to earn enough money to go to school. He is from Brazil (but his parents are from Japan), speaks Portuguese, Japanese and a little English. Such is life.
Yesterday we had reports that a typhoon was in Okinawa and heading for the main land of Japan. It must have fizzled out because all we have seen is rain and a little wind all day but nothing like a typhoon. In fact it was our P-day and we have been out in it all day.
Tomorrow Mom has been asked to talk to the Young Women about some of her ancestors in the Church. She is going to talk about Seymour Brunson and Edward Partridge. She wishes she had some of her materials here that are home. But it will be good.
We were just thinking, tomorrow (Sun. June 1) Grandpa and Grandma Roper would be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary. Also it would be Grandma Christensen’s 86th (?) Birthday. Also happy birthday to Ann on her (?) birthday May 31st.We hope you are well. Be sure to give our love to the Grandkids.
Love, The Ropa Senkiyoshi’s

May 25, 2003

2008-06-23T14:16:00.000-07:00

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

May 17, 2003

2008-06-23T14:14:00.000-07:00

May 17, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
We had a great week, receiving mail and messages from so many. We appreciate being updated on news from home.
We just got back from Fukuoka Temple. The Gohallers (pronounced Golier) came by at 7:30 AM this morning and picked us up to go with them. We had a very enjoyable day. One of things we did that we hadn’t planned on was to go to the Costco Discount store there. Sis. Gohaller had a Costco Card so we were able to get several things that aren’t available here on the Japanese market. We then went to Temple and attended a session. It was our Stake’s temple day and the session was full. One interesting thing that the Gohallers have on their car is an electronic navigation system. They put in the phone number of the Temple and it showed us on a small screen and told us every turn to make and got us to the Temple fast without any problems. It has a special antenna on the car that receives locations and monitors the car at all times. I want to get one installed in our car when we get home. We had a good visit down and back and got to know the Gohallers better. He says his company (Mazda) installs them in their new cars for under $200.
Bro. Gohaller has a good history of working in the Church. He has been a Mission Pres. in Brazil, was released as a Stake Pres. in England when he was transferred here. He said when he was called to be Mission Pres., he asked Ford Motor if he could take three years off. They said no, that was against there policies. So he said he would quit. But just before he left they said they would give him two years leave of absence. Then by the time two years were up, they said they had changed their policy and he could have another year off. He said the reason they changed the policy was because they had hired about 100 BYU graduates and many of them were planning on Missions. He felt that was a real answer to his prayers. (You just have to have faith and things work out.)
I had a wonderful Birthday, Thurs. Shirley arranged and planned everything. She invited the Mission Home Elders and Pres. & Sis. Banks to a Birthday dinner. She planned to hold it down in one of the rooms on the 2nd floor where the Chapel is, but when Sis. Banks found out about it she insisted we have it up in their dining room. Shirley arranged to have okanemiyaki (a Japanese noodle dish) brought up for the main course, then she fixed some fresh fruit shishkabobs and cooked some vegetables. All I had to do was make some banana cream pies. There were about ten people there and we had a good time. I also really appreciated all the greetings I got from you. I don’t look forward to Birthdays but that doesn’t stop them from coming.
Mom really appreciated all the greetings she received from everyone for Mother’s Day. And congratulations to all of you that are mothers and/or have May birthdays. We have really been interested in all the changes that have been taking place in the local schools. It sounds like they are good changes.
The missionary work here seems to be proceeding well. One of the sick missionaries that has been staying here was sent out, yesterday, and I haven’t heard that anyone else is on the sick list except for maybe a few ingrown toenails. We are hoping that the Japanese missionary that went home a week or two ago will soon be returning. Next week the new missionaries will be coming in and some others will be leaving, and there will be transfers. That is always a hard week for us.
Congratulations to Craig Olsen on his becoming an Eagle Scout. Also to all of you who have family members graduating from High School and University. It is an exciting time of the year. We are glad everyone seems to be well. Until next time,
Love, Haha to Chichi Ropa (Your own mother and father)
Ojiisan to Obasan (Your own grandfather and grandmother)

May 11, 2003 (Mother's Day)

2008-06-23T14:11:00.000-07:00

Sunday May 11, 2003 (Happy Mother’s Day!)
Dear Family and Friends,
Thanks for all the phone calls, letters and e-mails we received this past week. Do any of you know where the Dahlia bulbs are that I had stored in the back room of the garage? I was worried about getting them used this summer, so Sherry and Elaine went to Cedar to take care of them and they couldn’t find them. Anyway if they have been put to good use, that’s good.
We had an interesting Sacrament meeting today. They got all the little kids up to sing to the mothers. Most of them were good but some of them balked and squawked and clung to their mothers. After they sang, the Primary workers passed out little cards for the kids to give to their mothers (a lot of confusion hardly fitting for the middle of Sac. meeting). Anyway they try to carry-on the same traditions as we do at home. Mother’s Day is also a Japanese holiday. Mom got some flowers, cards, notes, etc. Today is the day regular missionaries are allowed to call their families. We have had a few of the Elders call here to see how to go about calling the US from Japan.
Yesterday (our P-Day), Mom and I went to Fukuoka to the Temple. We ended up going on the Shinkansen because we were too late getting reservation on less expensive transportation. We had an enjoyable time and went through two sessions. We really like the Fukuoka Temple. It is beautiful and there and has such a good spirit. We are learning how to find our way around better (in the Temple and in Fukuoka). It rained here in Hirsohima most of last week and it rained all night Friday night, cleared up nicely all day Sat. and started raining as soon as we got back from the Temple. We felt really lucky. The people say the rainy season shouldn’t start until June, but it is evidently early this year.
Bro. and Sis Gollaher have invited us to ride down to the Temple with them (in their car) next. Sat. so we are planning on that. Bro. Gollaher is going to have his secretary at work plug in the route we take, then he’ll put it into his car monitor and she says it will get us there with no problem at all. I’m not sure if I understand how all that works but it sounds neat. Brother Gollaher is one of the top executives in the Masda Company and he has acess to a lot of stuff. They are expecting a call from their daughter who is a missionary in Brazil sometime in the morning at about 4:30 AM. Japan time.
One of the Zone leaders has tried four times to get a Japanese drivers license. He is getting really discouraged. Each time they tell him something he needs to improve on and he works on that and the next time they pick something else and it costs money, each time they try. Pres. Banks says it is really a joke the way the whole thing works. Pres. Banks really needs the AP’s to be able to drive so they can spell him off on these long trips he has to take every week. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about trying to drive here. When I was here before, there were very few cars. Now there are a lot of cars and crowded streets, everywhere. (Many of our members here have cars.)
Last Wed. someone on the phone called the office to see if they could come up. When they arrived, lo-and-behold it was Tom Walker’s son and his wife. He served a mission here in Hiroshima about 2 years ago. He is married to one of Pres. Hinton’s granddaughters. We had a good visit. They were planning on staying with some members at Yasufuruichi (where he served) and tour around the mission for a few days. At the Temple, yesterday, we met another couple whose husband served in Fukuoka a couple of years ago and he and his wife are here visiting his mission. That would be a neat experience.
I guess it is time to close to close. Birthday wishes to Elaine, Marlene and any other of you who are having a Birthday this week. I’m not sure how soon I will be able to send this because Pres. Bank’s computer is out of the office right now. We hope everyone is well and you will have a successful closing of school. Goodbye for now.
Ai suru ni, Ropa Choro & Ropa Shimai

April 26, 2003

2008-06-23T14:07:00.000-07:00

Sat. April 26, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
I apologize that I was unable to get a connection on the Internet until Thursday. We hope you have all received last weeks letter by now. We have enjoyed hearing from many of you and pray for your good health and safety. Today we got e-mails from Aunt Lori, Aunt Marge and Marlene. It is great to hear from each of you. Sherry we got your package, yesterday. That is a good, inexpensive way to send things, and we appreciate your effort.
This has been one of those weeks. Tuesday we had 10 new missionaries arrive, four Elders from the MTC in Provo, and 5 Elders and one Sis. (Japanese) from the MTC in Tokyo. Sis. Banks has to have beds ready as well as meals prepared. Wednesday they receive orientation training from all of us in the Mission Office and then Wed. night the local missionaries take them out to proselyte for an hour or two.
Thurs. morning they are assigned a companion and the two AP Elders get them on the train headed for their new areas. Also Thur. is transfer day for all the missionaries in the mission who are being transferred. Matt said he tried to call us on Thurs. (here) and couldn’t get a line through to the office. There is a good reason for that. The phone is ringing all day with questions like “My companion wasn’t on the train.” “What time does such and such train leave for --?”; and all kinds of such questions. Mom was a nervous wreck by the time the day was over. I had my problems too. Missionaries would keep calling to say they didn’t have enough money to make the transfer. “What should I do?” I would then have to make arrangements to get money to them.
While that was going on, the missionaries were arriving at the Mission Home preparing to catch the train to Osaka and then the plane home, Friday morning. Pres. Banks has to interview each one of them and then I have to check them out on their finances, see that they have their passport, help them close their bank accounts, etc.
One of the problems was that four out of the five missionaries that were going to the US, were sick. That required Sis. Banks to try and get medicine to them on top of preparing their meals and all that goes with it.
Thurs. night they scheduled a farewell testimony meeting for the returning missionaries in Pres. Bank’s living room. Mom and I are always invited. We got up there at 7:00 PM for the meeting and just about got started when the door bell rang and there were four young girls there that had come to sing a song for one of the Sis. They sang and the door bell rang again and there was two members from one of the areas where one of the Elder’s served, so Pres. Banks invited them in for the meeting. We were just ready to sing the opening hymn when the phone rang and it was the mother and aunt of one of the Elders who had just arrived in Japan to visit and then go home with Elder Stratton, and they didn’t know how to get to the Mission home. So then the Elder and a companion went to the train station to get them. By the time we got started it was after 8:00 PM. Most of those interruptions were a surprise to Pres. and Sis. Banks but they took them in good stride. It turned out to be a good meeting.
Wed. at 8:30 AM, Mom had an appointment at the University Medical Center to have her annual cancer check. We were there on time but it was after 12 PM when we got through. They would send us here and we would wait, and then send us to another area of the hospital, and we would wait. She finally got a good examination with no sign of the cancer. We were pretty well worn-out by the time we got through. Mom thought it was pretty traumatic especially taking off clothes in front different people. But that is the way they do things in Japan!
Yesterday, Mom had an appointment to get her hair cut. We went to a place that Sis. Gohallyer recommended. I think Mom felt like she got a pretty good cut (although it wasn’t as good as Roland William’s). She was glad to get it done because it has been about three months. The rain every day is a little irritating but I keep thinking about the many beautiful flowers that it generates. It sounds like you have been getting some rain at home. That is good news. It is so damp here and fairly warm. Tonight one of the ladies in our English class has invited us to go hear a performance of The Messiah. She is singing in the chorus. It was a combined effort of the Hiroshima choir and orchestra and they gave it their all. It was sung in English and some of the pronouncations where pretty interesting. Japanese have a hard time saying their “v”s, so “forever” comes out, “foreba”.We better close. We hope you are all well.
Love, The Missionaries

April 20. 2003 (Easter)

2008-06-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

Sunday, April 20, 2003 (Easter)
Dear Family and Friends,
It was great hearing from every one of our immediate family during this past week. We are happy that everyone is doing well. Ray and Rinda, congratulations on a new grand-daughter. Thanks for your e-mail, Sherisa, we’re so glad that you like school so much and that you are being diligent in your studies, that will serve you well. We have had beautiful weather for a day or two and now rain, rain, rain. Hiroshima is so beautiful with many flowers out in bloom. The azalea’s are particularly pretty. We surely hope you are getting some spring rains.
We have enjoyed Pres. Bank’s daughter and family here. They are leaving to go home tomorrow. Pres. Banks has tried to spend as much time as possible with them and they have seen some of Hiroshima’s sights. He had to go to Tokyo for three days last week, and left yesterday to visit one of the Stake’s Priesthood meetings and will be back tonight.
A while back, a lady called Mom and wondered if we could come and talk to her English class. We planned and prepared thinking it would be a whole class of school children. Thurs. afternoon we met them at the Hiroshima Granvia Hotel. When we got there it turned out to be besides the teacher, a middle aged women and two twenty-ish year old women. None of them (including the teacher) understood English very well and luckily we could keep the conversation going by using Japanese, here and there. Mom showed them some pictures of the family and they enjoyed seeing them and talking about the family.
On Friday, Sis. Gollaher (Mom’s cousin) held a little luncheon for Sis. Jackson who is going home, Thurs. and invited Mom. I walked her over to a store in our main shopping area to meet Sis. Gollaher and we ended up on the wrong street. It was about time to meet so I hailed a taxi and had them take us there. She had a good time and I walked right straight back to the Mission Office. It is funny how easy it is to get turned around on these streets, especially when you are in a hurry. It is a good thing we aren’t trying to proselytize and find our way here and there.
One of the members of the Bishopric in our Ward is a medical Dr. He has made arrangements for Mom to go to the Hiroshima University Medical Center to get her annual cancer-scan. It is scheduled for next Wed., so yesterday we decided we better go find out where the medical center is located so we wouldn’t need to spend time looking for it Wed. (Wed. is one of our busy days when all the new missionaries come in.) A public bus took us right to it and since it was raining we decided to stay on the bus and come back home. That was a hard one for the bus driver to understand, but he complied with our wishes.
This next week we will have 10 new missionaries coming in and 5 returning home. Friday transfers are scheduled, this comes around every 5 weeks, at which time about one third of the missionaries are transferred. With arranging all the money and purchasing train tickets and plane tickets, and transfer schedules for everyone, it becomes quite a job for all of us.
We continue to be concerned about those (especially the ones in our family) that are serving in the Iraq crisis. From what we can hear it soon should be over. In a way it is nice to be out of touch of so much war, etc. Occasionally we buy an English paper and get news about the war from another countries point of view.
We are doing well and enjoying ourselves here. Until next time,
Love from the Roper senkyoshi’s, haha and chichi

April 13, 2003

2008-06-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

April 13, 2003
Dear Family and Friends,
We are a little late with this letter because we have attended General Conference all day today and yesterday. We thank so many of you who called and sent e-mails this past week. It is good to hear how things are going at home. We keep busy but glad we have what it takes to keep up with our jobs. Greg’s e-mail address didn’t pan out. (We got notice that it didn’t go through with the address we had, so maybe someone could send us the correct one.) We were also happy to receive the 20th Ward newsletter.
Thurs. Pres. Banks took one of the Elders to Kansai airport (Osaka) to catch the plane home. He was the Elder that had his head injured a few years ago that I told you about, and is having complications again. Elder Banks was nervous about him and decided he better get him back in the States. Dr. Smith (Marlene and Andrew’s uncle) was in on the decision to have him go home. We surely felt sorry for him because he so hated to leave and he was a good missionary.
While Pres. Banks was at Kansai, he picked up his daughter Emily, son-in-law and their only little two-year-old grandson who have come to spend 10 days with them. That has surely made Sis. Banks happy and also made us homesick for our grandkids. They are from Portland, Oregon. The Banks have three children, all married -two daughters and a son. I can’t hardly believe they are grandparents because they don’t seem that old themselves.
Conference was surely good. It came to us translated into 58 languages. The version we saw was the same one broadcast to you last week. Our whole ward and missionaries in our Stake all went to Takasu and watched the Sat. sessions yesterday, and the Sunday sessions today. (They had one hour between sessions, here so we got back in pretty good time). We packed a lunch both days and had a good time. Between sessions, Mom and I walked all around the Church and the area to see if I could remember the area from when I was here before. We couldn’t help but notice how affluent everything seems to be here now as compared to 50 years ago. There seems to be a car in every driveway and most of the old Japanese homes have been rebuilt. It was interesting to visit.
Riding the street car out to Takasu with the missionaries was an interesting experience. As soon as we boarded the streetcar, the missionaries would spot a person to sit down by, introduce themselves and strike up a conversation with the person. That was part of their proselytizing. They are really good about finding every opportunity to talk to someone about the Church. There are two Sisters that have a baptism every week or two. They are really good at proselytizing.
We have bought an English newspaper or two to find out how the war effort is going. As Matt told us, it sounds like it is pretty well over. We surely thought Pres. Hinckley explained in a good way, the war and how it affects the Church. The same things are going on as they have since Adam and Eve. We don’t need to worry, even if our lives are taken, as long as we keep faithful in the Church.
I guess it is time to quit for this week. May the Lord continue to be with you and watch over each of you and your families.
Love, Gary & Shirley

February 14, 2003

2008-06-21T20:23:00.000-07:00

February 14, 2003 DONE!
Dear Family,
This week has gone very quickly, however, it hasn’t been without a lot of hard work. Every 5 weeks we have transfers in our mission. Well, this week was transfer week, the second one we’ve been involved in since we’ve been here. Transfer week is where the new missionaries come in (late Tuesday night), and missionaries going home come in on Thursday, and go home on Friday. That means there’s a lot going on in the office. It’s fun though because we get to meet a lot of really neat young people, we hear a lot of interesting stories. Out of the whole week, I think the busiest days are Tuesday and Wednesday. because Dad and I are directly involved. We are each assigned a time to do our little speech for Orientation on Tuesday to the new missionaries ( some of them we knew from the MTC), Dad’s part goes on for quite a while explaining about how to handle their finances through the mission office etc. Those new missionaries are so worried they’ll make a mistake, it’s interesting to compare them to the missionaries going home. They come into the office and make themselves right at home. President Banks interviews all the missionaries going and coming, so that puts quite a crowd plunk dab in front on us. Some on them wander into Dad’s office, sit down in one of his soft chairs and proceed to visit with him, sometimes he gets flustered because he has to give each one of them money and their tickets home. Same way with me, they love to sit and visit, and some of them get pretty nosy and look at confidential material especially if I happen to have it sitting on my desk. It’s very hard to get my work done, (I can tell you I’m no Carol Burnett, chonkin’ on that gum, with a nice clean desk in front of her and not a thing to do). They love looking at the President’s Book that I put together, it includes, their weekly President’s Letters ; weekly reports of each minute of their time, plus, awards, parent letters, Stake Pres, Bishop’s letters. I’ve added my own touch to it also by putting their mission picture on the front (next time Pres. Banks said he would take their going home picture so they would have a before and after on the front page. I’ve also added a nice colored map of the Japan Hiroshima mission so they can circle the places they’ve served. The President is supposed to give it to them when he gives his final interview, but they see them sitting on top of the file cabinet outside his office and grab them and start looking through them. I guess next time I’ll have to come up with a better plan.
Dad’s trainer has been transferred this week to Akashi, about a 5 or 6 hour train ride from here. I think Dad was kind of nervous about that, but these last two days have gone like clock work for him as far as the money checking out okay is concerned, and the other things have gone well too. In some ways I think he’ll do better with his trainer gone. You know how nervous he gets with someone standing right there looking over his shoulder.
This weekend is Stake Conference, President and Sister Banks invited us to go with them, and I think we’ll also go to the Saturday night session out to Takasu. By the way, Dad got a really nice letter from Sister Naito (a Sister he baptized on his first mission). She and her husband moved to Tokyo to live with their daughter because he has been quite ill. She says she would love to see Dad again, she also asked about the family, she remembered taking us to lunch. I remember what a beautiful place it was and I also remember Matt eating that raw egg plopped on top of the rice, it just makes me sick to think about it!
I had the opportunity to go on splits the other night with the lady missionaries. They had an appointment with a young woman I would say was around 30 years old. She had approached them and said she was interested in the church. It was so neat, because Sister Ahlstrom challenged her to baptism, and she accepted, so she’s getting baptized in a couple of weeks.
Sherry, we received the package you sent with the medicine, tape and candy. Thanks, that was great! Marlene, it was wonderful to hear from you, in spite of all of those moans and groans we heard coming out of the phone, Dad and I concur with your Bishop, you’re the one to handle those young women, you’ll be subarashii! (Wonderful) We LOVE to get phone calls!
Love, Ropa Shimai, and Ropa Choro (or haha and chichi)

February 23, 2003

2008-06-21T20:22:00.000-07:00

February 14, 2003 DONE!
Dear Family,
This week has gone very quickly, however, it hasn’t been without a lot of hard work. Every 5 weeks we have transfers in our mission. Well, this week was transfer week, the second one we’ve been involved in since we’ve been here. Transfer week is where the new missionaries come in (late Tuesday night), and missionaries going home come in on Thursday, and go home on Friday. That means there’s a lot going on in the office. It’s fun though because we get to meet a lot of really neat young people, we hear a lot of interesting stories. Out of the whole week, I think the busiest days are Tuesday and Wednesday. because Dad and I are directly involved. We are each assigned a time to do our little speech for Orientation on Tuesday to the new missionaries ( some of them we knew from the MTC), Dad’s part goes on for quite a while explaining about how to handle their finances through the mission office etc. Those new missionaries are so worried they’ll make a mistake, it’s interesting to compare them to the missionaries going home. They come into the office and make themselves right at home. President Banks interviews all the missionaries going and coming, so that puts quite a crowd plunk dab in front on us. Some on them wander into Dad’s office, sit down in one of his soft chairs and proceed to visit with him, sometimes he gets flustered because he has to give each one of them money and their tickets home. Same way with me, they love to sit and visit, and some of them get pretty nosy and look at confidential material especially if I happen to have it sitting on my desk. It’s very hard to get my work done, (I can tell you I’m no Carol Burnett, chonkin’ on that gum, with a nice clean desk in front of her and not a thing to do). They love looking at the President’s Book that I put together, it includes, their weekly President’s Letters ; weekly reports of each minute of their time, plus, awards, parent letters, Stake Pres, Bishop’s letters. I’ve added my own touch to it also by putting their mission picture on the front (next time Pres. Banks said he would take their going home picture so they would have a before and after on the front page. I’ve also added a nice colored map of the Japan Hiroshima mission so they can circle the places they’ve served. The President is supposed to give it to them when he gives his final interview, but they see them sitting on top of the file cabinet outside his office and grab them and start remembered taking us to lunch. I remember what a beautiful place it was and I also remember Matt eating that raw egg plopped on top of the rice, it just makes me sick to think about it!
I had the opportunity to go on splits the other night with the lady missionaries. They had an appointment with a young woman I would say was around 30 years old. She had approached them and said she was interested in the church. It was so neat, because Sister Ahlstrom challenged her to baptism, and she accepted, so she’s getting baptized in a couple of weeks.
Sherry, we received the package you sent with the medicine, tape and candy. Thanks, that was great! Marlene, it was wonderful to hear from you, in spite of all of those moans and groans we heard coming out of the phone, Dad and I concur with your Bishop, you’re the one to handle those young women, you’ll be subarashii! (Wonderful) We LOVE to get phone calls!
Love, Ropa Shimai, and Ropa Choro (or haha and chichi)

March 22, 2003

2008-06-20T13:23:00.000-07:00

Mar. 22, 2003

Dear Family and Friends,

We haven’t heard much from the immediate family this week. Hope things are going well. Afton, we got your e-mail today. I am glad you are busy with the genealogy and record keeping (mother would be happy about that, too). You mentioned about the bar-ridges down the middle of the sidewalks here. Just today, Mom and I noticed the third blind person we have seen since being here, use the ridges. So it is much expense for a few.

Tonight they are having a wedding reception here in the Church. It is a couple from Yasafuruichi (an area in our Stake). They were married yesterday in the Fukuoka Temple and the reception here in our Ward. It is interesting, because none of their family belong to the Church (they are all Buddhists) and they are having one of our kind of receptions. It will be interesting to see how it turns out. The Relief Society is down in the kitchen cooking up a storm.

Today is Sat., our p-day. This morning the weather was beautiful so Mom and I walked down to the main shopping area. On our way back as we were going underneath Hiroshima station (there is quite a large area with seats and a huge TV) there was a high school band concert in progress. We sat down and listened for a while. They were really good (all girls dressed in their uniforms except two boys on the basses probably from one of the boy’s schools).

Tues. we were supposed to have 14 new missionaries come in, however we only got 12 because they said two of the Elders weren’t doing well with the language at the MTC so they transferred them to missions in the state. They went through several orientations for two days while they were here and then went out Thurs. AM to their different Wards and branches. On Thurs. we had 9 missionaries come in to go home. They have finished their missions and they left for home, yesterday. Fri. night they invited us to their final testimony meeting and it is wonderful to see the new Miss. and contrast them with the ones going home. They grow so much.

Next Sat. we have made an appointment to go to the Fukuoka Temple. We are excited about that. (Finally after trying so hard to get there since we came to Japan. We would have gone today, but they were full and couldn’t handle anymore. It is beautiful here, this time of year. The blossoms are coming out and the weather is improving. We have read some about the war that the Pres. is waging with Iraq. I hope it will be over soon and people can go on with their lives. The Japanese take a dim view of any kind of war. We have heard a few groups of protester out on the street corners. They don’t seem to derogatory towards the US, however.

We hope everyone is well. We really appreciate hearing from you and know you are being looked after. We really enjoy our mission and appreciate all the blessings we receive each day.

Love, The 'Ropas' (Edited)

March 15, 2003

2008-06-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

Sat. March 15, 2003

Dear Family and Friends,

We have had a good (busy) week. Even though blossoms are coming out on the trees, it still remains rainy and cold. We have heard from most of the family and some others. We sure appreciate hearing from you. It sounds like everyone is getting along pretty well. This morning we walked over to the shopping area and bought a few things. Then we went over to Best Dept. store. I think it is connected with Bests in the U.S. We bought us a new electronic Sanyo English-Japanese pocket dictionary. It is really nice. Most of the missionaries here have one.

Sis. Banks received an e-mail about them finding the girl in SL that was kidnapped. We have been reading that. We would have never guessed she would have been found alive, and right in SLC. That is really a miracle (even though she has probably really been through it with such strange ducks that took her.) Church apostates are usually much more weird than others that do those kind of things.

Today and tomorrow the Banks and some of the Mission leaders were supposed to go up to Fukuchiyama for a Stake Conf., but they got a call last night saying one of the Stake Presidency had passed away, yesterday and they wouldn’t be holding anything until tomorrow (Sun). So they will leave early tomorrow morning.

Last Sunday after Church, the Gollaher’s invited us over to their place for dinner. They are the couple that served as Mission Pres. in Brazil and now his company Mazda, has sent him here for three years. One really interesting thing was that Mom and Sis. Gollaher are relatives on the Christensen line. They have the same great-great grandfather Christensen. When they heard about Oak City, they said they had been to more than one Christensen reunion there. He was raised in Roosevelt, UT. and she is from SLC. They also have seven children (5 girls and 2 boys) who live in the US. Its a small world in the Church. They both speak Portuguese really well and tomorrow they are holding a Portuguese Sacrament meeting. Her and Mom have been assigned as visiting teaching companions.

I am going to be speaking at church tomorrow, and I’ve got Elder Robertson lined up to do the translating for me. Mom thinks I’ve got a really good talk about Eternal Life prepared.

Next week will be our busy week, well at least Wednesday and Thursday are especially busy. We thought we were getting nine new missionaries in on Tues. but now it has been upped to 13. The one Elder that had to go home because of a bad knee is also coming back with the group. When they go home for surgery, etc. they usually don’t send them back anywhere out of the States, but because this Elder had only been here 4 months and had the language learned, they are sending him back.

Mom has really been busy getting the letters to the Pres. and other papers and materials bound into neat books, ready to give the missionaries that are going home. The missionaries really prize the stuff they are taking home, so Mom wanted it to be nice, and it is (as only Mom knows how to do).We are both getting onto our jobs here. Things have a way of working out when you stick to it. We are the only missionaries that are assigned here for out entire mission. Many of the other office staff have been transferred already and each month there is great concern about who will go and who will stay. Mom said that Elder Allred an Asst. to the Pres., who is going home next week, has had 16 transfers since the beginning of his mission. That has really changed since I was on my Mission. Two places I served for 14 mos. each and the last place for 8 mos.

It is really a blessing to be couple missionaries. We have the companion of our choice throughout our time here, and are not expected to follow the procedures that the young missionaries are have to follow.

One week after General Conference, we are going out to the Takasu Ward where they will show us all sessions of the Conf. on delayed TV. We are looking forward to that.

We were surprised to hear from Elaine that Ross is making a change in his employment. It sounds like Marilyn’s boy Scott is getting married in the Timp. Temple. Things go on whether we are there or not.

Keep up the good work.

Until next week, Gary & Shirley (Edited)

March 1, 2003

2008-06-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

Sat. March 1, 2003

Dear Family,

We have had another busy week. We really appreciate all the calls and e-mails we have received this week. It was good to hear from Rinda and her family and also Ann. We were surprised to hear that Myron Christensen had passed away. We had a good visit with him at Afton and Howard’s mission report. We got a call from Matt, yesterday and Marlene is on the phone with Mom, right now. Mom really likes to get on the phone with all the grandkids (and everyone else for that matter). We are happy that things seem to be going well at home, especially that you are finally getting some moisture. Keep up the good work!

It is another rainy week-end. The rain is cold but it rains at a slow drizzle so with umbrellas we can get out and around without much trouble. The side-walks here are well paved. Down the middle of every side-walk they have a strip about a foot wide of tile with bumps on it. This is for the convenience of blind people. They always carry a long white stick and use it to feel their way along those bumps and can go any place without help. Isn’t that amazing!

Pres. and Sis. Banks and the AP’s have been gone most of the week to missionary conferences around the mission. Thurs. was most of the Elders and Sisters’ P-day. There were some missionaries hanging around the Mission Office and it bothered us and the Pres. (when he got back) that some were looking into things they shouldn’t. It doesn’t do much good to just remind them (kids will be kids). Pres. and Mom have been re-arranging some things in the office that helps keep many missionaries away from more restricted areas. The office is really quite small but I have a little office with a door and keep it locked all the time I’m gone. Sis. Banks gets up tight when the new missionaries and the ones returning home hang around their quarters, upstairs and don’t respect her privacy. So much for that.

Mom and the person who is training her (Elder Robertson) are always joking around. The other day Elder Robertson called on the phone and tried to make Mom think it was a Japanese person who couldn’t understand English. Then later she got another call and was sure it was Elder Robertson again and Mom said, “Oh, sure you don’t understand, English, etc., etc.” Come to find out it was an investigator who later told the Elders, “I called over to the mission office and the person I talked to really acted strange”. Language problems!

In our Ward, there are several members of the Church here from foreign countries. One returned Japanese missionary married a Japanese girl and stayed here. He is in the bishopric and his wife is the Relief Society Pres. We found out another member, also a returned Japanese missionary is here from Cedar City and is working in Hiroshima (not married). His name is Dennett and his cousin is Reynold Dennett (the one I replaced as Bishop in the SUU Ward). Also another RM from Arizona is going to school over here. A return Mission Pres. and his wife who served in Brazil and are working for Mazda here, translates the meetings for some Portuguese speaking members that are here. One member from Singapore (they speak English) joins the English people who have missionaries translate for them in the meetings. So it is pretty cosmopolitan.

I was interested in hearing that Steve and Adell are going to Croatia. That will be a real experience. There were some in the MTC going to Croatia when we were there. Also good about Sandra and Bent Mork.

We love our mission and all of you. May you have all the blessings you are in need of.

Gary & Shirley (Edited)

February 8, 2003

2008-06-20T13:16:00.000-07:00

Feb. 8, 2003

Dear Family and Friends.

We feel really blessed this week. We received either phone calls or e-mails from all of our family (including Vanessa and Mike and WOW, we are excited about another great-grandchild). We also got a nice letter from Beverly Mounteer and it was nice to hear from Marge. I hope my other sisters are getting these e-mails. It is great to keep up on things going on at home. However, we know very little of what is happening in the USA. We have no English radio station, newspaper, TV; and maybe that is just as well.

Mom and I stay very busy in the office. We are amazed at the way the Church takes care of all the missionaries: property, money and everything they deal with here in the Mission. The governments could surely take a lesson. We really enjoy our work here and the wonderful people we work around. Like Matt said, when you are in the office you are in on everything that goes on in the whole mission. We really enjoy visiting with the Elders and Sisters that come into the office and call us on the phone. They are great people.

Mom has got onto a new way to study the language. It is to sing the words she is trying to learn in a familiar tune. She has given “Oh my Darling Clementine” a good work-out and has learned quite a few new words that way. She works hard on the language every evening and I think she is really gaining on it. Every once in a while a word will come back to me (that I haven’t thought of for many years) while I am speaking to someone. My long-term memory is better than my short-term. But I’m glad I don’t have to proselyte and give the lessons.

Last Sunday after Church, the Tanaka family invited us and the office missionaries over the their place for Sukiyaki dinner. We went over and had a really nice time and the Sukiyaki was delicious. They are such a nice family and real stalwarts in the Church. They said they joined the Church about 15 years ago. It was nice that Elder Allred got his driver’s license and drove us all over in the Mission van except two Elders who rode their bikes. The Tanakas live in a beautiful part of Hiroshima, near the mountains and by bamboo fields. We had a really good time.

Tuesday, all of the missionaries in the Hiroshima District came for a mission conference (they call it a taikai). It was held here at the Church. We had to keep our eye on the office but were able to attend when Elder and Sis. Banks gave their talks. They do such a great job and I’m sure the Missionaries feel encouraged and are motivated to do even better after they have attended a conference.

Pres. Banks said they are going to transfer the Elder Jones, that has been working with me will go out on the next transfer day. He has helped me a lot and I will surely miss him. Also Elder Jones, the AP is going home next week. Mom and I decided to have them all for dinner Sunday before they go. One of the Elders out in the field has been sick almost since he got here about 4 months ago. So the Pres. has moved him in here with the Elders to see if he will clear up, and sent AP Elder Jones up to work with his companion, so Elder Jones won’t be here for Sunday. The Elder has viral bronchitis and if he doesn’t get better soon he will have to go home. (Everyone hates that.)

The weather is really cold here. I can’t believe that it isn’t freezing or even below freezing. We are warm in our apartment and in the office. The kids said that there has been a little snow in Utah. I hope you get enough to do some good.

I guess that’s all there is to report so we will close.

Sayonara, 'Ropa. Nihon senkyoshi' (Edited)

February 1, 2003

2008-06-20T13:11:00.000-07:00

2/1/03Dear Family and Friends,
It is good to talk to you on the phone and also continue to receive e-mails. We are having a little winter here this week. Temperatures have been cool all week and this morning we woke up to snow. (Very unusual for Hiroshima). Aunt Marge indicated that Utah still seems to be in a drought cycle. I hope that changes.
Saturday we had an enjoyable time at the art and handicraft museum that two of our English students took us to. First they came and picked us up in their car and when we got to the museum, they took us into the restaurant there for lunch. I think that was the first eating place we have been to since coming to Japan. It was really good. They had rice (of course) and a plate of meat (beef and crab legs), A nice green salad (we really love the vegetables), and ended up bringing us a cup of coffee. Our hosts had them take that back and they brought orange juice out instead. We then went through the museum. They had allot of Japanese handicrafts that were really interesting. They have a beautiful garden and we ended up going through that. It was so Japanese. We were interested that the plum blossoms were just starting to come out. We want to go back at cherry blossom time because they have quite a few cherry trees there also. We got back home at about 2:30.
We turned right around and got on the train for Takasu (where I used to live) so that when we get out there for Church we will be able to go right to it. I had copy down
the address in the office. We looked all over the place and finally found the address and instead of the Church it was the Elder’s apartment (and of course no one was home). We did talk to a lady that knew about the Church and showed us on a map where it was and we walked right to it. As you may remember when we were there before, it is a beautiful chapel. They have enlarged it since we were there -putting on a second story for the main chapel. I have allot of memories of that plot of ground.
Sunday morning we left early for Takasu. We got there a few minutes before Church started and here came Sis. Tawara and a friend. We had a good visit and she was full of questions about the family (you). Her husband has died. I talked to her about the Church and she said she decided since she was the only person in her family to join the Church she better go with the rest family (Buddhist). She didn’t even want to stay for Church and we were really disappointed. We haven’t given up on her yet and plan to keep in touch. It is really difficult here for women to stay strong in the Church because of family pressures. Missionaries now are concentrating their efforts on families. Things usually work out if the father is a member. One other member came up to me and said she was an investigator when I was there and is a strong member now. Unfortunately I couldn’t remember her. We really enjoyed the meeting.
Besides our office work, we are working hard on an English program. Pres. Banks says he wants something that he can publish and send to all the missionaries. Mom has it pretty well all organized now and I am typing up article and materials to put in the books. We are trying to use articles from Church magazines that at least contain good moral teachings and that don’t preach too much. We have had good success in our English classes using those materials.
We are surely in the middle of things here in the office. Like Matt said we are acquainted with all the missionaries as they come through the office and the ones we don’t see we have talked to on the phone. We are usually among the first to know what is going on throughout the Mission. Everyone wants me to tell them how things were when I was here before. It is really a neat experience.
Mom had a major crisis this morning. She got her hair cut! (First time since we came to Japan. I tried to explain to the girl how she wanted it. I thought it turned out really good considering. The Elders raved about it when they saw her. She was quite satisfied except it was too short. At is times like this it would be good to have Roland Williams come over.
Today we went down town and looked around. I believe we ran into every missionary that is serving in this area, out contacting. (Our office is closed on Sat. and so the office Elders proselyte all day long and at night too.) Mom and I doubt we would be able to keep up with such a heavy schedule. Pres. Banks is a remarkable man! He was gone all day yesterday to visit missionaries in other zones and didn’t get back until 11:00 PM and was up to greet us when we went in for our Gospel study class. Pres. Banks tries to drive his car to most places he goes. Last week Pres. Banks, Sis. Banks and Elder Allured (an AP) went down to take their driving test. All of them passed, so now Pres. Banks has someone to trade off on the driving, which will really help. Sis. Banks said it was only through the blessings of the Lord that they all made it.
It is nice to hear about what is going on at home. We wish these e-mails could be a little more personal but I’m afraid this is the best we can do. It is nice to have you call as well as send e-mails. We hope everyone is well. We are really pleased with the way you are handling things there. May you continue to be blessed.... Love from the Ropa’s

January 11, 2003

2008-06-20T13:07:00.000-07:00

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.

January 3 & 4, 2003

2008-06-20T13:04:00.000-07:00

Friday Jan. 3
We were surprised this morning with first a call from Sherry and then a call from Marlene. It was great to talk to them. Sherry is getting lined up with phone cards so you can all call once in a while. So we will be expecting to hear from the rest. Thurs. (Wed. for you) is a good day to call. We are in the office alone most of the day because the rest of the missionaries are having P-day. Our P-day is on Saturdays. Follow the schedule we sent and call when you can.
It has been raining here all day today. We hope tomorrow will be clear so we can go to the Peace Park (You that were here with us a few years ago will probably remember it.) About every day we walk over to the Post Office to take the mail. The Post Office is closed this week for New Year’s, we have discovered a way to get the mail sent anyway. We walk under the train station going and coming. We are getting so we find our way around pretty well now. We feel really blessed to be here and if we can just get a handle on our jobs.

Sat. Jan. 4
Today is P Day. We hurried and got our house work finished up and then headed out for the Peace Park. It hasn’t changed much since we were there in 1985 (remember?). We did have plenty of time to read all the inscriptions on the exhibit (in English). Do you remember that the three buildings are connected by an overhead passage way? However, they are remodeling the downstairs of the middle building so we didn’t see that. On August 6, they are having a special program in honor of those who perished in the atomic bomb blast. We will try to go back over there then. It was a terrible thing but everything has been built back up and Hiroshima is certainly one of Japan’s most beautiful cities. Today the sun was shining but there was a cold north wind that made things pretty uncomfortable. Its strange to see all the pretty flowers out in bloom when it is so cold.
Coming home on the street car, we had some conversations with an older lady, two high school students and an old 80 year old man who wanted to try out his English on us. Things went along pretty well until we mentioned the Church and that pretty well ended the conversation. However we did give our Mission card to the old man and he said he hoped he would see us again (more English). It has been good to hear from some of you this week and hope next week will be good for you.
Goodbye until next week.
Love, Roper Choro and Roper Shimai

January 2, 2003

2008-06-20T12:59:00.000-07:00

Thurs. Jan. 2, 2003
Dear Family,
Today we had a phone call from Marie and she indicated that she had received only one of our e-mails and the ones I sent to Sherry and Matt, requesting special things had also not been received. I’m sorry about that. We did receive a nice letter from Marlene and an e-mail from Marie that had 5 photos of her kids that we really enjoyed. Anyway, today I re-sent the e-mails that I assumed had been received, and hope they will get there this time. As with everything else, we are having trouble getting connected up to our own e-mail connection. Now they can’t do anything about it until after New Year’s Holiday (New Years has been going on all this week and won’t be finished until next Monday), so we are trying to be patient and hope that eventually we will get hooked up. In the meantime, Pres. and Sis. Banks have been really good about letting us use their e-mail and printing off any e-mails that come and getting them to us. So much for that.
It sounds like you had a great Christmas and a Happy New Year. Marie said that Matt’s family and Elaine went down to Sherry’s for New Years Eve. That sounded fun. We were supposed to teach an English class last night (New Year’s Eve) and only one person came. I was afraid that was the way it would turn out. So we went up to our apartment and celebrated by making an oatmeal cake and went to bed. Anyway, we hope

December 29, 2002

2008-06-20T12:54:00.000-07:00

Dec. 29, 2002
Dear Family and Friends,
Sunday
Yesterday, Mom and I did our Sat. work and then got on a street car at the Hiroshima Station and went into town to look around. The shopping areas of Hiroshima are huge and we strolled around from street to street and shop to shop. Saturday is our P-day and about the first time we have had to look around. We are having trouble getting an ATM machine to take our credit cards. So far we haven’t found one but I am having the bank look into the problem. If they don’t work on our cards we will have to go to plan B. (I’m not sure what that is.)
We took our little Christmas Tree out and we seem to be getting more and more straightened around. While we were shopping today, we bought some pie tins and a rolling pin and are ready to make pies. We made a couple of apple pies and considering the oven (I finally figured out how to turn it on) and everything being so different, the pies turned out pretty well. We have allot of interesting goodies sitting around the house. Some we bought and others were given to us by the different missionaries at the zone conference on Christmas. Some things looked so bad that Mom gave them to the Elders here and they really went down on them. Mom is a really good sport and tries about everything (at least once).
Today we went to our Church meetings. One of the Elder’s translates for us during Sacrament meeting. We have a new missionary and one or two other people here from Brazil and one of the missionaries speaks Portuguese and he translates for them. We are getting acquainted with quite a few of the Ward members. I am looking forward to attending Sunday Meetings in the other Hiroshima Ward (where I was when I was here before). I may find someone I know.
Love, Elder & Sister Roper

December 23, 2002

2008-06-20T12:49:00.000-07:00

Mon. Dec 23
It has been a beautiful, warm, sunshiny day here, today. A mountain of mail is being delivered here everyday which has kept Mom really busy (forwarding the missionary’s mail out to them in the mission). You can tell its getting close to Christmas.
The ward had their Christmas party this evening. They asked Mom and I to tell some of the Christmas traditions our family has. We did it in English with one of the office Elder’s (Elder Robertson) translate for us. It was a fun party and we enjoyed watching the little Japanese kids. They had little packages of goodies for each.
Sis. Banks said the e-mail we sent to Marie last week, evidently didn’t go through. I’m afraid she stills hasn’t got her computer’s e-mail up yet. Any way we re-sent it to Sherry and eventually we hope you will get it so that you will know we are here.
Tues. Dec. 24
Today we were happy to receive e-mail from Marie and also from Matt & Jen, so I guess our first one went through. They are still trying to get our e-mail connected up. Until then we will continue to impose on the Banks’.
Tonight, all the hombu (mission home) missionaries were invited over to Bro. & Sis. Tanaka’s home for dinner and Christmas caroling around their neighborhood. We had an enjoyable time. The caroling was fun and seemed to be well accepted by those non-LDS neighbors.

Dec. 25, Christmas Day
Today they had a zone conference here in the Hiroshima District. We attended most of the conference along with getting today’s Christmas Mail delivered to all the Missionaries that were here. We were introduced and gave a little of our background and family info. There were about 40 Missionaries in attendance. Everyone seemed interested to know that I served as a missionary right here in Hiroshima 48 years ago. After our introduction, all the missionaries came through the line to meet us (much like a wedding reception) and gave us a little gift of some kind. We were really loaded up! Our Mission Pres. and his wife both gave excellent talks on the atonement (Christ’s gift to us). This afternoon we went to see about getting lined up on my medicine and got back in time for the missionary testimony meeting.
Tonight we met with all those who are attending English study class, which I think we will be teaching. English study seems to be a way of proselytizing (as it was when I was here before). We surely hope you had a good Christmas and I’m sure we had one we won’t forget for a long time.
Dec. 26,
Today we had a mountain of Christmas letters and packages to forward to the missionaries. Today was P-day for our missionaries so everyone was anxious to get on the phone and talk to their families. Pres. Bank made a rule that a limit for a call home was 30 minutes.
Sherry, there are one or two things that I wish you would check on for us. I have charged some things on my Capitol One credit card. Would you please watch for those bills and pay them off when they come?
Also they tell us here that the most economical way to phone is to have the call originate in the US and use a phone card. The best deal on a phone card is one purchased at Costco. Would you please purchase a $20. or $25. card for each family (including one for Mike and Vanessa)? Then you can call us instead of us calling you.
Here are our phone numbers:
01181 825 06 2588 (Our Apartment)
01181 825 06 2577 (Mission Office)
Matt, we are happy to hear that you and Jen have decided to go to Mesa for dental school. That will work out really good. We are glad you got a good car. That should make things more convenient. We are glad you got our car home.
I have also included a chart with your times compared to Japan time. This will help you so you will know when to call. We haven’t got our e-mail set up yet so you can send to bradbbanks@aol.com
Love, Dad & Mom

November 23, 2002

2008-06-20T12:47:00.000-07:00

Sat. Nov. 23, 2002
Dear Family,
We are still here plugging along with the Japanese language. Shirley is doing very well with the language and our teacher’s are all amazed at her progress. We had a native Japanese who has graduated from BYU and served a mission in Japan come in last night and went through some discussions with us. That was really a good learning experience. All three of our teachers are really good and although we are putting in some long days, we are happy with the language program and anxious to get to Japan and put it to use.
We hope you are all well and things are going well at home. Chris and Marie have invited us to Thanksgiving dinner over to the Holmes’ parent’s place. We don’t have classes that day but the MTC has arranged special programs during the day. In the morning they are showing all the missionaries the movie: “The Other Side of Heaven”; following, Elder Groberg is going to talk about it and answer questions. That should be really good. In the afternoon will be a Mission Conference and in the evening a special Testimony Meeting. They feel it’s important to keep especially the young missionaries occupied even on holidays. The Sr. Missionaries are free to go as long as they stay on the Wasatch Front and are here in the evening.
Last week another Sr. couple came in that are going to Japan (Tokyo South mission). They are CES missionaries and don’t have to learn the language and have left all ready. We are amazed at the quantity of missionaries they accommodate here every week. There are always between 2000 and 3000 missionaries here all the time. An especially large group came in this week and there won’t be any come in next week because of Thanksgiving. We. have looked for Linda Wilson’s Tony, who is going to Fukuoka, but haven’t run across him yet.
I was just talking to one of the Sr. Missionaries who was called to Ecuador and has been here about a month learning the Spanish language. Yesterday they were called from Salt Lake and asked if they would mind going to the Washington DC mission. Evidently one of the Temple couples who were called there became sick and they needed someone immediately. He said they have been having a problem getting a visa to Ecuador so as disappointed as they are, they are leaving for D.C.
We hope all of you enjoy a good Thanksgiving. We heard a rumor that Afton & Howard were on a trip. That sounds fun and hope we get more details. We are appreciative of all our many blessings. Until next week- The Ropers

November 8, 2002

2008-06-20T12:42:00.000-07:00

Nov. 8. 2002
Dear Family,
We are enjoying our stay in Provo. We will be here another month. It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were here going to school. We try to walk between the Sr. MTC and the main MTC and back each day. It is about 2 1/2 miles round trip. Even though it is cold the days stay quite nice and we enjoy the exercise. Walking back and forth to the MTC, we have got in on the BYU Band’s marching practices each day for the football games. They practice in the parking lot just north of the Marriott Center. They have a good marching band consisting of 14 big basses and equal amounts of other instruments. It is interesting how they have to rely on the old songs (50’ and 60’s , etc.) to make a good half-time show.
We were sorry to hear about Gary Sandberg passing away, and his daughter-in-law dying the very same day. (We didn’t hear what she died of, and she must have left a young family.) That has to be difficult for the ones who are left. The Sandbergs moved into the 8th Ward about the same time we did and their family was about the age of ours. We sold our lot up on Leigh Hill to one of their daughters and her husband.
Afton, that was interesting about the association you had with the Richards’ in Hong Kong. I imagine they were really good people to work around. If I had known about your connection, I would have gone up after and talked to them. Sunday morning we had a missionary conference up at the main MTC. (They have them every Fast Sunday.) Anyway two of the speakers were Pres. and Sis. Farnsworth. They said they had spent the last three years in Hong Kong heading up the CES there. Did you guys know them? Now he is one of the counselors here in the MTC presidency.
We got word from Marlene that Andrew’s uncle Robert and his wife have been called on a Mission to Japan. He is a psychiatrist and he and his wife have just completed a mission in Germany. He will work under the direction of the Area President with headquarters in Tokyo. We were excited to hear about that. Today one of our Japanese teacher’s commented that he was starting to train a new couple starting today.. And you guessed it, Elder and Sis. Smith. They came today and we had a little visit. They are leaving on their mission in about three weeks and will come over from Lehi, three times a week for training until they go. Our teacher said he would spend most of the time teaching them about the culture and the people rather than concentrating on the language. When I taught in Lehi, Elder Smith’s first wife (JoAnn) taught kindergarten in my school. She died a few years ago with cancer. He has remarried and seems to have a good wife. They are really up in the air, not knowing what to do next to get ready on such short notice.
The other day when we were in the Temple, I was waiting in line to get my new name and overheard a conversation between an older guy introducing himself to a new missionary he was standing by. When he said his name, Waldo Jacobson and he lives in Springville, I knew it was Uncle Evan Jacobson’s son. So I struck up a conversation with him. He talked allot about Dad and experiences they had had together. That was pretty interesting. I imagine he is in his 80’s or older. He also talked about Vernon Roper and his family that lived near them when they were in Springville.
We hope all of you are staying well. All of Marie’s kids have had a bout with the flu and we have been exposed; so a day or two ago we went to County Health Center and got flue shots. We appreciate all of your e-mails to Marie. We get them from her. We also appreciate Marie keeping our correspondence going. Until next week -Love, Gary & Shirley

October 25, 2002

2008-06-20T12:25:00.000-07:00

Oct. 25, 2002
Dear Family,
The beautiful fall weather that we have been having here in Provo seems to be coming to an end. We don’t miss the wind that always occurs this time of year in So. Utah. We hope all of you and your families are doing well. There are a few die-hard deer hunters here in the Sr. MTC who are moaning because they are not in the mountains. I guess its tradition.
We are not on the internet and probably won’t be as long as we are in Provo. There are no phone lines in any of the rooms here. It works out OK to put the letters on a disk and give them to Marie to send. The only problem is we don’t get any news from you (except what Marie gets and then passes it on to us).
We started our language training last Friday Oct. 18. Our training is held up at the regular MTC and thank goodness we have our car here so we can get back and forth. We are the only ones in the Sr. MTC studying Japanese so we furnish our own transportation. They said we could move up to the MTC but decided we would rather stay here. At the regular MTC we have met several of the missionaries going to Japan. Today one of our teachers took us around the MTC language classes and introduced us to several who are going to the Hiroshima mission. Their training lasts for three months. They were excited to visit with us about the mission. They have a hard time to believe I was on a mission over there nearly 50 years ago. One of the missionaries is an Elder Huntsman from the Cedar area (we didn’t know him).
I can’t tell you how good that language training here is compared with the way I learned it. They have so many good teachers, materials and computer labs (designed especially for the Church), and such a systematic way of presenting it all. I’m sure that after 12 weeks, missionaries going to Japan will be as well or better trained in the language than we were after the first year of being in the mission field and trying to learn the language by ourselves. Shirley and I have three private teachers -a returned Japanese missionary in the morning; A Japanese girl from Brazil that speaks excellent Japanese and English, in the afternoon; and another Japanese girl from Japan who is working on English while she is attending BYU. No wonder the missionary work is going so well throughout the world. Shirley is doing very well with the language but feels like she is in over her head. I have forgotten so much and have a lot to learn also; however I’m glad I’m not starting from scratch with it.
Tonight at our devotional, Elder and Sis. Richards of the Quorum of Seventies talked. Sis. Richards talked about some experiences she had while her husband was serving as the Area Pres. in Hong Kong. She mentioned something about a Philippino girl that was converted to the Church. It made us think about the experiences Afton and Howard had while they were there. The Richard’s didn’t say when it was they were serving in Hong Kong. The Richards were also Mission Pres. in Manchester England where Grandpa and Grandma Christensen served.
We got a follow up letter from Pres. Banks of our mission and also a letter from Elder and Sis. Green, whose place we will be taking in the office. The Church has constructed a new mission office building in downtown Hiroshima. The Mission Pres. and family, Asst. to the Pres. (two elders), two mission office workers, and us, will be living there. It sounds like they have a nice little apartment there for us (similar to what the Dutsons had in Hong Kong). So we are excited about it.
This is the 2nd, 3rd, and even 4th mission that some of the couples here are serving on. After 18 months they come home and visit their families for 6 or 8 months and then go again. The leaders tell us that Mission Presidents all over the world keep begging for Sr. couples. And there just aren’t enough to go around. Several here are going to Russia, the Baltics, Mongolia, Africa, and other challenging places like that; and trying to learn the languages!.
Tues. night was the Missionary Devotional. The speaker was Elder William H. Bradford of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy. I was especially interested because I met him on my first mission. He was a Missionary in Japan and in the Mission Home while they were trying to find out what was wrong with his health. They ended up sending him home for surgery and he didn’t return to Japan. I was in the Mission Home with him for about a week. Much of his speech last night was about his experiences in Japan (I think he was there about two years). After the program we went up and talked to him for a minute. He was interested that I was going back to Japan and we reminisced about our experience there. I remember I was impressed with him at the time.
This has been a terribly cold day! And last night was a hard night for all the kids to dress up and go Halloweening. Most everything has frozen here and we hate to see winter set in. It even snowed last night a little. We miss hearing from you guys and will be glad when we can be hooked up to the Internet. Anyway, we are thinking about you. I guess that’s about it for this letter. We pray that you are well.
Until next time, Love from Gary & Shirley
Sayonara, Gary & Shirley

Dec. 22, 2002

2008-06-06T14:14:00.001-07:00