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
Monday, June 23, 2008
August 23, 2003
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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