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
Monday, June 23, 2008
June 22, 2003
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)
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)
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