We picked up Elder Throop from the hospital this afternoon after interviews in the Osaka North Zone. Sister Throop will be very happy to see that he looks really good. We will keep him in the office for a little while as he cannot ride a bike yet and risk another head injury. He was happy to get out of the hospital. I think he was getting bored. We gave a Book of Mormon to the gentleman he shared a room with who will be in the hospital for another several weeks having suffered from a motorcycle accident. He said he would read it and he does have a lot of time on his hands!
Here are the missionaries from the Osaka North Zone enjoying their cookies. There is an investigator and member pictured with them.
We took a break and had Indian curry and nan for lunch at a restaurant near the church. They served unlimited nan and I could not believe how much the elders ate.
This past week we also interviewed the Yamato Koriyama District missionaries in Nara. After the interviews Sister McIntyre and I met with a wonderful sister, a single mom, from the Nara Branch who has not been to church for some time. She has a 15 year old son that attends church every week by himself as well as early morning seminary everyday. We were happy to become friends with her.
Earlier this week we visited Wakayama and interviewed 12 elders in that zone. We have a lot of personality in this zone.
On preparation day several missionaries got together to play volleyball in Ibaraki, Osaka. Sister McIntyre wanted to play so we drove out with the assistants and joined in.
Some of the missionaries made Kobe Mission rugby shirts. Here Elder Latimer shows off his with Sister McIntyre and Elder Bushman.
They had fun. Some played soccer outside and then several stayed and played basketball after volleyball wrapped up. Everyone finished by 5:00 or 5:30 so they could end preparation day by 6pm and start working again!
It must look like we are having a lot of fun in this assignment. Well...it is because we are. Nothing could be better than working 24/7 with these wonderful servants of the Lord in this great work. And yes, it is a 24/7 job. I have worked hard throughout my career, but I am not sure I have ever felt as exhausted as I do at times in this calling. A lot goes on when you have 100 missionaries. But it feels good being anxiously engaged. We just keep focused on our purpose and everything seems to work out.
Rika and Julie are doing their Glico Man impression (He is the big guy on the wall behind them)
Mom loves crab, but Julie was not smiling in this shot? 
Everyone loved the shabu shabu though. Here is a shot of the kids getting ready for the feast.
Mom and Dad enjoyed the meal too.
We had some fun on the street playing the drums. Ricky was the champ!
Julie found a new boy friend while we were shopping. He was quite buff.
She wanted to take him home, but he wouldn't fit in the car. He didn't talk much either.
On New Year's Day we had a sports day at the Ibaraki stake center in Osaka. Since the 2nd was Zone Conference for many of the missionaries from the outer areas, we had a big group in town for the activity.
It was a fun day for everyone. We had basketball, soccer, volleyball and a mean game of dodge ball. They don't quite look the same without their suits and name tags though.
On the 4th, we attended the baptism of Maria Kawakami in the Hanayashiki Ward. She was taught by many missionaries over several months. In this picture are Elders Reading, West and Ashdown, and Sisters Meyers and Kurashita.
