This Saturday we were able to visit the Akashi Church where we had two baptisms. First was Brother Masuda from the Miki Branch. He was taught and baptized by Elders Edfrennes and Campbell.
Many of the Miki Branch members came to Akashi for the baptism. I was asked to share some thoughts and testimony in addition to the regular program. The missionaries also had an investigator there who is planning to be baptized soon.
Later that same afternoon at the same church, the Akashi Ward had a baptismal service for Brother Inoue. He was found in another area by Elder Ito, who performed the baptism, but was referred to Akashi where he lives. Elders Steele, Remund and Andrews taught him in Akashi. Brother Inoue had a bad cold, but insisted on going through with the baptism that day.
Below is the Akashi Church building. It is a very nice 3 story church. The sun was behind the church so the picture is not the best. Well, actually all church steeples glow like this in Japan, especially when there are baptisms inside!
This week we finished interviews for the transfer cycle by meeting the missionaries of the Sakai #2 zone in Mikunigaoka. The folders are from McDonalds. You get one free when you order a quarter pounder. I wonder where they ate recently? The folders have motivational phrases on them in Japanese. It is part of a pro baseball campaign.
Some of the missionaries enjoyed sushi with Sister McIntyre. Yes, they ate all those plates of sushi. President McIntyre preferred a double quarter pounder.
Sister Erika McIntyre continues to have a great time in Sapporo. She is getting a little tired of the cold, but loves her mission and her companion, Sister Nishimuro.
Next week is transfer week. Time is flying. We will see 4 elders return home and 5 new ones come in. I have basically finished deciding transfers and will spend this weekend pondering and praying to make sure we got it right. Tuesday morning we will call them out. Next week will be a busy one, but transfers are always exciting.
This time we were able to have James join us for dinner as well.
Earlier in the week, we had the chance to eat sushi with a couple districts during lunch break at interviews. Not bad for 100 yen a plate.
Elder Maeno celebrated a birthday last week and Sister McIntyre could not resist giving him a face cookie while he was in the office for interviews.
Everyone enjoyed the cake too!
Elder Maeno is from Amami Oshima which is small island between Okinawa and Kyushu. To my knowledge, he the first missionary to ever serve from that island. 
For their first lunch in Japan, they wanted to try sushi. So we took them to the 100 yen sushi shop and they enjoyed it.
He was taught by Elders Rasmussen and Bohman. Here he is with the new missionaries, the office and Kobe Elders and us. Having a baptism in Kobe one of the nights the new missionaries are here for orientation is a wonderful blessing. It demonstrates to the new missionaries one of the reasons why we are here and gets them excited to get out in the field and find more people like these new converts! 
Literally a few minutes after we send the new missionaries out with their new companions, the returning missionaries arrive at the mission home and we prepare them to return home. After interviews and some final street contacting in Kobe, they joined us for a nice sukiyaki dinner. After dinner, final testimonies are shared and we drive up the mountain to take some night pictures of Kobe from the mountain top.
We are returning 4 fine elders this transfer. Elders Goesch, Anderegg, Hara and Henderson. After breakfast, we take a final group picture and then take them to the bullet train headed for Tokyo. After dropping off the missionaries, we hurried back to prepare for lunch and Zone Leader Council in the afternoon. The weather was nice so we cooked hamburgers on the grill with all 20 or so mission leaders then we met together to plan zone conference and the direction of the mission for the next several weeks.
As transfer week winds down, so does my energy! Sister McIntyre caught me catching up on sleep and Sammy finding a comfortable spot with me on the couch. By Friday evening everything is about done. Too tired to make dinner, we usually try to go out and just relax or have a date night. We still have a busy weekend to look forward to!
