Do you see some missionaries you know in all these pictures? These were all taken during teaching practice time.
The missionaries seemed to really enjoy the training and left with a renewed fire to share the gospel and be better teachers. 
The first principle we focused on is the Doctrine of Christ, which is aligned with the missionary purpose to invite others to come unto Christ. The doctrine of Christ is centered on the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. The missionaries practiced inviting people to come unto Christ through faith, repentance and baptism. They learned how to be bold, but not overbearing, in inviting people in the first lesson with the missionaries to set a goal to find out if the church is true and be baptized.
The second principle is the Role of the Holy Ghost in Conversion. The missionaries learned the importance of having the Spirit when they teach and how to help others know when the Spirit is testifying of truth to them.
The third, forth and fifth principles focus on how people can know for themselves if the church is true. This is done by helping investigators receive personal revelation through prayer, reading (and praying about) the Book of Mormon and through attending church where they can feel the Spirit and be strengthened by the members. The missionaries learned how to invite people to read, pray and come to church.
The sixth principle focuses on Teaching People and Not Lessons. The missionaries learned to listen better to investigators by seeking first to understand their needs through asking inspired questions when teaching lessons.
The seventh principle, We Invite, They Commit, We Follow Up, helps the missionaries understand that our purpose is to invite. Others need to choose to follow Christ for themselves. We teach them how to do it and how to know if what we are teaching is true. Our success is not measured by others keeping their commitments, but rather our commitment to continually invite others unto Christ by helping them repent and work towards baptism. When people make commitments, we do all within our power to help them keep those commitments. We focused on teaching and committing people to obey the commandments as they work towards the goal of baptism.
And finally the eighth principle is How to Begin Teaching. We actually taught this first as it helps the missionaries understand how to begin a lesson. It helps them understand how you can explain your purpose and role as a missionary up front so those being taught will not misunderstand the purpose of the lessons. It also helps the missionaries know how to set the tone and spirit for a lesson. I am confident with continued focus on these principles, the missionaries will become better teachers and better missionaries! Focusing on these principles will continue indefinitely.
The office elders and assistants snuck into her office and did a great decorating job. She was totally surprised and loved it.
They made her a face cookie as well. She makes these for so many missionaries. Too bad the one they made for her did not really look like her (it actually looked like a Halloween cookie), but she loved it anyway! Very thoughtful of the elders.
She also got little things sent to her from many missionaries. She draws all the missionaries' faces for their birthdays. One elder, Elder Uehara, drew her a picture for her birthday. Priceless!
Mom and daughter in almost matching tops.
Happy birthday Rika!
The next morning in Niihama, we visited the Aoba family and had the chance to make some pottery and learn from a Master Japanese Potter. 
Everyone made something and we are excited to see the final fired pieces.
Erika working on her ceramic light.
The boys working on their art.
The boys shot a few baskets with President Aoba's son. It was a very hot day.
We stopped in Kouchi for a couple of nights and relaxed. Here is a famous rock formation. The rope signifies these rocks are married. There are only 11 of these "married rocks" throughout Japan.
The light house near the rocks in Kouchi.
There were a lot of people playing at the beach.
The kids enjoyed the pool more and everyone got pretty sunburned.
Sunday the whole family visited the Yahatahama Branch Conference where I presided and we both spoke.
The church is in this rented building right on the main street through town in front of the train station. It is a small branch.
After conference we enjoyed a nice meal with the members.
We then travelled to Uwajima, further down the west coast of Shikoku where we attended the baptism of Brother Ii. This is the Uwajima church building.
Brother Ii with missionaries.
Elder Matsuoka's mother and brother came from Tokyo to pick him up. His sister is still serving in the mission!
Elder Shepley's family came to pick him up as well. His parents and sister with us here.
Sister Ho's parents came from Australia to pick her up and we enjoyed meeting them and all the other parents.
Elders Matsuoka and Andrews earned their aprons from Sister McIntyre for their service in the office during their missions.
Here are the new Kobe missionaries. We received 7 new elders and our new couple. The Priddis couple and Elders Meyer, Hale, Wilcox, Gardner, Horton, Nichols and Niven.
It was a great transfer week.
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