General Conference Broadcast Sunday

Here in Japan all stakes broadcast general conference the week following conference in Salt Lake City. Live broadcasts are not practical due to time difference and the week delay allows for language translation and DVD's to be sent out to units without satellite capability. So this past Sunday was conference week here in Japan. In between Sunday sessions the Kansai Branch and the missionaries held a potluck lunch with everyone just bringing something and setting it out on the tables the elders set up between the mission home and the church. Missionaries invite investigators to conference and then we talk to them over lunch in between sessions.

Elder and Sister Pyper dish up some lunch, but did not know they were caught on film.

Here are a couple shots of the line and tables. Above is James (on the right) and Sister Yamamura with her two children (on the left). Sister Yamamura was baptized later that evening in the Akashi Ward. Below is a picture of Sister Meyers. She is completing her mission this week.

After conference, we drove to Akashi for the double baptism of Sister Yamamura and Brother Yanase. They were both taught by Elders Fukui and Shinozaki also pictured.

Akashi Apartment Move

We closed two old apartments and replaced them with new ones this week. The Nishinomiya apartment and the Akashi apartment. Both were quite run down and some of you mothers would not want your sons living in them! Neither did Sister McIntyre. The Akashi apartment had been rented for 21 years. You can imagine 21 years of elders living in the same apartment. Just normal wear and tear would be bad enough! This room above had wall paper from the 1970's, but some of it was torn off and moldy. Don't worry, our other apartments are not any where near this bad and no one used this particular room.

The Akashi elders with the office staff and assistants after several hours of clean up and moving. Elders Steele, Rassmussen, Throop, Bohman, Remund, Fukui, Andrews and Sisters Painter and McIntyre. The tatami mats where worn through and the whole place needs a major overhaul. The owner however, was surprised it was in as good of condition as it was after so many years. We may even get some of our deposit back. (Wow) The new apartment is a 1 minute walk from the church, very nice and it cost a little less!

Weekly Update - March 15th

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.