Great Baptism in Amagasaki!

Elders Nielson and Monson baptized Brother Kinjo in the Amagasaki Ward, Kobe Stake. He is a second year college student and was truly prepared to hear and accept the gospel. This baptism was extra special for us as two other recent converts (from this year) participated in the baptism. Brother Nakase (next to Sister McIntyre below) and Brother Kojima (in the middle) were both baptized this year in the same ward. Brother Nakase is currently 16 and recently spoke at stake conference. Brother Kojima spoke on baptism and shared a great testimony at this baptism. He will be 19 next year and is already planning to serve a mission. He was baptized three months ago. What a blessing it was for us to see them together at this baptism for Brother Kinjo. Immediately after the baptism, Brother Kojima said to me, "It is nice to have another friend in the gospel." I replied, "Yes, let's find many more!" Find, Teach, Baptize, Confirm and Establish the Church. That is our purpose and I felt like we are doing that in Amagasaki.

Earlier this week we had the chance to stop in Mikunigaoka and meet with Miyazaki-san and Sisters Glenn and Ho. Miyazaki-san is ready to be baptized this weekend and we are excited for her.

This was wax the mission vehicles week. I think the office elders and assistants really enjoy this assignment.

I always wondered what Sister McIntyre does while I interview the missionaries. I still don't really know, but Elder Ashmore looks like he is having a great time!At our last zone conference the zone leaders, Elders Obata and Capener, did not turn in their apartment cleaning checklist so they chose their own punishment during lunch. They did push ups while singing the mission anthem. I think the song was longer than they thought.

February Wrap Up

James turned 13 on February 22nd. The missionaries made him some ice cream and a handmade card. He is officially a teenager now. Our last one!

On preparation day, Feb. 23rd, some of the missionaries wanted to try an all you can eat buffet at a downtown Osaka Hotel. It featured all the crab you could eat. And they ate a lot! Sister McIntyre with Sisters Wade, Yamashita and Tsuda. Elders Burton, Shoaf, Christie, Shattuck and Wade with the sisters after eating several crab legs.

This past week Elder Throop had a bad bike accident and was hospitalized. He is fine now, but he took a pretty good blow to his forehead. He was wearing his helmet, but he hit the ground face first. He is smiling and healing fast. He does not really remember what happened. Elder Ashdown and Elder Ito administered to him the night of the accident and the doctors were amazed that he was so well the next day and that some of the fractures they had diagnosed in his face the previous night seemed to not exist anymore. A great tender mercy of the Lord. February was heart cookie month. Here is Sister McIntyre keeping busy with the cookies for all the interviews. And here are the missionaries enjoying the cookies! This is part of the Kobe Zone.

Here are the Elders of the Fukuchiyama zone.

On March 1st we visited the Amagasaki Ward in the Kobe Stake. The church is in a nice residential neighborhood and the elders' apartment building is right next door.
We have had a few pictures of February baptisms that we could not attend sent to us. Above Sister Okumura was baptized in Higashi Osaka by Elders Shepley and Bushman. You can see the joy on her face!Miyu and Nene of the Yamato Koriyama Ward were taught and baptized by Elders Fruen and Hobson and Elder Burton before he transferred. They are 11 and 9 years old and are from a part-member family.

February was a great month in the mission. We are seeing the work move forward and missionaries learn and grow. March is already here. The weather is starting to change and spring is around the corner.