Short Update August 5, 2009

This past week we attended a wonderful baptism in Senri, Osaka North Stake. Sister Hirai Ayaka was found through street contacting and taught by Sisters Inoue and Kaneko. Her baptism was performed by Elder Sheffield. Elder Burton is also pictured with us.Last Saturday, the Kansai Branch and Kobe Ward held their annual summer festival, Matsuri. Sister McIntyre and I dressed up in our summer Japanese local wear for the occasion.
Julie is back in Utah and attending BYU, but took some time for a trip to Lake Powell with her friends. I did see a video of her up on one ski as well. Julie and Jeff at Rainbow Arch.

Amanda and Julie on the houseboat.

Julie and Jeff getting ready for some water sports.

Summer is at its peak now in the mission. Most days are very humid and hot. It will be this way into September. The end of September, October and November can be great weather wise here in Japan. We just have to watch out for the typhoons that tend to blow through in the fall. Proselyting in heavy typhoon rains is not very fun or dry. The boys start school on August 21st. They have been taking it pretty easy (sleeping in and playing basketball mostly).

The Sword of the Spirit - Kimono Pictures Taken Last Year

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!! 2009 About this time last year we visited a great studio in Harajuku, Tokyo to take some fun kimono family pictures. Seems like a long time ago, but it was only a year ago this month.A few months after these shots, we were in the MTC. It took a couple hours to get everyone dressed and all the make up applied to the girls. Rika said it was hard to smile because it felt like her face would crack.
Erika had no trouble smiling. She continues to do so on her mission in Sapporo. Julie as well. Our two little dolls.
Samurai don't smile much and Ricky and James played the part well.

The girls...

...and the boys.

As missionaries, perhaps a picture with a sword in hand is an appropriate image. The sword is the only offensive tool found in the whole armour of God. We girt our loins with truth. We shod our feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. We wear the breastplate of righteousness, and above all we take the shield of faith to protect us from the fiery darts of the adversary. Finally we cover our heads with the helmet of salvation. But it is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, that we take into battle against the adversary as we boldly open our mouths to make known the mysteries of the gospel. As missionaries, we obtain the word through the Spirit and through that same Spirit we take the Word unto the world. (Ephesians 6)

Nothing is more powerful or influential than the Word of God.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for it is right. Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise) Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Sister McIntyre had wanted to take these pictures for some time and we finally got them done before moving from Tokyo. Some great memories! But perhaps an even greater message for missionaries.

Happy Mother's Day!