Birthdays in Kobe End of March 2011

Elder Crapo, recently transferred from Tokyo, was in Kobe for training on his birthday and was treated to a face cookie from Sister McIntyre.Elder Maeda visited Kobe on his birthday to celebrate it with President McIntyre whose birthday was the same day.President got a face cookie too!The missionaries in the Kobe District decorated the office and had a small party for President McIntyre and Elder Maeda. Sister Julie McIntyre serving in Okinawa sent dad a cool T-shirt. The missionaries got president a pair of cool basketball shoes signed by each missionary in the district. President tried them on and wore them during preparation day in the office. Before the party, everyone had lunch together at the Burger Pit where they enjoyed delicious Kobe beef hamburgers and fries. It was a great preparation day in Kobe.

October Pictures from Kobe

Halloween Party in Kobe. A Japanese Cat O Lantern

Some of the party attendees

The Sisters with Pippy.

The president's new mission vehicle.

The biggest head of cabbage I have ever seen.

Preparation day in Kyoto with the Pypers.

James and friends attack the food left over from a missionary meal.

Elder Oshiro earned an apron for his service in the office.

The Fab 4 and their aprons from last transfer!

Setting Apart Elder Kikugawa and Mike Evans Visits Kobe!

This past month (August) I had the opportunity to set apart Elder Kikugawa who will serve in the Tokyo Mission. He is from the Imabari Branch in the Matsuyama District on Shikoku. It is a wonderful opportunity to also set apart missionaries who leave from the areas you preside over.Mike Evans was staying with us and he assisted me in the setting apart. Before Mike left we took him down to Harbour Land for a great dinner. Back to school Mike!

Recent Pictures from the Mission Office

We recently had a visit from Former Elder Shirata (Christie) who served with us here in Kobe. He recently got engaged to another former missionary from our mission. Here we are with the boys at the mission home.

Several elders in the office show off their aprons courtesy of Sister McIntyre.

We celebrated Elder Monson's birthday this past week, face cookie and all.

On Father's Day, the fathers in the office shared a cake courtesy of the elders.

For Stake/District Conference, we attended the Nishiwaki Branch. Nishiwaki is located in the exact center of Japan. It is known as the belly button or "heso" of Japan.

Kobe Interviews - June 2010

We had interviews in Kobe for the district here and also had the chance to celebrate Elder Campbell's birthday with some cake and treats.Lucky for him he was in Kobe. The missionaries here usually get a face cookie on their birthday. When Sister McIntyre can't make a cookie because they are not near Kobe, she draws their face on a postcard and sends it to them.After interviews, we ate a a nearby restaurant. Most the elders ordered this triple decker hamburger thingy. And all the rice and soup you can eat made them happy missionaries.

Another Birthday in the Office

Elder Shepley who just transferred into the Kobe area had a birthday this week and we celebrated it with some treats and his cookie. Looks just like him!

Sister McIntyre loves to make these.

Cherry Blossoms in Kobe

Gokoku Shrine a two minute walk from the mission home. On the Sakura Tunnel Street walking to Maya Mountain. 10 minute walk from the mission home.

At Gokoku Jinja

Posing at the shrine.

The Japanese sakura

View of the main gate of the shrine.

Finally feeling like spring here!

March 2010 Zone Conferences

At our recent zone conferences we asked members to join us and let the missionaries practice teaching them lessons. We practiced committing people to come to church, accept baptism and read and pray about the Book of Mormon.

Missionaries also worked in their zones and practiced with each other as well.

Teaching members in Higashi Osaka

Teaching each other.

Working within the zone. Osaka North Zone.

Teaching members in Kyoto.

Member practice in Kyoto, Shimogamo.

We also celebrated Elder and Sister Pyper's 54th Wedding Anniversary at the Kobe Zone Conference. 54 years of Joy! We love the Pypers!

Relief Society Sisters prepare meals for our conferences. This was the meal from Higashi Osaka.

Higashi Osaka Members that prepared lunch for everyone. Thank You!

Some of the cooks from Kobe Stake at the Kobe Conference.

They made us Taco Rice and it was really good!

More Kobe members preparing Taco Rice.

In Kyoto we had a buffet style selection of various Japanese dishes. The missionaries really enjoyed it.

A shot of some of the food at the Kyoto Conference.

Thanks to everyone! They were well fed and well trained!