Monkeys Monkeys Monkeys and Maiko in Kyoto - May 2009

Julie is here until mid June and we only have one or two Saturdays open between now and then. Finding some family time is not always easy for us. Teenagers have so much going on especially at the end of a school year. Trying to get them all together for a family activity is sometimes a challenge. We have two stake conferences this month which will take up two of the weekends. We wanted to take what time we had and do something fun. So this past Saturday we spent the day in Kyoto and visited Arashiyama.Julie had never been to the monkey park so we took her on the hike up the mountain.Kyoto City in the background. It was a beautiful, clear, warm day. The monkeys were active as usual. There were several newborns, the youngest being born in the morning of the day we visited.

Mommy is giving Jr. a little massage. This little guy was about one month old.

Ricky and James found a friend getting some shade. The baby on the right was just born and still had the umbilical cord attached.

Mom and young.

This is the alpha male monkey. He is about 26 years old. The Japanese monkey lives about 30 years on average.

To feed the monkeys, we have to get in the cage. Julie and James feeding them bananas.

Julie and Ricky teasing one.Just having some fun during the hike down the mountain.In Arashiyama we found a little Maiko and took pictures with her. Maiko are apprentice geisha.Later we went to downtown Kyoto for dinner and shopping. We stayed at a hotel in Kyoto and enjoyed the Japanese onsen bath provided. Julie and Rika in their yukata going to the bath.The next morning, Sunday (and Mother's Day), we attended sacrament meeting in Shimogamo Ward and then drove over to the Katsura Ward to attend their sacrament meeting in the afternoon as well. Both wards are located in Kyoto. The kids were great to attend church twice, all in Japanese.

This is the Katsura church building. It is a renovated building converted into a church. Getting out to the 40 plus wards and branches in the mission for church is not easy. Even if we attended a different ward or branch every week, it would take at least a year to hit every unit. When you consider that we have stake conferences and general conferences as well, not to mention attending church as a family in our home ward from time to time, getting to every unit once a year is actually a challenge. When possible, visiting two units in one day is a bonus for us we cannot pass up!

This Week In Kobe - Monkey Park Preparation Day

President and Sister McIntyre above Kyoto City in the Arashiyama area.

Last week we posted a lot of missionary pictures. This week we are posting a lot of monkey pictures.

Above - Sister McIntyre with James and Ricky at the trail head to the monkey Park in Arashiyama.

This week consisted mainly of missionary interviews. Monday (September 8th) we stayed in Kobe and I interviewed most of the Kobe Zone. 18 missionaries in one day. That is quite exhausting, but a great experience as I can have one on one time with each missionary. Tuesday was spent in the office preparing Sunday talks and a youth fireside on Saturday and a missionary fireside on Sunday.

Wednesday we traveled to Fukuchiyama for interviews. Thursday we went to Kyoto and interviewed that whole zone, 14 missionaries. Friday we were in Ibaraki (Osaka) to complete the Osaka North Zone interviews. After the interviews, Sister McIntyre and I went out street contacting with the Zone Leaders. Sister McIntyre prefers "shopping" dendo. This is when she goes into stores and shops and then talks to the clerks and workers about the church. The problem is she usually ends up buying something! Luckily this time all she found was a 1000 yen pair of dress shoes. I think it is an expensive way to proselyte! We were able to talk with many people and share some materials with many. After Dendo, I met with President Kido of the Osaka North Stake and the zone leaders for our monthly coordination meeting. President Kido is setting a great example in his stake regarding missionary work and we appreciate him and his leadership.

Saturday we were back on the road again to Kyoto. President Tamaya of the Kyoto Stake asked us to speak at a fireside for the youth in his stake. We left Kobe in the morning and after having lunch upon arriving in Kyoto, we visited Arashiyama. Since it was Saturday we were able to take the boys with us. This was the first family day we have had in several weeks. Arashiyama is a beautiful historic part of the ancient capitol. The mountains in Japan are home to the infamous Japanzaru or Japanese monkey. In Arashiyama, there is a Monkey Park where many monkeys hang out on the top of Iwata mountian. You can climb the mountain and see and photograph the monkeys. On the top they have built a cabin that you can go in and feed the monkeys. You are not allowed to feed them outside. They are wild and if you look them in the eyes, they will scream and attack you. We tested this theory and it is true.

On top of the mountain with all the roaming monkeys. The city of Kyoto in the background.You can only feed them from inside the cabin for your own protection. Some are big and mean and have sharp teeth! This is Sister McIntyre giving a mommy monkey an apple bite.Rick kept trying to get close to this mom and her baby. They kept running away though.James was making friends with the two little babies. They were real cute and played together when they were not riding on their mom's back.

They were everywhere and you were safer in the cabin.Nice shot of a big mom with her little baby.More pictures

After spending an hour or so with the monkeys, we made our way to the Stake Center in Shimogamo. We changed and prepared for the fireside. There were over 60 people there including many leaders. We talked about remembering who you are and setting worthy goals in life.

Sunday, we traveled to the Kakogawa Ward and Sister McIntyre spoke in sacrament meeting. After church we had a fireside to which basically the whole ward attended. I spoke about member missionary work and the Bishop talked about their ward mission plan. The boys stayed home and attended the Kansai Branch next to the mission home.

We heard Erika will be returning to Japan on the 29th (the next transfer) to report to her mission in Sapporo. She is staying in the MTC half the normal time since she already speaks Japanese (6 weeks instead of 12).

We are gradually seeing some results of our efforts and little miracles as the missionaries apply the things we teach and follow the Preach My Gospel principles and guidelines. We are grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord. We see and feel them often.