Transfers, February 2013, New Missionaries

For anyone who is regularly at the international gate of the airport,
 here (above) is the sure sign that it's transfer day.  Eight carts,
awaiting luggage.  Won't it be fun in July, when we are expecting
at least 20 new missionaries!  President Baird gets so excited when these great new missionaries come walking through that gate:

Sister Leah Hodson, United States

Elder Samuel Richard, Australia

Elder Victor Lazaro, Brazil

Can't forget the group picture and the Hoiza Shout--YOSH!

From left:  Elder Milder, Elder Mikkola, Elder Lazaro, President and Sister Baird
Sister Hart, Sister Hodson, Elder Chiba, Elder Richard, and Elder Tano

Yosh!

Then they are off!  On to a train from the airport to the Nagoya Station, where they make a quick stop for photos at the Golden Clock, and then transfer to their final leg.  They will arrive at the Kamiyashiro Eki and be picked up to ride the last few blocks to the honbu.

From left:  Elder Clark, Recorder, Elder Hara, Commissarian, Elder Richard, Elder Chiba,
Elder Mikkola, Elder Milder, Elder Tano, Elder Lazaro,
Sister Hart, Sister Hodson, Elder Ellsworth and Elder Schade, AP's

At last, the next morning after some training, they get to meet their first companion and find out where they will be going.

Elder Yoshifumi Chiba

Elder Chiba, left, with Elder Harada are going to Nonami.

Elder Yoshifumi Chiba is from Sendai, Japan.  He was baptized first in the family, and his mother followed.  He has an older and a younger brother.  He wants to work hard on his mission so his family will receive blessings.  He enjoys volleyball.  He is a person who never gives up.  The experience he had when he prayed to know if the Church was true also caused him to want to serve a mission.  The Atonement of Jesus Christ has helped him forgive others and find great peace in his life.

Elder Harada really appreciates his knoweldge of the Gospel and finds resolution of 
problems through it. He feels peace and joy at church.  He feels confident that 
his mission will help him decide what to do for the rest of his life.

Sister Saya Hart

Off to Fukutoku are Sister Hart (left) and Sister Ishihara

From St. George, Utah, Sister Saya Hart comes from a family of five.  Her mother is from Shizuoka and she has a grandmother who lives there currently.  Sister Hart loves the fine arts and visual arts and plays violin and piano. She enjoys photography and would like to study that and film eventually. She is warm and friendly, kind and positive.  She has a great motto for her mission:  Loyalty to the Lord.

Sister Ishihara loves to listen to good music and she enjoys performing as well.  Music brings her joy, especially if she is the one bringing it to others.  She has received comfort, encouragement, courage and power from God through prayer.  She knows that He loves her.

Sister Leah Hodson

Sister Hodson, left, will join Sister Rogers in Yokkaichi.

From Indianapolis, Indiana, Sister Leah Hodson has two sisters, one of whom is her twin.  Sister Hodson was majoring in acting and linguistics before her mission.  She would love to visit every Disneyland in the world and win every cooking competition she enters.  She enjoys crafts, reading science fiction, and listening to classical music.  She is cheerful and humorous. Sister Rogers studied Japanese before her mission, so she entered the mission running. She is an excellent trainer and while this is the second person to be blessed by her training, there will be more.  She wants to give 18 great months of her life to her Heavenly Father because He has given her everything.

Elder Victor Lazaro

Elder Lazaro (left) and Elder Romero will be headed to Ina.

Elder Victor Lazaro hails from Curitiba, Brazil.  He is the youngest in his family, and his older sister and brother both have degrees.  After his mission, Elder Lazaro will go to BYU Provo and major in economics.  He loves math and engineering, too.  He likes talking to people, learning languages, and making people laugh.  Elder Lazaro also plays guitar, and likes movies and learning.

Elder Romero says he loves doing things.  He is a very hands-on person.  He has
had many wonderful spiritual experiences and has felt the Lord's hand guiding him.
His life hasn't always been easy, but he has come through smiling,
and he thanks family, friends and the Lord for help in doing that.

Elder Pontus Mikkola

Elder Wilcox will train Elder Mikkola (left) in Tsu.

Elder Pontus Mikkola is from Espoo, Finland.  He is the middle child, with a brother on either side. He loves art and chemistry and studied chemistry for a year before his mission.  He also has an interest in Japan and its culture, so was glad to get called to Japan.  Elder Milder likes Japanese Indie music and trying out new cooking recipes.  He says he is patient and warm-hearted, taking others into consideration in everything he does. Elder Wilcox loves and wants to travel.  He is outgoing and loves meeting new people and always seems to be happy.  He is excited to have kids and raise a family.  And he is best friends with his own siblings and loves his family "a ton!"  Elder Wilcox plays drums and has even played a show in Hollywood.

Elder Eduardo Milder

Fujieda will be home to Elder Milder (left) and Elder Matsunaga

From Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Elder Eduardo Milder has an older brother and sister, and a younger sister.  He lost his mother to cancer in 2010.  Elder Milder studied in psychology in college for one year before his mission and loves getting to know people.  He gets along well with everyone and is patient with himself and others.  He is always in a good mood. He was a professional soccer player for a while.  Elder Milder has had a special friend since he was 10 years old, and hopes to marry her when he gets home. Elder Matsunaga uses sign language and speaks English.  Some day, he would like to make a movie that changes peoples' minds about God.  He would also like to use movies to tell about our church's doctrine.  He enjoys talking with both children and adults.  He is loving and open to feeling the spirit.  He is a hard worker and kind, and doesn't like being in a bad atmosphere.

Elder Samuel Richard

Elder Richard (left) and Elder Ludlow will enjoy being in Okazaki.

Elder Samuel Richard is from Perth, Western Australia.  He is the oldest of 7 children and has four sisters.  His family is very close.  He is thinking about being a pilot, a teacher, a lawyer or an engineer after his mission.  Reading, swimming, strategy games and sports of all kinds are what he enjoys, and he also loves to meet new people.  He calls himself funny, outgoing, and focused and he works well under stress and perseveres through challenges.  He is also a good teacher.

Elder Ludlow is hard working, organized and determined.  His testimony is
another one of his strengths.  He is serving a mission because he knows
how happy the Gospel will make people, and he wants to set
a good example for his little brothers.

and Elder Jarem Tano

Kanazawa will be blessed to have Elder Tano (left) and Elder Kaneko.

From Pearl City, Hawaii, Elder Tano hopes to become an aeronautical engineer and work on planes in the Air Force.  His parents and a brother all served missions in Japan, and one of his three sisters served in Thailand.  Elder Tano gained his testimony through prayer, fasting, and scripture study over a period of time.  Part of that testimony is that he was called to be a missionary before he even came to earth.

Elder Kaneko uses sign language and speaks English.  Some day, he would like 

to make a movie that changes peoples' minds about God.  He would also 

like to use movies to tell about our church's doctrine.  He enjoys talking 

with both children and adults.  He is loving and open to feeling the spirit.  

He is a hard worker and kind, and doesn't like being in a bad atmosphere.  

Transfer Time Yet Again, April 2012

Where did the time go?  Transfers are supposed to be every six weeks.  While our calendar says it's been that long, we have trouble believing it.  The last transfer was the day before yesterday!

This time, we only had to send home three elders.  But the mission won't be the same without:

Elder Anderson

Elder Erik Anderson loves playing guitar and cooking.  His is also interested in history and culture.  But mostly, he loves to serve people.  He calls West Haven, Utah home, and is excited to be able to converse with his mother's family (all in Japan) fluently.  He also hopes to take over his father's branch of the company, and the language will enable him to do that.

Elder Wilson

One of the missionaries who knows Elder Wilson said of him:
"He is an elder who is capable of showing a lot of love.  He is a very respectable person."

Elder Johnson (front and center)
Left to right: Elders Hollister, Kervinin, and Farnsworth.

Elder Nathan Johnson is very friendly and outgoing, saying hello to everyone he sees.  He is diligent and a hard worker, and stays optimistic.  He has an amazing testimony and is a very creative thinker.  His home is Orem, Utah.

Elder Nathan Johnson is very friendly and outgoing, saying hello to everyone he sees.  He is diligent and a hard worker, and stays optimistic.  He has an amazing testimony and is a very creative thinker.  His home is Orem, Utah.

And happily, we welcomed 13.  For us, it was a LUCKY number.

We got this great group picture.
Actually, it's Golden Week, a time to celebrate children and the year of the dragon.

We did the HOIZA shout!
Hope Of Israel, Zion's Army

We fed them the world's best lasagna.

And here is absolute proof that they arrived at the mission home.
Parent's, can you spot your son's/daughter's shoes?

Elder Ian Sanderson (left) with his first companion,
Elder Duarte.

Elder Ian Sanderson considers himself a social person and likes being placed in leadership positions.  He plans to learn Russian after his mission.  He is from American Fork, Utah and is excited to bring the Gospel to the Japanese people. One of our missionaries said of Elder Duarte:  "He is full of love.  He can get along with anyone.  And he is always genki!"

Elder Ian Sanderson considers himself a social person and likes being placed in leadership positions.  He plans to learn Russian after his mission.  He is from American Fork, Utah and is excited to bring the Gospel to the Japanese people.

One of our missionaries said of Elder Duarte:  "He is full of love.  He can get along with anyone.  And he is always genki!"

Elder Joshua Jones (left) with his first companion,
Elder Ikeda.

Elder Joshua Jones comes from a family of four.  He is also very close to his grandmother.  He enjoys learning languages, and wants to work in a business that requires travel to foreign countries.  He joined the Church three years before his mission and is from Logan, Utah. Before his mission, Elder Ikeda met a 15 year old boy through basketball.  When Elder Ikeda wouldn't play on Sunday, Hiro wanted to know why.  Elder Ikeda invited him to church.  Hiro loved it, listened to the lessons and was baptized.

Elder Joshua Jones comes from a family of four.  He is also very close to his grandmother.  He enjoys learning languages, and wants to work in a business that requires travel to foreign countries.  He joined the Church three years before his mission and is from Logan, Utah.

Before his mission, Elder Ikeda met a 15 year old boy through basketball.  When Elder Ikeda wouldn't play on Sunday, Hiro wanted to know why.  Elder Ikeda invited him to church.  Hiro loved it, listened to the lessons and was baptized.  

Elder Jack Koch (left) with his first companion,
Elder Heo.

Elder Jack Koch was born in Okinawa, and has also lived in Germany, Wyoming and Utah.  In his family the girls were born in Wyoming, the boys in Japan. When he gets home he will go back to BYU, find the most beautiful girl in the whole world and marry her. Then he plans to live happily ever after.  His goal is to do what the Lord sent him to Japan to do and to live up to his fullest potential. He says he is a little headstrong, but he is always there with a laugh or a shoulder to support someone. Elder Heo is good at focusing on one thing.  He loves to travel and receives knowlege and inspiration when he does, and always has a spiritual experience.  He also enjoys playing basketball.

Elder Jack Koch was born in Okinawa, and has also lived in Germany, Wyoming and Utah.  In his family the girls were born in Wyoming, the boys in Japan.
When he gets home he will go back to BYU, find the most beautiful girl in the whole world and marry her. Then he plans to live happily ever after.  His goal is to do what the Lord sent him to Japan to do and to live up to his fullest potential. He says he is a little headstrong, but he is always there with a laugh or a shoulder to support someone.

Elder Heo is good at focusing on one thing.  He loves to travel and receives knowlege and inspiration when he does, and always has a spiritual experience.  He also enjoys playing basketball.

Elder Benjamin Burnett (left) with his first companion,
Elder Farnsworth.

Albuquerque, New Mexico is home to Elder Benjamin Burnett.   His father is currently the bishop, his older brother is also on a mission, and he has three younger brothers.   He is good with computers and a quick learner, so that is why he wants a career in science or engineering and hopes to invent something.

Albuquerque, New Mexico is home to Elder Benjamin Burnett.   His father is currently the bishop, his older brother is also on a mission, and he has three younger brothers.   He is good with computers and a quick learner, so that is why he wants a career in science or engineering and hopes to invent something.

Elder Farnsworth loves being with family, camping, hiking, 

cooking, soccer, service, and many other things.  He describes 

himself as awesome, clever, dashingly good looking and HUMBLE.  

But his mom tells him he is intelligent, patient, hard working, 

creative, faithful, and has a good sense of humor.

Elder Tomonori Kanda (left) with his first companion,
Elder Hara.

Elder Tomonori Kanda is from Sugamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.  He has a dream to make a robot suit to help older people, and to walk around the world and eat foods from many different countries.  His hobbies are eating, karaoke, table tennis and swimming.  He says he is always calm and can make other people laugh  even when he's not trying.  His favorite food is katsudon. Elder Hara likes to go to hot springs a lot. But his dream is to open his own jewelry store.  He has studied gems and can recognize what kind of gem it is and its value.

Elder Tomonori Kanda is from Sugamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.  He has a dream to make a robot suit to help older people, and to walk around the world and eat foods from many different countries.  His hobbies are eating, karaoke, table tennis and swimming.  He says he is always calm and can make other people laugh  even when he's not trying.  His favorite food is katsudon. Elder Hara likes to go to hot springs a lot. But his dream is to open his own jewelry store.  He has studied gems and can recognize what kind of gem it is and its value.

Elder Tomonori Kanda is from Sugamihara, Kanagawa, Japan.  He has a dream to make a robot suit to help older people, and to walk around the world and eat foods from many different countries.  His hobbies are eating, karaoke, table tennis and swimming.  He says he is always calm and can make other people laugh  even when he's not trying.  His favorite food is katsudon.

Elder Hara likes to go to hot springs a lot. But his dream is to open his own jewelry store.  He has studied gems and can recognize what kind of gem it is and its value.

Elder Taro Shimizu (left) with his first companion,
Elder Tojo.

Elder Taro Shimizu is from Nada, Kobe and comes from a family of 4.  He likes playing the piano, painting, sports and cooking.  Accounting is his dream job.  He used to shy, but has overcome that characteristic. When Elder Tojo did homestay in the United States, he saw the big gap between rich and poor.  Now he wants to help anyone in need of anything.  After his mission, he plans on going to university.

Elder Taro Shimizu is from Nada, Kobe and comes from a family of 4.  He likes playing the piano, painting, sports and cooking.  Accounting is his dream job.  He used to shy, but has overcome that characteristic.

When Elder Tojo did homestay in the United States, he saw the big gap between rich and poor.  Now he wants to help anyone in need of anything.  After his mission, he plans on going to university.

Elder Aisaku Takabori (left) with his first companion,
Elder Rust.

Elder Aisaku Takabori is from Miyamae, Kanagawa, but he was born in New Jersey and lived there for 18 years. He has an older brother on a mission and a sister also preparing to serve.   Elder Ryan Rust is a very self-motivated person and is teachable.  He works very hard at what he is asked to do, and has finished three years of nutritional science at BYU.  He had the medical schools he most wanted to go to picked out before he left on his mission.  He will be a great doctor!

Elder Aisaku Takabori is from Miyamae, Kanagawa, but he was born in New Jersey and lived there for 18 years. He has an older brother on a mission and a sister also preparing to serve.  

Elder Ryan Rust is a very self-motivated person and is teachable.  He works very hard at what he is asked to do, and has finished three years of nutritional science at BYU.  He had the medical schools he most wanted to go to picked out before he left on his mission.  He will be a great doctor!

Sister Aoi Yamada (left) with her first companions,
Sister Saito and Sister Hunt.

Sister Aoi Yamada is from Hokkaido, Japan.  Her 3 siblings have all served missions, including a younger brother who is serving in Fukuoka at the same time as her.  She loves running and cross country skiing, and feels great when she is doing it.


Because Sister Saito is a nurse, she would like to use her talent.  She is good at working with people and is calm.  

Sister Hunt calls herself reserved, but she has many close friends and is motivated to do things well.  Prayer has always helped strengthen her testimony.

Elder Charles Baker (right) with his first companion,
Elder Ellsworth.

Elder Charles Baker's best friend is his father.  He is the youngest in his family of five and admits that he's spoiled.  He loves learning and plans to become a mechanical engineer.  Sandy, Utah is where Elder Baker calls home. Elder Ellsworth says his father is generous and puts the Lord first, and his mother is nearly perfect and his best friend.  He has a strong testimony that is very personal to him.  He felt the mission call changed his life, even before he entered the MTC.

Elder Charles Baker's best friend is his father.  He is the youngest in his family of five and admits that he's spoiled.  He loves learning and plans to become a mechanical engineer.  Sandy, Utah is where Elder Baker calls home.

Elder Ellsworth says his father is generous and puts the Lord first, and his mother is nearly perfect and his best friend.  He has a strong testimony that is very personal to him.  He felt the mission call changed his life, even before he entered the MTC. 

Elder Jared Wilcox (left) with his first companion,
Elder Koesashi.

Elder Jared Wilcox is from Westminster, California  and his father is half Japanese.  He plans to go to BYU Hawaii after his mission and study business marketing.  He hopes that will work well with the surfing industry.  He loves to surf, play drums, soccer, snowboard, skateboard and be involved with music.

Elder Koesashi is an optimistic and cheerful person.  At a young men’s camp, he saw a great example of a person younger than him.  He had a strong testimony of the gospel. This young man’s example and a talk by President Monson changed his attitude and strengthened his testimony.  

Elder Mark Gibb (left) with his first companion,
Elder Gottfredson.  (Is there something in his eye?)

Elder Landon Gibb has lived in five states, currently Arizona.  He enjoys repairing and working with computers, photography and art.  He loves Asian Culture and wants to learn Korean and Chinese languages as well.  He is a hard worker and sometimes a perfectionist. Elder Gottfredson loves to sing, and according to some of his companions, he just might sing too much.  He also enjoys country dancing.

Elder Landon Gibb has lived in five states, currently Arizona.  He enjoys repairing and working with computers, photography and art.  He loves Asian Culture and wants to learn Korean and Chinese languages as well.  He is a hard worker and sometimes a perfectionist.

Elder Gottfredson loves to sing, and according to some of his companions, he just might sing too much.  He also enjoys country dancing.  

Elder Jordan Olsen (left) with his first companion,
Elder Matson.

Elder Jordan Olsen, from Overland Park, Kansas, plays percussion instruments and loves music.  His father is a neonatologiest and met his mother on his mission to Denmark.  Elder Olsen's older sister will serve in Germany at the same time as he serves in Japan.  Elder Olsen loves to laugh and make others laugh, and he is thrilled to come back to Japan, where he has lived before.

Elder Jordan Olsen, from Overland Park, Kansas, plays percussion instruments and loves music.  His father is a neonatologiest and met his mother on his mission to Denmark.  Elder Olsen's older sister will serve in Germany at the same time as he serves in Japan.  Elder Olsen loves to laugh and make others laugh, and he is thrilled to come back to Japan, where he has lived before.

Elder Matson has a black belt in Tae Kwan do.  He knows Joseph Smith is a prophet "at his core," and it fills him with joy and adoration when he thinks of the Savior's infinite love.

Elder Thomas Petersen (left) with his first companion,
Elder Horne.

Beaver, Utah is home to Elder Thomas Petersen.  He was actually writing a novel before his mission.  He is interested in different cultures, and wants to become fluent in Japanese.  He enjoys singing and has been in honor choirs and musicals.  He also likes to try new foods. Elder Horne is very skillful in music.  He has also managed to learn excellent Portuguese while in Japan, in addition to his Japanese.

Beaver, Utah is home to Elder Thomas Petersen.  He was actually writing a novel before his mission.  He is interested in different cultures, and wants to become fluent in Japanese.  He enjoys singing and has been in honor choirs and musicals.  He also likes to try new foods.

Elder Horne is very skillful in music.  He has also managed to learn excellent Portuguese while in Japan, in addition to his Japanese.

Labels and More Labels

Some transfers, especially the one after the Tsunami in 2011, were so large, all of the names wouldn't fit in the label area.  This post is simply to add those names so that you can find yourself.


So if your name is below, simply go to the blog called "April 2011 New Missionaries," and there will be your wonderful picture, and maybe even something about you (that hopefully, is true).  Once again, we welcome any additions or changes you might want to make.  Send an email to japannagoya.mission@ldschurch.org, and we will make changes and corrections.



Kervinen
Kutney
Madson
Ogaki
Otahara
Chubak
Pearson
Reynolds
Ring
Wilden
Wilcox
Shimajiri
Skankey
Wilson

But, if you are looking for Nakanishi or Shimohara, go to July 2012 blog.