Merry Transfers and a Happy New Year, Jan.1, 2013

Wouldn't you know it!  Six weeks came and went again, and we had transfers.  Another great group, going and coming.  I'm sure glad we get new missionaries in, because otherwise transfers would just be too sad.  Just look at this group of returning missionaries!  Who would want to tell them goodbye?  It was hard.

Seated from left:  Elders Finlinson, Berrett, Gottfredson, Rocha, and Correia
Standing from left:  President and Sister Baird, Sisters Shimoji and Stott

Elder Shane Berrett

Can you tell Elder Berrett loves children?

Elder Berrett, left, and Elder Dinkel
(Working on solving the world's problems.)

One of Elder Berrett former companions said he is always upbeat and cheerful.  Even if he complains, he doesn't really mean it.  He is easy to be around.  Whatever ward or branch he served in, he gave special attention to the children and they always loved him a lot.  He knows how to make other people happy.  He also has a soft spot in his heart for dogs.

Elder Kevin Gottfredson

From left:  Elders Koesashi, Gibb, Gottfredson, and O'Hara

See the concern in Elder Gottfredson's eyes?  This place needs to go.

Elder Gottfredson is a very hard working missionary who has the ability to keep going, even when in pain.  He is good at math, and is also ambidextrous.  This exhibits itself when he goes wake boarding; he can do it regular or goofy.  But it also shows up when he shoots skeet.  He can hold the gun in either his right or left hand, and shoot well.  He has been know to shoot out the bulls eye of a target more than once.














Elder Nicholas Correia

Elder Correia is friendly, polite, hard working, and determined.  Elder Correia has already had the experience of teaching seminary.  He could do it really well now that's he's had missionary experience.  When he gets home, Elder Correia plans to study mechanical engineering and possibly teach English as a part time job.  

Elder Correia looks happy to give these two dogs a little love, and
they look like they are in heaven with him.
Elders Baker (right) and Finlinson in background.

Does Elder Correia look better in this, or a missionary suit?
I'd say the missionary suit "suits" him best.

Elder Frederico Rocha

Elder James and Elder Rocha (right)

Elder Rocha is peaceful and organized, very friendly, affectionate, and enjoys serving.  He doesn't like to sit still.  Since he was a child in Primary, he has looked forward to serving a mission. He is nice to everyone he meets.  He is very good at soccer and everyone thinks he has a beautiful accent.





















Sister Ziona Shimoj

In front from left: Sisters Shimoji, Eguchi, Yamada, and Takatsu
Behind:  Elders Koesashi, Ellsworth, Ito, and Clark

Sister Ishihara and Sister Shimoji (right)

Sister Shimoji is one of the most friendly people you will ever meet.  She is warm and happy, and has a gift for making friends.  Her eyes usually sparkle with joy.  She is also a talented teacher and finder, and has a special ability to love children.  Everywhere Sister Shimoji has been on the mission, she has left behind many new and dear friends.

Sister Stott in front, Sister Fujisawa behind,
and Meito Ward member Sister Yoneda standing.

Sister Lauren Stott

Sister Stott and Sister Thayne

Sister Stott has the distinction of being one of very few missionaries who got to open an area, and she opened two of them.  She is a hard worker and very organized.  She loves her companions with all her heart.  She is also very talented at fixing things, especially things that require a needle and thread, or some good food to make them feel better.

Elder Alex Finlinson

Just in case you wondered, Elder Finlinson is the one on the left.

Elder Finlinson on left, with Elders Heo, Macdonald, and Hilton. 

Elder Finlinson is a very quick learner.  One missionary called him a kanji master, because he knows so many kanji. His Japanese language was also very good.  One of his former companions said he was always obedient, that he always tried to follow the handbook exactly, and that he got up on time and studied hard.  He also learned to work through pain and keep going.











And on the happy end of things:

Here is our new commissarian, Elder Hara, waiting at the airport for our new arrivals.

And we got one more picture at the dragon.  We are waiting for a snake, but will we want to take a picture by him?  Stay tuned!  Meanwhile, what a great-looking group!

From left:  Elder Tsukamoto, Elder Wilson, Elder Ockerman, President and Sister Baird, and Sister Breck

This group did a fabulous job of dendoing on the train.  They handed out 5 copies of the Book of Mormon,
10 pamphlets, got contact information of one man who would like to know more, and one new person
will be coming to our English class!  From left are:  Elder Clark (recorder), Elder Hara,
Elders Schade and Ellsworth (APs), Elder Wilson, Elder Tsukamoto, Elder Ockerman, Sister Breck,
and Sister Whitney Baird, daughter of President and Sister Baird--here for the holidays
and thrilled to be again involved in missionary work.  She was recently released from the Kobe Mission. 

And here are our new missionaries, with their new companions:

Sister Tianna Rae Breck

Sister Breck on left with her new trainer, Sister Fujisawa.
They will be in Shizuoka.

And they will be a threesome, with Sister Hunt, right.

From Pleasant Grove, Utah, Sister Tianna Rae Breck is one of four children in her family.  Sister Breck would really like to work for the FBI as either a translator or accountant.  She likes to travel, and would especially like to work in Japan, England and Korea.  Speaking five languages is also a goal.  She is creative and loves to sew, and make gifts for others.  And reading is a passion for her.  She is also positive and optimistic, often seeing what happens in positive ways.

Sister Fujisawa dreams of becoming a teacher because a teacher made such a difference

in her life.  She has completed four years of college.  She looks forward to

sharing the Gospel with everyone she can.  She can feel God's spirit and wants

to share all she learns through the church.

Elder Trevor Ockerman

Headed to Fukui are Elder Ockerman, left, and Elder Baker

Meridian, Idaho is home to Trevor Shawn Ockerman.  He has three older siblings and a younger brother.  Elder Ockerman loves soccer and would like to be on BYU's soccer team and become a professional athlete.  He would like to be a role model to others.  Mechanical engineering is also in his future.  He loves all sports, and loves to learn new things and strive to be the best at what he does.  He is good at making friends of all ages.  He knows that the more righteously we live, the better our life will be, in every way. Elder Baker says he is outgoing, but can also be quiet at the right time.  He loves to learn and immerse himself in work, so he feels that will be a big help on his mission.  He has a strong testimony of the Gospel.

Elder Jacob Tsukamoto

Elder Tsukamoto, along with his trainer Elder Sanderson, will be working in Fuji.

Elder Jacob Tsukamoto was born in Hiroshima, Japan, but he grew up in Kaysville, Utah.  His father was born in Nevada, and his mother in Japan.  His two brothers both served missions in Japan as well.  Elder Tsukamoto is a rugby player at BYU where they won the National Championship.  He is studying exercise science, hoping to become and oncologist.  He has joined ROTC, hoping to get his medical training with the Army.  Music is a passion for Elder Tsukamoto.  He plays piano, trumpet, and guitar, and he loves to hike, backpack and camp in the mountains of Utah.  He is a good listener and likes to help others and set a high example.

Elder Sanderson said he is serving his mission because, "The prophet has asked every able young man to serve.  I am happy to serve the Lord and share the eternal insight I have with others.  I am looking forward to bringing the Gospel to the people of Japan."

Elder Andrew Wilson

Ueda is the destination of these two great missionaries,
Elder Wilson on the left, and Elder Shimohara

Elder Andrew Wilson calls Burke, Virginia home.  He has grown up in a military family, and his father is retired from the Air Force.  Elder Wilson has lived in 7 different states.  He has one older brother.  Elder Wilson's goal is to finish the computer engineering major he began at BYU.  He wants to work in augmented reality and, of course, start an eternal family.  Elder Wilson is a fast learner and a hard worker. He says he is a logical thinker and is very competitive.   Elder Wilson's parents joined the church when he was three.  He says the truthfulness of the Gospel has slowly distilled upon him and his testimony has steadily grown.

Elder Shimohara loves movies and TV.  He has some movies that he can quote.  He especially loves action, drama and mystery, in both books and movies. In college he was on the archery team, and in high school he was offensive tackle in football.  He says one of the best things about coming on a mission is really learning to connect and talk with other people.  He really enjoys doing that.

November Transfers, 2012

The last transfer of the year.  But the same emotions accompany it, as with every transfer.  Oh, how we hate to let go of these four wonderful, experienced, mature and amazing missionaries.  And the only consolation is that we are  getting three new missionaries.  They will never be able to replace those who left, but they will be strong and wonderful in their own right.

So, our warm goodbyes to:

Seated from left:  Elder Amussen, Elder Kishi, and Elder Kusume
Standing:  President Baird, Sister Baird, Sister Nishimuro

Elder Ibuki Kishi

Elder Kishi has a talent for singing, cutting paper into wonderful animals and shapes, 

juggling and card tricks.  He is cheerful and positive and makes friends with everyone.  

Children especially love it when he is around.  He is a hard worker and has a strong testimony.

Elder Kaneko and Elder Kishi--
Out standing in their field.

Elder Kishi loves swords.
Elder Matson on the left.

Elder Berrett and Elder Kishi contemplating the universe.
(Or maybe waiting for a train.)

Elder Yuichiro Kusume

From left, Elder Soliai, Elder Kusume, and Elder Kishi

Elder Kusume at Cherry Blossom Time.

Elder Kusume is very open with everyone.  He is a hard worker and 

can easily gain the trust of people.  He is very easy to get along with, according to 

one elder who knows him well.   He is also a good cook.

Elder Cameron Amussen

Elder Amussen, on left, looks solemn, but he's just wishing they'd
quit taking pictures so he could dig into that great lasagna.
Also, Sister Nishimuro, Elder Kishi, Elder Kusume

Elder Amussen on left, with Elder Dunn
They have just told this sister about the Book of Mormon
and she has invited them to dinner.

Elder Amussen became very good with the Japanese language. Before his mission, he had a goal of learning Japanese, and a goal of serving a mission.  He felt the Lord had His eye on him when he found out he would be able to do both at the same time.


Sister Asahi Nishimuro

Sister Eguchi and Sister Nishimuro (on right)

Aren't they beautiful!
Sister Nishimuro (left) and Sister Eguchi.

You've just got to read this book, Pikachu.
You will be forever changed by it.

Sister Nishimuro has been a very obedient missionary. Her companions say that she has lots of energy and works hard.  She loves everyone, and it is easy for her to show her love to others.  She loves to cook and sing, and her voice is exceptionally beautiful and amazing.  She can become friends with anyone and was a very caring companion.

We dropped them off at the airport in the morning, and went back in the evening to give a warm welcome to our new missionaries.  This may be our last dragon photo.  Next year?  The Year of the Snake.  That can't possibly be as pretty as the dragon.

From left, Sister Katsuta, Sister Silva, Sister and President Baird, Elder Shimbashi, and Elder Waddell

Of course, we can't leave the airport without the Hoiza shout.
Yosh!!

Next morning in the mission home: writing something
for Sister Baird's special book.

Elder Ellsworth at the piano, and Elder Clark on the cello.
We get to enjoy wonderful music whenever possible.

Elder Dee Waddell

Seto will be blessed to have Elder Waddell (left)
along with his trainer, Elder Dunn.

From Manassas, Virginia, Elder Waddell is the oldest of four children.  His first goal is to be a successful husband and father, but he would also like to be a commercial airline pilot or a musician.  He is a musician, singer, basketball player and an avid longboard skateboarder.  He says he is always happy and smling.  He is respectful, enjoys life and is easily liked.  He has born his testimony many times to his friends who aren't members of the Church. 

Elder Dunn could become an author, filmmaker, English teacher or TV broadcaster.  He is 
energetic and enjoys being humorous.

Sister Yoko Katsuta

Sister Katsuta (left) is pointing to her new area, Takayama,
with Sister Adachi, her trainer.

Hyogo, Japan is home to Sister Yoko Katsuta.  Sister Katsuta has a wonderful mother who was kind and cheerful and who influenced her interest in the Church and testimony.  She passed away when Sister Katsuta was in high school.  Sister Katsuta is the only member of the church in her family.  She loves to read and hopes to become a librarian.  She also loves to sing and has been on a women's chorus team where they perform at various places.  Her strong point is being kind to all around her.

Sister Adachi has a strong testimony of the scriptures.  If food is good, you want to share it 
with others.  Like that, she wants to share the Gospel.  She loves the Book of Mormon 
and gets power from it.  She wants to pray hard, feel the spirit, and work with her companion willingly.

Elder Ashton Shimbashi

On left is Elder Shimbashi, and Elder Sarager is his trainer.
They will be working in Kariya.

Elder Ashton Shimbashi hails from Alberta, Canada.  His mother served a mission in Fukuoka and his father in Colorado.  He loves sports, especially hockey, soccer and football.  He is personable and gets along well with people, is a hard worker, and he says he fears failure.  His testimony of the scriptures gave him a strong desire to serve a mission.  He hopes to learn the language quickly, because even though he didn't grow up speaking Japanese, people will expect him to know it.

Elder Sarager is great with building relationships with members.  Someone said of him, "He's the nicest guy you'll ever meet."  He has a great heart and understands his purpose as a missionary.  On top of that, he's an incredible volleyball player.

Sister Fabiana Silva

Sister Silva, left, and Sister Rogers.
They will be the first sisters in Yokkaichi.

We think Sister Fabiana Silva may be the first sister missionary to serve in the Japan Nagoya Mission from Brazil.  She is from Sao Paulo.  She has studied translation and interpretation in college and wants to continue that when she arrives home.  She loves to read, and enjoys knitting and doing puzzles for relaxation.  She has lots of energy and likes to keep moving, even when she is tired.  She rarely gives up on something.  It is easy for her to put others' needs before her own.  In 2009, she prayed to God for a new opportunity, and met the missionaries, who helped her find a new life.  Her mother was baptized four months later. When she was baptized, she told the missionaries she wanted to be like them--she wanted to become a missionary.  And she has.

Sister Rogers is easy going, gets excited over little  things, and is happy and high on life.  She has had a deep love for the gospel all her life. And it is a highlight whenever we get to hear her play violin.  She inspires us with her music.

What a beautiful group, united in a most important work!
From left:  Sister Adachi, Elder Waddell, Sister Katsuta, Elder Dunn, Sister Rogers,
Elder Sarager, Sister Silva, Elders Shimbashi, Sister Baird, President Baird

A Week in the Life of an Assistant to the President

A Week in the Life of an Assistant to the President, written by Elder Tanner Ellsworth

The following is a retelling of a week in my life as AP. I will admit that this was one of the busier weeks of my mission, but this pace is not unusual for the missionaries here in our mission. Hope you enjoy a week in the life of a missionary.

Monday

Left to right:  Elder Koesashi, Elder Kishi, Elder Berrett,
Elder Kervinen, and Elder Ellsworth

5:45- Wake up, quick run around the block, get ready for the day.

6:30- Start weekly reports with Zone Leaders, each Zone takes about half an hour. We discuss investigators committed to baptism and celebrations in finding and teaching from each zone.

8:00- Update/double check all the Key Indicator stats for the week on the computer. Start preparations for President’s report.

8:30- Meet Brother Hisaka at the church. Plan for our lesson with our investigator and drive to her apartment.

9:00-Lesson with an investigator. We talked about the importance of coming to church and invited her to come to church with Brother Hisaka. She really wants to come to church because she feels like it would help her feel closer to God and recharge for the week. Unfortunately, she teaches a yoga class every Sunday, but she committed to pray about asking her clients to switch their class time!

10:00- Return back to the honbu. Finish all preparations for Staff Meeting (President’s report, assignments, celebrations from the week).

11:00- Staff Meeting!! Elder Barney, Sister Barney, Elder Clark, Elder Koesashi, President. Delicious snacks from Sister Baird. Cinnamon rolls. We discuss many things like new email regulations for the missionaries, all missionaries making mormon.org profiles, revising the list of needed items for missionaries who are called to our mission, etc.

1:30- Staff Meeting ends. We slip out to go to the Ayuzawa family’s house. We planned to do a Family Home Evening with their friend and neighbor. We talk for a few minutes with the Ayuzawa’s about what kind of person she is and how we should present the gospel to her.

2:00- Family Home Evening with the Ayuzawa’s and their friend! She loves music and played the ocarina for us. We play a simple game and then discuss the love of God and how he loves each and every one of us. She cried and explained how she doesn’t know who our God is, but that her own personal God is a huge strength to her and has helped her a lot through her husband’s sickness. We sing “I am a Child of God” and make a return appointment for the next Saturday to meet and talk more about what our church really believes.

Top row:  Elder Ito, Elder Ellsworth, President and Sister Baird
Middle row: Elder Hara,  Elder Kobayashi, Elder Hiruta, Elder Kusume, Elder Tojo
Front Row:  Elder Parry, Elder Ashcroft, Elder Dinkle, Elder Clark, Elder Gottfredson

3:00- Back to the honbu. Meet with President Baird. Discuss the status and needs of all of the people committed to be baptized in our mission. Talk about the needs of our mission. Talk about the upcoming Zone Conference and what we will talk about and what he will talk about. Discuss the upcoming transfers. Who will be training, who will be leaders, etc.

5:00- Finish with President Baird. Gather up our bags and clothes and leave for a companion exchange in Gokiso (about 1 hour away).

6:00- Arrive in Gokiso. Off to an appointment! Meet with Brother Odani near the investigator’s house and go together to her house. We met her mom for the first time, so we helped her mom understand the church and its values, committed the investigator to be baptized, and discussed what steps needed to be taken for baptism. Helped the Mom understand baptism. We still have a little bit of time, so we go to this guy’s house who stopped answering his phone and coming to church. He wasn’t there, but we contacted his neighbors, trying to find those who were interested. Still haven’t eaten dinner, so on the way home, I grab some food from a convenience store.

9:00- Return home. Make plan for the next day. Do the routine Apartment and Area Book Check, change clothes, eat some more of their food, and crash.

Tuesday

6:30- Wake up. Exercise. Get ready. Eat breakfast.

8:00- Personal Study.

9:00- Combined companionship study where we give training and talk about the status of their Zone.

10:00- Visit a less-active member whose children are still not baptized. She was home, but she was busy, so we 10x-ed (contacted 10 people living around her) and moved on.

11:00- The investigator who we visited the night before (who wasn’t home) calls! Says thanks for the note and he will come to church this upcoming Sunday!

12:00-Lunch and Language Study then off on our bikes to weekly service activity!

2:00-We do various jobs and tasks with disabled people at the Himawari Center for Disabled Persons.

4:00-Head home, eat some dinner. Kokan (companionship exchange) review. And then back to Meito.

6:00- Prepare all the materials for the upcoming transfer (getting stuff ready for the new missionaries, planning the last day of missionary activity for the returning missionaries, preparing agendas for the meetings that we have during transfer week).

7:00 Meet ward missionaries Brother Hosoda and Sister Morita at the church and go to the Imoto family’s house to follow-up on the planning that we did a few weeks earlier. Go to the Imoto’s, plan to do a Family Home Evening with their cousin who just moved into town and to invite their two neighbors to the upcoming Halloween Party at the church. Brother Imoto is also going to invite a friend to church, so if his friend comes, he would like us to meet him.

8:30- We use the few minutes we have left to invite a few of our neighbors to the upcoming Halloween Party.

9:00- Come home. Plan for the next day!

9:30-Change clothes, get ready for bed, write in journal, etc.

10:00 Send out a HOIZA Daily Press! Announce all the new investigators who are committed to baptism in the last week and other celebrations from this past week.

10:30- Sleep!!

Elder Ellsworth, enjoying mist fans on a hot day.

Wednesday

6:30- Wake up and play soccer with our investigator, Koji Kyodai, who loves soccer!

7:15- Come home, get ready for the day.

8:00- Personal Study

9:00- Companion Study

9:45- Meet Brother Yamamoto at the church and go to our investigator’s lesson!

10:00- Lesson with our investigator! We were planning on inviting her to be baptized, but she informed us that her cancer has returned and she will be having surgery in a week. So we veered from the plan and shared scriptures in the Book of Mormon that had strengthened us and told her that she too could receive that same power and help from the Book of Mormon. We gave her a priesthood blessing, and in her closing prayer, she thanked God for strengthening her in her times of need. We told her we will call, text, and pray for her until the surgery is over!

11:00 Language Study

12:00 Lunch.

1:00 Sister Baird asked us to visit a certain less-active woman who she knew whose son was looking for a group of friends, so we go to visit her! She was really nice, but busy making lunch for her husband. She gave us ham and Japanese pears (nashi) and asked us to come back another day. We contacted her neighbors, trying to find those interested in the restored gospel. We met a Jehovah’s Witness who said that the Mormon missionaries usually don’t come to this neighborhood! We had a great talk with her and left her with a Lesson 1 pamphlet.

2:00 More transfer preparation!! During this time, we also planned for the upcoming Zone Conferences. Catch up on all the office work we missed on our exchanges.

5:00 Dinner

6:00 Head to the church to meet Brother Hosoda and plan for our lesson at 6:30

6:30 Meet with our investigator and talk about the Joseph Smith experience! She tells us about how that story sounds really familiar to her because, even though she hasn’t seen God or Jesus Christ, she feels like they sometimes guide her through her dreams and feelings. The Spirit was strong, so we invited her to be baptized, but she expressed concern about her family and the difficulty of her getting married if she joined the church. For now, she would like to just keep coming to church and English class.

7:30 From there we go to English class!

8:30 After English class, we talk to our member who brought her friend to English class. He is an interesting guy who loves playing the bass guitar and traveling. He was really easy to make friends with. So we talked to him for a while and set up an appointment to come to his house on Saturday with his member friend!

9:00 Return home. Prepare for bed.

10:00 Reporting with the Kanazawa Zone Leaders where we hear more about the status of those investigators committed to be baptized and how we can help them keep progressing!

10:30 Sleep!

Daisaku Yamaguchi, member from Ichinomiya, and Elder Ellsworth

Thursday

6:00 Wake up and get ready to go to Gokiso for the first of this round of Zone Conferences. Make sure we have all the materials (translation, taikai box-full of materials missionaries can buy, handouts for missionaries, etc.) Finalize our plans for training and head to Gokiso.

9:00 Help the Zone Leaders set up the church, set up translation, let everyone know about their assignments (opening prayer, accompanist, etc.) Make sure that everyone is quietly waiting for the Zone Conference to begin.

10:00 Zone Conference begins! We hear from President and Sister Baird. We present training, this time about Developing Faith to Find. We eat an amazing lunch prepared by the Relief Society (and then make sure they get paid). And then we hear from the Zone Leaders and have a short testimony meeting.

4:00 Zone Conference ends, and we make sure everyone starts heading home and the church gets cleaned up.

5:00 Come home and eat dinner.

6:00 Language Study

7:00 Lesson at church with an investigator and his member friend. He is trying to quit smoking, so we reviewed the Word of Wisdom, and he seems to have a strong desire to keep it. We made plans and goals, and asked him to read my favorite scripture, 2 Nephi 4, whenever he feels tempted.

8:00 Another lesson at the church with a different investigator and his member friend. He loves church and felt the Spirit very strong when he saw someone get baptized. He comes to church every week, reads the Book of Mormon, and prays multiple times a day. He is working towards a baptismal date, but still thinks he lacks faith. So tonight, we read Alma 32 with him.

9:00 Come home. Plan. Get ready for bed. Etc.

10:00 Reporting again! But this time with the Nagano Zone Leaders.

From left:  Elder Ellsworth (AP), Elder Ito (AP), and
Elder Koesashi (commissarian)
Must have been a stressful day!

Friday

6:00 Another companion exchange! Wake up early, get ready, and drive to Matsumoto (about 3 hours) to do another companion exchange.

9:00 Arrive in Matsumoto and do a combined companionship study, followed by a day of visiting investigators, working to find new investigators, and visiting members in Matsumoto.

9:00 Come home and get ready for bed.

10:30 Sleep.

Saturday

6:30 Wake up and drive home from Matsumoto. Today is p-day! With any time left, do some personal, companion, and language study.

10:00 P-day begins! During p-day, we email our family, go grocery shopping, write letters, and occasionally visit nearby places.

5:45 We get a call from Sister Yui Yoneda. She is at the church with her friend who she would like to introduce to us, so we head to the church and meet her 3 friends. We have a good conversation about the church and what we do. They want to come to church some Sunday.

6:15 Today is a Ward Activity! All the men in the ward rallied together to make dinner for the Sisters. We help serve their food and help with anything they need. A great ward activity! And two part member families came.

8:30 We got all the leftover food. The members are always too kind to us.

9:00 Typical evening schedule, including reporting with the Nagoya East Zone Leaders, and sleep.

Elder Ellsworth and Elder Ogaki
YOSH!!!

Sunday

6:30 Wake up. Breakfast. Get ready.

8:00 Personal Study.

9:00 Ward Mission Correlation Meeting with the Ward Missionaries and the Ward Mission Leader. We have this meeting every week to plan who will help with what lessons and discuss the progress of investigators and efforts being made with members and less-active members to find new investigators.

10:00 Church! Church is always an adventure trying to greet everyone and make sure investigators know where to go and have a friend to sit with. Today, three investigators came to church and seemed to have a great time.

1:00 Church ends. And now the work begins. Usually, we have between 5-10 members that we need to follow up with or make appointments with right after church. It’s a fun game trying to track down different members.

1:30 Come home and eat lunch.

2:30 Language Study.

3:30 District Meeting taught by Elder Koesashi. This transfer, we are studying Christlike attributes, and Elder Koesashi does a great job teaching Faith and Hope.

5:00 Shortened companionship study and quick dinner.

6:00 Head to Yokkaichi (about an hour away) to teach a family who only speaks Spanish. Because my companion, Elder Ito, speaks fluent Spanish, President Baird has asked us to teach this family.

7:00 Lesson with the Inoue family. Martin is excited to be baptized, but he has trouble coming to church on Sunday because of his job. So we talked about that and made plans for him to come to church and eventually go to the temple with his family. His kids are really excited because he said they can go to Disneyland in Tokyo on the way home.

8:00 Head home.

9:00 Plan for the next day.

9:30 All of the missionaries Key Indicator Statistics should be sent to the honbu email address by this time, so we take those and make the reports for President Baird that he needs the next morning.

10:00 Get ready for bed and asleep by 10:30.

September 2011 New Missionaries!

We welcomed 8 wonderful new missionaries to our mission this week! Elder Koesashi (Takasaki), Elder Iwata (Sapporo), Elder Tojo (Kumamoto), Sister Stott (Utah), Elder Hernandez (California), Sister Takatsu (Saitama), Elder Johnson (Utah), and Elder Clark (Utah). We are excited to see the amazing missionaires they will become!

A picture with all the new missionaires and
their new trainers outside of Meito church.

Elder Iwata (left) with Elder Hooton - Yokkaichi

Elder Shinichi Iwata comes from a family of four, and they have much unity.  He loves computers and music.  He feels the spirit when he plays the piano and sings.  His goal is to baptize people because it is a miracle for him.  Reading the Book of Mormon makes his heart burn in good ways, and he knows the Gospel is true and that Jesus Christ lives. He is excited to learn a lot on his mission. Elder Hooton is a good listener and communicator.  He is aware of people's needs, and his greatest strength is his faith in Christ.

Elder Clark (left) and Elder Berrett - Toyota

Elder Taylor Clark hales from Wellsville, Utah.  He plays the cello and sings. He also enjoys sports, but not for competition.  He hopes to have a positive impact on people in whatever occupation he chooses. He stays calm and tries to be tactful when dealing with problems.  He is also a hard worker.  He has read the Book of Mormon several times.   Elder Shane Berrett says he likes longs walks on the beach and candlelight dinners.  He is a very visual learner.  He loves activities and getting people together.  His favorite part about being in Japan is the children.  He says he's pretty well 100% sure that Japan has the cutest kids in the world.

Elder Koesashi (left) and Elder Gottfredson - Kanazawa

Elder Ken Koesashi has an older sister who has been a great example to him.  She is currently serving in the Kobe mission.  There are four children in his family and they live in Gumma-ken, Japan.  He loves to read because it increases his imagination.  He played tennis in high school and loves it.  He would like to get a job that has something to do with books because he enjoys them so much. 


 Elder Gottfredson loves to tell jokes and be funny.  
He has great Japanese, and has trained several people in the mission.
He is easy to get along with, and obviously a great trainer.

Elder Harnandez (left) and Elder Duarte - Suzuka

Elder Brandon Hernandez calls San Marcos, California home.  He loves to draw because he is good at it.  He also loves to read.  He enjoys Japanese Animi artwork and the language.  He hopes to get a degree in criminal justice and pursue a career as a detective of the police department.  He is easy going and energetic, loves to meet new people, and is good at public speaking and athletics.  He is also good at follow-through.  He was very excited to be called to Japan and had no qualms about coming. Elder Duarte is always a happy person, according to one of the other missionaries.  He passes that on to others, and most people really like him.  He also really loves to play soccer.

Elder Tojo (left) and Elder Skankey - Ina

There are five in Elder Nariaki Tojo’s family, and he is the youngest, except for the family turtle, who lives in front of the genkan (the entrance to their home).  He is sure the turtle will be waiting for him in front of the gankan after his mission.  

One of Elder Skankey's former companions says he was a good companion.  He is very obedient to mission rules.  He is learning Portuguese as well as Japanese.  He was blessed to be the branch president in Ina. 

Elder Johnson (left) and Elder Kusume - Ise

Elder Nathan Johnson’s family is big, and he loves them!  
He loves to scuba dive, hang glide, draw and be creative.  
He took Kungfu for four years and was also taught Samurai sword technique 
from four masters and says he could be deadly if he had a bad side.  
He loves Japanese Coolish ice cream and thinks everyone is amazing 
once you get to know them.


Elder Kusume says he wants to marry a person who he really loves
and have three children.  He is cheerful and has lots of friends.
He wants to serve a mission because he wants to share
his happiness with many people.  

Sister Stott (left) and Sister Masuda - Takayama

Sister Lauren Stott is a triplet, and she has learned patience from being always a threesome.  Her triplet sisters are Nichole and Chelsea and she has an older brother as well.  Sister Stott loves reading, singing, dancing and drawing.  She also enjoys quiet, peaceful activities like hiking and swimming.

Sister Masuda has been called by one missionary, "the most beautiful girl I know."  It was also said of her, "She is very radiant and a strong influence for good."  How nice to have that said of you.

Sister Takatsu (left) with Sister Clark

She is friendly and happy, doesn't like to waste time, and even likes fun activities
to have a purpose.  She is focused and hard working.

Sister Maori Takatsu from Tokyo, Japan has six sisters and a brother. Sister Takatsu has 
a social worker’s qualificiation and hopes to become a public servant at 
welfare service, especially to help people with mental illness.  She has a go-getter 
attitude and a desire to improve.