Goodbye to Finishers, July 2012

Missionary work can be challenging.  It has its really hard days where there is nothing but rejection.  But it has its great days, when things go well, and especially when someone gets baptized.  These days make the hard days all worth it.  Always, missionaries who are finishers are stronger than when they began.  

For senior missionaries who work in the office, the most difficult part of missionary work is saying goodbye to great young men and women whom we have grown to love.  It seems to get more difficult every time.  This group of missionaries was no exception.  

God be with you till we meet again.

Seated:  Elder Horne, Elder Van Campen, Elder O'Kelley, Elder Skankey, Elder Larkin, and Elder McClellen
Standing:  Elder Kervinen, Elder Jessop, Sister Shaver, Sister and President Baird, Elder Ward, and Elder Augusto

 In alphabetical order:

When Elder Augusto is given an assignment, he always reports back.   

He also loves to have fun and he has great skill at getting along with just about everyone.
He is easy going, but knows what he is doing and does it well. 

Elder Horne, in addition to knowing Japanese, is also fluent in Portuguese 

and has used it often on his mission. One elder said, 

"He just loves to work hard and loves teaching people.  

Elder Jessop, according to someone who has worked with him, 

has a pure heart.  He is also a person who, when you ask him 

to do something, he gets it done--quickly and well.  

He is completely dependable.

Elder Kervinen is, according to another elder, probably the greatest guy ever, 

with a super strong spirit.  He is always optimistic and can brighten

 any situation with his smile.  "We all love him and his awesome personality." 

He is a great leader, AND, he knows Santa Claus.  (He must be from Finland!)

Elder Larkin has a strong personality and a forward attitude,
according to one elder who knows him.  He doesn't like to take no
for an answer and will push however he must for victory.

Elder McClellen was described as having a frank and strong attitude,
making him welcome in any social circle.  His relationship with his 

brothers is very close and strong.  They even have nicknames and codes.  

Elder O'Kelley has been called a "way good guy," and he loves to joke but 

always know when to be serious.  He is good at making friends
and can get along with anyone.

Sister Shaver likes to draw.  On her mission she especially enjoyed getting 

to know the members and investigators, and loved 

playing with the kids.  Takayama was her favorite area because 

she started and ended there.  

Elder Skankey has a flair for making creative stories, according to 

those who know him.  He is also very obedient.  One missionary said that Elder Skankey
would read the Missionary Handbook looking for little things he could do
better, and try to improve. 

Elder Van Campen's personality can be best captured by the thought of a pineapple.  

Sometimes he can be kind of bristly on the outside, but inside is the soft, 

spiritual giant that the people of Japan have come to love.

One of Elder Ward's great strengths is patience.  He is calm, easy going,
and has a good perspective about life.

Elders Van Campen, O'Kelley, and Skankey

 We were treated with a special feast this transfer.  Brother Hall, a member 

of a nearby ward, offered to come to the honbu and prepare a turkey dinner 

for the missionaries who were leaving.  The turkey was cooked in a 

deep fat cooker, and it was wonderful.  Thank you, Brother Hall!  Delicious!!

The beautiful Hall Family

 After dinner, 11 missionaries left the honbu and went out either proselyting, 

getting referrals from members (Fulfillment and Follow-up), working with 

members, or doing "To The Rescue," which helps part-member and 

less active families.  

Elder O'Kelley, Brother Shinohara (from the Meito Ward), Elder Skankey
and Elder Ward.  Brother Shinohara could easily be called "Brother Service."
He helps with everything in every way, and practically every time.

Sister Shaver with Sister Kubota (who will be leaving on a mission
herself in the next month) and Sister Liu.  Both are superb
ward missionaries.

The Love of a Sister

Story by Elder Ryan Horne

It all started when we asked the bishop for names of less-active members he wanted us to visit.  He gave to us the name of Maria, a member from Peru with health problems, and we went to give her a visit.

Maria had come to church about once in the five months that I had been in the area (Yokkaichi).  We asked her what we could do to help her in her situation.  She said, “I want you to call my sister.”  Apparently her sister had gone less active in Japan right after her baptism, and may not have been confirmed a member. 

I was a little daunted by the idea of calling someone who only spoke Spanish, because I don’t know Spanish.  But I tried to call, and she was thrilled!  She invited us over to her house and her two children were delighted to see us.  This mom said her only desire was to see her family get baptized, by water and by fire.  Over the next few weeks her two children, Yumiko and Miguel, learned about the Restoration, the priesthood, baptism, and other important things.  They loved it. 

A couple of months later, after a flurry of Elva’s health problems, their father’s heart became soft.  We had some really powerful lessons.  They were able to enter the waters of baptism and fulfill their mother’s dream.

From left, Yumiko, Elder Horne, Elder Gathier, Miguel.
Elva, their mom, in front.

January 2012 New Missionaries

Tonight, we welcomed in 6 new, wonderful missionaries. Elder Nakanishi (Fukuoka), Elder Davis (Utah), Elder Beyeler (Utah), Elder Arrington (California), Elder Gauthier (Illinois), and Elder Dunn (Illinois). They are all wonderful missionaries! We are so very excited to see them progress and continue to grow as they serve the Lord!

From right:  Elder Nakanishi, Elder Davis, Elder Beyeler, Elder Arrington
Elder Gauthier, Elder Dunn, and President and Sister Baird

Stopped for a quick picture in front of the Golden Clock in the Nagoya Station

     Elder Dunn (left) and Elder Matson- Ueda

Elder Ethan Dunn is blessed to live in Nauvoo, Illinois.  He loves to read and write fantasy.  He is a born storyteller.  He also draws comic figures.   Elder Matson wants to learn to play the piano.  He is outgoing, (He says he has absolutely no problem going up to people and starting a conversation.) and organized.

Elder Ethan Dunn is blessed to live in Nauvoo, Illinois.  He loves to read and write fantasy.  He is a born storyteller.  He also draws comic figures.  

Elder Matson wants to learn to play the piano.  He is outgoing, (He says he has absolutely no problem going up to people and starting a conversation.) and organized.  

Elder Davis (left) and Elder Kusume- Gokiso

Elder Adam Davis, from Salt Lake City, Utah is an only child.  He calls it quality over quantity.  He enjoys building, fixing computers, writing, learning about science, playing the guitar and being active.  He wants his career to be in the medical field. One of the elders who was in the MTC with Elder Kusume says of Elder Kusume, "He's the best!  He studied English a lot and is great a making friends.  He always seemed to love doing missionary work."

Elder Beyeler (left) and Elder Kobayashi- Tsu

Elder Evan Beyeler hales from West Valley City, Utah.  Elder Beyeler’s family jokes around with each other a lot.  After his mission, he is looking forward to going to school, getting a job, and dating, but don’t forget basketball and snowboarding.  He really loves snowboarding.  He wants to travel to Italy and go on a service tour to another country.  He describes himself as relaxed but passionate. Elder Kobayashi was blessed to find a great job that allowed him to earn money for his mission while still teaching seminary and working with the missionaries.  When Elder Kobayashi saw the difference between members of the church and people who don’t have the Gospel, he wanted to share the Gospel so their lives could be improved.

Elder Nakanishi (left) and Elder Perdersen- Toyota

Itoshima, Fukuoka is the city Elder Ryuga Nakanishi comes from.  He loves the ocean.  It makes him feel calm and good, and he loves to surf.   Elder Pederson wants an occupation in the field of science to help make the world and church better.  He is humble and easy going and likes to help others.  He has a resolute testimony and lots of faith.

Elder Gauthier (left) and Elder Horne- Yokkaichi

Elder Gauthier loves his family and says his sisters are geniuses.  He's not sure what he wants to study, but he's thinking about law.  He loves soccer, cycling, skiing and dating.  He wants to become the best man he can, and be a father like his father.  One elder who knows Elder Horne said he is a hard worker, is very obedient, is trusted and works smart.

Elder Arrington (right) and Elder Ellsworth- Yokkaichi 

Elder Dallas Arrington's family is made up of his father, mother, two brothers, two sisters, and then him. Both brothers went on missions, but neither to Japan, even  though his father went to Sendai. His brothers, therefore, like to joke that he's now officially the favorite son. When he gets back home, he plans on returning to  school. Before his mission, he loved computers, reading, and writing. While he's in  Japan, he wants to learn to communicate better, no matter what language  he's using: English, Japanese, or the Spirit. Elder Ellsworth values having a close friend  who he can confide in.  He is intellectual but tries not to flaunt it.   He was raised in a very courteous household.

April 2011 New Missionaries

This week, we welcomed an astounding amount of new missionaries into our mission! 22!!! It will be such a great blessing for this mission and the people in it. There were a lot of missionaries, but each one of their beautiful testimonies shine! We are so grateful to each of them for choosing to serve a mission. We feel blessed that it is the Japan Nagoya Mission that they were called to.

The next morning for the new missionary orientation, all of the new missionaries gathered at the Meito church. It was quite a scene to see all of the missionaries sitting shoulder to shoulder as an army for our Heavenly Father. Even their bags with their starting materials were lined up along the wall inside the office! What a scene!

All of the new missionaries and their trainers piled in for a group picture in front of the Meito church
before heading out to their first area!

Elder Cruz (left, trainer) and Elder Scaduto (Tokyo) - Takaoka

Elder Raffael Scaduto is very genki, happy, positive and delightful. He has
a great testimony and was truly obedient. A great missionary!

Elder Andre' Cruz is friendly and outgoing, and can be relaxed or strict when appropriate.  
He can be very strict with himself.  He lived for a while in Provo, Utah to study English.

Elder Rocha (left) and Elder Duarte (trainer) - Fujieda

Elder Frederico Rocha (pronounced  Hosha, for all you non-Brazilians) is from Sao Paulo.  Elder Rocha has been an exchange student in the US.  He loves to play soccer, travel and surf.  He is studying Business Administration and wants to be an executive. Elder Danilo Duarte enjoys soccer, playing piano, church dances, and hanging out and talking with friends.  He plans on college and, of course, marriage after his mission.

Elder Kinnison (Tokyo, on left) and Elder Gordon (Tokyo, trainer) - Kanazawa

 Elder Christopher Gordon, from Spring, Texas, knew that if he put his trust in the Lord,
things would work out.  He came to Nagoya from Tokyo full of faith
and ready to serve wherever he was called.  He went back to Tokyo with the same attitude.

Elder Marshall Kinnison was very excited to teach the Gospel and teach the
Japanese people.  He was a very obedient missionary.

Elder Hollister (trainer) with Elder Matson (right) - Kasugai

Boise, Idaho is home to Elder Joshua Matson.  He likes Tai Kwon Do, ballroom dancing and Brazilian Martial Arts.  Elder Matson has written a book that he plans to publish when he gets home.

Elder Taylor Hollister likes most sports, and wrestled at the
Air Force Academy before his mission. He is hard working,
competetive and likes cleanliness.  He planned to get lost in the work
on his mission, and has done a good job of that.

Elder Horne (trainer on left) and Elder Mechaileh (Tokyo) - Okazaki

 Elder Michel Mechaileh felt blessed to be in the mission, whether Tokyo or Nagoya.
He was so happy to be in Japan at all, after the tsunami.  He loved being in Nagoya.

 Elder Ryan Horne wants to raise a righteous family, and help others 
through the medical profession.  He loves to play piano 
and racquetball.  He tutored math, reading and piano before 
his mission.  Love constrains him to be a missionary.

Elder Jackson (trainer, left) and Elder Farnsworth - Nonami

Elder Peter Farnsworth comes from a family of 9 amazing people, and he is from Lindon, Utah.  It is common to have 25 people for Sunday dinner, all family. All of his brothers and his father have served missions. Elder Farnsworth is planning to get a master’s in Emergency Service and work as a firefighter, eventually becoming a Physician’s Assistant.  Elder Marcus Jackson wants to become a dentist.  He says he has a fun personality and hates to upset people.

Elder Jessop (trainer, left) and Elder Kerksiek - Hamamatsu

Herriman, Utah is home to Elder Axel Kerksiek.  He is the youngest of 9 children,  and has lived in seven countries for at least two years each.  He loves astronomy and astrophysics, is fascinated by machines, and plays the piano.  He loves to laugh and make others laugh, but he is also kind and understanding.   He puts others ahead of himself.

Elder Terry Jessop's favorite sport is tennis.  He also enjoys boating and piano.  He looks forward to having a large family and serving a mission with his wife. Someone who knows him says he is the kind of person who does whatever he is asked, and does it as soon as he can.  He is dependable, very service oriented and cheerful.

Elder Kekauoha (trainer, left) and Elder Danielson - Okazaki

Santa Monica, California is home to Elder Broderick Danielson.  Elder Danielson
plays the piano, and tenor and soprano saxaphones.  He was in marching band,
jazz band, pep band and wind ensemble.  He has been a good student with good
grades and he is a good communicator.

Elder George Kekauoha is from Hawaii, but has also lived in Maryland and Japan. He says his family is the greatest!  He enjoys gardening, yardwork (Wow!), building, playing piano, guitar and ukulele, and sports.  A few of his many goals are to have a farm, an eternal family, and time to serve others.  He enjoys talking to people, and knows he can do anything he puts his mind to.  He loves the feeling of having the  Holy Ghost with him.

Elder Kervinen (trainer, left) and Elder Gish - Ichinomiya

Elder Zachary Gish, from Highland, Utah, loves to snowboard.  He plays the guitar
and writes music and likes to learn random facts.  He is also interested in mythology.
He loves classic cars and wants to restore one someday.  His goal is to become a dentist.

Elder Niilo Kervinen is a social person and a team player, is positive and optimistic.  
He also knows that studying the scriptures is the most powerful tool to get 
to know God.  He is serving a mission to show gratitude to God for his blessings.

Elder Kutney (left) and Elder Roberts (Tokyo) - Seto

Elder Justin Roberts was mature and so focused on his mission.  He was completely happy
to be in Japan and part of the Lord's work.  He felt he was exactly where the Lord
wanted him to be and found great joy in the work.  He had great goals for his mission
and worked hard to make them happen.

Most of Elder Terrance Kutney's goals revolve around the Gospel.  He hopes that whatever job he has will actually help or improve people's lives.  He says he is level headed and gets along with most anyone.

Elder Madsen (Tokyo, left) and Elder Holden (Tokyo, trainer) - Ueda

Elder Jared Holden felt such great love for the people.  He was willing and ready to
go and work.  He savored everything he learned while he was in Nagoya and
developed a love for the Bairds and a greater love for the Gospel.
He said, "I'm on a mission, it is hard, and I love it."

Elder Nathan Madsen, from Boise, Idaho, came to us just before going home,
but worked for success.  He felt he learned a lot about missionary work and felt a lot of love.

Elder Miura (Tokyo, left) and Elder Ogaki (trainer) - Suwa

Elder Tsubasa Miura was very grateful to have served in the Nagoya Mission
and was sad to go.  He was willing to serve wherever he was and do his best.
He said that he experienced a lot of things that were meaningful.

Elder Shunya Ogaki will continue his studies in 
early childhood education after his mission.  After he retires, 
he wants to serve a mission with his wife.  He says he is usually quiet, 
but he is good at talking with people. 

Elder Otahara (trainer, left) and Elder Eguchi (Tokyo) - Ueda

Elder Junpei Eguchi was determined to serve and do his best.  He said
he wouldn't forget the Bairds and this mission, and his goal is to be like the Savior.

Elder Koudai Otahara is blessed to have 10 people in his very faithful family. He loves talking with people, especially foreigners using a different language. He also enjoys music and dancing. He is outgoing and happy.

Elder Chubak (trainer, left) and Elder Christensen (Tokyo) - Ogaki

Elder Russell Christensen was so excited to serve the Lord in Japan.  He came
with a love for the people.  He knew of Heavenly Father's love for us all
and was ready to work and share all he knew.

Elder Austin Chubak, from West Valley City, Utah, fit with the area and people here and
loved his time here.  He hoped to go home with the peace of mind that he did exactly
what Heavenly Father wanted him to do.  He felt he grew a lot while he was in Nagoya.
He was a great blessing to the people here.

Elder McGahan (Tokyo, left ) and Elder Pearson (trainer) - Fukuroi

Elder Trevor McGahan was very teachable.  He let everything that he learned in
Nagoya seep into him.  He was an excellent missionary and enjoyed the time here.

Lehi, Utah is home to Elder Michael Pearson and he is the sixth of seven children.  
Missionary work is big in his family.  His grandfather wrote the original discussions for the church.  
His parents run a website for missionary moms.  Everyone in his family plays a musical instrument.

Elder Reynolds (trainer, Tokyo) and Elder Shimamoto (Tokyo) - Kasagai

Elder Yuki Shimamoto was genki and very good as a missionary.
He was willing to work very hard.

Elder Michael Reynolds, from Elwood, Kansas, loves learning languages, music
and exercising.  He was ready to make a huge impact when he came to Nagoya.
By the time he left, he said he had seen many miracles and gotten to know
some of the best people he had ever known.

Elder Prince (Tokyo, left) and Elder Ring (trainer, Tokyo) - Takaoka

Elder Jordan Ring, from Saratoga Springs, Utah, loves art.  He loves to teach and
hoped with all his heart to share the Gospel of joy and salvation with many people.
He  really was genki and happy and felt like he learned how to put the missionary
principles into practical application.  He had the ability to learn from whoever was around him.

Elder Keven Prince felt the Lord strengthening him as a missionary.  He tried to follow exactly
what the Lord expected of him.  He was ready and obedient on his mission.

Elder Shimajiri (left) and Elder Ito - Inuyama

Elder Yoshiya Ito's home town is Hashimoto, Wakayama, Japan.

He has three older brothers.  Elder Ito majored in Spanish and culture,
and studied Spanish art history in Leon Spain as an exchange student.
He also loves to play basketball and soccer and is interested in sports management.

Elder Naohiro Shimijiri also comes from a wonderful family of 10.  He and two siblings are members of the church.  Elder Simijiri’s dreams are to share love and humility and be a good example.  He is good at focusing on one thing at a time and getting it done. Elder Correia, left, and his trainer, Elder Skankey Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil is home for Elder Nicolas Correia.  He loves to listen to music, read the newspaper, enjoy a bike ride or drive a car.  He is also interested in politics.  Elder Correia plans to study business administration.    Elder Bryce Skankey enjoys soccer, technical help with theatre, and looking through telescopes.  He is optimistic and proud to be a geek.

Sister Shaver (left) and her trainer, Sister Wilcox - Takayama

Sister Maricella Shaver comes to us from Orem, Utah.  She enjoys reading, writing and cooking.  She loves the ah-ha moment when she figures something out and is able to fully understand it.  She will decide what to focus on for college after her mission.  She says she is extremely shy, but gets along well with people and loves talking to them when she gets to know them.  She was blessed to be sealed in the temple with her family when she was eleven.

From Provo, Utah, Sister Marie Wilcox comes from an amazing family who love education and science.  She has already graduated with a degree in biochemistry and finds she loves organic chemistry.  She is a talented seamstress, plays piano, organ and trombone.  She picked up Japanese by watching Anime in Japanese while she was in bed for two years with an illness.  She is hard working and humble enough to ask for help when needed.  She learned from her illness to submit to Heavenly Father's will.

Elder Cragun (Tokyo, left) and Elder Wilden (trainer, Tokyo) - Fujieda

Elder Aaron Cragun came to us as a new missionary.  He was excited but nervous about the
language.  One of his goals was to leave areas better than he found them.
He learned much while he was in Nagoya and he worked hard.

Elder Alexander Willden, from Cedarburg, Wisconsin, likes guitar and song writing.
He was a little sad when he went back to Tokyo.  He loved being in Nagoya, but he
probably enjoyed Tokyo every bit as much.  He felt very blessed as a missionary and learned
a lot about himself and his Heavenly Father.  He knew he was meant to be in Nagoya.

Elder Wilson (left and trainer) with Elder Hilyard - Kanazawa

From Bountiful, Utah, Elder Chad Hilyard loves soccer and music.
He has played guitar and drums and sung with the concert choir.
He especially enjoys singing religious music.

One elder in the mission says Elder Samuel Wilson is easy to talk to, friendly,
and a solid kind of calm, keeping hope and faith even when things are bad.

He played football in high school and enjoys reading.

September 2010 New Missionaries

This week, we welcomed in a large group of 13 new missionaries! Elder Ward (Massachusetts), Elder Van Campen (Utah), Elder Hollister (Colorado), Elder O'Kelley (Washington), Elder Skankey (Arizona), Sister Masuda (Hokkaido), Sister Clark (Colorado), Elder Jessop (Utah), Elder Ikeda (Tokyo), Elder Larkin (Nevada), Elder Numakura (Yokohama), Elder Horne (Utah, arrived a couple days after), and Elder Kervinen (Finland, actually arrived a couple weeks earlier). We are so very excited for all of them to be a part of this mission! We know that they will be able to accomplish many miracles! This is the first group we had get on the train straight from the airport to the mission home and preach the gospel the whole way in. It was a very great experience! They all did fantastic! We are excited to see them grow and become great missionaries for our Father in Heaven!

A picture at the Meito church with all of their new trainers!

First morning in the mission home with President and Sister Baird.

Sister Clark (right) and Sister Wada- Matsumoto

Sister Ana-Lisa Clark came to us from Kawasaki, Japan, but she
has lived in Colorado, California, and Utah.  Sister Clark loves volleyball,
ultimate frisbee, dancing, games, walks, traveling, reading, piano and singing.

Sister Sachiko Wada's home is Tokyo.  She was sealed to her family
when she was 1.  Sister Wada has done gymnastics and hula.
She wants to become a nurse.  She is decisive, energetic, has a sense of
responsibility, and is a good finisher of what she starts.
She strengthened her testimony by working in Young Women's.

Elder Hollister (right) and Elder Larson- Shizuoka

Elder Taylor Hollister hales from Colorado Springs, CO and has six sisters  and two brothers.  He plans to major in Military and Strategic Studies and be a career military man.   Las Vegas, Nevada is home to Elder Dustin Larsen.  Elder Larsen plans to become a doctor after his mission.  Sports are a favorite for Elder Larsen and he loves competition.  He is also organized, strong-willed, and likes to make people happy.

Elder Horne's trainer is Elder Insch, below.
They will work in Okazaki.

Murray, Utah is home to Elder Ryan Horne.
  Elder Horne speaks highly of his family, especially a father
who teaches patience, love and reverence by example
and a mother who teaches him about the gospel all the time.

Elder Geoffrey Insch hales from Morgantown, West Virginia.
Elder Ward says he has the best mother in the world, and
he would be happy to turn out just like his father.
He loves to make movies and has used the video camera he earned
money to buy to make many movies.  He is prone
 to help people solve problems and use humor to diffuse tension.

Elder Ikeda (left) and Elder Harper- Kasugai

Elder Akihiko Ikeda, from Tokyo, Japan, enjoys just walking and thinking.  But he also loves to be matched up with good basketball players so that he can improve his skill in that sport.  His goal is to go to BYU and maybe even play basketball. Kaysville, Utah is home to Elder Mario Harper.  His mother is from Japan and his father served a mission in Nagoya; they met while at school in Utah.  Elder Harper dreams of becoming a scuba diver, but he instead does research, gives lectures on economics, and goes to opera and symphony recitals, and any musical event.   He sings and plays trombone.  Some day he hopes to get a  Nobel Prize or laureate in physics or economics.

Elder Jessop (left) and Elder Tsuchiya- Kanazawa

Elder Terry Jessop has 4 younger brothers; 3 of them are triplets.  He grew up in the small town of Fielding, Utah and loved it.  He wants to become and MD or dentist and have a large family.  He is caring, has high self-expectations and likes to do things right.  He had a sacred experience in the Sacred Grove and knows the Church is true.

Sakura-shi, Chiba is home to Elder Hiromasa Tsuchiya.  His parents both converted in their 20's and served missions.  He tries to share the Gospel while playing basketball with his friends.  He is cheerful and good at making friends and hopes to become an accountant.  He has a very strong testimony of prayer.

Elder Kervinen (right) and Elder Fujii- Nanao

Elder Niilo Kervinen is only the second missionary to come to Japan from Finland.
He is from Rovaniemi.  Elder Kervinen wants to teach English or Japanese,
become a good dad and trustworthy priesthood leader.

He plays the trombone and likes to draw and paint.   Hokkaido, Japan is
home to Elder Shinsuke Fujii.  He comes from a family of 7.  He enjoys
exercising and all sports.  He is also good with musica and loves to perform.
He plays several instruments.  Elder Fujii loves teaching and working with children.
He loves talking and laughing with others and will do whatever is asked of him.

Elder Larkin (right) and Elder Palmer- Matsumoto

Elder Jordan Larkin comes from a family of missionaries. He has two siblings. 

He and his siblings are adopted, and he has two very most wonderful parents. 

Just ask him. Elder Larkin is a swimmer and really enjoys being in the water. 

His goal is to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost and thus feel great about 

what he does. He grew up in Las Vegas and feels that there is Zion in 

Las Vegas. He wants to be married in the Las Vegas Temple.

TO ZION! TO ZION! HURRAH! HURRAH! FOR ISRAEL!

Elder Matthew Palmer comes from Cottonwood Heights, Utah.  His father sings in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  He has an older sister who founded the Chandler, AZ Children's Choir, and another who sings with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.  Elder Palmer enjoys skate boarding, plays guitar and piano. He has thought about becoming a doctor.  He has compassion for people and is good at putting himself in other's shoes. He loves reading the Book of Mormon.

Sister Masuda (right) and Sister Kobashi- Fukutoku

Sister Iyo Masuda is from Hokkaido, Japan.  She likes to cook, serve others, and talk with them.  Service brings her peace.  She is optimistic, cheerful and a good listener. Sister Megumi Kobashi is a third generation member of the church, and she is from Osaka, Japan.  She got her testimony from her grandparents, and she really loves her family.  Sister Kobashi enjoys cooking and went to a technical college in making cakes and other delicious things.

Elder Numakura (right) and Elder Fujii- Gokiso

Elder Diaichi Numakura comes from a family of five, and he is setting the example for his two younger brothers.  When he returns from his mission, he will study accounting at school.  He loves karaoke as a hobby and his goal is to learn English.  Elder Numakura is from Kanagawa, Japan. See more about Elder Fujii above.

Elder O'Kelley (right) and Elder Freeman- Toyohashi

Elder Kenneth O'Kelley hales from Bremerton, Washington.  He plans to become an
electrical engineer and hopes to have 5 boys--his own basketball team.
In addition to sports, he loves history, psychology, sociology, physics and math.
He is good at scheduling, getting things done and problem solving.  He was baptized
a few day after President Hinckley died.  He wants to share the joy
he received by joining the Church.

Elder Hoyt Freeman, from Pleasant Grove, Utah, loves playing brass instruments.
He also enjoys dating, soccer, running, board games, camping,
biking and fishing.  He also loves to learn, and is interested in
landscaping, law, and languages.  He loves talking to people and enjoys
working hard.  He has a strong testimony and has always planned to serve a mission.

Elder Skankey (right) and Elder Da Silva- Fujieda

Elder Bryce Skankey came to us from Yuma, Arizona, but he has lived in lots of states and Okinawa.  After working hard on his mission, he plans to study Astronomical Physics and then get a PhD and hopefully work for NASA.   Elder Julio  daSilva is from Pernambuco, Brazil and has an older brother.  Elder daSilva was baptized at 14, and his brother was baptized five years later. His parents are not members.  The family loves to go to the beach and often spends time there.  Elder daSilva has also lived in Heber City, Utah with the Petersen family,  who he loves like family.

Elder Van Campen (right) and Elder Fredrickson- Inuyama

Elder Benjamin VanCampen is from Morgan, Utah, and his mom is Japanese.  He plans to go to BYU-Idaho, majoring in psychology when he gets home and work as a Japanese tour guide at the Grand Canyon.  He loves sports of any kind, but mostly football.  He also loves singing and dating.  He says he is goofy, fun loving and laid back, but he plans a strong finish to his mission. Elder Kyle Fredrickson hales from West Valley City, Utah.  He comes from a family of 9 and enjoys listening to music and reading.  He plays piano, trumpet, and French horn.  He has been in jazz and concert bands, pit orchestra and Univ. of Utah marching band.  He likes to communicate with people and make them laugh. He has always planned to serve a mission and loves the Gospel.

Elder Ward (left) and Elder Da Silva- Komatsu

Elder Geoffrey Ward is from Medfield, MA, but has also lived in Florida,
Utah and Japan.  He enjoys rock climbing and wants to compete
in that sport.  He also enjoys singing and reading, and has worked
as a lifeguard.  He is easy going and has a sense of humor.  He loves
service projects and physical labor.  He loves to show his testimony.

See more about Elder Da Silva above.