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.

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.