March 2012 New Missionaries

It is always a treat to get new missionaries in.  We first get their photos and learn a little about them.  We wait a few months while they are trained at the MTC.  Finally the day comes, and we wait excitedly at the airport for them to come through that door and finally be "ours."  We love it; we love them.  This month we expecially exciting because there were 8.  The more we get, the happier we are.

Here they all are at the airport, getting their first of many photos with President and Sister Baird.

Elder deOliveira first meeting Elder Augusto.

It is very exciting to meet your trainer for the first time.  It usually includes a big hug.







It's tradition to get your picture taken, showing the area you will be working in.  (All the new missionaries are on the left.)

Elder Gates will be privileged to serve with Elder Dinkel in Ina.

Bountiful, Utah is home to Elder Peter Gates.  He plans to major in Sound  Engineering.  He LOVES classical music, singing it, playing it, writing it. He says there's always room for improvement, but he is loving the journey! He wants to serve faithfully and give his all to whatever God wants him to do. He is calm and would rather listen than talk. Elder Dinkel is a driven person who wants to do his best.  He loves the Savior and has felt His love numerous times.  Elder Dinkel also loves to read and draw manga.

Bountiful, Utah is home to Elder Peter Gates.  He plans to major in Sound
 Engineering.  He LOVES classical music, singing it, playing it, writing it.
He says there's always room for improvement, but he is loving the journey!
He wants to serve faithfully and give his all to whatever God wants him to do.
He is calm and would rather listen than talk.

Elder Dinkel is a driven person who wants to do his best.  He loves the Savior and has felt His love numerous times.  Elder Dinkel also loves to read and draw manga.

Elder Benham gets to serve in Fukui with Elder Okajima.

Elder Joel Benham hales from Plummer, Idaho, but was born at Misawa AFB in Japan.  His family all loves to read books and to listen to music. He plans to work to earn money for college when he gets home. Elder Benham loves reading, drawing,  archery, roller blading, sword fighting with his brothers, laying on the roof and watching the clouds go by.  He says that he will write back to anyone who writes to him. Elder Okajima loves to sing.  He was in a choir in the YSA group in Tokyo and they made a CD.  He is very intelligent and catches on to things quickly.  One missionary who knows him says he is smart like a fox.  He is always smiling and always wants to do better.

Elder Joel Benham hales from Plummer, Idaho, but was born at Misawa AFB in Japan.  His family all loves to read books and to listen to music. He plans to work to earn money for college when he gets home. Elder Benham loves reading, drawing,  archery, roller blading, sword fighting with his brothers, laying on the roof and watching the clouds go by.  He says that he will write back to anyone who writes to him.

Elder Okajima loves to sing.  He was in a choir in the YSA group in Tokyo and they made a CD.  He is very intelligent and catches on to things quickly.  One missionary who knows him says he is smart like a fox.  He is always smiling and always wants to do better.

 Elder Sambongi will be serving with Elder Kuwahara in Ichinomiya. 

Elder Shun Sambongi is from Orem, Utah.  His parents were both born in Japan, joined the church and met at a church activity.  Elder Sambongi is the first in his family to serve a mission. Elder Kuwahara is a very kind person.  He feels God's love and knows that everyone is a child of God.  After his mission, he wants to find a job that makes people happy.

Elder Shun Sambongi is from Orem, Utah.  His parents were both born in Japan, joined the church and met at a church activity.  Elder Sambongi is the first in his family to serve a mission.

Elder Kuwahara is a very kind person.  He feels God's love and knows that everyone is a child of God.  After his mission, he wants to find a job that makes people happy.

Elder Wakamatsu will be in Suwa serving with Elder Kerksiek.

Elder Tyler Wakamatsu is from Lehi, Utah, and his family cares a lot about people.  He loves music, plays trumpet, and loves to be with family and friends.   He would like to get an education, travel the world to play music professionally, and get married. He describes himself as laid back, friendly, and energized. He wants to be known as someone who loves the Lord and keeps his commandments. Elder Kerksiek is one of those people who does not get angry easily.  He tries to be someone others want to be with.  Maybe he learned that from his family of 12.  He also finds the universe extremely complex and mysterious.

Elder Tyler Wakamatsu is from Lehi, Utah, and his family cares a lot about people.  He loves music, plays trumpet, and loves to be with family and friends.   He would like to get an education, travel the world to play music professionally, and get married. He describes himself as laid back, friendly, and energized. He wants to be known as someone who loves the Lord and keeps his commandments.

Elder Kerksiek is one of those people who does not get angry easily.  He tries to be someone others want to be with.  Maybe he learned that from his family of 12.  He also finds the universe extremely complex and mysterious.

This is Elder James with his trainer, Elder Clark.  They will be in Seto.

Idaho Falls, Idaho is happy to claim Elder Aaron James as theirs.  Elder James likes to brings things to life on paper with his drawing, and he loves Japanese culture. Elder James hopes to major in graphic arts.  He is kind to everyone and very patient. Elder Clark tries to be concerned, sincere,and thoughtful.  If he ever gets irritated, he doesn't let people know about it.  He took biology his first year of college, but he hasn't decided what he will major in when he gets home.  He knows his mission is not about him, but about what God can make of him.

Idaho Falls, Idaho is happy to claim Elder Aaron James as theirs.  Elder James likes to brings things to life on paper with his drawing, and he loves Japanese culture. Elder James hopes to major in graphic arts.  He is kind to everyone and very patient.

Elder Clark tries to be concerned, sincere,and thoughtful.  If he ever gets irritated, he doesn't let people know about it.  He took biology his first year of college, but he hasn't decided what he will major in when he gets home.  He knows his mission is not about him, but about what God can make of him.

Sister Eguchi (left) and Sister Inoue met seconds ago and are already best friends.
Sister Shizuka Eguchi is from Kai, Yamanishi, Japan.  She likes listening to classical music and going to concerts.  Doing good deeds secretly brings her much joy.  She once had a church leader touch her heart with some special advice, including reading the Book of Mormon.  She followed that advice and her life changed since that day.

Sister Inoue's goal is to go to university or specialized school, possibly in a foreign country.  Of course, a temple marriage and family are part of her plans, and even to become a couple missionary in the future.  She is cheerful and loves talking with friends. 

These beautiful sisters will be serving in Fukutoku.

Elder deOliveira will be serving with Elder Augusto in Takaoka.

Elder Dimas DeOliveira is from Paranagua, Brazil.  But he has lived and taught English in the United States.  He is a happy, enthusiastic person and loves to share the Gospel.  Elder deOliveira intends to study to get in a good university and work!  He loves to sing and watch good movies.  His goal after his misson is to become a diplomat and of course keep doing missionary work.  He says he is very rational, friendly and he loves to talk.

Elder Augusto is one of the funniest elders in the mission, according to another missionary who knows him well.  He has the ability to love anyone, and everyone loves him.  What a wonderful thing to have said about you!

And Elder Sarager gets to serve with Elder Ashcroft in Inuyama.

Home for Elder Spencer Sarager is Gilbert, Arizona.  He has three older brothers who have served missions.  He loves the outdoors and all sports.   Elder Ashcroft's mother was converted by his father, and was born in Nagoya.  How exciting for Elder Ashcroft to serve a mission in his mother’s hometown.

November 2011 New Missionaries

Tonight, we welcomed 7 new amazing missionaries into our mission! Sister Adachi (Kanagawa), Sister Hunt (California), Sister West (Idaho), Elder Okajima (Machida), Elder Schade (Utah), Elder Heo (Korea)
and Elder Hara (Fukuoka). It was great to see the excitment in their faces as they got
off the plane and headed out to preach the gospel for the first time!

Everyone stopped to give a HOIZA pose at the Golden Clock in Nagoya Station.

First Day at the Mission home with President and Sister Baird.

Elder Okajima (left) and Elder Shimajiri- Nakatsugawa

Elder Shuto Okajima, from Tokyo, Japan comes from a family of six,
and all are active at church.  He likes to listen to music because it helps
him be calm and have a positive attitude.  He has liked cars since he was a child.

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 enjoys sports, especially basketball and track.  He joined the Church at 23 years old, and is anxious to share the Gospel with others.

Elder Heo (left) and Elder Hiruta- Kariya

Elder Dong Ho Heo is from Changwon, Korea, and is the only Korean serving in the Nagoya mission currently.  He says his life changed in 2009 when he joined the church.  Elder Heo smiles all the time, is outgoing and loves to meet people and talk with them.

Elder Hiruta wants to have a happy family and be sealed in the temple.  He knows the scriptures are true and has grown from studying them.  He looks forward to testifying to his children of missionary work, and he knows his mission will set the example.

Elder Schade (left) and Elder Boss- Suwa

Elder Eric Schade loves to make people laugh, even though he calls himself a bit shy.  He is easy going and easy to get along with.  He is from Heber, Utah and enjoys soccer, snowboarding, wakeboarding, hiking and music.

Elder Alexander Boss is from Midway, Utah and has 3 brothers and 3 sisters. He enjoys sports and did track in high school. He also likes music, reading and travel.  He has been to over 30 countries with his family.

Elder Hara (left) and Elder Ito- Inuyama

Elder Shintaro Hara comes to us from Fukuoka, Japan and comes from a family of five.  He is the youngest and has two older sisters.  His hobby is boxing.  He also enjoys reading, and read 600 books in five years.

Elder Ito` says he is an extrovert.  He loves talking to people.  He is honest and obedient and has been to church every Sunday since he was a baby.  All three of his older brothers were missionaries, and he noticed how their missions made them better men.

Sister Hunt (left) and Sister Clark- Okazaki

Sister Mariah Hunt loves to play the piano.  It is an important part of her life.  

She is also artistic and loves to draw the human form.  She is from Folsom, CA.

Of Sister Clark, one missionary said, "If there would be a sister AP, I would vote for her."  

Sister Clark attended BYU before her mission and discovered a passion for languages

 and music.  She is majoring in Linguistics.

Sister West (left) and Sister Nishimuro- Matsumoto

Sister Chalese West, currently from Rigby, Idaho, attended Utah State and was on the track team.  Her favorite race is the 200m, but she does others as well.  She is a reader, and especially likes C.S.Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkein.  She also loves swimming and water sports.  She plans to graduate in either wildlife science or rangeland management and then go to graduate school.  Her dream job would be to study cougars or other predators.  Sister West says she is shy, but is determined and works hard to excel.  She has a testimony strong of the Savior. Sister Nishimuro loves music, especially singing and she also likes to draw.  Her goal is to become an elementary school teacher and her dream is to have an eternal family.  She tries hard not to be judgmental and has lots of friends.  She loves the Church because it makes people happy.

Sister Adachi (right) and Sister Saito- Shizuoka

Sister Miho Adachi is from Kanazawa, Japan and she has five people in her family.  She has had experience in child care and loves to use paper to create greeting cards.  Her goal is to have a happy family.  She hopes to teach nursery school or kindergarten after her mission. Sister Saito loves the children’s hymnbook because it clearly teaches the Gospel.  She wants to learn a language fluently.  She looks forward to a temple marriage and having children.