Transfers, February 2013, New Missionaries

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

Sister Leah Hodson, United States

Elder Samuel Richard, Australia

Elder Victor Lazaro, Brazil

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

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

Yosh!

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

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

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

Elder Yoshifumi Chiba

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

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

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

Sister Saya Hart

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

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

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

Sister Leah Hodson

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

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

Elder Victor Lazaro

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

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

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

Elder Pontus Mikkola

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

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

Elder Eduardo Milder

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

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

Elder Samuel Richard

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

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

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

and Elder Jarem Tano

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2012 Shimai Taikai

Shimai Taikai (or for those of you who speak English, Sisters' Conference)  A delight for every female in any mission.  It was a feast!

From left:  Sisters Rogers, Yamada, Eguchi, Shimoji, and Ishihara

We feasted on the spirit, on words of inspiration and wisdom from President and Sister Baird.

Sister Baird shared Romans 10:15--And how shall they preach, except they be sent?  as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach to gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!  She reminded the sisters of how their feet walk miles, ride miles, stand to bear their testimony, rush to serve, and more.  Truly, these sister do have beautiful feet.

She talked about the spirit, and how blessed we are to feel it in our lives.  She shared a story that Sister Holland told.  She was living in a big city and was called to work as a stake missionary.  It was scary for her.  One day she finished reading the Book of Mormon while she was riding on a bus.  She felt such love for it and felt the influence of the spirit as she completed the book.  There was a man sitting next to her, and she just looked at him and said, "This book is so true."  He asked what it was, and as she told him about it, he wanted to read it.  He ended up joining the Church.

Elder Ellsworth and Elder Ito taught us that when we prepare to teach people, our goal is to help them feel the spirit.  And for practice, we thought about the good traits of our companions and asked what we could do to help our companion feel the spirit.  True conversion comes through the spirit.  Through the spirit, we can know the things our investigators (and companions) need.

Sister Baird gave one of the sisters a timer and asked her to set it for 7 minutes.   She could then share one thing that had changed her life for good on her mission, or a favorite teaching moment, or one of the greatest tests she had on her mission and how she overcame it.  We then enjoyed 7 minutes for each sister there to share her heart and testimony.  It was wonderful.

Then Sister Baird shared her testimony of how the mission has changed her life and what a blessing it has been to her.  She has had many experiences that have confirmed to her the love of the Lord.

President Baird then taught us, about faith in Christ, about what John meant when he said "I have need to be baptized of thee," about covenants and the Atonement.  He taught us the doctrine of Christ.  And he left us with his testimony:  "I love this Jesus.  For his complete obedience, example, sacrifice, patience, because he first loved me and loves me continually.  ....Our purpose for being here is to bring others to Him (Alma 18:8)."  And we felt the truth in his words.



We feasted on each others love, joy and friendship, and sharing our hearts,

Sisters Adachi, Hunt, and West

Sisters Fujisawa, Stott, Takatsu, Eguchi, Thayne, and West

Sister Urano and Sister Barney

We feasted on being creative and visiting while we created.  Tables set up in the dining room were loaded with everything one could possibly want to decorate cards, scrapbooks, bookmarks, and photo albums.  We all brought our photos and went to work.  But that was just filler between the great conversation and love that was shared among the sisters.


And we feasted on delicious food.

Around table from left:  Sister Fujisawa, Ishihara, Shimoji, and coming
back on right, Sisters Adachi, Thayne, and Eguchi

Again from left:  Sisters Matsuhashi, Rogers, Thayne, Stott,
Takatsu, Baird, Silva, West, Hunt, and Yamada

Sisters Silva, Hunt, West, Yamada, Urano, Barney,
Matsuhashi, Rogers, Thayne, and Stott

It was wonderful and, as you can see, a bit of fun, too.

Seated in front from left:  Sisters Hunt, Adachi, and Thayne
Seated on sofa:  Sisters Eguchi, Thayne (maybe), Yamada, Rogers (we are pretty sure that's her), Takatsu, and Hunt
Standing:  Sisters Ishihara, Shimoji, Fujisawa, Baird, Stott, Silva, Barney and Matsuhashi

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

Hooray! Four Great New Missionaries, June 2012

The only thing better than getting new missionaries is watching them baptize.  We got four wonderful new missionaries this time.  Please meet:

Elder Ludlow, Elder Romero, (President and Sister Baird),
Sister Rogers and Sister Ishihara

 In case you can't read kanji, the sign at the right says this group of missionaries are all fabulous.  (Just kidding--about the sign, not the missionaries.)

Do think there are any butterflies in stomachs right now?

How can two sister missionaries who have traveled all day
 look so beautiful?

Dinner for four tired missionaries and off to bed.
Elders Kervinen and Ellsworth, AP's on left.

Next morning, they are all rested and ready to start training, but not before we get to be treated to a violin/cello rendition of "If You Could Hie to Colob."   

It was truly subarashii.

Sister Rogers and Elder Ellsworth, one of our AP's.

Sister Ishihara, left, with her new trainer, Sister Shimoji.
Notice the tissue (and if you have good eyes, you'll see a few tears
in Sister Ishihara's eyes.)
First, the spirit told President Baird to make these two companions.
Second, these two told President Baird that they were good friends.

Sister Inori Ishihara's parents and oldest brother all served missions.   She is from Okinawa, Japan and plays the French horn and flute.   She likes touching people's hearts by being bright, friendly, and optimistic.   She has received many blessings from prayer.

Sister Shimoji is a very happy, cheerful person.  Sister Shimoji listened to 
General Conference and as they talked about serving a mission, 
she felt inspired to go.  Even though she got a good job, 
she quit it to serve a mission.

Sister Inori Ishihara's parents and oldest brother all served missions.  

She is from Okinawa, Japan and plays the French horn and flute.  

She likes touching people's hearts by being bright, friendly, and optimistic.  

She has received many blessings from prayer.

Sister Rogers, left, and Sister Hunt

Sister Rogers comes to us from Brisbane, Australia and has two sisters  and six brothers.  She loves musical instruments and plays piano, violin,  guitar and sax.  She also plays basketball, soccer, and has a black belt  in Taikwando.  She will audition at the Queensland Conservatorium of  Music after her mission.

Sister Hunt loves to work. She also finds that music energizes
 her mind and spirit. And she enjoys a sincere conversation.
 While she loves to read, she finds that reading the scriptures
consistently is simply a feeling that can't be replicated
 with other literature or philosophy.

Sister Rogers comes to us from Brisbane, Australia and has two sisters

 and six brothers.  She loves musical instruments and plays piano, violin, 

guitar and sax.  She also plays basketball, soccer, and has a black belt 

in Taikwando.  She will audition at the Queensland Conservatorium of 

Music after her mission.  

Elder Ludlow, left, with Elder Schade

Thousand Oaks, California is where Elder Matthew Ludlow  calls home.  He enjoys basketball and football and loves competition.  He hopes to eventually become a chiropractor.

Notice Elder Schade's huge smile.  It makes a lot of people happy.
He loves being out of doors and also plays the piano.
He knows from experience that prayer is a powerful tool.

Thousand Oaks, California is where Elder Matthew Ludlow 

calls home.  He enjoys basketball and football and loves competition. 

He hopes to eventually become a chiropractor.  

Elder Romero, center, with his trainer Elder Dinkel on left,
and Elder Gates on right (a threesome!)

From the great city of Provo, Utah, we get to have Elder Jose Romero.
  He is the youngest of 7 children and says his mother is an
incredible woman.  Elder Romero loves to rock climb, hike, bike,
 canoe and swim.  He loves a physical challenge, but he especially
 loves getting to know people better when he spends time with
 them outdoors.  He has had many wonderful spiritual experiences
 and is grateful for leaders who have taught him great things.

Elder Dinkel has a great smile that shows his enthusiasm for 
the work.   He knows lots of words and loves to use the big ones.  
Not everyone gets to train two people at once.

At the time of this blog post, Elder Gates has only been 
in the mission for  three months.  His trainer, Elder Dinkel 
says he's already very good with his kanji, takes part 
in lessons effectively, and is willing to share his great 
musical talent.  But the best thing is he is perfectly obedient.