"Elders,.....Elders....."

Elder Kevin Gottfredson, Sept. 7, 2012

In the Nagoya East Zone Meeting, Elder Gottfredson shared an experience where the appointments and plans and backup plans for one evening all fell apart.  After considering what to do, while tempted to stay in the apartment, instead they decided to go out and do some finding activities.

Elder Gottfredson is on the right.  He is with his trainer, Elder Palmer.

He and his companion decided to grab some English Class chirashis (fliers) and go out on the street.  They planned to stuff some mail boxes, hand them out to people they passed on the streets, and to just talk to anyone they could.

That night they were waiting for a light when they heard someone calling, “Elders….., Elders….”  They turned to see two women running toward them.  They said they had been looking for the missionaries for quite a while.  They have moved here from the Philippians and had been trying to find the missionaries or the church since they had arrived.  They were so glad to see the missionaries, took a chirashi and used it to find where the church was.  They were there the following Sunday.

 

These missionaries were doubly rewarded for overcoming the temptation to stay in.  That night they put some chirashis in mailboxes and for the first time in Elder Gottfredson’s mission, someone called and is currently a very strong investigator.

New Missionaries, August 2012

No matter how many times we get new missionaries, we are always amazed at the quality and goodness we see in each new group.  This group was not just "no exception;" this group seemed exceptional!  Here they come now:

President Baird with Elder Ellsworth, AP,
Elder Ito, AP, and Elder Koesashi, Commissarian
All waiting patiently.

Elder Berrett is
our Recorder and is usually very busy at the
airport as our videographer.

Our first great missionary, Elder Hilton

Tired and happy to be here.
Elders Hilton, Ahuna, Gillespie, Doll,
and Sister Thayne

That special moment--Elder Gillespie
meeting President Baird.

Elder Gish, getting his first of many hugs.

Elder Perkins, excited to get started.

The first "teaching."
Elder Gish, Hilton, Doll, Ahuna, and Sister Thayne

The famous picture at the Dragon.
From left, Elders Hilton, Doll, Gillespie,
Sisters Thayne and Baird, President Baird,
Elders Gish, Ahuna, Macdonald, and Perkins

We are hungry.  We are tired.  But we are smiling.

Of course, we ate.  This is Sister Baird's famous Lasagna.  See her recipe in this blog.

First train trip in Japan.

We proselyted.  We can do this!
Our three missionaries are Elders  Koesashi,
Macdonald, and Doll.

You never know--this guy may get baptized.

        And after a good night's sleep and several hours of training, we met our new companions:
(All new missionaries are on the left.)

Sister Thayne with Sister Yamada

Sister Anna Mari Thayne calls two places home:  Naha, Okinawa, Japan and St. George, Utah.  She has one brother who was also a missionary in Japan.  She got her associate degree from Dixie College just before coming on her mission.  She enjoys baking, hiking and running, among other things.  She is outgoing and friendly.  She has come to realize that no matter what she does in life, nothing can help people more than the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and that is why she decided to serve a mission.

Sister Yamada's goal is to have a happy family. She enjoys talking with people
and is cheerful.  She works very hard and doesn’t give up until    

she finishes her task.  She also enjoys baking and is very active.  She 

has a strong testimony of prayer and loves the scriptures.

Elder Ahuna  with Elder Matson

Elder James Ahuna is the youngest of six children.  All of his siblings 

have served missions and been married in the temple.  His family has traveled 

and performed around the world, doing missionary work by sharing their talents in 

Hawaiian song and dance.  Elder Ahuna would like to get a degree in finance and 

become a financial planner in Hawaii, which is where he is from.  

He also wants to continue using his talents to share the gospel.  He plays piano 

and ukelele, does the Samoan fireknife dance and Navajo Indian 22-hoop dance, 

sings and plays drums.  He is friendly and outgoing and is good at saving money. 

One missionary who Elder Matson trained said that Elder Matson is the most obedient 

missionary that he knows.  He reviews the rules and focuses on being 

completely obedient.  He cares what he does, plans well,  is very dedicated, 

and prays like a champion.  This missionary said he really admires Elder Matson.

Elder Doll with Elder Sarager

Elder Brian Doll hails to us from McLean, Virginia.  He has one younger sister.  Elder Doll loves bowling and has bowled in a league since he was 11.  He also likes basketball, and loves to learn new things.  He is well-balanced and enjoys being a leader.  He was shocked when he got his call to serve in Japan because it had never crossed his mind, but he wants to share the joy he has received from the Gospel, and to be an example to his family.

Elder Sarager likes to plan and be prepared for things.  He doesn't like

 "winging it."  He is also a curious person and likes to know the "why" of things.

Elder Gish (left) with his trainer, Elder Gauthier

West Jordan, Utah is home to Elder Braydon Gish.  He is the middle child of five, 
and his sister is serving in Russia.  Elder Gish's biggest goal is to please his Savior 
and make it back to live with Him.  He wants not only to be a good missionary 
while on this mission, but for the rest of his life. He enjoys basketball, football and tennis, 
and just talking with friends and their families.  He appreciates the good friends 
he chose to have and has talked with them a lot about scriptures 
and understanding the Gospel.  


Elder Gauthier feels that if a missionary works hard and obeys with exactness, 
he can't fail in anything he does.  He is friendly and enthusiastic.

Elder Gillespie with Elder Sanderson

Elder Mark Gillespie calls Colorado Springs, Colorado home.  But his father is
a Colonel in the Air Force, so he has lived in other places.  Elder Gillespie wants
to help people as part of his career.  Since he enjoys science, he wants to become
a surgeon.  He also wants to become a better pianist, read all the great books,
and perhaps write music.  His first hobby, though, is reading.  He says he is a confident,
outgoing person and has known the Gospel is true for as long as he can remember. 

Elder Sanderson enjoys playing a military simulation sport called airsoft.  

He likes it because it involves many scenarios and requires cooperation with 

teammates.  In fact, he plans to own his own military simulation store and 

arena after he graduates from college.  

Elder Hilton with Elder Heo

Elder Charles Hilton is from Glenview, Illinois.  He has two older brothers
who are great examples to him.  He would love to get into BYU's
animation program after his mission and eventually work for Pixar.  He loves to draw.
He has done it all his life and it has become his greatest talent.  

Elder Heo wants to major in hotel management at BYU Hawaii 

and then become an executive for a cruise ship company.  He is looking forward 

to having his family join the church and hopes that will happen soon.

Elder Macdonald with Elder Takabori

Gilbert, Arizona is home for Elder Kyle Macdonald.  He comes from a close family who enjoys being together.  He is the middle of five chidlren.  His dad taught him to love all sports, including basketball, baseball, scuba diving, sailing, and snow skiing.  He also plays the piano.  Elder Macdonald is on a full ride scholarship at Arizona State University with plans to go to medical school.  He is fascinated with neurology.  He is ambitious and hard working, learns quickly and loves all types of foods.  He especially enjoys learning about the Savior.

Elder Takabori is competitive and likes a challenge.  His favorite game is chess.  

He wants to improve himself mentally, physically, spiritually and socially. 

Elder Perkins with Elder Ludlow

Elder Perkins is from Mesa, Arizona.  He has three sisters and one brother.
He enjoys writing short stories. He says that writing is fun for him because
it is pure creation.  He says his only weakness is to bullets.  And he has a strong
testimony of both the Bible and the Book of Mormon.  Before he left on his mission,
 he shared the gospel with a close friend and she was baptized.

Elder Ludlow likes interacting with other people, taking charge of a situation,
and solving problems.  And when he is not busy doing those things, he can
also enjoy snowboarding, wakeboarding, packpacking, hiking, fishing, 

hunting and the beach.

Is there any better sight than a group of great missionaries?

And off they go to their first assignment!

How to Get a Missionary's Attention--Recipes Included

If you are a parent reading this blog post, using this post will definitely get your returned missionary's attention.

If you are the wife of a former missionary, you can melt his heart and send him down memory lane.  

If you are a returned missionary and just want to recall some special times from the Japan Nagoya  Mission, you might want to go down memory lane by cooking up one or more of the following great recipes that Sister Baird used to feed you, while you were in the Japan Nagoya Mission.  

If you are none of the above, but want some really good eats,  try one or more of the following.  

This recipe is probably Sister Baird's most famous.  New missionaries coming into the mission have even heard about it and have asked for the recipe on their first day.

           

                             
Sister Baird's Famous Syrup

1/2 C. butter

1 C. buttermilk (in Japan I put 1 T. lemon juice in the measuring cup and then add milk, let it sour for about 4 minutes.)

2 T. light Karo syrup

1 tsp. baking soda

1 ½ C. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla (add after you have removed from heat)

Bring to slow boil and stir constantly for 7 minutes.

Remove from heat (add vanilla)

Make this in a deeper pan; the baking soda makes it foam up.

          Sister Baird's Favorite Waffles

2 C. flour (in Japan I have to add a little more)

1 tsp. salt

2 C. milk

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 C. oil (canola or vegetable)

2 eggs –separate, put yolks into batter and whip egg whites and fold into mixed batter.

You can mix together with a hand mixer.

Cook in waffle maker

Or you can enjoy:

                    Sister Baird’s Favorite Pancakes

Dry:

2 C. flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

Wet:

3 C. buttermilk

2 eggs

2 T. vegetable or canola oil

Mix together (don’t overmix)

Pour out pancakes on hot oiled skillet

This lasagna is to die for!

                                 Nagoya Mission Lasagna

Brown:

1 kilo (2 pounds) of hamburger (approximately)

1 onion chopped

Cottage cheese mixture:

3 cups of cottage cheese (or 3 small Japanese cartons.)  Japanese cottage cheese is really dry so you might want to rinse and dry American cottage cheese.

1 egg

1 T. dried parsley

Other ingredients:

1 Large bottle Prego Spaghetti Sauce (67 oz.)

Mozzarella Cheese (shredded, just over 2 pounds)

Lasagna Noodles (I use the Barilla, LaCollezione, Lasagne all’Uovo  they are no cook and they are GREAT!  Or you can use cooked regular lasagna noodles)

In a 9 x 13 pan put a little Prego sauce on the bottom then layer:

Noodles

Meat Mixture

Cottage Cheese mixture

Mozzarella Cheese

Prego

Repeat—(for the last layer save a little mozzarella cheese for the very top)

Bake at 350 degrees for around 45 minutes to an hour.  Let sit for around 10 minutes before you cut it.  This way it will come out in pretty pieces.

(Things I’ve learned:  don’t use too much meat, do use enough cheese)

  Chicken Enchiladas

1 family size (26 oz.) Cream of Chicken Soup

1 to 1-1/2 C. sour cream

1 can diced green chilies (7 oz.)

½ tsp. garlic salt

2 C. diced chicken breasts (can be more if you like it meaty)

Heat through and thin with a little milk.

Heat 10 flour tortillas

Put mixture in tortillas (not too much)

Sprinkle with Colby Jack cheese

Roll up and place in 9x13 pan

(Prepare pan with Pam spray on bottom, then spread a small amount of the chicken soup mixture with a rubber spatula on bottom, this will stop the tortillas from sticking to the bottom of the pan or drying out.)

When all the tortillas are rolled and in pan, top with remaining mixture and sprinkle more grated cheese on top.

(Be sure to cover all the tortillas with mixture or tortillas will dry out and be hard)

Bake at 350 degrees until hot and bubble—about 20 minutes.  Yummy!

Brownies to die for--even better with a scoop of ice cream:

            Sister Baird’s Brownies

2 cubes butter (melted)

1/2 C. cocoa

2 C. sugar

4 eggs

1½ C. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

Mix together by hand (not mixer) don’t over mix. Put in greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for around 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Frosting

3/4 C. softened butter

6 Tablespoons powdered unsweetened cocoa

2 C. powdered sugar (I always use more of this)

1/4 C. milk

Cream butter and cocoa, then add some of the powdered sugar. Mix at low speed adding milk then the rest of the powdered sugar. Beat until creamy (it will be quite thick and a lighter brown). If the icing is too thick to spread add a little more milk. If it’s too thin add a little more powdered sugar.

Spread on cooled brownies.

And finally, 

                              Sister Baird’s Peanut Butter Bars

3/4 C. butter                            3/4 C. peanut butter

1/2 C. sugar                             3/4 tsp baking soda

2 C. brown sugar                     1/4 tsp salt

2 eggs                                      1 ½  C. flour

2 tsp vanilla                             2 C. oats

Additional peanut butter

Chocolate frosting

Using a dough hook, cream butter and sugars.  Add eggs and beat until light and fluffy.  Add vanilla and peanut butter.  Mix dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture.  Spread on large cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until very lightly browned.  When cooled spread a thin layer of peanut butter on top.  Frost with chocolate frosting below.

                                                   Frosting

Beat together:

2 T. softened butter                4 T. cocoa

1/4 C. of evaporated milk       3½ C. powdered sugar

1 T. vanilla

                         \

Sister Baird’s Favorite Cinnamon Rolls

Let foam up:

1/2 T. yeast

1 ½ C. warm water

1 tsp. sugar

Add:

4 eggs (beaten)

1/2 C. sugar

2 tsp. salt

1 C. canola or vegetable oil

1 C. evaporated milk

1 C. hot water

7-8 C. flour  (add 1 cup at a time until dough is soft, I like my dough just barely sticky)

Knead for 10 minutes.  Oil bowl lightly with canola or veg. oil.   Put the dough in and flip it so both sides are slightly oiled.  Cover bowl with plastic wrap and lid and put in warm place to rise, approximately 1 to 1 ½ hours.

Punch dough down, let it rest for 5 minutes.  Divide dough in half.  Roll out on floured counter with floured rolling pin into rectangular shape. 

Spread with cinnamon/sugar, butter mixture:

3/4 C. softened butter (really soft but not melted)

1 C. sugar

1/8 C. cinnamon

Rollup.  Cut into 1 to 1 ½ inch rolls.  Place on greased cookie sheet and cover with sprayed (PAM) plastic wrap (don’t pull it tight just lay it over).

Rise again for 15-20 minutes

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes (they will be barely browned)

Icing:

1/4 C. softened butter

About ½ bag of powdered sugar

Thin with the left over evaporated milk

(I like my frosting quite thin, not thick.  I frost the rolls about 4 or 5 minutes after they come out of the oven so some of the frosting melts down in.)

Inochi no Michi, August 2012

Dearest Missionaries in Nagoya,

On the last page of the July 2012 Liahona is an article entitled “Unspotted from the World” by Julie Thompson.   She wrote of a personal experience in the Bountiful Utah Temple.   I encourage you to read her article with the thought that our homes where we live (your apartment) are next to the temple as a sacred place and where we can enjoy the Spirit of Lord.  Often we think of cleaning our apartments as menial jobs that we must do as a matter of duty. 

One day in the temple before starting to clean the temple, she tells about her meeting in a small chapel for a devotional. “The custodian who conducted the devotional said something that will forever change the way I look at temple cleaning assignments. After welcoming us, he proceeded to explain that we were not there to clean things that didn’t need cleaning but to keep the Lord’s house from ever becoming dirty. As stewards of one of the most sacred places on earth, we had a responsibility to keep it spotless.”

His message penetrated my heart, and I proceeded to my assigned area with a new enthusiasm to protect the Lord’s house. I spent time with a soft-bristled paintbrush, dusting the tiny grooves in door frames, baseboards, and the legs of tables and chairs. Had I been given this assignment on an earlier visit, I might have thought it ridiculous and carelessly brushed over the areas in an effort to appear busy. But this time, I made sure the bristles reached into the tiniest of crevices.

 “I first realized that I never paid attention to such minute details in my own home but cleaned those areas that others would see first, neglecting those known only to members of my family and me.  I next realized that there were times when I had lived the gospel in a similar fashion—living those principles and fulfilling those assignments that were most obvious to those around me while ignoring things that seemed known only to my immediate family or me. I attended church, held callings, fulfilled assignments, went visiting teaching—all in full view of members of our ward—but neglected to attend the temple regularly, have personal and family scripture study and prayer, and hold family home evening. I taught lessons and spoke in church but sometimes lacked true charity in my heart when it came to interactions with others.  That night in the temple, I studied the paintbrush in my hand and asked myself, “What are the little crevices in my life that need more attention?” I resolved that rather than plan to repeatedly clean the areas of my life that needed attention, I would try harder never to let them become dirty.

I remember my temple-cleaning lesson each time we are reminded to keep ourselves “unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).

May we take a fresh look at our apartments.  May we clean and live in a way that shows our appreciation to the Lord for providing a place to lay down and rest our heads after a day of laboring in the “vineyard”, a place to be nourished, a place to seek the Spirit and to prepare for our missionary service.

In addition to being clean, please consider your stewardship over the resources of the earth and the community in which we live.  In times of extreme weather, hot or cold, how efficiently we use resources like electricity and gas, will make a difference to others.  At this time, remember to turn your air conditioning off when you are not in the apartment.  If you close the drapes and windows, it will reduce the amount of radiant heat that enters your apartment.  An important way to keep your air conditioning functioning efficiently is to periodically clean the filters in the air conditioning unit and the ceiling fans.

Please consider not only cleaning the things that obviously need cleaning but to strive to keep the Lord’s house (your apartment) from ever becoming dirty. As stewards of a sacred place on earth, we had a responsibility to keep it spotless.”  I promise you greater peace and the presence of the Spirit of the Lord as you wisely fulfill your stewardship.  

Elder Barney

I Feel Like I've Been Baptized Again

Steven Bardzinski,  August  28, 2012

After only being in Inuyama for a short time, I was surprised when I received a transfer call to serve in Numazu.  I’d heard nothing about the area, and hadn’t even heard of my new companion, Elder Hilyard.  I asked Heavenly Father many times in prayer why I had been called to this area that had practically no investigators or any relationship with the members.  I didn’t really get an answer on my knees, but it came on my first Sunday.  After Sacrament Meeting ended, I felt prompted to talk to a lady standing by herself looking quite sad.

As I began to speak to her, she began to cry as she said that people didn’t really take the time to talk to her.  Mayumi Kouchi had been less active for about 10 years and felt that God didn’t love her.  She expressed her desire to learn about her Savior Jesus Christ through the missionary lessons.  We began to teach Sister Kouchi, and watch a mighty change come upon her.

As she had already been baptized, inviting her to baptism wasn’t an option, so we decided to set a date for her to prepare to take the sacrament.  She accepted a date, and together we helped her repent and prepare to be worthy to take the sacrament.  I have never seen anyone prepare as much as Kouchi Shimai to take the sacrament.

The day came and she was ready.   As she took the bread and water, she wept as she said, “I feel like I’ve been baptized again!  I feel like I’ve been washed clean.  Thank you.”

I came to realize why I had been sent to Numazu.  I know what it means in D&C 18 when it says, “…how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me.”

Elder Hilyard, Elder Bardzinski, and Sister Kouchi

After Sister Kouchi’s reactivation, she has helped her friend return to church, her nephew became an investigator and has a baptismal date, and she has also recently referred another friend to the missionaries.

Numazu is now a thriving area with many investigators and a great relationship with the members-- dramatically different to the Numazu I transferred to.  All thanks to the love and mercy of Jesus Christ and our loving Father in Heaven.

This gospel is true and will bless the lives of ANYONE who embraces it.

More Great Finishers, August 2012

We know they have to leave, but that doesn't mean we have to like it.  Each time we have these missionaries, whom we have grown to love, leave us, it is a sad day.  But we know they can't stay forever.  After all, how else are they going to find a spouse?  So here are our warmest goodbyes to these great missionaries.

Seated from left:  Elder Ellsworth (AP), Elder Pedersen, Elder Flint, Elder Bardzinski

Elder Ito (AP), Elder Numakura, Elder Ikeda, President and Sister Baird

Can you see the high regard these two elders have for each other?
Elder Koesashi (left) says Elder Numakura is one of
his favorite missionaries.  He is "cool."  And
he is a great eating machine.  

I like this picture, taken at the same spot they first met their new trainers.  

How different do Elders Flint and Bardzinski look two years later?
See post for Oct. 2010.

Elder Bardzinski is bubbly and easy to get along with and has a sincere, strong testimony of the Gospel.
One of his former companions said he was diligent, very obedient, and managed to get him up in the morning to exercise, even thought this elder didn't like to exercise in the morning. Another missionary said he could have fun while working hard.

Elder Flint hopes to study civil engineering and become an architect.  He wants to use his degree to help out less priviliged countries and design his own home.  He is a quiet observer and has a strong testimony of prayer.  He is a very determined missionary; once he decides he will do something, he will do it.

One missionary said the following about Elder Pedersen:  "He is very thoughtful about other people.  He tries very hard to make everyone happy through the Gospel.  He is willing to sacrifice his time and his talents for people who need them.  He is always happy and positive."  Elder Pedersen 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 Ikeda loves basketball.  Anyone who knows him thinks basketball.  But a former companion
said that during his mission, he was the best example of how to be effective and open his mouth.
He worked very hard.  He also felt that a big part of his mission was to help less-active people,
and he had a big impact in that way.

You can take a missionary away from basketball,
but you can't take basketball out of a missionary.

Elder Numakura had a special talent for organizing paperwork.  He was a pro with the area book for the mission.  He also did a wonderful job of enduring to the end, meaning that he kept working hard right to the end of his mission, and got two new investigators in the last week.  He also worked very hard to learn English, which is exactly what Japanese missionaries are asked to do.

Final feast.  Last chance to enjoy Sister Baird's famous lasagna.

He Started to Keep All the Commandments

Christopher Pedersen, August 28, 2012

In Toyota there was an investigator named RV.  He was working with the missionaries for a while when he decided he wanted to know if this church was true. 

He started to keep all the commandments.  While he was reading the Book of Mormon, he found Alma 7:13. "Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."  The next day he met with us and said that scripture had a lot of influence on him.  He said when he read it, he felt close to the Savior and wanted to follow after His command. 

When RV said this, I felt impressed to just keep reading.  We then opened to verse 14. Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye maybe washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness."

When RV read that verse, there were almost tears in his eyes.  I took the opportunity to testify that this was his answer from God.  “The Lord is speaking to you directly.”  

A few weeks later, on April 1^st, RV was baptized.

From left:  Elder Nakanishi, Elder Pedersen, RV, Sister Baird,
Megumi (RV's mother), President Baird, Yamamoto, and Etsuko.