Branch BBQ

Our little branch recently held a summer BBQ.  Inside, we prepared vegetables and meats to be grilled.

Outside, they got the barbecues going and . . .

Set up the nagashi soumen.  Nagashi soumen is where they have a water slide for noodles.  People grab noodles out of the slide with their chopsticks or ohashi and put them in a delicious broth and eat them. 

Here's some pictures from the Internet of this cultural tradition:

I was busy barbecuing when the slide was running at our party, so I didn't get pictures.

Ken and Brother Nomura were the chief barbecue chefs, though many of us helped.

We were excited when our friend from the volunteer center- Kadawaki san and her daughter came.  They are very fun.  This is me with Shiho, the daughter.

They brought melon, juice, and pitched right in helping me barbecue the vegetables.

There were snow cones for dessert.

We taught them the water balloon toss game.  They thought we were crazy at first, but everyone who tried it had fun.  The problem in Japan is that when the balloon bursts on you, you never dry out.  It's too humid.

We had many people come that weren't members of our church.  Here are some guys from Rwanda that are here learning about agriculture- rice growing.  We are helping the elders teach one of them the gospel.

I was busy cooking during the main part of the party, so didn't get many pictures, but it was a fun party and was well attended.