Happy 39 Years!

We recently celebrated 39 years of marriage.  We went to a local restaurant to celebrate!  Happy 39 years to us!!!

Obon Matsuri Parade

One day, the elders were dendoing (missionary contacting) in our local park. They saw and heard a large group of guys chanting and marching around.  They went over to investigate, and found they were practicing for the upcoming Obon Matsuri Parade- a big deal in town.  They were practicing carrying the Mikoshi.  They invited the elders to join them, which they did.  They then asked them if they would like to do it in the real parade.  The elders were over the moon about it.  They were so excited.  They checked with members (to make sure the religious significance was okay.  The members said they thought it's roots were in what we call the Ark of the Covenant, which we found to be very interesting!  How does this non-Christian nation know about that?- and yet it is part of their ancient  tradition.)  They checked with the mission president, too, just to be sure and he gave them permission (as long as they wore their name tags and drank plenty of water!  It is hot!)  So, they attended practices and then participated on the day of the parade.  The entire parade was a fascinating cultural experience.  But the last entry- the Mikoshi bearers, were definitely the highlight of the whole thing.  We were the photographers/ videographers)

It's easy to pick out Elder Dance.  Elder Price is tall, so he was in the back, so he's not as easy to see.  Look for a red head.

There were many other parts of the parade as well, all representing ancient Japanese tradition and culture. 

The Geisha girls were beautiful and guarded.

A fierce guard.

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 It was such a cultural experience.  We were so touched that so many of the young were willing and honored to be part of this and to represent their ancient roots.  The costumes were not comfortable on such a hot day and it was a long walk.  Notice the ancient-style shoes these boys had to wear.  My feet hurt just looking at them.

And again, the grand finale was the mikoshi.  Our elders made many friends that day.   It was great missionary work.

Good job, guys!

We Did It! We Swam in the Sea of Japan!

Pacific, Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Indian Ocean, Baltic Sea, and now we can add Sea of Japan!  One of my life quests is to swim in as many world oceans or seas as possible . . . or at least put a toe in.  It was a hot, hot Monday when we decided to add the Sea of Japan to the list.  It was a very hot walk over hot sand to get there.  So the cool water was refreshing and wonderful.  We floated in the chest high water for a couple of hours.  It was so relaxing and just what we needed!  We loved it!

The beach was crowded.  This was taken before we got in in the morning, but by the time we left, there was little space between camps.

Many people had these little cookers and were frying meats and other foods.  It smelled delicious, but we wondered how they could cook over those hot, little stoves when it was so hot outside.  They didn't seem to mind.

It doesn't look very far in this picture, but it was quite a distance out to those rocks.  We swam out there a couple of times.

This was our beautiful view from the water: the colorful umbrellas and people against that beautiful mountain backdrop with the beautiful water in front.  I couldn't get enough of it.

We did it!  We swam in the Sea of Japan.  We hope to do it again before the summer is over!  (and yes, it is okay for senior missionaries to swim.) 

A Baptism!

August 11th was a very happy day in the Tsuruoka Branch.  Dr. Kobayashi was baptized!  It was sweet!!!

 Dr. Kobayashi's story is a literal fulfillment of a promise  given us by one of our area presidency.  He told us that hearts are prepared and, if we do our part and be obedient, we will find them or they will find us.  Dr. Kobayashi was the latter:  One day, the phone at the church rang.  It was Dr. Kobayashi.  He said he had been introduced to the church in America.  He saw the elders riding their bikes and realized that it was the same church.  He asked if he could learn more.  After that, he came every Sunday to church.  He is a busy doctor and Sundays are the only day he has off, so most of the lessons were taught on Sundays, too.  Elder Hinton and I were privileged to be part of some of his lessons.  He speaks fluent English as well as his native, Japanese.  He studies and reads everything he is given.  He loves the scriptures and the Howard W. Hunter priesthood manual.  We gave him "Jesus, the Christ" in English for his baptism.  He is consuming it.  He definitely is a heart prepared. 

We had some difficulty getting the portable font filled in time, so the priesthood formed a bucket brigade to get the font ready.

While the men filled the font, a few of the sisters practiced our choir musical number.  This is only about half of the sisters who sang, plus we had many men.  It was sweet to hear our Japanese brothers and sisters sing their praises in "For the Beauty of the Earth"  during the service.

 The program was very nice:(Just in case you can't read it!)  Sister Hirayama spoke on baptism, President Smith (mission president- the one on the far left in the top picture) spoke on the Holy Ghost.  He is an orthopedic surgeon (in his former life) and shared a powerful experience about how the Holy Ghost helps him in his profession.  It was a perfect thing to share at a doctor's baptism.  The branch choir sang and Elder Dance played a piano solo.  Brother Kobayashi bore his testimony and President Endo gave concluding remarks.

We had 31 branch members there.  That is close to our average sacrament meeting attendance.  Many of them were moved to tears, remembering their own baptisms.  Thinking about it, we realized that every single member of the branch is a first generation church member (except the three young adults, one youth and two children.)  They are all convert baptisms.  Every. single. one.  But it's been a very long time since Tsuruoka Branch has seen a baptism.  Ken found the records and the last recorded baptism was August, 2007.  That was the 8-year-old baptism of the one youth in the branch.  Who knows how long it's been since there was a convert baptism?    No one seems able to remember.  But it has been a very, very long time.  We and the elders have decided this one just broke the dam (so to speak) and there will be many to follow!

Elder Hinton and I were in charge of refreshments after.  We cut up a lot of fruit for a fruit salad and I made brownies and cookies.  I should have got more "mingling" pictures.  But I was too busy mingling, I guess.  It was wonderful to see so many welcome Dr. Kobayashi into the fold.  We just couldn't have been happier.

Our hearts are full of gratitude for this blessing for the branch and mostly for Dr. Kobayashi. We have  prayed every day that the branch would see a baptism while we are here, and the Lord heard and answered that prayer in a powerful way.  We are greedy, though, and are already asking for more!  Sorry.

You know how you pray for the missionaries every day?  That may seem rote to you, but, believe me, we feel it!  You are making a difference!  That is our testimony.   As they say in Japan, "Yoshi!"

Gabe Steven Cameron

On the evening (in Japan) of August 10th (morning in America), we got an exciting text from Shonna saying their baby was on his way.  Their last baby came so fast, that they were in a hurry to get to the hospital.  They called a neighbor who hurried over to tend their other three children and off they went.  Gabe Steven was born a little after 9:00am on the 10th. 

I absolutely love this picture that they texted to us.  It just exudes the peace and joy and tiredness that come with a newborn. 

Best selfie ever!  I love every single face in this picture: Blake, Lily Kay, Shonna, Gabe Steven, Hannah Rose, and Caleb Blake.  Family of Six!

All dressed to go home.

He is named after my dad who was always called Gabe, short for Gabrielsen.  And Steven is the middle name of his Dad and his Grandpa Cameron. 

We are so grateful he is healthy and all is well.  Welcome to the family, Gabe Steven.