Branch Young Single Adult Easter Activity

On Saturday before Easter, Ken and I attended our branch's Young Single Adult Activity.  Remi is the YSA leader.  We introduced her to two non-member young single adults several months ago.  She has since texted with them and both of them were coming to the activity, so she wanted us to come.  It was held at our church in the kitchen.  She had it so well organized. 

This is Remi.

This is Miki who we met in our Sakata eikaiwa class.  She speaks very good English.

This is Yuki who we met at the Volunteer Center.  She got a job, so she no longer comes to the Volunteer Center, but we have kept in touch with her and even taught her a few lessons.

Yuki is an artist.  She gave everyone she met that day one of these cards that she designed.

One set of elders came for the first half of the activity and the others came for the second half.  Here they are making the pudding.

Elder Bates, Elder Terry, Ryohei, Katsumi, Yuki, and Miki

This is Elder Jensen added in.  We colored Easter eggs.

We made pudding in the microwave that used a lot of eggs.

I think because they have never done it, the Japanese people really enjoy coloring Easter eggs.

We then cleaned out the shells of those eggs from the pudding, put a wick in, then poured wax in to make little Easter candles.

At the same time this activity was going on, the Relief Society was meeting across the hall in the Relief Society room.  They learned about family history (in Japanese, of course)  When it was time for the "Japanese Tea Party," Imi thoughtfully came and got me so I could participate.

This is sakura time.  During sakura time, a very common treat is dango- a sweet Japanese dumpling.  This treat is especially available during this time.  It was good.  They served seaweed tea and rooibos tea with it.  The seaweed tea was very salty.

More mochi treats with soy powder on them. 

After the tea party, many of the sisters came into the kitchen and put decorative shrink wrap covers on boiled eggs to give to everyone who came to the Easter program the next day.

This was Imi's idea.  She brought all of the supplies to make it happen.

The eggs with the wraps.  You put them in hot water and the wrap shrinks around the eggs.

The finished product.  A beautiful basketful of eggs.

Creative Yuki fashioned a candle out of leftover candle wax and colored rice.

Back at the YSA activity at the other end of the kitchen:  After the candles hardened, we used permanent colored markers to decorate the shells.  It was really fun. 

This is Elder Matthews

My creations

Both activities were really fun.  I think everyone had a great time.  Happy Easter!