Our Last Sunday

Our last Sunday at the Tsuruoka Branch was a sweet and emotional experience.  We knew it would be.  The night before, President and Sister Smith came from Sendai to share the day with us and hear our farewell talks.  We went out to dinner with them on Saturday evening.

We both spoke in sacrament meeting on Sunday.  I spoke on the charge given to us by President Smith when we first arrived in Japan: "Go and do good."  And I bid emotional and loving farewell.  Ken translated most of the talk for me, but I bore my testimony and expressed love in Japanese.  Ken spoke on unity and pled with members to love each other and forgive each other and strive for unity in the branch.  Many people came that day to honor us- many non-member friends and many less- active friends.  During Sunday school, the elders and President Smith helped us "take care" of the non-members who had come.  Most stayed for the other meetings.

Remi took this picture after Relief Society in our tiny Relief Society room.

Front Row: Ritzu Nomura (RS President), Karen Smith, Me, Remi Satoh, Imi Satoh

2nd Row: Miharu Satoh, Miki Endoh, Hisako Hirayama, Ruka Honma, Mami Honma,

3rd Row: Ritzu Ikeda, Sachiko Sugawara, Tomoko Abe,Yuko Abe, Sister Tomiko Abe

4th Row:  Hiromi's mom- Mrs. Sakano  (Came to honor us), Sister Yamaguchi, Sister Katanuma, Kaoru Abe, Yoko Ikeda

5th Row:  Shin Sato, Sister Sato (stake presidency member's wife visiting), Chiaki Sato, Sister Onodera. 

After the meetings was our usual potluck or shokuji kai (we had it every third Sunday and this was a third Sunday.)  I was rushing around getting my dishes ready and helping get it all on the table.  Members kept encouraging me to sit down.  It was only then that I realized that this was a party to honor us and say goodbye.  Usually we jus eat, then go home.  But today they had a special program prepared for us.

You can see the television set up in the background.  After the meal, they had several musical numbers by members, then they had put together a video with each of them thanking us and giving us a message.  We had no idea they had done all of that.  I sat there and cried and cried while we watched.  Many people gave us gifts.  We had piles and piles of gifts around us.

After the program, we took pictures with many members.  They were lined up to take a picture with us.

Us with Chiaki.  This was the first Chiaki had come to church in many, many months.  We were so grateful she came that day.  We visited Chiaki at least once a month at her work (a local drugstore.)  I taught her piano lessons for awhile.  We love Chiaki.

This is us with the Satos (yes, half the branch is named Sato-  a name maybe even more prevalent than Smith in America!)  Akira Sato was a long-time bachelor.  He married Miharu in June, 2016 and inherited her three young adult children (the girls shown below)  Miharu and her children had been living in Akita- about three hours north of Tsuruoka on the coast.  She and Akira knew each other when they were young single adults in Tsuruoka.  They reconnected at a multi-stake single adult conference.  The rest is history, as they say.  She was a wonderful addition to the branch.  She was so warm and loving.  Akira was sustained that day to replace Ken as the counselor in the branch presidency.

Here are Miharu's daughters- Ruka and Mami.

Looking at this picture makes me cry.  I love these people and miss them.  The ones on the ends are Brother and Sister Kobayashi.  Ken spent a lot of time with them as they are nature photographers and share his passion for the out of doors.  They went on many early ( and I mean early!) morning walks/ explores together.  They presented us with a beautiful bound book containing many of their beautiful photographs.  Next to me is Shin Sato.  She and I were friends right from the start.  She speaks good English and we always chatted on Sundays after (and sometimes during) church.  I love her and miss her.  She is one I can email because she knows English.  She is keeping me somewhat informed. 

These are dear friends- the Nomuras.  She serves as RS president.  They are stalwarts in the branch.  They had us to dinner in their home and at a restaurant a couple of times.

This is Sister Onodera.  She and Ken are just a couple of days apart in age.  She didn't speak English, but she and Ken had a cute relationship.  She has a darling sense of humor and loved to tease him.

Sister Yoko Ikeda

Sister Miki Endo.  Miki is my Japanese twin as we were born just a few days apart the same year.

This is Nyui Hajime- a young, single adult in the branch.  He was not active when we came.  We visited him several times at his apartment.  He came to church a few times, including this last Sunday we were there.  He got this suit to attend on Easter Sunday.

Nyui again and Remi, Imi, and Hiroyuki Satoh- dear, dear friends. The Satohs other daughter, Rizumi had to work that Sunday.

Ryohei Honma.  Remember that name.  You'll hear of him again.  Ryohei is one of two that was baptized in the branch while we were there.  He is an amazing, remarkable, fine, good, polite, gracious, young man ( I can think of many other positive adjectives to describe him, but you get the picture!)  We are missing him.  He speaks fluent English.

This is President and Sister Satoh from the stake presidency.  He visited the branch often as he worked sometimes in Sakata.  We were grateful to have them come on our last Sunday.

Everyone gathered after church to take this picture.  They then had it printed and brought us a copy.  I had them take some on my phone, too.  Looking into these faces makes me cry.  We miss them all.  Besides the branch members that usually attended, there are several that came that day to honor us- less- active members and not- yet members.  Most, but not all, stayed the full three hours and are in this picture.

Goodbye, dear Tsuruoka Branch Loved Ones.  How we love and miss you!