Sendai Mission Closed

I felt so sad when I heard the announcement from our church that several missions would be closed, including our beloved Sendai mission. Really?  Why?  Were all our efforts for naught?  
But since then I have become much more philosophical. The Sendai mission was small in numbers.  Sendai is considered the outback of Japan, much of it agricultural and with many older people steeped in tradition.  We heard, though have not confirmed, that is was the 2nd lowest baptizing mission in the church.
The announcement included the realignment of mission boundaries. 

The southern part of the Sendai mission will now be in the Tokyo North Mission.  The northern part of the mission will be absorbed into the Sapporo mission.  The area we served in (the Yamagata prefecture on the coast) will now be in the Tokyo North Mission(in fact we lived just an hour's drive from the Tokyo North mission boundary- Nigata prefecture- the brown area on the map,  was and is part of the Tokyo North Mission.)  Being part of the Tokyo North Mission may really be a blessing for the area.  It will be harder on the leadership of the mission, but for the people of that area, it might be better.  For one thing, it will improve attendance, membership and other statistics;  maybe helping Sendai to get a temple.
Our observation was that the people in the Sendai area really need models of church.  In our Tsuruoka branch, no adult was a second generation member of the church. Not even one.  No one ever attended Primary or mutual or had FHE or the priesthood in their homes while growing up.  Tokyo area members can provide that example and model, as there are many more long-time members there.  
So, though I feel sad that our mission in name no longer will exist, I am grateful for hopefully greater opportunities for blessings for people in that area.