Preparation and Beginnings in Japan

 Preparation and Beginnings in Japan

 

Part 1 – Pre-Mission

 

This is our first blog post for our mission in Japan.  We are serving in the Tokyo South Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as Military Relations Missionaries (MRM).  In this calling we are tasked with reaching out to church members living in the area and have a connection to the US military.  We may assist members who are stationed here as single member of the military, or families who may need assistance.  We are specifically assigned to Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi.

We were called in June, with a report date of 4 November. That is a short amount of time for a Senior Couple to sort out arrangements with the house and other affairs at home, while also packing.  It was a little more challenging as we needed to close Donna’s Optometry Practice.  

 

But as we put our faith in the Lord, and our efforts focused on what needs to be done, we were able to get through the most crucial parts. One of the first things was applying for Visas to Japan.  We already had our passports, so we gathered all the documentation we needed and had them submitted during that first week.  We heard the visas could take up to five months on average, which would put it right around the time of our departure and heard that coming through at the last minute was common.  Fortunately for us, they arrived by early October.

 

Unexpected events happened including having to replace a kitchen floor at home, a refrigerator that went out, and mechanical problems with our vehicles. Donna called all this a trifecta of what could happen this late in the process. We also had the downstairs of the house which we had to pack up and put into storage. By focusing on the individual tasks at timely moments, and trusting the Lord wanted us to do this, we moved forward in faith and overcame each of these challenges.

 

Through all this we were blessed to have our daughter Katrina there to assist. In fact, some things that couldn’t get completely done, she has been wonderful in picking up and completing.  

 

Also, in these initial preparations, we were in regular contact with the mission which helped tell us what else we need to do prior to coming. A godsend was Elder and Sister Nelson who were already in Japan serving as MRMs in the same area we would be serving. Having been there a few months already and having served in Japan while on active duty with the Army, they already knew the ropes and were critical in providing advice, info, and helping setup our apartment before we got there.

 

Part 2 - The Mission Training Center (MTC)

 

We reported to the MTC on Monday, 4 November in Provo.  With around 120 senior missionaries reporting that day, we were divided in districts for our 1^st week of training.  There were eight couples in our district: four heading to serve in humanitarian relief, and four (including ourselves) to serve as MRMs. During that 1^st week the focus was on preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ through love ad faith.  We had three instructors throughout the week to facilitate our discussions. We also heard from a couple of Apostles of the Church, Elders Gary Stevenson and video instruction by David Bednar. Both devotionals were spiritually uplifting, as were all the activities that week.  It was inspiring to engage with the younger missionaries who were also preparing to go to various missions around the world.

 

The second week we had specific MRM training, showing us the various resources we had available, the resources we could share with our assigned military chaplains and installations, and more about our roles in serving others both within and outside the church.

 

Again, there were other challenges during this two-week period.  Donna caught COVID during the 1^st week.  We were mainly commuting from our home so on Saturday she was wiped out and had to sleep most of the time.  On Monday I drove to Provo alone but we were set up for her to call in via messenger.  She was able to return on Tuesday.  Also, during this time, we were still using the weekend at home to finish clearing out her office at Choice Eye Center.

 

Again, we were blessed by others.  Our cousin, Janie and Jerry allowed us to spend a couple of nights during the first week to stay at their home which was only three miles for the MTC. The MRM coordinator helped arrange for the communication link for Donna on that Monday,  All the other missionaries in the MRM group were very supportive of her as well. Our class was made up of the original four MRM couples from the 1^st week, plus another couple that joined us.

 

Part 3 - Arrival in Japan

 

On Monday, 18 November Katrina took us to the SLC International to catch our 8:20 am flight.  We had a connection in Seattle then flew into Tokyo.  We never saw the night during the flight and arrived at 3:20 pm on Tuesday, the 19^th (still Monday at 11:20 pm in SLC).  It took a little while going through customs, but the people there were most helpful. Once we cleared customs, we were met by President and Sister Tueller.  We had dinner at the airport then to the mission home to rest from our jet lag.

 

The next day we were met by the Elder and Sister Nelson, assigned a car, and drove to our new apartment near NAF Atsugi. The apartments are small but provided with the main necessities to get started. Over the next few days, we became acclimated to our new environment.  A key aspect of our transition was to start introducing ourselves to people on Atsugi from two perspectives. The first was to get to know the facilities we would like to use on a regular basis, such as the fitness center, the commissary, and the Navy Exchange (Navy equivalent of a department store). Atsugi also has a medical clinic, food court, movie theater, credit union, and other facilities.  Since serving in the Air Force and DoD for over 30 years, this all seemed like being home. It was interesting to have this feeling of being in a familiar setting, while also living in a foreign community.

 

The second perspective for starting our adventure at Atsugi was to start introducing ourselves to those to whom we might be of service. On our first Saturday, just four days after arriving, we were assisting with handing out water and bananas at a Ruck March, where military members (some civilians) run/walk a certain distance caring a weighted backpack. This course was three laps around the perimeter for 30 km (about 18.5 miles).  During this time, we got to meet some of the folks who work for Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) and the American Red Cross. Both these offices we will look for service opportunities.

 

As we have reached out, we are starting to find opportunities to serve.  There was an orientation for new folks coming to Atsugi. Part of the orientation included information tables manned by volunteers. These we will likely help with on a regular basis, particularly with the chapel and Red Cross.  On another day we took an old chest of drawers that really didn’t fit our needs in the apartment to the base thrift store. We met the lead for the store and talked about serving there from time to time. Another time we visited the library and were told of numerous opportunities there with reading and teaching programs.

 

It appears there are many opportunities to serve, and we have only started reaching out. We are hoping to find opportunities with the youth program and at the base clinic, especially with Donna’s optometry background.

 

We have now been to our Branch’s Sunday meetings twice. This is an English-speaking military branch with about 150 members, mostly encompassing NAF Atsugi and Camp Zama. It will take a while to remember the names, but everyone has been very kind and gracious. Today was testimony meeting where members from the congregation may come up to the podium and share their testimonies. Donna bore her testimony about how the gospel has blessed her life since she was baptized at 18 after graduating from a parochial high school, Roncalli. The members we have met have welcomed us with open arms, and we are looking forward to serving them.  

 

The other missionaries in the Japan Tokyo South Mission are mostly young elders and sisters who teach other friends about our message of faith and hope in Jesus Christ. These missionaries are grouped into districts and zones. The first Friday we attended a district meeting of about 20 missionaries, and last Friday we attended a zone conference made up of several districts.  Being “senior” missionaries, it is fun to engage with the younger ones and calls to mind when I was a missionary 46 years ago.  Donna always seems excited to be around the other missionaries and feel of their spirit as well.

 

Yes, there are a few challenges. The internet doesn’t work very well in the apartment yet, but we have worked around it by using one of our phones as a hotspot or going to the base where they have Wi-Fi.  Learning to drive on the other side of the road is challenging, especially with narrower streets.  Donna has been bolder in driving while Brian serves as navigator. Of course, the Japanese language is difficult even as we do a little studying and rely a bit on Google Translate.  But in all these things, we are learning to trust in the Lord even more. Through our prayers and studies, we are strengthening our own testimonies and faith as well.

 

This last weekend was Thanksgiving. We were able to talk to our children back home, but we have had time to express gratitude here in this new environment and even took in a sightseeing trip with two other Military Relations couples. For Thanksgiving we went to the Nelson’s apartment and joined two young adults, and four sister missionaries. It was both fun and inspiring. On Saturday we took the train for the first time with five different transfers to go to Kamakura. There we saw an ancient Buddha and a Shinto Temple that overlooks the ocean.

 

As we wrap up this first blog entry, we are realizing that once a month may not be enough and are thinking of going twice a month. In the meantime, thank you everyone for being supportive of our efforts. We love you all.

 

Love,

 

Elder Brian and Sister Donna Melton