By Small Acts We Bless Others

Once again, flexibility and adaptability allows us to be at the right places and serve those in need!  There were a few big things we worked on over the past two weeks, each one a little bit different than we have done in the past.

Elder Michael Teh, an area general authority, had just been assigned to our area.  In welcoming him and his wife to the area, we held a Mission Tour over a four day period. For us it meant getting to participate in an opening and closing Zoom meeting, and half a day at a special live session with our Zone. It was good to feel the loving spirit from a general authority and to hear his and his wife's testimonies. They and the Mission President and his wife also provided insightful gospel messages.

From an overall mission perspective, the following week we also had our last district meeting before transfers. When it was all done three missionaries were heading home. our District Leader Elder Santillan, and Elder and Sister Nelson. Change is sometimes emotional, but knowing in whom we trust and that we are led by the Spirit, makes it worthwhile and fulfilling. There was one other Sister who was transferred to another location and we received a new Sister to the mission, Sister Call. Two Elders also transferred in and we talked about how they needed to put two Elders in to replace Elder Santillan. The Nelsons will be missed here. The Singletons who will be replacing the Nelsons arrive on the 20th, and we have been busy already picking up mail and getting their apartment ready.  President and Sister Tueller asked us to do the pick up which we are happy to do.

We returned to the temple as ordnance workers on 2 September after it had been closed for a couple of weeks. It's nice to work there twice a month as ordinance workers. With our busy schedules, we decided we wanted to get to the temple sooner for our shift to have lunch and get closer with some to the other senior missionaries. To do so required us to drop some of our early morning Red Cross activities, although Sister Melton still insists on making some type of home made snack to drop off to the Red Cross on our way to the temple. We also look for times to attend as patrons and/or attend when the missionaries are there for their "Temple P-day".

As we have been moving along in coaching our soccer team of 9-10 year old boys, we are happy with the progress they have been making, especially in learning their own position, and working as a team. We did have a practice and a game cancellations due to Labor Day (the base was mostly closed) and rainy (Typhoon) days. But the kids still seem to be progressing with positive attitudes.

An interesting issue came up involving a pair of Sister missionaries in our District. Sister Tueller reached out to us (mainly Donna) saying these two sisters had to leave their apartment due to water leaking through the walls. We were asked to take them to the apartment where the Nelsons were just leaving for their return home. We have been supporting them in getting to/from appointments and providing whatever they need in the short-term. The day after they moved in, one of the sisters transferred to another location, and our brand new sister from the states arrived. The senior companion admits that she has been overwhelmed but has continued to move forward and is doing great in continuing her work. They heard they hope to be back in their apartment within a week, which will help us restore the other apartment again for the Singletons.

On another day, we took time to visit the Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo. The architecture and history are fascinating, but it also is surround by large gardens, While strolling the gardens we were approached by a young man asking if we were missionaries. We learned he was from Battle Creek MI and had served a mission a couple of years early. He asked if he could take a selfie, which of course we did for all of us. He said his mom will love this. Although he didn't directly express it, we got the impression that he may be slightly inactive right now, so it sounds like such small events may have a bigger impact to his future.

On another occasion we were at our church building and found the missionaries were teaching an English class to a number of students. There was a member there who was helping teach and we were excited that is was a brother who lives here with his family. Both he and his wife had served mission in Japan, but he had been inactive for several months. In one of our first blogs we talked about when we first met him at a church activity and he gave us his contact info, which a few day later resulted a few days later in helping us when our car battery died. Again, by small means, the Lord can help reach out to those in need.

As usual we still support a lot of activities with the Red Cross, NMCRS, the Chapel and the Post Office. It's always nice to meet people who talk to us on the base for the first time because they have seen us around the base and know we are there to serve.

This last weekend NAF Atsugi held their Bon Adori festival, a Japanese Buddhist holiday commemorating their ancestors. We sponsored our district members to this open base event. With a combination of Japan and US culture, the event was attended by people from several nationalities. It was quite an experience for the younger missionaries who even participated in some of the traditional dances. We would point out to them the example they were setting for others as missionaries, as they were able to meet others and share in this cultural event. Donna and I were also supporting the Red Cross for which Donna made lemon bars and banana bread. Homemade items go a lot quicker than the store bought items. At one point Brian was talking to a Navy Security guy about who we were and that his wife was sitting over at the Red Cross tent. He then pulled out a lemon bar from his pocket and asked, "Was she the one that made these?" You can never tell who you will run into, or the impact you may have on someone, even in a small way.

Boys Soccer Team in Action

Donna at Meiji Jingu Shrine #1

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A New Friend at Meiji Jingu Shrine

Meiji Jinju Shrine #2

Last dinner before transfers

Last District Meeting before transfers

Our Robot Waiter

Helping Red Cross support "First Responders" at Bon Odori

Both Flags Flying over the Bon Odori

The Central Bon Odori Stage

Missionaries joining in at Bon Odori

Bon Odori at NAF Atsugi