A New Year and New Beginnings

In Japan New Years is a big deal. They prepare their homes by deep cleaning showing a fresh start for the year. Most businesses close early and there is no activity for a couple of days. Some go to Shrines or temples in homage but mostly it is very quiet in a sacred way. No fireworks in Tokyo but bells are rung at midnight. With the New Year there are opportunities to start fresh again, to improve ourselves and have a better outlook on our lives. It sounds a lot like repentance. That is another type of new beginning.

Japanese New Year's wreath outside of Post Office

We put together gift bags for our apartment building between Christmas and New Years. There are eight floors so we made 30 packages of banana breads or other treats. Depending on the timing, we labelled them either Merry Christmas or Happy New Year in Japanese and English with our name. We simply placed them outside of each door. Since we are the only foreigners in the building, it was not difficult to identify us. One neighbor dropped off a beautiful thank you card in our mailbox. We also received an anonymous gift treat bag outside of our door. It is a small way of making a connection to others. Most of all the base was closed on New Years Day but we were able to take a plate of treats to the security guards at the Main Gate and at the gym.

                                                                                                

                        Treats for Atsugi workers     Gift bags for our Japanese neighbors                                                   

                                    Elder Melton at Enoshima with a replica light of the "Sea Candle"

Fast and testimony meeting is a great way to start the New Year. Brother Sarpong, a counselor in the branch presidency, started with his testimony of God with all the universe, our world and its creations as a witness of a God who has provided this for us. Sister Melton also bore testimony of the Holy Spirit that witnesses to us of the reality of an eternal Father, and His son Jesus Christ and in the Holy Ghost. It is a great blessing of peace and hope that these testimonies give to us. 

A lot of steps to the top of Enoshima Island

                    

Some of the Lights at Enoshima

December 29 was our 42nd anniversary. It was a Monday which at 6 pm every week we have Mission Wide Zoom meetings. This time we were preparing to see the lights at Enoshima so after arriving we found a table to sit at to join the meeting. Then we started walking up the hill towards the "Sea Candle". That is the name of the lighthouse there. There was a Shrine on the way and the illumination of lights was beautiful. With the holiday we decided to celebrate our anniversary at a later date. We went to a very nice hotel in Honeda. It is known for the hot springs and onesens. Nearby is a lake that has a "Pirate Ship"  and it takes you across the other side of the lake. To get there we took a shuttle to a train and bought a pass that allowed travel plus the excursion. Then the train took us to a cable car that took us up over a mountain and we had a great view of Mt. Fuji. There are other sites and things to do so we hope to get a chance to go back sometime. 

  

Pirate ship on Ashinoko (Lake Ashi).                          

                                     

                                   Hakone Kowakien TEN-YU buffet dinner in Kimonos

After the holidays we were back on track with routines on the base like working for Red Cross, the Chaplains office and the Post Office. We also got a form filled out to use Fellowship Hall on base for a "Game Night". We have it reserved every Monday evening at 7 pm and invite all young single adults to come for a spiritual thought, games and treats. There were a couple of banana breads we gave to some friends on Atsugi base that we found out were not feeling well. On Sundays we have been visiting different members of the branch. We enjoy getting to know these families better. It's been a while that we have been preparing to teach a temple prep class and we started the first lesson. 

One morning we had two hours of training for suicide prevention then went to an event that the Japanese Yamato Ward invited the English speaking unit to join. It was called mochi pounding. It is a laborious process to make mochi. The missionaries took turns lifting the heavy mallet and plunging it in a small wooden container with the moist rice inside. It is shaped and stretched till it is almost like rubber. It is a joy to see and support the young missionaries here who are far from home. One time the sisters in our branch asked if we would go bowling with them so we brought them on base for pizza and bowling on their P-day. They were so appreciative of us that the next district meeting they gave Sister Melton a soft warm shawl. At a mission wide zoom meeting the missionaries returning home bore their testimonies. We just love them and all the work they are doing here in Japan.

  

One of the District Meetings just before a transfer

We needed an interview to renew our expiring temple recommends. It was nice that we were able to do an internet meeting and not travel to Tokyo. President Tueller is kind to accommodate us with his busy schedule. We also were having a district meeting after that interview.  We fed the missionaries a lunch of chicken or beef enchiladas and the Singletons complemented it with fried ice cream. The zone leaders were there and Elder Baquiran asked for the enchilada recipe. It is surprising how many American dishes they have tried for the first time. A couple of senior missionaries from Canada asked us to join them on a visit to Kamakura. Elder and Sister Foote do the inspections of the missionary apartments. We had a great time visiting and it was their first time to see the big Buddha in Kamakura. 

               The Footes return this May to Alberta. Their first visit to Kamakura and Sister Foote's 

                                    first time to have food in an authentic Japanese restaurant.

As we have started another new year in Japan, we have a better idea of what is needful and look forward to a great year of service. Both of us are wanting to lose a little extra weight we have gained while here. As it has been said, It is never too late to change. We are mindful of our health and want to be able to serve well. Following the example of Jesus we are going about doing good. In Paul's writings he says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

Have a wonderful New Year!

Elder and Sister Melton