Snoopy and Our Japanese Gangs
It has been a busy two weeks with the American Red Cross with supporting three different events.The Red Cross Director Sarah is moving later this summer for another Red Cross position at Sasebo, so we love the time we are able to spend with her and her husband before they leave. The first one was again supporting the monthly coffee cart at the Fleet and Family Center (FFC). We always take some home made snacks to supplement the snacks the Red Cross provides. We are still always surprised when the homemade ones, this time being chocolate chip cookies, are the first to go. But what makes it even more worthwhile are the warm conversations we have with those stopping by, including ranks from the junior enlisted to senior officers, civilian personnel, and Japanese employees who always show their thanks and gratitude.
The second event was supporting a safety fair where the Red Cross gave instruction on CPR skills. Sarah had to leave for another meeting, so Sister Melton stepped in to lead the instruction as people came to our tent.
The third, and most unique and exciting opportunity, was being asked to be one of just five American Red Cross volunteers to participate in an emergency preparation workshop sponsored by the local Japanese Red Cross. The training included pitching tents, tying knots, first aid including tying bandages, proper techniques using a stretcher, and operating handheld radios. The Japanese provided a typical Japanese picnic lunch which we all shared sitting on a tarp. The lunch hour also included their version of rock, paper, scissors, where the winners of each round chose a snack to take home. Through all this, only a couple spoke both languages, yet the communication was wonderful in the sense of us all being united in purpose in learning reviewing the Red Cross emergency skills.
Joint Red Cross Banners Lunch with Our Japanese Red Cross Friends
Learning one of several Emergency Exercises...
More Instruction and PracticeAs always, we keep busy supporting the members of the branch, both families and single adults. We visited one family who have been in the branch for about a year, but had not had the opportunity to make it to their home. They are quite a wonderful family where the wife is the director of the area US Scouts for most of Southeast Asia, while her husband works as a writer for several online reporting, mostly sports.
A second family whom we have visited their home and have had to our apartment for dinner, Donna was able to just go for a walk with the Sister. She is very busy with her own two boys, and this was a good time for her to take a break for a short time away from the kids. The sister is already looking forward to another walk in the near future.
The graduating High School Seniors are amazing. We attended the temple for one who was getting his endowments in preparation for his mission to Brazil in the next few weeks. Another graduating senior was at the temple at the same time doing baptisms. His family is moving back to the US where he will receive his endowments at the Washington DC temple before going on his mission to the Philippines.
Attending the temple with Newly Called Missionary
What is also fascinating about this family is that the parents grew up in the area we lived in while working in DC. They have bought a house in our old ward boundaries, and we shared some information on the Wards facebook page and the members there. It is a small world within in the LDS-Military family!
We have still been doing almost weekly game nights with whoever within the Young Single Adults want to come. Most of the time there is one young man we feel we need to keep having them for. We usually have the missionaries attend as well with one or two of their friends. If they're available, there are two others who will attend form time to time. We are always looking for ways to keep them involved and reach out. Another YSA we had over for dinner Sunday evening, and it great to get to know him and get his perspective on how to reach out to the other YSAs.
A highlight of these past two weeks was receiving a referral for a Spanish speaking woman who was interested in finding out more about the church. Being from Peru she speaks no English nor Japanese. Elder Melton was asked to help reach out. We invited her to our monthly joint Spanish/Portuguese testimony meeting at the Atsugi building. She met several of the people there and had a wonderful sister from Brazil who sat with her. We invited her to our regular English speaking services the following week. At first she was unable to attend but contacted us on Saturday to say she could now go. She traveled an hour to get tot he building with her 14 year old daughter. There were several Spanish speaking members who greeted her, including two sisters from South America who translated for her and fellowshipped her. Still too early, but she seems very sincere in learning more. The members here are wonderful in reaching out!
As part of our "Japan Gang" we shared meals with our good friend Rob with Stars and Strips three times, twice for our weekly lunch and once we went to a Japanese buffet. He was nice of him to stop off on his way home from work to meet us at Grandberry Park, a huge mall with some really nice stores. It is always great to meet with him!
But what originally took us to Grandberry Park was the Snoopy Museum. Growing up with Snoopy, we have always been big fans. We didn't know the Peanuts gang was that big in Japan as well. The two floor museum had a lot of Snoopy memorabilia, profiles on each of around ten main characters, and background on Charles M. Schultz. Outside there were a couple of sidewalk paintings where the characters were elongated so you could take fotos with them that appear like there dimensional characters. Wonderful time with just the two of us.
On another just for fun note, we went to a craft workshop where we painted Maneki Cats. Not only was it fun to meet others, but it also gives you the opportunity to mention the church and why we are here.
Finally, yesterday, Sunday, we held out first expanded MRM Roundtable. This is a voluntary meeting with the MRMs around the stake, that we have now expanded to the MRMs throughout all of Japan. It was once again great to share our experiences and discuss the opportunities and challenges we face at our respective bases. Now with 19 months in the mission field, it is an honor to organize and fecilitate these meetings. But more importantly, it is wonderful just sharing with the other MRMs.
Hoping all is well with each of you!
Elder and Sister Melton
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