Sunday, October 26, 2014

Week 90 - October 20-26, 2014

This week started out jogging at Esu Ko with the Kumamoto Elders and our Japanese teacher.  It was a fun run as the sun was rising in the morning.  Elder Koberstein is the one in the yellow shirt.  We had a hard time getting started on the bike ride to the lake.  It was dark outside. 
It turned out to be the perfect time to run and see the beautiful rising sun in the east.  It was a beautiful refreshing start to the day.
Tuesday was transfer call day and prep day for the missionaries.  When we drove by the church to do some errands there was a team cutting the grass.  They were not using the traditional lawn mower used in the United States but mowed it just as even as if they had.  A beautiful job!
I love the beautifully decorated buses in Japan.  This is a special one that drives around Kumamoto Jo.  I took a picture of it on Wednesday during one of our class breaks at the International Center.  Do you know what Kumamoto Jo is from the picture on the bus?   
Thursday was transfer day.  In the morning we picked up an Elder from Yatsushiro at the Kumamoto Eki and put him on a bus at the Jietai Mai bus stop in Kumamoto.  He was headed for Oita with one of the Kumamoto Elders who was transferred to Beppu. Beppu is next to Oita.  Above is our parking spot where we waited for him to come in on the train.
The afternoon on Thursday was spent picking up companions for three of the Elders/Sisters in Kumamoto.  We only had one missionary get off the bus at the wrong bus stop.  Mistakes always makes transfer day exciting.  Pictured in the Jietai Mai bus stop in Kumamoto.  This missionary had been working in Fukuoka which is a much larger city and expected a larger bus stop.  Kumamoto is really country like compared to Fukuoka and the buses only stop if the string is pulled.
Friday we had many students from the grade school across the street come join us while we were jogging.  We wonder if it was some special event.  They had different colored groups warming up as we finished our jog.
Saturday we worked at the temple with the Kagashima temple shift.  The day was full of new experiences for me.  There were many English speaking members from Iwakuni military base attending the English session.  It was fun to visit with them.  We also visited with three missionaries who had worked in the Kumamoto Stake and are now serving in the Iwakumi area. 
Elder Koberstein and I were ask to speak in Sacrament Meeting in the Kumamoto Ward.  Following the meeting some of the ward members had a dinner for a sister missionary that had served in Kumamoto about a year ago.  Her mission is finish and she is touring Japan with her parents.  It was fun to see her again before she returned to the United States.  I made pumpkin bread for the dinner using the recipe from the Ensign in 1974.  It has been a family favorite over the years.   
 
Pumpkin Bread: In one bowl, combine 4 eggs, 2 c. pumpkin, 1 c. oil, 3 c. sugar. In another bowl combine 3 1/3 c. flour, 2 tsp. soda, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1 1/2 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. cloves, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. nutmeg. Combine the two mixtures. Stir in 1 c. raisins and 1 c. chopped nuts or coconut. Line two large loaf pans with waxed paper and pour in the batter. Bake for 1 1/2 hours at 325 degrees.  In Japan I make half the recipe and bake for 30-40 minutes in 3 small pans or 2 larger pans in a toaster oven (Ensign October 1974).
 Scripture of the Week
John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.

1 comment:

Delirious said...

How much longer do you have?