May 8th '11

Here we are at an Easter dinner. The Olsons invited all the seniors over. Plus, Clayton Grames (can you tell which one he is?) is here for an internship for the summer. I am sure he just came for the food! But he is a great sport to hang with all of us who are so much older.

This Lauryn Olson - it was her 11th birthday on Easter and she is all wrapped up in a cozy new blanket and slippers that she received. By the way, she is a gymnast, Samantha.

These carp were flying in honor of Children's Day during Golden Week. They represent the boys in the family. There is a river banner also. It is to symbolize being strong and swimming against the stream. Good reminder to all of us.

This bread is called naann and is Indian. It is so delicious! I went out to lunch with a couple of women and we enjoyed curry and naan.

The restaurant was on the third floor of a building. On the 4th floor, there was a dentist's office. NOW, here is the miracle - I lost a crown off my tooth on the plane going to Korea. I put it in a box of raisins in my purse and just chewed on the other side of my mouth until I could get back. Anyway, when I saw the sign for the dentist, I decided to go up and ask if they could look at my crown and put it back on.

The dentist was a woman and she spoke ENGLISH! She examined the crown and my mouth and said she could glue it back on for me. It took about 15 minutes and cost about $25!

Now for the rest of the story. We had gone to lunch on a Monday and had gone to three different restaurants which were closed that day. We finally found the Indian one which was right below the dentist who could fix my crown almost immediately and for a very low price. I count this as a true tender mercy and miracle for me. I was just so happy. The Lord does look out for his missionaries even in small little matters.

This is the view from the apartment of the Froelichs who invited us seniors over for a Family Home Evening and a delicious dinner. They are on the 22nd floor. It was just at sunset.

The views were different from each window.

Here are Kym and Mark Froelich. What a fun, wonderful couple!

And our group picture in their apartment.

Can you guess which shoes belong to Clayton?

I love that the cartoons in the paper have to do with current events in Japan. This one is about the earthquakes and aftershocks getting tiresome.

Here are the Grames getting ready to go up to Sendai to help distribute goods to those who are in need. They spent nearly a week there helping.

The Watabes also went with them. Oh, the adventures they had! We are hearing bits and pieces of the things they did and the miracles they saw.

A warning sign!

I snapped a picture of these stockings on a girl on the train. Color and pattern are important to the wardrobes of the Japanese.

Looking out our window at the guests at a wedding at the reception center just across from us.

I won't be seeing sights like these when we get back to Lindon!

See the grandma carrying that adorable baby?

Here is another picture from the front page of the Japan Times. These sumo wrestlers are TRYING to get the babies to cry. Apparently this is called a BAWL BRAWL and is considered good luck and that the babies will grow up healthy.

(Sorry about the picture, Mark, but at least I didn't put in on so it shows up first!)