Friday, December 16, 2011

Sendai Zone Conferences Dec. '11

We rode the Shinkkansen up to Aomori for the start of a week of zone conferences. Here we are before we left for the first conference - President and Sister Rasmussen, the Donahoes and us.


It was interesting to learn that if you have an errand to run and there is no parking place, you can just put on your blinkers and leave your car in the street while you are gone! Everyone has to go around you!





A White Elephant exchange was done at each conference. It had to be white and cost less that 200 Yen. ($2.00). Here is the first group before they opened the packages.


And after - there were some funny things!


This big box of gifts was sent to the mission from missionaries who had served in that mission years before. Sister Aoyagi organized the project. They were little stockings with candy and small toys to be given to whoever they felt needed a boost.



Poor Sister Maki fell on her bike the night before and chipped a tooth - hence the mask. She is one of the last two missionaries to be located after the earthquake. Such a sweetie!


This was a fun While Elephant gift - a picture of the elder in white!



Group picture!


Missionaries who served in Sendai in years past sent messages to the people to cheer them at this hard time.


Is there anything cuter? This is an elder who remembered Larry from when he was here last year and visited his home for Family Home Evening.


His nametag ...


I thought I was getting a hard boiled egg for breakfast. Nope! It was raw!


Sign in a kitchen in one of the chapels.


Another zone ready for presents!


Here's one - well, it is WHITE!


Loved our drinks in Hello Kitty glasses!


The Morioka chapel from across the pond.





Persimmons on a tree.





Here is a meal that we were served -better than a bento box!


Star shaped carrots!


More gifts !


Well, it is white and very useful! It had part of the mission scripture written on it!



This was a big group!



This elder loves Elder Gibson and gave him a tie!



He got a white rabbit's foot as his gift.



Another fun sign at our breakfast!



Rice cookers at every available plug.






Ready for English or Japanese interpretation.



Japanese hymnbook ...



Do you love the pointed toes of the elders' shoes?



CTR candies that a former missionary sent to share with the Sendai missionaries.



Choose The Right!



Red and green ties for Christmas!



President and Sister Rasmussen were such fun people and are doing a tremendous job.


Sweet Sister Missionaries in red and white!



Fun music!



We even got gifts at one conference!









This was what I got - some rolls and marshmallows!



This elder got the sack of white balloons. Inside each was a note and a little gift. There was even a tie in one!



This drink is "cow piss" and it is actually quite good.



We ended up in Nigata and came home on the Shinkansen from there. What a wonderful trip! Glad we were able to go up to the Sendai Mission twice. We were up there before the earthquake and tsunami, etc. and then 9 months later. This is probably the most prayed for mission in the Church!


4 comments:

Paige said...

My favorite was the bread with germs. Yum!

Steve and Kim said...

What a fun idea - white and under $2! They sounded creative. December zone conferences were the best!

Mark and Kellie said...

Bread with germs AND a raw egg. You guys are living large! Looks like the missionaries are having a great time, despite being far from home.

mason shanks said...

This is Jill - (I'll figure out how to get my name on there one of these days) I love the idea of getting former missionaries to send treats and notes of encouragement to the current missionaries. I'm sure they were well received!