Coming of Computers to Tokyo Mission July '11

Candace and Skip Donahoe - our new medical advisor and wife. Here we are travelling to Matsudo where there was an all Tokyo Mission Conference. We were invited to come to witness the greatest event in the recent history of missionary work - entering the technological world by giving each set of missionaries a computer and DVD player.

Matsudo Ward Relief Society prepared the meal for lunch. They went all out. They even purchased pizza, guacamale and chips, and these birthday cakes in addition to the regular Japanese bentos (lunch boxes) that the mission had ordered. They said they were so thankful to have the missionaries back after the evacuation and wanted to do something special to show them of their love.

Also, fresh cherries!

And drinks!

Here's an Elder eyeing the food!

There were about 130 missionaries there.

One of the RS sisters and her helper.

The Hobbs - mission office couple.

President and Sister Allred

Here's the reason for the meeting. It was just like receiving an early Christmas present!

President Allred has been working for two years to get a trial for computers to be used for missionary work. It was finally approved and this was the day to receive them and the DVD players.

Sister Hooker - one of our favorites will go home in a week.

The setting up and training were all so well organized. You can imagine the excitement!

Getting connected ...

And remember!

There are a limited number of sites that they can use and there is a "Net Nanny" that will keep them honest. If they try to access an unapproved site, there is an e-mail sent to Pres. Albrecht. They have Skype capability so on Christmas and Mother's Day they will be able to skype their families. Skype is mainly to be used for meetings with ward leaders, mission leaders and so forth. The possibilities are endless for the use of the internet, e-mail, showing DVDs. They are to spend 2 hours on it each day sending out information to investigators. Ward and Branch leaders can track what each investigator receives and know how they are progressing and how to help. The trial period will test how well this new technology is working. Baptisms should rise dramatically. If it is shown that this approach works, other missions will be able to be included. Tokyo is the first it the world!

Loved this Elder's tie!

On our way home, we passed this !

We were so glad to be a part of this history making day in missionary work. Japan has such long working hours that make it so difficult to visit members or investigators in their homes. Also, talking to people on the streets or trains is considered quite rude as the people value their privacy. The written language also presents a big problem for communicating. The computers can translate It will be so interesting to us to watch what happens in the next year or so. These missionaries are the technological "pioneers"!

Start of Tohoku Trip - July '11

Rulon and Elder Watabe choosing something for lunch on our way up to Sendai and the surrounding Tohoku area.

Elder Grames and Sister Watabe ...

Eating with President and Sister Rasmussen, the new Sendai mission parents.

They had just arrived on July 1st and so we were glad to meet them and get acquainted.

Interesting things on the wall of the restaurant.

We were lucky to be able to sit at tables. There was an area where you sit on the floor and eat - that is for the young missionaries!

Looking through the window at the chef preparing our meals.

A set of woven clothes on the wall.

Arriving at the hotel and seeing the special decorations that are part of the summer festivals.

July 7th is the time according to legend when two stars cross - there is a story of star crossed lovers also.

Waiting to get registered.

Registering ...

There are hundreds of paper cranes on these decorations.

Sister Grames - the Grames were Mission parents in Sendai and were our guides on this trip.

Paper yukata ...

Here we are!

The Grames ...

We went to the Church center for the distribution of items for the people in the disaster area. The Helping Hands symbol is known throughout the world.

These are Kindergarten bags for the kids to carry home their papers, pictures, etc. Our District here made a lot of them. In fact, I thought I recognized some of the ones that we made!

Donated clothing that is being sorted into sizes.

Dad talking to one of the volunteers at the center.

A box of Helping Hands t-shirts.

The maps showing where goods are needed.

Charting and planning board ...

Getting ready to leave.

The flags flying - I found out the green cross stands for safety (like in a construction zone).

Traveling towards the affected areas.

Thought this was a cute sign on a nursery school.

Just look at how green and beautiful the countryside is!

Elder Donahoe bought a new hat - and it is reversible!

Now we start seeing the effects of March 11th.

It just makes you sick to see these homes.

The Grames and Watabes have been up here before and kept commenting on how much debris has been cleared. The fields had been cleaned up so the crops could grow. But it still looked awful to us who were seeing things for the first time. Look at the downed utility poles.

The damage is unbelievable - see the next few posts to see more. We are so glad we got to see it for ourselves.