Week 46 - December 15-22

This week I made pizza.  The couple who lived in the apartment before us left pepperoni and grated mozzarella cheese.  It needed using so I made pizza.  It is amazing what you can bake in a toaster oven.

For those of you who or looking for different ideas for Christmas, my friend show me how to make scriptures from miniature chocolate nuggets bars.  The BIBLE scripture she choose was Luke 2:11 "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord" and the BOOK OF MORMON  scripture is Moroni 10:5  "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things".  Nice eatable party favors for this time of year.  

This week we had the opportunity to take a new military relations couple to Sasabo.  They will be working with the military base in Sasabo.  The mission opened a new apartment for them.  They now will be inspecting the Nagasaki Zone apartments.  We will have no more trips to that side of the island.  It was a beautiful evening to drive to Sasabo.  We enjoy the sunset on the way there.

The weekend found us in Kumamoto.  Saturday we had a Christmas luncheon for the nine missionaries currently serving in the Kumamoto and Nagamine Wards.  We followed the Japanese tradition of celebrating Christmas with Kentucky Fried Chicken and Christmas Cake (from Costco).  Pictured is the the Kentucky Fried Chicken store where we bought lunch.

This is the Christmas Cake from Costco we enjoyed.  It had delicious strawberry filling between the layers.

None of the Elders and Sister in Kumamoto were transfer during the last transfer time.  Transfers happen every six week in this mission.  At that time some missionaries will move to new areas to work.  I think it is rare to have all the missionaries stay in an area.  Next transfers happens the end of December.  We had worked with all nine missionaries in Kumamoto before coming to Fukuoka to work in the mission office (honbo) last November.

It was a wonderful holiday weekend visiting our friends in the Nagimine and Kumamoto Wards.  Saturday night we attended the Nagamine Ward Christmas party.  It was fun to be part of the celebration the the Saviors birth with the ward members.

Sunday evening we enjoyed Beethoven No. 9 Symphony at the Kumamoto Prefecture Theater.  This picture was taken in the parking lot before we entered the theater.

Our Japanese teacher at the Kumamoto International Center, was part of the men's choir that sang.  He also sang with the men's choir  in the Vatican last summer.  I have more appreciation of Beethoven and the love the Japanese people have for his 9th Symphony.  It is commonly preformed throughout Japan this time of year.  The performance sung was in German.  The message in the words is wonderful.

Oh friends, not these sounds!

Let us instead strike up more pleasing

and more joyful ones!

Joy!

Joy, beautiful spark of the divinity,

Daughter from Elysium,

We enter your sanctuary, burning with fervour,

o heavenly being!

Your magic brings together

what custom has sternly divided.

All men shall become brothers,

wherever your gentle wings hover.

Whoever has been lucky enough

to become a friend to a friend,

Whoever has found a beloved wife,

let him join our songs of praise!

Yes, and anyone who can call one soul

his own on this earth!

Any who cannot, let them slink away

from this gathering in tears!

Every creature drinks in joy

at nature's breast;

Good and Bad alike

follow her trail of roses.

She gives us kisses and wine,

a true friend, even in death;

Even the worm was given desire,

and the cherub stands before God.

Gladly, just as His suns hurtle

through the glorious universe,

So you, brothers, should run your course,

joyfully, like a conquering hero.

.

Be embraced, you millions!

This kiss is for the whole world!

Brothers, above the canopy of stars

must dwell a loving father.

Do you bow down before Him, you millions?

Do you sense your Creator, o world?

Seek Him above the canopy of stars!

He must dwell beyond the stars.

This nativity is made out of wooden chopsticks. 

Scripture of the week

Luke 2:11

"For unto you is born this day
 in the city of David a Savior, 
which is Christ the Lord"