Week 8 - March 26 - April 1, 2013

Friday Terry and I drove to Amakusa on the smaller island of Shimoshima with Elder Morris and Elder Usui.  It is a smaller island in the Kumamoto Ward boundaries.  There are about 50 members living there.  It is the area that claims to be where Christianity started in Japan.   In 1549, Francis Xavier, a Jesuit priest, arrived in Japan. His stamina, zeal and willingness to suffer resulted in thousands of conversions.  This is a beautiful Christian Church we passed.

Farmers are getting ready to plant their fields.  Notice the cemetery on top of the hill.

                                       This area had small streets like we saw in Brazil.

At District meeting today the district helped me celebrate my birthday.  Elder Morris and Usui asked Sister Kribayashi and Suzuki to make a cake.  Elder Morris and Usui head a cook book with Traditional recipes in it, a card and a mix to make okomnomiyaki.  The district sang happy birthday to me, a fitting end to a wonder full week.