Week 83 - September 1-7, 2014

Tuesday was our last district meeting before transfers.  We had the opportunity to celebrate a birthday of one of the sister missionaries in our district.  She was very surprised!  It was so fun to be part of the surprise celebration.  Every companionship brought one dessert and we had lots of desserts to enjoy together.

We saw our first fall decorations at the YMCA when we went for our Japanese class this week.  Our teacher had been on vacations for the month of August.  It was good to have her back.

The Kumamoto Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel is getting the roof worked on this week.  The weather has not cooperated much so work has been slow.  We have had lots of rain.

The restaurant area at the international center was open for customers this week.  It was not very busy and seems to have limited hours of operations.

Thursday morning found us heading to Nobeoka in the rain.  We had a apartment check for the Elder's there.  It is about a three and half hour drive from out apartment in Kumamoto.  The drive is so beautiful as the road winds though the volcanic mountains between the two cities.  This part of Japan is a beautiful green place.  Every thing has plenty of water to grow.  I enjoy the art work that is displayed on many of the tunnels entrances. 

The Elders in Nobeoka received a celestial apartment rating.  Their mothers would be proud of their new found cleaning skills,  Elder Koberstein and I took the opportunity to take them to lunch.  They chose the famous Nobeoka Nanban chicken again this round of apartment checks.  It is always a treat to have good food and good company for lunch.  I enjoy the cabbage salad that is often served.

Elder Koberstein and I drove to one of the Nobeoka beaches in the afternoon.  It was a very quite place with beautiful sand and a bay on the Pacific Ocean.  The waves were not surfing waves.  It looked like it would get deep very fast as the waves broke right at the shoreline.  We did not see the usual birds (sea gulls, cormorants, pelicans etc. that are common on the beaches in California).  In fact, it was noticeable barren of wild life and people.  I wonder if it is always so quiet.

We spent the night at the Hotel Route Inn in Nobeoka.  The hotel had a complementary breakfast for us in the morning.  I always enjoy the Japanese breakfast. 

I took the opportunity to try gouya (bitter melon) cooked a different way.  The dish was spicy not bitter as it is known to be.  I think it was so spicy one could not taste the usual bitterness.  It is in the brown dish on the right.  Gouya is a very different eating experience for the American palate. 



We arrived in Oita early for the apartment check so decided to go see the big ferry boat (fune) on the bay.  Our usual parking place was quite busy with a group of older men who were enjoying each others company and fishing.  This picture shows four men, only the one on the left is fishing.   Elder Koberstein had a nice nap while I watched the fishing activity out the front window of the car.

The Elders in Oita received a Celestial rating for their apartment.  They even treated us with chocolate chip muffins from a mix sent to them from America.  They choose to go to a Ramen shop for lunch.  The reason being, one of the Elders had been in Japan for nine months and not yet had ramen.  I ordered a Chinese ramen.  The green on the left hand side is sea weed.  It also had bamboo sprouts which are easy to see above the few kernels of  corn and chopped green onions in the center of the dish.  There is a slice of pork to finish the decorations of the top.  Ramen noodles and broth finish the dish.

The above pictures is my family with my parents right after Elder Koberstein and I were married.  I am sitting by my father on the left hand side of the picture.  Elder Koberstein is standing behind me on the left. 

 

My parents were always thoughtful and kind to each other.  They never said thing to hurt each other's feeling.  They did everything possible to make each other happy.  Their example taught me to love one another and serve one another.  They were always encouraging and supportive in things we attempted to do.  I always knew that I was important to them and that what I did was important to them.  I always felt loved and wanted to do those things that would bring honor to them and the HALE family name. 

 

My parents left a legacy for me and a hope that we will be a family forever.  This is conditional, I must take the steps necessary in this life to make that dream a reality.  "When people are married outside the temple, the marriage ends when one of the partners dies. 

When we are married in the temple by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood, we are married for time and eternity.  If we keep our covenants with the Lord, our families will be united eternally as husband, wife, and children.  Death cannot separate us." Gospel Principles Chapter 36: The Family Can Be Eternal"  



 

Scripture of the Week

Genesis 1:28

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:  and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.