Week 89 - October 13-19, 2014

Monday evening we had a family home evening at our apartment with the Kumamoto Sister and two others.  We had an all American meal, hamburger with chips and salads.

We enjoyed a lesson about the temple, ate dinner and then played Panda Chop Sticks.  We chose the timed version of this game this time.  How long would it take you to get the twelve pandas though the tire with chop sticks.  It is amazing how fast some are. We had a fun evening together.

Tuesday we went to the post office to pay two bills and mail a package to the Elders in Beppu.  While waiting to pay the bill I was standing in front of a table.  It had two pen (which we used to fill out a form), a glue bottle, the date, the day of the week and a bright red circle.  I touched the red circle thinking it was a sponge for postage stamps.  My finger tips immediately became red.  I then realized it was a ink pad for the kanji signature stamp used by everyone in Japan.  I am now officially educated.  For the readers knowledge the ink came of my finger tips quite easily.  I had to laugh at myself though.

This is a Koban that we bike past at least twice a week.  I had never really noticed until this week when it had a very cute little police car parked in front of it.  The car is so appropriate for the size of many of the streets here.

Friday we were ask to be guest speakers at an Eigo club at the International Center.  It was fun visiting with the six ladies that were in attendance.  After the meeting they invited my husband and I to go out to lunch with them.  We went to a Japanese restaurant and I enjoyed a meal of burnt rice (when translated into English) and tofu.  It was the delicious lunch special of the day.   

Some of the things we shared with club members was things one could see when traveling in California.  We learned one club member had visited San Francisco and one had visited Los Angeles.  We were able to share things like the Redwoods.  I showed them this picture of driving our Toyota Corolla thorough the Chandeler Tree (a large redwood in Northern California). 

They were amazed at the size of this Redwood tree also in Northern California.  

Muir Woods is near San Francisco and has a nice stand of Redwood trees.  This map (taken off line) shows where Muir Woods is located across the Golden Gate Bridge.  Muir Woods is a must to see when one visits San Francisco area. 

Hiking or biking the Golden Gate bridge is a fun activity on a visit to San Francisco.  This picture is me biking the bridge.  I am the first person on the left in the black jacket with the red collar.  Weston is behind me in a yellow jacket.

Riding the San Francisco cable cars is a must do.  Wikipedia states "A cable car in the context of mass transit is a system using rail cars that are hauled by a continuously moving cable running at a constant speed. Individual cars stop and start by releasing and gripping this cable as required."  These cars have been used on the hills of San Francisco for over 100 years.  They are a fun must do when visiting.  Plan for time to wait to get on.  It can be a long wait.  The wait time is usually filled with fun street performers and my family likes to hike to near by Ghiraradelli Square for chocolate which makes even the youngest in the group happy. 

We like to visit temples just like the people of Japan.  This picture shows the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Oakland temple in the San Francisco bay and the visitors center which in next to it.  This temple has a beautiful garden on top.  Free tours start at the visitors center on the left hand side.

 

Scripture of the Week

1 Peter 4:6

For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.