Happy Thanksgiving


Fall is covering the mountains. Temperatures are 50-65 degrees. So beautiful!!


 We have received 17 new missionaries. I make "cookies to go" for the new missionaries and their companions.  Some missionaries have to travel up to 5 hours to get to their new locations. It is nice to have cookies for the road.

I end up going through a lot of butter and sugar. Thank heavens for Costco!
Last cookie is a mix because I ran out of frosting.

We opened our last apartment for a little while. There were 13 apartments when we arrived. We now have over 40. We have become very efficient in preparing new apartments. 

We are now traveling once a week for apartment inspections. This is particularly fun because we get to see more of Japan and work with these awesome missionaries. Some apartments are older and need repairs. Others need furnishings updated. Fred is using a lot of his repair skills on this mission. Who knew that these things would be needed? 

We also teach English Connect to the Japanese missionaries three times a week. The church encourages missionaries to take the opportunity to learn English while they are on their missions. Our Japanese missionaries are really learning to speak English well.

I have many more medical phone calls now that we have 89 missionaries in our mission. I have enjoyed being able to help our missionaries navigate through their medical needs. I always include their needs in my prayers because with God all things are possible.

Fred continues to manage the financial needs of the mission. This includes reimbursing the missionaries for some expenses and ensuring they have funds to cover their needs. 

We are loving our mission. Happily engaged in a good cause and enjoying our visit to the wonderful country of Japan.

"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness." D&C 58:27






Comments

  1. Julie MarkhamNovember 20, 2022 at 4:26 AM

    Oh Sister Allen, what a wonderful post! Ben took tools on our mission and as a result he was able to meet the needs of a lot of senior couples. Molehills can quickly become mountains if they aren't resolved early. I am not surprised you are using your valuable nursing skills -- I didn't expect you would be using your culinary skills! Great pictures --- looks like great weather.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

10 more days--Our mission is coming to a close

Image
10 more days-- our mission is coming to a close. What an amazing experience this has been!! We have seen God's hand in our life in so many ways. We feel the windows of heaven have been opened to us that there is not even room to receive it. We have grown closer to each other and closer to the Lord. We arrived when the sakura trees were blooming. Now, they are blooming again. Walking under the blossoms gives you a sacred feeling that you are somewhere very special. This is my favorite walking path. There is a lady who cares for these flower boxes every day. I have enjoyed seeing them on my way to the river walk. Today, I saw a miracle with the ward choir. They asked me to lead the choir when we first arrived. I have sang in many choirs, all of my life. I have never led a choir. We started out just singing hymns but eventually added more and more difficult music.  I wanted to sing "Let Us All Press On". This is a difficult piece sung by the Choir at Temple Square. I had hig
Read more

Enjoying our time here...

Image
We decided last P-day to go to Universal City. It was a fun and memorable day. The weather cooperated with a beautiful spring day. The adventure started even before we arrived by riding the train and then subway in Osaka. It was packed body to body, a full contact sport. When we got in the subway, we were jam packed. I was wondering if the door would close. Then we stopped at another station. An additional 5 people got on the train. We were absolutely smashed together. The people at Universal City all wore crazy hats. It seems the more outlandish the hat the more they enjoyed them. I loved seeing these little cuties. Our favorite spot was the Harry Potter castle and village. They have really strived to recreate the book. You walk through a forest before arriving at the village. We saw the flying blue car, Mirror of Erised, the talking pictures on the walls, the Fat Lady guarding the door, the Sorting Hat, Dumbledore's office and many more.  We would have bought some butterbeer but
Read more

Daruma Doll

Image
President and Sister Halvorson gave the missionaries a Daruma doll for New Years.  The Daruma doll is rich in symbolism and is a sign of good luck for the new year. The eyes are blank. Once you determine your goal,  you color in the first eye. At the end of the year, you complete your goal and finish the other eye. The Daruma doll wobbles but won't stay down. If you tip it on it's side, it uprights itself. This is symbolic of perseverance in striving toward your goal. You may falter but just pick yourself up and keep trying. President Russell M. Nelson, the prophet gave us a New Year's Message for 2023... Be Patient... Be Persistent.. Be Prayerful...
Read more