Fred and Paula’s Most Excellent Adventure

 We took a trip to the opposite side of our mission on the coast of the Sea of Japan to help some missionaries in that area. While we were there, we stopped to walk through Izumo Taisha, one of the most ancient and important Shinto shrines in Japan. The exact time that it was built is not known but records from 950 AD describes the shrine as being one of the highest buildings exceeding 48 meters tall. In the year 2000, remains of enormous pillars  were discovered and has lent credence to the shrine being so tall. This is a replica that was in a museum of what the shrine might have looked like so many years ago. The top shrine was the house of God. People can be seen climbing the stairs toward God. In some ways, this looks like the covenant path from our church. Man makes covenants to follow God. As we keep the commandments, we improve and come closer to God. Through Jesus Christ we can be forgiven and stay on the path to return to God. It is rare to see a Japanese flag flying....

What have been up to? Lots. We drive all over our mission fixing apartments, bringing missionaries to new areas, anything the mission president needs.  We love being able to see beautiful Japan on the way. We teach English Connect for Missionaries three times a week. We teach English Connect training once a week at district councils. One of the missionaries told me that "Sister Allan is changing the mission one pumpkin loaf at a time." I thought this was funny as I do bring treats to the missionaries along the way. I don't even want to think about how many pounds of butter, sugar, flour, and chocolate chips I have gone through during this mission. I've burned out one mixer and working on the second. We removed old rusty mission bikes from a church parking lot. I love the Japanese bridges. This is a performing monkey that just happened to be at a rest stop on one of our drives across the country. He really loves his stilts. When his trainer took them away from him, he ...