Elder and Sister Struempler: Fukuoka Weekend

Thursday, March 2 found us on our way to Fukuoka on the Shinkansen, to attend a Tri-Zone Conference. It was a nice trip in that it took only about an hour and a half as opposed to 4 hours by car.

We got to the hotel in Fukuoka at about 2:30 PM, but check in was not until 3PM. Very typical OCD Japan, we had to wait to get our key, so we headed over to Eggs and Things for a late lunch. I was trying to find it on Google Maps when a lady on a bicycle stopped and asked if we needed some help. I told her where we were headed and she insisted on not just showing how to get there, but actually insisted that she take us there. This is a very Japanese thing to do and while I had actually found it on my GPS it was easier to let her take us there than offend her but turning down her offer to help.

After a great lunch we headed back to our room, where our luggage was waiting for us. This was a typical "businessman's" hotel, so while modern and comfortable, they are not very big (about 20 sq. meters).

The next morning we hoped on the subway and in short order we were at the Fukuoka Stake Center for our conference.,

I love the uniform and white gloves that the train engineers wear. Very professional!

The conference was presided over and conducted by Elder Scott D. Whiting of the First Quorum of the 70, and Asia North Area President, who was accompanied by his wife.. Both Elder and Sister Whiting served missions in the Japan Tokyo North Mission, though they didn't actually meet each other until they both attended a mission reunion.

The morning session consisted of Elder Whiting taking some questions from the missionaries. The first question was, "What should the missionary focus be?" Basically the answer was to preach His Gospel by the Spirit, and invite others to come unto Christ. The next questions was, "How do we teach the Gospel in a non-Christian nation?" His answer was that most Japanese have a belief in a higher power. With that, we need to teach to their level of understanding. Invite them to bring what they have, and we will add to that. As missionaries, he reminded us that we serve under the authority of the Holy Ghost. The, how do we receive the Holy Ghost? We must do something to have the Holy Ghost with us. This should be a daily thing, if not a minute by minute thing. To be most effective, we need to unify as a companionship with God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. "Am I the problem?" you might ask. Yes, if you won't change. Is the atonement good enough for you to make a change in your ways?

After an inspiring morning we broke for lunch. We were able to catch up with Elder Winchester, from San Diego and a good friend of our grandson Jakob.

They then has a little surprise birthday celebration for all those with birthdays in January through March, which included both Elder Winchester and Sister Struempler.

In the afternoon session we learned about Agency, Personal Conversion, and Teaching Repentance and Baptism. Sister Egan taught us the difference between an ashery making potash and pearl-ash, and our potential. You'll have to look that up to understand the analogy. President Egan told us that he loved us more than gyoza, and that we should forget about ourselves if we want to be happy.

Sister Whiting then gave a summary of what Elder Holland had given to missionary groups over the past 3 weeks in Asia. Elder Whiting then finished by reminding us that as missionaries we are frustrated with member missionaries because they are just like we were before we came on our missions. We have enough problem identifiers, we need more problems solvers.

He concluded with his testimony that Jesus is the Christ and our Savior and Redeemer and He Lives!

A really great meeting, to say the least.

Geri found a new friend in Fukuoka!

Saturday was a busy day, but a fun day. We took an extra day in Fukuoka to do a bit of sightseeing. We bought a day pass for the subway for 620 yen and got our money's worth.

We started off with breakfast and Eggs and Things and then headed for the sights.

Our first stop with the Fukuoka Tower. It was a beautiful clear day and even though the tower was only 768 feet tall, the view was great.

It is considered the tallest "sea-side" tower in Japan. Not really sure what that means.

This below is the high speed ferry terminal that will take you to Korea, but most what you see is actually a wedding chapel for very high-end weddings.

Wanting to cash in on the romance aspect, the have the romance floor of the tower where you can take your picture and then place a lock on the railing, much like the lover's bridge in Paris. They sell the locks right there. Interesting though, the lock don't have keys. Once you lock them to the rail they stay (until someone removes them, opens them and sells them again).

The wedding chapel

Beach at the Fukuoka Tower.

From there we headed over to the Fukuoka Castle Ruins and park. The park was very nice, but the castle a bit under-whelming as only a small part of it, like the gate below, has been reconstructed.

We then took an open-top bus tour of the city for a chance to see a little more of Fukuoka and especially the downtown area. This is an ivy covered building downtown.