Elder and Sister Struempler: Half Way There

As of May 29th we have reached the half-way point in our 18 month mission. In many ways the past 9 months have flown by and in other ways it feels like we have been here for much longer than that. I think a big part of that is the transfers for the missionaries. We have gotten to know so many sweet Sisters and Elders and have truly learned to love each and everyone of them. We have seen 3 District Leaders come and go and soon, with the next transfer cycle should see the 4th one. We have learned to love them like our own grandkids.

It seems like the most common activity at the Liahona House (where we live) is "Sayonara" parties, where the Branch gets the opportunity to say goodbye to the missionaries who are either transferring or are "dying" (going home). This time of year, we are also saying sayonara to many Branch members who are transferring to other duty stations. This summer we are losing our 1st Counselor in the Branch Presidency, the Executive Secretary, the Elders Quorum President, the Relief Society President, the Primary President, the Branch Music Director (organist), and many others. We always know about people leaving much earlier that we know about people coming in, so summer is always nervous for the Branch, but by the time Fall gets here, it gets all sorted out.

Elder Weaver is thinking about upgrading his current missionary transportation. Waiting for approval from President Egan.

May was Volunteer Appreciation Month and the missionaries got a big shout out over the help they provided with to the American and Japanese Red Cross, helping serve as translators for a very successful blood drive. Here are Elder Weaver and Sister Vogelsberg flashing the Iwakuni District "gang" sign!

Sister Struempler had the honor of cutting the cake from the Red Cross.

We continue to work at the USO at the air terminal, proving service to personnel heading out for a variety of reasons. The marines especially like to show off their "guns"!!

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society had a nice picnic to recognize the volunteers, and Sister Struempler and I received recognition awards. They also surprised me with a birthday cake. It was really nice.

Amplification of a very special birthday present (the shark) from my good friend James. The two just seemed to go together and have now found their way to the dashboard of our mission car.

The birthday celebrations carried over to Sunday (my actual birthday) with the missionaries and friends over to finish off the birthday cake and some ice cream. Here's Able (left) and Taylor helping me with the cake.

So on May 21st I turned 70 years old. An interesting milestone where I am officially "old". I can tell that I have slowed down on a few things that I should probably do., I need to get out more and meet a 10,000 steps per day goal. Spending the day with the missionaries and the ward mission leader and his family (the Bridges) was great.

We then watched a live broadcast devotional from Osaka which featured Elder Dallin H. Oaks from the Quorum of the Twelve. Elder Oaks said that while growth was slow in Japan, the Church's roots here are deeps and strong and that it is now time for the branches to grow. The people of Japan need to open their mouths, smile, and start sharing the Gospel message. The members need to find investigators for the missionaries to teach. Trust the Lord, that He can make this happen.

Monday was Memorial Day so we decided to take a P Day and head to Hiroshima and visit the castle there.

Hiroshima Castle was established by Mori Terumotyo, one of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's council of "Five Great Elders". It is representative of a flatland castle. The castle was established in 1589 at the delta of the Otagawa River and was occupied in 1591 to govern 9 provinces that includes Hiroshima. Following the abolition of feudal domains and the establishment of prefectures in 1871, the castle gradually came to serve more as a military facility, where the Imperial General Headquarter came to be established during the Sino-Japanese was of 1894-95. On August 6, 1945, the castle was destroyed by the atomic bomb blast. The present tower was reconstructed in 1958 and is now used to exhibit historic artifacts.

Castle Gate and Defensive Wall

The tour of the castle tower and castle gates was amazing. Even though it is a reconstruction, the same building techniques were use. There is also on the grounds, the Hiroshima Gokuku Jinji Shrine.