Monday Morning in Koriyama

Received an email from Steve last night that indicated that Grandpa Thomas is not doing well. This morning he emailed and said that he is doing a bit better but if he worsens we may have to cut the trip short. We will keep you posted.

Yesterday was delightful! Church was quite an experience and it was abundantly clear that Rebecca was loved by everybody. They asked me to say something in Sacrament Meeting so Rebecca translated. Priesthood meeting was just like at home..."you need to do your hometeaching."

I don:t have a lot of time so I haven:t been able to send any pictures yet. Perhaps tonight since I will have some extra time, I think.

I just finished a "gmail chat" with Rachel. I think I was able to capture it below.

After church Rebecca:s friend, Hattori Shimai drove us to her home in a little town called Miharu outside Koriyama. She lives with her parents and sister and sister:s daughter. Interesting home. In the country side, very agrarian, lots of rice fields around, lots of vegetable plots. The pictures will help explain and illustrate. Their come is on a hillside and they have built a picnic area on the little hill right next to the house ()maybe 10 yards fromthe house and up a little hill) The dad barbecued meat and vegetables, and we ate udon and some sort of potatoes and some sort of yams and pastries and all kinds of stuff. Didn:t get home til 8: 00p.m.

Sherrie crashed when we arrived back at the hotel but Rebecca wanted to go visit an investigator/friend and his wife and teake \them a present. unfortuantely they were:nt home so we just left the present on their doorknob and came back ot the hotel. rebecca wanted tocheck her email and while we were doing that, her friends showed up. They had come home just after we left and came to the hotel to see if they could catch us. We had a nice visit and they are planning on visiting us in Las Vegas next September.

I know these emails are not the most informative but we have spent the bulk of our time just visiting with people. That has been the most fun that I think I could have. Everyone has just been so nice. This part of Japan must not be much of a foreign tourist destination because we are the only "gaijin" (foreigners) around. I don:t think I have seen more thatn one or two non-Japanese a day since we have been here. Probably more in Kyoto/Tokyo.

Well, I am going to close and see if I can figure out the train schedules. We are headed to Niigata and Nagaoka today and will be visiting some of Rebecca's friends tomorrow then we leave her mission and head to Kyoto/

Love, Dad



Rachel: hey dad
how's japan?
me: Howdy.
I love it. \what time is it there?
Rachel: 5:51 pm PST
sunday
me: I am in the process of sending another email about our experience yesterday.
Rachel: there?
me: Here it is 9+50 a.m.
Rachel: oh cool - rebecca with you?
me: No, she is upstairs with mom. she is addressing some last minute gifts for friends.
\we will be spending the day here and then heading to the west coast.
Rachel: well, tell her i can't wait to see her...6 days
me: It might bve soooner.
Rachel: ?
me: Grandpa Thomas is not doing well.
Steve sent email.
Rachel: oh no
me: But this morning another email says he is rallying.
Rachel: i'm sorry to hear that (or maybe relieved that he won't be in pain for much longer)
well, keep me posted
me: Yes, the pain is not good.
Rachel: you able to upload pics yet?
me: Had a great time yesterday. Can:t send pix yet.
\will explain our Japanese experience in email.
Rachel: cool
me: Rebecca;s friend invited us to her parents home.
It is in countryside.
Rachel: that sounds fun
me: Not old-style Japancese experience.
But close enought.
How is Ryan?
Rachel: lol - sounds like you guys are having a good time - busy, but fun
he's surviving
me: \we are exhasted at the end of each day.
Rachel: he's at that point - wanting it to be over but wanting a nother year to study
me: Last night Sherrie crashed at 8+00
Rachel: lol - no surprise!
me: Rebecca and I heded out to a friends.
Sorry about typing...going fast.
Rachel: no problem
me: Say hi toRyan for us.
Rachel: if you have little time, we can talk when you get back
just thought i'd say hello since i caught you online
travel safe
me: We are looking for phone cards and if we can find some will call
Rachel: sounds good
ttyl
me: We love you.
Rachel: love you too - and please tell rebecca as well
me: Will do. Bye.

Day 4 - Sunday, July 1st - Church in Koriyama and Japanese meal at Hattori Shimai's

IMG_7157 (Small).JPG
IMG_7158 (Small).JPG
IMG_7159 (Small).JPG
IMG_7160 (Small).JPG
IMG_7161 (Small).JPG

IMG_7162 (Small).JPG
IMG_7163 (Small).JPG
IMG_7164 (Small).JPG
IMG_7165 (Small).JPG
IMG_7166 (Small).JPG

IMG_7167 (Small).JPG
IMG_7168 (Small).JPG
IMG_7169 (Small).JPG
IMG_7170 (Small).JPG
IMG_7171 (Small).JPG

IMG_7172 (Small).JPG
IMG_7173 (Small).JPG
IMG_7174 (Small).JPG
IMG_7175 (Small).JPG
IMG_7176 (Small).JPG

IMG_7177 (Small).JPG
IMG_7178 (Small).JPG
IMG_7179 (Small).JPG
IMG_7180 (Small).JPG
IMG_7181 (Small).JPG

IMG_7182 (Small).JPG
IMG_7183 (Small).JPG
IMG_7184 (Small).JPG
IMG_7185 (Small).JPG
IMG_7186 (Small).JPG

IMG_7187 (Small).JPG
IMG_7188 (Small).JPG
IMG_7189 (Small).JPG
IMG_7190 (Small).JPG
IMG_7191 (Small).JPG

IMG_7192 (Small).JPG
IMG_7193 (Small).JPG
IMG_7194 (Small).JPG
IMG_7195 (Small).JPG
IMG_7196 (Small).JPG

IMG_7197 (Small).JPG
IMG_7198 (Small).JPG
IMG_7199 (Small).JPG
IMG_7200 (Small).JPG
IMG_7201 (Small).JPG

IMG_7203 (Small).JPG
IMG_7204 (Small).JPG
IMG_7205 (Small).JPG
IMG_7206 (Small).JPG
IMG_7207 (Small).JPG

IMG_7208 (Small).JPG
IMG_7209 (Small).JPG
IMG_7210 (Small).JPG
IMG_7211 (Small).JPG
IMG_7212 (Small).JPG

IMG_7213 (Small).JPG
IMG_7214 (Small).JPG
IMG_7215 (Small).JPG
IMG_7216 (Small).JPG
IMG_7217 (Small).JPG

IMG_7218 (Small).JPG
IMG_7219 (Small).JPG
IMG_7220 (Small).JPG
IMG_7221 (Small).JPG
IMG_7222 (Small).JPG

IMG_7223 (Small).JPG
IMG_7224 (Small).JPG
IMG_7227 (Small).JPG
IMG_7228 (Small).JPG
IMG_7229 (Small).JPG

IMG_7230 (Small).JPG
IMG_7231 (Small).JPG
IMG_7232 (Small).JPG
IMG_7233 (Small).JPG
IMG_7234 (Small).JPG

IMG_7235 (Small).JPG
IMG_7236 (Small).JPG
IMG_7237 (Small).JPG
IMG_7238 (Small).JPG
IMG_7239 (Small).JPG

IMG_7240 (Small).JPG
IMG_7242 (Small).JPG
IMG_7243 (Small).JPG
IMG_7244 (Small).JPG
IMG_7245 (Small).JPG

IMG_7246 (Small).JPG
IMG_7247 (Small).JPG
IMG_7248 (Small).JPG
IMG_7249 (Small).JPG
IMG_7250 (Small).JPG

IMG_7251 (Small).JPG
IMG_7252 (Small).JPG
IMG_7253 (Small).JPG
IMG_7254 (Small).JPG
IMG_7255 (Small).JPG

IMG_7256 (Small).JPG
IMG_7257 (Small).JPG
IMG_7260 (Small).JPG
IMG_7261 (Small).JPG
IMG_7262 (Small).JPG

IMG_7263 (Small).JPG
IMG_7264 (Small).JPG
IMG_7265 (Small).JPG
IMG_7266 (Small).JPG
IMG_7269 (Small).JPG

IMG_7270 (Small).JPG
IMG_7271 (Small).JPG
IMG_7272 (Small).JPG
IMG_7273 (Small).JPG
IMG_7274 (Small).JPG

IMG_7275 (Small).JPG
IMG_7276 (Small).JPG
IMG_7277 (Small).JPG
IMG_7278 (Small).JPG
IMG_7279 (Small).JPG

IMG_7280 (Small).JPG
IMG_7281 (Small).JPG
IMG_7282 (Small).JPG
IMG_7284 (Small).JPG
IMG_7285 (Small).JPG

IMG_7286 (Small).JPG
IMG_7287 (Small).JPG
IMG_7288 (Small).JPG
IMG_7289 (Small).JPG
IMG_7290 (Small).JPG

IMG_7291 (Small).JPG
IMG_7292 (Small).JPG
IMG_7293 (Small).JPG
IMG_7294 (Small).JPG
IMG_7296 (Small).JPG

IMG_7297 (Small).JPG
IMG_7298 (Small).JPG
IMG_7299 (Small).JPG
IMG_7300 (Small).JPG
IMG_7301 (Small).JPG