Japanese Meetings

Last Sunday we attended Oita (O-EE-TAH)ward with our stake president. We both spoke and then enjoyed listening to Pres Tashiro. (That is, Keith listened and I watched.) We've been privileged to accompany Pres Tashiro two times now. Both times we spoke--very short talks--and then sat on the stand as Pres Tashiro spoke. He is a very spiritual and compassionate speaker. Both times, it was not long into his talk that all of the investigators bowed their heads one by one and then reached for their handkerchiefs and began to wipe their eyes. Those who weren't fortunate enough to have handkerchiefs had to use their fingers. Then when I looked at the rest of the congregation, they were wiping their eyes also. I can tell these are great talks and I am sad that I don't understand them. Since Pres Tashiro spoke, at least one of the investigators has been baptized. 

The bishop of Oita ward is a missionary companion of Bill's. Bp Tokumaru wondered if we were related, but we are spelling our name in katakana so that it is pronounced, "Purizubee", whereas Bill spelled it so that it was pronounced Purizuburee, pronouncing the second R. As Dad and Bp Tokumaru were talking, Dad found out that Bp Tokumaru had served in the Tokyo North mission about the same time as Bill. Dad said, "Our son served in that mission about that time." Bp Tokumaru looked at our name tags, looked at me, and, with wonder on his face, said, "Of course! That's Elder Prisbrey's face! I saw that smile every morning!" Hugs and excitement all around! Bp Tokumaru kept saying what we all felt, "God works miracles!"

This Sunday we attended the Yatsushiro (Yawt-sue-she-row) branch again. I just used the same talk from Oita, since the two congregations are several hours apart from each other. I also wore the same suit with the purple blouse and exactly matching purple dangly earrings. I only wear the dangly earrings on Sunday because I feel they are too--something, not appropriate I guess. As we drove into the Yatsushiro branch parking lot, who should pull in after us but one of the Oita families that we met last Sunday! So much for clever planning! 

The family from Oita are American. Br Holmes is a returned missionary from this mission and is one of the supervisors for the JETS (Japan-English teaching) program in Oita Prefecture (state). Sister Holmes' sister is visiting from the Ogden area and they had been touring around so that she could see more of Japan. Br Holmes served in Yatsushiro as a missionary and so they stopped there for church. When he served there about 5 years ago, there were only two members who have since both moved. He was delighted to see now there are several families in attendance.

Now what is neat about Japanese meetings--they start on time regardless of who is there. They do not waste time with waiting for the congregation to get quiet before they say the prayer. In Japan it is more rude to be late than it is to wait for others to stop talking. They also stop on time or even a little bit before. Again, the one saying the prayer just launches right in. It is up to you to be reverent and ready. 

Here is another neat thing. Saturday evening a group of YSA organized an impromptu badminton tournament. It appears that the Japanese are about badminton the same way that Americans are about basketball. Everyone knows something about how to play and most are quite good. They set up the net in the gym and then carefully made boundaries with string all around the court. Then they figured out some elaborate rotation of people and teams, scored it themselves and had a ball. Keith and I sat on the sidelines as cheerleaders. Some of our YSA are really superb players, hitting the birdie from the back of the court and then catching a close one to the net and then racing back to the back again. Just when you think it is impossible for the shuttlecock to get hit, there it is sailing over the net. 

Now here is the neat thing. Everyone cleans up afterward. They  put up chairs, wind up string, wash dishes, put away the sports equipment, grab the vacuum if needed, and just generally leave everything perfectly tidy. Each person handles their own trash (gomi). There are only waste baskets in the bathrooms and in the copy room. Every where else you are expected to pack out whatever you pack in. Very efficient.

Next weekend, when all of you are enjoying conference, we will be having Fast Sunday. (Actually, you will start conference late late at night Saturday for us and finish sometime on early Monday morning). We wait until the following week-end to listen to conference. That way we can spend Saturday and Sunday listening to the sessions at the stake center just like the rest of the world, only one week later. I think, however, that I will get up early Sunday morning, Apr 6, and listen to Saturday morning's session before church. If the new member of the twelve is not announced at that session, it is all right with me if any and all of you send me that information:) Thanks!

Have a good week. 

Love, Kandie/Mom/Grandma etc.