Monday, June 17, 2013

The Weather and Lost in Translation

They are slowly getting used to the humidity, and by slowly . . . not quite yet.

When they first arrived, they still needed to go shopping for supplies and they needed to take several trips because they had to walk everywhere. They would take go to the store come back, rest, cool off and go out again.

"It’s going to be challenging trying to cook, bake, or wash. All our appliances are in Japanese and the instruction books too. We got some things translated from Brother Honda, thus the sticky notes all over. We think we know what we are buying and then get home and discover that we don’t think it’s the right thing. We have to take pictures of the item to take into the office to ask the Elders what we bought."


"This is our combination washer and dryer. Talk about not knowing how to operate a machine. It was really frustrating at first because we’d start the wash and then we couldn’t get the door open or it wouldn’t dry, or we’d dry things to death. Hopefully our clothes will survive."



"Our combination microwave, oven, broiler, steamer – it does it all except I don’t know how to use it. Oh, well, just like all the other things in the apartment. I’ll learn though."


Sunday, June 16, 2013

They have arrived to the motherland!

Elder and Sister Yamashita arrived safely in Kichijoji late last night. The Maetanis (Gerry's sister and brother in-law) traveled to by train this morning and met them at their ward in Kichijoji to attend church with them. While they were there they met Gerry's nephew's sister-in-law and they were able to help translate their first day in church. There have already been some amazing connections within the few days that have been in Japan and I am assuming it won't be the last.



Saturday, June 8, 2013

Inouye Family Farewell Dinner

One of the benefits of being Senior missionaries is being able to leave the MTC to go visit family and friends. Besides going to dinner with several friends in the middle of the week, Elder and Sister Yamashita had a farewell dinner with the extended Inouye family (my mom's side) their final weekend in Utah and had a chance to say good-bye to them as well.