Maduoka Castle and Eihiji Temple

Fukui Prefecture or state was our latest adventure.  We went with a group by bus.   There were two sweet people who kind of stuck by us and translated for us.  One told us that he had actually translated for President Hinckley in the past. That would be an awesome experience.  Most of the people, by the way, were senior citizens.  Sister Kondo, for instance, who invited us to go on this outing, is 79.  She can keep up with me just fine.  Most Japanese seniors are full of vim and vigor.  

The cherry blossoms were about done in Nagoya
but this area is further north and in the mountains.

We had a nice visit with people around us as we rode, and listened to nearly constant talking from our uniformed hostess on the bus.  We stopped at rest stops both on the way there and back, where we saw several busses parked and several cutely dressed hostesses waiting for their people to re-board their bus.  By the way, nearly every working person in Japan wears a uniform, from gas station attendant to businessman in his suit.  City workers, store clerks, school children, and about anyone else you can think of.   

One of the sisters in our ward looked perfect
 in her beautiful kimono of pink.

Maruoka Castle

Put your rifle through one of these slots and kill those bad guys.
(If they had rifles then.)

If there's not a war to fight, it's an awesome view.

Our first major stop was at Maruoka Castle.  Castles in Japan were never used as homes, from what I understand.  They were put in high places and used as forts.  One could shoot arrows or spears or bullets and throw things down.  They were used for war.  This one is the oldest continuously standing castle


in Japan.  It was very sturdy, filled with huge beams and boards, and it made me wonder how they ever got those huge things up there so high on this little hill or big rock.  The stairs up to the castle were very steep, and then inside, there were two more levels to climb.  These were small boards on a trap door.  We had a rope that we could also hang on to as we went up and down.  I was amazed at how the senior people managed these so well.

The steps on this ladder were about 2-3 inches wide.

Double-click on these photos to see more detail.
The sakura is everywhere, making the view pink and green
for forever.

Inside the top level, there were many pictures of various castles and a great view of the area.  I learned there are about 200 castles in Japan.  

 The sakura, as well as fountains and other park features were beautiful.  It was really nice.  

I can just imagine someone running up these stairs
 and being pushed back down them in a war.

Our bus tour group.  

This cute man is the one who used to translate for
President Hinckley.  He was so sweet to
stay by us and explain things.

An ancient casket.

A couple of genuine Japanese natives.

See the koi?

Weeping Sakura, many more petals
 than the standard 5 and a deeper color. 

Lunch time on the floor.
We are sitting on mats like the ones behind us.
No place for feet but under you.

Next stop was Eiheiji temple, the “temple of eternal peace,” one of Soto Zen’s two head temples. It is in an incredibly beautiful spot in the mountains, and is surrounded by forest, waterfalls, mossy giant redwoods and other large trees, and too many monuments or pagodas or such things to count.

See the princess in a pea pod? (Just making that up.)
See her frog prince?

Here's a closeup of the prince.

The founder of this kind of Zen was born in 1200.  This is the largest training center for Zen Priests.  There were a lot of young, good looking men, all with their heads shaved and in matching kimono robes, just about the same age as our missionaries, practicing the rights of Zen.  We were asked not to take pictures of them.  I thought that they would be a lot happier at the MTC than here at the (as Lee put it) ZTC.  Some people in our group said they work them very hard and feed them vegetarian food in very small portions.  It is a very well disciplined group.

Priests in training are given a tatami mat, about 1 by 2 meters.  (I’m now quoting from a booklet they gave us.)  Each priest is given just one mat and that is where he sits and thinks, eats, and sleeps.  Talking or reading are never allowed in this room. Daily morning, midday, and evening services are held another hall. On one alter in this hall are four white lions (shishi) called the “a-un-no shishi”.  “a” means opening the mouth, teaching by words, and the “un” means closing the mouth, teaching by actions.  I like that idea.

The story goes that the priests in training clean these stairs every day.
They were shiny clean, so it may be true.

So much beauty--everywhere you looked.

Priests shave their heads every fifth day (every time the date contains a 4 or 9). In the morning, trainees shave each other’s heads and in the afternoon they enjoy a bath.  Before the bath, each priest makes three bows while reciting, “We bathe vowing to benefit all beings, may our bodies and minds be purified both inwardly and outwardly.”  They are not allowed to talk during the bath. 

This is the founding Zen priest.
He looks a little scary to me and it looks like
shaving wasn't part of the ritual then!

This is beautiful cherry wood
surrounding the room with the painted ceiling.

The grounds are in perfect condition, immaculately kept.  We were able to walk through some of the buildings and hallways, and they are shiny clean , artistic, and very nice.  They don’t look as old as they are.  My favorite room was the reception hall.  It has a ceiling that I wish I could make into a quilt.  It had 230 panels on the ceiling, each with a painting of a bird or flower, the work of 144 leading Japanese artists.  It was beautiful.

This one paragraph description of Zen sums it up well:  “There is an extremely easy way to become Buddha.  Refraining from all evils, not clinging to birth and death, working in deep compassion for all sentient beings, respecting those over you and pitying those under you, without detesting or desiring, worrying or lamentation—this is what is called Buddha.  Do not search beyond it.”

Many Buddhist shrines we have been in have lots of
intricate gold hanging from the ceilings.

These "gentlemen" and two more opposite them
guard the entrance to one of the buildings.
They are pretty intimidating.

We had one more stop that was so fascinating that I have to make it a separate blog.  So, more to come.

Meanwhile, here are a couple more hair salons:  "Last Hope Hair" and "Clear of Hair".  I might try Last Hope Hair if I were really down, but I hope I never have to go to "Clear of Hair."

Transfer Week

OK, I'm going to start out with a couple of good names of local beauty shops.  You have a lot of reading ahead, and in case you decide not to read it all, at least you have the reward of these fun names:  Hair Make Air, and Hair Saloon Long.  (Notice that's saloon, not salon!)

Apology:  This blog is way too long.  Short blogs with lots of photos get read.  Long blogs get skipped.  Suggestion:  Read day one, then come back later for day 2 and day 3.  And by the time you finish, you will know how tired we get by the end.  

Several of you have requested more info on what we do here in Japan on our mission.  I thought a good place to start would be to explain Transfer Week. 

In the mission, you don’t live from day to day, week to week, or month to month.  You live and mark time from transfer to transfer. When you ask a missionary how long he has been on his mission, he tells you how many transfers he has been through.

So much has to happen at transfer time, and it has to be orchestrated.  While there is much we do that is not related to transfer week, I think one could say that in the mission, you have transfer week, then you spend two weeks doing the necessary work to recover from transfers, then you spend the next three weeks preparing for the next transfer.  Every six weeks is transfers.

Transfers are when missionaries (elders) who have been here for two years (or a year and a half, for sisters) finish their mission and go home.  And new missionaries fly in from the Mission Training Center in Provo, Utah and begin their two years.

Transfer week is an interesting, exhilarating, inspiring, fast paced, and exhausting multi-faceted production.  And one of the sweet things is to have the entire office staff, along with President and Sister Baird, just sit together in the big office room and talk about all the cool things that happened, after it is all over.  We are all usually tired, and it’s just satisfying to sit and review and bask in the feelings and the joy of it all. Each time we do that, we marvel at the little things that made it so special, and are always struck with the conviction that many of the things that happened, couldn’t have happened without Heavenly Father’s hand in it.  It is humbling to realize the power behind this work.

Day 1:

On Monday morning here, it is still Sunday in Utah.  We are gearing up for transfers to begin.  Missionaries throughout the mission know it is transfer week, and they know they need to stay in their apartment until they receive a phone call from one of the two AP’s (Assistants to the President).  AP’s start about 8:00 and call every missionary companionship to tell them if and/or where they will be moving for the next six weeks, and if they were chosen to train one of the new incoming missionaries. It’s really fun and exciting to listen to the AP’s tell each missionary about his new assignment.

Sometimes the family comes to pick up their missionary.

Departing Missionaries:  At 12:30, all the missionaries who are ending their missions and returning home arrive at the mission home.  They shipped their luggage by train a few days earlier and it is waiting for them at the airport. They have a meeting with President and Sister Baird, get some great advice for their future lives, and meet with Elder Barney to turn in any unused funds from their mission, making sure they have enough for food on the way home.  By the time all of this is done, Sister Baird has a great dinner ready for them.  It is entertaining to watch the food disappear.  Did they really eat THAT much?

 But it’s gone!  They love Sister Baird’s cooking, they aren’t nervous any more, and they really go down on whatever she serves.  I have to admit, her brownies are fabulous.  Then they all go out for a final evening of missionary work, getting back in time to be in bed by 10:30.  The middle floor of the mission home has about 7 bedrooms with two beds in each.  That usually handles all the missionaries. 

Sometimes just two missionaries go home.

Sometimes there's a whole bunch finishing up.

Day 2:  




Tuesday: They are up by 6 a.m. sharp Tuesday morning for a quick continental breakfast. President and Sister Baird drive them to the airport and wave goodbye to the non-Japanese missionaries until they are out of sight. Then President and Sister Baird drive the Japanese missionaries to the Nagoya Eki and say goodbye to them.  Most of them can get home via train, but a few of them do fly.  The Bairds get back to the mission home by at least 10,
and have a brief respite.

At  noon on Tuesday, all the missionaries who are transferring to another location must be at the Nagoya Eki, or train station.  There is a huge golden clock there, and that is where they meet, tell their old companions goodbye and head off with a new companion to their new area.  If they are trainers, they come to the mission office.  In most cases in the mission, the rule is that you should never be without a companion.  This process at the central train station works well for all of them.  

At about 1:00, the trainers arrive here and attend meetings with President Baird where he instructs them about training new missionaries.  He also does a great job of finding out special things about each of the incoming missionaries.  He takes the time to individually tell each trainer about this new missionary he or she will be helping to learn the ropes. He installs a high regard and even a love in these young men/women for the new person they are about to meet.  The new trainers leave around 4 and go to nearby missionary apartments to spend the night, but it’s not party time.  They split up with the other missionaries and go out and share the Gospel.  And right then, President and Sister Baird, along with the rest of us at the office, get into cars and head out to the airport.

New Missionaries are trained at the Mission Training Center for 10 weeks.  They make great progress on learning the language and they are taught how to share the Gospel.  They also begin living by the rules of the mission field, which are quite strict, but they are wise and for the success and protection of each missionary.  Those missionaries coming to Japan get up at about 2 or 3 a.m. on their appointed day, always a Monday morning, ride on a bus from Provo to the Salt Lake City airport, and then fly to Detroit, where they board a plane that comes directly to Nagoya.  (Nagoya is Toyota headquarters, so that is why there are direct fights between here and Detroit.)

They arrive about 4:30, are warmly and enthusiastically welcomed by the mission president and office staff, walk their luggage to the shipping department at the airport where their bags are labeled with the address where each missionary will be serving and sent to that apartment.

I love watching 13 luggage carts being pushed by
13 nicely dressed, happy elders.  Lots of people notice.

 Group pictures are taken.
These missionaries know each other well by now and will always be special to each other.








Then there is the HOIZA shout.  (Hope of Israel, Zion's Army--a call to serve and a fun reminder of what they are about.)

 They catch a train from the airport to within walking distance of our mission home.  On the way, they are challenged to talk with all the people they can in Japanese (their first real experience as missionaries, and for the foreign missionaries, their first real experience to use their newly acquired language skills with a native) and tell them something about the Church or perhaps give them a Book of Mormon. They arrive at the mission home around 7:30 or 8.

I love this picture.  They are HERE!!

We show them where they will be staying, visit with them a little, feed them a wonderful lasagna dinner that they are usually too tired to each much of, and have them go to bed.  We are usually up quite a while after that, doing dishes, cleaning up and getting things ready for morning.

This, obviously, is the lasagna, not the waffles.

Day 3:  


Wednesday:  The newbys are up by 7 a.m. the next morning, which is easy for them because their body time tells them it’s much later.  They write a little note for Sister Baird to put in her scrapbook and they are given a little advice from her about some things “Japanese” that they need to be aware of.  For instance, if you don’t regularly air out your futon, it will get mildew on it.  

Will work for food.

Sister Baird, handing out some little gifts to an elder.

We feed them a waffle/egg/fruit breakfast that is out of this world. (Elder Barney is the waffle chef, and he does them to perfection.)  Sister Baird makes the best waffles ever, and she has a syrup for the waffles that is to die for.  It isn’t maple syrup; it IS the best syrup I’ve ever tasted. Missionaries have a picture taken individually, and another with President and Sister Baird. 

Then the training begins.  I get to talk with them about the mail system, how to write letters to the president (which they are supposed to do once each week), gather their passports for copying, and a few other things.  Elder Barney then has his turn, and he talks to them about all things money-related.  There is much to learn.  Sister Baird talks to them, and her focus is on keeping them healthy.

Next we have what is a highlight for me. Nearly all of the above was recorded with photos and video, and most of it was recorded without them noticing.  Some interactions on the train are also captured on their way home.  Our mission recorder then stays up nearly all night and puts together the most wonderful, inspiring video of them. This is the highlight that we get to view after breakfast.  The office staff is usually in tears, not to mention the missionaries.  I know I was when we watched video of ourselves arriving in Japan. It was such a surprise and so well done. This DVD will be sent to the parents of each new missionary the week following arrival.  (They sent a copy of ours to EACH of our six children!) Parents (and grandchildren) love it. 

But back to instructions after breakfast:  Each of the Assistants to the President talk to the new missionaries about the culture of the mission.  This includes what is expected of them as missionaries and information about cultural differences they need to be aware of.  The Recorder describes his role with referrals and how to order supplies.  The Commissarian talks about taking care of apartments and bicycle safety.  Then the President ends with a talk to them, and while neither Lee nor I have been able to be there during that time because we have other responsibilities, I know he gets them excited and anxious to be about the work they have come to do. 

At 11:00, one missionary at a time comes up two stories to the top floor of the mission home where he has a brief interview with President Baird in his office.  This is when the president gives the new missionary information about his new companion/trainer. Finally, he or she walks out of the president’s office, and meets his first companion/trainer.  This is a part that I also love.  They greet each other with a big hug.  Photos are taken again.  It is a happy celebration.  I am amazed when I see who President Baird has chosen as the first companion and trainer for each new missionary.  Because I get to read information letters about each new missionary, I know something about them.  I am also getting to know the missionaries who are here and who will be training these new missionaries.  I am astounded by the perfection that is usually evident in the matchup.  President Baird says it isn’t him who chooses which missionaries go together; it is the Lord.  Often he will have someone completely different in mind, and he will get an impression that it should be someone else.  He always follows those impressions. 

The missionaries then meet with Elder Barney to get some money to start out with and some debit cards to use on their mission.  He gives them other instructions.  Then they have to fill out some forms and order some things, get their passports back from me, and just relish all being together in this office talking with each other. The missionaries love opportunities to get together, to see old companions they have served with, to pass along news and exciting events.

To be asked to train a new missionary is a huge responsibility because you will set the tone of that missionary’s mission and success.  Usually, it is the very best missionaries who are asked to train.  These young men, along with the new missionaries, are full of life and happiness.  They are in white shirts and ties, looking sharp and clean and handsome.  Most of them are so darn cute, and just get cuter as you get to know them better.  They have chosen to stop their schooling, stop whatever other plans they may have had, risk giving up prestigious appointments to the Air Force Academy or several other top schools, and really put their temporal lives on hold, for two years. They come and live in small apartments, learn how to get along with people they didn’t choose to live with who might be very different from them, be in each night by 9 to 9:30, go to bed by 10:30, get up at 6 and exercise, study scriptures for an hour, clean up the apartment, and spend the day reaching out to people who they don’t know and who usually don’t want to talk with a stranger who can barely speak their language.  I watch them all standing in my office, talking and happy and good, and I can hardly keep from crying.  It just touches my heart so deeply.  At this point they are too young to realize how deeply this mission will change their lives, make them in to men and women who are honest, kind, willing to help others, dependable, able to manage money, work hard, be less selfish and make good decisions.  They don’t realize it, but I do.  I know what it did to my children and I’ve seen it in so many of the young single adults we worked with for six years. (I can hardly type this now without tears.) I just want to shout for joy!

Last of all, they go to the church, which is next door to the mission office and receive more instruction and information from President and Sister Baird and the Assistants, and they have a testimony meeting.   President and Sister Baird get more personal with them, telling them about their own experiences that led to their being where they are now, giving them insight into who they are and what is important to them. They do an excellent job of helping the new missionaries understand the culture of this mission, the standard of excellence that is expected, and they share their testimonies.  Finally, President Baird issues a commitment to each missionary, one by one in front of all the others, to read from the Book of Mormon each day, no matter what.  And they are sent off, each with his new companion, to have some lunch and get on the train to their first assigned city.

It’s usually close to 3:00 by then, and we are finished with the part that has to be done within a timeline.  There is still much to do, but it can be done at a more moderate pace.

Whew!  And I have only described three days.  But they are our most intense.