He Had a Glow About Him

Dear Family,

The contingent of missionaries in the Japan Fukuoka Mission has dwindled from 130 last fall to 105 at present.  For the period March to July, we are ramping up to 165, with the promise of more to come. There is talk of going as high as 240, though that seems beyond some limit of practicality.  With the recent creation of 58 new missions in the church, there is place for an additional 8-9000 missionaries without exceeding the traditional manageable number of 150 per mission.  In keeping with the age requirement reduction, the missionaries coming are younger and more skewed toward the female persuasion.  Pat’s work as mission secretary is ramping up commensurate with the accelerated influx of missionaries. She is busy tracking each missionary and seeing that he/she and his/her family receive appropriate letters and information at various stages of the process, from the time the call is received until they return home. She coordinates their travel, working with travel offices in Tokyo and SLC.  She also prepares orientation materials for new arrivals and a commemorative binder for each missionary going home. When all of that is done, with Peggy Lee…..

“she can wash out 44 pairs of socks and have 'em hangin’ out on the line,

she can starch & iron 2 dozens shirts 'fore you can count from 1 to 9,

she can scoop up a great big dipper full of lard from the drippins can,

Throw it in the skillet, go out & do her shopping, be back before it melts in the pan.”

I just sit back and watch her go 

Sunday we watched a young man, not even a member two weeks ago, pass the sacrament for the first time as an Aaronic Priesthood holder.  He’s 25 but looks 15, as do most young adult Japanese, and though his hair was askew in traditional Japanese male style, he had a glow about him that warmed us all.  We don’t have many converts from the non-Christian multitudes of the Orient, but those that dare to enter the waters of baptism have passed through the refiner’s fire and enter filled with joy. 

We are strengthened and cheered by communications from friends and family. Your love, prayers and encouraging messages sustain us as we approach the 10-month mark of our mission.  Praying for your welfare and happiness and placing our trust “…in Him who can go with [us], and remain with you, and be everywhere for good.” To His care commending you, as [we] hope in your prayers you will commend [us]…”[i] we remain your faithful far-eastern correspondents, Mom and Dad 

[i] Lincoln’s Farewell Address, Springfield, IL, 152 years ago.