A Milestone Month

New months are rolling around far too fast! Oct 5th marked one year since we entered the Missionary Training Center, and Oct 20th was the one year anniversary of our arrival in Okinawa. We can hardly believe we have crossed the half-way point of our mission!

I love the wooden Welcome plaque I made with the help of a crafty friend. It will hang at our door when we return home to Colorado next year.

On Oct 28th we experienced yet another typhoon. For school children, it's the Okinawa equivalent of a "snow day". It shut down the island, but fortunately there was no significant damage. Unfortunately, it happened to be Transfer Day! Flights were canceled. It took three days to accomplish what is usually one long day of shuffling missionaries on, off and around the island.

October's events also included General Conference and Zone Conference. Due to a 15-hour time difference between here and Utah, we view Conference delayed via DVD. Still, it was inspiring. I love Zone Conference too. It is generally conducted about half in Japanese and half in English. Almost all the missionaries on Okinawa speak English. They are a combination of Americans, Canadians, Australians, and Japanese whose English skills are very good. Here's a snapshot of just the sister missionaries taken at Zone Conference.

In some ways, Okinawa is not typically Japanese. It has a many-hundreds year old cultural history all its own. Additionally, there is a strong American influence due to military bases our government maintains on the island. American military presence plays a major role in defense strategy in Asia.

It is our great privilege to associate with amazing military families. Many have traveled extensively ~ working and living in all corners of the globe. These friends have lived in Turkey, Italy, Holland, Cuba, Guam, The Philippines, Korea, Germany ... all around the world! We benefit from their experience and global perspective.

Culture Corner this month includes a number of activities and excursions:

I got another lesson in the art of kimono dressing. These sweet ladies dressed each participant in the traditional Japanese kimono. There is so much attention to detail! Notice the real flowers which were pinned meticulously in our hair. The kimono has many layers and parts. I counted no fewer than EIGHT belts and ties that went around my waist! The beautiful wide sash which completes the kimono look is called an obi.





We visited a small sheltered workshop where disabled men live and make crafts to sell. Kokeshi dolls are popular handmade wooden dolls, characterized by a head and simple figure without arms or legs.

The wood is left outdoors to season for one to five years before it can be used.

This man is shaping the kokeshi doll on a lathe. Then it is sanded, painted and finished.

War History - Phil has a special interest in military history and especially WWII history. Living here has given him a window into the Battle of Okinawa. We visited this small but very well done exhibit of war artifacts on Camp Kinser US Marine Corps Base.