Takahata Fudoson Temple

The Arnells had Jim practice his driving by directing us to a famous pagoda and temple compound about 45 minutes away.  The entire compound was very impressive.  It was a little "junked up" while we were there on December 29 as they were bringing in all kinds of materials for the celebration of New Years.  Vendors were starting to put up their booths, and all kinds of seasonal decorations were being installed.  People were inside the temples bowing and saying vocal prayers.  We really regretted not having a translator there as we would have loved to learn more about what goes on in each of the ten or so buildings there.  The pagoda looks very much like the top picture in our blog.  It was very awe inspiring to say the least!

We also had a senior couples' training session with President & Sister Albrecht and five other couples on the 30th.  The highlight of the session was meeting Elder and Sister Watanabe who, as mission president in Iwakuni, had dinner in our home there over 40 years ago.  We were both surprised to meet each other again.  We didn't expect him to remember us, but it was especially touching when Sister Watanabe later said to us, "I believe you had two little boys, right?"  The Watanabes (ages 80 & 85!) have been called to serve as proselyting missionaries in our mission.  I guess this tells us that

 retirement is not an option in the Church!  ha!

Takahata-fudo is a Buddhist temple of Shingon sect, and is located in Hino city about 30 km west of Shinjuku.  It is said that this temple was founded in the late 9th century by Priest En'nin according to Emperor Seiwa's wish.  It enshrines the Fudo-myoo which is one of the Five Wisdom Kings.  Niomon (the main gate) and Fudodou (the main temple) were built in the 14-15th centuries, and many Buddhist statues housed in the buildings were made in the 10-15th centuries.  Most of them are designated as nationally important cultural assets.

Arnells and Takahata Fudoson Pagoda
Pagoda is based on early Heian Period style
Possibly built in the late 700s

Getting the pagoda ready for celebration

Horinkaku Hall

Smaller temple with donation box

Incense burner

Fudo Hall from the 14th century

Pagoda and flags

New Years wreath above doorway
Homes display smaller varieties of these wreaths

2011--A Very Unique Christmas

The good news of this year's Christmas was that there was absolutely no stress at all.  The bad news of this year's Christmas was that there was no Christmas mood at all either.  First of all, all presents were delivered way in advance.  Secondly, we didn't decorate our Midway home as we were headed to the MTC (Missionary Training Center) on December 5.  (Obviously, not much Christmas experience happened there except for the hymns we sang.)  And once we arrived in Japan on December 20, there was very little Christmas lighting or decorating or celebrating going on.  Although the Japanese do not honor the Christmas holiday, they tend to celebrate it a little in stores and some Christian sites.  

New Years is their big winter holiday.

Christmas Eve afternoon found us, the Arnells, and two children they were babysitting (ages 3 and 6) taking the train to a popular winter/summer destination--a former U.S. air base turned into a park. 

Dragon Climbing Area

Dragon Climbing Area

We strolled through the park until we reached the boys' desired location, a "bouncy place."  Their suffering from the freezing cold was briefly eliminated as they bounced away their "pain."

Bouncy "hills" of very sturdy, but flexible plastic

After that we waited until the big event, The Illumination, occurred (like turning on the lights at Temple Square); then we escaped the cold and boarded the train for home as thousands of Japanese were pouring in to watch three hours of freezing cold outdoor entertainment before the 8 p.m. fireworks would be set off.

Ground Illumination

Illumination of thousands of champagne glasses

Lighted icicles on the tree actually "dripped"!

Christmas afternoon found us at the LDS chapel nearby.  The military branch put on the typical musical narrative of the nativity.  Although it didn't compare to the almost-professional versions we have witnessed in various home wards, it was equally tender to witness the best efforts put forth by the small branch.  After sacrament meeting, we picked up two boxes of "Missionary Christmas Gifts" that members had filled in the foyer and took them to the Arnells' apartment.  The two missionaries assigned to this branch came with us to open the gifts.  Most of the gifts were a variety of treats, but some were extra special treats to the American elders as they were large bags of chips and salsa purchased from the commissary!  The elders also got ties and socks.  It was fun watching them open the gifts.

Sister Arnell

Elder Arnell

Elders Christensen and Graham

Fussa chapel right near the main gate to the base.
The chapel is on the 3rd floor.  Toilet seats are
heated in the winter!!!

A couple in the branch have the missionaries for Sunday dinner every other week; thus, this week they hosted the two elders, the Arnells, and us.  They are the parents of the two boys who nearly froze to death the night before.  It was good to see the boys in better spirits!  ha!  The wife had fixed a wonderful ham dinner and a wonderful homemade plum pudding.  It was a very enjoyable visit there and a unique Christmas overall that will not be forgotten.

Getting Settled In

After a one-night stay at the Mission Home hosted by an awesome President and Sister Albrecht, our "sponsoring couple," the Arnells, picked us up and brought us to Fussa to inhabit their old apartment (now ours) for the next 10 weeks or so.  (They have made other arrangements for their last few weeks here in Japan.)  We believe the measurements are somewhere between 375 to 400 square feet,

so that should give a good idea of our spaciousness. 

It's a lot like living in a trailer as every bit of space is well occupied.  The queen-size bed is four inches short of the wall, so I do have to perform a little acrobatics to get to my side of the bed.

Acrobat-creating bedroom

The kitchen is so small that the pantry is found in the living room, which is just big enough to handle our desk, a love seat, and a recliner. 

Tiny kitchen with "subzero" counter space

                                                       Garbage collection is quite an art!  In fact, one must have a calendar on the fridge in order to know what goes out on what day!

4-month calendared instructions for garbage pick-up of 8 categories

Teeny living room/office

Other half of the living room

The washer/dryer stack unit only runs on cold water.  There is not even a hose for hot!

Wee bathroom & laundry + shower are to the right

The heater/AC wall units are only in the kitchen and living room.  Bedroom, bath, and potty closet are not heated.  I mean, what else do you need, right?!  Hopefully, a few pictures will be worth
much more than my 1,000 words!

Potty/broom closet  (spout on tank spurts water for hand washing)

Our apartment is a 12-plex, and we are the only ones with a car.  We pay $150 a month to rent the car
and the same amount to park it next to the apartment.

We are on the 2nd floor and on a clear day can make out Mt. Fuji
between telephone poles and clothes lines.  Still, it is remarkable!

Mt. Fuji from our window

Due to our arrival coinciding with the Christmas and New Years holiday season, we have not been able to do any real missionary work with the military members as they are either gone or involved with their own activities.  We have, however, been involved with the local missionaries and have already attended two of their district meetings as well as one of their English classes.  We plan to continue those activities as well as hope to get some assignments from the Branch or District President regarding part-member families, less actives, or whatever else they have for us for the remainder of our stay here.  In the meantime the Arnells have really helped us get electronically settled in as well as familiar with riding the trains and driving on the left side to a number of various locations we'll be required to visit under our jurisdiction.  Due to traffic congestion, these cities may be only a few kilometers away, but that translates into a couple hours' drive!  Gridlock is the norm here, but Elder G is doing a great job navigating through it!