One For The Bucket List

 Actually, this was the Arnells' Bucket List; and since they were leaving Fussa (to return home) last week and we were in possession of their former car, they asked us if we could take them to Hakone on Saturday, the 7th.  Hakone is a tourist town in the mountains, famous for its hot springs (remind anyone of Midway?).  The canyon floor was filled with many hotels providing tourists the opportunity to soak in the springs--"au naturel" is what we were told, but we can't swear to that.  Being the good missionaries that we are, we avoided said hotel areas and headed straight for the lake with its promised scenic sights.  We were definitely not disappointed!!!  The clear sky was a perfect backdrop to a blue lake surrounded by green pine trees with a bright red torii shrine in the water.  If this weren't scenic enough, it was topped off by an awesome white-covered Mt. Fuji in the background!  The beautiful sight was well worth the 25 mile / 90-minute drive!

Amazing Lake Ashi with a torii in the water and Mt. Fuji in the background
Toriis are Shinto shrines.

We were enjoying the site when, to our amazement, a beautiful "pirate ship" came into view.  It was one of many tourist ships at the lake providing rides around the lake and back again.  We tried to get on the next ride out, but it was booked full.  We would then have had to wait over 90 minutes for the next ride and just figured it was too cold to wait that long for an even colder ride on the water.
So we ditched that plan and settled for a local lunch instead.

Cool-looking "pirate ship" shuttling tourists around the lake

 As the little restaurant had no English nor romaji (Roman letters sounding out Japanese words), we ordered off the pictures on the menu.  We got a good pork cutlet, rice, and pickled surprises.  When we saw another couple being brought fried rice--which we just love!--I went up to the waitress and tried to order that.  Not knowing the word for "fried," I was unsuccessful with my verbal efforts.  However, nothing works like bringing the waitress over to the others' table and pointing!  ha!  (I have since learned the word for fried rice--chahan--so we now have a fail safe when all else eludes us!  In fact, on my walk the other day, I discovered a nearby restaurant, displaying pictures outside mostly of ramen noodles, rice and fried rice, and gyozas {pot stickers}.  We've already tried it out with our two local elders
and have given it our personal stamp of approval!!!)

Us freezing, but enjoying the sights!

Note that Mt. Fuji is now clouded over--a most common occurrence

A torii in the parking lot at Lake Ashi

I couldn't resist shooting a pic of Mickey in the back of an alley

Driving back to Fussa from Hakone, we stopped briefly at Odawara Castle.  We didn't go inside, however, as the entrance fee was somewhat expensive and it didn't include any English.  We hope to return another time with elders on their P-day.  It was a cool place and definitely worth the stop!  The Arnells and others  took advantage of the cheap rental costumes to assume roles of shogun or princess. 

Samurai, prince, and princesses in costume

Samurai Arnell-san and bride

On the 10th we and the Arnells drove 90 minutes to Kunitachi, where we enjoyed a wonderful Mission Conference with half of the mission's 160 elders and sisters.  The other half had already held their conference the week before.  President Albrecht gave an awesome presentation on goal setting and teaching the doctrine of Christ and of our loving Father in Heaven.  The zone leaders also did a presentation on improper and proper ways to "street"--talk to strangers on the street about the Church.  The conference went from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and was worth every minute of it.  Since the Arnells were riding back to the Mission Home with the President and his wife, we said our goodbyes then and promised 

to look each other up in our stateside travels.

I can't remember if I have mentioned this before but the Arnells are now basically" homeless."  They sold their home years earlier so that when called on a mission, they would have nothing to worry about back home.  They have one daughter and a soon-to-be-born baby to assist for a while; then they will be staying with another daughter and children for a year while her husband will be stationed in Korea.  After that, they look forward to serving another mission, and so forth.  They were awesome sponsors in getting us situated here in Fussa--in our apartment (theirs, formerly), on all the electronic hookups, at places to eat, and at navigating for Elder Galbraith as he drove on the left side to the many various locations we will need to access while here.  We will miss them but wish them the very best!

The week finished up with my attending PWOC on Wednesday for another Bible Study lesson on the Book of Esther, visiting two less-active sisters with the Relief Society president on Thursday, and Elder Galbraith and I visiting one less-active family one night and then two less-active sisters another day.  We did pay the Chaplain a visit, but to our disappointment, he was unable to share any members' local addresses with us due to "privacy laws."  We are hoping that our Branch President, as the local lay leader, will be able to get that information as he has received quite a few membership records for people  for whom we don't have any contact info.  Once we get that info, we will be able to assist the Branch President
in locating these members and visiting with them.