Good Afternoon everyone,

First I must appologize in advance for my poor writing form. My creative juices only flow from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. However, I find myself with some time at the present so I'll seize the moment.

Hair Salon Names: 'Clip Clop' (no horsing around here) and 'Hair Make Antenna', (where your haircut will help people receive you better.)

I went to a Yakiniku restaurant the other night with Scott. I love Yakiniku. You have a little barbeque grill in the middle of the table and you cook meat and vegetables on it. Then you dip it in a sauce and eat it on top of rice. Yummy!! I ordered a salad with my meal. They brought my salad and I started to eat it. It was delicious! After a while I noticed the people at the next table had the same salad but the man was using smaller bowls to serve everyone at the table. I realized I was eating out of the bowl that was meant for several people. It was like you taking the salad at Olive Garden and eating right out of the big bowl. How embarrassing! I'm sure everyone was thinking, "Wow, those American's, they like things big!". It really wasn't that big, it was a salad like you get at Cafe Rio or Bajio. Just another cultural adventure in the life of Sister Baird.
A big shout out to Janna Holmes who paid to come visit me. Thank you! Thank you! I enjoyed every minute of it! I must say, it was very hard to see you leave. We enjoyed Japan's beautiful scenery, Mountain Villages, Takayama Festival Floats, Sakura (beautiful Sakura) and delicious food. I didn't take her to the Sushi-Ro I'll save that for next time. Of course Janna came serving the people of Sendai. She brought 2 huge suitcases full of coats and blankets that co-workers had donated. She had put them in space bags (bags you take all the air out). When we took them out of the bags, there were 3 huge black garage bags stuffed full. She dragged all of that through the airports and the Shinkansen, bless her heart. But that's nothing out of the ordinary for her, it's a daily thing. She's one of the most service oriented people I have ever met.
I just came down from a small birthday party upstairs in the office. Elder Kyotani who is from Tokyo and serving as one of our office elders, who has the biggest, most beautiful smile you've ever seen, turned 25 today. We learned yesterday that because his family is so big (9 children) that he has never had a birthday or Christmas present. His parents are wonderful parents but economic pressures haven't been good enough for that luxury. The A.P.'s decided he needed a present and a cake. We made a cake and got a few small things so he could unwrap a present or two. Yesterday was his P-Day (preparation day) it's the day they email and read email's from home. He told me that no one had emailed him. I told him to check later to see if they were just late---still no emails. The surprise birthday party the elder's planned was just what he needed. We love him so much it breaks all our hearts to think of sending him back to Tokyo. But I know it's coming---I can feel it.
We have become attached to all these Tokyo missionaries. They are wonderful and we love them. When they first got here it was quite an adjustment for a lot of them, but they went forward and worked hard. In our first meeting the night they came (43 of them), Scott opened up the meeting for questions. One elder asked in a very distressed voice, "Is this permanent?" Scott was inspired. He told them, "I will tell you what Joseph Smith told the Saints when they asked him that question. Build your houses, paint your fences, so if you do leave, you will leave a beautiful legacy behind." I am paraphrasing but that was the idea. I love the prophets. I love the wisdom they receive from God. Most of these Tokyo missionaries are doing exactly that, acting as if this is permanent---- they will leave a wonderful legacy behind---and a lasting impression on us.
We have had some good things happen as a result of the earthquake and tsunami. We have had several people show up to church because they need to find peace in their lives. They needed to know there was a purpose here. What would happen after death and what had happened before life. One 29 year old called his friend because he said he was the happiest, most at peace person he knew. He found out he was a member of the church. He found out where the closest church was and showed up at sacrament meeting. He was just baptized two weeks ago and confirmed this week.
Well Whitney is on her way to Japan!!! Could you hear her shouts when she got her travel plans? She's a little nervous because she's the travel leader for the 22 missionaries that are going to Kobe. Tokyo airport won't be a problem because there are not many there these days, but it's LA she worries about. These missionaries are like her brothers and sisters after 13 weeks. We will receive 22 missionaries as well on the 19th. 10 coming to Nagoya and 12 that are eventually headed to Tokyo. We always love getting new missionaries. That will bring our numbers to around 138.
I was in Suzuka a few Sunday's ago when we met a Korean man there. He is a new member. We visited with him and learned from the elders that he is married but that his wife doesn't show much interest in the church. I found out they have a little girl and were expecting a new baby very soon, a boy. I sent one of the blankets I croquet around the edges, to them. I got a sweet note back, here is a sentence from the letter:
.....frankly speaking last Sunday I got my first fast in my life [fasting on fast sunday]. As you know the last Sunday's lesson title was fast. So I thought maybe I can feel some of God's miracle. That's true. I could feel it. I could feel something grateful and something sacred. My body was so light and my mind was so clear. I couldn't feel any temptation.............I admire you and your family. How do you make your mind to come to this Japan? Deserting your job and leaving your friends? I am still the only church member in my house. One of my dream is to go to church holding my family's arm and spending our whole life for God's work. Please help me to be strong and teach me the God's word and show the way of God......
What a sweet thing, he wants to go to church together with his family holding their arms. I have to tell you the rest of the story--a few weeks after this letter his wife went to the doctor and he couldn't find a heart beat.. they baby had died. I'm grateful he has the peace the gospel brings, the knowledge that families can be together after this life. We will keep loving his wife and someday I pray she will understand the truth of the gospel and eternal families.

Ja mata ne, from the land of earthquakes, tsunami's and nuclear crisis---and we couldn't feel more safe.

Love you all,
Sister Baird, Bonnie, Mom or Grandma

Cultural tip of the week: Women take small blankets everywhere. To church, work, the bus, etc. When I get my hair cut my hair dresser puts a little blanket over me so I won't get cold. If you could experience the 'no central heating' thing, you would understand why they carry blankets around.

Hello from Nagoya!

I hear Utah has had its share of snow and cold this year. I hope you are all staying warm by the fire with your hot chocolate and snuggies. Snuggies here have an extra pouch attached in front with a hole so you can put your dog in it, you can stay warm together while it pokes it's little head out . We haven't had much snow, at least none that sticks to long, but up in our north areas like Kanazawa, they have been pounded with the stuff. We have faithful missionaries that continue to work despite it all. They bundle up and climb on their bikes to weather the storms.

First, with some regret, I have to say, I have no new hair salon names. Don't fret, I will continue to look, it's become a fun past time of mine when we go anywhere.

I am happy to report that Whitney arrived safely to the MTC and she didn't even have to walk. Thanks family for taking over the duties so well! While she was here we went out and bought her bike for her mission. It was quite a trip. Scott was busy so he sent us with the Elders. It was great! Whitney's never had so many brothers. We found her a spiffy bike, basket, lock and helmet. She's set to travel the streets of Kobe! Just add her rain suit and she'll be good to go!

I know I have told you all about my language adventures in Japan, well here's the most current event. I went to mail a package for the Manning children. We have a thing going that if they read all the articles in the Friend and tell me about their favorite one, I mail them a little treat. I went to the post office and the woman at the desk was helping me fill out the form. Of course we were communicating in "sign language". I just wrote -candy and toys- where it asked for contents, she pointed to it made a few hand motions and some how I knew she was telling me I needed to be more specific. So she gave me a new form. Then she handed me this big laminated card that had pictures on it of different things that could be in the package so I would know how to identify the items. I saw one that looked like a party hat and crayons, so I pointed to that. Her eyes got wide and I looked at the picture again and realized that above it, it said 'Explosives'. I put my arms in a big cross like they do and started shaking my head. I thought, great, now the mail police will be here soon. She realized I had not understood and we both had a good laugh. Oh to be illiterate and mute!

When Whitney left she told me I had to go visit with the Sister's and Elder's on Mondays. She wanted me to go to lunch with them or something so I wouldn't get lonely. I think she was a little worried about me---I don't know why---maybe it's because every time she looked at me, I cried. Well last Saturday I had some of the sister's call. There are three together in one area and one of them was struggling a little and just needed to hear a mom's voice on the phone. I asked them if one p-day after they got all their cleaning, washing and emailing done (you really don't have to worry about that with the sister's, now the elder's-that's another story!) if they wanted to go to lunch with me. They said "Yes! This Monday will work." So there I had it, my first monday lunch date, just like Whitney told me to do. When the sisters found out I'd never been to the Sushi Ro that's where we went. What a cultural experience! I loved it! I never would have survived if I didn't have Japanese sisters with me. You sit at these tables that have a hot water spout (for drinking-yes, just hot water) then there is this conveyor belt that goes around and you take the little plates of food off of it that you want. It was AWESOME and so FUN! The only thing is it's very Japanese food. Big shrimp (Ebi) with huge eyeballs, you break off the head and as Ryoko says, "suck out the brains". I can't do that yet, maybe next time! I did eat more fish eggs which were very good. Undercooked, kind of slimy shrimp, all kinds of sushi (yummy) and a bunch of other things. If you're coming to Japan, we're going there, so gear your stomachs up! I've attached some pictures. Then the sisters wanted to take Pudies (pictures that are pretty funny) and eat some Mochie (sp) because I'd never had it. I really liked it! It was like stretchy marshmallow around ice cream balls. I had a great day, a real pick-me-up day. That just goes to show that parents need to listen to their children. Thanks Whitney!

Scott went out to Dendo (find people) with the Elders two days ago in Ueda. He got a bike. I worried about that. I told him we are of the age that it's good to go biking leisurely around the park with our hats, arm covers and such, but it's another thing to go out tracting with the Elders and try to keep up with them. He didn't believe me. He came into our hotel room later that night, and as he got into bed (12 inches from the ground) I thought he was 190 years old! He moaned and groaned. I asked him what in the world was the matter. He said "Nothing". I said "I can see that." He said,"I kind of crashed on my bike." Yes he'd crashed. He hurt his shoulder, arm and maybe has broken a couple of ribs. It hurts him when he laughs and he's been taking Ibuprofen every four hours--he NEVER takes anything. Well--at least he didn't tear his suit.

Well, enough of this trivial stuff. I need to tell you that the missionaries are wonderful! They work so very hard.
We had a very sad thing happen this last week. One of our missionaries brothers, died. They were only about 18 months apart. It was a tragic thing. We've worried about him. He's really been through some hard things. He struggled when he was younger and was kicked out of his house. He lived in his car for over a year until it was repossessed. Then he moved in with this brother, the one that just died. He decided he needed to straighten up his life. Then he decided to go on a mission. He worked hard spiritually and financially to get here. I thought this news would make him want to leave, but bless his heart----he's staying. He's been a rock. I so admire him. Like I say---we have amazing elders and sisters.

Elder Palmer (who is another Sugoi missionary!) is serving up in Nanao (way up north) He told us about Brother Okazaki there who rides his bicycle to church one hour each way to attend. The Elders teach Eikaiwa (English classes) in the evenings, once a week. Brother Okazaki wants to support the Elders in English class so he always attends. One week his bike was broken so he walked over two hours at night to still be there. These members are amazing.

In Nanao the Branch President is PresidentTeraguchi. The branch is so small that he conducted sacrament, blessed the sacrament, gave the opening prayer and taught Sunday School. These members are teaching me that I have nothing to complain about.
Every time we travel to different wards and branches I meet the investigators that are getting ready for baptism. It's such an amazing experience. To see how the gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives.

Thank you for all your emails. It's so wonderful to know there is still life going on across the ocean. I'm am heading off once again to Daiei, the great grocery store, another adventure. I'll feed 16 tomorrow for zone council. I love it. Feeding 16 Elder's is really more like feeding 30 people, but they love everything I make. Not that I'm a good cook, just that it's a mom who's cooking for them. They treat me with such love and respect, I love them.

Signing off,
Sister Baird, Bonnie, Mom or Grandma

Cultural tip of the week: We do not have garbage disposals in Japan. We have a little basket container in the drain that catches all the food. You put a little 'hair net' like thing in it and then throw the whole thing away. It drove me crazy at first, but it really is quite function-able. (I know this isn't dejavu, because I don't have that anymore--due to brain deterioration-- but it seems like I've already given this cultural tip, if I have, please forget my forgetfulness.)

Good Morning everyone!

Business first: Hair salon names, 'Bell Hair', 'God's Hair', and perhaps my favorite of all time---'Hair Make Lady Go'.

2010 ended in a big way with Katheryn and Micah's wedding. It was a wonderful day. Everything was beautiful. Thank you McKenzie for all your work! It was fun to be in Utah with family. I realized that I live in a completely different world in Japan. The people, the customs, the language, our schedule. It's like stepping through a door into a totally different life. Sort of like the cupboard in Narnia. I miss everyone at home, but when I was home, I missed everyone here. It's an interesting phenomenon.

The New Year is up and running for us as I know it is for everyone. We wish all of you a wonderful 2011!
We are carrying on at a very fast pace, as usual. The year started with missionary interviews and then specialized training for all the missionaries.
We have had Whitney here since the 22nd of December and we've enjoyed every minute of it. She'll go home on the 20th of this month and I really don't like to think about it. But what's most exciting for her is she will enter the MTC on January 26th. She has a little bit of the pre-mission jitters and there's been a little crying on this end from all three of us. Another new stage of life. You'd think I'd get use to these new stages wouldn't you? She is so excited to go, but all those things like leaving family, the language, being 5'9" in a 5'1" world, are a little disconcerting at times for her.

I know it doesn't seem like being tall in Japan should be a big deal does it? We went to the Suwa branch on Sunday. There were about 50 members. I think about 25 of them were in "Awe and Amazement" at her height! They all commented and then stood dumbfounded. The 14-15ish year old young women stood around her and did hand motions in front of their faces and screamed "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa". She was brave and just smiled. Anywhere we go, people stop and stare and point. I got to thinking about this 'predicament'. Whitney all her life has tried to do her best to not be noticed-----the Lord wants her noticed. So He sent her to Japan where she will 'stand out'. She is not only tall--- she is beautiful. She knows her Savior, she loves Him. People will notice and pay attention, just what the Lord needs here in Japan. She's going to be a 'SUGOI' (awesome) missionary! I can't wait to get her emails!

Yesterday, January 11th was her birthday. Scott was doing specialized training. Whitney and I went to Nagoya station and had Tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlets), then we went to Komeda's where we had chocolate milk with ice in it and ice cream on top (sounds weird but it's very good!) and a pastry thing with syrup and ice cream on top. We ended the day with Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Domino's Pizza. Can I begin to tell you what my stomach felt like all night?

Scott had ordered pizza because no one else here could, a language thing, and we were waiting for it. (Footnote: Whitney and I had felt brave enough a few days before to go through the McDonalds drive thru......this sounds easy I know....but not when you don't speak the language. They couldn't understand my "Big-u-Mac-u, set-o". When we got to the window all the employees were laughing, and I'm not exaggerating, full out laughing, so we laughed with them. They had to show us pictures so they knew what we wanted. Seriously, this is my life!) Back to the birthday night---We were watching a DVD and waiting for the pizza when Scott came in and said that Whitney had visitors. We went into the living room. There were the very cute, amazing youth from our Meito ward. They were all kneeling on our L-shaped couches, perfectly quiet, with their backs toward us so we couldn't see their faces. They had gotten our honbu missionaries to participate. Then all together they turned around. It was so hysterically funny!!!!! They had taken pictures of Whitney off her Facebook page and made 'Whitney masks'. They each had a different 'Whitney face'. We laughed so hard. Then they sang a song for her. One of the girls can play the piano very well and we all sang Hymns together. It was so fun. They had made her this yummy gelatin, it looks like milk jell-o and it had mandarin oranges on it, sounds not so good, but it's really good. Last night when we went up to bed they had taken the masks and had decorated her door with them and had a "Happy Birthday" sign. They had made her feel so loved and happy. The youth in this ward are amazing! When I see them, I have great hope for the church in Japan.

January has been a month with maybe to much excitement: We had a missionary go MIA on us for a few hours, McKenzie and Craig's Kimball, has a severe tree nut allergy and will carry an Epi-pin for the rest of his life, Lindsay and Kris are waiting on tests to see if there are problems with the baby they are expecting in July. We realize we are not the only ones experiencing trials and challenges in our lives. They are all around us. I am so very grateful for the peace and comfort that comes from the knowledge that "everything will work out". It will all be fine, no matter what. I am grateful for the Atonement. He knows exactly how we feel. He's felt it all. "Have I not commanded ye? Be strong and of a good courage. Be not afraid neither be dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest." Joshua 1:9. I know He's aware, that He is with us wherever and through whatever we go.

We love you all. Thank you for your emails and your prayers. We feel your support and your love.

Sister Baird, Bonnie, mom or grandma

Cultural tip of the week: For Christmas, the three of us went to Harry Potter. Fun! The cost of a movie here is 1500 - 1800 yen per person, that's about $20 to $22 American dollars. When you buy your tickets they pull out a seating cart and you pick the seats you want. They also give a discount for senior couples (Fu Fu, my small Japanese vocabulary, but it means couple), which in Japan, is 50. It's made me feel a little old, however, they did ask to see our license, that made me feel a little better---maybe they thought we came disguised to look old. When you buy treats at the theater, of course they put it on a tray, they put everything on trays.
Wherever you go, when you are paying, they give you a small tray to put your money or credit card on, then they give it back to you with your receipt or change on it. This is a very important custom, nobody just hands money to one another, it's always done with the tray. Very cool!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I know you are all looking forward to having a wonderful feast on Thanksgiving Day and being with family and friends. We will be having a quiet little get together with the Honbu (mission home) staff. I ordered my turkey from Costco and a few other things so it will seem like the real McCoy. We've asked our missionaries to take time at lunch to have something nice to eat and to share with their companions, a particular time in their life when they were thankful for someone or something. We have also asked them to make it a day of service. We all have so much to be thankful for.

We have been in Osaka this past week for a Mission President's seminar for the North Asian Area; Japan, Korea and Micronesian Islands (Guam, Saipan etc.). It was beautiful! The leaves were stunning. We stayed in The New Otani hotel that is located on the river. We had a perfect view of the river, the skyline of Osaka and the Osaka Castle. It was probably one of the most beautiful views I've ever seen. We also visited Nara. Amazing! It has a huge Buddhist shine and park. The deer are all over. They walk right up to you. You buy these biscuits to feed them. I was so excited I bought 2 stacks of biscuits. Before I could get the edible tape off them, a whole herd had gathered around us! It was crazy! They started pulling at my skirt and Scott's jacket, nibbling on my legs. We were a spectacle! Not to mention we ended up with deer slim all over us. If you ever get to Japan, that's another 'must see'. It is out of our mission but very close to us.

Hair salon names! 'Hair Bless', 'Mustache' and 'Hair Pop'. I love Japan!

Our sweet Ryoko got baptized on the 14th of this month. She looked beautiful! She was so happy. It was fast and testimony meeting and she stood and bore a beautiful testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel. I wish you could all meet her. I think she will come visit us in Utah some day. We love her and her mother, Megumi. Thank you again Sister Palmer for sending them to us. You are a good member missionary!

When we first got here and had the opportunity to speak in several of the wards and branches, I told them what I call the 'Ramona Story' (Ramona, I hope you don't mind, I think I cleared this with you before.) Ramona and I had met in the cal-du-sac one day, as we often did. It was January and we got to talking about our 2009 New Year's goals. We both, independently had set a goal to read the Book of Mormon four times that year. It was great to find someone doing the same thing I was. As we would meet, in the cul-de-sac again, we discovered we could read this book at least 6 times in one year if we read 10 pages a day. On other occasions through the year, when we would see each other we would talk about what we were reading and how we loved Nephi or Jacob or Alma, etc. In January of this year, 2010, Ramona called me and asked if I had reached my goal. I happily reported I had, and I had loved every minute of it. I had developed a relationship with those amazing people that fill it's pages and with the Lord. I asked her if she had finished and she had, not only reading it 6 times but 7! She said that she was thinking about it and thought "this has been the best year of my life". Then she thought, "Wait, this has been the hardest year of my life!" So many things had happened in the year that had been trying for their family. She told me that even though it had been the worst year of her life, it had also been the best. The Book of Mormon had buoyed her up and given her strength to meet the tests and trials of the year.
Last Saturday and Sunday we attended and spoke in the Nagano District Conference. Afterward a sweet sister from Matsumoto came up to me and said (through a translator) that when she had heard that story a few months ago she had decided to do the same thing. She felt she needed strength to withstand her trials, so she had began to read 10 pages in the Book of Mormon every day. She held the book to her chest and started to cry. She said she had almost finished her second time through. She told me what a difference reading 10 pages a day had made in her life. This I know to be total truth. It does make a difference. I watched Ryoko as she first started to read and didn't really understand anything except that Nephi forgave his brothers after all they had done to him, now, she understands more and more. She loves the things she's reading, all because she consistently does it everyday. The scriptures change lives.

Last night I was very tired. I stood at my kitchen counter a little overwhelmed. It has been a busy, busy month. Just in the last week we have had Mission President's conference which was wonderful. Then we had District Conference. A baptism (Sister Clark and Sister Wada's investigator, Sister Goto in Matsumoto). We have a couple of trips to wards planned. I am preparing for Sister's Conference next week and transfers the week after and getting ready to go home for a wedding. I had been to the dentist for the 5th and final time to finish a root canal. I had had a dream about home the night before and it was so real, it was like I was with all of you. I realized how much I missed everyone. How long it had been since I'd seen you all. I had put on Christmas music during the day to try to feel 'genki', but it wasn't the same without anyone here in the house. I haven't even thought about Christmas or had the same 'to do' list as normal. Elder Ishii had just called and asked us to speak in the Ise ward sacrament and do a fireside later that day. It was late and like I said before, I was tired. I was putting away a few things that were on the counter, among them, our family cookbook. I picked it up to put it away. I looked at the title. 'Baird Family Favorites'. I remembered the reason we picked that title. Our 'favorite' recipes. Many of our 'favorite' people's pictures are in there and each family's 'favorite' scripture. I opened it up. It opened to 'The Mark and Jaquelyn Standing Family'. I read their favorite scripture; "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31. It was as if the Lord had helped you help me. I turned to all your pictures and family scriptures and read each one. Finding strength from each verse. Thank you all for you support, for your strength. I love you all.

Sunday after Sister Goto had been baptized and we were waiting for her to come back in, we sang Christmas Hymns. I didn't have my English Hymn book and it's different when you aren't singing the words you know. I tried to sing in English, it's surprising how I can't recall the versus in English when everyone else is singing in Japanese. I looked up at the sweet sister leading the music, I looked around at others. I was overwhelmed with the love I felt for them. I thought to myself, how will I ever leave these people when our time is up? How can I bear that? I have grown to love them so dearly. Leaving will most likely mean, never seeing them again. I love these people. They are so kind and humble. This experience is so incredible.

I am thankful to all of you. I am thankful to the Lord for sending us to Japan.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Sister Baird, Bonnie, mom or grandma

Cultural tip of the week: Our beautiful little park is magnificent! People meet there at 6:00 - 6:30a.m. to do stretching. It is a cultural experience I love. In the evening around 4:00-6:00 people meet there with their dogs. It is so fun. They all go around, loving each others dogs. Those dogs should all be fat! They are constantly sharing treats with all the dogs. It's so fun. Just another thing on my 'I love Japan because....' list. I'm going to send pictures when I figure out how. There is this man with a small white dog with spiky hair. He paints a hot pink spot between it's ears, it's so stylish! I'm getting quite familiar with the dogs around here:)

Good Morning!
I hope you all have recovered from your Halloween Candy hangovers and you're as excited about Thanksgiving as I am. The weather here has been crisp and beautiful. We've been traveling this week and the mountains of Japan are breath-taking. They have apple orchards in Nagano. The abundant, huge beautiful hanging apples made the lyrics of a primary song go through my head;
Autumn day, autumn day, God gives richest gifts today. Look on every side and see pleasant things for you and me, apples red and apples yellow, round and juicy, sweet and mellow, load the trees till they bend over and their branches brush the clover, Child, be glad with all that lives, But forget not God, who gives.

Hair salon names: 'Roo moon'(?), 'Posse Cuts' and 'Hello Beauty'. I saw a place called 'Hair Salon', I about fell out of the car!

Some quick updates:
Had another meeting with the Yakuza on the freeway. This time it wasn't as bad as the first, but still scared the stuffin' (in honor of Thanksgiving!) right out or me! For those of you that don't know who the Yakuza are, they are the Japanese Mafia and they like to try to make you hit them on the freeway, they act like real 'turkeys'! Thanks again for you prayers.

We have spent the last week with a General Authority from Korea, Elder Chio (he gave the 'Rowdy Boys' talk in the Priesthood session of conference awhile ago). They have stayed in our home and traveled with us. This is probably the thing I was most nervous about before coming, entertaining General Authorities. I feel better now. They were delightful and we learned so much from Elder and Sister Chio. She goes by Sister Chio in the church, but in Korea she goes by Sister Koo. Women in Korea don't change their last name to their husband's surname when they marry. Their 18 year old son, Soon Yoon was with them. He was great! He sat through 3 days of meeting for 7 hours each. That was hard for me! Then more meetings for the next 2 days. We found a little Korean restaurant and I had real Kim Chi (sp?) for the first time. I liked it a lot! I love Korean food!

We had transfers last week. It's always exciting to get our new missionaries and have that first impression of them. It's hard to let the ones you have grown so close to, leave. We lost three this transfer. Elder Da Silva had an early flight so Scott, the A.P.'s and the other 2 leaving took him to the airport (50 minutes away). When they returned we had breakfast. Sister Kobashi didn't look so good. Everyone gets so nervous when they are going home. I asked her if she was okay she said she was just a little car sick (maybe Scott's driving?). Elder Furukawa came in freezing, he didn't feel well and had the chills. We got in the car to head first to the airport again, then come back to the Shinkansen (bullet train). Sister Kobasi somehow got in the back seat of the van, (a bad spot for car sick people!) and Elder Furukawa in the middle row seat by the window. Pretty soon it was evident that Sister Kobashi needed some kind of container. She was sick. After I asked what I could do to help her, she asked if we could roll down the windows, it would make her feel better. So we did. Well, remember Elder Furukawa? He has chills and is freezing to death? He's by the window. I literally think he was turning blue because he was so cold. I know it's usually a good thing to see the humor in bad situations and this almost made me get the giggles. It was a little humorous. We sent off poor freezing Elder Furukawa at the airport and then ran to the train station to deliver car sick, Sister Kobashi. We waited for awhile then Scott said it was time to go up to the platform. The train came in, I looked at the clock it was 1:45, Sister Kobashi's train was at 1:55. She started to get on. I asked Scott about the time, he told me she knew what she was doing. The doors closed, all the time we were all waving and smiling at each other, then she must have realized it was the wrong train because she tried to open the door (not a good idea when your on a moving bullet train) they wouldn't open, 'thank' goodness. My last image of her was her standing there, trying to frantically pry the door open and the train pulling away. All the while Scott was still waving and smiling, calling "bye-bye"! I was just sick! We'd put her on the wrong train! I worried about her all day. We called her mother later and she said she had made it fine, she had just arrived home a little early. Wow! And people trust their children to us!!

While we were in Nagano with the Chio's, we went to visit a family there. The father, Brother Musashino, was one of the first to join the church after the war. He is now blind and bedridden. His wife has Alzheimer's and is bed ridden. Their daughter and her family lives with them. When we arrived their daughter who is Sister Takatsuka and her four children greeted us. We went into the little room probably as big as my exercise room, very small. Her mother lay in a hospital bed, she wasn't coherent. The blind father was in his futon (thin mattress pad) on the floor next to her. Their sweet daughter was so happy and kind. Here she has four little children, ages 9,6,3 and 5 months, to care for and two parents that need constant care. Her husband is a ski instructor and works at the convenience stores in the summer (he's less active now). I couldn't believe her positive attitude. They were all kind and happy. As we sat there in that tiny room, I watched as Elder Chio talked to them. I learned a new meaning of "ministering" to people. I looked at the beautiful, flawless faces of those little children as they listened. I remembered my own little grandchildren at home and thought of their flawless faces. I couldn't control my emotions. There sat these humble, wonderful people, in such challenging circumstances, and still the feeling in that home was beautiful. It was evident that they were so 'thankful' someone had cared enough to come and visit, even a General Authority had come to tell them how much the Lord loved and cared about them. It was so sweet. When we left, Sister Takatsuka and her children had prepared sweet potatoes to send home with us. We saw them at church yesterday and the children had drawn pictures for us. Sora, the oldest child(9), drew a picture of himself as a missionary with a tag that said 'Missionary Sora'.

As I meet the members here, I hear of their struggles with many different issues; rebellious children, health issues, financial pressures. Most of them are not close in proximity to each other. It's hard for them to support one another in that way. So many have expressed family concerns to me. I was thinking of how we could help. Maybe have some kind of training from our area leadership. I just couldn't think of how we could address it all. It seemed so overwhelming. Then the thought came into my mind "If they will seek help from the Lord through prayer and scriptures, He will put into their minds the things they need to do". I thought of how often when I have been wrestling with an issue, that something I read, or someone I talk to, seems to give me an idea or answer. I know He is in the very details of our lives. He knows us. He helps us when we seek Him.

We were in Ueda Saturday night for a fireside (not far from Nagano). There are 12 active members there. They had 33 at the fireside. Elder Chio was the speaker. Afterward he asked people to share their thoughts. One that spoke was Sister Nakazawa. She's the District Relief Society President for the Matsumoto Zone and lives in the Ueda Branch. She said she had been praying for a pianist for the Branch. She would ask every missionary that came if they played the piano. No one did. She said she altered her prayer and prayed for a missionary to be sent there that played. One night as she was pleading again with the Lord, she said He told her "I've already provided a piano player. It's you." She answered "I don't know how." He responded "You need to learn." She got on the internet and purchased a book, 'How to learn to play the piano in 30 days'. She was learning! But she still couldn't play the Hymns, they were to difficult. She was reading the Liahona (Japanese Ensign Magazine)one evening and saw that they had a 'Simplified Hymns' book. One of the office elders ordered it for her. She began playing in May. She is now the ward pianist. I wish you all could meet her. Feel of her gigantic spirit and faith. She is so beautiful. She fed me my first Japanese Sushi. Oh how I love her.

There are a hundred other things and people I'd love to tell you about, but I'll save it for a future email. At this Thanksgiving time, I am remembering that 'God, who gives'. I want to tell you the gratitude I feel for; My family. My friends. Your love and support. Your examples. Your faith. Your prayers. These members. These Missionaries. My Savior.

Love to you all
Sister Baird, Bonnie, Mom or Grandma

Cultural tip of the week: There are a million bikes here. You have to be so careful when you drive, they come out of nowhere. Last week we had 2 missionaries crash, Elder Hooton fractured two ribs, Elder Brown had a bad case of road rash. A third, Sister Wilcox, got hit by a car and went under it! All three accidents in two days! Miraculously all of them are fine, except the painful ribs of course.
Many elderly people still ride bikes. I mean 70 to 90 year olds! I saw a sweet little woman in the park who must have been close to 80. She could hardly walk, but she got on her bike and peddled away, her dog on a leash running along side. I could NOT do that! I'd run over the dog and then do a somersault over the handlebars! Amazing!!!!

Ohiogozaimas!

I see that there is snow in Utah! Beautiful! I hope you are all safe and warm. There is a typhoon here! That means a lot of wind and a lot of rain for us.
I can't believe that Halloween is here, or as I have seen it on advertisements in Japan, 'Helloween'. I bet you have all your costumes ready and waitin' to go! We are speaking in a Stake Conference Saturday so we'll miss our Meito Ward's Halloween Party. I hear it's a big event. Lots of investigators come. This will be our 3rd Stake Conference this month, at which we have spoken in both sessions. I use to stress over giving one talk every 3 years or so. Those days are gone for now, however the stress remains.

Once again, hair salon names: Moat Hair, Eagle Hair, Spikey-Spikey, Only One Hair. I love it!

I think they could make a weekly reality show about my adventures in the Japanese grocery stores. Last week I went to Daiei (the bottom floor is like a Walmart). Thinking it was cold enough for a sweater and boots I ventured out. That was a mistake. In the first 5 minutes I realized, dressed as I was, I needed my sweat towel. Have I mentioned they play the same music that repeats the grocery store jingle about every 30 seconds? I hope their employees have psychiatric insurance.
Remember, the grocery cart frames hold two of the little baskets you carry around in American grocery stores? This day I realized I needed two carts, something never heard of before here in Japan. I was indeed a spectacle! Japanese people, for the most part, try not to look at you, because they are private and because they don't want to embarrass you or have you lose face. Well, not so when you are pushing two basket carts. At least the women over 60 that are with their friends or husbands. They go into the whisper, snickering mode. Talk about the great and spacious grocery store! At first I wanted to cry, then I thought, how many people get to have this experience? I decided to enjoy the moment and just stood up straight (as straight as I could with two baskets) straightened my tag, smiled and walked on. I am twice the size of these little Japanese women so I knew what they were thinking! I continued to be the talk of the town when I bought all the bread rolls on the shelf and all the powdered sugar on the wall (they come in 3/4 cup packages!), they don't know I'm feeding the 5,000. It was time to bag. That's another experience all it's own, bring your own bags etc. Next the 'down' escalator to the parking lot. Yes, escalator! Luckily it has grips so your baskets won't roll on down without you or worse, with you. The problem-- I had two carts. It didn't occur to anyone to help me, they just stood in awe, literally. I'm sure they would have helped me if I would have asked. I didn't know how to ask and I was a little to proud to. I figured it all out though, one basket in front of me then jump on, then pull one behind me, all the while sweating bullets. Getting off was even more tricky. I realized if I had fallen I don't think anyone would have helped. They don't like to intrude on your private space or embarrassing moments. I love the grocery store! I seriously do. I just wish they had a normal size basket, at least one, for the crazy American women with the tag, that hoards food!

Our cute Ryoko will be baptized on November 14! We are so excited. We had her, her mother Megumi and the missionaries over for a lesson. It's amazing to see how they have blossomed. Sister Oldroyd, our office secretary had sent Ryoko a new triple combination scripture set and Megumi a beautiful new Bible. They were so thrilled! Megumi just cried. During the lesson, the elders and Scott talked to them about the gift of the Holy Ghost. Ryoko, crying, touched her heart and said "I can't describe this feeling, my heart feels shiny." Scott told her that was a perfect way to describe that feeling of the Holy Ghost, a 'shiny heart'. We are so excited for them both.

At the Shizuoka Stake Conference, two of our elders had a beautiful Japanese girl there. She's an investigator that will be baptized this Sunday. We found out that one of our new missionaries, Elder Hollister (he arrived here 7 weeks ago from the MTC) when he was on the plane from Tokyo to Nagoya, sat by this girl. He'd talked to her about the church and had given her a pass a long card. She had gone home, looked up the church on the internet, found where there was a meeting on Sunday and went alone. She met missionaries there and started taking lessons. She loves the Book of Mormon. All this because Elder Hollister opened his mouth on the plane. That's been an incredible experience for him. And to make it even better, he's serving in her stake! He met her again at Stake Conference and she expressed her gratitude to him.

At that same Stake Conference I had shared my experience about getting my Japanese Drivers License. I had told them about how I had heard it was a frightening place (which it is!). That I had become so anxious about it that it was making me miserable. I remembered the Youth Scripture theme for this year, Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage: be not afraid neither be dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." I said it over and over. It took away my anxiety and comforted me. After conference we were talking with many of the members. This sweet woman came up to me and told me she and her husband had gone to America to attend Princeton University. She remembered the same feelings about getting her drivers license in America. She was waiting in line, holding a crying baby when a wonderful couple came up to her and asked if they could help her. They cared for the baby while she took the test. She said she was so grateful for them! She too had been very anxious about her test and was dealing with her baby at the same time. She told me she hadn't had the knowledge then to pray and ask the Lord for comfort, so she had been comfortless. That couple turned out to be members. They told her about the Gospel and she and her husband were baptized. Here she is years later, a strong member in Japan. She said she now knows where to seek for comfort.

I had an interesting experience the other day. Scott and I were walking around the corner to the dry cleaners. I heard children speaking English! I was so excited! Waiting at the light was a mother and her two children from India. We started to talk to them. Scott got her number and asked if they'd come over for dinner sometime, she said she thought they would. My thoughts were racing! I thought, Oh no! She's probably Muslim. We're not suppose to talk about the Gospel to them because in some cases they can't go back to their countries and sometimes they are even killed if they become Christians. I thought, "Oh Heavenly Father, I don't know her situation. I don't want to offend her.". The thought shot into my head, "You would rather offend the Lord?" I know that thought didn't come from me. It's caused me to ponder. Sometimes it's hard for me to open my mouth and share the Gospel, it feels awkward, but I would rather open my mouth than keep it shut and offend the Lord.

Being here is an amazing experience. One that is foreign to my non-adventurous spirit. It has made me happy that I have ventured into the unknown. Experienced things I never in a million years thought I would. It has been one of the most fulfilling times. Growing times. Forever changed because of this, times.

Sister Oldroyd (office secretary) was a little teary eyed the other day because when she got on skype with her daughter, her little 3 year old grandson looked at her and said, "Hey!!! I remember you! Where is your house?" It was kind of funny and sad at the same time. It made me cry too. I hope my grandchildren remember me. I do know this one thing, I will be a better grandparent because of what this experience is letting me become. I hope you will all remember me. I hope you will remember my testimony that runs even deeper now. This mission life is not a life that removes us from reality, it's a life that thrusts us in the middle of it. It opens our understanding of people and eternity. I am grateful for it.

I love you all,
Sister Baird, Bonnie, mom or grandma!

P.S. I got one of the most memorable gifts the other day. A box from Grandpa and Grandma Baird (Fred and Sarah). We opened it thinking it was Book of Mormon's. At first, we couldn't figure it out. It looked like tennis balls under the bubble wrap. When I removed the wrap, I saw Grandpa's famous Green Apples! Picked at the perfect time! I put my face in my hands and sobbed. Thank you for that beautiful, loving gift. I had a little piece of home. Included also was a book he'd written about his life and the Baird family....another treasure. Thank you Grandma for the DVD, 'One Good Man' we know it is one of your favorites and now has become one of ours.

Cultural tip of the week: My birth date is 3/31/56 (yes I'm old!) In Japan it is 3/31/31 or as they list it, 31/3/31. The birth years are different here. They go by Emperors. It's year 22 now. Confusing right?

Hello from Japan!

I hope you are all well! I'm sure you're enjoying the aisles and aisles of Halloween candy and the numerous places to buy all shapes and sizes of pumpkins! I want you to know it's not like that here. I looked really hard for pumpkins. I found two, yes two, at the Daiei. They were about a $3.00 (10 inch wide) size at Grant's Vineyard in Orem. They were $23.00 each here. Needless to say, I am pumpkinless this Halloween, all except a tacky looking jack-o-lantern I found in my storage room.

Well I'm taking a deep breath and sharpening my pencil so I can begin to tell you about the last weeks events.

First, more hair salon names. You'd think we'd run out of salon's but Japan has a million! 'Hair Hark', 'Cut in Face', 'Hair Ants', and Bee M's. I still promise I'm not making these up.

There are so many amazing people in this mission. Elder Fugishima is serving in the office right now. His family situation was not a good one. His father drank a lot and got involved with the Yakuza (remember, the Japanese Mafia). He would beat the children and take all the money they had earned. Finally his mother left with the children and the father would still find them and do the same thing. Elder Fugishima said he knew needed to take his little brother and leave so his father couldn't find them anymore. I gather the mother wasn't a very stable parent either. So he was the soul support of the two of them. A few years later his older brother that he hadn't see in years, found them and told them he had joined the church and wanted him and his little brother to listen to the elders for just one hour. They agreed and soon they were both baptized. His little brother served a mission to Japan and is now at BYU Hawaii. Scott asked him why he had waited so long to serve (he's 27) he said because he had supported his little brother and then himself. He hasn't been able to make enough to pay for any advanced education. He had no savings, he knew he would have nothing to come back to. He leaves the mission in January and he doesn't know where his ticket home should be to. He has no where to go. No mother painting his room and making preparations. No one counting down the days until he walks off the plane. No money. No job. No place to go. Can you imagine what kind of faith that takes to go on a mission, when you know what the circumstances will be on your return? He is amazing. Despite his background, he is a gentle giant. Though his future seems uncertain, I know the Lord will work miracles in His life.

The elders found a young man, 19, when they were knocking on doors who was so excited about the Book of Mormon. He read it cover to cover very fast. He wanted to be baptized but his mother and grandfather told him no. The legal age in Japan is 21. So he dropped out. When transfers came around this last time there was an Japanese Elder that replaced one of the American elders that had taught him. They started looking at the area book, noticed his name and decided to look him up again. They went and talked with him. Our Japanese elder discovered the reason that his mother and grandfather had put the kabosh (stop) on his baptism. It was because he thought, and had told them, that the day after he got baptized he would have to go on a mission and be gone for ten years. The elders cleared that up, and he was so happy! He said he almost had his family convinced to let him join anyway. Can you imagine how strong his testimony is to be willing to do that? He got baptized last Sunday.

Next, a most exciting report.
I heard from several people that the Pleasant View 6th ward (our Provo ward), was fasting this last fast Sunday for the missionaries from their ward and for our missionary serving here as well. Thank you to family members that fasted for all of us also. I have to tell you all how much we needed and appreciate that beautiful sacrifice. We don't see as many people baptized here as in some places. We've had a long hot summer (hottest in 113 years). The missionaries have been on bikes with helmets. You can't even believe the heat unless you've been in it. It's a Buddhist nation..... We've been trying to rally the troops and they've been responding! A little over 2 weeks ago we had 17 yakusokusha (people with baptismal dates). That's been a consistent number since we arrived last July. The number had climbed to around 28 by last Thursday which was incredible. On Friday night Elder DaSouza, one of our Assistants, told Scott he was hoping to see the day we would have 32 Yakusokushas before he goes home in March. On Sunday night the calls started to come in and they've continued to come. Elders and Sisters reporting another yakusokusha!!! To date, Thursday night, we have 54 yakusokusha! That is a miracle. A true miracle. Thank you for your faith, fasting and prayers.

Cultural Tip of the week:
I love the sounds the people make here! The people, I notice mostly women say "Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh". It's so cool. They start lower and then slide up the scale. It's sort of like our "really?". Some also say MMMMMMMMMMMMM when you are talking to them, they say it between each sentence you say. The dentist that did my root canal here would clench his teeth, pull back the sides of his mouth (not with his hands, they were in my mouth!) and suck in making a hissing sound. At first I thought, "Oh great! did he make a mistake?!" But then I realized it was his concentrating sound. Try it it's cool! I've realized as I speak, that I to, make funny sounds. I wonder what sounds we make or words we say that sound odd to the Japanese? Any comments Sister Palmer? (By the way I miss you and I wish you were here to be my personal translator and cook! You are the best at both!)

We're off for a few very busy weeks ahead. I do need to make a correction. In my last email I said Katheryn is getting married on December 16th. She told me it was the 17th. Sorry about that Kat! That's pretty sad! I promise I will be there on the right day.

We love you all!
Sister Baird, Bonnie or mom

Good Morning from the Land of the Rising Sun!

We hope you are all well and that life is good. It finally feels a little 'Fallish' here. Temperatures are cooler and the leaves are starting to change. I LOVE fall! The only problem with Fall is, Fall brings Winter. It's not that I don't love, no, like winter, it's that we drive often, and some of our areas are like Utah in the winter. I'll just lay down on the back seat with my seat belt on, tricky but possible, cover my eyes and sing my Roger Hoffman Hymns.

We have a lot going on at our house even with us not there. Katheryn is engaged to Micah Wiederhold, the date is December 16 in the Salt Lake Temple. We love you Micah and we love your family! Hooray! Katheryn is marrying her best friend.

Whitney has a mission call to the Japan, Kobe Mission. We are so excited she will be in the mission right next door to us. Not that we'd see her anymore than if she was in the Florida, Tallahassee Mission, it's just nice to know there's a family member on the same continent speaking the same language, well, the same language as some of us speak. She will go into the MTC on January 26. So things are buzzin' at the Baird's!

I'll give you a few updates from Nagoya. First, hair places! Sorry, humor me. Hair make Air, Hair make Stork (can't quite figure this one out!), and Last Hope Hair. I'm sure this will not be the last of the hair salon names, we travel a lot!

We had the opportunity to go to Fukuroi, about one hour away for Scott to interview a man for baptism. About three years ago this man had gone through a bad divorce. He said he was walking by the church and wondered if what was inside would make his life more meaningful. He had the missionaries teach him the lessons but he could not quit smoking. So he stopped going to church. The missionaries that are there now, found him again. He said his family was anti and it was impossible for him. The missionaries were out contacting on the street and ran into him again. They made an appointment just to have lunch. In their conversation they asked him how he felt about the Gospel he told them he knew it was true. Later that week they played ping pong together (a favorite sport here, we have ping pong tables in the churches because it's a great way to bring people there.). They gave him a Book of Mormon (with Sam and Stephanie's testimony and picture in it! Thank you Baird Family!) and he began reading again. He called them and told them he was ready to be baptized. He has stopped smoking and feels that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has already made his life more meaningful. Scott has done a lot of baptismal interviews and he said he's never seen anyone more dedicated and ready.

We have a sweet sister that was just baptized in our Meito ward. She worked with Sister Hisada, a member here in Meito. I thought you'd like to read her introduction in the Relief Society newsletter:

"I feel very happy that you talk to me with a smiling face when I go to church. Thank you very much!! Sister Kiyoko Hisaka is my co-worker. While I work with her, I always think that she is very nice. I first came to church with Brother and Sister Hisaka, and then, I got baptized on the 15th of August. I am very thankful to all the missionaries and all of you. All though my life started with a crying face, I would like to finish my life with a smiling face, so I think I should believe in God and do my best from now on. Thank you very much for your support." Sister Teruko Iwashita

It has been amazing to see this sweet woman literally change before our eyes. At first she seemed shy and a bit withdrawn, now she seems confident and happy. What an important example Sister Hisaka has been to her. It's changed her life.

Well I'll leave you all with my Cultural Tip of the week: Buying meat in Japan. Wow. They love fat in it. Probably about 35-50% fat and I'm not exaggerating! The steaks are marbled with so much fat I honestly don't know how they get the cow to do that! They think you are crazy if you want meat without much fat. Now remember these people, the vast majority, are thin! It just doesn't make sense to me: rice, noodles, tempura, breads and fat! I wish I had their genes (their other 'jeans' wouldn't fit!--I can see my children rolling their eyes at that pun!). It might be the size of their servings. I sent my girls angle food cake pans from here, they look like children's size play pans. It would probably take three pans to fit one angel food cake box mix. I made a cake last night because we had members over, they thought the bundt cake was huge! They couldn't get over it. Funny!

We love you all and love to hear from you.

Jamata ne!

Sister Baird, Bonnie or mom

Good Morning from Japan!

I hope everyone is well! I know you are all enjoying the fall weather and everything that comes with it; the colors, the smells and BYU football! I can see that is one thing that Scott is suffering from, missing the beginning of football season. Just before bed he comes in my office and checks the internet for scores. Though he doesn't have more than two minutes to think about it.
First of all a big shout out to McKay Manning for receiving his 'Arrow of Light'. Way to go buddy!!!! We are all so proud of you! Second, a big shout out to Becky Phillip's for sending one of PV 6th finest into the mission field. Way to go Becky!!!! The adventures have already begun and so have the blessings!
This has been a week of stretching for me, I have thought it's more like being on the 'rack'. In some ways it's been torture. I'll give you a quick overview:

A week ago Saturday: I went to the drivers license division in Japan and practiced on a course with a Japanese instructor for two hours. A notorious, frightening place.

Sunday: We drove to Ina (2 hours away) and had to speak there.

Monday: went to take my practical driving test, there are stories that will live forever from this place. Only one woman in our group passed, miraculously, and I mean miraculously, it was me (thanks for all your prayers!). Major stressful! Prepared dinner for 16.

Tuesday: New missionaries arrive (they had to leave one behind that lost his passport on the flight from SLC to San Fran) Dinner for 22.

Wednesday: Breakfast for 24. Gave talk. Dinner for 18, the returning missionaries (8 of them). Scott had to pick up the New Missionary that finally found his passport from the airport about 1 hour away. Gave talk.

Thursday: Breakfast for 20. Sent off the amazing finishers and felt really bad because some of these elders have been my babysitter for 2 1/2 months, heart wrenching. Had a root canal that afternoon. I was actually happy to go. It had gotten so bad I welcomed the shot, nevertheless, it was not fun. I asked if they had gas, they had no idea of what I was talking about (no translator and I don't think they really knew what in the world gas was, I kept making the hand over my nose motion.). The Japanese people that I know, don't want to take even an ibuprophen. They gave me pain pills after. I think they might have been an ibuprophen 100. Didn't work, didn't even make me tired!

Friday: Had to get things taken care of in the mission home.

Saturday: Got a haircut. This is a very stressful thing. I did take a picture but try describing what you want, using charades!

Sunday: Drove 3 hours to Matsumoto for church with Elder Ishii and Elder Aoyagi (both of the Seventy). Had to speak in Sacrament meeting. Sister Aoyagi and I met with the women's auxiliary leaders after meetings. They had a lot of questions about YW, Relief Society and Primary. These valiant wonderful women are leading without the resources and background that we have. Translation is tricky and I don't know if they could really understand me. It's hard to answer questions, I'm not confident I know enough. The woman who had just been called as the Relief Society President was just released as the Primary President and has been serving in that position for 10 years! The new young women's president had just been released as the Relief Society President. Wow. They don't have enough strong members to fill all the callings and they feel the burden, and yet some serve never complaining about it. I would like to say that would be me, but in all honesty, it wouldn't. Back to the rest of Sunday. After a long meeting with the sisters we went and visited two inactive sisters. Both very sweet. It was a good experience. All of this stretched me. I should be about 10 inches taller now. We had a 3 hour drive home. It was an exhausting, but good day.

As I have reflected on my week, I think that each of these things deserved their very own week, but that's not how the mission field goes. Ever moving.

One of the great moments was when Elder Tuipala shared his miracle story (he returned home to New Zealand this week). He said that he and his companion were walking somewhere and there was this little elderly Japanese man. He said he was tired and the thought occurred to him to start talking. He didn't, he was tired! His companion said, "I think we should go talk to him." Elder Tuipala said "Go ahead." So he did. As they were telling him about Jesus Christ and the church the man realized it was the Book of Mormon they had, he was so excited. Months before he had been to a thrift store. He had bought a used VHS. It was a church video, one of the one with different vignettes. He said he'd watched it everyday. He told them what his favorite vignette was. He had tried to ask people if they knew where to find these people that had made the video, no one knew. He prayed that God would help him find them. Then the Elders had spoken to him and he realized God had answered his prayers. Elder Tuipala felt so bad he had been tired and didn't want to make the effort. He wondered what would have happened if his companion would have felt the same and not followed the spirit. The man was baptized and is a active member in Suwa.

I do have updates on hair salon names. They never cease to amaze me. 'Hair make Winner', 'Clear of Hair', 'Lover's Hair' and 'Hair and Make Mop'. These are not translations, they actually say it on the buildings. That's one of the things I love about Japan. It really is.

Well I'll leave you with a Cultural Tip of the Week: We were in an elevator. Every floor it stopped on more people came in. No one considered waiting until the next elevator. We just kept cramming them in. It got to be a little humorous to me, I got the giggles. There we were about 25 people smashed together and I mean literally smashed, body to body no room in between, riding in this elevator. It's a good thing they were 23 light Japanese and 2 heavy gaijin's (foreigners--us), because the cable should have broken. I think they get used to the trains here were they have 'pushers' (different from the American meaning of 'pushers'!), men in uniform that stand there with a flashlight with a long illuminated red attachment and white gloves. They shove everyone on the trains so the doors can close. Scott says that's why the Japanese can look right past you as if you're not there, it's because they have to to survive the lack of personal space in public places.

Well we love you all. I saw little children in primary yesterday and yearned to hold my little guys and gals. As I drove around with the sisters visiting less actives yesterday, I saw the mountains of Matsumoto at dusk. They look just like our Salt Lake Valley (Matsumoto is Salt Lake's sister city because of this) It made me miss all of you. Then I returned home and the Elder's came down, and I remember why I'm here. That eases the longing for home and puts into perspective all who are here to serve and what it means. It means that the people of Japan can have the comfort and peace the Gospel brings..........the promise of eternal families. I feel better.

Have a wonderful week.

Sister Baird, Bonnie or Mom

Disclosure: For all of you wondering how I do the food by myself, I do have some help. The office couple helps with breakfasts and Sister Urano, my helper is great. Scott did just come in and tell me we have 25 elders here for 4 days (leadership training for the simplified curriculum) Problem, most of them are out of money because this is the last of the month so I'm doing some creative thinking about food for them. Holiday week in Japan so I told Sister Urano to go. It is pretty amazing to see how the Lord steps in and helps you solve things around here. I'll let you know how it all turns out!

Hello everyone out there on the North American continent!

We hope you are all doing very well! I can't believe school has started and it must seem like fall is soon to follow.
It's interesting here because even when school is out, the parents put their children in private summer schools so they can compete successfully and make it into college. I even see them on Saturdays and Sundays in their school uniforms.
It's still very hot here, and unlike America, there are little or no Halloween/Fall decorations for sale. So, I think I know the meaning of the 'endless summer'. It is still very, very hot.

We did get a new mission van. It's the first time in 10 years we've had the 'new car' smell. We had a three hour training just before its arrival on policies and procedures of the mission and vehicle/bicycle safety. The truth is now I would rather drive the old van, with it's already existing scratches and dings. The new van and I have one thing in common though.....neither of us are bilingual. The problem is, we don't speak the same language. Navi is Japanese!

We had the opportunity to attend church the last two weeks in Ina and Suwa. In Ina there are about 11 plus one two year old, that are active members. It amazes me to see these members. There was a new branch president sustained in Ina, the previous Branch President moved, so I guess the number of actives are 9 plus the two year old. I couldn't understand 99% of what all the members said, but the spirit there was tangible, and again, it moved me to tears. They are so faithful. They come every week. Some travel longer distances. They come because they love the Lord. They come because they want to worship Him. They come because they love each other.

The missionaries are working hard. We have transfers next week. We get 10 elders and 2 sisters. We say goodbye to 9 others. That's the hard part of the mission, letting them go every six weeks. We play opposite roles of the parents. The parents are missing their child when they come, but we are clicking our heals they are here. When it comes time for them to return home, their parents are sooooo excited and we are crying (literally.) The growth that happens here is incredible. Boys turn into men and young women into wiser young women. They have given all to the Lord. It doesn't compare to what the Lord has given back. This is an amazing experience, to witness over and over.

I hope you all have a wonderful week and a successful new school year to all you students, wives of students, and parents of students!

We love you.

Sister Baird, Bonnie or Mom
Cultural tip of the week: The women here wear arm covers. Yes arm covers. They are for sale everywhere and every women probably has multiple pairs. They have on short sleeve shirts with arm covers (they are like leggings but for arms. Maybe they call them armmings??). They go clear to their finger tips and have a hole for their thumb. This protects their arms from the sun. The women do everything to avoid the sun. I saw a women riding a bike with what looked like hot pads attached to her handlebars that her hands fit in. This way the sun that came in under her hat, arm covers and umbrella (yes they carry umbrellas while riding bikes, some bikes even have umbrella holders) wouldn't get to her hands. I laugh at this....at least until the other day when I was sitting next to Sister Urano. She's just a little younger than me. I looked at her arms. Perfect skin. Not one age spot. I looked at mine. Not evenly tanned anymore. Evenly sun spotted. Arm covers-- not so humorous now.

Ohiogozaimas,

We have enjoyed the greatest two months here in Japan! The last two weeks have been even better. Thank you Lindsay, Cydne, Brayden and Kirsten (Heiner) for coming to Japan. I know it was at great sacrifice, it's not an inexpensive trip. We had so much fun shopping (except for Brayden and Katheryn ), going to church, meeting the missionaries, seeing the beautiful country, the Ninja Forest and most amazing- the Monkey Park. Monkeys actually walked right along with us. Babies with mommas. Toddler monkeys playing together. Monkeys bathing in the hot springs (this is an absolute must do if you get to Nagano!).

I was hoping when I came to Japan I would lose weight. I finally did.......about 240 pounds. The thing is, it wasn't body weight. It was the weight of two daughters. As I look around the house, there are so many reminders. Empty bedrooms. A bathroom that is clean and empty. No one is at the table on their computer. The piano is silent. As I go around the streets, they are streets we have explored together....to the eki (station), bakery, Komeido's, etc. I can see us walking them, laughing, hot, sticky, tired, energetic. I can't decide if I hate this painful feeling or love it. When you feel it, it's because you can remember 'exactly' what it felt like to have them here, and if it goes away - you may forget. I don't want to forget.

This is a new stage of life for us....empty nesters. That sounds so lonely....so empty. A sweet sister from the P.V. 5th ward once told me, "You know how everyone says that when you have kids home that's the best time of life? well the empty nest stage isn't so bad." I'm sure I will get there, I just don't know if I want to. I'm afraid of the 'forgetting' part. My most favorite part of the Star Trek series was the Holladeck (sp?) where people went to re-live memories. I hope there is one of those in Heaven.

I miss them. Who will tell me if I have a part in the back of my hair or not? Ask a man and he'll tell you it's fine---he thinks that's the look you're going for. Who will fix my phone and get my messages? Help me with the computer and every other electronic devise I own. Who will go with me to the Daiei? or venture out with me and reassure me I'm not lost on the road forever?

I wish I would have been a lot more patient over the last 32 years of children. Taken more time to just sit back and observe them all. Despite having me for their mother they turned out to be pretty amazing adults. Elder Hales told us to go home and thank our children for raising good parents. This is true--- they have made us better people.

I realize this is painful but necessary weight loss.

Don't worry about me, as I'm sitting here writing this letter, my children have called me about 15 times. The Elders called to see if they could take me shopping or somewhere, they know this is hard, the problem is I'll be crying about them leaving in another two weeks. Everyone here is so kind to us. They are constantly watching over us. Thank you Heavenly Father for them all.

I'm grateful that I am here when my nest became empty. I have a kind, compassionate Father that has provided me with 84 other amazing young people that need to know what to do for a cold, or back ache etc.....that constantly hug me (the sisters) and shake my hand. Who bear the most beautiful testimonies. Who leave their families ----also. Who are so amazing that when you look into their eyes, you can see their souls. I love them too.

Good-bye from the empty nesters in Japan.
Love you all,
Sister Baird, Bonnie or mom

Good Morning!

I hope you are all fine and that you are enjoying the nice hot, DRY weather. We are eternally damp.

It has been so great having Lindsay, Cydne, Brayden and Kirsten here along with Katheryn and Whitney. We have been busy!
Last night we went to Gifu and participated in the Cormorant fishing. It's where they take the birds (Cormorants) and put a ring around their neck and tie a harness with a rope. They have a big ball of fire hanging from the boat and the birds are on ropes that one man holds. The men beat on the boats which stir the fish up and makes it possible for the birds to catch them. The ring makes it so they can't swallow the fish. The man pulls them up to the boat by the harness and opens their month and dumps out the fish. I thought it sounded unkind but seeing it makes you understand that they take really good care of the birds. In the research Scott did, it said that Cormorants in the wild live about 4 to 5 years, but the ones that are used for Cormorant fishing live around 30 years or more because they are so well cared for. It was fun! I'm glad we had on mosquito repellant!
Right above the fishing was Gifu Castle, which is beautiful. You have to ride a cable car to get to it because there are no roads. Pretty Japan!

We had our first scary thing happen to us in Japan. It is such a safe place the Elders and Sisters can even leave their bikes about anywhere with their helmets and they are still there when they come back. I will miss that safe feel when we go home. I will also miss the cleanliness. I haven't been in a gross parking lot, street, park or bathroom. It's amazing. Anyway, we were on the freeway to the airport to pick up the Binghams, a couple coming here to serve. We were on the Expressway (it's like our freeway but it's 2 lanes) traveling along when a black car with dark tinted windows got in front of us. They started to straddle the middle line, making it impossible to pass them because they would weave in front of the car trying to pass. Then one of them hung out the window. We couldn't figure out what they were doing. They got right in front of us and then slammed on their brakes. Thank goodness Scott was alert he stopped without hitting them, the person in back of us almost hit us but swerved into the other lane. They kept doing it. Elder Eyring was with us and told us that Elder Heaton had had something similar happen to him one night, but that there had been a second car at his side that had turned off their lights hoping that he would swerve into them. It was the Yakuza (Japanese Mafia) and they do that tactic to collect insurance money. If you hit them from the back it's your fault no matter what. Scott finally got behind a bus that had come up to our side to get us out of their sight. I could see ahead and they were continuing to do it to others. The Expressway split and they went the other way to our relief. I felt pretty intimidated by it all. Helpless. I could see Scott trying to control the Scotch-Irish in him. He did things just right. We see cars like that (Yakuza) on the roads always, but we've never had any trouble, needless to say I hope that is never repeated. We keep our distance from them more now. Once again, thanks for your prayers!

Our sweet new friends, Megumi and Ryoko are so great. Ryoko called the missionaries and wanted to meet with them earlier than their appointment because she had questions. They've been diligent in reading the Book of Mormon, isn't that great?! It's been so amazing to see it all unfold to them. We love them. We went to the Nagoya Castle with them and the missionaries. Ryoko's two friends came too. It was so fun to meet them. They were beautiful girls.

We went back to the Castle festival the next night where the girls put their feet in with the 'Doctor Fish'. Wow...needless to say, you could hear Whitney squeal all over the Castle grounds, remember this is a pretty reserved, quiet people! The fish eat at your feet, that's right, it's like a pedicure. I'm so glad I was not put on this earth as one of those fish, doctor degree or not!

I can't believe all the incredible adventures we are having here. The places are wonderful but the stand out adventures are seeing my 19 year old daughter want to go back and give the "Doctor Fish" gentleman a pass-a-long card because she thought he was such a nice man and he'd want to hear the gospel. To have her tell him that this was something so dear to her, something that made her life so happy that she wanted him to have an open mind and learn about it. To have her and Kirsten find a cute little mother with 2 little children on the subway, then get to know her well enough to get her name and number and ask if the missionaries could contact them. It's seeing Elder Eyring talk to literally everyone and share the gospel with them. He has absolutely no reservations. To see these people with whom I associate, be so dedicated and concerned about their fellow men that they want to bring His truth.... to them. I can't believe I get to do this.

We love you all. We still wish you could all be here to see and experience this. I have come to understand that we can do this very thing at home....open our mouths, love someone back into the gospel.

Ja mata ne!
Sister Baird, Bonnie or Mom

Cultural Tip of the Week:
You can't find a drinking fountain anywhere (except in the church and they have a community cup)! You have to bring your own water or buy it.
P.S. To the Heaton's: It was soooooooo great to have you here. To see President Heaton and four sons sharing this adventure together, everyone of them speaking Japanese, AMAZING! It was impressive just to see you together. Thank you (Valerie too!) for the delicious treats and beautiful pictures! Come back soon.

Hello everyone,
I hope you are all fine. We think about you all. We wish you were here to see this incredible place and the incredible missionaries.
We just finished our first transfer week....whewwwww! This is a little bit of what my schedule looked like:
Monday- dinner with David and Ayae Tueller and her non member family (they brought me a beautiful fan and the girls full kimono outfits, it was so fun, it was like Christmas!)
Tuesday-trip to airport to pick up new missionaries, dinner for 16 (made bread from scratch), gave a little welcome talk.
Wednesday-breakfast for 16. Training for new missionaries. Sent them off with trainers. Dinner for 18 (made scones from scratch). gave a little talk.
Thursday-breakfast for 22. Airport trip to take missionaries going home. Shinkansen (bullet train) trip, sister missionary going home. Megumi and Ryoko over for missionary lesson with the A.P.'s and the Heaton clan.
Friday-lunch for 20, scones from scratch. (zone council conference)
You can see that here in Japan they haven't heard of the words 'frozen bread'. I'm learning a lot!

When we met with Megumi, Ryoko, A.P.'s and the Heaton boys, we had an activity, then the lesson. We sang I am a child of God and then Scott asked Megumi to say the closing prayer. After she finished she turned and looked at me and said that she had never in her life felt the Holy Spirit so strong. She was crying. She said she hadn't prayed in over 12 years, and she was so happy that she could still pray. She was so overjoyed at the feeling she had just experienced. She said "I am so amazing." She said that over and over. I realized she meant "I am so amazed".

At the end of our week I was getting ready for the day and was thinking over all I had accomplished this last week. The thought went through my head, "I am so amazing!", Then I thought of Megumi, I realized I too had meant to say "I am so amazed."
I am so amazed. So amazed at the love the Lord offers me. How He buoys me up. How He gives me strength and courage to go forward....to embrace the things I'm doing.
He's real. This is true...so true.

I hope you have a wonderful week.

Love,
Sister Baird, Bonnie or mom

Cultural tip of the week: No one will except a tip. No one not even the hair dresser or the waiter.

Good Morning!

I hope you are all fine.

I don't know if I believed them when they told us we'd hit the ground running here, but it's true. We have gone non-stop. I am starting to figure out how it all works, zone conferences, missionary interviews, meetings with stake presidents and missionary committee's, and many, many more meetings. Then you have all the other added fun stuff that members do for you, programs and dinners etc.....Wow.

We love Japan. The girls are getting so good at the subway and getting around in general. They have tickets to sumo wrestling tomorrow. Nagoya is big and busy but not like Tokyo. Even though there are as many people in this city as in the whole state of Utah.

The Meito ward (our ward) had a talent show yesterday and it was terrific. We also had the chance to go to our good friends David and Ayae Tueller's wedding program here. They are in our ward in Provo, but her family lives just 15 minutes away from us. It was so fun to see the culture and meet her family and friends.

I want you all to know how difficult it is to use a translator when you give a talk in church. You have to break and let them speak every 30 seconds or so. You sort of lose the flow. It does give you time to look at your notes but it's really more difficult than I ever imagined. Scott gave his first big talk in Japanese. He did great. I had on the head phones and the interpreter (Elder Eyring) even could translate the jokes okay. I've found that I can answer or express about everything I need to with my seven Japanese words: thank you, good morning, good day, good evening, yes, good and Bye-Bye! I still haven't really worked on no yet.

We went to the Nagoya Castle and it was so hot, I thought I'd die. They had a samurai program out side. I now understand why everyone carries an umbrella, fan and a sweat towel! It's necessary! I thought the sweat towels were a little odd when I got here, they are not. We all bought one yesterday. I bought a fan as well. It use to be a little gross to hug someone that was sweaty, not here. It doesn't bother me at all now. We all feel a little damp all the time.

The members here are great. Missionary work really does rely on the members, finding, teaching and fellowshipping. You see these investigators and new members needing to be loved and accepted so badly. So everybody support your new members. So many fall away because they don't have a friend for support.

I wish I would have gone to nursing school. I have had about 10 calls the last few days from elders and sisters. I don't really want to tell them that they are speaking with a person that sent her daughter to school with a broken arm for two days just thinking she needed tylenol. That's one of my children's favorite things to talk about when they get together is all the stories of my lack of compassion when it came to them being sick. It was usually, "Oh I'm so sorry you feel bad. That stinks. Take some tylenol and then buck up", or "Make sure you don't throw up on the bed (or couch), make it to the bathroom". The Lord's helping me thogh. I think I'm a little nicer and I'm getting some of the things down.

We love you all and wish you could be here to experience Japan and missionary work. It's all amazing!

Cultural tip of the week:
We found the best food! Hooray! It is a chain store with these really fat noodles and tempura everything (shrimp, chicken, onions, etc... and of course some whole fish thing). It is soooo good. I don't know why but I don't look at tempura as deep fried food, it looks cleaner and less fat than that. So I'm sure it doesn't have all those calories, right?????? It it customary here to slurp your noodles. Yes, pick up your bowl and with your chopsticks pick up a noodle and make a very loud slurping noise. We all loved it!

Have a wonderful week!

Sister Baird, Mom or Bonnie

This has been a crazy week! We have toured the mission and met all our missionaries. They are amazing! Today (Sunday) we spoke in a little branch in Ueda. It's a place up by Nagano. It was absolutely beautiful. I don't think there is a place on earth that has more tunnels though the mountains than Japan. I couldn't even begin to count the ones we went through to get there.
The members in the little branch in Ueda were so sweet. Most if not all, are converts. I have been praying (with great hesitation) to have the Lord bless me with the desire to learn Japanese. It's hard. As I met the members from Ueda and Chiba (less than 30) I felt this overwhelming frustration that I could not communicate with them. Their spirits were so large, I wished I could talk to them about all their stories. I had the desire to speak Japanese so I could learn from them. It's funny how the Lord answers your prayers.

After sacrament we all sat in a circle and the Relief Society served a special lunch for the branch. As we sat there the Relief Society President put sushi on chairs in front of us. She had made it special, just for the four of us. (Can you believe that? How sweet. She also gave us an origami box.) Everyone was so excited to have us try it. I thought Whitney was going to cry, I felt like crying too. Trying to look excited, I took my chop sticks, which by the way, I'm getting better at, and popped one in my mouth. To my surprise it was wonderful! They had put crabmeat in it with yummy vegetables and the seaweed was good! Katheryn tried it and liked it too. So we did okay!

These members love the gospel so much. They are wonderful.

Cultural tip for the week:
The Japanese have the most amazing bathrooms! Maybe you have to be here toexperience it. On the side of the toilets they have this little panel (not all have all the buttons but all have at least the warmer) One is the toilet seat warmer. Yes, it's warm like a heating pad! They have bidet buttons, they even have a music note button, that one plays a flushing sounds so you don't feel awkward in public stalls. I saw my first (squatter)toilet today, which is a toilet in the floor, not to interested in that! As we have checked the missionaries apartments I discovered another great idea, they have the sink on top of the toilet tank, it's part of the toilet! The water starts automatically when you flush and then turns off automatically. Wow, they have thought of everything. Most places have a shower room where you shower off then you step in the deep bathtub to soak. I think they have not only the market on tunnels but bathroom features as well, nobody does it better! Enough potty talk. (I couldn't resist that last remark! I hope I haven't been inappropriate, I'm just amazed!)I love you all. We miss you but I think we are going to love it here in Japan with all these amazing missionaries who want so badly to serve the Lord with all their heart, mind, might and heart and the humble Japanese members. Thanks for your emails, letters and support. It makes being away so much easier.

Ja mata ne!

Sister Baird, Bonnie or Mom
P.S.
Pictures:
Ueda branch
Japanese Beetle. It freaked the girls out, it was great!

Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2010 16:36:06 -0600

Ohiogozaimas!

I hope you are all having a splendid 4th. We are on our way to church (next door) with the Japanese Meito ward members. They are amazing. So kind and sweet.
I am a little nervous because I am going to bear my testimony for the first time in Japanese. I know they won't be able to understand much of what I say and the fact that I go so slow, they might be asleep before I finish!

We had a fun day yesterday. We walked up the street about 2 short blocks to a beautiful park with a pond. All these Japanese men were sitting on the steps fishing. Then we went around with our AP's, Elder Heaton and Elder Eyring to the post office and store. It was so good to go with them because we actually could find things like mayonnaise and dressings, and sour cream, things like that. We went with the Japanese office elders a couple of days ago and I came home about ready to cry because I couldn't find anything, they really didn't understand the things I was looking for. Elder Heaton and Elder Eyring also showed us some other things we might like, such as these most delicious cookies with a chocolate layer on top with a ship imprint. So much for losing weight here in Japan. I really thought there might be hope, but my diet consists of bread, milk and cereal, and a little meat, I did find good vegetables the other day, the fruit is really expensive, watermelon $23.00, cantaloupe $14.00 etc..... I don't know how they can put fish in literally everything but they do. We went to a pizza, pasta place the other night and there was fish on the pizza and on the pasta, I thought the girls were going to cry. Oh....the bread here is soooooo good. There is a quaint little bakery just about a block away, and we have a punch card!

Japan is beautiful and it feels so safe and clean here. I am a little puzzled as to what to do with my garbage though. They are experienced recyclers here and they even have special trash bags you put each category in. I don't want the garbage police to come knocking! Seriously! I'll ask the Elders.

The first night here was one of the most overwhelming, frightening times of my life. I laid in bed with a heavy, anxious, dark feeling. Here we were, in Japan, leading all these missionaries. I've never been a missionary before. I am following Sister Traveller who is vivacious, fun, darling (curly thick hair that doesn't go straight in this humidity!) she looks like she's thirty something and she can drive them all to the eki (train station). I hope someday I dare get in the car in the drivers seat (skinny, skinny streets, wrong side of the road need I say more?) anyway, I was scared to death at the duties ahead. I slid out of my bed, down on my knees and started praying with all my soul. I climbed back up into bed and laid there. After awhile I started thinking of something I could do for some of the district Young Women (thank goodness for that training!) all the sudden a tinge of excitement shot through me. I thought why am I feeling excited about something when I've been so sad and overwrought? I could actually feel the fear and anxiety dissipate from my whole body. A total peace came over me. I thanked the Lord for the opportunity to pray to Him and receive such comfort. After I finished my thought, the words came into my mind, "Yours is not the only prayer being answered." Thank you all for your prayers in our behalf. It has been felt. It has comforted our souls. He listens and hears.

This is a beautiful mission home. It feels like home. We love it here. We look forward to hearing from you all. Keep us updated on the happening in your lives.

The Gospel's true.

Ja matta ne!

Love,
Bonnie