On Thursday this week, we had our Area President and his wife come for a mission tour. On Friday, they met with the northern half of the mission. This was the last assignment for President and Sister Ringwood. They are being assigned to Utah in July. They have been here in the Asia North Area for four years. Their first assignment four years ago was also to the Sendai Mission. It was only a couple of months after the earthquake had occurred. They had a day of service that day.
We enjoyed being taught by the Smith's and the Ringwoods. (Sister Ringwood is Elder Nelson's daughter.) Part of what we discussed is about "Faith" and how to teach it. Elder Ringwood talked about "Particles" of faith (hope, desire, belief). Most Christian churches stop there, but it does not connect to "action". In its simplest form Faith = Action.
Joseph Smith's experience is a good example. He had a question which led to desire (hope) to get an answer, he pondered and read scriptures which led him to take the action of going to the Sacred Grove to pray, believing that he would get an answer.
He told the missionaries they should never feel like they are being rejected. They are sent to find those who are prepared and if someone does not want to listen to their message, they can just chalk it up to the fact that they weren't prepared.
The stake R.S. served us a lovely lunch. In the afternoon, we had a Q & A session. Someone asked about the experience of speaking in General Conference. And then we had more training about Moroni 10 and the exortations Moroni gives.
On Saturday, we went to visit a couple of sites here in Sendai.
This is a Shinto shrine in Sendai. Osaki Hachimangu. Originally built in 1607. It is quite ornate.
Lots of color and carvings in this ornate work.
They carry this in their parades as part of their celebrations.
The red gates signify that this is a Shinto site.
One of the caretakers had a horse. It was like being out in the woods. We don't see many animals around here.
This is the Zuiho Temple near the site for the burial of three of the feudal lords of Sendai. Zuihoden is the name of the site here.
It was a pretty steep hill, but not too many steps.
It was designated a national treasure in 1931, but the original was burned in 1945 (during WWII). This is the burial site for the original Date Masumune. He was known as the one-eyed dragon because he was missing an eye that he lost to an illness.
Since it was burned down, they eventually did an excavation at the site before reconstructing it beginning in the 1970s and completed about 1985. It was rebuilt with fire-proof materials.
These dragons on the roof show one with the mouth open and the other one is closed.
This one may be an original that they put down where we could see it.
Some amazing carving and colors
Replicas of the armor that was discovered during the excavation. They also had some large pots in the museum that were used to bury the bodies. There were gold ingots in the bottom of the pots.
These are the two other feudal lords' burial sites.
Lots of beautiful hydrangeas here along the path.
And, Happy Father's Day to all the dads.
Alan got to speak in Sacrament Meeting today. And, also got to teach the Priesthood lesson.
Here is Alan's parents. His father passed away last year.
This is a group of temple missionaries at the Argentina temple in 1986. Including my parents.
Today would have been my dad's 101st birthday. And my parent's 77th wedding anniversary.
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