Church in Japan

The Church is amazing. Here I am, half-way around the world attending Church in Hiroshima. Yale and I arrived a little bit late, so we missed the sacrament. However, the program was very similar to one found in the United States. Being Mother's Day, a couple of children got up and bore their testimonies about their mothers. Afterwards, a missionary spoke on the importance of a mother-child relationship and how it had impacted him throughout his life. (Here in Japan, it's common for missionaries to give talks in Church.) Afterwards, a senior couple missionary (the wife) gave a talk in Japanese. She was followed by another gentleman and finally the stake president. Before the adults spoke, all the children (probably close to 20) got up and sang a primary song (I believe it's called Mother, I Love You.) The ward had a surprising number of Americans; this is typical of wards that meet in the building where the mission home is located. And would you know it, I met an Elder (from Edmonton) that knows Amber Baer (Elder Brian Burr, I think is his name—has two siblings, Cameron and ???). So, there you go. I've met up with a friend in Tokyo, met a person that knows me ex in Hiroshima. We'll see what Kyoto brings.