Messages Item: Visit to Koriyama District Conference
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Webmaster Note:
Thanks to 1973-75 RM Rob Carlson for sharing his visit on 19 June 2011 to Koriyama and a member conference there for the Aizuwakamatsu, Koriyama and Iwaki branches. As of the date of this visit, missionaries are still not allowed in these branches due to the proximity of the Fukushima Nuclear plant.
Rob Carlson: 19 June 2011. Today I attended District Conference in Koriyama for the Iwaki, Koriyama and Aizuwakamatsu Branches. The North Asia Area President, Elder Stevenson, and an Area Seventy, Elder Nishihara, were in attendance, as well as President and Sister Tateoka. It was great to be with so many members (I would guess there were over 100 in attendance) and to hear of the Church’s actions related to the 3/11 earthquake and tsunami.
Members at taikai |
Elder Stevenson said several things about the earthquake:
1. President Tateoka will be leaving The Mission in two weeks. Elder Stevenson testified that he knows that President Tateoka was the person the Lord put in the mission; and that over the years President Tateoka had experiences and background that allowed him to handle the emergency so well.
2. Approximately one month before the earthquake Elder Ballard was in Nagoya and pronounced a blessing on the missionaries and members in Japan, as well as the general populous and leaders of the country. Elder Stevenson testified that this blessing was realized. Two members were killed, but no missionaries were (and only one was injured). He said this was miraculous.
3. After the earthquake he was up for 36 hours straight starting to get everything organized. He talked with the top leaders of the church several times. During one teleconference Elder Packer told him to use his Priesthood authority to bless the people, which he did.
4. When he went to Salt Lake for the April General Conference he said that the First Presidency members and Apostles were all concerned about the situation in Japan and that when they prayed they mentioned the Japanese.
Elder Nishihara was sent to Sendai to lead the recovery efforts – and during the past three months he has slept in his own house only two times. He made several interesting comments:
1. He talked of the Church’s fast offerings and humanitarian donations, saying that the fast offerings are to be used to help members, while the humanitarian donations are to be used to help others. He urged the members to take advantage of the fast offerings to get needed help. Apparently not many people are asking for assistance and the Church leaders are concerned. In fact, at one point Elder Nishihara said that he feels the Church’s assistance is slower than it could have been because so few people indicated that they had any needs (Elder Stevenson, commenting on this same thing, said that this attitude is different in some areas [outside Japan]). He positively commented on the general attitude of Tohoku-ites as being self-reliant and positive.
2. He said that for the “Day of Service” to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the church welfare system, President Stevenson has instructed all stakes and districts from Nagoya to Hokkaido to plan activities in the Tohoku Region and the remainder should plan activities in their own area – but that if any of them want to come to Tohoku to help they will be welcomed and there will be work to do. He also mentioned that the Church will pay for the cost of this.
3. He commented that Elder Stevenson has shed many tears over the situation in Tohoku. (Writing this does not do justice to the emotions that he conveyed – he was conveying Elder Stevenson’s Christ-like love for the people of Tohoku and his sympathy and concern at the losses and suffering.)
4. He spoke of the “yellow vests” (“Mormon Helping Hands”) being active throughout the region. He told of the yellow vests descending on the homes of members to help with clean up and having neighbors coming to the homeowners and ask about it; pretty soon they would have the yellow shirts at their homes helping to clean up as well – and it would continue to spread. (Having first hand experience in wearing a yellow shirt several times to help after hurricanes, I could relate to what he said – we also have exactly the same experiences in helping many people.)
Elders Nishihara and Stevenson with new member, Brother Shin |
(Incidentally, in talking with Elder Nishihara I found out that he went to the Japan East Mission 4 months after I did. His first area was in Sakata, but then he went up to Hokkaido and stayed there when the mission was split. His experience was the opposite of mine – I went to Iwamizawa first and then to Yamagata, staying in the Sendai Mission.)
One of the highlights of the conference was when Brother Shin, a Chinese student studying Japanese in Iwaki and who was baptized earlier this year, was presented to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood. Later in the meeting he was one of the speakers – he did great. I am including a photo of him with Elder Nishihara and Elder Stevenson. I wonder if he can appreciate the opportunity he had to be standing between two General / Area Authorities.
Another purpose for me attending the conference was to give the Iwaki members two things.
First, I gave the senior missionary couple, Brother and Sister Wada, a set of many photos from my missionary time in Iwaki, as well as a bunch from Mike Latimer, who had served in Iwaki in 1990-1991. (Actually I prepared two sets – one for the Wada’s to use in their missionary work and also another set to keep in the Branch.) I also gave them memory sticks with digital copies of all the photos. And, to satisfy Bro. Wada I included photos of my family and Mike’s family.
Iwaki member with "cool collar" |
Second, I took 95 “cool collars” that my family and RS members from the Friendswood 2nd Ward made for them. After the main conference session there was an hour break during which everybody ate lunches they had brought with them and I gave the members the cool collars. I am including some photos of that.
The Iwaki Branch had a good contingent at the conference – they all seemed to be uplifted by the strong spirit that attended the conference.
Iwaki member with "cool collar" |
Everybody in the Tohoku region will be able to use all of our collective prayers through the coming months. In addition, pretty soon, if not already, many people will start to feel more despair as the recovery stretches longer and longer. At the same time, the attention of “outsiders” (this means everybody not directly impacted by the disaster – inside, as well as outside Japan) will lessen. It will be critical that they know that they are not being abandoned nor forgotten. Please keep in contact with members in the affected areas as you are able.
Pres. and Sister Tateoka and Iwaki Sisters Imamiya, Nemoto, Suzuki and Sasaki |
We all owe President and Sister Tateoka a huge “arigatou” for all they have done for our mission over the past three years. He has been as valiant a president as he was a missionary (and I would not have expected anything less from him). They have made a difference in the lives of the missionaries, members and the entire mission. Thank you, President and Sister Tateoka.
Best wishes to all,
Rob Carlson
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