Christmas in Japan

We're thinking of you and wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Love,
Elder and Sister Detton

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Christmas Greetings from Sapporo Japan - Elder and Sister Detton

December 23, 2007
Merry Christmas! We have had a great week. We went to four zone conferences, Atsubetsu, Kotoni, Mururan, (three hours away) and Saturday at Higashi. Each time I read "Christmas Day in the Morning" by Pearl S. Buck. We had morning talks, then wonderful lunches provided by the ward Relief Societies, then gift exchanges and games with the missionaries in the afternoon. Tomorrow we drive to Asakikawa, three hours away, north of Sapporo. We will go with the Packard's. Last Friday night we had our last English class until January at Toyhira. Dick had the students read the Christmas story in English and Japanese and we also sang carols. I made alot of food to eat, little sandwiches, fresh pineaple, madarin oranges, popcorn that Janelle had sent (hope it was good.) I made a sugar sauce and poured over it. We had cookies, candy, all sorts of stuff. We played Bingo and then ping pong. A good time was had by all. Dad and I were good and surprised everyone. Saturday we had the Shiroishi Ward Christmas party. Brother Nakaya did an absolutely beautiful power point presentation of the Christmas story, with music, narration, words to carols. It was wonderful. They had long tables laden with all kinds of delicious food. They also presented us with a big red wrapped box filled with presents from ward members. This morning Dick went to Toyohira Ward as an English student (non-member) attended all three meetings. His name is Akio Iizuko. Perhaps you recall I wrote previously about him. He is a IBM computer programer and had invited us to his home and taken us out to lunch. We met his wife at that time. After church today, they went to the hospital to visit his wife, Fusano. She had surgery last Thursday to remove a small tumor in her neck and is now waiting the results of the biopsy. We were happy he came to church. Also Mr. Yamada, a perennial English student, (non-member) attended Sacrament meeting. I stayed at Shiroishi Ward because I played a medley of Christmas songs for special music. At Shiroishi Ward meeting, I looked over and lo and behold there was Brother Aoyama an inactive member who we have visited him at least five times. We did so just last week and sang Christmas carols with the Nakaya's. He is the brother that was converted as a young man and was for several years a building missionary here in Japan. When we first visited him he took us upstairs to his computer and showed us many construction pictures of the chapels and Tokyo temple he help built. He has many pictures of the general authorities. He is now 63 and inactive. Today he looked like million dollars in his navy blue pin stripe suit, gold tie, fancy shoes and mod haircut. So we had a good day.
Tomorrow evening we are going to the Iwata's for Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day we have been invited to the Tuschida's.
These faithful saints are wonderful people. We do love them and they seem to love us.
We have had no snow for a week but it is still cold. Paul and Dale are coming to visit us again and will arrive December 27. We are looking forward to seeing them.
We love you and miss you and think of you. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas with your families.

hi from storm lake, iowa

Liz has finally steered me on to the blog. We,ll see how it goes next time i want on. Things are slow here. No one wants to see us before Christmas, I guess we'll just put on our faces and go store hopping and street walking with big smiles on our faces. It is surprising how many people smile back and talk to us. We love you all and have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS. Karen

Update on Uncle Dick

Here's the latest on my dad. He was released from the hospital yesterday at 4 PM. They took the catheter out in the morning at 6 AM. All the bleeding had stopped as a result of the surgery, so they let him go home at 4 PM. I called over to the house at 6 PM to just see how dad was doing and my dad said "I can't talk, we are leaving right now to come to KC's choir concert, we'll see you in a little while!" So there yo have it. An entire new lease on life. Dad has had a catheter for at least the last 3 months, so he was thrilled beyond belief to have that gone. When the concert was over, dad said, we are going home right now, it's been a long day. After the concert, Ken and I took KC and a friend to In-N-Out. We were there for about 5 minutes and were sitting in a booth waiting for food. All of the sudden we look right behind us and there is Grandma Doering - in the next booth. We all burst out laughing. My mom and dad didn't even see us !!! How come we are not surprised that dad's first meal out of the hospital was In-N-Out!!!

Steven comes home from Wisconsin tonight and Mallory and Jim's daughter Kristin comes in this afternoon from Texas with her husband Cip and grandson C.J. We are looking forward to the Christmas holiday and send our love to all of you !!

Faulkner Family Newsletter

We just posted excerpts from our holiday newsletter on our Faulkner Family Blog. You should be getting your copy in the mail soon. If we don't have your updated address, send it to us and we will get you a copy.

Merry Christmas!

Uncle Dick Back in Surgery

I just wanted all of you to know that my dad had to go back into emergency surgery this morning at 5 AM. He was bleeding and they had to stop it. He is at John Muir Hospital in Walnut Creek and he will be there for at least a few days. This had been a very rough couple of months and I hope that you will all keep him in your prayers. And give my mom a call if you get a chance. I know she would really appreciate the support.

Lydia

Update on Uncle Dick and Family

I wanted to let everyone know that my dad got out of the hospital late yesterday afternoon. He is home, still has a catheter and hopefully he will get that taken out in about another week. Yesterday was hard for mom, dad and Lottie because their little dog Lacey had to be put to sleep in the morning. Lacey had cancer and had been suffering for a long time. It was clear that she was in a lot of pain. Everyone is very sad, especially Lottie because she has lost her daytime companion. We went to visit last night to see how everyone was doing. Grandma was alone because mom and dad were getting prescriptions filled at the pharmacy. I asked grandma about turning on the TV for her and about some books on tape for Christmas. She told me that none of that is the same as talking to a live person. So, during December, if any of you have a free moment and can give Lottie a call, I know that she would really appreciate the contact. You might have to remind her who you are, but I know that it would mean a lot to her. I sure would like to hear how everyone is doing this Christmas. Keep the family up to date by posting to the web site. If you don't know how, well email me and I'll walk you through the process !!! Much love to you all.

Lydia

The Story of a Wedding - Japanese Style

From Elder and Sister Detton Where does the time go? I can't seem to slow it down. I have been making Christmas cards (you know the ones) for the faithful sisters in Shiroishi Ward. I gave them out in church today. (following Sacament meeting.) I hope they like them. It took longer than I anticipated and our apt. is a mess because I just concentrated on getting them done for today. Yes, we still got to visit some people. It's always interesting. If I've learned anything on this mission it is the importance of home teaching/visiting teaching. So many lost souls there that perhaps would have made it if members would just regularly keep in touch, show they care, and share a brief message.

Last Sunday night was the big turkey dinner at the "honbu." I promised to tell you "more later" on the betrothed couple who was married yesterday in the Tokyo Temple. Here is the cast of characters.

President and Sister Yokoyama. Sapporo Mission President.

Emma Yokoyama. Daughter of President and Sister Yokoyama. Never married, age 34. Returned missionary.

President Packard, (oops, we sometime call him that). Elder and Sister Packard are from Texas. They are the office couple and speak not a word of Japanese but handle all the finance. It is to him that we pay our monthly expenses every month. He is a very wealthy and generous man.

Elder Morita. Japanese missionary from Honchu. Age 25. Studied in the United States at Snow College. Graduated from Snow College. While in Utah he learned to speak English beautifully, but more importantly, he was converted to the gospel and baptized. Upon his return from the United States, he served a mission here in Sapporo. He is a wonderful/perfect missionary, speaking both English and Japanese well, loves the gospel, and was an assistant to President Yokoyama before his return upon completion of his mission in July 07. (it is here in Sapporo that he first became acquainted with Emma)

President Packard (oops) got to know him well. He could converse with him, and was convinced of his great potential, not only as an individual but as a future leader of the church here in Japan. Elder Packard consequently offered to sponsor Elder Morita at BYU Provo for the next two years at a cost, we were told, of $25,000 a year.

Elder Packard has kept in touch with Elder Morita since his departure last July. He thought he should be married before going to BYU and encouraged him to date Emma who happened to be in Tokyo for Elder Bednar's big single adult conference last October. Well, Elder Morita followed Elder Packard's advice and "now you know the rest of the story."

There were 32 guests last Sunday evening to fete the happy couple. Sister Packard was the head chef, and I along with Sisters Nishijima and Kawamoto helped prepare food Saturday and Sunday. The turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and dressing tasted great.

We are happy for Elder Morita and his new bride Emma, and their future prospects together as husband and wife. Yesterday they were married in the Tokyo Temple. They leave for Provo, Utah and schooling the first of January. Most of all, we are happy for Emma.

Love, Elder and Sister Detton

Update on Uncle Dick

For those of you who are not aware, my dad went back into the hospital last Wednesday. He is still having problems related to his surgery, but he is now at a different hospital and the care is much better. He is feeling good, and he is very hopeful that he will be able to come home today, which is Sunday. Dad had a complicated prostatectomy the Tuesday after Grandma's 100th birthday party, and he has been struggling to get back to normal since that time. He does not have cancer, but the recovery process has been slow and not without complication. But he is in good spirits and a new set of doctors are keeping a close eye on him. Please keep him in your prayers on this Fast Sunday.

Lydia