Tokyo Reflections and a Glimpse into Mongolia

Spending a week in Tokyo was incredible!  For J.D., it brought back a flood of memories from his time as a young missionary, and for me, it was a thrilling dive into a new culture full of unique experiences.  From mastering the subway and exploring the city streets to savoring amazing food, meeting new people, and receiving hands-on training--it was all unforgettable.  

We also gained deeper insight into our upcoming work in Mongolia, which has only heightened our excitement to begin this next chapter!  We fly out tomorrow and can't wait to finally be in Mongolia!!

Some Tokyo highlights:

As Devin pointed out, it's kind of crazy to see your location dot on the other side of the world!

The views from the top of Tokyo Tower were amazing!  Tokyo is huge!! 
Big city everywhere, farther than the eye could see!

You can't visit Tokyo without visiting a shrine.  This is Meiji Shrine.  170 acres of beautiful, serene gardens in the middle of the bustling, big city.  I was so excited to see a Japanese woman wearing a kimono.  We have a few of these that J.D. brought home from his mission so it was extra cool to see one actually being worn!  

The Tokyo Temple was truly beautiful, with its peaceful grounds featuring small waterfalls and traditional Japanese gardens. It also offered a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. We had the opportunity to attend the temple on Friday night, and even though we had to walk through pouring rain, it was a memorable and enjoyable experience.

This is Shibuya.  When the crosswalk signals, everyone, from all different directions, crosses the street...very crazy!  The area reminded me a bit of Times Square.

For all the foodies out there, we had to post some good food pictures!  Gyoza, ramen, sushi, katsu, Indian curry with nan and mango lassi....all amazing!!

With all of the good food, it's still fun to see familiar places from home!

We have decided the U.S. definitely needs to step up its toilet game!  Most all toilets we came across had a bidet and some even had a heated seat.  

We have discovered over that last 2 weeks that when you are wearing a missionary name tag, you get recognized.  We had so many people come up to us as we were walking the streets of Tokyo!  This couple that we saw on our way to the train station happened to be friends with my brother and sister-in-law in Alabama!  What are the chances to make a connection on the streets of one of the largest cities in the world!!  It's a small world! 

We had the wonderful opportunity to ride the Tokiwa Limited Express to Mito to reconnect with some truly amazing friends! J.D. spent 10 months of his mission here and formed a special bond with the Yamagata family. Later, Minobu came to the U.S. for a time, and we've remained close ever since. So when the chance to see her came up, we couldn’t pass it by. They welcomed us with such kindness—treating us to a delicious Bento Box lunch and even sending us home with thoughtful gifts.