Catching Up

We finally got all the posts up!  We will try to keep them current.
Christine has written some pretty neat things in personal emails to us, which I hope to go through and post highlights of.  She is having some amazing experiences!  She has also sent us a LOT of pictures, so we will try to get those up. 
We will do better!!

To start with, Kim got an email this morning from a man from Texas, who went to church with Christine today.  He sent some pictures too!  Here it is:


Brother and Sister Grosland,

My name is Rob Carlson and today I attended church at the Kichijoji Ward and had the pleasure of meeting your daughter and her companion, Sister Long.  As you will see in the attached photo, she is happy and enjoying her service to the Lord and to the people of Tokyo.  I evesdropped on her talking with several sisters at church today and was very impressed with her fluency.

Forty years ago I started my missionary service in Japan.  In looking back over my life I can state without any hesitation that everything good that has happened in my life since I was released as a missionary is a result of that mission. Not only my faith and testimony, but also my career was influenced by a desire to stay in touch with Japan.  I have worked for and with Japanese-owned companies nearly all of my career, including two years living and working in Tokyo (and, coincidentally, I home taught the mission president who lived in a house on the site of the church I attended today).

I always am thrilled to meet missionaries serving in Japan -- I feel they are an important part of "my" continuing love for the Japanese.  Thank you so much for sharing your daughter with the wonderful people of Japan.

Sincerely,
Rob Carlson
Friendswood 2nd Ward
Friendswood, Texas

BTW, I am attaching one other photo -- of a strong dust storm that hit Tokyo while we were in church meetings today. The "dust" in the storm originated in a desert in China and was blown all the way to Tokyo -- across the Japan Sea, up and over the high mountains that form the backbone of the main island and finally to Tokyo. As I walked through it I could occasionally feel grit from the wind in my eyes. It was a unique experience.

Take care and have a lovely week!!