During a recent visit to the United States, three members of the Church from Japan took time for something few tourists might think about - volunteering at an LDS cannery.
Offering their services recently in Idaho Falls, Idaho, were Sachiko Sota of the Matsue Ward, Okayama Japan Stake, and her children, Yasunori, 18; and Yoshie, 12. Traveling with Sister Sota and also serving at the cannery was 14-year-old Kazuhisa Nakada. Kazuhisa takes English lessons from Sister Sota in Japan.Hosting the Japanese travelers were Randy Anderson and his wife, Diana, of the Idaho Falls 39th Ward, Idaho Falls Idaho Eagle Rock Stake. Brother Anderson served in the Japan Central Mission from 1971-1973. He met Sister Sota soon after her conversion to the Church in the Higashi Osaka Ward, Osaka Japan Stake. During a Church News telephone interview, Brother Anderson explained he had not had any contact with Sister Sota for some 25 years when she called him "out of the blue" last February to let him know of her travel plans. He offered his home for a place to stay.
During her stay in Idaho Falls, Sister Sota offered to join Eagle Rock stake members for a day of service in the cannery.
Since there are no LDS canneries in Japan, this was a new experience for Brother Anderson's Japanese friends.
In addition, he and his wife said having Sister Sota in his home was a good experience for their family.
"They enjoyed it," Brother Anderson said, speaking of his family. "The big effect is we've taught our kids to go on missions. This brought my mission to life."
