Back in the US of A

The last month before returning to the US for our six month home ministry assignment was packed with activity. Some highlights:

 Going away party for some missionaries heading soon to southeast Asia

Sushi rice with all kinds of toppings

Chopped raw tuna

Going away party for me at our church

Going away lunch at noodle shop with two good church friends, Mr. Kabeya above and Mr. Kawanishi below

 

Lots of New Years decorations. Bamboo and pine for wishes of longevity and life with dried rice plants at the bottom.

In Japan making mochi is often done around New Years. This is at Honda Chapel.

 Rice is steamed in these stacked cookers

 Wood fired

 Mallets cleaned up afterwards

 

 Panorama (click to enlarge) of my last Sonship seminar

Twice a month I drive an hour one way to preach at a bilingual service on Sunday afternoon at 5 pm. They took me out to dinner as a thank you afterwards. Australian visitor Nathan came with us. Other Japanese men are two generations of pastors. 

And finally back in the USA! 

I can't stop hugging her.

So good to be back with family.

Connected through Toronto -- snow and ice on ground both there and Pittsburgh, but no delays! 

Had a chocolate fondue dessert party watching Downton Abbey (which I had never seen before). For those of you wondering what this is, the pot in the middle has melted chocolate with a heating flame below. The long handled forks are used for dipping the various items in the chocolate. From the left - pound cake squares, pretzels, apples, strawberries, clementines (mikans), 4 kinds of gourmet marshmallows, Turkish apricots, crystallized ginger, Biscotti, and bananas (not visible).

Japanese Class Year End Party

NEXT is our Japanese Language School in Chiba. I got to come because I take a refresher class. They had a year end party today with "nabe" which means pot. It is made with fish and meat stock broth with chicken pieces, onions, carrots, mushrooms, cabbage, daikon radish, noodles and konnyaku which means -- are you ready-- "solidified jelly made from the rhizome of devil's tongue." That's what the dictionary said. Today was cold and rainy and this dish hit the spot. I couldn't stop eating it. I don't know how many bowls I had.

There's a can of gas below that runs a burner. You just keep adding stuff and eat away. So much fun.

Teacher Sachiko is at the far end of table. She did all this prep for us. 

Because it's Christmas and New Years, most of the students couldn't come, so the Japanese staff was also invited. 

This is dessert - on the left is chocolate and vanilla filled cakes and on the right is a kind of pie thing made from two pancakes filled with sweet red bean paste. With hot coffee...mmmm.

Then we all went around and said what we enjoyed the most during the past year.

And then we had a fun activity. This is called "fuu fuu pin pon" which I think translates to "huff puff ping pong." Check it out...

Merry Christmas from Japan!

The kids Sunday School put on a Christmas play after worship and lunch last Sunday

 One of the smaller shepherds trying to get his lamb to cooperate

 Angels announcing good news

Then last night on the 23rd we had our Candle Service

 This guy was so excited about his gift - a battery powered candle

 Snack time afterwards. Cold night but warm fellowship!

There are more Christmas lights in Japan than ever. This house is on the way to church. Might not look like that much compared to some of the craziness in the US, but for Japan this is a lot!

And then today (Christmas Eve) I had an invitation to be Santa Claus at an Oyumino neighborhood preschool. They aren't Christian but the staff knew where the church was and that foreigners were there, so they stopped by to see if one would be Santa for them. The oldest with the most white hair was selected!

 I got dressed in a supply room and waited for my cue.

 First I went into the toddler room and two of them immediately burst into tears.

 Then on into the main room where 4 or 5 other older classes were all assembled.

 Only about 5% were crying in here.

 They asked if I had come because I heard them singing their song to Santa earlier that day. I lied and said yes.

 They asked if any kids had any questions. This boy asked how old I was. I said 62 and he said, "Whoa!"

 They had prepared sacks of presents for each class and they came up by group and I handed them out. Even the ones who were crying took the presents.

 Then we started over and took class pictures. Some were willing to sit in my lap!

After the presents and pictures I was given one minute to give a message from Santa. I was able to tell them the real meaning of Christmas was the birth of Jesus who came to save us from our great trouble, that he is the best present of all. They invited me back next year!

Here's our church at Christmas worship giving you our best wishes for a merry Christmas!