Thanks and pictures

A big thank you to David in Arkansas for fixing my picture of cherry blossoms (above). The picture is now much brighter and looks as beautiful as if it was still cherry blossom season. Thanks again for your computer handiwork!

And, a new addition today: a picture from Easter morning. The pastors and the two newly baptized members of Hoya Lutheran church (for the story of the "Biggest Little Baptism in Tokyo," see April 18). Thanks, Mom, for sending my alb. It looked good on Easter morning.

Thank you to everyone for reading and sending me all types of support -- even to the point of looking for the Scrambler in ND! (some friends would do anything!). I would be lost without my family and friends. "Adventures in Mission" is not only my my adventure in Japan, but your adventures, as well. From John 15:1-8. Jesus is the vine, and we (all of us!) are connected through him. "Abide in me, as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, neither can you unless you abide in me." Through this, God is glorified: that we bear much fruit (adventures!) and become Jesus' disciples (adventures in mission!).

Sometimes the adventures you wouldn't willingly choose make the best stories ...

For example, I wouldn't willing choose to BBQ in the pouring rain, getting soaked clear through with no way to get dry until a lost key shows up. But, that is how I spent last Saturday night: dripping wet with 12 other people barbecuing squid and chicken skin and other Japanese delicacies.

The second annual English Fellowship Camp got off to a bit of a rocky start. Perhaps I should I realized then what was in store. The weather was fine (a plus, and a bit of a miracle during the rainy season). The vans were late picking us up, then the pastor forgot some things back at the church, so turned around to get them. We finally left Tokyo for the beautiful green woods of Nagano. It was a bit of a drive, but well worth it. The woods were so much more beautiful than I imagined, after being cooped up in Tokyo for nine months.

As we were pulling into town, the pastor announced that he had left the key to our destination back in Tokyo (we had already turned around once for forgotten items, so it's an even funnier story than if it was the only thing he had forgotten!).

We arrived at the cabin and put all our stuff on the porch, and went for a hike (I've got pics on my cell phone, but don't know how to put them on the computer yet. If you come to Tokyo, I'll show them to you).

As we finished our hike, it started to rain. So, we hurried back to the (locked) cabin to set up the tents (canopies?). We had two small ones that fit on the porch, and one big one we set up in the back yard: with difficulty, as I seemed to be the only one reading the directions (a misnomer, since they were in Japanese, I was merely following the pictures). Finally, we finished setting up the tent in the rain, and then all proceeded to head back to the porch, where the grill was being lit. The big tent on the ground could have held all 13 of us. But, we all congregated around the grill. The rest of the night. We did not use the big tent even once.

Two small tents didn't hold us and the grill. Mostly, people hung out under the eaves, and some of the guys took turns running to the motion-sensor light so that we could see. I ended up being the waitress, carrying finished kabobs to people who would rather stay dry than eat (I had not helped cook at all, so I had planned to serve the finished product. I had also intended to be dry while doing this, but ah, well.)

The tents leaked rain in between them, plus there was a shower between the tents and the eaves. Plus, one man finally took an umbrella and stood in front of the motion light, and I took him food for his willingness to do that.

When a light turned on inside the cabin, we all cheered as the cabin's owner came to let us in. He said it felt like the Second Coming! We all finished clearing up and moved the party inside, where it was warm and dry.

My pajamas never felt so good!

A visit to Kumamoto Castle

A slice of life as a tourist in Japan.

Climbing the Ute Tower of Kumamoto Castle in my bare feet was sensational, and I mean it in a 5-senses kind of way. Sensational, as in the feel of the old wood polished smooth by centuries of feet. Polished so smooth, as to be clear of any stain. Centuries of traffic through the tower had stripped the floor to the bare wood. The planks creaked beneath my feet, uncertainly, as if they might give way. I was in awe the whole way up to the top. Stepping carefully, I was also alone almost all the way to the top. This utter solitude only increased the already present feeling of being watched, the feeling that I was walking past ghosts of souls long past. I could feel the warriors watching for enemies, the servers stepping quietly around me. Men and women going about their lives as they did centuries ago.

The sense of history weighed heavily on me, and I wondered about all the people who used to live there and work there. I felt as if they were all still there -- history still alive -- for us, the tourists who come to learn. I left the castle with reluctance, but living in the past is no use to those I have come to serve in the present.

I came to learn, to study the people -- not ghosts, but living people. The people who live and work in Japan now. The descendants of the ever-present souls in the castle. Having seen where they came from, I now go to where the people are today.

I come peaceably,
With curiosity, yet respect.
Yearning to understand.

Haiku

Known as "go-shichi-go" (5-7-5) in my newspaper, it is a deceptively difficult form of literature. What could be easier than writing 5 syllables, the 7, then another 5? Almost as easy as writing a couplet, right? (Which I have never tried, but I am thinking it's awfully difficult!).

The most famous Haiku poet I have heard of is Basho Matsuo (1644-1694). Here is a translation of one of his poems:

Temple bells die out.
The fragrant blossoms remain.
A perfect evening!

Every month in my newspaper, a different Haiku writer is featured. Some wrote centuries ago, and some only a few years ago. I am enjoying the brief glimpses of a delicate form of writing. Even to the point of attempting it myself. Brief rules of Haiku are: The 5-7-5 syllable rule, the poem must contain a reference to a season, and the poem must consist of two distinct (yet connected parts). Okay, go!

Train at the station,
Dark suits viewed through a pink haze.
New sun reflected.

It's about the falling cherry blossom petals during rush hour at the station. The falling pink petals are amazingly beautiful, like pink snow. They even glitter in the sunlight. Too beautiful for a poor attempt at haiku.

Cherry Blossoms

A day spent veiwing flowers (ohanami, in Japanese) in Shinjuku Park. It is a popular place to see the cherry blossoms. And, yes, I realize cherry blossom season was in April, but I am just getting the hang of these pictures!

Here I am with Becky (middle) and Mika (right). Becky is in Tokyo teaching English for two years as a LC-MS missionary (we studied Japanese together). We have been through a lot of tough verbs and grammar together! Mika is a former English class member at Hongo Lutheran Church, and still attends Sunday evening worship there. She is a good friend and tour guide around Japan!