Bathing and Bonding November 15, 2009

We have had a really good, full two weeks with our friends Becky (who stayed ten days) and Praise, who stayed about 2 1/2 weeks.  They came from L.A. and led our childcare program during our fall conference, and then spent the remaining time with us in Sanda. 

Last Thursday we had a great cooking and hula class — Becky taught delicious eclairs;  Praise taught everyone how to dance hula to a Hawaiian song.  It was a great way to continue relationship building, and even to make a few new friends.  One of our friends, Suga, brought her sister, Rika, and niece, a high schooler.  They had a great time, and invited Praise and I over this week for lunch.  We had a great 3 hours, and the niece shared that she studied the Bible and is interested in Christianity.  Rika then invited Praise and I to go on her last night in Japan to the hotel where her husband is a manager that is in a famous hotspring town near here, Arima, and use the hot spring there.  We were thrilled!

So the two sisters, Suga and Rika, picked up Praise and I and we went on a wonderful evening adventure.  It was probably the nicest onsen (hotspring)I have ever been to.  Without the free tickets, it would cost $25/person to enter… that is an expensive bath.  But oh… so much more than a bath..

Here we are in the parking lot with beautiful “light-up” maple trees behind us, and the very Japanese-style building in front of us — all part of the experience.

We were given three different outfits over the course of the evening.  Here is our first one.  (I kind of thought we looked like prisoners a bit- the different colors help a bit…)

We couldn’t bring a camera past this point, but I did pull a few photos off of the website.  From here, we went to the “hot rock sauna.”  The four of us were given different outfits (suitable for lots of sweating); a bamboo pillow, and a BIG key that unlocked a small door that led us into our own private sauna.  We laid out our towels and pillow and laid down on warm rocks with warm dry air coming into the room.  

For fifty minutes we hung out in this room, every once in a while going next door to the “cool room” when it became too hot.

During the course of that time, we had some very fun conversations, and even managed to do some group yoga together that Praise taught us.  It was so fun to sweat and talk and rest and – bond together.  

Then, we went to the bath.  It was actually two different stories of many different kinds of baths… gold copper baths; 

 

a silver bath… i

indoor and outdoor baths; and our favorite — a peppermint aromatherapy bath.

After we were sweated, soaked, and all cleaned up, we sat and enjoyed a Japanese parfait together.  What a perfect evening!

As we were leaving the hotel, I asked Praise if she had been told about the stone tradition.  She hadn’t, so I quickly filled her in.  Near the front entrance there was a small rock garden, with white smooth rocks neatly raked into a zen-like formation.  I told her that Japanese always take a big handful as they are leaving, go outside, and throw the rocks over their right shoulder.  She asked if I had gotten mine yet, and I showed her my fist that looked full of the stones.  Praise got on her shoes, then went to the indoor rock garden and got a big-ole fistful.  I had gone ahead of her outside and was talking with our two friends.  She came out, and asked where to throw them.  I said we could do it together right there, and Praise turned around and gave her stones a big toss over her shoulder.  Of course- there were no stones in my hand… I was nearly on the ground shaking with  laughter.   Praise is probably the first, and last person, to pick up rocks from that rock garden and throw them over her shoulder outside, though she is not the first nor the last to be a participant in a Sue prank. She is a great sport- we laughed half of the way home, and several times since.

What a great experience.  Only in Japan can you  spend four hours — bonding while taking a bath!

My Halloween Princess November 11, 2009

Last weekend we had a chance to go to nearby Sasayama for our organization’s church planter’s fall conference. The whole conference was a time of wonderful fellowship; vision and prayer time; and even practical training that included CPR. One huge highlight was the care that our children received from the four women who came from L.A. to minister with us. We loved watching them and hearing their stories! Here is just one photo from one of the fun exercises they did (this wasn’t even halloween!) It really is an important time for our children to enjoy being with other missionary children, as well as to get spiritually fed.

It was fun, too, to be with a group of our North American friends and celebrate Halloween with a harvest party. We were so sad that our friends the Johnstons could not come because of influenza, but we were really grateful for Nozomi’s work in planning the party anyway. Here are a few highlight photos (you have to be impressed in realizing that most people flew in for the conference and packed their costumes!).

We had a few cuties in our family…Yuu-un, the sweet pea (or Japanese edamame)

A cowgirl…
And my personal favorite- the grand prize winner– my Halloween princess! (Rumors have it the princess bribed the judges…)

Here Comes Jesus November 5, 2009

It has been a wacky week.  H1N1 virus hit our family through Annie  last Tuesday– her whole school closed down for a week because so many children and staff had contracted it at the same time.  We then thought that Olivia and I had it– thankfully we both tested negative, and with Annie’s quick recovery we were all able to go (one day late) to our organization’s fall conference for church planters.  It was a really wonderful time of praying, thinking, learning, playing – more on that later.

But the day that Annie’s influenza hit was also the day that my sister Beth left us.  I wanted to post some photos from our time with her and share (with her permission) a short talk that she gave at one of our ladies’ English classes last week.

Here are some highlights from our time together.  I think what touches Eric and I each time Beth visits (this was her seventh visit to Japan over my past twenty years of ministry – isn’t that amazing?) – is how much she enters into our lives, especially the lives of our kids.  They were all so sad to see her go.

It seemed like most of our days were filled with some kind of interaction with our Japanese community- Beth was a great sport!
We spent an afternoon at a friend’s home with three other moms and their kids… all the kids — and Beth– enjoyed making cotton candy, and fighting over holding baby Yuu.

I was also asked at the last minute to come in one day and be lunch mom at Annie’s school — Beth and I went and did it together!  Don’t you love the bandanas and aprons?

We had two wonderful dinners at different neighbor friends’ homes.  For one of them, we surprised Beth with a “half-year birthday party.”  Since we are never around for her birthday, we decided just to do her birthday in a small way while she was here.  I made her favorite cake– Red Velvet — using a special family recipe of a friend’s.  It was a big hit — definitely the first time our Japanese friends have ever had red cake…

Beth- we love you so much!  Thanks for sharing your life with us and so readily entering into ours.  We know that is not an easy task.:)

Here is what Beth shared at the ladies’ English class that meets in our home.  I had asked her to reflect on something she learned while working for a Christian foundation for a number of years and traveling to very poor places around the world.  It’s a bit long but is  really worth the read.

“...I remember in the early days of our organization, my boss gave a staff devotional on Psalm 2.  I can’t remember all that he said, but I do remember that he talked about God wanting to give us the nations as our inheritance.  But in order to be given the nations, we have to be willing to really look at the people of the nations and enter into their suffering.  And I remember saying, “But if I really look at these people and they become real to me, my heart might break. I’m not sure I’m willing to go through that.”

I want to tell you just one story from some women– who are Christians who are giving their lives to help the hurting people of the world.

On one trip to India, we visited Mother Theresa’s Sisters of Charity.  They run a home for throw-away people—those who society has put in trash cans or left by the road to die. Their property is an old warehouse that was given to them.  But immediately upon entering their compound, we were drawn into a cheerful courtyard filled with flowers and plants.

The first part of the warehouse was a huge room which was full of handicapped children.  The room was spotless and each child was clean. While a few of the children walked around shaking our hands, most of them were profoundly handicapped and immobile.  Those who could, were seated on benches in a circle.  Others without limbs were lying in cribs.  Music was playing and the assistants were interacting with as many of the children as possible.  Remembering the importance of touch, I put my hand on the heads of a few of them.  One little one was crying, so I went over to comfort her—she couldn’t even move her body to a different position.

Another large room we went into housed the men with HIV/AIDS.  A radio was playing, around which sat several men. Other men were lying on their beds.  In 1 corner were 2 assistants providing medical care.  One old man had a sore on his leg about 8 inches long.  Around the perimeter of the sore was raw, red skin.  But most of the sore consisted only of bone.  We watched as 1 assistant used tweezers to pick maggots out of sore.  The sister explained he had been hit by a car and then just left on his own.

The next building was for the women with HIV/AIDS.  We were told most of these women were from Nepal and had been brought to India for the sex trade.  Of course, now that they are infected and sick, they are no longer wanted or needed.  Several of them greeted us with their eyes and showed us the handicrafts they were creating.

We were so touched by the dignity offered to each of these people that others would choose to throw away.  16 women live their lives in this compound, touching and talking and ministering to people who will never be able to thank them or reward them.  Yet each one of them had a gentle, joyful spirit.  Each time another broken, diseased, hopeless person is brought in, someone says, “Here comes Jesus”.  They do this because Jesus loves them and fills them with joy.  And they see a bit of Jesus in each of these broken people.

I’ve realized that it is not a bad thing to have my heart broken by the needs of the world.   My greater fear is that my heart will stop being touched when I see the suffering and yet the hope of God’s dearly loved people around the world.  I know that in the midst of the suffering, I often see God — a God who so loves even these broken people that He sends them love and help.  He has promised to do that for anyone who calls out to Him.

Faces October 31, 2009

We have a wonderful reminder every day when we walk into the kitchen of what it’s all about…

These are faces from the Christmas card photos we received last year.  (A few cards got lost in our transition from the U.S. to Japan- sorry if your photo didn’t make it).  We love seeing the people who are so integral to what we are doing in Japan.  To who we are.  Those who pray for us.  Our kids – our family– have such an amazing safety net surrounding us!  There are days that feel a bit lonely in our ministry.  This poster reminds us that we are loved — what a wonderful thing.

Attention October 13, 2009

Sunday’s worship encouraged me in several ways.

It was the once-a-month combined worship time.  Sometimes I feel quite distracted on these Sundays by taking care of the kids’ needs; figuring out what we should be doing, reigning Olivia back in, etc., that I find myself not really worshiping much.  Somehow this Sunday I was able to enter in more fully.

The first thing that really encouraged me was watching Owen!  Recently Owen has been somewhat reluctant to enter into public worship or prayer. These past few months he has just learned (most of) the Japanese hiragana characters.  On Sunday, for the first time, he sat through all of the (Japanese) worship set, paying attention and intently READING the song sheet,  giving singing his best effort.  It moved me to tears to see this.  Thank you, God, for giving a voice to this young boy to worship you.

The second thing that encouraged me was one point of the message delivered by Makio Sensei, the senior pastor of our mother church here.  He was preaching on the woman accused of adultery who was brought before Jesus.  Makio Sensei painted the picture well– even as we were sitting in a large circle, so too, did the crowds and accusers form a circle around this woman who had sinned.  Rather than trying to figure out what she needed to help her out of her sin or to figure out why this had happened, they put her in the very center to be accused and shamed.

Then Jesus started writing in the sand.  We don’t know what he wrote.  But our pastor made a very interesting suggestion… when he stooped down to write, all eyes went from  the woman — to Jesus’ hand.  They all wanted to know what he was writing.  Jesus was able to draw the attention away from the adulterer to himself.  He in a sense covered her shame and took it upon himself.  Just as he did, for all of us, on the cross.  I loved that so much.  How like Jesus!  To choose to draw attention away from the sinner to himself so that she could know His grace.

And I started thinking about how I really don’t like attention on me either, and sometimes I allow it to remain on someone else so that I don’t have to draw attention to my own failings.  And I often don’t think about the needs of the other and how I can take their shame onto myself.  I was so convicted!  And thankful for the covering of Jesus over my own sins and weaknesses.  And for His grace that is more than sufficient to cover any and all of us.

Autumn Treasures October 10, 2009

There are days– or weeks –as a mom of 3 (or right-now 4) young children where I feel like my life has become routine and a bit stagnant.  (Not boring!  Ever!  Just routine).

Earlier this week I got a text from a seventh- grade friend, Manae.  Her family has been ministry partners of ours over the last five years in Sanda, and I’ve always enjoyed her.  (Plus I think related to her as we are both the second of fourth children!)  We texted back and forth a bit, and then I asked if she would like to go for cake this weekend. We did today.  I had about a 2 hour window between Eric’s commitments when he could watch the kids.

I went and picked her up, wondering if I would know what on earth to talk about with a seventh grader.  It’s been a LONG time since I was that age… We drove to a country cake shop somewhat in the middle of nowhere called “Alice’s.”  It was surrounded by quaint little garden spots, carved rocks and fountains.

They only make two kinds of cake each day.  Today’s specials were — fig tart and chestnut cake.  Ugh.  Neither of my two favorites.  We both went for the chestnut cake.

I have to say that chestnuts are one of those food obsessions in fall here that I just have never understood.  They always taste dry and bland, but Japanese LOVE LOVE chestnuts in all forms and ways.  So, I thought I’d give it one last shot.

And discovered a new treasure — this chestnut cake was divine.

The chestnut cake, the ripe persimmon served with it, the autumnal skies beyond the large glass windows made it a perfect fall event.

Earl Kreps, a speaker who came to our Asian Access retreat two years ago, talked about a concept called Reverse Mentoring.  Older peers can learn from younger peers.  As we sat there, I loved entering into the life of a seventh grader.  Manae began to share more about what her life is like. (Did you know:  more than half of her class has their own cell phone –but not Manae!;  everyone in seventh grade joins a club — she is on the  tennis team, and she has practice EVERY day until 6 pm plus half days on Saturday and Sunday;  she is not allowed to bike to school so she walks home in the dark on a country road every evening at 6 pm!)

During our time I felt like, despite the 30-some years difference, that I was having cake and coffee with a friend.  I hope we can do it again soon.  I have a lot to learn.  And maybe next time I’ll venture out and try and the fig tart…

Daddy Dollars October 4, 2009

Family Fun magazine gave me an idea that has had our kids jumping to make their beds, do extra chores, and find ways to serve our neighbors and friends.  Some may call it bribery, but — whatever works!  And it has yielded a very fun family weekend on a number of levels.

It started by making Daddy Dollars.  (Check out the website here to make your own)

(Isn’t he a lot handsomer than George??)
All 3 kids have their own list of things that they can do to get Daddy Dollars…we chose areas that we wanted each to work on (morning routines that include making beds, getting dressed on their own,  eating breakfast, brushing teeth — all these things done before school get one Daddy dollar)…Owen can sweep once a day under the dining room table for a dollar;  practice reading Japanese for ten minutes; Annie clean up the entranceway;  Olivia has no “accidents” in 24 hours;  each one has devotions/Bible reading and prayer time, etc.

Then, they have a list of ways that they can “spend” their money…. 3 dollars, for example, gets a night walk with Mom or dad; doing make-up; going for a bike ride, special individualized story time with Mom or Dad… 5 dollars gets a family movie night with popcorn; a Takamoto kid sleepover (all 3 in the same room)… 7 dollars gets, for example, a date with Mom or dad; a friend sleepover night.

We started just over a week ago, and so this weekend was their first time for big spending.  Owen and I made brownies on Thursday (5 points), and then today he spent his cumulated bucks going with Eric to the local onsen (hot springs).  Annie and I had a great afternoon at Starbucks yesterday (score for Mom! – 7 points);  and Olivia treated the family to ice cream last night (7 points).  What we’ve loved is the intentional family/relational time.  Annie and I ended up having a special talk about adoption — a chance for her to think through and ask a few more questions about what it all really means.  Eric was able to spend some special time affirming Owen at the onsen about how hard he has been working at school in learning Japanese, and Olivia was the hero last night — taking her older siblings out for a kids cone at Baskin Robbins.  I’m sure the enthusiasm will dim at some point, but in the meantime, our family is having a lot of fun making –and spending– money.

Relay Races September 23, 2009

We had quite a weekend… it was sort of like a crazy relay race in which we were barely able to get the baton into the next hand without dropping it, all the while trying to care well for the little foster baby entrusted to our care.  (Thankfully we didn’t drop him…)

Saturday was Owen’s first elementary school undokai, or sports festival.  It is a BIG deal!  We had friends watch little Y-kun, while we went and enjoyed watching Owen and the rest of his classmates run in races, participate in a traditional Japanese folk dance, and delight in the events of the day.

Yesterday, Owen’s best friend (center above) was diagnosed with the new influenza.  Please pray for him and his family… We are keeping our eyes on our kids, too, as it has started going around our school.  Influenza continues to be big news in Japan — the second child (a first grader) just died yesterday from this illness in a nearby prefecture.  Here are two grandparents cheering at the sports festival, prepared to fight the flu:

That afternoon I went with baby Y. to a fun baby shower for a special little friend in Kobe, Joshua K.  Joshua was adopted by his parents, friends with Asian Access, two months ago.  He is an absolute delight, and it was so much fun to celebrate him.  I had worked the night before on a cake in Joshua’s honor (at one point I was decorating it with Y. in a baby carrier around my front so he wouldn’t cry and I could get the project done before the sun came up!:) )

On Sunday after house church we had a ladies’ tea here for the women who had hosted the August team that came to Sanda.  It was great to “treat” them to an American-style tea and share stories of their homestays and relationships and learn how we can do things better as we host teams.

It was God’s amazing gift to have our friend Megumi come for the five-day long weekend that we had.  She helped in a million-and-one-ways, even taking night shifts feeding baby Y.  Despite a pretty crazy weekend, we are fairly refreshed heading back into our schedules.  Thanks, Megumi, for taking the baton and being such an amazing part of our family.

I was greatly encouraged last week by a verse that reminded me of the lofty — scary — exhilarating position of our daily lives.  It is now written on our kitchen chalkboard:

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. (2 Cor 2:14)

Here it is in the Message version:

In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life.

Even on those weekends that feel like each day is its own sports festival, the promise to us who walk with Him is that God will lead us as one “perpetual victory parade.”  An aroma redolent with life — what a wonderful confidence He gives us in the midst of our every day lives, even the fullest of days.

Woven Together September 18, 2009

Today I pulled out three very special quilts that were hand-made for each of our children.  Our special friend Myrleen, who had served in Japan with my in the early 90s, had carefully selected the fabric and pattern for each one when we announced the addition of each child.  They are each unique and wonderful.

I showed these quilts to my ladies’ English class today during our informal chapel time, and shared about Myrleen and our special relationship.  We only get to see her once every few years as she lives in Oregon, but those visits are very special.  The quilts remind me of our relationship and mutual affection.

And then I shared how these quilts remind me of God’s special relationship with us.  We read together from Psalm 139:13-16: (here is the English version, even though we read it in Japanese):

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

***

During the whole English class, our new little foster baby, Yuu-kun, was being passed around and shared by all the ladies.

After we read this passage, I shared about Yuu.  He came to stay with us on Monday — we don’t know for how long yet.  He will be two weeks old tomorrow.  He has melted all of our hearts.

It is interesting as we have had Japanese friends visit or ask about him to hear their first reaction:  “kawai-so” – or, “what a shame”.  So today I shared that I have heard that a lot over the past few days, and I understand why people say that, but I think the opposite — what amazing joy!  Yuu-kun was knit together in his birth mother’s womb.  He has been given life by His Heavenly Father.  God has a unique and special plan for his life.  And God is allowing us to be a part of the start of it.  What amazing joy!   (OK – so the every-3-hour-bottle-shifts during the night are making us feel our age.  We are trying not to be too crabby during the day.  But both of us say that even during the middle night when we “get” to hold this little one it really is — joy).

It is very far out of the realm of most Japanese to think in these terms –of a personal, loving Creator God;  of children each being made unique and special for purposes of God; of foster care and adoption somehow being much more than an act of sheer goodwill.

But today– they saw it for themselves — they held him!  The little 4 kilogram boy who was specially knit together in his birth mother’s womb.  I don’t think there is anything quite like holding a newborn baby that allows us to see the sheer beauty and extravagant love of a Creator God.  Yuu-kun, and all of our children, remind us again of the amazing privilege we have to be both adopted and adopters.

The next three hour shift is upon me; I will be praying for the eight ladies today that the truth of the Word and the reality of their experiences will rock their world as they realize that they, too, have been woven with great purpose.

Jersey Girls September 7, 2009

We have been back in Japan just over a week– Annie and Owen are back at school; busy fall schedules have started up.  We are so thankful that Annie’s eyes seem fine — she no longer complains of double-vision and they look great.  We will take her to a Japanese specialist in about a month to just make sure that everything is in line.

I wanted to share some special memories from our two weeks in New Jersey.  It was really an amazing time for spending time with special people.  As you probably know, the hardest part of missionary life for me is being far away from loved ones; so Annie’s surgery gave both of us an unexpected opportunity to see at least some of those so dear to us.  It is also interesting that of our three children, it is Annie who talks most about missing the U.S. and people there.  So despite the challenges of the surgery, overall it was a great visit for her, as well.

I have to say being with my niece Isabella was a huge highlight for both of us!  Annie enjoyed not having to share her with Owen and Olivia this time….

Staying at our family home resplendent with amazing gardens and abundant Jersey vegetables and fruit was a great treat!

My immediate family hasn’t quite taken to Jersey lima beans as much as my sisters and Dad, but we’re working on it!

I brought my Dad and his wife, Mickey, a special gift from a small town called Obama, Japan.  They weren’t quite sure what to do with this cake!  (The paper wrapper has a sketch of Obama and says, I love Obama)

We happened to be home at the right time to celebrate our friend Laura’s 16th birthday… And we decided to surprise her by all wearing vintage bridesmaid dresses!  (Probably more embarrassing for us than for her, but nonetheless a lot of fun.)  I got the award for the most foo-foo dress;  Annie wore a holly Hobby dress that my mom had made me as a child…

My Dad and sister Beth drove us to Lancaster, PA for a day of shopping and visiting with my special friends Lauren and Jill.  Annie had a great time playing with Lauren’s kids and dressing up!

We were able to make a very brief visit to Washington D.C. and participate in Fourth’s worship service and get to see a few friends, as well…

One special God-ordained event was that we were able to visit with our special friends the Ryus on our last day.  Claire and Bobby had served with us in Japan for three years, and now Bobby is studying in England.  We hadn’t had a chance to meet their baby, Samuel, yet – so it was such a great treat when they flew into Philadelphia for a family reunion and to spend time with us.

For Annie, this was really special, too, because she helped to name him!  Last fall when we found out via email that Bobby and Claire were having a baby boy, I asked the kids what name they thought might be good.  Annie immediately said, “Samuel.”  When I asked why, she said, “Because Samuel listened to God.”  We emailed this story, and that, with other factors, led to his given name.

Tongue-in-cheek we advertised among our Asian Access community that we would be having a big BBQ on the east coast (there recently had been a very large gathering on the west coast)… Here is a photo of the turnout:

The real BBQ was a special meal prepared by my sisters Allison and Beth that gave me a wonderful last dinner with my family and our special friends the Ryus.

The whole trip was capped off with one last special visit.  Every day since we left New Jersey and Annie’s Kindergarten in February, Annie has said at some point, “I miss Miss Thomas.”  Tanicqua was Annie’s amazing teacher for five months and left a huge impression on her life.  On our last night in the U.S., we stayed in a hotel near the Philadephia airport, and Tanicqua flew in from Texas, where she now lives, to spend a short amount of time with us before we had to fly out the next morning.

The Lord was so good in ordering our steps; giving us family and friends who sacrificed and hosted and cared for us; and in giving Eric and Owen and Olivia special friends in Sanda to help them, as well.  I came back to Sanda with a full heart, ready to plunge again into this ministry and life that God has called us to.