Last Night in Chino

Dear Friends - It's 11:45PM, Sunday night - a lot has happened in the last two days since I wrote for the blog. On Saturday we went to Matsumoto by train - an hour ride going west from Chino. We broke up into three small groups - some went on the tour of Matsumoto castle, and others went shopping and sightseeing. My group went to a soba (noodle) restaurant where I had tempura with my cold noodles. It was a great meal made even better by being surrounded by good friends.
I'm sorry, but I've been talking with some team members and it's now 12:30AM, Monday morning. I'll have to get back to you tomorrow to continue this post.
It's now 5:40AM Monday morning. After waking up about a ½ hour ago, I decided to get up and spend some time writing. The air is cool and refreshing as I sit in the sanctuary by myself. Pastor John was already up spending time in prayer and has now gone out for a walk in the community. Chihoyo-sensei is up, probably preparing for breakfast. She is a wonderful woman who serves us endlessly with love and warmth. I am fighting back tears as I think about leaving Chino in about 2-½ hours. Each year I have come to Chino, it is harder and harder to say good-bye to these brothers and sisters. Last night we went out to dinner and were joined by Hisao and Hisako, a couple I first met 6 years ago. In spite of terrible injuries they have suffered in that time, both use a crutch to walk, their is great joy in their hearts that they warmly share with us. Also joining us was Sanae Yumoto - who has served the mission teams to Chino since the first trip in 2007. Her warmth and joy light up the room every time we see her. Her two daughters, Aina and Hikari, served us during EEC and throughout the trip. Her son, Nozomu, served with the mission in team in Sendai this year. There was wonderful conversations and plenty of laughter as we shared this meal together with these special people. Team has been dwindling in size since the past few days. Megumi and Junko, the two seminary students from Tokyo, left Friday afternoon after the EEC had finished. They both will move on to other churches to help out, just as they did in Chino - this is part of their service they perform during their summer break. Sunday afternoon Pastor Raynold from the Crossway church left to go on to Machida, in Tokyo. His visit there, after visiting Sendai and Chino, has allowed him to touch bases with the 3 churches in Japan that Crossway currently sends mission teams to. Then late afternoon yesterday, Lily and her husband Soshi left us to return home in Tokyo. Soshi served on the 2012 team to Chino, and he and Lily plan to return to the U.S. early next year. So that leaves us with Shizuka, Erica, Kaori, and Pastor John from the South Bay church, and Yumiko, Koby and Don from the Crossway church. It seems empty without the presence of all these brothers and sisters. Later this morning, we will have our prayer meeting and breakfast and then give the church a thorough cleaning after our presence here for a week and a half. Erica will stay in Chino another day before leaving and spending another 2 or 3 weeks visiting. Pastor John and Yumiko will leave us this morning to visit family and friends. Kaori will remain in Japan until her return to the U.S. in December, I believe. Shizuka, Koby, and I will meet up with Kagiwada-sensei and Monica, from the Sendai team, to do some sightseeing until our return on Saturday. Kagiwada-sensei has planned our time, which will include visits to Osaka, Kyoto, and Hiroshima. It will be great for me to be able to visit these places, but it will not be the same without all the team members present.

I'll jump backwards now to fill you in with what we did the last 2 days. On Saturday, after spending the day in Matsumoto, we went to the Hosokawa home for dinner. You would not believe the marvelous dinner placed before us. Most of the food is not what you'd get when going out to a Japanese restaurant in the U.S. As good as the meal was, it was the hospitality and the joyful conversation around the table that made this time extra special. We have been invited into 3 different homes during the last 3 visits to Chino - overwhelmed by the graciousness, generosity, and love of these wonderful brothers and sisters. That afternoon as we made our way from the train station to the Hosokawa home, about a 20 minute walk, lightning and thunder began to roll in. The rain held off until we all were safe and dry at the Hosokawa's. What I almost forgot to tell you was the Hosokawa's have converted a bathroom into an onsen-style room. There is the typical shower, low to the floor, with a large personal tub to soak in. I will have to discuss this with my wife Janis when I return home. She really doesn't need her own workroom for her quilting and crafts. Anyway, Shizuka and Chi-chan, Kaori, and I had the opportunity to use the onsen at the Hosokawa home - another marvelous family from the Chino church. It's now 6:45AM and their is a lot of activity now as we prepare for the prayer meeting and breakfast. I need to be more helpful right now. I will write about Sunday in my next report to you. It is hard to believe that it is nearly time to leave. Great thanks to everyone for your prayers, thoughts, and well wishes. May God bless you as we have been blessed in Chino. May you experience the same joy, peace, and excitement that we have. With thanks to God for each one of you. Love, Don