It began with Golden Week. A week off for most employees due to the fact that several national holidays fall within the week and so rather than have to close shop every other day or so they just give everyone the week off and a much needed rest (yasumi). Our cousins, the Huttons, took this opportunity to go to the states for their daughter's graduation from The Master's College and to pick up their other daughter from Cederville University. Steve and I house sat and dog sat for them while they were gone for 10 days. So on May 2 we packed our bags and moved ov
er to Kyotanabe. It was nice to be able to spread out a bit and to have the use of a car. While there, we had the opportunity to attend a Jazz Festival with Hiro and family. There were jazz groups playing all over the town of Takatsuki where Hiro lives & works during the week. His company has transferred him there several months ago. His little family still lives in Hitachinaka which is a 9 hour t
rip by train & bus but he makes the trip home every weekend to be with them. During Golden Week however they traveled to Takatsuki and stayed with him and we got a chance to spend some time with them.Also during Golden Week there was a church picnic and soft ball game. Steve got a chance to play soft ball for the first time in a very long time. It was a beautiful day for a game.
On Mother's Day Hiro and family came over to Kyotanabe and went to church with us at Kyoto International Church and then after church several young women of our church gave us an Okonomiyaki party. It was both a Mother's Day treat and an appreciation treat for Steve and me.
All during this time of fun and games Steve was nursing a toothache. Finally it got so bad that we had to see a dentist. Barb Blocksom was gracious enough to call her dentist and see if he could get in. He did and the x-ray showed a bad wisdom tooth and the dentist said it would have to come out. So Steve was scheduled for oral surgery at the local hospital for Tues, May 18. What a scary thing, to be in a foreign land, not understanding the language, not sure of the medical practices and not knowing how much it was going to cost. But you know
, God knew and He had it all planned out. What was thought to be a rather difficult extraction turned out to be a 10 minute, simple removal. It took us longer to check into the hospital and fill out papers than it did for the dentist to remove the tooth. Then, we went to the lobby to pay our bill. We panicked at first when we saw the cost of 11,270 yen. Then I remembered to move the comma back one place and make it a decimal point. SUGOI - only $112.70 approx in US dollars and that included more x-rays and 2 medications. Isn't God good!!! The following week was his check up and he came away with a clean bill of health for just another 450 yen ($4.50). Maybe we should have his other 3 wisdom teeth out while we are here - no, I don't think so. We certainly praise God for the wonderful care Steve got and how easy on our budget it was.We also had the sad privilege to attend a Japanese Christian funeral. The mother of one of my ladies in the Wed. Bible Study passed away. It was the first time since we have come to Japan that we didn't understand one word that was said in the service. Church is always bi-lingual but this time there was no need to translate as we were the only ones who didn't understand Japanese. The funeral service was done a bit different than in the US but the message was the same. Pastor Chris Momose, gave a gospel message about the hope of eternal life in Christ. Most of the extended family members were Buddhist and so for some this may have been the first time they have ever heard the gospel.
Finally this past Friday we were blessed with the opportunity to visit a lady who plays the Koto and who give lessons. What a fabulous afternoon we spent with Masako in her apartment, all thanks to Kiyo Sato
, our wonderful tennis friend. Masako was amazed that Steve could play a tune on the Koto once he figured out the note structure. So she and Steve had great fun playing together. Then she and her pupil, Hiroyo, sat down and played for us "Moon River" while Hiroyo sang - beautiful. After they retuned their Koto's to the oriental turning they played "Sakura" for us. This was so amazing and beautiful that it took our breath away. Afterwards, Masako showed us the Shamisan - a 3 stringed instrument. It is similar to Steve Strumstick and so he sat down and played some Bluegrass Hillbilly tunes on it. Everyone laughed and Hiroyo said he must be a genius.
What a great month of May we have had. And sandwiched in between all of this we got to visit a tea plantation and see how tea is processed, Steve bought himself a great guitar at a recycle shop (thrift store) and we have enjoyed dinner at a number of friends homes. This adventure will be a part of us for the rest of our lives and no matter what God has in store for us, we will never be the same again.
