An Air of Sadness

Upon my return from a short four days holiday on the other side of Tokyo I immediately learned of the passing of Ruth Ayling in the UK.  It was her illness that precipitated my resuming full time care of the OMF Headquarters Ichikawa Guest Home. She and her husband, Gareth were in charge from autumn 2002 till spring this year and in that span of time they broadened and deepened their network of friends and proteges.  I was fortunate to have contact with them and to give them a day off every week and to meet with Ruth for a weekly time of sorting myself out and prayer together.

She is greatly missed by her husband, Gareth and her children and grandchildren, and also by many many more to whom she showed kindness, consideration, generosity, interest. With whom she shared many meals, letters, calls, visits and prayers. She is an excellent example of a Godly woman. We could all learn something from her life. 

Till we meet again in Glory.

A new level of busy

Last week at one time or another all of the rooms at the Guest Home had to be cleaned. Several more than once. That's nine rooms varying from singles to a small two bedroom apartment.  The job would have been next to impossible on my own, but I had several people come help. So thanks to Yuka, Reiko, Junko and Yoko my load was a lot lighter.

This week there are people coming to stay for slightly longer periods for the most part, so a little room to breathe. I definitely have a "day off" planned and might even get to go to quilting class if there is one this Wednesday.

Nice to be able to think back on scenes like this one from two weeks ago in the mountains. So calm and serene early in the mornings...and cool.

And last week, being able to have lunch with sweet Julie, away from Ichikawa.

I'll post these photos from Karuizawa on Picasa as usual. Happy viewing.

Christmas Dinner 2010

Hosted by the Aylings and gathering in family and friends from here and there...

featuring a beautifully done turkey and Christmas pudding.

Thanks for a lovely Christmas day!

What a Lovely Day!

This beautiful sunny Sunday morning I headed off to Omote-sando to attend the Worship Service at Tokyo Union Church. I had been wanting to see what it's like and found out from my friend Julie that the choir was going to do Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten. I really enjoyed the service. TUC calls itself an ecumenical and international congregation of English-speaking Christians. To me it seemed to blend a bit of Presbyterian with some Baptist and a touch of Anglican. Mostly though it has the feel of "church" and is all in English.

Julie was more than pleased to see me. I got to meet her husband, and we went to lunch together. What a lovely day!

Snow People

It snowed a little last night, as predicted. An inch or two of slushy stuff greeted me as I took the trash out before 8am. I needed to take a short term worker to the train and then to the express train to the airport and then was on my way back to the office. Walking by a newish house, lovely two story in yellow brick with a wall and lovely gate I saw through the gate that someone was building snow people in the yard. So I got my camera out and called in Japanese, "Excuse me, may I take a picture?" She laughed and said "Dozo."

After I took a picture she came to the gate and unlocked it and invited me in to take a closer shot, and while I was fussing with the camera she started asking me questions in Japanese and English, finding out where I was from, my name and where I worked, how long was I in Japan, etc. I answered in as much Japanese as possible, and then English.

Turns out she invited me for tea. I felt that it was a bit quick to accept right away, so I said, certainly, I would love to come sometime. This led to exchange of phone numbers and then to her telling me that she teaches a class in making sushi, and invited me to the next class two and a half weeks from now.

Always something new and exciting here in Japan, all from admiration of some snow people.