Murone Land

Murone Land is this magic place right outside of Murone city. There, there is a very small church that could possibly hold 20 people for a church service. But during Golden week this tiny church in the country turned into a camp for children who has a foreign parent. Using 4 cars we took 22 kids and 8 adults out there last Friday.

Once everyone arrived we had a prayer service and then headed to an onsen. After the onsen we had prepared barbecue for dinner.  These kids can eat! We nearly didn’t have enough. It was very cold out there so we had the kids warm up in the church before we set off fireworks. It is truly amazing how entertaining fireworks are. After warming up again we went for a night walk and star gazing. Two of the staff members had decorated one of the cars with lights. They also had put on somewhat scary masks. The older kids thought it was cool while the younger ones were pretty scared. 

The next morning we had a morning prayer service and then breakfast. Then the kids made fruit

jello to take home to their parents. Everyone was assigned a job such as cutting the fruit, making shiratama (sweet rice flour dumplings) and preparing the jello. While the kids were making jello the male staff members prepared the grill to make yakisoba and BBQ the rest of the leftover meat from dinner. During lunch, again we shown how much the kids could eat. It was entertaining to see.

We then had one last prayer service. One of the staff members was a priest, Fr. Lee. As I mentioned before all of the kids at this camp were half Japanese which can be difficult sometimes. During the last prayer service Fr. Lee gave a talk about how none of us are alone. Though we might only be one person and we think that there are problems that no one else understands, that is not the case. We have each other. We have God. We can and should navigate this life together. We should walk together through this life, supporting one another. 

Once we cleaned up the church, and packed all of our belongings we headed back to Sendai. The two-day camp in Murone Land was a success.

The night parade

FIREWORKS!

Making shiratama

playing soccer in the country

Waiting for the food to be cooked

Grains of Hope

Grains of Hope, is a Japanese Language class for non-Japanese residents in Sendai. This class started in back in October so that the students could study for the National Japanese Proficiency Language test in December. After the test was over they wanted to continue to study Japanese, especially kanji (the Chinese characters used in written Japanese). When we started the class again in January, we added several new members. 

They have been studying kanji now for four months. On May 18^th there will be a graduation ceremony. During the ceremony we are having a speech competition and cultural presentation. In preparation for the competition we had a mini-tournament. Everyone had to write a speech about what the phrase “let us walk together” means to them. They have done a wonderful job with the speeches. It is further proof that they have come a long way in only a short amount of time.

Events throughout April

Kyushu Church Members visit

Three parishioners from Kyushu diocese came to visit the Tohoku region for the third time. They stayed for 5 days. During their visit they went to Shinchi base to listen to hear beautiful voices sing children's songs. They also helped with the daily cleaning of radiation at St. Paul's Kindergarten.

Shinchi monthly Pilgrimage

On the 11^th of every month the Shinchi base puts on a pilgrimage to various devastated sites in the area. At each site they have a small prayer service. This past month we had a first time participant. It was nice to have new faces joining in on the pilgrimage. 

Home Care Giver Training

This past month we started another training home helpers course for foreigners living in Kesenuma and Ishinomiyaki. Among the students there are Filipinos, Chinese and Indonesians. They twice a week to study the technical medical Japanese terms and learning how to take care of elderly or those who are bedridden.  Right now the classes are taking place in hospitals or nursing homes, where they are able to practice a little of what they have learned. Soon they will be receiving their certificates.

Haircut Service

Ms. Kawai from Nagoya came to the Hirohata temporary housing to give some of the residence haircuts. We are so thankful for her work. 

St. Paul's Kindergarten Birthday Service
At St. Paul’s kindergarten there was a first of the year Birthday prayer service. In the picture below, the kids were getting ready to pray for God's blessing for their next year of life.

 

Hirohata Tea Time

The women’s club of Sendai Christ Church had a tea party with the residents of Hirohata temporary housing. Despite the strange weather, everyone was able to enjoy the cakes and songs that were sung. 

Deacon Ordination Ceremony

It has been 13 years since the last ordination of a deacon in Tohoku Diocese. Many of the staffer members went to the ceremony to support Mr. Koichiro Sasaki’s ordination to the diaconate. It was wonderful to be able to celebrate this together.

Events through the Month of March

March 11 was the second anniversary of the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake. There were several services on that day to remember the disaster and to recognize how far we have come. Below are just a couple of those services.

On March 11, a group of foreigners gathered for a memorial service in Sendai. They came together to pray for the souls of friends, family members, and those they did not know who lost their lives in the disaster. A priest from Hokkaido presided over the service. Those who attended the ceremony that day were Catholic or married into a Buddhist family or had no religious beliefs at all but they gathered none the less. One of the attendees said “it is not important what religion we are but that they pray from their hearts for those that were very important to them.” That is exactly what they did. They lifted up the souls of the ones they loved with tears and love in their hearts. It was a beautiful service. 

The 2nd Anniversary Holy Communion and prayer service for those killed by the Great East Japan Earthquake was held in Koriyama at St. Peter & St. Paul Church. The service began at 1:00 pm, about 80 people gathered from all over the country, and prayed together. The sermon was given by Fr. Francis Hasegawa while Bishop John Kato of Tohoku Diocese presided over the service. After the service, at 2: 46pm (the time of the great earthquake two years ago) we observed a moment of silence for all the lives lost on March 11^th.

Japan & Taiwan

Thirteen people from the Episcopal Church of Taiwan came to visit the devastated area in Tohoku. They spent five days seeing Ishinomaki, Kesennuma, Rikuzentakata, Natori, and Shinchi. They were touched by the stories of the victims they met in those areas. Bishop Lai Ronchin said “I’m sorry that it took us two years to visit these wonderful people.” But he was encouraged by the strong spirit of the victims and the good things that have come to them over the past two years.

Shall we Dance?

A lay minister from the Diocese of Osaka frequently volunteers at Shinchi base. It just so happens that he is a dance teacher. On his last visit he taught come of the residents of that area to dance. Needless to say there was lots of music and laughing on that day.

Hot Corner

Every month at the Shinchi base they have a “Hot Corner.” It is a time for the people of St. Francis church and Sendai Christ church to enjoy tea, treats and one another's presence. On the 22^nd of March one of the staff of the Sendai Office joined in on the festivities. She said that she had a great time singing and dancing with the 30 people that were there. 

I am so sorry to be late on updating you all. Thank you for your patience!