Snapshots I Wish I Had Taken

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  I’ve seen a few things in Japan that are now just snapshots in my mind because I did not take a picture at the time.  So, I guess the thousand words will have to do for these.  I hope the words I choose will adequately convey to you  what I saw, so that you can feel what I feel when I see them in my mind’s eye.  I’ll give it a “shot!”

1-      One day, about a month ago, we were over in Sakata (about 30 minutes from our home in Tsuruoka) hunting an address.  We do that a lot, as finding people’s homes is one of our biggest challenges.  We had pulled over to the side of the road and Ken was studying the map.  It was a cold, grey, and drizzly day.  As we sat there, a little old lady (Obaachan, as they are called here) came riding by on her rusted bicycle. Her face was wrinkled and reddened by the cold.   She was wearing an old brown raincoat and her head was covered with a black scarf.  On the back of her bicycle was tied tonight’s dinner- a daikon- a very large Japanese radish.  I can put a picture of that here:

How I longed to follow her home and see what she was going to make with that daikon.  It is one of the staple vegetables here, along with cabbage.  I now wish I had pulled out my camera and snapped a picture, but the picture I didn’t take remains in my mind.

2-      Last week, we had a blizzard- well, really two blizzards one day after the other.  The amount of snow they dumped was absolutely unbelievable.  In preparation for the snow, we had purchased a snow shovel, but soon realized it was inadequate for the job.  Ken was out doing his best with that little shovel when the snow plow came down our street.  He had anticipated their coming and asked me to prepare a bag of treats for them.  When he saw them coming, he came running in and grabbed the treats I had left in the genkon.  He ran out and waved the huge tractor down.  There were two men inside.  He climbed right up on the tractor and gave the treats to them.  The look on their faces was one of utter astonishment.  Then they broke into huge grins as Ken thanked them profusely for their service.  I watched it all from inside, but I was making potato salad at the time, and my hands were covered with gook.  How I wish I had rinsed my hands and taken a picture of my husband up on that tractor with those two happy Japanese faces, grinning at him.

3-      One of the things we do for service is go into a privately owned pre-school/ Kindergarten and teach English.  I can’t even tell you how fun it is.  Those little Japanese children are so cute.  We love them.  They just cannot resist touching us, grabbing our legs, and reaching up to us.  Because of privacy rules, we aren’t allowed to take pictures of them- well, we can, but we can’t publish them.  But the snapshot in my mind is of those darling two and three -year- olds at the end of class on Thursday.  Grandpa Ken (who is a kid magnet) was down on his knees and had about 15 of them in a big group hug.  They were all giggling and reaching. Ken was reaching back, encircling as many as possible in that hug.  It was just the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. 

4-      And the last happened just last evening.   We were both needing to get out after some intense Japanese study (I am speaking in our branch Sunday and Ken worked hard to translate my talk, so I can give it and he will translate as I go.)  We finished that and decided we needed to get out, so we drove to a nearby sports park and walked around.  It was very cold and dark, but there were still many people there, jogging and walking, ice skating, etc.  We went inside what appeared to be a gymnasium.  Even in a public place like that, you remove your shoes and leave them in the genkon.  So, stocking-footed we went to the door of the gym as we could see activity in there.  There was a group of about 20 boys and girls running barefoot around a gym with karate-style clothes on.  We watched them run for a minute.  Then, all of a sudden, one of them broke ranks and ran over to us, bowed low, and said “Kon Ban Wa” which means “good evening.”  Then, the rest, following example, came over in groups, each bowing low and saying, “Kon Ban Wa!”  We also bowed and returned their greetings.  It was a cacophony of sound.  They told us that this was a Judo class. These were pre-teens and teenagers!  Do you think that would happen in America?  Tears sprang to my eyes as each of them greeted us politely with sweat dripping from their faces.  One of the littlest ones broke tradition and said, “Hello!” instead.  The others shoved him good naturedly.  I was too stunned at the time to take a picture.

We just can’t help but love the Japanese people!   I hope you enjoyed these snapshots I wish I had taken.                                               ‘                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Mission Miracle: Seijin Shiki Day

Seijin shiki Day

January 10^th is a special holiday in Japan.  On that date, they celebrate all the young men and young women who turn twenty- years-old in that year.  The young women dress in a beautiful kimono, have their hair done professionally, and put on special make up to celebrate that day.  They all attend a special ceremony.  I don’t know about the young men, but the young women anticipate this day all while they are growing up, much like American girls anticipate their wedding day.

I was hoping we could go and watch the girls in their kimonos and see them on that day. But, when I saw January 10^th would be a Sunday, I didn’t think we would have time.  We are at the church for five or six hours every Sunday.  That day, after church we had an appointment with the elders to go and visit a less active sister.  By the time all that was done, I could see there was not going to be time to go and see kimonos.  That’s okay, I thought.  That’s not why I’m here.  But I was a little sad.

Church was about to start, when, to my delight, in walked Remi  in a beautiful kimono!  Remi is the daughter of a couple in our branch.  She lives in Tokyo now, but she had come home for this celebration/event in her life.  Before attending the event, she came to church with her parents, dressed in her finery.  She is beautiful.  And, bonus!  She is beautiful on the inside as well.  She and I made friends quickly.  She is a very sweet young lady.  Here are some pictures of lovely Remi:

Koz and Remi

This one is my favorite

Remi and her family didn't know it, but they were part of a mission miracle for me- again, letting me know that the Lord is mindful of me here.  I got to see a beautiful girl in a beautiful kimono after all- and up close and personal!  That was so much better than what I had hoped!  Another mission miracle!

Snow, Snow, and More Snow!!

It is hard to capture in pictures how much snow we have received this past week.  It is just unbelievable!  We have never seen snow like this. 

It has given Ken lots of opportunities for service as he shovels snow for our apartments, as well as many of the neighbors.  He has made many friends doing it. 

There was so much snow, there simply wasn't anywhere to pile any more with the small snow shovel we have.  Knowing the snow plow would come, Ken threw the snow in the street.  When the plow did come, he climbed right up on it and gave the drivers inside a bag of goodies.  That had them literally eating out of his hand!  He would scoop and throw snow on the road as fast as he could.  They would clear it, go work down the street, then come back and clean up what Ken had thrown.  They did it several times.

This is an empty lot across the street from us.  It's hard to tell the magnitude, but that is a huge mountain of snow. 

On the mountain are some crows in the neighborhood that Ken has been feeding.

Every morning, the first thing we do is look out to see how much snow fell overnight.  Sometimes it's over a foot.  After the first huge blizzard, we realized we didn't have the proper equipment.  As soon as the plows got the roads clear enough, we went out and purchased knee-high snow boots for Ken and a big scooper shovel so that he could get the snow across the street.  He has spent many hours shoveling.

Ken in his new boots with his new big scooper shovel.

I Can Read!

I have been studying Japanese each day, but progress is slow. Before coming to Japan, I determined it would be best for me to learn some vocabulary and grammar so that I could communicate a little bit with the people.  Now I'm here, I'm still working on those a bit, but am trying to learn the alphabets so that I can read.  Japanese has four alphabets: Hiragana- for Japanese words, Katakana- for words from other languages, Kanji (with over 10,000 characters), and Romaji- using our alphabet.  Ken suggested I start with katakana, so I made flash cards. Just like a Kindergartner, I write the letters over and over, trying to get them in my mind. 

I had a breakthrough a couple of weeks ago when Ken pointed out I could read the big words on my name tag.  Those big words on the bottom: Ee eh sue   Ki ri sue to = Jesus Christ.  I was thrilled!  I could read!  And what wonderful words to be the first words I read!

Since then, just like a Kindergartner, I try to read the signs as we drive along. Just before we came on our mission, we visited Shonna's family in Logan.  Kindergartner Caleb read his first book- "Hot, Hot, Hot!" while we were there.  He was thrilled.  I know just how he felt now!  As we drove around, he would try to read the signs.  I know just how he felt!   I still don't know the whole alphabet, but slowly and surely, I'm learning it (with emphasis on the slowly!)  I am grateful I can finally read the name of my Savior that I wear on my chest every day!  I can read!

Mission Miracle: Okonomiyaki

When Ken served his mission in southern Japan forty years ago, his favorite food was okonomiyaki.  It was the food he was excited about tasting again when we came on our mission.  But though okonomiyaki is made all over Japan, it varies greatly from region to region in both ingredients and taste.  Even the cooking method varies.  So we thought even if we found it here, it probably wouldn't be the same as we are quite a bit north of where he served.

One morning Ken had to run to the post office to mail a letter.  On his way home, he passed by a little restaurant.  He thought the kanji on the sign said "okonomiyaki" so he went inside.  Sure enough, there was a Japanese chef cooking it on the big grill. It looked like what he had had as a young missionary.  He talked to the chef and found out that he came from southern Japan.  So he cooks okonomiyaki in the style that Ken learned to love.  Of course, we had to go right over and try it that day for lunch.  It is only about a fifteen minute walk from our home.  It was delicious.

A little girl and her mother enjoying okonomiyaki

Happy Elder Hinton

Does Okonomiyaki really matter much?  Not really.  But it let us know a loving Heavenly Father is aware of us.  To us, it is a mission miracle.

We Knew It Was Coming!

All the signs were there: Snow- BIG snow was coming.  In front of most of the homes and businesses are not only regular snow shovels, but big scooper ones as well.

Almost everyone has one of these big scooper snow shovels

People don't leave their cars overnight without pulling up the wipers.

The bushes and trees are tied and staked and teepeed to handle large amounts of snow.

And come it did.

Our neighbors

It snowed and snowed and snowed.

We have a cute little grandma that lives in our neighborhood.  She likes to tell us in Japanese- basically, "You ain't seen nothin' yet."  She's cute.  At least she does it with a smile!

Fun Stake President

The Sweet Honey Pancake Party

+++++++++++++++++

Meet Kozue and Kaz Seza.  They were married in the Tokyo temple just before Christmas, just a few days after we arrived in Tsuruoka.  Kozue was a member of this branch- really the heart and soul of the branch.  She worked tirelessly in service and love and everyone loves her.  She met Kaz (who lost his wife to cancer a few years ago) and they fell in love.  They decided to marry, but that meant Koz would be leaving the branch for Sendai.  She said she prayed us here.  About the time she got engaged, we got our mission call to Japan- Tsuruoka.

We fell in love with her immediately.  Everyone does. 

The branch was so excited about their wedding and about the reception they were going to put on for her.  Right from the start we were involved in making banners and decorations and planning. I think it was the first time we met her, she asked us to take five minutes at the reception and do whatever we wanted.  Ken immediately said we would teach the Hokey Pokey.  What?  I thought he was crazy at the time, but it turned out to be the perfect thing.  But I'll tell about that in a minute.  She also asked me to play the piano for the affair.  These were the hymns she wanted.

This good man, Brother Sugawara was the head of the reception committee.  Every little detail was planned.

This was at FHE one night.  He drew out the decorating plan.

After church and every activity at the church, we would stay after and make decorations- banners to hang.

Even the elders helped make banners

The party was planned for Monday, January 11th, 1:00pm-3:00pm.  That is because that is a national holiday (when they honor all of the young men and women turning 20 that year as they become adults.)  Most people would have the day off from work.

We got to the church at 9:00am to help prepare and decorate.

I helped the bride arrange the flowers.

Many people came.  Both of them have a lot of friends.  Most of the people there were not members of our church.  Koz and Kaz had a goal that became evident throughout the party: help all of those people feel the joy of the gospel and eternal marriage.

The guest book in the foyer.

Some of the food.  There was much more.

The bride's parents

The party started with the bride and groom walking in to the reception in their wedding finery while I played, "Where Love Is."

The song I played while they walked in.

The program began with a hymn and a prayer. 

A video was shown of their courtship and marriage.

The stake president came from Sendai- 3 1/2 hours away.  He was THE funniest stake president I've ever seen.  After I post this, I'll post a couple of videos of him performing.  He is awesome!

With the bride's parents.

The sweet honey pancake cooks.  These ladies are wonderful and cook at all of the family home evenings: Sister Sugawara, Sister Nomura (we went to her home for New Years) and Sister Imi Sato. Love, love these ladies!

This is one of my favorite pictures from the event because this is a sister I haven't been able to connect with much yet(I don't think she speaks any English at all.) When I motioned I would like to take her picture, she smiled and waved.  It makes me happy.

Some of the sisters from the branch.

Sweet Honey Pancakes

After part of the program, the bride and groom left and changed into casual clothes, then came back in.

There weren't many chairs.  Everyone just sat on the floor.  Japanese people are used to that.

Somewhere in there, Ken and I led the whole group in the Hokey Pokey.  It was so fun.  Everyone really had fun doing it.
This was the best part of the event:   Koz explained why she wanted it to be a sweet honey pancake party.  The sisters made her a stack of little pancakes.(It was kind of like the cake cutting ceremony.)  As she told about how sweet her husband is, she would add something sweet to the stack: syrup, honey, whipped cream, fruit.  Ken interpreted for me: He always opens the door for me, he always compliments me on the food I cook, he tells me he loves me every day, etc. (these things all go against cultural norms.)  Then she really broke tradition: she kissed him on the lips.  PDA is not part of the culture at all and for a woman to initiate a kiss, well that took courage.  Courage that makes me tear up as I think about it.  Everyone could feel the joy of eternal marriage.

Brother Seza was cute.  I think he found that sweet honey pancake to be very sweet!

The stake president could be serious, too and gave a beautiful tribute (at least I think that is what he did!)

But then he put on show, breaking boards with his bare hands.  Each board had kanji on it representing a bad thing that needs to be eliminated in marriage, like sin, contention, etc.  Again, I will post a short video.

It is traditional for the bride's father to sing a certain Japanese song at weddings.  With the help of this brother, he did it.

They then showed a video from the church on eternal marriage.  It was translated into Japanese, so I couldn't understand, and yet I could.  The spirit in that room was so strong.  There is no way anyone there couldn't feel it.  Ken and I (as usual) were crying.  Afterward the bride spoke and broke another cultural norm and got emotional.  Then the groom spoke, paying tribute to his wife's parents.  Then there was a closing hymn:"Families Can Be Together Forever" and closing prayer.  As soon as the prayer was said, the sisters jumped into action.  They pulled apart the flower bouquets and made small bouquets and wrapped them in these papers.  Every guest went home with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates.

Our Bouquet

I tell you, it was the best wedding reception ever!  We were so glad to be a part of it!  May the Lord bless this eternal marriage!


I've been trying to post the videos, but can't get them to work.  I'll keep trying.