Celebrating Father's Day with a Shokugiki!

Happy Father's Day to this guy- a great father!  Nearly every day, we go by a little Chinese restaurant.  It's the restaurant that is closest to our home.  So we walked over there on Father's Day eve to try it out.  We both ordered Chinese-style Yakisoba.  It was pretty good. 

Father's Day isn't really celebrated here.  But one sweet sister knew it was Father's Day and gave Elder Hinton a card.  But, every third Sunday in our little branch is Shokujiki.  That, being interpreted, is Food Meeting- my favorite kind of meeting.  On the third Sunday is Potluck Lunch.  Everyone brings something to share.  It is a delightful cultural experience. 

First of all, the large blue tarp is put down to protect the carpet in the "chapel."   Then the ping pong table is put up.  A cloth is put on it and everyone pitches in and finishes the preparations on the food.

Ayaka is making a delicious drink.  She first put canned fruit into this large bowl, then filled it with Sprite.

Anticipation!  Everyone brings their bundles and puts them on the kitchen floor or in the fridge before church.   Many are packed with ice packs.   I love how they wrap up their bundles in a cloth.  That is the Japanese way.

Sister Hirayama made pizza with a crust made from rice.  It was really tasty.

I usually make an American dish of some kind and they enjoy tasting it.  This time I made penne with meat sauce. 

Brother Murayama is just starting to come back to church.  We love having him. 

I love sweet Sister Ikeda- the oldest active sister in the branch. 

Two young adult women are back home in Tsuruoka with their parents now.  They have been living in Tokyo, but have come back home to live.  We are so excited to have them in the branch.  Remi is holding our newest branch member- Amane kun, and Rezumi is on the right.  Their mom, Imi is on the left. 

This sweet little girl ( in the blue and white) is visiting from America.  Her mother is Japanese and she has come to stay with her mother's sister for a month.  She speaks fluent Japanese and English and can even read the kanji.  She is a member of our church, but her aunt and uncle are not.  But they bring her each week.  Can you imagine coming to Japan by yourself at age 11?  She even attends Japanese school each day.  Ayaka is fixing her bow. 

The prayer is said, so let the party begin!

Everyone reaches for what they want with chopsticks

Soup accompanies nearly every Japanese meal.  There is always soup.

Happy Father's Day!