Darkness Versus Light

It was dusk when we finally found the old, dilapidated, rusty, grey home.  It appeared vacant and deserted.  Weeds filled the yard, the windows were filthy, and there was no light.  The only thing that looked at all like this might be an occupied home was that there was an old car in the weed-grown carport. 

But, upon closer inspection, we found the tires to be flat and weeds growing up around the tires.  This car hadn’t been driven in years.  Ken walked to the side and saw through the dingy windows of the home and thought he saw a flickering light- probably coming from a television.  So, we knocked on the door.  “Gomen Kudasai!”  No response.   Ken tried the genkan door.  It opened.  He yelled again, “Gomen Kudasai!”  Still no response.  So he took a step into the genkon and yelled a third time, quite a bit louder this time, “Gomen Kudasai!”  “Hai” we hear the muffled response, then shuffling to the door.  The inner door opened to reveal the shadowed outline of an elderly man, unkempt as his home.  We asked for Haruo.  “No, he’s not here.  He’s at work.”  After revealing who we were, Ken learned this was his brother.  And so began the tirade.  The man talked and talked and talked.  It was difficult for Ken to get a word in.  He made it clear that he was not interested in our church and neither was his brother.  He wouldn’t accept our cookies.  He wouldn’t accept our business card.  He wouldn’t accept an eikaiwa flier.  He just talked and talked and talked.  We stood in that dark, cold genkan and listened and listened and listened.  This whole time, I only understood a few words- so I didn’t even know whether this was the man we were seeking or not.  It was way too dark to look into his eyes, which is what I usually do in these situations.  One of the elders taught me that it doesn’t matter that you can’t speak the language if you look into their eyes.  So that’s what I do.  All I knew was that there was not a good spirit there, and I thought we should leave.  So I slid the genkan door open.  Ken was obviously feeling the same way and tried to politely end the conversation.  But he just kept talking and talking.  We gradually backed out of the genkan and made our escape.  He put a coat on and followed us out.  He paced against the fence as we drove away.  Our visit had obviously agitated him.  We were grateful to escape from the dark.  Some people live in darkness and they don’t even know it.  It makes me so sad.  It would be so easy for them to reach out and feel the sunshine and the light.  But instead, they flounder and grumble and wallow in their dark pit, living their dark , cold life.  It’s sad.


Light
Compare that with another visit we had last month.  Don and Ada came to visit.  They served as mission president in Hong Kong about 15 years ago.  One of their missionaries was from Japan- Tomo.  He now has a temple marriage: a wife and two beautiful children and lives in Sendai.  So, while Don and Ada were here, we traveled over the mountain to Sendai to visit Tomo and his family.  They invited us to lunch in their little apartment.
As soon as we entered the home, we could see and feel the light.  We were flooded with the light of the beautiful, old, but well- kept apartment, with the light in each of their eyes, and the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It literally made us weep for joy.

I love this picture of President Hinton expressing his love to his missionary's wife.

Their little girl fell and got hurt while we were there.  Don took a picture of her mother comforting her.  But even with a sad face, this beautiful child emits light.  Her mother's name is Hikari.   Hikari means "light" in Japanese.  So appropriate!

I will bring the light of the gospel into my home.  I have a sampler just like this at home that I made when I was a Primary girl.  I love this pledge or mantra.  We are grateful for the light in our life and for the opportunity to serve the Lord and feel His light, and yes, even to see the darkness as it makes us appreciate the light so much more!

Kay's Excellent Adventure

I shouldn't do this post because it let's you know what a wimp I am.  Confession:  I am not very adventurous.  I never have been.  I can remember when my Dad would take us off-roading in the Jeep.  I would insist on getting out and walking.  I remember my brother speeding in his little black Karmann ghia car.  My sister, Joan, would be screaming, "Faster!  Faster!" at the same time I was screaming and even crying, "Stop!!!!"  I could give many more examples.  So what am I doing here?  I'm not sure.  It's been one adventure after another.  Maybe Heavenly Father wanted to teach me something?  But usually Ken is at my side for all of the adventures: shopping at the store, getting my haircut, giving talks, visiting strangers, etc.  He's always there. Well, except I do go on walks alone frequently. And I walk to and from church alone often.  But then I don't have to talk to people (other than greeting them) and I stay on familiar roads and I do just fine.  It's the purchasing things and trying to figure out what the item is or what the menu item is that I haven't done much.  I've spent the equivalent of about $10 on my own here.  I know.  It's pathetic.

Ken had to go to Sendai for stake conference meetings all day on Saturday (he had to speak at the priesthood leadership meeting at conference in Japanese!  Talk about adventure!)  That left me home alone. Rather than just sit home alone,  I decided I was going to brave the Japanese world on my own.  I was craving a good 'ol American hamburger and McDonald's is about a 20 minute walk from our apartment.  So, I donned my coat and headed out for lunch.  It's scary to try to order and pay and all of that on my own. 

As I walked past our neighbor's garage, I saw Grandma and Granddaughter working together.  They speak virtually no English, but Grandma communicated that they were making tsukemono- Japanese pickles.  Japanese people  pickle many different things and serve the pickles with their rice dishes.  They are delicious.    They grew these turnips.  They harvested them, washed them, put them in large plastic bags, then added salt, sugar, and vinegar to pickle them.  Notice how they squat as they work. 

It was fascinating to watch them work for a little while.  See, a great start to my adventure.

It rained a bit on the way, so my hair doesn't look good, but I had to take a selfie with Ronald so I could prove I made it.

Looks just like home, doesn't it?

I ordered, paid, and even asked for it "to go" in Japanese. I know.  I'm pretty amazing.

The reward:  a good 'ol American Big Mac. 

I hope you enjoyed "Kay's Excellent Adventure." 

Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King

A few weeks ago, I played this piano solo for our branch sacrament meeting.  When we came to Japan, they only had Intermediate hymns in their meetings in this branch.  I've tried to instigate musical numbers and figured I had better set the example. We videoed this after the fact on another day- not in sacrament meeting.  I love this beautiful arrangement of this beautiful hymn and felt I was bearing my testimony of the Savior through music. 

I Won!!!!!

A friend from my hometown is a traveler extraordinaire.  She is working her way through the alphabet, traveling to countries.  She went to Austria first- it starts with A.  Then to Belize- B.  Then to Czech Republic- C, Dominican Republic-D, England and Ethiopia- E, and most recently, a month-long trip to France- F, of course.  She is an amazing traveler as she goes to the small villages and towns and really immerses herself in the culture.  Rick Steves has nothing on her.  You should check out her blog.  I love reading of her experiences and seeing her beautiful photographs. She has a true photographer's eye.   

While in a small village in France, she happened onto a potter and formed a friendship with him.  She bought some pieces from him. This post tells about her experience.   She then held a contest to encourage followers for her blog- promising a piece of pottery to the winner.  She recently announced that I won!!!!  I am so excited!  First of all, I am passionate about pottery.  I love it.  Ask my husband.  I make him stop at pottery studios and stores when we travel.  Plus, I collect teapots.  I love teapots.  So you can only imagine how thrilled I was to hear that I had won and then to see this beautiful piece- a teapot!:

  Isn't it beautiful?!!  Thank you, thank you, Rhonda!  I feel so very grateful and blessed and so appreciate your generosity.  I will treasure my French teapot always!

We've Been Heart Attacked!

We went on visits last Friday afternoon, then stopped at the grocery store on the way home.  We got home and I put the groceries away while Ken left to walk down to our local store for a few things that we prefer to buy there.  When he got home, he found we had been "hearted" in the 20 minutes or so that he was gone. 

We were pretty sure we knew who did it.  We have a delightful young adult woman in our little branch that is always making everyone happy.  We recognized her art work.  It was Remi!

This is Remi.  She makes sunshine and fun wherever she is.    Elder Hinton asked her on Sunday if  she was our secret friend, and got her to confess.  She said she had just started to decorate the door when she heard Ken in the genkan, preparing to go out.  She grabbed the stuff and fled to the back of our apartment until he left, then came back and finished the job.  She said that made it much more exciting!

We love precious Remi!

Chrysanthemum's Turn to Shine

It seems the flowers here take turns shining.  During the very hot summer, there weren't many flowers, but now the autumn varieties are blooming.  One beautiful autumn day, after we worked at the Volunteer Center, we decided to walk around Tsuruoka park(it's right by the Volunteer center.)  We happened on to this display of award-winning chrysanthemums.  They were beautiful and many had award ribbons tied around them.   Who knew there were so many varieties of chrysanthemums.   Please enjoy the beautiful flowers!  We did!

I have a soft spot for bright yellow mums.  It was a tradition at our high school in Caldwell, Idaho that mums were the corsage flower for Homecoming each fall.  Our school colors were gold and blue, so the bright yellow mums had a pipe cleaner blue C (for Caldwell and for Cougars) wired in the center.  That's what everyone wore for their corsage to the homecoming dance.  Just seeing these beautiful yellow mums took me back to Homecoming night in Caldwell in the '70s.  I can even remember what I wore, who I went with and the fun we had! 

Japanese Photography Exhibit

Ken and I have always enjoyed visiting photography art museums.  When we travel, we look for them.  We both love excellent photography.  So, we were excited when one of our friends from the Volunteer Center- Yoko- invited us to come to a photography exhibit at the Tsuruoka Arts Center.  Her photos of Tsuruoka's fireworks were going to be displayed. 

Here are some of her beautiful fireworks photographs. 

You can see booths in the bottom of some of the photos.  These are booths selling foods and wares at the fireworks display.  Having those in the pictures mark them as Tsuruoka fireworks. 

She is a delightful and talented lady.  She has many other talents as well.  She has also been chosen to display three of her photos at the Shonai airport at New Year's.  This is a big honor.  I gave her my opinion on which three to display. 
Here are some of the other photos we liked:

Autumn here is unbelievably gorgeous.

Of all the photos we saw that day, this may be my favorite (other than our friend's, of course)  The thick carpet of leaves is just mesmerizing to me.

Another of the photographers was inspired by the famous Japanese photographer that photographs Japan's trains. 

This is also one of my favorites.

Hydrangea

Wisteria

It was a beautiful autumn day outside, so we took some pictures.

When we were out there, a lady came that Elder Hinton visited with when he was on the mountain for a morning walk a few days before.  He actually taught her some about our church and beliefs.  She was delighted to see him.  She asked me to take a photo of them together.  Right while I was photographing them (Ken told me later), she patted him on the behind!!!!  What?  What a character!  Believe me, that is NOT typical Japanese behavior!   We've laughed and laughed about that!