A Japanese Nativity

 While at the Hinton sibling reunion, I was visiting with my sister-in-law, Sherrie.  She and Rick had just come back from a two-week trip to Japan to visit their daughter, Jana who is living in Japan, her husband stationed as a doctor at an air force base there.  Sherrie was thrilled to have found a Japanese nativity set there- a large one.  She showed me a picture of the one she purchased.  I then told her my story:   I looked for a nativity set the whole 18 months we lived in Japan.  I simply could not find one.  Granted, we were in a small town and there wasn't much shopping there.  Japan is not a Christian nation, so there just weren't any nativity scenes of His birth.  I asked my friend, Imi if she knew of anyone that carved wood.  I thought maybe I could commission someone to carve me one.  Imi didn't know anyone. I thought that was the end of it.

 Imi had an eye disease and had to make quarterly trips to Tokyo to see an eye specialist.  After her next trip, Imi brought me this little nativity set:

Imi had gone shop to shop in Tokyo until she found this sweet, little nativity.  I was so touched when she presented it to me for Christmas.  I treasure it.

Sherrie suggested that maybe Jana could purchase and send me one like hers.  That really wasn't why I told her the story, but I said I would love the smaller one.  The reunion ended on Sunday afternoon.  Sherrie called Jana that evening, which was Monday morning to Jana.  She immediately went out and purchased a nativity for me, wrapped it and mailed that day.  I got a text that evening saying that it was on the way.  We Venmoed her the money.  I was so touched by Jana's kindness. She is a busy mother of five.

This is the picture of the smaller nativity at the store.  This is the picture Sherrie texted me so I knew what I was getting.

This is Sherrie with her husband, Ken's brother, Rick.  We sure love these two.  Sherrie is always serving and doing kind things for people.

This is a picture of Jana with her little girl. Jana is just like her mother!

Ours came a week later.  I am so thrilled to get it and so grateful to Sherrie and Jana for their kindness.