Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki

I was struck by the irony of two events on Sunday. After church on Sunday, I met a member named Nishimoto-san. When I first saw him, I noted that he was elderly, on oxygen, and very short- even for a Japanese man. After the service I sat next to him at what the members call "British tea", where everyone drinks coffee or tea and snacks on various treats. A favorite game that older Japanese people like to play is "guess how old I am". I always do my best to guess low- and I'm usually off by 15 or 20 years- they all look so young here! I found out that Nishimoto-san is 70 years old. He also told me that he was born in Hiroshima. I quickly tried to do the math in my head. He told me that he was 8 years old when the bomb went off, and that he remembers the day well. My heart began to race. I didn't know what to say or to do; other than to listen to him and tell him how sorry I was for his pain. I learned then that although the oxygen was something he'd only been using for the last 5 years, he'd lost his left arm in the explosion and his growth was severely stunted. He hadn't grown since the bomb went off. He told me he'd written an article that had been published in the Lutheran Witness some years ago about his experiences, and so I am trying to track down a copy.

Then later that day, after lunch I wound up in Ueno Park. It is a place where modern meets tradition; boasting various temples, a 5-story pagoda, carnival rides, and even a zoo. But what struck me the most was a monument that was there. It was all in granite. There was a place in the body of the bird that had been hollowed out that held a single flame, concealed in glass. The flame is was captured and saved by a man who traveled in search of his father after the bombs were dropped, finding only the house in ruins and still burning. The flame became for him a sort of symbol of his hatred and anger; but over time it became a symbol of his desire for peace and the eradication of the use, production, and possession of nuclear weapons. The flame was presented at the UN disarmament task force that convened in New York in 1988, and has found it home in Ueno Park ever since.

Prior to coming here, I was very apprehensive about encountering people who harbored negative feelings toward the US for dropping the two atomic bombs at the end of WWII. Some 60 years later, and international relations seem to be much better than before the war. They love American culture here among the younger generation and seek to emulate it in various forms: movies, music, food, etc. But there does exist the convicting and convincing voice of experience among the people here- asking the world to consider the costs that they had to pay and for that the price is enough to stop Nuclear war forever.

New Year Reflections

Today was the first teacher training seminar of orientation. Langauge class started up again last week too, and I was surprised to see how much I remembered. Studying language here has felt like traveling very slowly up a steep incline. But coming back from break felt like taking two giant steps forward all at once. I think the homestay was a big help to this; and also just having a bit of a mental break for the rigors of new class material everyday and a chance to practice and review the material that has already been covered.

I'm sad to report that I am still sick, and that my lingering cold has turned into a sinus infection. But I am optimistic that now that I know what I'm dealing with, I can treat it accordingly and be rid of it sooner.

Earlier this week, at our Tuesday morning devotion, we spent time reflecting on the last year- all that had happened, all that God had done, etc. From here, we were encouraged to think of a resolution of sorts. It was all done through personal journaling; and through it I learned a lot. I reflected for the first time on the last year as a whole- and I saw many common threads running through it. I saw many big- life altering prayers answered. I saw many moments of doubt on my part, and patient mercy exercised on God's part. I reflected on so many times that God provided things I needed without my even having to ask for them. I saw times I was up against impossible odds, and God always making a way. What a thing hind-sight is for the faith of the present! My whole being, my whole heart, give thanks to God for His goodness. But I also feel a bit like Israel, having just passed through the Red Sea on dry land, making an idol for myself as I needlessly worry about things. Faith and worry are in opposition to each other. They cannot co-exist in the life of a Christian because faith is trust, and who better to trust with one's life than the one who gave it; the who sacrificed the life of His own Son to restore it; and the one who holds eternity in His hands. So my resolution is to spend more time singing songs of thanksgiving and praise in English, because my heart yearns for it.

I was also blessed to discover that the church at which I did my DCE field work broadcasts their 7:45 AM service through Wheaton Bible Colleges radio station- and that it is also broadcast over the internet. So Sunday nights I can get ready for bed and then join them for worship at 10:45 PM my time. Pretty wild! It had been so long since I'd been able to hear a church service in English. How much I've taken for granted in the past!

Tomorrow I have a sight placement meeting with the program director, and I'll officially receive my placement on the 8th of February. I'm presently feeling a bit anxious, wanting to know, and praying for patience.

Fuji-san!

Not too much has happened since my last post. I spent the New Year Holiday with some friends, attended a cheese party, and hiked Mount Takao. The above picture is the view from the top; it is a picture of the famous Mt. Fuji. The hike was a steep one, but is well visited, has many parts paved, provides shopping and restaurants along the way, and even the occasional vending machine. I'm told all hiking in Japan is not so commercialized.

I've spent the last few days trying to recover from a horrible cold that I can't seem to shake. I can't be out for more than a few hours without becoming very tired, dizzy, and feverish, and so have felt somewhat home-bound as of late. I will begin my second half of language classes Tuesday, so I am hoping to be in tip-top shape by then. It has been a wonderful thing for my brain to have a bit of a rest from the onslaught of vocabulary and grammatical rules, but I am excited to get back into it.

I hope you all are well. Thanks so much for all of the Christmas newsletters, family photos, and updates. You are all my connection with that side of the world.