Home Stays Part 2

I too have gained access to the net, as my laptop connected to it when I switched it on, so I thought I’d continue the updating.

As Julie mentioned we have been staying with families from Yotsukaido for the past couple of days and this has been an experience. The families have been very kind to offer us a place to stay and experience everyday life in Japan (Even though they realise that communication might be a problem). Some of the team members are with families where someone speaks English, so this made it a little easier to overcome the communication barrier.  Stuart was staying with a family whose children enjoy manga, anime and all sorts of other common interests, so his grin was a little wider than usual this morning.  Dave Farrow is staying with one of the translators, but this was a last minute thing as the original host family he was supposed to be with had to pull out due to a family illness.  Unfortunately for David though the translator often works late and this means waiting until evening to be able to chat.  Dave seems to have a very nice family as well, though again I don’t think too much English is spoken. His afternoon treat yesterday was to be taken on a museum tour (his 3rd since arrival), and for those of you who know him, you will be aware of the great joy that brought him.  I have been staying in the home of a Buddhist Monk.  They have been a very friendly family, though they speak hardly any English, so the last couple of days has effectively been one long game of charades, but generally we have managed to make ourselves understood.  In some ways I haven’t really got a feel for Japanese life as they have tried very hard to find things that they think Westerners would like.

Family life is quite different here.  The men generally work long hours, and so the mother is effectively the centre of family life.  I didn’t meet the father of the family I am staying with until 11.30 last night (although that was partly becuase we only got in from being out that evening at that time), and he had only recently stopped work (he had been writing out names on stakes that are used in Buddhist funerals – the name is called a Kaimyo, and is your posthumous name).  Tonight he was in at tea time, but was clearly feeling the effects of a long week and so fell asleep in the living room shortly after tea.

Julie has already said about where most of the girls are up to, and Elaine is also doing well, so I’ll not add more to that, other than to say that our greatest need at the moment is for some good sleep and so we would value your prayers for that, and for those who find the Japanese diet a little less palatable, you could pray that they find something a little better suited to them.

  Tomorrow (Sat) is going  to be a very busy day, as we have the final full morning of the kid’s club, followed by a quick practice before we head to the station for our open air session.  There is also now the possiblity of a further session that evening as our translator today said there is a concert that evening with fireworks etc. and the church were going to see if we could play at it. Anyway, your prayers, as always, are very much appreciated.

Peter.