Yesterday was Elaine’s birthday so we tried to make the day special for her. While we were at Yotsukaido, Ohashi Sensei commented that Elaine reminded him of Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music. So that was the theme of Elaine’s birthday. We managed to get a copy of the sound of music in English and Japanese and that was the team’s birthday present to Elaine, along with an ice cream birthday cake with the name Maria iced on top. In the evening we ate Pizza, and watched the Sound of Music. Sam had also sent a birthday card and present with Stuart, so judging by the number of tears shed, we guess that Elaine had a happy birthday.
Today was our opportunity to spend time with Graham, Alison, Kathryn and Daniel. At least half a day with Kathryn until she went off to camp. You might think it rains a lot in Northern Ireland, however trying spending a rainy day in Tokyo, at 28 degrees with 80% humidity. It felt like a year’s rainfall all in one day. However not to be deterred we went to Tokyo city centre for sight seeing. We went to the Tokyo Metropolitan building, a twin tower building, up to the 44th floor to look at Tokyo. However due to the rain, clouds and haze we managed to see half of Tokyo, still a pretty impressive sight. We also did a bit of shopping.
It was great to spend the day with the Orr family, just chatting and catching up. Unfortunately rain is forecast for tomorrow, so we will wait and see what weather tomorrow brings before deciding on any plans.
Please continue to pray for Yotsukaido family church and the Chapel of Adoration. That the children will remember the Kids’ Gospel week. That they will still be singing the words of the songs they heard and thinking about the daily talks they heard. Pray that the children will be keen to attend Sunday Schools at both churches. After the week at the Chapel of Adoration the children received a Manga copy of the life of Christ. Manga is a popular form of comic book in Japan, pray that the children will read and understand the Manga book, that they will share it with their families and it will lead them to attend the Chapel of Adoration to find out more about Jesus from Sozo Sensei or Orr Sensei.
D.F.
Nice to see more photos and to hear what you’ve been up to . Hope P. and D. got lots of pics of buildings for Robert to drool over .!Tokyo is getting you prepared for the rain back here but we can’t compete with the heat! Glad Elaine had a good day and will be asking questions of my two sons on the Sound of Music!! Yes , we continue to pray for all the children and parents involved over the last weeks, I’m sure they won’t forget you or what you’ve taught them. All the staff at the two churches have worked so faithfully and we pray God will Bless all that has been done. Much love and thanks to the Orr’s God Bless Sue & Robert
Thank you for the updates. It has made praying much more meaningful. Thank you for going in the name of Glengormley and spreading the good news of Jesus to those young lives. Seeds that have been planted, God will use in his time. I know your families are all looking forward to Friday – Angela did really well on Sunday morning, I was the one in tears! Hope you will be able to make it to Sunday morning in Glengormley for Holiday Bible Club service. They had about 75 last night – at least they all spoke English!
The Kyles
Hi all,
We begin by wishing Elaine(Maria!) a belated happy birthday. The room looked lovely and the cake even nicer.
Glad to see that you are now relaxing and taking in the sights. Too bad about the visibility but nevertheless the photos were very good. Looking outside at the moment one would think winter had arrived here but its good for the gardens.
We will be remembering the children and all those with whom you were involved during the time in Japan.
Looking forward to seeing you all on Friday.
PS Hope Louise and Elaine are getting over their sniffles.
Love and blessings
N a P x
Hi Guys- please let deaf Dave know that i have sent him a wee e-mail which I need him to pass on to Elaine.
Keep up the good work
L
Hi guys,
Sorry its been a few days since our last blog. It was great to talk to you on Sunday and even better to see you.
We’re glad Elaine had a good birthday…….Lovely looking cake…… do you think Basking Robbin would do trans global delivery…mmmmmm.
e are so glad that all the clubs and church events went so well and we are joining in the prayer that the young lives that you touched will be transformed by God’s hand on them.
Try to get plenty of rest over the next couple of days.. in between the sightseeing… so that you are ready for hetrip home.
So looking forward to seeing you all on Friday
Love T & J
Hi All
Love the photos of Elaine’s birthday party. Well done all 9 of my favorite things! You have climbed every mountain over the past three weeks and judging by the rain yesterday you might even have had to ford the odd stream! I know Elaine was a little more than 16 going on 17 but that figure on the cake was surely wrong. Sure you’re only a wee girl yet, Elaine and not Methuselah as some cheeky person suggested. Shame on you Dave!
Are the hills alive with the sound of music, no, wait little girl on that empty stage til I turn the light on…its not the sound of music but wee farrow-san a croaking. This is supercalifragalisticexpealidocious…oops, think that was Mary and not Maria. Time for me to retire for the night before it all gets too silly.
So long, farewell, cant help myself, goodnight!
3 sleeps to go. How exciting is that! Love to all, Ange x
The Mullans -2
Hi all,
Glad to receive the photos and update on the sight seeing. Sorry about the rain but as the Rev Timms says in Post Man Pat ‘The rain rains on the just and the unjust’ Any way it did not hold you back from sight seeing and SHOPPING in Tokyo poor Dave did you credit card receive a bashing. Don’t let those girls of ours do it to you. Speak to their dad on your return he knows all about it. They even manage to give his card a bashing when they are not with us. (only joking J & S )
We will follow your pray requests especially as we attend our children’s holiday bible club at home. The faces of the children on the blog have made a real impression on the church family here as this has been commented on to me by all that speak about you all.
I will sign off now and I’m with Angela 3 more sleeps to go. How exciting!!!
LOL
Lorna (mum)
Hi everyone
Hope you have had a great time these last few days inspite of the weather not much better hear mist & rain. time is marching on and it is hard to think that you will be home on Friday. You have sown the seed there and watered it so we beleive that God will give the increase
all the prayer’s are with you all and look forward to seeing you back home take care and Gods blessing upon you all
ps photos are great also Elaine birthday bash
Love Eileen
Hi folks,
It’s good to know that you’re being acclimatised to the weather at home by the weather in Japan. I went over the hill into work this morning , as I did yesterday, to and from work, with headlights and front and rear foglights on. The only difference is that, at 15 deg C, its a bit cooler. (OK – make that a lot cooler). Not a lot has changed here weatherwise.
Mind you, not a lot else has changed – The govrnment is still robbing us blind, new labour is ageing rapidly and ‘they’ haven’t gone away you know. It’s nice to know that in this world of constant change, there are some things that you depend upon, not to change. Usually the things that need to!
Anyway!!
Looking forward to seeing the pics, but mostly, to seeing you (or should that be youse, or perhaps youse uns).
(Warning :- Do not even attempt to use this phrase on someone learning English, as it could cause untold damage to their ability to communicate)
A team Dad
Hi guys,
We had another great report from Angela on Sunday and its good to hear that you will be enjoying some well earned rest time over the next few days. Julie and Suz, I was talking to Jonathan last night at holiday bible club and he is very excited about seeing his sisters on Friday! He’s a ‘crazy cyclist’ by the way.
We can only imagine how hard it will be to leave Japan! But we know that the impact that you have all made won’t end when you get on the plane…
Enjoy the rest of your time there and have a safe journey home.
See you soon…
Amanda, Dorothy and Tommy.
xox
Hi J&S,
Look forward to seeing you soon. You have had a great experience in Japan and it was good to follow you day by day – everyone sure looked happy. Have a safe journey, bring some good weather home – we are enjoying mist and mellow fruitfulness!! can’t see the bottom of the garden.
Lots of love, hugs and kisses.
Roy and Marilyn
Uncle Joe, (here helping your Dad)
Hi girls hope the music went well. Irish gospel could be a hit round the world. Look forward to seeing you both on your return to our sunny shores. In the meantime enjoy the site seeing. lots of love.
Safe home.
PS Suzanne folk night on Friday in N’ards if your up for it.
PPS Jul and Suz might as well come to n’ards your Dad no chance of getting the bedroom finish. Might as well sleep on my floor.
Hi all,
Just finished the painting. See Joe was having a bit of fun earlier. Carpet fitters arrive to-morrow (God willing).
This is the 13th message to this blog so no one will read it, so I’ll admit that going to Geoge Best Bel City Airport on Friday will be the 1st time I have looked forward to going. That is if we can get Jon Boy away from the Summer Bible club.
Keep safe.
LOL
God bless
XOXO
Another team Dad.
PS Rain at 28°C is shower.
“I love it whan a plan comes together”
Most people will recognise the catch phrase. It usually came at the end of an episode when good triumphed, the underdog was helped and the team were heroes. It was, of course, the A-Team.
I realised a couple of days back, that as I signed off as a team Dad, that I could, more appropriately, sig off as an “A-Team” dad.
I’m sure that you don’t see yourselves quite in the same light, and ispiritual modesty will prevent it, but you should take a righteous pride in what you’ve done. You’ve worked hard to get to Japan, you’ve donated your holidays, for some, all of your holidays, and you’ve done what has been asked of you.
You’ve taken the massage of good triumphing, you brought encouragement to a small percentage of the population in Japan and you are coming back as heroes.
See y’ tomorrow!!
“A-Team” Dad