Last night we hosted one of our many community events, a Japanese/American style BBQ. Erik was busy grilling while everyone was standing around talking and eating. I overheard a couple people talking about what it means to "live fully."
Erik's reply was to "Live like Nozomi-chan." He said that all Nozomi-chan does is love people and receive love. She doesn't hate or discriminate. She is present in every moment. He then pointed out that she was wearing her "You make me Happy" shirt.
And for the most part, everyone does make her happy. She loves church, because it the place where she gets to see new and old faces smiling at her. We sit in the front and she spends the first ten minutes of church looking back at everyone making faces. Church to her is a place full of love and hugs (and Daddy in a funny robe!) I believe she thinks everyone came to see her:)
But it's not only church that she shows love to people. Recently we took a trip to Fukuoka and Nagasaki. Everywhere we went Nozomi-chan was smiling at people, especially old people. She loves her Japanese grandmas and grandpas. And these people love her. One the plane, at the museums, in the restaurants she charmed people and was given gifts.
We've started to joke that Nozomi-chan thinks she is queen of Japan (she was doing the beauty queen wave as we walked through the airport). She loves Japan very much. She loves the Japanese people.
It would be wonderful if we could all live fully like she does. I wish we could all just love, smile and live in the moment like she does. I think she is the best missionary the ELCA has. She truly brings God's love to everyone...and she does it all without speaking any second languages!!!
