Gift Giving

Hey You!  You know I'm just going to play with the box,
so why don't you give to Global Mission this Christmas.  

We have been in a bit of a slump in our house.  I was sick, Nozomi had some strange rash, and now Erik has a cold.  We decided to cheer ourselves up and get out the Christmas tree.  I had scored big last spring at a sayonara sale.  I purchased a 6ft tree with ornaments and lights for $30; a purchase well over $300.  Erik carried the tree home on the subway.  This was the first time we opened the box. We were delighted with our purchase.

We're excited for Christmas this year.  Nozomi is capable of opening presents, and she likes to be very dramatic when she is surprised.  We're also excited for some of the advent activities at church, like making cookies and giving them to the adult center for those with mental disabilities.  This year there are two women at church that put together an English singing choir.  We're going to sing Christmas carols as people come to worship on Christmas Eve.

Many times at Christmas we get care packages from those in the states.  Many times people ask for some ideas for what to send.  I thought we give you some ideas.

First, you don't need to send us anything.  We prefer you give money to Global Missions.  See our how to give page.

If you want to give outside Global Missions, we recommend giving to ELCA Global Gifts.  We love the idea of giving a gift to women and children.

We also love Heifer International.  Nozomi loves animals and wants you to purchase a cow. Moo!

If you do want to send something, we like gifts that we can share with the congregation and our friends.
Some ideas:
-Candy (Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, Starbursts, Twix)
-Cake/Brownie Mixes (I will bake these for coffee hour.  Erik will help stir.)
-Something your area is know for (example, Wisconsin:cheese)
-Yarn (550-600 yards/color.  Yarn is very expensive in Japan, because most of it is imported. We have launched our prayer shawl ministry and currently have six faithful knitters.  Sending yarn would be a great way to knit Tokyo Lutheran and our supporting congregation together).

Again, we really don't need anything for ourselves, but, if you do want to send things to us, here are some ideas: gold fish crackers, graham crackers, Kraft Mac'n'Cheese, Velveeta Mac'n'Cheese, Soup Mixes (like Bear Creek), Pudding, Magazines (Goodhousekeeping, Real Simple, Cooking Magazines, Parenting Magazines) Board books (for Nozomi), Jigsaw puzzles (for us)

Blessings to you as you prepare for this busy holiday season!

Train delay

Today, we were at Okubo station, our station, when the train suddenly stopped.  Then we heard a pre-recorded announcement in Japanese, followed by the English translation.  "the emergency train break has been used."

My first thought was "Oh no, not another suicide!"

It seems lately there have been more train delays due to "personal injury."  There's been enough delays that I am now able to recognize the Kanji characters that announce the delay.  Until a few weeks ago I never really gave much thought about what a "personal injury" meant.

Nozomi and I were coming home from the baby store.  We had gone to purchase some baby crayons.  Halfway home, the train stopped.  Then there were several announcements in Japanese that I couldn't understand.  I looked around the train to see what everyone else was doing.  About half the passengers got off the train. I thought maybe it wasn't so serious.  Nozomi was asleep and I was in a hurry to get home so I could get some things done during her nap.

Then there was another announcement, and this time almost everyone got off the train.  I followed them and jumped on the express train to Shinjuku.  Shinjuku is about a 15/20 minute walk home, and anything under 20 minutes we consider close to home.

When we arrived in Shinjuku station there was caution tape all across the platform.  We walked to the elevator and when the doors opened, on the floor were pools of blood.

Not drops.

Pools.

This was the first time I recognized how serious the words "personal injury" really are.  I see them all the time on the train, but it's never occurred to me how severe the injury could be.  It never occurred to me that every time we see those words, that most likely someone has jumped in front of a train.

Erik had an even worse experience.  Last week he went to the station to meet the women for our monthly wine night.  When he arrived at the station there were police, firetrucks, and ambulances. He told me that he saw them carry out a body...in several parts.

According to the Japan Times the suicide rate is Japan is 18.5 per 100,000 people.  It has the third highest rate in the world.  Most people who commit suicide are older and it is thought that they have a mental illness.

We had two incidents at church this week involving mental illness.  One women went crazy and started hitting people and broke a guitar.  The police were called and she was taken away to a hospital.  Pastor Sekino tried to take another man to the hospital, but they said they were full.  The man stayed at church while two of our interns stayed with him to keep watch.  The next day Pastor Sekino took him to a hospital that had room.

I don't know why suicide is so high in Japan.  Is it the work ethic?  The lack of religion? The overly polite culture?  The small spaces?

We are all searching for an answer. Pastor Sekino is taking classes at the Hong Kong Seminary in order to be better trained in pastoral care.  We are blessed to have a pastor that cares so much about people's mental health, especially in a country that struggles.

We ask for prayers for those in Japan suffering from mental health problems.  Prayers for their families, the healthcare workers, our pastors, friends, and the government that searches for answers.