Love Thy Neighbor

Japanese people are polite, but they are also very shy.  They rarely talk about their personal lives. There are a few people that we found out they were married...over a year after knowing them.  This can make living in Japan very lonely.

This past week we got to know our neighbors in our building a little bit more.  Erik accompanied two seminary students to India to serve at the Mother Teresa house.  Nozomi and I had 10 days to survive.  We made it two and a half.  One night, she was throwing a tantrum and landed in our recycling.  She sliced her finger really bad on a tin can.  After a few minutes, I realized I was going to stop the bleeding and she needed stitches.

I rushed downstairs to our neighbor, an older woman who speaks beautiful English.  I explained the situation and she asked, "Do you want me to go with you to the hospital?"  "Yes Please!"  She knew a clinic around the corner and walked with me as I held Nozomi.  She even carried my bag for me.  She helped me fill out forms and went into the office with me as Nozomi was stitched up.  She even sang to Nozomi who was crying hysterically.

The next day I baked her cookies to thank her for helping us.  Nozomi delivered them herself.  The woman even came to check on us a couple times during the week so see how Nozomi was doing.

I feel so grateful and blessed to have such a kind and helpful neighbor.  Truly God was acting through her to help us.

Over the weekend we were walking back from lunch and a couple of the little girls in the building asked if they could play with Nozomi.  They came over and entertained her for over an hour.  They had so much fun, that they came back and brought some friends the next day.  Erik and I kept looking at each other as the kids ran in and out of our apartment.  This was wonderful!  We really felt that we were now apart of our community.  Our daughter has playmates!  It was great to have them entertain Nozomi, and we felt good because we knew their mom was having a well deserved break down the hall.

This past week we have really felt at home in our building and neighborhood.  We've been here two years and it's really starting to feel like home.