Welcome to ITO NEWS

Before you think that I have really become indecent, let me explain about the Japanese onsen (hot bath)!

Last night after church (while we were waiting for the traditional Sunday evening Tokyo traffic jams to clear) we went with Matt and Dawn Brake (a young couple visiting Shioda from Sardis, Ohio) to the hot spring. Dawn and I bravely left our men and headed into the lady's bath. Hesitantly, you lock your clothes--yes, all of your clothes--in the locker, desperately hoping that the locker will open when you are done bathing and so you can retrieve your clothes! Nest we had to find the spot to scrub! We sat on small little stools and had a basin, shower, soap, and a towel. It somewhat resembles a Japanese P.E. shower room! Once you are thoroughly clean, you can join other bathers in their birthday suits to soak in various temperatures of pools. There is a sauna, a Turkish bath, and a hot bath open to the outside.

You can take a small handtowel with you--but it doesn't seem big enough for we private Americans! After a nice soak, though, we relaxed and were less self conscious! We had a nice talk and didn't get too many looks from the other Japanese women and children who were bathing. I was glad for Dawn's adventurous spirit so that I could experience this "very Japanese" experience.

We are so thankful to feel God leading us each step of the way as we settle in Japan--finding a place to live, providing household needs, providing Christian fellowship, and countless other blessings. He has also blessed us with many opportunities for Akihiro's work--actually so many opportunities, that he (we) are having a difficult time to see which path we should take. He has a 2 day a month job as a preceptor for residents in the Kofu area (closer to Shioda church area) and was planning to do part time jobs while he established his education for residents/medical students business. This week, though, he was informed of a nursing home near the Shioda church who really needs a full time doctor. We are waiting to get more details, but are wondering what God's will is. Please pray that we will know God's perfect will in this matter!

We also had an interesting job opportunity. Akihiro was contacted by a publishing company that publishes medical books. An editor would like him to write a book about medical English. Once the editor found out that I was American and a nurse, he was interested in having me help with the book too. We met with him last week and are excited to start this project. We are thankful that it is a project that we can do from home and is flexible in its hours. I feel excited, yet somewhat hesitant, though, because I certainly am not trained as an author! I am praying for God's help as we start this project--knowing I can't do it on my own! The book is a great opportunity to publish Akihiro's company name in Japan and could prove very beneficial for his business. It is amazing to see how God has opened doors for us!

Thanks so much for all your prayers on our behalf!

Perhaps it is something with my DNA, but I am having a difficult time eating rice 3 times a day! I feel like I am turning into a rice ball myself! Akihiro can eat rice about 3 times as fast as me and can eat almost twice as much as me. Now, many of you know that I usually have a good appetite, so I guess it's just proof that I am not Japanese! Oh well, I am starting to look for ways around this white "monster"! One way I have discovered, is to make rice balls for Akihiro's lunch, while I myself enjoy some pork and beans or PBJ--something besides rice, anyway! A rice ball is a triangle-shaped ball that can have a variety of things in the center--fish, pickled vegetables, pickled fruit, nato (fermented soybeans), etc. This ball is then wrapped in toasted seaweed. Akihiro thinks they are delicious. I think they are ok if I haven't had rice already that day! I am going to try to incorporate more noodles into our meal plan--the Japanese really like noodles, too. Hopefully I won't get "noodled-out" too!

A few other updates:

Today it is raining out. I must be the only one in the neighborhood who didn't read the weather forcast because no other people have wash on their balconies today. There's probably no hope for it getting dry today! We rarely use dryers because they are so inefficient. Ours is in the attic if I need it. Today I may have to give it a try!

No word on the job specifics--other than a big box of grapes as a gift from the company. The grapes from Yamanashi (Shioda area) are huge--almost like a small plum! They are so sweet!

I will go to the 100 yen store (like a dollar store) to check on some dishes I need to supplement the dishes I got from Akihiro's grandma. This store is great!

We got our curtains yesterday. It is wonderful to not have to prop up cardboard! Before I hung the curtains, I attacked the mold on the wood on the windows--lots of scrubbing and black, black water really made a difference. The hair dryer idea worked great, mom!

Today the bedroom is my project! There are heaps of clothes from our moving boxes. We got some storage totes yesterday from Jana, so hopefully we will get more organized. Especially because we will be having Matt and Dawn Brake as guests on Sunday night! We are looking forward to that!

Today we flew to Oita where we will be doing the workshop tomorrow. From the airport to the city, we took a hover craft! What an interesting feeling to be gliding over the land in a side-to-side fashion and then to transfer to the ocean! It puts new meaning on the term we used to use for some of the caregivers for our hospice patients! I will hopefully download some pictures once I get high speed access--coming on Monday! (Hallelujah--hopefully I can get a better connection for internet communicaton!)

After two weeks in our new place, it is finally presentable for guests. For the control freek in me, it feels wonderful to feel that things are manageable and I know where things are. I have been frequenting the 100 Yen shop (Japanese dollar shop) that is nearby and am having fun buying Japanese dishes to supplement the ones I got from Akihiro's grandma.

It has been raining, raining, raining! I guess there is a typhoon that we are feeling some effect from. We got soaked when we were walking today from the church (where we parked our car) to the station! I have never seen so many umbrellas in my life! It is also very amazing to see how they can hold the umbrella and ride the bike at the same time! They also can talk on the cell phone and ride at the same too! It sounds like too much for clutzy me, but maybe with time I can do it--I guess I used to eat my sandwich, write a sticky note, and talk on the phone--while driving around for work! Speaking of bicycles--we now have 2 bicycles--one for each of us. Akihiro really likes to ride the bike and now I understand why. Sometimes you can get there faster by bicycle than by car! The traffic can be awful!

I'm not really sure what the definition of "homesick" is, but I am starting to miss my family and friends. Everyone here is very supportive and kind, and I can't complain at all about anything, really (especially with web cam, internet, and phones!)--I guess this is just a normal part of the process. I remember my training from hospice--when you love people, sometimes it hurts when you can't be with them. I guess I am realizing how many people I loved back "home". I am also starting to feel a love for the people I have met here, too, though! Thankfully, I know that God is with me, I have a wonderful husband, and there are so many people praying for us! Deep down in my heart I am certain that I wouldn't trade my situation for anything, knowing that God's will is best and that we can trust Him for each step of the way!

Thanks again for all your prayers!

Today was a national holiday here, so we celebrated and went out to eat! This Kaiten Sushi restaurant is very interesting! You sit at booths or a bar-like area and dishes of sushi go travelling by in front of you! You pick whatever one you want and when you are done eating it, you slide it in this little slot under the conveyer belt-like thing and it automatically charges 100 yen for each dish you eat! There were many kinds of sushi--hamburger sushi rolls, roast beef sushi-style, and many interesting variations of this raw fish delicacy! I think most people could find things they like!

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We had a successful workshop in Oita and were glad to meet so many kind people who were so appreciative of our teaching. I was the mother of Gilbert Sauder, a 14 month old male with RSV--10 times! I am not a very good actress, but hopefully I was still able to help them understand the importance of good communication with foreign patients.

We flew back to Tokyo on Sunday morning, so were able to attend church in Tokyo. After church, we visited a very beautiful botanical garden. I remember what one dear coworker said about nature being so good for our spirit. Indeed I did feel refreshed by this beautiful place and the fellowship with the believers. That night we enjoyed our first house guests--Matt and Dawn Brake. We got some good tips on Japan travel, so we can be ready to host many of those people we invited to Japan!

Akihiro has his first day precepting residents tomorrow in Kofu, so I will go with him and spend the day with Lois Ehnle. Hopefully we will have a nice fall day like we had today as we would like to wash windows!

Things are moving along on Akihiro's job in the Shioda area, but nothing is confirmed yet. We are thankful that we can feel the Lord's hand leading us through this time!

I am thankful for how big my kitchen is! The refrigerator is probably about 2/3 of an American size, so I am glad I am a 5 min. walk to the grocery store!

With high speed internet, I am now enjoying much easier downloading for pictures, but also better Skype communication! I no longer have to hold my computer up in one hand as high as I can hold it to try to catch a signal--"Hello, hello--can you hear me now?!" I move to another corner of the living room--" How about now?" With this high speed, I can do dishes and talk to my family! It is so cute to hear the little voices of my neices and nephews crystal clear!

This is our street! It is very narrow and short, but is very quiet! Many of our neighbors are elderly.

This is the view out my kitchen window. Behind those trees are the emperor's cemetary. The bike path which goes along the river is between our place and those trees.

This is our living room. I am thankful for Akihiro's digital piano and Kay's futon sofa. I'm not sitting around too much yet, but think a nap on the sofa on a sunny day sounds delightful!

Once I get my kitchen cleaned up (I'm too lazy to dry those dishes tonight!), I'll post a picture of that!

Here's an outside shot--we are on the second floor!

Just before we got out of bed this morning, I felt our bed swaying back and forth! At first--in my fuzzy morning state--I thought Akihiro was shaking the bed, but when I got my wits about me, I realized it was an earthquake! No damage, but it feels funny to hear the house creaking back and forth! I guess they have them here fairly frequently. I am glad I don't live on the 14th floor of an apartment building!

Wednesday we went to Isawa to meet with the owners of the nursing home where Akihiro will probably be working. They asked about how we met. Akihiro was glad to tell them how God brought us together and our faith-based marriage. They listened carefully and seemed interested. They also were very respectful when we asked them if we could pray before we ate. We are so thankful that we don't feel any persecution to share our faith with these people and that they are interested! We will know more details about the job in the next two weeks. It appears to be a great blessing, though.

I figured out that I Americans are 1 out of 3,000 people here in the Hachioji area (200 Americans in Hachioji). I am thankful, however, that I don't feel like people look at me as strange. A few children might look a second time, but most people I see in the shopping areas are very friendly.

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Our first houseguests were Matt and Dawn Brake from Sardis, Ohio. We learned from Matt (6'3" tall) that we had better warn any tall guests of our low doorways! It was fun to serve them a Japanese/American breakfast. (Japanese food is served in lots of little dishes!) Normally we don't have octopus for breakfast, but since they hadn't had any and they were leaving Japan that day, I thought we should let them taste this! They were good sports and tried it. (Personally I think it is tough, but you can see what you think when you visit us!) Remember--many of you Americans have been invited to come to Japan and be our guests too!

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Our next official guests were for supper--sukiyaki! Kan and Miyagawa came to receive our token of extreme gratitude for helping us move! We treated them to a little bit of Kobe beef! (Kobe beef is supposed to be the best beef--apparently the Japanese owners massage these cows! Akihiro has started mooing for a massage, too, after hearing that!) Anyway, it was delicious and we enjoyed their visit very much!

Through an amazing series of events and God's guidance, a job has been provided for Akihiro in Isawa. Isawa is near to the Shioda church. Mrs. Sato, a mother of one of a former Shioda kindergarten student, mentioned to Lois Ehnle that there was a nursing home in Isawa that was in desperate need of doctor. "Would there be anybody from your church? I know Christians are good people." Lois told her that a doctor had just moved to Japan (Akihiro!). Mrs. Sato came to church and met with Akihiro. She is not associated with the nursing home directly, but knows a friend of the owner. That afternoon Akihiro went to meet with the owner. There were many details to work out, but they all got worked out over time!

He will be working four days a week and eight hours a day caring for 100 patients in a nursing home setting that includes a transitional care unit. He can work whatever hours he wants and whichever days he wants, so it is very flexible. Apparently the law requires a doctor in this position for those amount of hours, but the job doesn't reallly require that much time, so he may have time to spend some time on his own business while at the nursing home. As far as "call", the nursing home hasn't had much of a system, so Akihiro can set it up however he likes! The owner of the nursing home owns a hotel that is about a seven minute drive to the Shioda church. We can stay there any night of the week and both receive breakfast and supper in our room--all for free! They will also pay for our transportation fees if we would commute from Takao (our current home). (The nursing home is about one hour and twenty minutes by car from our place and about the same by train.)The hotel even has its own onsen (hot spring--see previous post about 'no clothes!') and wireless internet in the lobby. The owner has many good contacts within the community that will be helpful for the church and for us. Akihiro worked out a good contract (with the help of Tsuyoshi, his lawyer brother) to arrange for enough vacation to allow for trips back to the States and for conferences/business meetings. He will also be able to continue to work a couple days a week teaching residents in another city. He already has many other ideas for how to use this nursing home job opportunity to help train other doctors in geriatrics.

Another blessing of this whole thing is that Mrs. Sato has been coming to church regularly. She even brought her son, the former Kindergarten student, to church one day. He had not been there for 17 years, but remembered many of the people. We hope and pray the Sato's will continue to attend!

Akihiro will start work October 30th. The manager of the nursing home is glad to have him come, but can't believe a young doctor who has been trained in America would want to work at a nursing home. He finally understood when Akihiro said that he was a Christian and that his mission is to help people. This job allows him to still be able to help with church activities and have a family life--something quite rare for other doctor jobs in Japan. Akihiro will have an opportunity to practice his skills as a geriatrician, but also to help patients and families make end-of-life decisions and hopefully be able to tell them of the one true Creator God!

We will probably stay at the hotel most Sunday and Monday nights--avoiding Sunday evening traffic regurning from church. We will have to see how the rest of the week works out. I will enroll in Japanese classes in the Isawa area and I don't think I will have trouble finding things to keep me busy--helping Lois and the church people in the area, working on the book, catching up on emails, learning Japanese, and perhaps talking on web camera to my new Japanese friend who wants to learn English!

Amazing how God provides! Thanks for your prayers--for surely they have been answered in the provision of this job! Please continue to pray for us as we begin this new phase!

On Thursday I did my first totally solo train trip to the lady's meeting at church. Thankfully, I found a English website to find the best train arrangement! We had a nice ladies meeting and I learned some new recipes.

After the meeting, I went up the street to meet Yoko Suzurikawa, a young mother of 3 children, who has been coming to our Tokyo church. She had asked if I could talk English with her. She knows quite a lot of English, but doesn't have the opportunity to speak it much. I enjoyed playing with her darling children and she taught me how to cook a delicious supper of fish, mixed autumn veggies, and the Japanese version of scrambled eggs! I learned a lot! We hope to talk every Saturday morning via web camera. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement! I hope and pray she does not get transferred to another area with her husband's job! I got somewhat flustered on the way home on the train and ended up taking the long way home--almost 25 minutes longer than the better route--so much for thinking I am a real pro at the trains!

Today we are on our way to Oahu. Akihiro will be taking his geriatric board examination on October 23rd and then we will have a day to explore. He has been very busy studying! We pray his efforts will be blessed with a passing score!

I have been experimenting with my Japanese cookbook and with some online recipes. I deveined shrimp for the first time in my life! We had tempura and it was quite tasty, if I do say so myself! I have also enjoyed cooking with the mushrooms and vegetables that are in season--burdock root, lotus root, taro, etc.

Today we rode our bikes to the city office to pick up my Japanese ID card. (I'm an official resident now!) We could take the bike path by the river the whole way and enjoyed the sites--a group of elderly people playing croquet, some retired men with their cameras pointed on the river waiting for some rare bird, some school children with their matching hats skipping stones into the river, some happy ducks, and some colorful cosmos. I met Jana and her 4 youngest at the park that is about a 5 min. bike ride from our place and we had a picnic and the children enjoyed playing in the pond and in the river. They got admired by many of the people passing by in the park. People were so friendly--one man even invited me over to have some sweet beans and mochi at his picnic table. I hesitantly agreed. (Not sick yet!)

Akihiro keeps making this comment, and I have to agree with him--"It seems like God is guiding us each step of the way." Just a little example is his cell phone/PDA combination. He was frustrated to have to wait 2 weeks for it, but as it turns out, a much better deal came along during that time and saved us a lot of money! Many things seem to happen this way and we know that it is not just by chance. We know it is answered prayers and God's guidance.

On a perhaps more negative note, I had a flopped supper tonight. What I thought was chicken livers thawing in the fridge turned out to be gizzards! Oh well, let's try gizzards. Yuck! Even marinated for over a day, they were tough as an old shoe! (Not that I have tasted an old shoe before.) The so called "livers" had been given to us, so as the cheapskate I am, I thought we should use them. I'm interested to know how people eat them--I remember we gave them out with our Y. G. chickens we butchered! Oh well, my first flop in Japan!

It was a quick trip to Hawaii, but we had a nice time. Most importantly, Akihiro's Geriatric Board test went well--an 8 hour affair! Thanks to many of you who prayed for him! We'll know the results in a few weeks!

We went snorkelling at Hanauma Bay after we saw a gorgeous sunrise. We were able to see some beautiful fish and also some sea turtles. The weather was windy, but nice.

I made a trip to Walmart while Akihiro took his test. It was wonderful to be able to read all the labels! I got some much needed supplies--including wrinkle releaser (thanks for the tip, Laura L.!) as hanging out t shirts on my balcony doesn't do much to take the wrinkles out (although I did learn one tip on Japanese laundry--fold up the shirt and smack it with your hand--works ok!). I also visited some of the botanical gardens--beautiful!

We enjoyed eating some American food--especially a thick steak at Outback Steakhouse--but it did make me realize how few vegetables Americans have in restaurant meals! Another day I got a turkey sandwich with American style bacon (both things we don't get in Japan). Akihiro and I are still discussing which bacon is the "real" bacon--Japanese or American!

The last day we went to Pearl Harbor, USS Missouri, and USS Bowfin. It seemed interesting that here we were--a Japanese and an American holding hands as we toured this site of the start of the battle between our two countries! The picture is on the surrender deck of the USS Missouri where Japan surrendered to America. (Hopefully as Christians, though, we are both surrendered to Christ and to eachother!)

At first when I got in the car in Hawaii, I thought I would be a better driver because I could drive on the right side of the road, but I guess now I have gotten a little used to Japanese driving. I'm grateful for the advice we heard about keeping the driver towards the center of the road--no matter where I am. Ughh! Looks like I am always going to have to concentrate on driving (something I should be doing anyway says Akihiro!)!

We left Hawaii Wednesday morning and arrived home in Japan on Thursday afternoon--the date line/time change thing is quite something! When we arrived home, we discovered that we finally have neighbors living below us! They are a young couple with a darling little boy--about 1 year old. We met the wife today and she was very friendly! I hope I can learn Japanese language quickly so I can communicate better with our neighbors.

It was a quick trip to Hawaii, but we had a nice time. Most importantly, Akihiro's Geriatric Board test went well--an 8 hour affair! Thanks to many of you who prayed for him! We'll know the results in a few weeks!

We went snorkelling at Hanauma Bay after we saw a gorgeous sunrise. We were able to see some beautiful fish and also some sea turtles. The weather was windy, but nice.

I made a trip to Walmart while Akihiro took his test. It was wonderful to be able to read all the labels! I got some much needed supplies--including wrinkle releaser (thanks for the tip, Laura L.!) as hanging out t shirts on my balcony doesn't do much to take the wrinkles out (although I did learn one tip on Japanese laundry--fold up the shirt and smack it with your hand--works ok!). I also visited some of the botanical gardens--beautiful!

We enjoyed eating some American food--especially a thick steak at Outback Steakhouse--but it did make me realize how few vegetables Americans have in restaurant meals! Another day I got a turkey sandwich with American style bacon (both things we don't get in Japan). Akihiro and I are still discussing which bacon is the "real" bacon--Japanese or American!

The last day we went to Pearl Harbor, USS Missouri, and USS Bowfin. It seemed interesting that here we were--a Japanese and an American holding hands as we toured this site of the start of the battle between our two countries! The picture is on the surrender deck of the USS Missouri where Japan surrendered to America. (Hopefully as Christians, though, we are both surrendered to Christ and to eachother!)

At first when I got in the car in Hawaii, I thought I would be a better driver because I could drive on the right side of the road, but I guess now I have gotten a little used to Japanese driving. I'm grateful for the advice we heard about keeping the driver towards the center of the road--no matter where I am. Ughh! Looks like I am always going to have to concentrate on driving (something I should be doing anyway says Akihiro!)!

We left Hawaii Wednesday morning and arrived home in Japan on Thursday afternoon--the date line/time change thing is quite something! When we arrived home, we discovered that we finally have neighbors living below us! They are a young couple with a darling little boy--about 1 year old. We met the wife today and she was very friendly! I hope I can learn Japanese language quickly so I can communicate better with our neighbors.

Breakfast at the Isawa hotel is a 12 dish affair! We were ushered into a moderate-sized room by some very friendly uniformed women calling a friendly "Ohio gozimasu" (Good morning). A large low table sits on rice mats and is set with two large trays with small dishes and individual little candles burning under a dishes of small fish (cooked!). I try to gracefully sit down and fold my long gangly legs under the table and sit on the pillow. Besides the fish, there is rice (of course!), pickled vegetables, miso soup, seasoned mushrooms, seasoned burdock root, a salad with 2 small ham slices, green tea, toasted seaweed, soy sauce, a hot spring egg (a cold boiled egg in a special soy sauce and green onions), and a square inch of tofu with a small taro (like a potato) cut in a special shape floating in a special sauce with 3 green soybeans.

I dropped Akihiro off at the nursing home and came back to the hotel. This morning's entertainment for me is watching the hotel workers giving a deluxe send-off to their guests. There is lots of "arigato gozimashita"s (thank you) and much bowing. Then there are several uniformed employees with large smiles standing out in the parking lot and waving and bowing as the guest drives away--they continue waving until they can no longer see the car.

This is Japan!!!

Another interesting experience... Stopped by the police!!!
I was riding my bicycle home from the store with some curtain rods in my bicycle basket, trying hard not to sideswipe any pedestrians, when I saw some policemen standing on the corner. At first I thought they were just waving at me, but then I realized that they wanted me to stop. They were pointing to the bicycle registration sticker and asking me things in Japanese. We couldn't get very far because they knew about as much English as I knew Japanese--not much! I was just trying to call Akihiro on his cell phone for help when they motioned for me that it was ok to go on. I wasn't sure if they got it checked or decided it wasn't worth their bother and I probably hadn't stolen the bicycle! I did my best to avoid any more policemen for the rest of the way home!

Today we had our annual communion service at the Shioda church. It was a very special day and I feel even more a part of the church family there. After the 12-15 members partook, we greeted eachother--a very special custom that I (tearfully) was a part of. We were blessed to have Mark and Bev Bahr (Mark is our counseling elder) here for the service. We had been reminded that this group of believers has very little in common except the most important thing--Jesus Christ. Thanks so much for those who remembered our service in prayer.

I was thankful to have had an experience in Hawaii that made me realize again how much I need the Lord. I am almost embarrassed to mention it, but not having access to email or the internet or phone (easily and cheaply) to have contact with family and friends made me feel isolated and made me draw closer to God. I am thankful that He and His love (shared by those who know Him) is not bound by time or distance. This experience made Communion more meaningful as I thought of the isolation the Lord felt as He bore our sins.

On to less serious things...
I am writing this in the lobby of the Isawa Hotel as that is where we get wireless service. It is Sunday night and the hotel is full. Coming from the onsen area is a man's voice singing--oops, there goes the hotel manager to take care of that! There are people coming in and out of the onsen in the hotel provided kimono-style pajamas. It is an interesting experience!

Thanks for your prayers as Akihiro began his new job at Isawa Nursing Home! He had a great first day yesterday. Mark and Bev and I got a tour at the end of the day and were impressed by the cleanliness of the building and the cheerfulness of the staff. Some patients are confused, but many are alert and oriented. Akihiro has his own office which is quite nice. He seems to have a good rapport with the staff already and looks forward to working with them. It is about a 10 minute drive from our hotel, so very convenient for me to drop him off and then have the use of the car during the day. I can now use the Japanese GPS navigation system (sorta--pick the second line of kanji, then the third line of kanji, then the longest choice, then click three times and follow the map!)