Friends Come from Far

Dan-san brother Tetschan and wife Saerusan came from California.

Their bed-room are ready.

Here they came.  Their suite-case are in the bedroom, but Tetschan and Saerusan aren’t here, they are at the hospital.

The first night, we had a big and scary problem.  Tetschan is little over the borderline diabetes.  They left California early morning, and didn’t eat anything until 4:30 PM, because none of the Airline is not serving foods any more.  Hiroko prepared to serve the dinner with steak and salmon.  This is the poison food for him according to the doctors.  He had sudden diabetes coma.  However, in the beginning no one knew what was happening.  We all were scared so much, that our mind was blocked with black shadow expressed by Saerusan later.  Dan-san called emergency, but Tetschan was fine when the emergency crews came in.  The emergency crew said they had to take Tetschan to hospital to check his heart and brain. Within one hour, hospital found out Tetschan didn’t have a heart attack or stroke but he had to stay overnight for further examination.  The following day the hospital determined Tetschan had diabetes coma.  Hiroko’s foods called “SOS” by the military words.   In the condition of diabetic people, orange juice or 1 hard candy should be given, before any solid food, especially steak and salmon.

He was getting fine to go to the picnic held by Amanda/Steven.

Steven rented this Gazebo.  At night bright light was shinning inside the Gazebo very beautifully.  Hiroko took the photos, but with her wined eye could not take any good photo at night.

Amanda, Lady of the house

Foods for the picnic

Many mores

Good desserts were there, too

Part of the people who attended the picnic

This photo was taken by the boy, belowthis photo with Hiroko’s camera.

After that, Hiroko entertained them by taking them to the Navy Pier to see the Shanghai Dragon show and Field Museum and Aquarium.  We met our old friends who has been working at the Field Museum.  Dan-san drove them to visit Rev. Satoh’s wife in the nursing home one day.

For the lunch and dinner for the rest of the week, Goya champuru, Italian roast-beef sandwich, Ramen at Santoku that restaurant took first place as the best taste in California, Calo Italian restaurant were served, and our mutual friend treated us to Chinese dinner.  Hiroko forgot to take any photos of those food and restaurant.

Hatsuho-kai

This is the Bible study group with Rev. Kei Satoh-sensei formed almost 50 years ago to learn how to teach Bible to the children..  Every year this group meets when Saeru visits Chicago.  We all enjoyed the company of each other and felt young again.

Rev. Kei Satoh-sensei

Left side is the lady of the house who opened her home to the meeting.

These are the part of the members of Hatsuho-kai group.  Three have already passed away and several more couldn’t attend this time.

These were the foods purchased for the day’s lunch.  

The lady of the house provided these delicious cakes.  Thanks for those cakes, and drinks, and letting us use her beautiful home.  See you all again soon!

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Hiroko writes about the Bible study given by Sensei and his recent news about his wife.

His teaching came from Ephesians 5:16, “making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”

Sensei asked the question what you are making the most of every opportunity, or how you are doing with this verse.

Before we started the Bible study, Sensei let us know his wife’s condition.  His wife was laying down on the floor from a fall with bleeding from her head, when Sensei found her early this year.  Emergency came and took her to nearby hospital, but the hospital doctor recommended to take her to a more equipped hospital for her condition by helicopter.  Opening her skull the doctors cleaned the blood thoroughly.  Since them she was in coma for several months.  Changing couple of hospital, now she is staying in one of the good therapy nursing home near Sensei’s home.  Since last one month she has been in and out of coma.  The following day Tetschan/Saerusan and others visited her; she asked Sensei why she was in the state.  Sensei answered to her that he didn’t know, but God knows everything.

Well, where are we?  Let’s go back to the question.  One person answered the question and asked Sensei, according to Roman 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for his good of those who love him, who have been called according to the purpose” God shows us one after another His powerful miracles in our lives, “don’t you, Sensei, think God will be using her experience as Sensei’s wife has been going through right now?  Sensei told us that he had already talked to her using the verse and God will use her experience and opportunities to give comfort and wisdom to others.

Sensei explained the verse and asked us that let’s make the most of every opportunity without worry and complaints.  Average age of the members of the Hatsuho-kai is 75 or older, so our body is not working well, having pain all over the body, but God knows everything and he has a good plan for us to do with our abilities.  Ephesians 2:10 “ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  We don’t have to look for the good works, God has already planned for us to do God’s good work.  God gives us the opportunities to do the things for His glory.

Sensei’s teaching was very detailed for this biblical truth.  It was very good for Sr. Citizen.  Thanks to Sensei to remind us again we can do good work for our Lord God even though in this old age!  Please take care of yourself, and give us very good Bible study again.  Thanks!

This is Hiroko’s additional idea.  In order to find out this good work of God’s plan for us, we have to communicate with God and walking together with God in our daily life.  Quiet time starts with 10 minutes; no Bible, no talking, just quiet times, and make the time longer and longer.  It is one kind of prayer but you are not talking, and try listening to what God says.  God sometime talks with His audio voice, God talks in your dream, God talks to your heart while you are cooking or doing other things, God talks to you with vision while you are spending quiet time, God talks to you by someone else; such as Pastor’s sermon, conversation with friend, and of course through the Bible we can find God’s will, plan many other things.  This is Hiroko’s experience. 

If there are some other way to communicate with the Lord,  please let us know.  Thanks!