Ohio-san, From Afar

Ohio Kumiko and her friend came to Chicago for sightseeing.  Ikuko who volunteered to guide Ohio-san and her friend around the town called Hiroko and said, “Ohio-san wanted to see you at the “Dorcas-kai” in the Glenview church, so please meet us at the Jefferson Park train station.”

Ohio-san, her friend, and a member of Dorcas-kai.

The Dorcas-kai Bible Study Group led by Pastor Hirumuma  Missionary was very comfortable and well organized Bible study group.

 Pastor Hirunuma sent by Japanese churches here in Chicago as a Missionary.

This Glenview church requested to the three Japanese churches that send a missionary for Japanese people who wants to study Bible here.  Since the request those three churches’ pastors and congregation praying for someone to be a Missionary to Chicago.  Pastor Hirunuma was one of the pastors.  The Lord spoke to Pastor Hirunuma while he was praying, “How about you?”  After giving serious consideration and to consult with his wife and 3 children, Pastor Hirunuma said to the Lord, “I’ll follow Your will.”  Pastor Hirunuma came to Chicago with his wife and difficult ages High School and Jr. High and Grammar School children.  Chicago was totally strange place for them, and no friends and no acquaintances at all.  How difficult and hard decision his wife made!  All the children might have been experiencing much difficult transition in Chicago.  All the Missionaries children have always been falling victim to the parents’ decision, but many of those children become missionaries.  It is a miracle of the Lord.

Mrs. Hirunuma and a member of Dorocus-kai

All those children are grown up now, and they chose to live in Japan, so their family was separated between Japan and Chicago.  Pastor and Mrs. Hirunuma must love the Lord and trust Him with all their lives.  Give thanks to the Lord for Pastor and Mrs. Hirunuma’s service in the Lord.  Ask much blessing from the Lord to Pastor and Mrs. Hirunuma, and their children in Japan.

The members of Dorcas-kai

They were working so hard at the kitchen to entertain four new comers.

Pot luck luncheon was held after the Bible Study.

As usual Hiroko forgot to take photos before the luncheon.  These photos for the foods were taken after the luncheon.  Beside these photos there were so many other delicious dishes.

This is dessert – homemade pumpkin cake.  It was delicious.

Let’s take a photo!

One was taken by Pastor Hirunuma and other one by Ohio-san’s friend

Thanks! to Ikuko for letting Hiroko have such a wonderful time with Ohio-san, and also very precious Bible study time with Pastor and Mrs Hirunuma.

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This is Hiroko’s thoughts about Pastor Hirunuma’s Bible study on Job 1:1-5.

“¹In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job.  This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.  ² He had seven sons and three daughters, ³and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.  ⁴ His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. ⁵ When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified.  Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.”  This was Job’s regular custom.”

The day’s lesson was an introduction of Job from these 5 verses.

Pastor Hirunuma’s first question was “Who is Job?” and “What is his characters?’ 

Job trusted the Lord and he was faithful to the Lord and an upright man.  He was a wealthy man and had wonderful family.  He was blessed by the Lord. 

2^nd question:  Discussing Job’s suffering, Pastor gave us the question, “What kind of suffering you have right now, or you had before?  What is suffering?”

Everyone shared about their thought of suffering; relationship with family members, friends, and coworkers.  Hiroko’s one of the suffering is that she disobeyed the Lord.  It made Hiroko into depression and trying hard to please the Lord.  God’s love picked Hiroko up from this depression

Pastor Hirunuma’s last question is “What is Blessing?”  It is so important to meditate on this subject.

Some said wealth, and other mentioned family.  It may be very important for our lives.  However, Hiroko has not wealth and also has only 2 girls and no grand-children.  Hiroko gave serious thoughts about this kind of blessing, and questioned “Isn’t God blessing Hiroko?”  Pastor Hirunuma said when we give “Thanks” to the Lord for everything at all the time, we can see God’s blessing.  It is very true.  Thanks for God’s elect, to be saved, to make a child of God, God’s love and grace, God’s provision, God’s many promises in the Bible, and these are God’s blessing.  In His promises the best two for Hiroko are that He said He is with me all the time, and He has a plan in Hiroko’s life.  Giving thought on these His promises, our heart fill with His peace and joy.  Isn’t it the blessing from the Lord.

Thanksgiving celebration day will be coming soon.  In 2012 Thanksgiving is on November 22, Thursday.  Pastor Hirunuma asked us to give thanks to the Lord everything at all the time.  Let’s give thanks to the Lord, not only our wealth and family but also thanks to our Lord for the Lord Jesus and what He has done for us.  Please sing the Hymn “Count Your Blessing” and spend a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Reasons for No Article was Posted, Life

Hiroko would like to post her article once a week, but no articles were posted the previous week of Oct. 14-20.

Tamale Lady said she couldn’t make 3 doz. Tamale for Lisa’s B-Day dinner, because of her B-Day party.  Hiroko had hard time to accept her denial answer, so begged her continuously, “Please!  Please!”  Tamale Lady finally said she could make them at the day before her party.  Hiroko was relieved, but wanted to show Hiroko’s appreciation to Tamale Lady.

In these busy days, this blanket was made for Tamale Lady as her B-day present.  Tamale Lady is always saying cold, so hopefully this blanket would be kept her warm in this cold winter.

Pork Tamale, 34 hot/spicy one and only 2 not hot for Dan-san.

This is not only reason Hiroko couldn’t post her articles.  Very sad, sad news came from Japan.  Hiroko knew she has reacted so weak to any sudden sad news, so she told herself “breathe, breathe” while she was reading the sad letter.  Hiroko still had one bad day like sick.  She felt cold air blowing through in her brain, and hard time to breathe.  Hiroko is fine right now.

The bad news was that Satchan passed away.  She is Hiroko’s distant relative, but Satchan’s and Hiroko’s mothers was spending their lives as sister, so Hiroko remembers that she was always together with Satchan’s family since her childhood.  Satchan was always there for Hiroko. Satchan had always taken care of Hiroko for 2-3 weeks whenever Hiroko went back to Japan from Chicago.

Satchan, her son, Naochan, Lisa and Hiroko were standing in front of the hotel entrance,

and at the amusement park in Atami.  These photos were taken about 40 years ago.

Where did Satchan go?  Satchan would not go to the place Hirokoro goes because she wasn’t a Christian.  Satchan!  Where are you?  It is better to quiet to question because the cold air starts to blow in Hiroko’s brain.  Someday Hiroko would like to write about her to give Hiroko’s appreciation to her and her family.

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 Please read the Bible verses (Revelation Chapter 4 and 5) mention about the place where Hiroko has hoped to go.  Quote the part of the verses, Revelation 4:2-3, from Chapter 4 and 5.

“²At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. ³And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne.”

Other verses (I Corinthians 3:10-15) mention, the materials would be used for the room Jesus preparing for us.  Crystal is mentioned in it.

¹⁰By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.  ¹¹For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  ¹²If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.  ¹⁴If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.  ¹⁵If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

Another verses (Revelation 21:1 – 22:5) mention, the new heaven and earth.  It is too long to write in here, so please read from the Bible.

Udon Noodle for 20 People, Christian Lives

Hiroko’s church held the SNAL (Saturday Night Alive) for children and adult every first Saturday of the month.  In this activity night, church provide games, crafts, cooking (cup-cake, cookies), DVD, etc. for the children, and for the adult studying the words from the Bible with questions and answers style.  This Bible study is totally different style than sermon, so it is important Bible study time.

This gathering has been held from 4 to 6 pm, and last 30 minutes the dinner is served.  This dinner was made by the volunteer ladies.  Hiroko volunteered to make “Udon Noodle for 20 people” for 2012 October gathering dinner.

4 lbs of Udon Noodle (1 lb for 5 people)

Cooked 2 lbs. Udon Noodle.  Children love to eat noodle alone, but all the mother try to pour little bit of soup over the noodle.

Hiroko made this soup from the chicken bones stock and salt, soy sauce, sugar, and bonito powder, mixed with the broth.  With the broth seaweeds, shiitake mushroom, kikurake, fried tofu, etc. were cooked with 3 T. sugar and soy-sauce, and Bonito power.  This noodle soup can be nutritious.

The topping on the Udon Noodle

Seaweeds, shiitake mushroom, kikurake, fried tofu, boiled eggs, kamaboko (fish cake), boiled Chinese spinach, and green onion.

Cooked 3 lbs. boneless and skinless chicken thigh with shoga, 3T sugar, ½ cups soy-sauce and rice wine, and Bonito power

Hiroko used paper bowls.  Japanese Section has been making Udon Noodle every Sunday, so there are many Udon Noodle bowls, but Hiroko didn’t want to wash these bowls after the supper.  Can’t forget the seven herbs and cayenne pepper mixture, and cayenne pepper powder for Udon.

Dessert

Okinawa Gandagi.  Someone said it looks like donuts hole, but it is much different than donuts hole.  It is very delicious because not too sweet and oily as donuts.  This is Emaline’s one of the specialty dishes.  Hiroko took photo of what Emaline brought lots of them, but came out blurry.

Well, 14 adult and 5 children came to the meeting that night, and 4 adult and 2 children left for their dinner engagement.

Only 10 adult and 3 children ate the Udon Noodle the night.

Udon Noodle and topping were left so much, even though some people made doggie bags.  So, Hiroko called a member of Japanese Section, and asked to eat all the left over Udon Noodle.  She was so happy to hear that because she don’t have to cook Sunday morning.

Everyone said it was delicious.  Thanks to God!

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Bible study that night was about the Lord’s Prayer.  This year’s subject to study is “Prayer.”  Here is the Lord’s Prayer:  Matthew 6:9-13 

⁹This, then, is how you should pray:

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

¹⁰your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

¹¹Give us today our daily bread.

¹²And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

¹³And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.”

what do you think?  This prayer was given to the disciples from Jesus as an example of the prayer.  Hiroko has a time no words to pray for heavy hearts, such a time reciting this prayer gives her peace and joy in the Lord. 

Pastor told us there are many ideas about the Lord’s Prayer; one group says it is the prayer of the Lord, so people shouldn’t pray, and other group says the Lord gave us this prayer, so people pray every Worship Service.

Before finishing the session, we practiced the one of the method of payer with the Lord Prayer.  We were meditating while Pastor was reading twice of the Lord’s Prayer, and find the words or phrase hitting our heart.  Now, we spent about 10 minutes listening to what the Lord is saying to us with the words or phrase.  It was very good practice to be with the Lord.  Let’s hear the Lord what he wants to say to us.

The Grave Yards, Life, Chicago, Christian Thoughts

On October 2, Dan-san and Hiroko went to visit the tomb of Dan-san’s parents.  It is about one month earlier than usual year.

“Snow” will be coming, said by the TV weather forecast.  SNOW!?  At where?!  Well, it can be in Chicago, but will be getting cold.

Many trees nearby Hiroko’s residence have been changing it’s color.  In the previous week Dan-san and Hiroko went to Mitsuwa and surprised to see the leaves changing color.

Many leaves have been falling.  This morning, October 5, during Dan-san and Hiroko’s walk time, they saw that many people have already been raking the leaves. 

The snow on the ground, or falling snow prevents us to go to grave yard, so Dan-san and Hiroko went to clean all the falling leaves around the tomb.  It was the best day to visit the grave yards, 70 degree, no clouds. 

All the falling leaves were removed, and poured the water over the headstone.  Recently, all the tombs have been taken care and cleaned very well.  The tombs of Kazu, Mr. & Mrs. Charles Fujita, and many others were able to visit.

Many photos were taken by 2011, and posted on the blog October 30.  From these photos, the leaves usually fall around the end of October in Chicago.   Hiroko has 2010 and 2009 fall photos, too.

By the way, Hiroko thought about visiting the grave yard.

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In Japan, visiting the tombs is called “Ohaka-mairi” which means worship or pilgrimage to the tombs.  Hiroko thinks that it should be the descendants’ duty to visit the tombs and value the family relationship.  Many young people in Chicago do not visit the tombs because they can’t think of “death” in their lives yet.  Obon, adore the ancestors, is very good customs in Japan.  Japanese think that all the dead would be coming back from the other world during the Obon.

For the Christian there is no custom of Obon.  After the death all the Christians goes to the place where Jesus is, and live with Him in peace and joy.  Jesus told Christian that He will prepare the rooms for everyone.

John 14:1-3 “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Of course, Christians value the ancestors and visit tombs to take care, but would not worship the ancestors.  Christian worship only the one God, the Creator of God Father, God Son Jesus, and God’s Spirit Holy Spirit.

Hiroko dreamed other night.  She forgot to write about this dream, but this dream fit to this thought, so she posts this dream.

Hiroko was suffering from stomach pain.  She was thinking what to do, then the idea to go see her father-in-law (grand-pa) comes out.  She said in her dream why Grand-Pa to consult about her stomach pain, then answered it by herself, because any problem comes up they always go to see Grand-Pa when he was here with us.  Then, she saw the crystal house in the bright shining place.  There, Grand-Pa came out from the house, and asked Hiroko, “What do you want?”  Hiroko answered “I have stomach pain.”  Then Grand-Pa waved his hand and said, “Do not come here.  I couldn’t do anything.  You had better go see your doctor.”  Hiroko thought it was true.

Then, Hiroko woke up and thought Grand-pa is living in such beautiful crystal house.  No photo to post, because the beautiful crystal house is in Hiroko’s head only

Mitsuwa Market, Chicago

Dave’s Birthday Dinner is coming.  Dave and Amanda both Hakujin (white) love to eat Sukiaki, and Sukiyaki season is starting, so Sukiyaki dinner for Dave.

To buy Sukiyaki ingredients Dan-san and Hiroko went to Mitsuwa.

Mitsuwa located about 45 minute north-west from Chicago city.  The entire tree has already been changed color, but the color is not beautiful.  This year’s drought might have affected.

Hokkaido Food Fair

Entering the Mitsuwa Market this big flag drew Hiroko’s attention.  Hokkaido Food Fair was going on.

There were so many delicious foods: - many different kind of croquettes, many different kinds of caviars, squid, crab meat, and so many others.  Caviars, crab meat, squid lunch were so expensive.

Dan-san did not eat caviars, crab meat, squid, so eating these lunch in front of him, Dan-san will be saying “Is it stringy?  Or can you chew?”  It is better to eat these things alone. 

Many other things in the packaged goods from Hokkaido were also there.  Hokkaido’s cake and cookies were in refrigerator.

Mikichan’s Grand-ma sent me a package filled with delicious Hokkaido’s foods for thanking to take care Mikichan during this year’s August.  The special sweet beans (Amanatto – Hiroko’s one of the favorable sweet) made by Hokkaido’s beans were in the package.  One of the three kind of beans was specially tasty, so Hiroko looked for the beans at the Mitsuwa Market, but there wasn’t.  Disappointed!

It was a nice day to go to Mitsuwa to buy lots of Japanese foods, and eat delicious lunch.  Thanks!